U's release retained list & light at the end of the tunnel for the Villagers?

Since the departure of Tony Roach, it's all been a bit quiet at the Glassworld.

No lunatic ramblings about being the biggest club in Cambridge, no sackings of club legends, and no employing amateur aborists, it's all got a bit boring.

But fresh from their heroic escape from relegation (courtesy of, er, Forest Green failing to beat Grays), the Villagers are obviously in a good mood again, as they've wheeled out some other chap to make the bizarre suggestion that they might go full time next year.

"More facilities are available during the day because we don't need them to be floodlit. During the evening we need lights, which makes it more expensive and harder to find the right ones," said Alan Soraff in yesterday's CN. Ahh, so it's floodlighting costs which have got them into a financial mess, I don't why nobody has thought of this before. Instead of going full-time, perhaps they could buy all their players miners helmets with lamps on them. Then they could train anywhere, at any time, and illumination wouldn't be a problem.

Uncle Fester, who apparently still thinks he'll be in a job next season despite a record of three wins in 22 games, also chipped in: "It's easier. They eat together, work together and, to be honest, that is what builds spirit in the club." Interesting that, because Fallon and Beck never seemed to have a problem instilling team spirit into their part-time charges. Perhaps the problem lies elsewhere, hmm.

In all seriousness, going full-time has often marked the death-knell for a lot of small teams without the fanbase to support it and, lighting problems aside, I fail to see how it would make sense for the Villagers.

Over at United, the retained list came on Monday and didn't throw up any big surprises. You can't really argue with Lingy's reasoning, as outlined in this CN article, but one thing which did worry me a bit was the goalkeeping situation, with Ling explaining: "Simon [Brown] has done a great job since he came here and if he signs, I see him as a player-coach, who will also put pressure on another senior keeper."

I kind of assumed Brown would be our only custodian next season, with Laurie Walker or a similar young player providing back up. The revelation that another senior keeper could be arriving adds fuel to the rumours that Danny Naisbett is making the switch from across the A14. I'll be a bit disappointed if we've got rid of Potter to sign that useless lump, but I guess we'll have to wait and see what transpires.

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...and so we face, the final curtain (Alty 0 - 2 U's)

As another season approaches it's zenith, spare a thought for poor old Alan Green.

It must be a difficult life for 5Live commentator Green, whose job involves travelling to Football's biggest matches and watching the individual genius of players like Messi, Ronaldo, and Rooney at first hand. But apparently we don't know just how hard it is.

"This is dire" he lamented during today's Birmingham derby. "It sums up what a terrible Premiership season it has been." And he's got to endure the World Cup next month, bless his heart. If Alan is so unhappy with his lot perhaps he should do the listening public - and himself - a favour and apply his talents to another sport. Like gymnastics. Or fencing.

Mr Green is of course entitled to his opinion, but I don't think you can really appreciate dire until you've seen Andy Parkinson scurry around ineffectively for 90 minutes. And I hate to think what his comments would have been had he sat through the Chester game at the Abbey, or the Eastbourne game, or at least half a dozen other matches United have participated in during 2009/10, a season which at long last limped to a conclusion yesterday with a 2-0 win at Altrincham.

Despite our travails in the middle third of the season, like most fans I go into the summer break with a good deal of hope for next term, not least because of the emergence of Adam Marriott. Super Maz leapt from the bench again yesterday to net two goals to leave Lingy purring; "I think he'll be a product, I really believe it. Goals speak words and the kid can finish."

Goals speak words eh, profound stuff. But I do think the boss deserves credit for the way he has handled Marriott's introduction to the first team. By restricting his on-pitch time he has minimised the pressure on the striker's young shoulders, as well as hopefully keeping his feet on the ground. We've all seen young players who think they've made it before they have - Luke Guttridge being an obvious recent example - and while there will inevitably be big expectations of Marriott ahead of next year, it won't do anyone any good if he starts to believe his own hype.

The other notable aspect of Lingy's post match utterances was the possibility of him bringing in another coach. He's been speaking in glowing terms about Cardy recently, and it will be interesting to see how the dynamic between the two is affected if one of the gaffer's old muckers - Dean Smith or Kevin Nugent for example - arrive over the summer. There's no doubt having another person to sit on the bench with the boss would be an advantage, but on the other hand it could lead to a three's a crowd situation, with Carden being the odd one out...

