Looks young for 23

Nottingham Forest U23 3 v Sheffield United U23 1

Monday 29 August 2016

U23 Professional Development League 2, North

Played at The City Ground, Nottingham

Twitter @ball_sup

United were outplayed by (what looked a good) Forest side. No excuses. You have to manage your resources at this level. We have a clear problem. U18 & First Team on Saturday. U23 today. And, EFL Trophy Tuesday. In the past, managers have been tempted to play weaker teams, with more fringe players in the EFL Trophy.

Reed, Whiteman, Brooks, Wallace K & Calvert-Lewin were all missing here. So, I’d expect them to be involved against Leicester. So, we had a very young U23 side. All of those players out there at Forest except Connor Hall, Shea Gordon, George Long & James Wallace had been involved as players or subs in the U18s on Saturday. It wasn’t much more than an U18+ side. Still, no excuses. Well beaten.

Let’s get right to the heart of it. There is a bit less hustle & bustle in the stands. It’s easier to concentrate. It’s less intense. So, us Carrier Baggers can watch the game in a slightly different way. I had a real good look at George Long. Man, he’s struggling. (In my opinion). I’ll even go so far as to say, he doesn’t look like a keeper at times. He’s a great shot stopper. He was quick off his line for a couple of one on ones. His distribution is so so. But, what is really noticeable is how he sets it up for corners. Let’s have it right. He knows he’s not coming for any crosses. His defence know he isn’t coming for any crosses. Their lads know he isn’t coming for any crosses. It’s his show. He floods the six yard box with defenders. And relies on them to deal with owt.

For the first one, a corner on our left, their right has fallen loose. OK, it has dropped perfectly for the fella. He swivels & whacks it in. But he can’t be 8 yards out, maybe 6. Just off centre towards the back stick. Needed dealing with.

For the third one, a corner on our right, their left. Good delivery towards the near post. Their bloke steals a yard. Gets in a good flick header. But, he looks 3 to 4 yards out. Long just rooted on the line. Needed dealing with.

I know people will say “he’s always been like that”. Which I accept. But, he looks really short on confidence. I hope the fella can turn it around. Either with us. Or with Fresh Start FC.

And. I’ve long felt James Wallace would be a great addition to our first team squad. If he could get & keep fit. I know it’s an in joke. About him never lasting more than 20 minutes or whatever. To me, he just looks comfortable & assured on the ball. Basically, he knows how to play. He did OK. Lasted 60 minutes before being hauled off. Looked to be blowing at times. But, he had a lot of work to do. The Smiths Kimarni & Tyler are really wide strikers. They were asked to sort of play wide midfield. Even though we were getting beat, it often looked like 4-2-4. With Wallace & Shea Gordon running around trying to boss midfield. At this level, Wallace looked decent. He’s clearly way off fitness. I don’t know what to say about that. Maybe get him running laps & laps & laps at Shirecliffe. He’s no good to us if he can’t get fit. And, I doubt others will take a gamble. I’m guessing his future lies elsewhere if he can get it together.

The Trent Bridge Inn is a lovely pub. It’s a ‘spoons. But. it’s like a Premium Wetherspoons. It’s in a lovely area, getting on towards West Bridgford. And after all, it’s a pub converted into a Wetherspoons. Not a theatre, or a bank, or a water board office. I love that extra room & bar which looks onto the back of the Cricket Ground. I ended up with a pint of Marstons Single Hop Series, Melba on cask at 4%. I’d already had Cerveceria Fort, Barcelona Session Ale on cask at 5% elsewhere “with my breakfast”.

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