Omar's moving finger writes.....

Isn’t Christmas a lovely time of the year, you take a trip to Coleraine and beat them in their own backyard, I tell you life doesn’t get much better than that. So now we have to continue, build on that result and hopefully in the process move up into that coveted fourth place in the table or with a wee bit of luck, even third place and certain Inter Toto qualification. But I’m getting ahead of myself here, aren’t I, first we have to start scoring a lot more goals and defending a ‘whole’ lot better as well. I was amazed to see the panic in the United defence at Coleraine on Boxing Day, when the home team, in desperation it must be said, threw everything but the ‘kitchen sink’ at United in the last 15 minutes. Players of the undoubted experience and composure of Gary Smyth, who has done it all in the Irish League, suddenly looked as nervous as ‘kittens’. United were indebted at this stage to three players, Gareth Scates for a goal-line clearance, Willie McFrederick for a superb save and the much ‘maligned’ Kieran Donaghy for keeping a cool head when all around him were losing theirs. United veteran Nigel Boyd was omitted from the starting line-up and in fact didn’t even make the bench, a bad mistake from the United management in my humble opinion. When it comes to derby games you need players on your team with real commitment to the cause and Boydie definitely comes into that category. He and another United legend, Mark Carlisle, were quite often the difference between winning and losing, in these passion filled games. Their ‘never say die’ attitude was as much responsible for United’s successes, as any skill exhibited by other less loyal United players. I can vividly remember one derby game a few years ago, don’t ask me the date I can’t remember that, when the biggest cheer came when former United legend Dessie Loughery, who had switched to Coleraine at the start of the season, had a goal disallowed. United fans were somewhat unkind to Dessie on that and on subsequent occasions, but we did take it as a personal blow, when he signed for the team we ‘love to hate’. Somehow I don’t think either Boydie or Marco would ever consider that as a possible option, at least I hope not. But I digress, come on Tommy, let’s get our wee team organised, get the defence sorted and then maybe, just maybe, we can start to score a few goals. Let me in closing just wish a ‘Happy New Year’ to all United fans and let’s hope we can put at least one trophy in the cabinet come the end of the season, come on United let’s ‘shag’ them bloody all!

Omar's moving finger writes.....

This is the time of the year when we tend to look back on our achievements to date, ours I must say don’t make for relaxing reading material. We are, after the two night games played this week, in eighth position, with 16 goals for and 24 against. With two matches to go to reach the halfway point, the best we can probably hope for is a jump of one place, maybe two if we’re incredibly lucky. The way we’ve been playing lately, the best we can hope for realistically over the next two games, is a win and a defeat. A defeat on Boxing Day is unthinkable, so we should put all our money on Institute next Friday night, in my opinion. United manager, Tommy Wright, says he is at a loss to explain the team performances of late. I could tell him quite easily and could’ve told him before United kicked a ball in earnest, we have too many players playing out of position. Kieran Donaghy holds down the right-back slot, Kieran is not and never will be a right back, Kieran’s only true position is, sweeper. Gary Haveron is holding down a centre midfield role, Gary, like Kieran, is a real ‘fish out of water’ as Gary’s only true position is central defence. Vinny Sweeney is playing as a striker, but he is only a winger, he’s struggling to hold down an ‘out and out’ striking role. Then there is the ‘supposed’ best player in the club Rory Hamill, who is not only out of position in a striking role, he’s just not giving anything like 100% commitment to the United cause either. As if this wasn’t bad enough, we have in Willie McFrederick, a keeper who won’t leave his ‘line’ for love or money. It’s little wonder we have ‘shipped’ 24 goals in 13 league games and 31 goals in a total of 21 games. When the new manager took over, we desperately needed a striker, after all we have desperately needed one since we came up from the first division. We also required a top class ‘ball winner’ and midfield general, someone in the mould of the ex-scum player, Packy McAllister, or Portadown’s Mickey Collins. Kevin Kelbie, whom we signed just before the transfer deadline, in what Sky Blue Sport termed a panic buy, is starting to look like the striker we crave, but the midfield general’s are as scarce as hen’s teeth. Added to this is the manager’s major and much publicised ‘clanger’, in releasing our first choice goalkeeper, before recruiting a suitable replacement and it’s easy to see why the Sky Blues find themselves locked in a mid-table dogfight. If Tommy Wright has visions as he says he does, of being at United for the ‘long term’, I believe it’s ‘high time’ (no pun intended), that he and his large contingent of backroom staff, began earning their wages. The time for talking is over big Tam, it’s now time for action and ‘actions’ as the saying goes, speaks louder than words!

Omars moving finger writes.....

