Five Nights!

Just five nights sleep, till the season kicks-off proper, with an away game to Linfield. United could not have got a harder opening three games. Following the Linfied game, we are at home to Glenavon on Wednesday 12 August and then entertain the Coleraine scum the following Saturday, 15 August, when new signing Mark Magennis is eligible to be picked for the first time. There seems to be a lot of crying being done in the forum about United shipping so many goals in friendlies.

But our manager Spike, has gone on record to say, 'that he's less concerned with the result and more concerned that everybody in his first team panel should get some game time'. In fact we have only lost one of our friendlies, this latest one at Larne on Saturday. Last season we lost two 'friendlies, Bangor and Ballyclare and Ballyclare was the last game before our league season started and what a start that turned out to be.

If we get half a as good a start this season we will be pleasantly surprised, for we have a lot of new players to blend into Spike's system, whatever that is. On the plus side although we weren't at the game, it was nice to read about Nathan Hanley, scoring a brace, one of them a delightful free-kick. Larne no doubt wanted to win the game, more than our boys, but we are sure Spike feels it was a useful exercise.

There was some rumour going about Tippers going to Chickenville, but we can't see Spike letting that materialise unless he has a suitable replacement in mind. He could play, Cush or Jenks, if he is fit, up front, but that would only be a stop-gap. But maybe the Portadown groundsman has, had a change of heart and reduced his wage demands, it will be interesting to see how this story develops, in the coming days, we will endeavour to keep fans posted, COSB!