Weeds, Microwave, Garden

Watford U23 1 v Sheffield United U23 1

U23 Professional Development League

Friday 17 August 2018

Played at Maurice Rebak Stadium, Wingate & Finchley FC

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That was the 211th ground I have watched a Sheffield United XI play on.

That was my first look at United under 23s this season. I missed the first home game v Ipswich. Which we won. My considered opinion of the forthcoming season is more of the same, and all change.

I once went to a question and answer with Travis Binnion. He explained a phrase that he claimed not to particularly like - “Talent Through Trauma”. It basically means put the young lads under some pressure. Don't let the first time we find out whether they can handle it be in their first team debut at The Lane. Crikey Trav, I didn't think you meant this. The most experienced Academy lads are all out on loan. Graham at Oldham. Smith at Barrow. Slater at Carlisle. Gilmour at Tranmere and Semple at Queen of the South. Deliberately robbing yourself of 5 key players is Extreme Trauma mate. But, that's how we roll. Ship 'em out. Move on up. And keep on wishing. Remember your dream is your only scheme. So keep on pushing. Hang on, where am I going with this…..

A quick reminder of the format. The Professional Development League is split into a North Division and a South Division. Ten teams in each.  You play everyone in your own division Home and Away and everyone in the other division just once either home or away. That gives a 28 game season. The top of the North play off against the number twos of the South (and vice versa). That gives you an overall Final.

With so many players on Development Loans, here's where we are looking.

Stephen Mallon. Needs to shake of the injuries he's prone to. No real need to find a position on the park just yet. Versatility will help him out. They've tried him at left wing back, attacking midfielder & up top. Bin him at wing back for me. He's tricky. Great ball skills. Eye for goal. He needs to get in games. Stay in games. And make a real impact in games. Today. Did. Applause.

He came on at Half Time. They shuffled to a “somewhat” four at the back. Mallon set up wide right. But, very quickly went roving. He absolutely clattered his man, before he'd even touched the ball himself. Watford battered us at times in the first half. I don't know how it stayed at one nil. But, the reshuffle, the kick up the arse & Mallon’s impact put us right in it. Stephen scored after 61 minutes to equalise. He got played in. Took the ball into his stride. Kept it alive & calmly knocked it past the keeper.

Jordan Hallam even had two great efforts in the last 15 minutes to win it. He beat the offside trap. (ie lazy defending). Took it on, and for all money I thought he'd score. His placed shot hit the keeper. After that he had a great old blaze at the ball & the keeper tipped it over.

There needs to be word for keeper Marcus Dewhurst as well. (This'll be good, I famously know a lot about keeping FFS). He made a great save at the death, when both teams were going for it. And, when Watford were putting the lot in during the first half, Marcus kept us alive. My notes say he made two great saves in the first four mins. To me. He looks a little raw & unorthodox at times. Almost as if he'd never really thought of being a keeper until he was 14. (He was an outfield player until then). Gets in unusual positions in the box. And has to use all his agility to drag himself back into it. Swears a lot as well, the little bastard.

Great day. Non-League Blades - I like to style it. Wingate & Finchley trying their best to be glorious hosts. Just the little things not up to speed. On 22 minutes, the fella who was serving tea in The Boardroom was pulling weeds up from the back of Trav & Dungworth’s dugout. He had to get back in The Boardroom sharpish on 41 minutes. Because a new Microwave was being delivered. Triallist William Lengania blazed one over on 31. And, I mean OVER. I won't knock him. It was one of the few times we'd been in their half. But, it took one Boardroom fella, one Wingate & Finchley tracksuit fella & one Watford Sub to get it back from the road & big hedge & gardens of nearby houses.

The original set up was; Sheppeard & Boyes as wing backs. Gordon, Cantrill & Ferguson as a three. Doherty in front of the three. York & Oure buzzing. Hallam & triallist Lengania up top.

Mallon replaced Gordon at HT - and we went to a four. Broadbent came on for Lengania at 75. And we went fluid, up & at 'em, get the lot going forward.

While we're on the subject. Lengania didn't show enough to keep me interested. Not awful. (Although that fucking shot onto Summers Lane was). But, nothing outstanding. Isolated at times in the first half. And looked a bit reluctant to dig in & go and find the ball. He was static at times. Then mad short bursts of activity. OK, not awful. No.

George Cantrill lost the ball a few times in those mad first ten minutes. But, generally, everything settled down. Watford looked good. Kept coming. Should be annoyed they didn't close it out by half time. They've hit the bar. It's been scrambled off our line. Then we regrouped at half time & got it going. Either team could have won it late on.

697/1459