Not the Summer

Sheffield United U18 1 v Huddersfield Town U18 0

U18 Professional Development League 2, North
Played at Shirecliffe

Sheffield United 2 v Oxford United 1

League 1

Saturday 27 August 2016

Twitter @ball_sup

That is NOT the Summer. But, it's some Swallows. I have to say, I thought United were worth that. A large wobble to go a goal down. And then more wobble. But, slowly slowly. Growing into it. In a way, not much different to the games I've seen. Look, this is our lives for a bit. Wilder has been anointed. He's been given his head to get rid of the expensive dross. And to bring in his own fellas & approach. We can't start again already.

A key difference was Done & Sharp up top. No semblance of a target man. The approach seemed to be to play the ball at pace. Mix it up. Sometimes at him. Sometimes for him to chase. I felt they worked hard at getting the ball back. Still gave it away a bit too easily at times. But, even got a bit more on top of that at times.

Oxford caught us on the counter attack time & time again. Simply, we've got to be able to defend that. And we did. But, wobbled as well. It might go South. But, it might come together. The players kept bang at it. The crowd responded. The players grew in confidence. And responded to the crowd. Virtuous circle.

I'd just about reach to Coutts as Man of the Match.

Set piece header for the second. Here's what I noticed. Wilder shouting furiously before it was taken. Got the attention of some players. Made a big squeeze it in, narrow it signal. Quite indignant the fella. Maybe it was O’Connell over on the far left who did as told. What's that about? Maybe encourages the guy to put it in the mixer. Maybe it's just about being in a position for second ball. Anyway, they scored.

Great game up at Shirecliffe. Won by a Tyler Smith header right at the 89th minute death. At times, I felt I was going to give it to Huddersfield on points. But, when I counted back, I did feel United had the better goalmouth chances. United hit the bar (maybe Sam Graham). Hudders hit the post. Regan Slater is getting the armband. He puts himself about. Box to Box. Covers the ground when he hasn't got the ball. Determined. I enjoyed watching him.

And David Parkhouse up top. Leading the line. Flick ons. I can watch that.

By my calculations. That's three from three for the SUFC U18s. And, we're the only side at our level that have taken maximum points. It's early days. But, I'll take that. For completeness, my by eye team was;

1 Josh Perryman
2 Will Portman
3 Alex Brown
4 Harvey Gilmour
5 Sam Graham
6 Callum Semple
7 Tyler Smith
8 Regan Slater
9 David Parkhouse
10 Jordan Hallam
11 Stephen Mallon

BrewDog for what looks like a Omnipollo mini tap takeover. (I think I might have read that some kegs were delayed somewhere). Anyway. I had a good 'un. Omnipollo, Zodiak on keg at 6.2%. The barpeople didn't have the style in their heads. Nor could they find the right bit of paper to read it to me. Everyone behaved. They gave me a taste & asked me to describe. I had it as quite citrusy, maybe some peach, quite bitter, but not gripping, maybe West Coast Pale style.

Google suggests “House IPA”.

Good. Day. All. Round.

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