*Send me your 20-word match reports on the Altrincham game. Email cufcblog@googlemail.com, visit the U's Blog twitter page, or leave a comment under this post.

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Jez begins his yomp for youth

I think we all agree Jez George is a good egg.

Not content with overseeing the youth team which has produced first team players such as Willmott, McAuley, and Coulson, he has today set off on his latest "walk for change" to highlight the inqualities in youth funding received by clubs in the non-league when compared to that available to league clubs.

The unjust distribution of money has long been one of football's biggest problems, and spotters badge awarded to the poster on the CUFC messageboard who spotted this little gem in the Observer's excellent Said and Done column:

Number crunching

• £16m: New increased annual Premier League parachute payments to be made to each relegated club, up from £12m. Payments could be extended this summer from two years to four.

• £15m: annual Premier League contribution to the Football Foundation, supporting grassroots football.

So instead of investing in the grassroots game which, lest we forget, provides many of the young players who make the Premier League the spectacle that it is, they prefer to splurge more cash on badly run clubs like Portsmouth (debt: £120million and counting) who pay mediocre shite like John Utaka thousands of pounds a week and can't afford relegation as a result.

One hopes this selfish, short-sighted, approach will come back to bite the Premier League and it's members in their bloated behinds at some stage, but I'm not holding my breath.

More information on the Walk for change and the Protect Football's Future campaign can be found at; http://www.protectfootballsfuture.co.uk/

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U's 4 - 1 Haze - Growing up badly

None of us are getting any younger. Except policemen. And maybe Cliff Richard.

It was my birthday last week, and while I'm still clinging onto my 20's, I'm beginning to feel the pull of middle age. On Sunday I mowed my own lawn for the first time in my life (that's because I've only just acquired a lawn by the way, not because I usually get someone else to do it), and spent time tidying the shed, feeling a vague sense of satisfaction on completion of my tasks. It's worrying, very worrying.

But I hope that as I get older some things never change, such as the slight feeling of awe that comes with meeting a professional footballer, even a fifth tier one with questionable arm tattoos.

Because before Saturday's match with Hayes and Yeading, I got to shake hands with the great Danny Crow, and the occasion had me stumbling over my words and grinning inanely like a bashful school girl. Danny went on to prove his greatness by netting two more goals as United strolled to a comfortable victory over Hayes, but it was the performance of his strike partner, Adam Marriott, that really caught the eye.

Maz is different gravy, ketchup, mayonnaise, burger sauce, or any other condiment you can think of. He seems to [cliche]have everything in his locker[/cliche], and while he is still a bit immature as a player - as evidenced in the second half of Saturday's game when he brilliantly bamboozled three players but then tried to score from a ridiculous angle when a pass to the unmarked Simon Russell would've left the winger with a tap in - next season I think he'll be making big waves.

Other than that it was fairly routine stuff, with McAuley, Russell, and Palmer particularly standing out. Lingy's comments at the end about "peoples favourites leaving" in the close season suggest that, as expected, the end as nigh for Danny Potter, which would be a shame, but probably not a surprise given the form of Simon Brown and the need to cut costs - I would assume Pottsy is one of our higher paid players.

Elsewhere, Stevenage are in the football league, Man Utd are back in the title race, and Histon are likely survive their relegation battle due to other teams being shitter than them. Forget immigrants or knife crime, if these aren't examples of Broken Britain then I don't know what are, and I'll vote for any MP who promises to come up with a suitable solution.

*Send us your 20-word match report on the Hayes and Yeading game. Email cufcblog@googlemail.com, visit the U's Blog twitter page, or leave a comment under this post.

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Lingy's contract conundrum

Uncertainty hangs over the heads of many Cambridge United players at the moment like a giant cloud of volcanic ash.

The smog is likely to remain until Monday week, when Lingy will announce which of our amber heroes have been offered contracts for next season. In the mean time, because speculation is always fun and I can't think of anything enlightening to say about our meaningless 0-0 draw with Oxford, here's what I would do were I in the manager's shoes. I'm not counting Beesley, Farrell, or Courtney (sob), as Ling has already made it clear they won't be coming back.

