Surprisingly Joyous

Sheffield United 0 v Barnsley 0

Saturday 23 April 2016

League 1

Played at Bramall Lane

Twitter @ball_sup

Today’s Adkins Home Grown/Scouted from Non-League quotient - 3/11 = 27%. And, no, I’m not giving him SUFC Academy Graduate Otis Khan, on Barnsley’s bench.

Joyous at half-time. They let the new Academy U8 (yes, eight) intake kids have a run round the track. The most bizarre collection of suits, jackets, ties, waistcoats, strides & even a Dickie Bow. Every single one of ‘em in their Bramall Lane Saturday best attire. Waving at the crowd & clapping themselves & the crowd. Hilarious & fantastic in equal measure.

And, there was very little Cheddering in my hearing. (I was sat on the left of the Kop). I thought the tempo may have been raised given his acquittal at the Royal Courts Of Justice in the week. I heard a little bit right at the end as the crowd got restless & it was clearly heading for nil nil.

So, I’ve said I was Joyous. But, while I want to let people pay their respects in their own way. And, I certainly don’t want to be disrespectful. I don’t feel this Grief Industry stuff has any place in football. Today, in the lead up to kick off, it was a run through on the Big Screen of players, supporters, etc who have passed away. We were asked to stand while some sombre music played (dirge). And then conclude with a minute’s applause.

At half-time, the deceased list ran on the scoreboard again. And, we had a run through a few Prince (deceased) tunes. Some Bangers of course. But, for me, no part for all this grief stuff at football. For the sensitive readers of this Blog, I’ll confirm Goodison’s name wasn’t up there. Even though many of you announced his death on Twitter only recently. Indeed, I saw him on Wednesday & he looked alive then. FFS.

Them U8s though……..

Little crawl this afts. The Beer Engine (Arbor, Yakima Valley on cask at 7%). Portland House (Otley, Inspiration IPA on cask at 5.8%). The Beer House (Saltaire, New World Red on cask at 5.2% & Abbeydale Mosaic on keg at 4.1%). All belters.

It’s sort of done now. A win would have kept us clinging on to something. I thought we lacked attacking intent. But, one of the reasons we lack that is - where is it going to come from? Sharp has “had” to become this bloke looking for the ball deep, taking it with his back to goal & harrying defenders. No one makes a strong decisive attempt at the ball if a low one gets hit in or across. It’s too tentative. No gambling. I thought they were OK in parts. (Many around me clearly didn’t). Getting tight. Pressing. Denying space. But, that’s defending, not attacking. Very little creatively. Nothing incisive. Not dire, but not done.

306/641