How to beat the Odds

Crewe Alexandra U23 4 v Sheffield United U23 2
U23 Professional Development League
Monday 7 January 2019
Played at Alexandra Park

SUFC 2018/19 Game 56

May to May Brewery Visits - 73

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Not a good day for a Blog. Is it possible to be allergic to a place? That's the second time I've been a passenger in Carrier Bag Firm Car One over to Reaseheath and been nauseous. Maybe, it's that winding road with all the ups n downs. It was wet at the ground, and increasingly difficult to make notes. I needed a piss at 3-1. It's a long way to the changing block. By the time I got back to the touchline, I'd missed two goals & it was 4-2. You're not going to get much here by way of analysis of those goals. To cap it all. No. Beer.

It wasn't absolutely hurling it down. Just consistently wet. The Carrier Bag Firm have become quite good at categorising punters who turn up at U23 games. Parent, scout, agent, unwaged. One ever present is the guy who supplies the in game info for Betting Companies. “Corner to Team One”. “Shot off target from Zone five”. Normally, he/she is constantly tapping into an App. Events, positions. If you've had a bet on 11 or more corners - this is the fella who is providing the info to Betting HQ. Go on then. How did you think they did it?

Point being. It was wet enough for him to need to switch the app off & go to verbal instructions over the phone. So, wet enough for my notes to be useless I'm still working on details. But, there is surely a major Betting Coup to be had. When the Young Blades first goal went in, he asked me who had scored. I could have told him anything. When Crewe got their second, I misread the Ref's signal and (incorrectly) exclaimed - “he's disallowed it”. The Betting Info Wallah said “goal disallowed” to whoever was taking details at the other end. Anyway. A little slice of CBF life for you there.

So. Sorry. Very little by way of commentary report from me. It was very much an end to end game. United did struggle at times. On balance, I'm sure Crewe deserved that win. There is an important FA Youth Cup game next week. And, I think the team & positions were chosen a little bit with that in mind. The firm assumption is that Sam Graham's loan spell at Oldham has ended. He set up on the right of a three. With George Cantrill in the middle.

Stephen Mallon started as left wingback. But, he took a knock in the first half & was replaced by Harry Boyes. The main eyecatcher was trialist (on the sheet as) Chiekh Ndiaye. There was some frantic Googling. And staring at images & haircuts. I've got him as a kid at Boreham Wood FC, born in France, and called Iliman-Cheikh Ndiaye in “other contexts”. He set up, and popped up, all over midfield. Often in that drive forward, find a gap, John Fleck (ish) role. Anyway Ndiaye showed a lot of nice touches and was calm and assured on the ball. He scored the opening goal with an intelligent header. Let's not get ahead of ourselves. Not absolutely outstanding & head n shoulders. But, noticeable and got a few heads noddings. He was subbed off at 70. That was planned. I know that because I was enjoying some quality Travis Time & he said “right I'll go and get that Trialist off, see you next game”.

Me, I'd have another look at him. Particularly as the Academy now had a Harvey Gilmour shaped hole.

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