Goalkeepers
Simon Brown - CONTRACT: Brown or Potter would both make excellent number one's for next year. But I'd plump for the former because a) he's the man in possession of the shirt, and has done very little wrong since he arrived, b) he's a Ling player, and thus represents a break from the previous regimes, and c) he brings a bit of extra experience to what will probably be a fairly young squad next year. Sadly this means that...

Danny Potter - RELEASE: I love Pottsy as much as the next person, but it's probably time for a change to freshen things up for all concerned. He remains a top keeper at this level, and should have no problem finding new employers.

Laurie Walker - CONTRACT: Or should that be non-contract? Either way, it would be good to keep him on as cheap back up to Browny.

Defenders
Already Contracted: Dave Partridge - Hard as nails centre back. Not a left back.
Blaine Hudson - Giant hot prospect

Dan Gleeson - CONTRACT: A no-brainer really, the only possible snag could be interest from league clubs.

Aiden Palmer - CONTRACT: Definitely has the talent, but for me there are question marks over his physical strength and his concentration - he seems to drift out of position from time-to-time. Worth persevering with though I think, and will benefit from a pre-season not spent at her majesty's convenience.

Josh Coulson - CONTRACT: I'd have said no until recently, but Josh has upped his game over the last couple of months.

Brian Saah - CONTRACT: Again a no-brainer assuming he doesn't get a better offer. Please stay Big Bri'.

Daryl Coakley - CONTRACT: Never let the side down when called upon. Decent back-up.

Kevin Roberts - RELEASE: Possibly a bit harsh, as I've only seen Robbo play twice, but with Gleeson and McAuley in the squad do we need another senior right back?

Midfield
Already Contracted: Paul Carden - Captain/Assistant Manager/Scouser
Robbie Willmott - Occasionally awesome, permanently petulant winger.
Luke Berry - CRC blonde bombshell.

Antonio Murray - RELEASE: Done a few good things (including that great goal against Salisbury) but not enough to justify a longer stay.

Rory McAuley - CONTRACT: Probably our young player of the season.

Jai Reason - CONTRACT: Seems to have taken Courtney's role as the player who most divides opinions among fans, but there's a good player in there if you ask me.

Simon Russell - CONTRACT: Very impressive since arriving from York, his versatility could be crucial next year.

Scott Neilson - CONTRACT (if poss): I guess it's unlikely he'll be hanging around, but would be nice if we could arrange a season-long loan or something similar. Quality player at this level.

Sam Ives - RELEASE: Good coming off the bench, but hasn't been able to influence games on his starting appearances.

Jordan Patrick - CONTRACT: Talented player from the little I've seen. Hopefully he'll get some game time in the next two fixtures.

Strikers
Danny Crow - CONTRACT: Need I say more. The only problem I forsee is that if he has a good world cup it could alert Real Madrid.

Phillips and Willock - RELEASE: Shame we can't combine these two, not least because the composite player could have the amusing name Callee Phillock. A total of two goals between them isn't good enough, we can do better.

Adam Marriott - CONTRACT: Jez George says he's the most talented young player he's worked with, and who am I to argue with the man who unearthed Robbie Simpson et al.

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AOB: Paris St Germain 3 - 1 Bordeaux

Erding nets PSG's second goal (photo (c) www.psgmag.net)

Even though it doesn't have the best reputation, I've always had a soft spot for the French league.

Alright, so the quality isn't really comparable with that of the English Premiership, and the propensity of managers to play 4-5-1 away from home means the goals don't always flow freely. But since Lyon's powers began to wane a couple of years ago, it has become one of Europe's most open divisions.

This season six teams are still in a shot of the title, including reigning champions Bordeaux, who I was lucky enough to see in action last Saturday night at Paris St Germain.

I half-heartedly follow the fortunes of serial-underachievers PSG, who are, as usual, bumbling along in mid-table. This represents a disappointing first season in charge for coach Antoine Kombouare, whose squad includes experienced campaigners such as Claude Makalele and Ludovic Guily.

The atmosphere inside PSG's Parc-des-Princes ground pre-match was akin to that of a funeral. Not because it was quiet you understand, but because the supporters in the Bolougne end of the ground unveiled a massive grey and black flag featuring a mysterious figure known only as Yann. As kick off approached many songs were sung mourning Yann's passing, while several white roses were also chucked onto his banner in tribute.