How does the I.F.A. allocate referees for matches I wonder, take Tuesday night’s match away to the Glens. The I.F.A. appointed Trevor Moutray to officiate for this game, did they consider for one moment that Trevor lived within 5 miles of the ground and was hardly likely to be completely unbiased. Never mind the fact that he is for all intents and purposes a ‘local’ boy, he does also have to live in the area and he would hardly want to antagonise any of the locals. Surely they could’ve found a ‘neutral’ referee from somewhere, they’re not that scarce on the ground. But then it is the I.F.A. I’m talking about here, the same organisation that ‘turns a blind eye’ to the fact that Glentoran’s ground is nowhere near the standard required by European law, but still gives them a licence to compete in European games. The small band of United supporters who made the journey to the Oval on Tuesday night, were ‘fleeced’ by the Glens at the turnstiles having to pay £8 for what can best be described as ‘makeshift’ stadium and then left without a ‘pot to piss in’, literally. We foolishly thought that our new ‘supremo’ Howard Wilkinson would do away with these ‘draconian’ practices, but have found out that he’s as impotent as all the other dead wood. Glentoran’s ground would hardly pass the standard laid down for Intermediate league football, but it’s somehow considered okay for the Premier league. Does the I.F.A. not have the power to veto any ground that doesn’t come up to the required standard, or are they a load of old ‘f----ts. Ah well it could be worse I suppose, we could’ve lost three points instead of claiming a rare victory. After all the disappointments of the last few years, it’s great to finally break our jinx at the East Belfast venue. At the end of the day, we got the ‘Wright result’ and coupled with a win this Saturday it’ll set us up very nicely for the visit to the ‘scum’ on  Boxing Day. Hopefully they won’t appoint Frankie Hiles to be referee for that game, now that would really be ‘putting the cat among the pigeons’!

Omar's moving finger writes.....

It was interesting to read the comments or should I say ‘alleged’ comments of Norn Iron manager Laurie Sanchez, regarding the possibility of doing the Norn iron job on a part-time basis. Admittedly there’s not a lot to do once qualifying or in our case, ‘failing’ to qualify, is over. But one has to always remember the old adage, ‘no man can serve two masters’. This especially rings true in regard to football management, it’s bad enough having the ‘wrangle’ over getting players released for matches, especially friendlies and we don’t want to have to negotiate the release of the manager as well. Just imagine the scenario, its mid-April, Norn iron have a prestigious friendly lined up against say Argentina, Laurie Sanchez is managing Portsmouth or whomever and they are involved in a relegation dogfight and must play the team that’s one place above them in the league. How in ‘hells name’ are we going to get any club to agree to release our manager for the International game? It’s not going to happen is it? No, I firmly believe that Laurie must decide what job he wants to do, probably like all managers he misses the ‘day to day’ involvement with the players, that’s one of the disadvantages of International management, but surely the ‘plusses’ must outweigh the minuses. If they don’t then Laurie will have to consider if this is the right position for him, if it isn’t he should walk away now and allow a ‘new man’ (don’t ask me who that would be) to take over during this period of non-activity. It would be a big loss to David Healy and company, as there is a great team spirit in the camp at the moment, but as they say, ‘life goes on’ and I believe we could survive, but let’s just hope we don’t have to and that Laurie will stay for another two years at least. After all ‘we’re not Brazil, we’re Norn Iron!

Omar's moving finger writes.....

There’s only one subject matter that can be written about this week and I do not apologise for jumping on the ‘bandwagon’. I refer of course to the football ‘magician’ that had the perfect name, Geordie ‘Best’. Never has a footballer been so aptly named, never has a player had the same natural ability, that our Geordie had, yes he was definitely the ‘Best’. I remember well the old ad on U.T.V., ‘Cookstown are the ‘Best’ family sausages’ and because our wee Geordie said it, we believed it. I consider it a privilege to have seen him play for Norn Iron at Windsor Park, I witnessed two ‘gross’ miscarriages of justice, the day he was sent off for allegedly throwing mud at the referee and worst of all the goal against Gordon Banks and England that should never have been ruled out. Yes Geordie was a genius, he could shoot with either foot, was deadly in the air and could run all day long. I was rather surprised to read a quote from his Man United team-mate Bobby Charlton who said he had lost a good friend. I wonder when that happened, Charlton used to say that the most unselfish act by him and his team-mates, was a run supporting George Best, as you knew he’d never pass the ball to you no matter what. Yes he admitted he was a ‘genius’ with a football, but outside they never socialised and in fact avoided each other where possible. But alas Geordie, although a genius on the football field couldn’t cope with the pressures of fame. Like a lot of people, he resorted to the ‘demon’ drink and like a lot of people before him he didn’t know when to say ‘no’. George used to tell a story of him being in a casino, winning a load of money and waking up next morning with the inevitable ‘Blonde’ in bed. An ageing bell boy came into the room with his breakfast on a tray, took in the scene and inquired of Geordie, ‘Where did it all go wrong Mister Best?  Geordie told this story as if to explain that in his opinion, he had not made any mistakes and that all his life was planned. Personally I agree with the ‘Bell boy’, Geordie let his talent slip through his fingers and therein lies the tragedy. He drunk himself to near death, got a second chance but just carried on wasting his life. I’m sorry you died Geordie, but I can’t hold you up as a hero, you were given a superb talent, but in my mind you wasted it and I think ‘that’ is really unforgivable!