hatchetman

I've changed my mind. Can we play them every week.

Didn't see it obviously, but sounds like a good thrashing. League looking like a two horse race. Cliftonville appear to be getting it together. Did somebody mention Magilton earlier?

Away at Solitude tomorrow. Big game if we have any hope of automatic qualification for Europe. I know there's still a long way to go, but we can't afford a bigger gap. I'll not be there which may be some relief to the away support. I'll be watching Queens for the umpteenth time. (getting thrashed I hope)

Standings. F****** standings.

We played them four weeks ago, we play them Saturday, we play them five weeks after that. It couldn't be any more boring. Travelling up with a Queen's fan on Saturday. He's not boring. Looking forward to it.

Heats pulls one out of the hat. Sheer class. Not sure Crues deserved that win, but it saved me from a hat trick of defeats. Blues still well clear despite last night's defeat. We'll not catch them. I thought watching Thistle was hard work which is where I'm heading next week.

Went to Portadown last night. I really must get a life.

Can't believe how badly we played. That's my first game since we got humped 3-0. I'm obviously the scud.

Poor decision in a poor game refereed poorly. And how did Williamson play? S***.

Missed a penalty. Man sent off. Two points dropped. Linfield plough on. Do Gurntoran fans ever stop whining? Heading home this week so looking forward to the next few games. (watching Thistle has been hard work)

We stole a point and the pies were s***.

Best result ever. Real Madrid 2 Crusaders 6. Co Antrim Shield final 1967.

Cliftonville's wings clipped Stardog. Nice win for the Crues but Linfield well clear. But Coleraine..... Oh dear Jacks. And yes I was at Firhill. Up to the third goal anyway.

Big chance for Jim to lay down a marker tonight. We' ll see. Well I won't. I'll be watching the rugby.

Five lucky breakaways

I know one. I'm sure they'd come back. Again.

Welcome Stardog, all contributions to NIFL gratefully accepted. A few points. There's nothing special going on at Solitude. (and we've been on the end of a hiding) You haven't mentioned moneybags Larne. The only thorn in the side of Glentoran is Glentoran. Good update Jacks. I missed it.

This has been knocking about for a while now. Heavily pushed by Gerard Lawlor apparently. Gerard has a solid Irish League background, so should have a notion of how this will be received. He's associated with Cliftonville so it being N I that'll be enough to get some peoples back up. I'm a season ticket holder so well used to standing in the rain and cold. Gerard's first job is not to loose current supporters. My evidence is purely anecdotal, but not one person in my circle of acquaintance's will attend matches based on this change. I expect any future changes won't be aimed at my generation. I'm happy with the way things are at the moment, but I wish Gerard well. If he gets this through we should send him up to Stormont. There's a clatter of t***s up there need sorted.

Given a good thrashing tonight. Out fought out thought and out muscled. I hate that back three with Billy Joe in the middle. My first league game this season and what a chastening experience.

First twenty minutes our defence were dreadful. Once we equalised I felt there was only one winner.I was berating Graham for rolling about up until he rammed my words right down my throat. Apologies to the young lad stood beside me who had to endure my Ill informed rantings.

Loughgall may well have turned in a good performance, but the Crues really can't afford to drop home points like this. The result took the gloss of a great day out in Greenock.

Plenty of talking points last night. While I should be happy enough with a point, I came out of it feeling hard done by. Gurntoran looked Ok and had plenty of possession but I felt we had the winning of it. Not that I'm biased in any way. When Crusaders were voting for outside investment, I was in a very small minority who voted against. Despite my admiration for, and trust in our board I didn't think it was in the club's best interests. My thoughts at that time were, I'd rather watch my team playing the Welders than someone else's playing Fulham. I like Coleraine and wish them well, but I'm cynical about this outside interest in the Irish League. There's no xenophobia involved here.

Big game at the Oval tonight. It's on the iPlayer. A real test for Crusaders. Big blow losing Callacher so early in the season. It's a blow for a part time player himself. I hope Robinson's near fit.

Some result at Seaview, on the day Carrick get a major investment. Disappointed I missed that. (considering the crap I'm watching here) Kennedy's a great player and his volley last night was superb. Pity the Reds couldn't spike the Blues guns. That guy Cooper is another classy footballer.

Early days for everyone, but nobody likes to lose games we see as winnable. Carrick have made some good looking signings this season, and Coleraine won't be the last team to drop points at Taylor's. It's very disheartening for the provincial clubs, when everything looks centred around Belfast (Larne?) I seen Coleraine win the Irish Cup mid sixties against Glenavon (I had an uncle played for Glenavon) but my abiding memory is of Des Dickson terrorising Crusaders defences. Whilst I didn't see too many games in the seventies (I played sport) I do remember them as halcyon days for Coleraine. Kearney looked like the Messiah at a time, perhaps that's passed. I'm in Scotland at the moment (Airdrie was pretty poor) so not getting to Seaview, but life looks rosier on the Shore Rd than the Ballycastle Rd. At the minute..