Warped Opinion!

Glenn Ferguson was waxing lyrical in his column in the Sunday Life about the inconsistencies of referees and for the most part I would heartily agree with him. Where I have to take issue with Glenn is in his claim that there isn't a problem with indiscipline in our local game. Where have you been burying your head in the sand Glenn? I will simply refer to three incidents which call your claim into question. Number 1, the Boxing Day derby between Crusaders and Cliftonville. Number 2, the Irish cup match between Newry Town and Larne and last but by no means least, the 'free for all' in the recent Linfield /Crusaders league game.

Spike also makes the claim that Peter Thompson of Linfield was wrongly sent off for a deliberate elbow, claiming that his ex-partner wouldn't do such a thing. This from a man (Spike), who was and is a notorious elbow-er and who taught young Thompson almost everything he knows. At the end of the day we have to face facts, these three games showed local football at it's worst and I don't think the punishment dished out was anywhere near enough. We don't want this sort of behaviour in our local game and we should be striving to have it thrown out and hit the culprits with much heavier suspensions. The Newry/Larne game was exceptional in that there was no cameras there, but the other two games were well documented and action should be taken, action which fits the crime, in other words, lengthy suspensions.

On another note it was no great surprise to me that Alan McDonald resigned as Glentoran manager, allegedly after a 'bad' decision went against his team at Dungannon (we know all about that). Alan, let's face it is nothing more than a big 'Girl', he already threw his 'toys' out of the pram when the Coleraine scum trounced them at the Oval, so I suppose in many ways this was inevitable. Could he though have picked a worse time to make his exit, with the Glens facing Linfield in the Irish cup this Saturday? They are also in the final of the C.I.S. cup and still in with a chance of winning back-to-back titles. I know of a wee man, who allegedly manages Ballymena United and he'd just love to have those sort of problems!

I and the rest of the 'Sport team have decided to have a short break, supposedly in the sun from this Sunday, in order to recharge the batteries after this long hard winter. Alas we have boobed as if there's an Irish cup replay we will miss it and even if there isn't we'll miss a trip to that wonderful venue, Ballyskeagh. When we originally booked our trip there was no mention of united having a game next midweek, but as they say a week is a long time in football, just ask Alan McDonald if you don't believe me. I am also considering making this my last season as an active member of the 'Sport team, but more about that later. I will not be writing anything next week, but will be back in harness the day after St. Paddy's day if I survive till then. So come on Sky Blues, let's shag (not literally if you know what I mean), those Lurgan boys!