A Belting

Linfield 5 v Sheffield United 1
(Billed as U23)

Pre Season Friendly

Tuesday 25 July 2017

Twitter @ball_sup

A proper beating that one. On a positive note, the U23s looked better in the second half. (Although maybe Linfield had taken their foot off the gas by then). It was nil nil in the second half for a long period. In the end, Linfield bagged one to make it five. I'd stopped making notes & gone for a drink a long time before that.

I was told that was more or less a first team squad for Linfield. So, they've played four Champions League games already. Including two v Celtic. It'll have been a great experience for the youngsters to play at, what is now, a nicely set up National Stadium. Against a proper ManTeam. The damage was done in a short period of the first half. Linfield scoring at will for a bit.

United set up with Rory Feely in the centre of a back three. Presumably that's the 20 year old from St Patrick's. Presumably he's on a trial. Presumably we'll not see him again. Because definitely he gave two penalties away. And definitely he got run ragged. Presumably.

To be fair. In that first half spell. The whole XI were run ragged.

Marcus Dewhurst was betwixt the sticks. He made a couple of good saves. At times, he looks like what he is. A very young lad. But, he shouldn't worry about conceding five in these circumstances.

Stephen Mallon (coming back from a knock) came on in the second half. Belfast born. A lot of his family here. He was here there everywhere trying to impress. Interestingly, he played up in front of Norrington-Davies. In a more advanced attacking role.

Harvey Gilmour looks the part more and more. He works very well in midfield with Regan Slater. United's main bright spot was a lovely goal (to make it 3-1). Norrington-Davies made a clean break down our left. Took it on at pace. And neatly found Hallam in the box. Who knocked it home.

That was my fifth visit to Windsor Park. United away in 1996 & 2002. England away in 1985 & 2005. So, obviously, it's the first time I've been there since the major improvements. The bar has changed though. It used to be down there at the Railway End. It's now at the other end of the stand. Simple rule. If you can get a drink & sit and watch the match you do. No matter what it is. Look away. I had a pint of Tennent's (4%).

But. Redressing balance. I had some belting NI beers in some Belting Belfast Boozers.

The Woodworkers. I counted 12 pukka keg. Mainly Brewdog & stuff from South of the Border. Only one NI. Nice friendly place. All dark and exposed brick & school stools & all that palaver.

Farmageddon, Gorse IPA on keg at 6.3%. Apparently it's got gorse in it. No. Really. I like it 'cause it's a whacking great IPA. Sweetness, including residual. But you want that at 6.3% abv. And, you need it to lead into the bitterness. I'm getting that - hops or gorse. Don't know. Don't care. It's a very nice beer.

The Sunflower (CAMRA Guide). One handpull. Two pukka NI micro on keg. And a bundle of Northbound bottles in the fridge.

Hilden, Barney's Brew, Belfast Bap Wheat Beer on Cask at 5%. I really enjoyed that. Clearly been fucked around with a bit. But, the flavours are all very much in sync. Merest hint of sour in the beginning. Hay & citrus burst. Pepper in the finish. Salute to the chef (and brewer).

The Bridge House. 'spoons. You know the drill.

Whitewater, Maggies Leap IPA on keg at 4.7%. Nice beer. Some honey on the nose. And it does come up with some initial sweetness. But, it's then no nonsense bitterness. Nothing harsh. Just straight ahead IPA. Just what I needed after the Tennent's.

This next bit of the Blog survives & has been rehashed from an early piece for the S24SU Forum.

An exiled Unitedite who hasn't watched much U23 Football haf a chance to see this game. He politely asked for help, advice, players to look out for. Here you go..

I watch United Development Teams to enjoy it there & then, in the moment. Generally, I don't think “I'm sure he'll make it”. Never do I think “he's not good enough”.

But, for what it's worth, here is my pre-season players to watch for Sheffield United U23. That is not watch because they'll make it. That is watch, see, enjoy.

The approach

I'm no official mouthpiece. But here's my interpretation. United very much see the U23s as a DEVELOPMENT team. They are very much NOT an old skool reserve team. Sure, the Professional Development League rules allow some underage players. Sure, the occasional first teamer is coming back from injury & need a run out. But, in our U23s those are the exception. David Brooks & Louis Reed were essentially first team squad players in 2016/17. But, they still were/are in their Development phase. So, it was quite right that they should “drop down” to the U23s. Not so Chris Hussey, James Wilson, etc. If I was Travis Binnion, I'd think “he's a fully formed footballer, what can we teach him ffs”.

United cull players young. If they haven't made it here yet, they won't make it here, let them see whether they can make it elsewhere. Here's the facts. Every year, I get one year older. So do the Academy lads. Another set of lads coming up behind them. It's tough.

United got rid of some 20 & 21 year olds. So, they would have been a very young UNDER 21 (Twenty One) side. Then the PDL changed the rules to UNDER 23. Leaving us with a ridiculously young U23 side. I once asked Travis “do you think you got caught out by the switch from U21 to U23?”

You know what the Cheeky Get said? “Look at the league table, it doesn't seem to be doing us any harm”. Did I already say I've got a man crush on him?

United also push you up, play you, give you the Captaincy if they think you've got it. Travis again (I'm paraphrasing) “if the first time a player is under pressure & struggling is on their first team debut in front of 25k at a baying & passionate Bramall Lane, we, the Academy staff have failed”.

Callum Semple & Regan Slater are the most recent to be pushed up ahead of their age & given the U23 Captain/Leadership role.

Having been successful in local recruitment, United have had groups of Sheffield lads, Blades themselves in the U18/U23 ranks. You'd see some of them in the away end at first team games sometimes. True, true, through & through, like me & you Blades. Always sad when they have to be released from a club they've always loved, will always love, & have played for since they were eight. Jo Cummings is/was a prime example of that. Salute….

