Lager .... Top

Sheffield United 1 v Scunthorpe United 1

League One

Saturday 18 February 2017

Twitter @ball_sup

Odd Football. Odd Drink

The Football

I leaned over to my mate as they kicked off & said “score early here, and settle it down”. Well. United started very powerfully & could/should have had two in the first few minutes. In one sense, it was the same as usual. Lots of the ball. Crosses flying in. No one able to capitalise. But, that was a superb performance in a superb game. Yes. I hear you. Goals. Points. Etc.

But, from a base of Top Of The League, that football was up a level. The most noticeable thing was the quick, sharp & accurate link up passing. See man. Hit man. Where did they get that from? Sure, it had the patience in it. But, it had the confidence in it as well. High tempo & energy levels. (No stats), but to me they seemed to get more edge of the box shots off as well. And, that swirling, move the ball, sequence which ended up with O’Shea hitting the post at the death. Wow.

I’m not sure what I’d have done with the subs. If you’re not scoring, you think of a change. But, with everyone playing out of their skins, it’s difficult. The first thing they do is effectively go two at the back and licence O’Connell to have a few runs down the left.

I’ve reached the stage where I can’t remember if I prefer Basham at Centre Back or midfield. When he’s on the top of his game like he was today, it don’t matter. He’s effectively playing both anyway. I said a few times in the week, we’ve got the points, dug in, got a lead. We’ve earned the right to only need draws v Scunny & v Bolton. Another game gone, lead maintained. But, after such a blistering performance, there is some disappointment in only one point.

The Beer

Lager. I’ve not always been in the Carrier Bag Firm you know. Back in the day. Say 1983-2006. I was in The Horrendous Lemons. Alcohol fuelled chaos at England away games. (Note chaos, not violence) was our speciality. One of my Old Muckers found himself without a game today due to FA Cup rescheduling. So, given this was (copyright) the biggest game of the season. He decided to have a look a BDTBL. That meant I had little control over the venue he/me & other Near Lemons met in. Turned out to have Doom Bar (which went off sharpish anyway) & one other cask (which I didn’t trust). No pukka keg, bottle or can craft. Desert. So, it was Guinness, Hop House 13 Lager on keg at 5%. I’m not a Lager Denier. I love Bohemian Pilsener style - the more unfiltered the better. But, of course, this ain’t that. I will say, it did have a little flavour to it. And I didn’t notice any overpowering sweetness.

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