Blackburn Rovers U23 3 v Sheffield United U23 0
Premier League Cup, Group B
Monday 21 January 2019
Played at Lancashire FA Ground, Leyland
SUFC 2018/19 Games 62
2018/19 Football Season Brewery Visits - 81
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For the second week running, a Sheffield United Academy side came up against an Academy from the rung above. Last week, the U18s against Derby County in the Youth Cup. This week, the U23s against Blackburn Rovers in the Premier League Cup. Reality tells. Beaten, and beaten well, 3-0 in both games. As a fan, there is a problem with the U23 side at the moment. It’s what I’ll call “a normal cohort” problem. We’ve just ended up with a very young and inexperienced side for U23 level. Five of the starting XI, and all of the bench, tonight were under 18 qualified. I’ll admit to not knowing what I’m talking about. But, doesn’t commonsense say - players will develop better if they have other good players around them. A David Brooks might shine anyway. But, he’ll shine a hell of a lot better if defenders are winning balls, giving them quickly to midfield players, who can feed him & watch intelligent up toppers make great runs. As a fan, I’m worried that too many of these young lads are in danger of being led to slaughter.
Yeah, fair enough, there might not be a lot you can do about it. No magic button for experienced U23 players. Slater, Norrington-Davies, Smith, Cantrill, Parkhouse are all better off out on loan. Both for them & the Club. And, I’m a supporter of this being a Development Team, not a Reserve Team, where the Big Lads can come & toss it off. But…..
I couldn’t help myself. A Coutts. A Bryan. A Lundstram. They might just provide the bit of quality that this very young side need to coalesce around. Someone to help them shine. It’s not as bad as I’m painting. But, “losing” every week can’t help player development. At U23 level, we’ve won just one in the last eight. Currently all they have to stop the slide is “do better”. OK, that’s football. Simeon Oure was hobbling around on the sidelines. He’s obviously picked something up. We haven’t seen Jordan Doherty in a while - not sure. No Jordan Hallam tonight - not sure. So, there are some slightly more experienced U23s around. I just can’t help feel the bunch who played last night. Against an Academy from the rung above. Could just do with a bit of a leg up.
The first half was Frenetic. With a capital F & possibly some other Capitals as well. That suited Blackburn more than us. They played some lovely stuff. Scored three before 35 minutes. They were strong & on the pace. United just couldn’t live with it. But, you know, do better, change something. So we did. And had a much better second half. Although natch, you wonder whether Rovers off-gassed. Ky Gordon went at half time for Tom Williams. That reshuffled the back three to Ferguson, Graham & Belehouan. Which looked more stable. And, gave us a “proper” rather than “makeshift” right wing back. Which looked more balanced. Harrison Neal (I’ve been a critic recently) replaced Zak Brunt (I’ve been a critic recently). That gave us more energy & buzz & control in midfield. Generally, it looked like we tried to play a shorter game in the second half. Not exactly possession football. But, trust your skills, look for a mate, trust him, give it him. It worked to the extent that we held them nil nil that half. But, we were still a long way from getting back into it.
On nights like tonight, you inevitably look to the more experienced U23ers to see what they can bring. Well. Sam Graham & Stephen Mallon didn’t bring a great deal I’m afraid. Reminder that last year, we got to the Semi Final of this Cup. Slater, Gilmour, Smith, Doherty, Cantrill all played in that SF. This year, we’re still at the group stage, and we’re still in it. But, that defeat hurts our chances - a lot. Eight groups of four, all play all, home & away. Our group has two Academies from the level above us (Everton & Blackburn). And, one from the level below us (Doncaster). Top two in each group qualify for the last 16 knock out. We’re now P4, W2, L2. In third place, but level on points with Blackburn in 2nd. Both us & Blackburn have still to go to Everton away.
You can’t really go wrong for a drink in Manchester. We’d caught the all stations in Wales, Swansea to Manchester rattler. I had targeted Beatnitz Republic as my Brewery for the day. Cheeky fuckers had decided today of all days to close so their staff could go out on their Christmas Party. That would have been Brewery 82 of the season. Someone in Norwich will now probably get that accolade. No worries. We went to Cloudwater Unit 9 & had three good ‘uns. I will pick one fight though, with the emerging Cloudwater naming convention. I had AW18, One Off, Double IPA V3 on keg at 8%. OK. AW is Autumn Winter. 18 is 2018. But Version 3 of a One Off. Have a word with yourselves.
Anyway. Cloudwater. What can go wrong. Let the record show.
AW18, One Off, DIPA V3 at 8%
AW18, One Off, IPA V1 at 7.5%
AW18, One Off, Pilsner V1 at 5.5%
That straight ahead seven and half IPA was the best of a very outstanding lot.
769/1616
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