Pretty Vacant
Mon, April 6 2009
The weeks ahead now seem a little vacant to most Northern Ireland football supporters following the unforgettable highs of the week gone by.
It wasn't so much the results, but the performances and most notably the atmosphere generated inside Windsor Park. It just gets better and better. For a stadium that holds a mere 14,000 it has to offer one of the most spine-chilling atmospheres in Europe.
Warren Feeney is the new Ulster hero and he won't be made forget it in a hurry. He has obviously improved his chances at Dundee United and with Cardiff looking good for a play-off position in the Championship, he could get recalled should there be an injury crisis towards the end of the season.
Meanwhile, Crewe Alex have agreed to extend Michael O'Connor's loan deal with Lincoln City until April 13th. It is said the decision has been made to allow him to feature in the Red Imps forthcoming bank holiday games against Luton and Bradford City. However, it's no secret that Alex manager Gudjon Thordarson and Occy aren't exactly golfing buddies.
Grant McCann topped off his week with a cracking left-foot shot to put Scunthorpe into extra-time in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy with only two minutes remaining at Wembley yesterday. However, it wasn't to be enough as Luton sub Claude Gnakpa stole the show to give the Hatters a 3-2 victory.
Pato's back from injury at Burnley playing 77 minutes in their 1-1 draw against Derby on Saturday. The Clarets are looking good for a play-off place and with 17 goals in the Championship Pato could well be in the shop window should Burnley gain promotion.
So delighted are the IFA that they have offered Nigel Worthington a new two-year extension to his contract but only once a new chief executive is in place. Just what this means in terms of timescales is anyone's guess but with the closed season looming we want to be sure we're in a position to fend off any dangling carrots.
Finally, it seems we are playing Italy afterall in June. Worthers let it slip in the post match press conference after the Slovenia game but rumours were well and truly abound. Conveniently it's an away fixture as always, but at least June 6th is a Saturday. With the highs of the past week and an impressive draw for the Republic in Italy midweek, the GAWA will be hoping for something from the game. It has not yet been decided where the game is to be played.
home
