U21 Professional Development League
Tuesday 9 August 2022
Played at York City
SUFC 2022/23 Game #3
So, welcome to our new home of U21 Academy games, York City. Indeed, welcome to Under 21 Academy football. Of course, it's not that long ago it switched from U21 to U23. Now, it's switched back. I remember getting my arse handed to me by Travis Binnion when it last went to U23. I asked him;
"Do you think you've been caught out by the switch from 21 to 23?"
"Well Phil, seeing as how we're top of the Under 23 league anyway, probably not…"
We had the"honour" of playing both an away game (v Hull City U23) AND a home game (v Bristol City) at the LNER Community Stadium in York last season. Indeed, by my reckoning we were the third U23 team to use York as a home stadium after Leeds & Hull.
What's going on? Why York? Don't know.
But, being not in the know. Let's speculate. Going to be Demand & Supply innit.
More demand, as we expand the Sheffield United brand, particularly into Women's football.
Less supply. We can't use the McCabe facilities down the 'cliffe. An increasing number of local non-league clubs have/are switching to plastic. (Which can't be used for Professional Development League games). Everyone rubbishes Shirecliffe. And it's constantly dug up.
More teams, more games, fewer venues and pitches.
Presumably Chesterfield have decided they don't want to host any more. And, we've just had to cast the net wider n wider. If you view York as a "council owned pitch" it's maybe easier to just phone up and hire than club owned pitches. (Although I'm sure it's not as simple as that).
One of the Carrier Bag Firm reports chatting to someone in the Scunthorpe United hierarchy when United were there in pre season. He was told United had even sounded Scunthorpe out about hosting one team or another.
You may recall the Curious Case Of Curzon Ashton. A few years ago, Burnley U23 started using Curzon as a home venue for games. At that time, the PDL rules said that clubs had to play home U23 games within FORTY FIVE MINUTES of their main home stadium. Google Maps has Curzon Ashton 44 minutes from Turf Moor. The Premier League have not published the 22/23 Professional Development League Handbook yet. But, they and/or United have clearly driven over the old 45 minute rule.
Anyway. Recap.
Fourteen Category 1 Academies in Premier League 2, Division 2.
Eleven Category 1 Academies in Premier League 2, Division 2
Ten Category 2 Academies in Professional Development League North, including us.
Ten Category 2 Academies in Professional Development League South, including today's opponents Reading.
In the Professional Development League, you play each of your opponents in your own group twice - home and away. And, you play each of the teams in the other group once - home or away.
There is NO promotion/relegation between us (effectively Division 3) and the level above (Premier League 2 Division 2). The only route up is regrading to Category 1. With all the initial & continued funding that needs. It is worth explaining that today's opponents, Reading, have not been able to sustain Category 1 status. (They finished bottom of PL2, Div 2 last season anyway).
Burnley & Birmingham have also had to relinquish Category 1 status this year and revert to playing at our level.
So, long live The Glassworks, Chesterfield. But, for now, we're looking for pastures new.
So, first trialist is;
The Brew York Beer Hall
Unit 6, Enterprise Complex, Walmgate, York YO1 9TT
There's a Tap Room, closed Mon/Tue & opens at 5pm. No good today. And an offy/merch shop. But, up the stairs at 3 bells on a Tuesday is the main show - The Beer Hall. Three booths. Six trestle tables and numerous bar stools & counter tops. Felt nice & welcoming. One of their own on Cask. A remarkable 21 of their own on Keg. And 11 guest Kegs. You ain't limited for choice.
Brew York, Lupo Lion, American Pale Ale on Keg at 5%
CTZ, Cascade & Mosaic (all T90 & Cryo) and Citra (Cryo) on the recipe. Some dry hopping. Unpasteurised & Unfiltered. Nice easy drinking for 5%. Slight lemonade in the smell. Which survives through the early gobfulls. There's some hint of peach. The bitterness is nice, takes you along rather than takes over.
In real-time that felt like a disjointed and disappointing performance. But, thinking it over later, Reading hardly created anything. We had a lot of the ball. And, a lot of the chances. So, on count back that was a deserved win. But, we weren't fluid at all & were sloppy at times, giving the ball away. Just that Reading were worse.
Oli McBurnie is my player. So I like him. But, let's have it right, he's one of those players that are easy to dislike. Thankfully, he's on the comeback trail again. Naturally, he's in the Judicial System again. Some readers may be pleased, but not surprised, to hear that he had a number of moaning like fuck at the referee episodes. Loves a corner does Oli. But, you don't give him one when he thinks you should - you're not hearing the last of it.
He's lost none of his fake shock & horror gestures. And he's nearly there with his three yard jogs towards the ref. And, at times, he just can't get the ball out from under his fucking feet & those ridic socks & shinpads.
Oli was subbed at 60. Which was presumably the plan. He scored the opening goal on 19. It was a great move. Really stretched Reading. And McBurnie was in the striker's position and finished well. Sai Sachdev marauded down the right. A lovely ball to Hassan Ayari outside him. A good, low, put it in the mixer, cross was palmed out & McBurnie did the biz.
McBurnie was the zone man on defensive corners. There was a Carrier Bag Firm view that he could and should have had more goals. There were a few get on the end of crosses, but just hang a leg out there finishes. With the ball just falling tamely to the keeper. Sighs. I feel like I've seen that time & time again. Drive at it, get the lot on it, put power on, don't take it off. Don't get something on it. Get SOMETHING on it.
Anyway, he is where he is. Recovery trail.
New man Dylan Wharton with the gloves & different coloured jersey. Set up as a back three. Connor Barratt in the middle. Starbuck on his right. Gomis on his left. Jili Buyabu wide left wingback. The excellent Sai Sachdev at right wingback. McBurnie and Osula up top. Ayari pushed up a bit in midfield. The (now very) experienced George Broadbent anchoring midfield with Louie Marsh.
A bit of a shape change when McBurnie came off. Charlie Staniland into midfield and Ayari pushed even further up with Will Osula.
Heckingbottom, McCall, Lester & Geary were all sat up in the stands. I can report that senior coaching staff did NOT outnumber the Carrier Bag Firm on this long trip. But, (winks), it was close.
Connor Barratt was calm and assured. I will say he didn't have a lot to deal with. But, confident bringing the ball out at his feet. On the day, Osula was much more of an attacking threat than McBurnie. Indeed, the main threat came from Sachdev & Osula combining. Time and time again Sai would break forward, not shy about coming inside either. Osula would run the inside right channel. And Sai would hit firm & accurate balls to him. Simple. Love that.
A slight variation of that for the second goal on 78. Sachdev won his header in right midfield. Drove on powerfully. Crossed it low & deep. And Osula got SOMETHING on it to steer it home.
United started both halves well. A chance on just 40 seconds as Osula broke free (this time, inside left channel). He really should have scored but shot across the goal. And 45+ 40 seconds was one of those McBurnie hang a leg out efforts.
Reading did create the odd bit of stuff. On 15, matey has met a corner on the volley on the penalty spot. Wharton did really well to get his body in the way.
It was red hot. The players were having drinks break. Maybe inevitably, the game lacked energy & cohesion at times. But, you'd think under those circumstances, someone would put their foot on it and look for control. But, as I said, it was quite one sided at times.
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