Liability Strasse

Sheffield United U23 0 v Millwall U23 0

U23 Professional Development League, North

Played at Stocksbridge

Monday 13 March 2017

Twitter @ball_sup

Battle that. Some right tackles flying in. Two red cards. One each. Look I'm going to say it. Think I can. Because I love the fella. Jake Wright Jnr needs to calm it a bit. Aggression, yes please. Stepping over the line. Often. That way lies Liability Street. It's him who has been shown Red.

There was a horrendous challenge on Louis Reed. I said to a fellow Carrier Bagger “very poor that from Jake Wright, he's the fourth one into the after tackle melee, he's usually earlier than that”. Not long after, Jake has got himself into a holding, lifting, wrestling, grappling thing going for a high ball more-or-less on the halfway line. From memory the Ref has decided it's a free kick to United. Something happens in the chest to chest. Wright pushes the fella full on the head. You can't do that. Millwall fella kicks out & trips Wright up.

Whatever the Ref has seen. It's different to me. Only Yellow for Wright. Red for the Sarf Londoner. Not to worry. Jake naturally picks up a second Yellow “in moments”. Booked on 37. Off on 44. Calm it…..

United had a great spell each side of the half. Wright won a great header as the target man. Kimarni Smith chased it down. Caused a bit of hassle. Brooks picked up the pieces, but his cross ball was charged down. I felt Smith should really have scored with another chance created by Brooks & Wright. I think Brooks really benefitted from the extra space provided by 10 men. United should really have scored during that spell. Millwall got it sorted a bit though. Not over defensive, just organised, with a bit more pressing. And, United went off the boil a bit.

Tale Of The Tape

That win initially put United up into third place in Professional Development League, North. 32 pts from 20 games (in a 28 game season). However, results tonight (Bolton winning) have dropped us back to fourth. Hull also won tonight. That has left us 4 pts off the second play off spot. That is occupied by Hull who have 36pts from 23. We’re 4 pts behind them, with 3 games in hand. Man, it’s tight…..

SWFC 45 from 23
Hull 36 from 23
BWFC 32 from 21
SUFC 32 from 20
Crewe 32 from 21

That could change on Wednesday, Crewe are at home to Charlton. Crewe already have 32pts from 21 games. Although SUFC top them on goal difference, any positive result for Crewe will drop us down to fifth.

Scouting Report

Wrong person. I’m always - “they’re no better than what we’ve got/recently released”. But, I know the Drill.

Travis Johnson

I believe has trialled before for our U23s. In games I wasn’t at. I understand he’s from Manchester United’s system. But has been out injured or ill for a long time & is trying to get back at it. Poor bloke has got a nasty knock fairly early on. Ankle. He did the decent. Tried to run through it. Subbed at 26 mins. He was upright & stationary for a while. Jogged around a bit. Was told to go to ground (by Binnion), so Fizz could have a look. Fizz called it as “give it five”. But, Johnson was basically hobbling. He’d set up as part of a front two with Wright. No real chance to judge the fella.

Ryan Harrington

From Everton’s system I understand. Played at Youth Level for Wales. Initially set up as a left back in a conventional four. I didn’t see anything in it. Although he did get substantially better as the game went on. Early doors, he looked slow, & got skinned a few times. Some of his headed clearances were poor. Fair do. He got there. But, no power in them. With sending offs & subs & tactical changes, Binnion threw him forward. And, he looked better in that role. Sometime wingback. Sometime wide midfield. His positioning further forward looked better. But, he still seemed to give it away at times. Not awful. Not outstanding. Better when pushed forward a bit. Did the full 90.

Danny Kane

From Huddersfield’s system I understand & a Republic Of Ireland U21 cap. Looked to me like he also took a while to settle. Millwall had a great chance. The guy missed a free header - and that was Kane’s man. Tall & thin. Reasonably strong in the tackle. His defensive headers lacked pace & accuracy. He had a lot to contend with. What with 4 at the back, 3 at the back, 2 at the back near the end. But, he did settle in & got into it a bit. Made one death tackle to prevent a goal. Nothing much to see I felt. Did the full 90.

Slurp

Stop. Now. Mad Hatter (Liverpool) Tap Takeover at Brewdog Sheffield. As part of Sheffield Beer Week. Nominally, two IPAs on. One with cold brewed coffee added. FFS. One with Chilli added. FFS. No worries, but those ain't IPAs. Fair do. They've let me taste 'em. But, I've plumped for the nearest thing they've got to a straight ahead beer. Mad Hatter, Lick Face Pale on keg at 4%. Big tropical flavours in the smell. More mandarin orange in the taste. Although a lot of pineapple & some wine gum comes with it an’ all. Underhopped for my taste. But, very nice.

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