Football as Art, not Science

Worksop Town U19 2 v Sheffield United Futures U19 2
North Midlands Development Football League, U19s Division
Thursday 18 October 2018
Played at Sandy Lane, Worksop

Derby County 2 v Sheffield United 1
The Championship
Saturday 20 October 2018

Burnley U23 6 v Sheffield United U23 0
U23 Professional Development League
Monday 22 October 2018
Played at Curzon Ashton

SUFC 2018/19 Games 29, 30 & 31

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Under 23s at Burnley

Hell. That was a tonking. Robbie Brady has 39 caps for the Republic of Ireland. Ben Gibson signed for Burnley for £15m in the Summer and has been in a full England squad. Both started today for Burnley. I'm not looking for excuses. I'm looking for context. Burnley played really well. At a good pace & tempo. Their link up play was excellent. And, some clinical finishing. It'll seem an obvious thing to say. But, there was also some poor defending from the Young Blades.

We started with a back three. Essentially, only George Cantrill of those is a “proper” Centre Back. George Broadbent & Jordan Doherty were “filling in”. Cantrill was caught out horrendously on just 5 minutes. A ball over him, his man was free, & George slipped on his arse anyway. One. Nil.

Binnion & Dungworth tried to change it. Cantrill was subbed as early as 16 minutes. By battering ram Centre Forward David Parkhouse. They went four at the back. Oli Greaves got a knock. Needed icing. Harrison Neal on for him to shore the midfield up.

A couple of goals seemed to come from simple crosses/dead balls dropped in behind the Centre Backs, between them & the Keeper (Dewhurst). No one dealing with those properly. Good headers. You're going to get punished.

I'll credit Utd. They did stick at it. Nothing petulant. Always looking to stop their man - just, they rarely could. Always looking to take their man on - just they rarely could. Never got in the game. Second best. Learn. Move on. Still third. Just a point behind Bolton. And three behind leaders Leeds.

Derby County Away

Each person sees it differently don't they? But, man, there's a lot of analysing goes on nowadays. As I've said before, I've got two degrees in Applied Statistics. So, I'm not Number Blind. But, I prefer my football as Art not Science. I see pictures, not details. I was riveted by that picture. I'm seeing, two good teams, playing different styles, going for it & putting the lot in.

United are/were mesmerising when they overload down the flanks. That inevitably creates holes, gaps, spaces when it breaks down. And, Derby were superb at trying to expose those gaps with pacy counter attacks. Here's my analysis. You ain't got men all over the fucking pitch. You've got to find a strength, exploit it.

What a Goal. Strong surging run from Fleck into small gap after small gap. He doesn't know exactly where the overload on the right is. He certainly doesn't know who's overloading. But, he fucking knows. Someone. Somewhere. Basham….

I'm not sure what happened after half time. Did we change summat? Did they? Did we start running out of gas? I'm not fussed, I'm riveted.

The Beer

And….
It's BrewDog Collabfest time again.
Excellent….

You remember the format right? Every BrewDog bar (including some of those overseas) pair up with an independent Brewery local to them. Brew a one off beer. Those beers come on across all BrewDog bars across a long weekend. BrewDog on Division Street in Sheffield had eight on. With a LOT of rotation across the two days I was able to chuck myself in. Sampled 14 in total.

To fully explain the concept & just how mad the beers get, it's always worth a ThrowBack. Always….

So, ThrowBack to 2014. Alechemy & BrewDog Dundee. A Smoked Porter. The Barley/Malt is smoked over an open flame. To give a toasty, smoky flavour to what will be a black beer. Yes. Yes. Yes Phil, we all know what a Smoked Porter is. What's the point of mentioning this particular one?

Well. The wood used on the fire to smoke the Barley/Malt. That came from Scott's Antarctic Ship RSS Discovery. No. It really did….

Anyway. 2019. A fair few sours turned up on the Sheffield Fonts. A very honourable mention to that Fallen Brewing Co. Stirlinger Weisse at 3.6%. “Nominally” Berliner Weisse style. But, in a sense better than that. There's gonna be a theme here. That. I like. Because it's one dimensional. Takes you on a simple, sour trip. Full of flavour and then some.

Similarly, a did what it says on the Clip beer, was Orebro Brygghus, Black Oyster Stout at 5.3%. A lovely, modern, straight ahead Stout with bags of flavour.

I'm also going to mention Three Hills Brewing, Brut-berry Crumble at 5.5%. I quote - Triple hopped brut IPA infused with blackberries & lightly dosed with cinnamon, aged on dark & medium French Oak. Of itself, it tasted alright. Sweet but balanced. But, if I'd blind tasted that, would I have even said “it's beer”. Doubt it. Cocktail. Smoothie. Alcopop. Wine & fruit spritzer. All contenders.

Two stand outers. Two Tribes, Dry Your Eyes Mate at 4.7%. Superb. Red berry off some dried currants (or similar). Deep & rich. The hop hit is gentle, but distinct, and not overpowered.

Up Front Brewing, The Obvious Choice at 8%. Because it's “a DIPA”, the New England business seems less gloopy, less of a distraction. Great beer. At that abv, the sugar & the hoppiness overcomes my feelings of "oh no, not another jug of gloop". Rich & tongue tingling.

733/1525