The Wrong Colquhoun

Stocksbridge Park Steels 2 v Sheffield United XI 3
(Billed as U21s)

Wednesday 15 July 2015

Twitter @ball_sup

I called into Shakespeares on Gibraltar St on the way through to Stocksbridge. Always love it in here. Unfortunately, the Hopcraft dry hopped with German hops beer went off the pumps before my eyes.

So, I settled on Totally Brewed, 4 Hopmen Of The Apocalypse on cask at 5.2%. Bit of honey sweetness on the nose & in the mouth. Gives way quickly to floral bitterness. The bitter is a little complex. Some spiciness. Maybe ginger.

Some fella has left wherever he was sat in the pub to come into the room I was in. Just so he can take/make a phonecall about his job search activities (to/from the DHSS by the sound of it). I've shifted as he's shouting. Pub etiquette mate. Think on. You’ve had to shift from wherever you were, to come & get in my face.

My first time at Stocksbridge Park Steels. I was a bit disappointed to find The Miners Arms up the road has very recently closed, but already seems to be a house/flats/building site. A nice, upstairs Clubhouse arrangement, with windows overlooking the pitch. One Cask, Bradfield, Farmers Blonde at 4%. Lovely condition, refreshing.

Once we get deep into the U21 season, it’s usually a) the proper age group guys Morgs has inherited & been working with, b) the odd overage player who can’t make the 1st team (for eg Higdon) or is coming back from injury c) trialists. But, there is a subtraction as well, as United send players out to local non-league teams for further (& different) development.

We haven’t really seen any of the younger fringe first teamers yet. No Reed, Dimaio, Calvert-Lewin, de Girolamo, Adams. The assumption has to be, they are part of the being assessed First Team Squad. We are seeing the odd new name, assumed trialists. Notably ALEX WILES, who has started both games. Google has him as previously in Rotherham’s system. At Stocksbridge, we also had ROSS COLQUHOUN starting. Now confusion reigns.

United hero Eddie Colquhoun was at both Penistone & Stocksbridge. I spoke to him. Despite there being a Colquhoun out there in red n white, it is actually Alex Wiles who is Eddie's Grandson. I have nothing significant to report on Wiles, Colquhoun, nor the other new (to me) names on the bench. But, here is my scouting report.

Early doors, but maybe the U21 core is emerging. Willis in goal. Banton & Evans at centre half. Graham Kelly at left back. Jake Wright, Jamie McDonagh & Danny Cockerline competing for places up front. Otis Khan & Ben Whiteman fitting wherever it suits. Joel Coustrain & CJ Hamilton competing for midfield/wide slots.

David Brooks, by my calculation has just turned 18. And, sorry fella, doesn't look it. Mainly because of his "babyface". Physically, he still looks slight. You may recall, he came to The Lane/Shirecliffe from the Manchester City set up. So, clearly he was highly thought of as a youngster. He's quick, got the skills, but in an effective rather than flashy way. I hope they persevere with him at this age group.

I had criticised Joel Coustrain at Penistone as being anonymous. He was much brighter here. And bagged two goals. He's (my calc) 19, so still a few years at this group. I've remarked before that he stays strong and is difficult to knock off the ball. Tonight, it was Cockerline who looked a little anonymous.

Otherwise, it all looked straightforward. No shockers. Everybody getting there. Good shifts. By this time next week, the first team will have had two run outs, and the U21s another one. We should know more.

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