Curse Lifted?

I know it's been a while since I last blogged, I haven't been too busy, in fact most of my time is spent doing sweet F.A. now that I have retired, I merely wanted to see if we (United Sky Blues), had turned the corner. Alas I have to report that we are no further forward than we were 2 years ago. We are hopeless at the basics, we cannot defend throw-ins, corner kicks and free-kicks. We cannot take throw-ins, corner kicks or free-kicks. These are basic things that happen time and time again during the 90 odd minutes of a football game and how you deal with them is what defines you as a football team.

With the arrival of Nathan Hanly, United's taking of corners and free-kicks has greatly improved, but the end product is still badly missing. When they go to the far post, on average I'd say about 70% of the time, then they invariably end up as goal-kicks. Surely this is something that can be ironed out in training. Our throw-ins seem to have only one target man, Gibbo. The ploy seems to be a hopeful throw in his direction, hoping he can get his head on it, average number of times we get possession out of this, 20%, not a good ratio. It's entirely possible to throw the ball to 'feet' and the one and only time we did this on Saturday past, it led to a goal for us, let's have some more please.

Then there's our defending of throw-ins and corners, that leaves a lot to be desired, especially at throw-ins. Take Saturday past as a prime example, Portadown get a throw-in level with our 18 yard line and what do we do, we give them all the space they require and then do the 'unforgivable', allow the cross to come in and it leads to a goal. Our defending from corner kicks has improved somewhat, as goalkeeper Dwayne Nelson, leaves his line occasionally to punch the ball as he realises his fellow defenders will never clear it. We have also got a very bad habit of allowing crosses to come in, that is the road to no town. Of course given our record at throw-ins and corners, maybe that's no big surprise.

But we're lying filth in the league table on goal difference (we still don't score enough and let in too many) and with a teams beating each other every week, we have a chance to stay there, so we must be doing something right. I believe that we're getting the breaks. Take Saturday past, Portadown could and should have been at least 3-1 ahead at halftime, as Boyle, who scored their goal, missed an easier chance later and then had a good claim for a penalty turned down. In the last two seasons those things have gone against us, but now they're going for us. Why this change in fortune I wonder? Is it possible that the Gypsy curse, 'allegedly' put on the Showgrounds 20 years ago has been lifted? I don't know, but somebody up there is surely looking after us at the moment and long may it continue, now where did I put that lucky rabbit's foot!