Mrs U's Blog and I assumed that he was some kind of sinister cult leader, until a fan in an adjacent seat informed us that he was in fact a prominent member of a hooligan groupe anglais casuale who was killed in a confrontation between the Bolougne Boys and PSG supporters from the rival Tribune Auteuil, who stand at the other end of the ground. Astonishing stuff, and something I doubt you'd see in English football these days.

Apart from the concept of supporters fighting amongst themselves, the other major difference between the English and French football experience I noticed was the amount of marijuana use within the stadium. But the game that was visible through the smokey haze was a good one; Bordeaux had the better of the early stage, passing it about neatly without really hurting PSG. But the complexion of the contest changed in the 31st minute when Girondins keeper Ulrich Rame hurtled out of the area and handled the ball under pressure from PSG striker Melvut Erding.

The stopper was shown a red card, and replacement keeper Keita's first job was to pick the ball out of the net, with Sylvan Armand's free kick taking a slight deflection and zipping over the outstretched arm of the guardien.

Guily hit the bar just before half time with an explosive volley, but after the break the ten men had the better of it, with Ligue Une's outstanding player of last season, Yohan Gourcuff, pulling the strings in midfield.

But the reigning champions still couldn't break through the home defence, and then pressed the self destruct button again in the 74th minute. Keita scuffed a clearance straight to Guillame Hoarau, who quickly laid it off to Erding. The Turk, who spent much of the match buzzing around ineffectively like a bee trapped in a jam jar, took the ball into the box before crashing a shot into the net via the underside of the bar for his 12th league goal of the season.

Bordeaux were briefly back in contention when Sane flicked in an 80th minute header from a free kick, but an almost identical goal from Hoarau in the 85th wrapped up the points of the home side. "We drink a beer for Paris, we drink a beer for Yann" sang the Bolougne Boys as the match drew to a close, though perhaps the joy was tempered by the fact that their victory handed the initiative in the title race to their bitter rivals Marseille. It should be an interesting last few weeks in Ligue Une.

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Stuff

Hello all. I'm back from holiday and have returned to a country gripped by ELECTION FEVER. Sort of.

As far as I can tell this election campaign so far has been much like United's season - boring, much too long, and featuring a cast incompetents, none of whom are capable of delivering a positive outcome. Sadly the main difference is that while Lingy can ditch his underperformers in a few weeks time when their present deals expire, one of the political parties is going to be given a new five-year contract to run the country. The mind boggles.

Anyway, in my absence the Mighty U's have won a pointless game against Mansfield (highlights below, looks like it was a cracker), and lost pointless games at Gateshead and Salisbury.



Lingy has been handed his budget for next year, which he considers will put United in the top-eight of the spending league table; "I'd say it's in the top eight budgets in the Conference and I'm happy with that, although I'd say it's nearer eighth than first. In terms of 'is the amount I can spend better than when I came here?', I'd say yes," he told the CN last week.

Sticking to budgets hasn't exactly been United's forte in the last few years, but assuming we can maintain this level of spending, it sounds like a sensible basis on which to build a promotion push. The likes of Dagenham, Aldershot, and (to an extent) Burton have shown that it isn't necessarily the team with the most money that wins this league, and indeed tonight's opponents Oxford have totally lost their momentum since they made several expensive, high profile, additions to their squad in the January transfer window.

It will be interesting to see how a United side, boosted by the return from injury of Saah, Gleeson, Carden, and Crow, fares against the fake U's. We matched them when they came to the Abbey earlier in the season, and hopefully we can pick up at least another point at the Kassam.

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Cheerio, cheerio, cheerio

I considered putting up an amusing spoof post today to mark April Fools day, but United beat me to it by announcing that Blue Square have agreed to sponsor the Conference for another three years, paying a seven figure fee for the privilege.

You'd have to be a right fool to splurge a million quid on backing a crappy league with no TV deal that no one really cares about, they can't really expect us to believe that's true. Marvin's cousin, Melvin, coming over to join Jez George on his walk seems much more plausible to me, ahem.

Anyway, U's Blog will not be updated over the next week or so as I'm going on holiday. Don't worry though, I'll be back in time for the exciting climax of the league season, stay tuned blog fans.

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