Duck Farmers!

The Sky Blues need to take on the role of 'duck farmers' tomorrow at the Showgrounds, when Ballinmallard are the visitors. It's a meeting of the two Uniteds, but there is only room for one in our opinion, Ballymena United. We're not saying that we have an exclusive right to that name, far from it, but we have been the only United in the Irish Premier league since its inception and we're not about to share that with any 'johnny come lately' without a fight. We mean a fight for the points of course, we don't want to encourage that other fighting, we'll save it for Boxing day (ha, ha, get the pun). As usual despite all the advances in modern telecommunications, like computers web pages, facebook and twitter , we haven't the foggiest idea about our team selection.

But experience tells us that United manager Glenn Ferguson, could be termed as the 'Iron man', for he's not known to change for change sake and if everyone's fit, we would expect him to name an unchanged team for the 3rd match in a row, but in saying that, what do we know? The answer to that poser is, damn little. We have tried to second guess Spike many times in his short spell at the Showgrounds and ended up for the most part with egg on our faces, but we'll be surprised if the same team don't get a vote of confidence from the Iron man. That means no place on our team for the gang of three, Liggie, Mario and MM, they are fast developing into the forgotten men in our panel. Fegie is picking the team he can rely on and why not, sure we are knocking on the door of the top six.

But lets not get carried away, the Ducks will present a huge obstacle tomorrow, they have slipped up of late and despite denials to the contrary that huge hammering by Portadown is bound to be fresh in their minds. But they'll not lie down, despite their manager, Whitey Anderson, still serving his touchline ban, they'll be organised and disciplined but we have to get in among them and tear that discipline to shreds. We have the men to do just that, with the inform Cush and Thommo ably backed up by Tony K and Sparky. Captain Jenks got a goal last week and we could see him add to his tally again tomorrow, but he's more of a leader, than a goalscorer and he's leading the line well.

JT will remember the last league game with the Ducks at the Showgrounds, when he was injured and missed the majority of last season but we'll need him tomorrow and if he gets our defenders doing their job the points could be ours. Cookie Munster is back to almost his best and the same applies to Archie and Marky McCullagh, Stuarty is keeping Dwayne out of the keepers jersey. That only leaves the enigma that is Ally to mention. The man is a proven match-winner, but he tends to drift in and out of games, but he is another of our dead-ball experts and especially at corners. He could be the our secret weapon tomorrow as the Cush and Jenks will come in for a bit of attention we think and Ally could exploit the space that inevitably leaves. So come on Sky Blues, lets shred those Ducks!

Same Again!

Would it be too much ask of the Sky Blues, if they delivered the same commitment and desire as they showed against Portadown on Tuesday night, against Ards tomorrow? If they show that desire and get beat, who should have any complaints, certainly not us at 'Sport. It was such a refreshing performance, one that leaves you thinking, where was that performance lurking since we beat the Ducks (3-0), in the 2nd round of the league cup? Or are we just reserving that kind of performance for the cup matches? Well we at 'Sport thinks that's the road to no-town and we have said it consistently and we'll keep on saying it, until it gets through to the United players and their management team or we get relegated, for that's where indifferent performances lead to.

We have given up trying to second guess Glenn and his picks, barring injuries we woukld expect him to say 'same again' to the line-up who started on Tuesday night. Captain Jenks was seen gingery touching his hamstring and if he is injured, rest is the only cure and it could open the door for one of our three strikers. As for what one Glenn will select, if its necessary, is anybody's guess? Mario, who came on late on, on Tuesday night against the Ports, didn't get into the game, but he had so little time. MM, who hasn't scored since his debut, seems to be one for the future and so the obvious choice seems to be Liggie. Its true he hasn't set the Showgrounds alight with his performances so far in a Sky Blue jersey, but he is a proven goalscorer.

