Three Emotions

Nottingham Forest 2 v Sheffield United 1

The Championship

Saturday 30 September 2017

SUFC 2017/18 Game 31

A game of Three Emotions that one. Another early goal. That one had me feeling. What is happening? Just give over will you. Once Forest had gone ahead. I thought United had played so well. Doing all their stuff well. Despite a changed team. I felt, OK it’s going to be this way sometimes. This is The Championship. There were niggles, but I’d have been happy to “take the loss” then so long as we continued to play with the tempo, accuracy & commitment. But, at the end, I felt - man, we should have got something out of that. Particularly after we hit the post at the death.

On reflection. We played very well. Forest played well. They played what I am rapidly learning is “Championship Football”. I suppose it’s counter-attack. But, really it’s just having lots of pace, shifting the ball quickly from defence to attack, movement. Strikers getting a yard & punishing you.  To be really successful in this first season back. We’re going to have to learn how to deal with that. But, our game plan is sound. Sound, I tell you. And, our recruitment has been sound. We’ve been hit by injuries. But, at our tempo & intensity, players are going to tire. You’re going to have to leave them out sometimes. So, you need a squad. You need like for like replacements. And. our recruitment has nodded heavily in that direction. Upfront, that was as light as it gets. No Sharp, Evans, Clarke, Lavery, Brooks. Clayton Donaldson on his first game back since the hamstring niggle while scoring at Sunderland.

A slightly marked down score for The Crafty Crow. Magpie Brewery’s outlet. Mainly down to the staff. It’s a horseshoe bar. Casks on one bit. Kegs in the middle bit. Then the other set of casks on the far side. Staff constantly moving from one bit to the the other. We were waiting in front of the kegs. Barperson was pulling & serving. But, also muttering. Along the lines of needing to go to the kitchen to get some food to serve. Sure enough. Me next. Exit Stage Right. Second Barperson then justs trots over to another bit to serve. Manager is constantly running from the keg taps to the Cellar to get something or other to work. Lots going on. Not much dedicated to helping punters get ale.

Magpie/Navigation/Castle Rock (Collab), New England IPA on keg at 6.6%.
4Ts, Big Bro APA on cask at 5%.

Much, much better in (The) Junkyard (Pourhouse). Eleven on keg. (plus house Lager & Cider). Very helpful bar staff. All simple & straightforward. Dedicated to getting your beer to you. Great place.

The Kernel, India Pale Ale, Citra & Sticklebract on keg at 6.8%.
Black Iris. Lost Art Of Keeping Secrets, DIPA on keg at 8.5%.

That Kernel equals Standout Beer Of The Day.

546/1138