| 30 October: One Murphy In, One Murphy Out |
On a night when William Murphy continued his return to full fitness Darren Murphy is left facing 2 months on the sidelines after dislocating his shoulder during last night's County Antrim Shield win over Ards. Darren, who has been in impressive form so far this season, suffered the injury shortly before half-time and boss David Jeffrey said:
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"This is awful news for Linfield and for Darren himself. He has been playing quite brilliantly this season and to lose him for up to eight weeks and possibly more is a bitter blow to us. When we brought Darren to the club we did so with a view to his versatility. In many ways he sacrificed himself for the club, going into a variety of positions when the need arose. But this season he has been playing at left-back and has been doing an outstanding job for us."
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| "Darren went to the hospital last night and again this morning and was told it would be six to eight weeks before he could return. When you dislocate a shoulder there is always that worry that it could go again. I know Glentoran's Scott Young was particularly unlucky that way. We just hope that Darren can come back as soon as possible and have another long run without injury. We could certainly do with his presence." |
| 29 October: TFG Sports County Antrim Shield Results |
Linfield 2 Ards 0
Ballyclare Comrades 8 Connor 1
Ballymena Utd 8 Ballymoney Utd 0 (played Mon)
Bangor 2 Killyleagh YC 0
Carrick Rangers 4 Cliftonville 1
Crusaders 1 Chimney Corner 1 (C Corner win 7-6 oon pens)
Glentoran 9 Barn Utd 0
Lisburn Distillery 3 Larne 0 |
| 29 October: Official Linfield Site |
After a number of false dawns the official Linfield site has finally been launched. You can access it at:
www.linfield-fc.com |
| 27 October: Reaction to Saturday's Game |
Boss David Jeffrey was understandably very happy following yesterday's League victory over Omagh at Windsor:
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| "Omagh are an excellent side - I am not surprised they are going so well this season. Make no mistake this is a big result for us. Do not underestimate the magnitude of this victory. I still think Portadown are the team to beat. Glentoran are also really strong and experienced. We are still a young side and have actually progressed further than I thought we would at this stage of the season." |
Omagh boss Roy McCreadie however bemoaned his own team's defensive inadequacies:
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| "The difference was the finishing. Our defending didn't help either. We made mistakes for all three of their goals. The last thing we wanted to do was concede an early goal but Dermot 'dopey' Doherty didn't pick up in the box and we were one down within seconds. Their third goal was laughable as well and all this after we probably had around 60% possession." |
| 26 October: Former Blues on Target |
| A number of former Linfield players found themselves on the scoresheet at various games around the UK this afternoon. Stephen Beatty, George O'Boyle and Norman Kelly all found the net in the same game in the Irish League. Richie Barker scored twice for Rotherham in the English First Division, those goals being his fifth and sixth of the season, while Mark Magennis (strictly speaking not an ex-Blue but he did play and score for the team earlier in the season) scored Carlisle's opener in the English Third Division. |
| 26 October: Daily Mirror Irish Premier League Latest Results |
Linfield 3 Omagh 1
Crusaders 0 Ards 2
Glenavon 2 Coleraine 1
Institute 1 Glentoran 5
L Distillery 2 Portadown 4
Newry 0 Cliftonville 3 (played Fri) |
| 26 October: Man of the Match Poll |
| Congratulations to Paul McKnight who you voted as your Man of the Match for last Saturday's home League win over Newry. Paul topped the poll with 58% of the vote. |
| 26 October: Boss Hails Return of Striker |
David Jeffrey has hailed the return to fitness of Davy Larmour and claims the striker is out to make up for lost time. Jeffrey also spoke of William Murphy's return to fitness from the same injury and says it is just like signing two new players:
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| "David displayed a great attitude when returning to the team but that old goal instinct was missing. Not now - the two goals against Glenavon will do him and us the power of good. David has missed putting the ball in the net and I know that he is relishing making up for lost time. I've never seen two players as single minded as David and William. Our physiotherapist Terry Hayes also deserves great credit for the way he helped the boys, particularly in the summer. Having David and William back is like signing two new players." |
| 23 October: Blues Hit By Keeper Crisis |
| Gregg Shannon could be set for his first team debut this Saturday following Alan Mannus' injury during last nights CIS Cup Quarter-Final win over Glenavon. The keeper collided with Glenavon forward Gerard McMahon and is believed to have suffered sever brusing to his thigh. Glenn Ferguson took over in goals for the final 24 minutes, keeping a clean sheet in the process. |
| 22 October: CIS Cup QF Result |
Linfield 2 (Larmour (2)) Glenavon 0
