Not Sweet Isolation

Birmingham City U18 1 v Sheffield United U18 0

FA Youth Cup

Played at St Andrew’s

Tuesday 16 January 2018

SUFC 2017/18 Game 44

What I thought was a strength as the game kicked off. Turned out to be a weakness. David Parkhouse was running around like a fly, whose arse was blue. Chasing down the keeper. Chasing down the full backs. Hello. I thought. But, quickly, I realised that was because he was playing some mad, lone striker role. All night. He was isolated up top. No link play. He was winning some headers. But, no one to chase the flick ons. Isolated. All night. To be honest, I’m not sure how they’ve come up with that. Have they scouted & decided that’s the right shape? Have they simply reacted to who they’ve got available? And, why haven’t they changed it up, when it’s clearly not working?

Towards the end, chasing the game, Sam Graham has gone up top as well. And, we’ve caused ‘em more problems in that ten minutes than in the rest of the game. Indeed, Graham should have equalised right at the death. Sub Reon Potts & poor lone sod Parkhouse combined well. Parky put the ball across. Graham looked unmarked in an ocean. But, maybe his whole life flashed before him. He sort of stooped for the header. Got too low. Got under the ball & made very poor contact.

During the earlier, calmer periods, Graham had originally set up as Centre Back with George Cantrill. Kyron Gordon was conventional right back - with Will Portman pushed up in front of him. Harry Boyes was conventional left back. Not sure mate. Could that be the Harry Boyes who has been in the Manchester City Academy. Regan Slater & George Broadbent set up as Centre Mid. I might as well say this now. Theoretically, we had some big hitters out there. Slater has played in the Championship & FA Cup. I’m not particularly singling him out. But, NONE of them really got it going tonight. They weren’t bad. They were ordinary. No one stood up.

As it happened, Cantrill was injured (clattered into the boards) as early as the 7th minute. He ploughed on. But, was subbed at 18. It was a fairly simple reshuffle - Gordon dropped to Centre Back & Portman at right back. As a measure of how much we were struggling, the main thing I noticed about Ky Gordon as the game wore on, was how much he ended up having to turn around & pass it back to keeper Dewhurst !!

OK. Right. Look. We started bright enough. Slater breaking it up in midfield. Broadbent looking strong & comfortable on the ball. Parkhouse sent from Centre Forward Target Man Central Casting - harrying, winning headers. The whole team, generally, harrying & hustling. But, gradually, Birmingham came more into it. And stayed in it. And were the only team in it. Increasingly, The Blues were playing with confidence. They were linking well. Short, sharp, accurate passes to the kid 10 yards in front. Relentless. Some great flowing moves, with intricate & accurate passing.

United were defending OK. Keeping the attacks to the edge of the box. Restricting Birmingham to just long range shots. But, I felt we were not getting tight on them & not closing down enough. When Birmingham shifted it up & went for long passes, they were even catching us out with them. Particularly over the top of Portman on our right.

As an attacking threat, as I’ve said, Parkhouse just couldn’t get into the game, at all, anywhere, anytime after about the first 20. (Save for the everyone up top flurry at the end). Fair do. He worked hard at times. And, I’m not trying to scapegoat him. He was Capital I Isolated.

The second half began with more of the same. Plus, in addition to close link play, and good balls over the top, Brum were now running at us with the ball at pace. We did continue to have our moments. But, they seemed to be about hustle, bustle, harrying. Rather than calm, quality. Even set pieces weren’t getting us anywhere. Doherty curled an edge of the box free kick over the bar on 63 mins.

Within a minute. We were a goal behind. As in, inevitably a goal behind. It seemed a bit self-inflicted. Some back pedalling. Defenders giving it away on the halfway. Their bloke has took it on very well. Running at our defence. Turning them left. Then right. Basically, they’re inside out is what I’m trying to get across. And, a neat calm finish as well. (Maybe a little deflection - the Carrier Bag Firm couldn’t agree when we debriefed).

After 70 mins, we went for more urgency. It’s a Cup Game after all. To get Reon Potts on, we subbed the sub (Tom Williams who had come on at Cantrill’s injury). Let’s be honest. That is rarely a good look. We also got Angelo Cappello on. It made it a bit more promising. For a few minutes. But, it all felt more of the same. We did have a shout for a Penalty as Ange went down. And, then that excellent chance for Sam Graham. But, no nonsense. Birmingham were the better team. Technically better. More organised. Better shape. Deserved it. I felt disappointed in United. That choice for the isolated lone striker had killed us an attacking threat. The Big Dogs never got going. And, we were prone to errors.

Enough of that Shit. The evening had started well. I’d route marched down the hill. Through some grim back streets & industrial units. Under the inevitable railway arches. To the marvellous Clink Beer. In the Birmingham Creative Quarter. Across from the Custard Factory. No. Really.

Clink Beer is one of those multi purpose off licence & bar affairs. You can get a Growler filled from the taps & take that home. Or you can grab a tin or bottle from the fridge & drink it at one of the tables. Keg only. No Cask. I’m alright with that, mind.  One of the things I love about the smaller, independent, non-chain, unlinked, craft beer venues is the lottery of who you’ll end up with. I looked down the eight strong keg list. Saw a Collaboration Beer. I loves a Collab me. I said to this evening’s Mine Host.

“I very much fancy that Glasshouse/Burning Soul/Odyssey Collaboration IPA”

“I brewed that one” - said the fella. Oh. My. Word. I love the FA Youth Cup to bits. But - “I brewed that one”. Let the record show. That’s what we’ve come for.

Glasshouse/Burning Soul/Odyssey Collaboration West Coast IPA on keg at 7%.

Great beer. The bitter is a little hidden at first. But, grows steadily. The background sweetness is always there. It is 7% after all. I get it as pineapple syrup. You (I) don’t see many West Coast style beers at 7%. I was intrigued, surprised & delighted. Lovely beer.

595/1246