The success of the Academy, league position, titles, play off winners, the Kyles, Lowton, Harry, Dom, Ramsdale, a bit more money in the pot - all mean we have been increasingly able to suck players in who haven't grown up in our system. Sometimes because they've been released elsewhere - David Brooks. Sometimes because the recruiters have seen something in them in non league or junior football - Rhys Norrington-Davies, Horatio Hirst.

Anyway. The players

Jordan Hallam

Turns 19 in October. Jordan played for the first team in the dead rubber Checkatrade Trophy away game at Grimsby.

If pushed. To say one player who will make it. I say Jordan Hallam. I don't know when he'll make it. I don't know where he'll make it. I do know SUFC have a bottleneck. I expect he'll make it elsewhere, not SUFC. And probably not at the highest level.

Partly, I judge on his stats. Ten goals in 2016/17 at U23 and 19 goals at U18. Partly, I judge on his skills. He's a dead ball specialist. It's back to the (Keith) Edwards Of Nazareth days. I've seen games where Jordan has taken every corner & free kick in the attacking half. Even pumping free kicks forward from his own half at times.Remember, he's essentially an up top, or in the hole, striker. He can't cross the corner and dab it home as well ! (Although I notice in pre season that Harvey Gilmour has been taking more corners & free kicks).

Those dead ball skills will be invaluable to him if he ever has to find another club. He's not big & tall. More of a goal poacher striker. And, he is pacy, good with the ball at his feet. He can Fox in the Box. Whack a free kick home. Leave defenders behind as he zips forward. It's his RANGE of skills that I like.

Stephen Mallon

(I believe) Belfast born. Indeed, played for Northern Ireland at youth level. But, subsequently threw his lot in with the Republic Of Ireland. In March 2017, Stephen was in the Republic Of Ireland U19 squad in the UEFA U19 EUROs Elite Qualifying round in Belgium. Unfortunately, they failed to qualify for the finals, (won by Aaron Ramsdale’s England U19 side). Stephen’s switch from NI to ROI actually caused a bit of controversy at the time. Jim Magilton,  (Northern) Irish Football Association Elite Performance Director was reported as saying;

“If young players from Northern Ireland are being approached by FAI officials who work in England then that is not particularly good practice in my opinion"

I think Stephen is one of the players who has developed most in our Academy system. Essentially a wide left player. Back in the day, I often thought he was isolated & anonymous. But, when Travis switches to three at the back, Stephen excels at left wing back. That role brings him into the game much more. This will be a very important season for Stephen. Rhys Norrington-Davies will also be challenging for that same left wing back position. That highlights the tough swim or sink nature of Academy football.

Tyler Smith

Some similarities to Jordan Hallam - a pacy, nippy striker. Some similarities to Stephen Mallon - one of the rapidly improving youngsters. I didn't quite see it in Tyler when he first broke through. He seemed a good way behind a whole bunch of promising Academy strikers. But, his game has come on leaps and bounds. He's good off the ball, channel runs, taking defenders away. He has good close control at pace. Nearer goal, he always seems calm & aware. His goals are much more likely to be rolled out of the keepers reach, than blasted home.

Sam Graham

United have had a production line of Centre Halves. Maguire, Tel Kennedy, Sam Berry, Ioan Evans. Jo Cummings was recently released & has been taken on by Charlton. In my opinion, Callum Semple is the best of the current bunch. Good all round game. He's been pushed up the ranks. And, has even been a very young Captain of the U23s. However, Callum got a bad injury last season and is only just on his way back.

So, I'm going to highlight Sam Graham. No point dodging it. For a young lad, he's an immense physical presence/specimen. He's got the same ManBoy physicality Maguire had. Have a look at his legs !

He's sent from Central Casting. If you saw him in Aldi, your first thought would be - fuck me, I'd bet he'd make a good Centre Half. The next thing I notice on the pitch is how calm he is. He rarely seems to get involved in the bluster & bollocks. When steam is coming out of everyone else's head, Sam seems to remain outside all that. That calmness & surety comes through when he's on the ball as well. Maybe he feels he doesn't have to puff his chest out. You know. Given that his build means it's out already. The physical & the mental - can only help him as he goes forward.

Regan Slater

Like Jordan Hallam, Regan also played for the First Team in the Checkatrade at Grimsby. And he scored a great goal as well. Like Callum Semple, Regan has been pushed up through the leadership ranks to be a very young Captain of the U23s. That goal at Grimsby was actually a little unusual. I see Regan as more of a box to box midfielder. Rather than an out and out attacking midfielder. Indeed, Slater did the back of the diamond Coutts role in the Oxford City game. Energetic, bang at it, quick accurate feet, great get up there & support & track back engine. In that sense, he's got the lot.

Wrist casts

If you see a tall, dark haired centre forward wearing a wrist cast, that is David Parkhouse. (I believe) David is still 17. (I believe) Strabane born. David has already played & SCORED for Northern Ireland U21 in a EURO 2019 Qualifier. Straight ahead, up top, target man striker.

If you see a tall, blond haired centre forward wearing a wrist cast, looking for all the world like Jostein Flo, that is Jake Wright Jnr. Think of him as the anti-Sam Graham. Calm he ain't. Look, I love the bloke. But, his combative nature is beginning to work against him imho. Pulling the centre back down, trying to convince the ref it's him that's been pulled down. The eyeballing, the verbals, the gesticulating. Mate. Lay it off. Lose your man. Make a run. Drill it home. Eleven men good. Ten men bad.

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