Wednesday 22 September 2021

The Three Kit Ref

Sheffield United 2 v Southampton 2 
Southampton win 4-2 on Penalties 
EFL Cup Third Round 
Tuesday 21 September 2021 
SUFC 2021/22 Game #11 

Sheffield United Community Foundation U19 2 v Everton 1 
National Football Youth League 
North East Premier 
Wednesday 22 September 2021 
Played at Handsworth 
SUFC 2021/22 Game #12 

The Beer...

Two Thirds Beer Co, 434-436 Abbeydale Rd, Nether Edge, Sheffield S7 1FQ

are throwing Oktoberfest until October 3. And, you really should go. I won't pretend I know how Oktoberfest works. Never been. Damning it, isn't it as simple as a load of big industrial, international, conglomerate breweries in Bavaria brew some beers to an ever so slightly different recipe. Call 'em Festival Beers. And serve them in a load of circus tents. While presumably banging on about that fucking Reinheitsgebot all the time.

One off Beers you say, in tents. A lot to love there.

I should add that Two Thirds have German Street Food from Get Wurst all year around. (Get Wurst, I mean it's not Ball Sup, but as puns go, Hat Tip).

They've sourced six exclusive Oktoberfest Beers from different breweries. Got some appropriate bunting up. And the Big Drinking Glasses. Nice touch, but for Southampton at home, I'd better have Pints.

Now, I'm an Abbeydale Lad. Used to deliver The Star & Sunday Papers all round here. Sold The Green 'Un outside The Broadfield in a brief marketing experiment. Went to Heeley Baths. Went to the Abbeydale Picture House. Drank in The Temperance Bar. Before I un-saw the light I was in a Paramilitary wing of the Church Of England at St Peter's just up the hill from Two Thirds.

I mention all that just as testament to how things change over the years. Often for the better. Usually for the better. For the better. Look. This Is England. At this time of year, I'd be happy enough with a Green Hop Beer Festival. But, Stomping Ground Oktoberfest will do very nicely.

One of the beers was 4.9%, one 5.7% and the rest 6%+. As an ignoramus, I don't know what you're supposed to do. Drink 'em in a particular order. Pick one & stick to it in a show of brand loyalty. Anyway, we're the Carrier Bag Firm, we're going through the card (idc) & ticking them. 

For the time being, I steered clear of the Weiss & the Hell. I ended up with two yellow 'uns & a vaguely brown 'un.

Paulaner Oktoberfest Bier 2021 at 6%
Staatliches Hofbräuhaus München, Hofbräu Oktoberfestbier at 6.3%
Hacker-Pschorr Oktoberfestbier at 6%

They were all nice. None tasted to those abvs. Fucking dangerous if you're drinking the Big Glasses. My favourite was the Hacker-Pschorr. More amber & malty and more what I'm used to in a Märzen. It was nice & floaty & dreamy & soft. Easy drinking. But I suppose that's the point.

The Southampton game…

Enjoyable enough. Usual situation. Eleven changes. I'll again bang on about Academy Blocking. Lopata, Gordon & Brunt started v Carlisle & Derby in previous rounds. Today, Gordon played for the U23s in Cardiff. Brunt was on the bench at that one. Lopata was an unused Sub at The Lane. Now, I'm not saying it's deliberate. I'm not even saying there's anything wrong with it. But, I'm just pointing out the numbers. Davies & Hourihane & Gibbs-White & Guédioura have come in since then. To give us a bigger, full squad of experienced, Championship Ready players. And that means the Pathway that your Gordons, Brunts & Lopatas can see to the First Team is more crowded, more congested, blocked. 

They've gone from - oh I see, I'm behind him, who is behind him, then it's the other one, then it's ME. To - oh shit, and him now & another one & some old guy who couldn't get a contract anywhere else. (Again, I recognise the inevitability of this at my, and most other, clubs, that's the game). And don't give me any of that shit about - if they're good enough, they'll break through. Why bother with an Academy then? We'll just let kids come down from Graves Park on Monday mornings, have a kick about & if any of them are good enough we'll put them in the First Team on the Saturday.

Pathways get blocked.

That said, our "Midweek XI" performed well against a nominal Premier League team. Organised. Kept the number of mistakes low. Probing & inventive. And, they were able to create chances & put some away. No criticism of Ndiaye from me. He had the screaming ab dab Cramps again. But, that's just where he is as a player & his fitness & his game time. Needs miles in those bow legs. I do wonder how we're going to use him longer term. The more withdrawn and wider role he played tonight kept him out of the game for spells. Only sparking him into life occasionally. I'm not fussed. But, I'm hoping they can find a very attacking role for him as one of a two. Or immediately behind a two.

The Everton game…

A good win for the Community Foundation U19s, in the "Get Phil Out Of The House" League. They'd been hammered 9-1 away at Newcastle last week. So hopefully they'll feel back on track after a deserved win against Everton. 

Previously, I've portrayed the Community Foundation team as Pre Academy. I've since realised that's wrong. Pre Academy better describes the 12/13/14 year olds training at Shirecliffe. With a view to signing into the Academy. The Community Foundation team is more a Shadow Academy, a Parallel Academy. Kids continuing their education, under Sheffield United branding, with a proper training & game program.

I've also called it United's D Team. Behind the First Team, Under 23s and Under 18s. 

I felt today's game was a bit lower quality than games I've seen in previous seasons. A bit more punt it upfield. I presume it's difficult at the beginning of the season. Completely new squad as term time starts. Precious little time for working on systems & plans. Maybe a lot of learning on the job.

Everton took the lead on 12. But the Class Room Blades were level on 14 & ahead on 21. 


In typical Carrier Bag Firm fashion, we were more interested in the poor old Ref. He started the game in Black. Complete colour clash with Everton's mainly black away kit. He pulled an orange bib on. Helping a bit. But, the bit of Everton's kit which was not mainly black, was orange. So, now both Everton & the Ref were in Black & Orange. (Giggling here). He emerged in the second half with a bright yellow shirt. Got a lot of laundry to do this week the fella.

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