Draw Puts Us Top

Sheffield United U23 1 v Hull City U23 1
U23 Professional Development League
Monday 1 October 2018
Played at Stocksbridge Park Steels

SUFC 2018/19 Game 28

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It’s boom or bust isn’t it Pal? Saturday’s Blog from Millwall was NAFF (No Actual Fucking Football). Today’s from the U Two Threes has NO BEER. Ah well, here goes.

A great game, which I felt could have gone either way. United came very strong towards the end. Some subs. Some tactical changes. Made a difference. Lead to a good few chances at the end. No doubt, I’m a bit annoyed to come away from that without a win & three points. It would be difficult to single any player out as having a superb or bad game. Collectively, it was a very competent performance.  That point pushes us above Birmingham to Top the table. But, that may be short lived as there are games tonight that could see Leeds or Forest shoot above us. Still, we’re good here. Unbeaten in five, we’re putting a good run together.

Our first sight of Kean Bryan. Who effectively joined us on a free transfer from Manchester City in the SSANAP Window (Sign Someone, Anyone, NOW, Any Price). We don’t know whether he’s been signed a Development Player or a First Team Fringer. We suspect, First Team Fringer. He’s 21, knocking on 22. So, he’s the Old Man of this team today. We presume he’s making his way back to fitness. He played just the first half. But, he didn’t look to be carrying a knock or feeling any ill effects. I’m guessing he’s just been down for 45 all the time & that was a planned substitution.

There was no way I could keep up with the formation & personnel changes at the back. Conventional four. A three. You here. Him there. We were very fluid. Bryan basically set up in the Rarely Seen Back Four. As the left centre back, with George Cantrill alongside him. Jake Bennett as conventional right back, Harry Boyes on the left. Early on, they looked awful in that. Hull were really good at dropping accurate balls over the CBs, into the channels, making the CBs face their own goals. Maybe they’d gone four to accommodate Bryan. But, it was poor George Cantrill who found himself in trouble a few times. Turned and running shoulder to shoulder with his attacker a good few times. Chasing a ball towards his end. Hull had a great shout for a Penalty. Which could have also been a Red Card. And, on 14 there was a right old horrendous mix up down that “Cantrill” channel. The keeper Amissah came a bit too far. The Hull striker made things difficult. Everyone was spinning round trying to locate the ball on the radar. A shout. Who knows? Yours, mine, keepers? George headed it just past his own keeper who was heading for no man’s land. And, a simple task for the Hull lad to roll it in.

Anyway. Kean Bryan. He looked on the pace. He was loud & vociferous in organising the defence. Advance scouting of opposition set pieces won’t help you much at this level. Live on your wits. Or die trying. So, I noticed that Bryan was always searching out Hull’s tallest player at corners & free kicks and marking him. Taking that responsibility. Making sure the match up was right. He grew a bit as the game went on. He became even more comfortable & confident, from a solid base. Some nice strong and powerful headers from balls pumped in. And, some nice distribution down the left channel when he got the chance.  It’s just that the rest of the team, particularly Cantrill looked a bit all at sea (at times) with a back four. Over time, Cantrill, Bryan, Kyron Gordon, Jordan Doherty and Jake Bennett all had a go at the Centre Back two or three shuffle.

But, some great combinations all over the pitch for the Young Blades. Hallam & Oure combining well. York & Doherty getting well forward at times & combining well. Boyes & Greaves combining well down the left. There seemed a lot to like. I think Oure is “growing a bit”. Every time I see him he looks a bit taller & leaner. A typical surging run from Jake Bennett on 28 was partially halted by a hack clear. The ball fell to Oure and he just knocked it back in, and over the Hull keeper into the net. In terms of “makes you notice him” skills, Oli Greaves had a good first half. Essentially up top with Oure, he was very lively. Not afraid to come looking for it. And, that Greedy In A Good Way thing when running with the ball & trying to get a shot off.

Harry Sheppeard hit a post on 52 mins. (Sub) Stephen Mallon swept a shot into the net from a deep cross. Only for that to be ruled out (I think for a foul by other Sub Parkhouse). I know not whether Hull tired or United just got stronger, but as the game went deep - we were in only one winner territory.  Oh. But, Hull were not being overrun. They were well in it at times. It was ding dong battle. With much to praise all over the park for the Young Blades. The early Hull onslaught. A bit of uncertainty from players not used to playing together. And, that horrendous Amissah/Cantrill Balls Up. That’s put us on the back foot a bit & cost us. And, we just couldn’t quite get back for the winner.

723/1504