Sky Blue Sport News

Friday, February 26, 2016

Battle Stations!

No, we don't think the title of this weeks preview is over the top! This is a game that the Sky Blues can't afford to lose. If we lose it, then the Swifts would leapfrog over us in the league table and worse still we'd be in the throes of a losing run that we seem incapable of getting out of. Our management team seem to think that restoring Cush, to the team will be the solution to our problems.

No doubt about it if Cush, is on his game, he could win the points on his own, but we suspect his hearts not in it anymore and we need him on top form. Its understandable that Cush, is only going through the motions, we are in a dogfight involving four other teams who are fighting tooth and nail to avoid relegation and we can expect a tough game tomorrow, with no quarter ask or given.

With that in mind we at 'Sport were hoping for a strong referee, alas we lucked out there when the IFA selected Tim 'nice but dim' Marshall, who is as weak as water when it comes to contentious decisions. There's sure to be some tasty tackles and players trying to influence the ref, which is very easy with Tim in charge.

But the Sky Blues, have to be prepared for that and not afraid to fight fire with fire if need be. If Paddy Mac is not fit, will Spike (or Doc, who seems to be in charge), call back JT, as Kyley, is not the answer, as shown last week at the Oval. Surely Buckets Blayney, has to be dropped as he was his fumbling self last week and we need a keeper we can rely on.

We urged Spike, to play two recognised strikers last week, but he didn't take our advice and continued to play Jenks, out of position, which just isn't working. After losing four league games in a row, scoring only two goals in that spell, surely it doesn't take a genius to work out that the system needs to be changed and changed quickly.

When ref Tim blows his whistle tomorrow at 3 pm, it will signal 'battle stations' and we'd better be prepared for it, otherwise the Championship beckons for us, make no mistake about that. But if in the other hand, our players are prepared to lay their collective bodies on the line, who knows what we might achieve. So come Sky Blues, lets shag these Tyrone Chickens!

Friday, February 19, 2016

Eight Days!

Its still only 8 days since our heroes turned in that despicable performance against the Coleraine scum and the hurt is still there. But the good news is, we welcome back Sammy Patterson, into the Sky Blue Sport fold for the first time since we succumbed to the scum on Boxing Day. Sammy, missed our victory over Ports, Carrick, our exit from the Irish cup and our Shield triumph through illness.

But he is back and raring to go and see if he can cheer United to victory over the East Belfast Glens. The Glens should be cock-a-hoop after their victory at Lurgan, but we're sure it is tempered by the rumour that the bookies got a cleaning, paying out to a victory to the Glens by two clear goals.

United should welcome back JT and Nathan Hanley, free from suspension, but will Spike, get JT to shore up our leaky defence, which has been breached 10 times in the league, in his absence. The one selection that United fans want to see, is Dwayne Nelson, back in goals as Buckets, is continuing in his slip-shod fashion.

It will be a tough game at the Oval tomorrow, but its only the start of eleven tough games to the end of this season and we have got to be up for them all. We have got to get a result tomorrow if we are to have any chance of a top six place after Easter Tuesday, or seventh place in the league, come the end of the season.

Will Spike, be bold and start with two strikers upfront, or will he go with the formation which just lost in us three league games in a row. Jenks, tries hard but he's not a striker, he's better in midfield with Gavin, beside him (or Tony) and leave the striking to the strikers. So come Sky Blues, lets get back to winning ways and shag those wise men from the East!

Thursday, February 11, 2016

This Time!

United face their old rivals the Coleraine scum, tomorrow night at the Showgrounds for the fourth time this season and so far we have tasted nothing but defeat and disappointment. By the law of averages (if such a thing exists), surely we are due a victory over them, but only if we are up for it.

The last match hinged on a blatant penalty appeal turned down for us and the scum broke and scored the winning goal when our concentration lapsed, a vital mistake. The ref tomorrow night KK (Keith Kennedy), is nearly nearly as bad as the ref on that occasion, Ross Dunlop. KK incidentally was the ref in United's last home game, who gave a penalty to Linfield, but it was a doubtful decision to say the least.

But we digress, the result is in our power, the ref we can't do anything about, but if we put in the effort, we should be good enough to get a result. JT, is still suspended so he won't be available for selection, but on the plus side, Tony and Captain Jimer, are available and our defence should be at full strength.

Will our manager stick with Buckets in goal, we want to know? He was less than impressive against the Ducks last time out, but Fergie turns a blind eye to all his clangers and they have been many. Its the last chance for the Sky Blues to pick up league points before they begin a series of six games, four of them against top teams that will take us up to the dreaded split.

Its a well known phrase that managers trot out continually, that they are no easy games in this league, for everybody is capable of beating any team. But they rarely do and the rich get richer and the poor, as Christ famously is reported to have said, are always with us and always will be, but we can change that, if we are truly United.

But it will take a supreme effort if we are to pull it off and so far this season we haven't shown the consistency to be able to pull it off. But we have got to start somewhere and against our greatest derby rivals will be the best time to begin. They're going through a bad patch and we must strive to make it worse for them, so lets shag those ewes from Windy hall!