Sub lasts four minutes

Frickley Athletic 2 v Sheffield United XI 3
(billed as Development/U23)

Pre Season Friendly

Friday 20 July 2018

SUFC 2018/19 Game 5

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That was the 209th different ground I’ve watched a Sheffield Utd XI play on. A badge. Goalposts. That’s all I’m looking for. All ages. All competitions. All friendlies. I point that out, because another stalwart of the Carrier Bag Firm has a similar (but higher) number to me. But, he’s killing himself. Imposing unhelpful restrictions. On his own count. “Must have a turnstile” and shit like that. Mate…..

So far, I’d not seen the Development Mob this season. There have been some moves & changes. Eastwood, Slater & Norrington-Davies have been with the First Team. And, today, Slater has gone to Carlisle on loan. Graham has gone to Oldham. Gilmour has gone to Tranmere. Semple has gone to Queen Of The South. All good. All for their benefit. And ours, of course. But, that is the core of last year’s team gone in a stroke.

The more recent policy of bringing older lads in has continued.

Nicksoen Gomis from Evreux FC 27
Jordan Amissah - previous includes Borussia Dortmund and Schalke
Zak Brunt - previous includes Matlock Town and Derby County
Reece York from Fulham
Harry Sheppeard from Tadcaster Albion

Sheppeard & York both trialled last season & the club has announced they have signed. Both featured tonight, over on the right. Sheppeard as right wing back & York pushed in front in midfield. The only two names I didn’t really recognise on the Teamsheet were Ash Kigbu & Karsten Ayong. So, here Googles nothing……

Karsten Ayong (I assume wrongly as Karston on the teamsheet). Born in January 1998. Variously described as from Cameroon & Czech Republic. He has been playing at 1 FK Pribram in the Czech 2nd Tier. He played as recently as 16 May this year. Not sure. I didn’t see Binnion carrying any mysterious brown envelopes. Anyway, when the book is writ. He’s banged in two goals. Nothing showy. And maybe his second was a bit lucky as it took a deflection. But, two goals is two.  I felt he started a bit off the pace. There was a bit of shuffling & rejigging up top with him. Slowly he got into it. Look, this was certainly no “rip them a new one” performance. But, he did his bits & got a brace. His first came on 35 mins. He got the ball in the inside right channel. He looked composed, he kept his head & rolled it wide of the keeper. That made it one all. Karsten bagged his second just after the restart. He got a good, clean shot away. But, it looked a little lucky to take a deflection past the keeper.

Maybe Utd didn’t plan on Ayong playing the 90. More experienced and bedded in Academy lads Tyler Smith & David Parkhouse were on the bench. Parky came on a half time - in a suite of substitutions, I’ll say he replaced Stephen Mallon. No drama - I like Parkhouse. Puts himself about. When he’s at it, he barrels in on goal. Sure, I’d like him to bag many more. There are always rumours linking him back with Nick Cox at Manchester United. Hhhhmmm. I’d be surprised.  Anyway, Jake Wright Jnr has gone. Welcome the new King Of Capers. Parkhouse has come on for the second half. Ayong has scored after 46. Once the game is live again, there is an almighty melee in the Frickley half. Fingers, shouting, pushing, of which there was a lot. I’m hearing punches thrown (not own eyes). Looked to me like Parkhouse & Jordan Doherty were bang at it. All calms down (ish). Conference. Binnion subs Parkhouse maybe FOUR MINUTES after he’s come on. I’m thinking the plan is Ty Smith comes on for Ayong at some point. Now they’ve all got to go for 40 minutes in the second half. My notes generously say “Parky subbed to make it all alright for everybody”

Ash Kigbu. Presumably Ahogrenashinme Kigbu. From Manchester City’s system. Born in February 1999. In the first half, he set up as the left of a back three. George Cantrill in the middle & Keenan Ferguson on the right. After the half time sub disruption & then the Parkhouse sub disruption, Kigbu seemed to be pushed forward a bit more - basically midfield. Look, he didn’t really catch my eye. I thought he made a few good defensive headers in the first half. The U Two Threes had serious patches of consistently giving the ball away. I mean fucking giving it away. Kigbu played a role in that. But, he weren’t on his Jacks.

Frickley looked very well organised at times. Their attacking work at corners can only be described as Lovely. They got men free time after time, and on the end of crosses. They’ve clearly been working on ‘em. Lots of variation. Every man knew his role. Short. Runs. Blocks. They were very effective. I felt Frickley had the best of the first half. United looked disjointed at times & really couldn’t get much going.

Boyes set up as Left Wingback & Sheppeard on the right. Simeon Oure, Jordan Doherty & Reece York were in midfield. Ayong & Stephen Mallon up top. Development is often about finding your role. I’ve seen Mallon play left wingback, wide left midfield & up top. No, not for me. I don’t like him up top. Utd were very fluid - but, Oure & Mallon both looked better in midfield than when they took a turn up top. After the break, Ky Gordon went to the middle of a three, Cantrill on his left & Ferguson on his right.

Frickley went ahead in the 18th minute. Despite their crafting of corners, dead balls & cross field moves, it was a fairly standard long ball that caught the Young Blades out. The Frickley Fella has chased it, shook the defender off, noticed Eastwood advancing. He’s got something on it from maybe thirty yards out. And, it has looped nicely into Eastwood’s net.

After 30, Eastwood had made a very poor clearance straight to their man. That put us under a lot of pressure & we had to concede a free kick on the edge of the box. That was symptomatic of the self-inflicted loss of possession we seemed to be specialising in. Jake did redeem himself a few moments later as he made a fingertip, point blank save from a great header from another Frickley corner.

United did start getting it together & they went 3-1 up after 63. Next Loan Cab Off The Rank Tyler Smith won it, wriggled, & worked it down our right. Slipped it inside to Oure. He calmly knocked it in from close range.  Generally, United looked much livelier when Ty Smith was on. He gives you an outlet. There usually seems to be summat happening. There is a bit of pace.

Overall, a good work out. I liked the look of Frickley & they were on top at times. But, the U23s dug in. Kept at it. Ayong has got his brace. Somewhat bizarrely, my One To Watch is Harrison Neal. Who wasn’t listed on the teamsheet. But, I’m sure that was him who came on for Reece York. He does look composed and assured on the ball. Always looking for it & creating a buzz.

So, I’ve got the train to Moorthorpe (still in the South Yorkshire zone - to look after the pennies). Then it’s a 50 minute walk to the Brewery/Pub I had secretly earmarked. I’d heard some of the other Carrier Bag Firm plans. Rotherham was mentioned. “No thanks”. This is how the mad world of the CBF works. I’m 10 minutes from the Ale House. Middle of nowhere. It’s not in Frickley. It’s not in South Elmsall. It’s past all that. Further away from Sheffield. Car stops. Two CBF.
“Do you want a lift Phil?”
“Where fucking to? I’m heading for a microbrewery”
“Hamelsworde, there’s a brewery there”
“Yes, that fucking one”

They give me a lift, we get the beers in. Next people through the door - Two More CBF. Unbelievable.

Hamelsworde, Spanish Stout on cask at 4.2%. That was decent enough. But, nothing special. The flavours were subdued but pleasant.

683/1431