Davy Larmour tonight reminded us of what we missed last season when he scored both goals, one in each half. Glenn Ferguson saw a second half penalty saved before he took over in goals from the injured Alan Mannus. So it is possible to have Paul McKnight, Davy Larmour, Chris Morgan and Glenn Ferguson all on the pitch at the same time... |
| 19 October: New Season - New Wallpaper |
| The first of this season's new wallpapers, with which to decorate your pc is now available. If you fancy having Portuguese winger Miguel Chines adourning your screen, click here. |
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| 19 October: Daily Mirror Irish Premier League Latest Results |
Linfield 3 Newry 0
Crusaders 0 Portadown 4
Glenavon 1 Ards 1
L Distillery 0 Cliftonville 3
Institute 1 Coleraine 3
Omagh 0 Glentoran 2 |
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| 19 October: Striker Wants his Place Back |
Fit again Chris Morgan is itching to get back into first team action. Morgan made his comeback from injury in the CIS Cup win over Ards, but found himself playing for the Swifts last Saturday rather than featuring at the Oval:
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| "I'm fortunate that I have avoided a reaction to the groin. All is well, and I feel fairly fit again. I realise that it will be difficult to get back into the first team scene again, because the boys in place are doing well. I will just have to be patient. I'll have to get on with it and hope." |
| 17 October: TFG Sports County Antrim Shield |
The draw took place today for the County Antrim Shield, and the Blues have been handed a home tie with Ards. Games will take plave on 29 October and the full draw is as follows:
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Glentoran v Barn Utd
Ballyclare Comrades v Connor
Bangor v Killyleagh YC
Linfield v Ards
Ballymena Utd v Ballymoney Utd
Crusaders v Chimney Corner
Carrick Rangers v Cliftonville
Lisburn Distillery v Larne |
| 17 October: News of Former Players |
Some news I missed out on reporting earlier in the week while I was otherwise engaged concerning 2 former Linfield players.
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| Paul Mooney has been appointed the new manager of First Division side Carrick Rangers, while former player and of course manager Trevor Anderson has taken over as manager of Eircom League side Dundalk. It will be interesting to see how if Anderson retains the services of a certain Garry Haylock, bearing in mind what happened when he was Haylock's manager at Windsor. We wish both all the best in their new roles. |
| 15 October: Man of the Match Poll |
| Congratulations to Glenn Ferguson who you voted as your Man of the Match poll for last Saturday's League win over Lisburn Distillery. Glenn topped the poll with 33% of the vote. |
| 12 October: Irish Premier League Latest Results |
Glentoran 3 Linfield 2
Ards 3 Institute 0
Cliftonville 0 Crusaders 1
Coleraine 0 Omagh 1
Newry 1 L Distillery 0
Portadown 6 Glenavon 0 |
| 8 October: CIS Cup Result - Greater Belfast Section |
| Linfield 4 (Feeney, McCann, Thompson, Morgan) Ards 3 |
| 6 October: Hotmail Users on the Mailing List |
Those of you who have registered for the news bulletins with a Hotmail address may not have received anything for a couple of weeks. Hotmail has been bouncing back most of the emails I've sent out over these past 2 or 3 weeks. I have checked with the people at Bravenet and this is what they told me:
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We have learned that Hotmail has changed some of its software and now members have to specifically include addresses such as your address and bravenet.com. This has to be done by your list subscribers themselves. Sorry for the inconvenience.
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I'm assuming this means that within your Hotmail options, go to safe list and include both of the following as safe addresses:
bravenet.com and
jim@theweeblues.net |
| 5 October: Irish Premier League Latest Results |
L Distillery 0 Linfield 2
Crusaders 0 Newry 0
Glenavon 2 Cliftonville 1
Glentoran 2 Coleraine 0
Institute 3 Portadown 3
Omagh 0 Ards 1 |
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| 5 October: Man of the Match Poll |
| Congratulations to both Alan Mannus and Stephen Shaw who both tied in the Man of the Match poll for last Saturday's League win over Coleraine. Both players earned 21% of the vote. |
| 5 October: Blues Miss Out on Midfielder |
| It seems that David Jeffrey has yet again missed out on signing midfielder Mark Magennis. The player guested for the Blues, and indeed scored the only goal in Monday's friendly win over the touring Kenya National side, and Jeffrey had admitted that he had been chasing the signature of the player for sometime. However the player has since signed a month by month contract with Carlisle and is set to make his debut for the English Third Division side this afternoon. |
| 5 October: Apologies |
| Apologies for the lack of updates during the course of this past week, but I haven't been well. Normal service will be resumed over the coming days. |
| 1 October: Boss Looks to Complete Deal for Midfielder |
| Midfielder Mark Magennis could be set for a permanent move to Windsor Park. The former Coventry midfielder scored the only goal of the game in last night's friendly with Kenya and boss David Jeffrey later revealed that he has been tracking the player for some time. |
