Black holes and revelations - the CUFC AGM and other stuff

When was the last time you saw United score a goal from open play?

For me it was Danny Crow's late winner against Chester on December 1, nearly seven weeks ago. Seeing as the earliest I'll get to another game is next Tuesday, I will have gone two whole months without witnessing a U's goal that didn't come from the penalty spot. I sometimes wonder why I bother.

Saturday's 1-0 reverse at the hands of York City, our fifth league defeat in a row, was another frustrating, goalless, afternoon, and one that I think emphasised the importance of confidence in football. York did very little of note in the final third, but defended solidly knowing they'd get a chance sooner or later. And when they did finally get a sight of goal they took a shot and earned a bit of luck with the deflection that took Neil Barratt's effort past Danny Potter.

On the other hand, United huffed, puffed, and got nowhere, with our attacks getting more and more panicky - and less and less effective - as time progressed. We looked like a team that had run out of ideas as soon as York scored, which is a worrying sign. Lingy will have his work cut out to turn things around, but hopefully a few new signings will change the dynamic of the squad and inject a bit of that illusive confidence.

One player who may not be on his way out just yet is Super Chris, whose move to Brighton appears to have hit a snag. I suspect the striker's agent is busy whoring his client around clubs in the north west, in the hope of securing him a move nearer home. Hopefully the situation will be resolved soon either way, as we need to know where we stand.

Tonight is the Cambridge United AGM, and chairman Paul Barry will no doubt come under the microscope following the article in today's CN confirming that he'd be prepared to sell his shares in the club. Mr Barry has kept United going in the past few years with several substantial cash injections, for which we should all be grateful, but given the disastrous chairmanships of Law and Rolls, you have to question his decision making in appointing people to look after his cash.

And it's been the suggestion for a while that he doesn't want to keep putting his money into CUFC, so perhaps now is the right time for a change. Whether there is a good alternative out there is another matter, but it seems to me that the current situation, with a chairman and who is based on another continent, and whose commitment is questionable, is not one that can continue if the club is going to move forward. And with Gareth Baldwin set to be unveiled in a consultancy role (see yesterday's NLP) it should be an interesting meeting.