Back Pedalling!

After a complete season under new management, United find themselves just above the relegation play-off slot. In the previous three seasons we did just about manage to hold our own, but this season we have backslid. The reasons behind this demise are two fold, we are 'shit' at defending, we are 'shit' at scoring goals, therein lies the crux of the matter. With what we are paying Kevin Kelbie (wages plus flights), we could have two decent home based strikers and maybe manage to score a few more goals, while in defence, with what we're paying Albert Watson and Gavin McDonnell, we could get 3 decent defenders and hopefully begin defending a bit more adequately. the one plus thing to come out of the whole season, was the 7 points gleaned from the Coleraine scum in 3 meetings, not bad for a team in 14th place in the league standings. There's an old saying that you're only as good as your last game and since beating Institute, just after the split, we have been bloody crap to say it mildly. United manager Roy Walker needs to make a few changes during the summer recess if United are to a force to be reckoned with once again. The time for talking is over Roy, it's time to put up, or shut up, we await the outcome with baited breath!

Bargain Basement!

It's time for the big clear-out, with 11 players listed by United manager Roy Walker, a complete team, he obviously means business. Two of these players were signed on pre-contracts by former manager Tommy Wright, who let's face it seemingly could do no wrong in the eyes of our board. Just what a mess Tommy left behind has only come to light in the last half of the season. He also signed goalkeeper Alan Blayney and 11 goal striker Neal Teggart, both of whom have been illegally tapped by Linfield's David Jeffrey (but that's another story) and have turned down offers of an extended contract. Frankly in my opinion and all of the Sky Blue Sport team, if Jeffrey wants them, he can have them, for the sort of money we're paying them there's much better players around. Mark Picking, who was given an extended contract by Tommy and then promptly dropped has been listed along with his panic buy from last season's transfer window, Mike Ward, who has only managed 3 senior goals in a year and a bit. Craig McLean is also listed, the man Tommy slotted into the number 3 slot and dropped the veteran Nigel Boyd, what a disastrous decision that was. Davitt Walsh after a bright start has not fulfilled his promise, while last years player of the year, Gavin Melaugh's form has been abysmal and Liam Mullan who came within a whisker of a sensational goal at Coleraine, has only flattered to deceive. Then there's the two McDonnell's, Gavin and Joe, not related to the best of my knowledge, one, Gavin, was a success, while Joe, ran about like a headless chicken. I wonder if Tommy Wright made a mistake when he signed Joe, as I can't remember him playing outstandingly for Newry, but anyway both are on too big a wage. But the man who has the biggest pay packet at the club (thanks once more to the benevolent Tommy Wright), Albert Watson, has also been offered to other clubs. Albert may command a fee, as for the rest, we'd be better off shot of them, but that's no foregone conclusion!

Beautiful Dreamers!

Yes the long awaited 'split' has taken place and what a difference it has made, instead of mild apathy, we now have major apathy. I said to anybody who would listen that the loneliest job in Norn Iron was manning the visitors turnstile at Ballymena Showgrounds on Saturday and Tuesday. I doubt if there were more than ten fans in on either day a waste of time even opening it. The football served up was nothing to write home about either, in fact the Saturday game only got interesting when first the home team and then the visitors had a player red carded. On the Tuesday even a disallowed goal (one of the worst decisions given at the Showgrounds in many a year) and a missed penalty, couldn't rouse the home fans from their slumbers. The United players seemed content to let the game pass them by and who can blame them, there is after all nothing to play for. They now have 3 away games on the trot and nothing except 'pride' at stake as they are well clear of the possible play-off position. The three teams struggling to avoid a possible play-off, may yet be reprieved as the only two teams with a proper licence must finish 1st & 2nd in the Championship, or there will be no play-off, how exciting is that. Terms like 'couldn't organise a bun worry' and 'organised confusion' spring to ones mind when discussing the vagaries of our beloved I.F.A. We will probably have to put up with this 'daft' format for one more season, but hopefully then common sense will prevail and this silly experiment will be consigned to the scrap heap where it belongs. Yes it's okay to dream, but please think long and hard before you subject us the long suffering fans to any more daft ideas, we've, had enough!

Split Loyalties!

Yes it has arrived, this weekend sees the start of that wonderful institution that's going to solve all our problems (football wise), the 'famous' or 'infamous' split. Belfast's big two get the ball rolling with a 'live' game on Sky Television tomorrow night, the also-rans begin their lesser games on Saturday. If the 'powers' that be are to be believed, gate takings will increase dramatically and the football being played will be of the highest quality. Ballymena begin this final phase with a game at home to our North-west neighbours, Institute. I will be greatly surprised, nay, I will be totally flabbergasted, if the 'Stute bring more than 15 fans, none of whom will play an entrance fee, while home fans will vote with their feet by giving this final phase a good boot into touch. It is a total waste of time and effort, much better to have carried on and played the other 11 games at least then we'd have played everyone twice, instead of the lop-sided affair which will prevail at the finish of this season. If that's not bad enough there's the bigger debacle concerning which teams will be promoted from the 1st division, it just gets weirder and weirder, I dread to think what 'hair-brained' scheme they'll come up with next!