Carlsberg don't do weeks...

For you 'farriners': What's Loughgall famous for?

To paraphrase the famous TV spot slightly. Linfield scraped a 2-1 win away to Loughgall last night, Thompson and that man Ferguson again being the heroes. To use a cheesy cliche, truly a sign of Champions, getting results even when you play badly :)

Bu the icing on the cake was Glentoran's 2-1 home defeat against Ballymena, just days after our duffing of them. So much for the 'big reaction'. So now we are 5 points clear at the top, and the Glens now have their 2 biggest games of the season lined up, Portadown away, a place they haven't won at for years, and Linfield at home on Boxing Day, a fixture they haven't come out on top in in 17 years! The results of these two matches will define the Irish League season.

The Glentoran fans are not a happy bunch, and it in part shows the fickleness of football fans. 8 months ago, when their Linfield reject M*rgan scored a last-gasp goal against us to more or less secure the title, they were in ecstasy. Now, 5 point behind us, some want Coyle out. Let's put things in perspective. Glentoran have lost 1 league match this season. In fact, they have only dropped 7 points in 12 games. Coyle is one of their most successful ever managers. They still have a chance to put things right. I would wager their points total is on a par with last season, it's just that Linfield have raised the bar this season.

On the other hand, by all accounts they are playing diabolically and grinding out results. This season, we are witnessing possibly one of the weakest Irish Leagues in history. Coyle has fallen out with some of his top players. He failed to strengthen sufficiently during the summer. The parallels with Linfield last season are startling. We lost a league game to Ballymena at home. We lost the CIS cup final to the Gurns. We were playing crap and still grounding out results. OUr manager's position was being questioned by fans. I look forward to them being as successful as us in the league last season ;)

The Glenmen shouldn't be surprised. I haven't witnessed them retain a league title in my lifetime. It is a Linfield speciality to piss on their parade after a league win and reimpose themselves yet again.

Roll on Boxing Day, I'll be there...