Our midfield three against Ports, Sparky, Thommo and Tony K, bossed the midfield and if they can turn in another display like that tomorrow, we think the 3 points will be ours. But Fergie may tinker with his selections and bring back Gavin or he may have Alan D lurking in the background. But hopefully not, what we need now is a bit of stability, not change for changes sake. All we ask is that the players are committed to the cause and play their hearts out for United, we expect nothing less. But Ards will be fighting too and if we let them, they'll be only too glad to exploit our weaknesses and we can't allow that to happen. On paper, we should have enough fire-power to take Ards, but this game is not played on paper, so come on United, lets shag those Ards Wanderers!

Night Hunters!

Its league cup time tomorrow night as United entertain Portadown, in the quarter-finals, kick-off 19-45. Ironically Ports are the last team we beat in the Dankse Premiership at the Showgrounds and the same scoreline, 2-1, would do very nicely. Not that our nerves could stand the same finish as United came from behind to snatch the points, as new signing MM, came on as a sub and scored a debut goal and then won a penalty, which Ally duly converted and United took the points. We at 'Sport think United can do it if they truly believe in themselves. No doubt about it, we are playing well, creating a few chances, but not scoring and that will find you out every time.

Will Spike go with two strikers tomorrow night? It's anybody's guess, we think, we were imploring him to go with two strikers last Saturday, but alas all our pleas fell on deaf ears. At least he rested Marky, but we at 'Sport are of the opinion he has to rest another player, his Captain Jenks, in order to get the best out of our team. With ten minutes to go last Saturday, Jenks looked dead on his feet and we think it would best if he is rested tomorrow night. Thommo and Sparky played the 'shirt of their backs' on Saturday and if Fergie is bold and goes for a 4,4,2 formation, with Cush and Ally on the wings and Mario and Liggie up front, Sparky and Thommo could be in the centre of midfield.

Our back four didn't cover themselves in glory last week, but its the best four we have got and with a fit again Dwayne restored to goals, we should be able to keep tabs on the Ports strikers. As the Ports have a potent striking force, in Braniff, Twig and Murray, might Spike be tempted to play three at the back, drafting in Archie and resting one of his two wide men, but it would be a gamble to take. Decisions, decisions, who would be a manager? It seems there is no shortage of lads who want to take on the manager's job, given the lively comments of the United forum, but nobody has come up with any solutions yet.

The trouble with Ballymena is, we think we are a 'big' club, but in reality we are not, but we have the potential to be a 'big' club. The board seem to have given Spike his head and hope he has the ability to turn our season round, but we need to start scoring goals. Where better to start than in tomorrow night's game. Ports very philosophy is to attack and we must exploit the gaps left behind when they are on attack. If our midfield can get their passing game going, then we have a chance to get into their box and create chances, but if we lie back and not compete for the ball, they will punish us relentlessly. So come on Sky Blues, let's shag those apple pickers!

Distant Memories!

United go to Chickenville tomorrow needing at least a point from a fixture we haven't got anything out of in two seasons. A tall order at the best of times, but what is even more poignant, this fixture comes on the Saturday of 'remembrance week' and its bound to rekindle old feelings of sadness and the need to move on. But alas United haven't been able to move on as such in our last three matches, losing to Linfield, Crues and the Glens and now we face that other 'townie team', Chickenville, in their own back yard and victories for the opposition there, are usually as scarce as hens teeth. We did say usually, our dear neighbours down the A26(Coleraine scum), had a rare victory there and United need to be organised and do the same.

The word on Dwayne has been good, his jaws not broken, but manager Spike likes to have players play a game for the reserves when they have been out injured, but we at 'Sport hope he shelves that tactic in Dwayne's case. For he is far and away, not only our best keeper, but our best player and we need our best players on our team tomorrow, if we are to get anything out of this match. Don't get us wrong, Stuarty Addis is a more than capable deputy, but Dwayne has that extra something, that sets him apart. Have we seen the end of Marky McCullagh, he was tried at rightback against the Crues and the Glens and he didn't impress and Cookie is a better centre-half than him any day. Mike Ruddy got a roasting last week against the Glens but he didn't get any help from his team-mates, but with Steely McBride fit, Spike has a choice to make.

