Return of The Long Throw

Sheffield United U23 0 v Ipswich Town U23 1

Premier League Cup, Group Stage

Played at Bramall Lane

Friday 29 September 2017

SUFC 2017/18 Game 30

That was very disappointing. I felt that for a good bit of the first half, we had dominated. But, Ipswich did get it together in the second half, I’ll admit. Usual piss poor format for the Premier League CUP. It’s supposed to be a Cup Competition. To give Development Players the chance to experience knockout games. Instead, it’s got the Interminable Group Stage. SUFC won’t complete their group games until February 26 2018. A number of readers will be dead by then. At least we’ll be tested by two teams (West Bromwich Albion & Aston Villa) who play above us on The Academy Ladder. Ben Heneghan armbanded. George Cantrill dropped to the Bench.

I thought Heneghan had a bit of a Jekyll and Hyde game. At times, I felt he was a little sloppy. Inclined to give the ball away. He (over) hit some horrendous balls to the other CBs. But, his strength is headers out of defence. Good. Powerful. And early.

I thought David Parkhouse put a better shift in today. Greedy. In a good way. You’re a striker mate. Get ball. See goal. Let fly. There was a bit more of that today. I’m pleased to say. He’d got a good shot off early on after good work by Ty Smith. Really United should have gone into the lead after just 10 minutes. Graham put in a good headed clearance, Parkhouse barged it forward. Jordan Hallam actually took it past the keeper. Who basically hauled him down. But, the little (big actually) tinker got up and saved Hallam’s kick with his legs.

“Good” Heneghan hit a great ball out wide. Eventually, that move got Keenan Ferguson loose, wide right. He was able to dink it inside to Jake Bennett. But, his “no strikers nor midfield players involved” effort was smothered. “Bad” Heneghan hit a very poor square ball to Graham out for a throw. And, in roughly the next Ipswich attack, “Bad” Heneghan committed an ugly, clumsy foul. That free kick (32 mins) lead to the first real Ipswich chance. Jake Eastwood made a good stop from the header.

Those blips aside, that period from about 25mins to 40mins was one of constant pressing & attacking from United. Wave after wave. It looked inevitable they’d crack on, score & win it. Lots of it was being built on the stability of Graham at the back. This time, Jordan Doherty anchoring midfield. With Harvey Gilmour in more of a free role, looking to hurt the Suffering Suffolkers.

Hey. What. We also saw the Return Of The Long Throw. I don’t know where that came from. Like watching in Black & White. Maybe they have felt (like me) that they need to mix up the possession stuff, the tempo stuff, with summat a bit more direct. To be fair, it did cause a couple of problems for Ipswich.

We also started the 2nd half brightly. That man Parkhouse again, broke through with the keeper rushing at him. But, he couldn’t make owt happen. Didn’t last. Ipswich cut through us down our right on 48 minutes. The fella has left Sam Graham for dead. Caught Heneghan in two minds. Come across him & blasted it in. There then followed. A period of sustained Ipswich pressure. Eastwood kept us in it on 64. After sloppy work by “Bad” Heneghan & a great break from the Ipswich guy. Just before that. We’d had a goal disallowed for offside. Parkhouse did very well down our right. Got a good cross come shot in. The keeper could only palm it out. To the offside Ty Smith who nurdled it home.  Sam Graham & The Kitchen Sink went upfront towards the end. But, got beat.

Little Critters, Little Hopper on cask at 3.8%
Lovely & hoppy. Goes more or less straight into hop forward, but gentle bitterness. A lot, as in loads, of grapefruit in the finish. Excellent beer.

545/1137