Another Monkey!

Already this season, United have laid two bogeys to rest, namely winning at Seaview against the Crues and beating our good friends, Dungannon Swifts at the Showgrounds. Now it is time to lay another 'bogey' to rest tomorrow, when they face the IFA/Linfield at Windsor Park, where United haven't won since 2004, although we been 'cheated' many times by referees including tomorrows official, Hugh Carvill and if that's not enough to have Sky Blue fans reaching for their sick bags, the fourth official is one Raymond 'dick head' Crangle. But United must banish these thought from their mind, we have a job to do and we must stick to our task and if we get our tackles in, there's no reason for us not to come out on top in this battle of the blues.

We wonder if our 'kit man' will take two pairs of socks to Windsor Park, in case Linfield have changed their colours and are now playing in white socks? Well you never know, best to be on the safe side. We also wonder if Fergie will change his formation against the 'fat controller' and spring a surprise and go for 4,4,2 and recall McBride and Cookie Munster and release Kane and Ruddy into right and left midfield, with Marky taking over rightback duties and Steely taking over as leftback and playing Mario and MM up front. Or will he stick with the tried and trusted 4,3,3 system promoting either Gavin or Sparky, to fill in for the suspended Archie or both of them if Gawley's not fit. That could mean a place on the bench for Liggie and Mario, but its all supposition on our part.

There was talk about Cush maybe taking part in a reserve game last night, but we at 'Sport think that match came too early for him, but what do we know? Likewise Steely, who we mentioned earlier, he hasn't been mentioned since he was taken off at Dixon Park where United suffered defeat at the hands of Ards. We have heard from a reliable source (Sammy Patterson's dog), that Steely refused to shake our manager's hand when substituted at Dixon Park. Maybe this is commonplace at Seaview, where the great unwashed, are precisely that, the 'great unwashed' and maybe Steely wasn't taking any chances of picking up a skin infection, they're the devil to get rid of in this day and age. If by any chance Steely has been missing, injured or for any reason not covered above, we do apologise profusely, but we'll forgo the handshake.

We feel sure big DJ will be aware of our defensive shortcomings and we fully expect a barrage of 'long ball' tactics being used against us and we have got to be prepared for that. If Spike does go for his favoured 4,3,3 system, we at 'Sport would be inclined to start Sparky, if he's fit and have him play deep when the Linfield defence tries to turn defence into attack. It isn't going to be a pretty spectacle, it seldom is at Windsor, but we have just got to weather the storm and try to exploit this Linfield defence, which is as low on confidence as our own and if we get ahead of them, they'll have to commit more men to attack and maybe, just maybe we could spring a surprise on them. But its not going to be easy, but if we truly believe, we can do it, so come on Sky Blues, lets shag those villagers!