We are assuming here now that Thommo isn't fit (he had to come off against the Crues), but what midfielder does Fergie choose to play alongside Captain Jenks or is he going back to a 4,3,3 formation or a 4,5,1 as he chose in the first half against the Glens? Your guess is as good as ours, if he sticks with the 4,4,2 system it seems to be a toss up between Gavin, Sparky or Archie to partner the Captain. That would leave Ally and Cush on the wings and a choice between any 2 of the 3, of Mario, Liggie or MM to spearhead our attack. Or Fergie could play an entirely different formation, as he did for the first hour last Saturday, only changing it when we went 3-1 down. must we wait until we are chasing the match to bring on our strikers, we at 'Sport think that's the road to no town.

Better to have them on at the start of the game and be giving the Reds defence something to think about, rather than waiting until we are chasing the match. The match referee is none other than our old friend, Mark 'ham shank' Courtenay, who needs no introduction to Sky Blue fans and we can expect no favours from him, so we'll need to be on our guard and not give him any reason to punish us, with silly bookings and the like. We have struggled to play on Chickenville's 3G surface in the past, but there's really no excuse for us now, for we have the same facility at the Showgrounds now. The surface encourages good passing and we struggle on that score, but if we can match the Reds in midfield (which won't be easy) and not let Boyce and Gormley have any free shots, we maybe will get something out of the match, but its going to tough, so come on Sky Blues, lets shag those Chickenvilliers!

November Decisions!

The Sky Blues management team, of Glenn and the three baldies, in our opinion, need to make a decision for November, of playing basically the same team, if possible, taking account of injuries and suspensions and the same formation for that is the only way we can get any consistency. This chopping and changing the team every week is not good for morale and we don't seem to have a plan of attack, it seems to be a big thump up the field and hopefully get something out of that. Admittedly our players don't seem confident on the ball, but if they were playing it every week, confidence would come.

Tomorrow we take on Glentoran and they have struggled this season also, but unlike us, they have showed a bit of consistency of late and now are 6 points ahead of us in the league. It could be a close match if our defence holds up, for the Glens have only scored one more goal than ourselves in the league so far. To this end if we can keep it tight at the back and hit them on the break we could come out on top, but we need everybody pulling their weight, no room for any passengers tomorrow, the Glens will punish any mistakes for sure. It's not known if JT will be fit, so maybe Cookie or Archie will have to fill in and they must rise to the occasion.

Mike Ruddy seemed to be fit when he came on as a sub at Seaview on Wednesday night, and if he suffered no reaction, should be able to resume at leftback. With Dwayne still injured, we think, Stuart Addis will continue to deputise and he did alright on Wednesday and was only beaten by a cruel deflection. Its midfield where Fergie and his team have to find some magic formula, although everybody in our panel has been tried and found wanting already. But its the manager's job to manage and he has to find someone to play alongside Captain Jenks, out of, Sparky, Archie, Gavin, Thommo, Alan D, Ally, Cush, Robbo, Tony Kane, Lowry or maybe drop the Captain and try a new combination.

Seriously though, we don't see that happening, we are stuck with Jenks this season anyway and as he doesn't tackle, we need a combative midfielder alongside him and we've only four players who come into that category, Sparky, Gavin, Tony and Cush. Will Glenn promote one of those players to partner our Captain? In all honesty we think not, he's not thinking like a desperate man, but in our opinion he needs to be. If we can sneak a victory tomorrow and avoid defeat at Chickenville next week, we maybe will have a chance to avoid being sucked into a relegation battle. If on the other hand we dish out the same drivel as Wednesday night, we'll be on the slippery slope.

Upfront we have another dilemma, MM and Liggie are as different as chalk and cheese. The one doesn't seem to know what the other is doing and they can't find a pass to each other. Surely when they are training together, they could get to know one another's play and try and get some understanding on the pitch. Mario serves the second of his two game ban for elbowing a Coleraine scum player, so it's the last chance for Liggie and MM to cement a relationship that will keep Mario warming the bench for the next few games. We have the same referee as Wednesday night, Colin Burns and he's about average, so our fate is in our own hands. So come on Sky Blues, lets shag those wise men from East!