Derby County U18 3 v Sheffield United U18 0
FA Youth Cup Round 4
Tuesday 15 January 2019
Played at Pride Park
SUFC 2018/19 Games 60
2018/19 Football Season Brewery Visits - 77
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Well beaten. Never in it. The Young Blades kept going. As you'd want & expect. The bickering with each other & finger pointing was minimal. So, you can take some positive points for attitude & commitment away. But, in football quality terms, we looked way behind. You can't say any player was awful, getting overrun, constantly making mistakes. You can indeed say a few were completely anonymous. Contributing nothing.
I've written previous Blogs (& “lost” countless online forum arguments) about the current state of our Academy. The simple point remains - it is very difficult to get Academy players into First Team squads challenging at the higher reaches of the Championship. That's not meant to be damning of our Academy. It's meant to just reflect the realities of the Championship. For any club. Not just Sheffield United.
But, tonight, there you have it. The best we've got. Gomis & Potts played for the U23s yesterday. Everyone in that U18 Squad tonight has also been in an U23 squad this season - except for Ryan Viggars. But, decidedly second best on the night. Against Derby County - not Manchester City for eg.
It was a difficult night. Conceding early, after just 11, dreadfully exposed down our right. Balls knocked forward to (for eg) Sammy Ompreon were often just hopeful into the channel. And he never once looked like he was running a channel. He very rarely came deep, deep, deep to get the ball & get something going. And. He isn't a target man.
Zak Brunt & Harrison Neal looked pale imitations of the players I've seen play well - play well at their level. Neal, who I had noted in my head as one to watch, is in danger of going backwards in my opinion. He needs to get back to a basic game - get the ball off the CBs, drive forward with it, make killer, short, forward, link up passes. But, I'm still acknowledging it was a difficult night.
The coaching staff mixed it up a bit. Fair play to them. And to the players. For some flexibility & adaptability. For minutes after each personnel or positional change, we did look a bit brighter. But, Derby's quality ground us back down. Nickseon Gomis came on. He played a number of roles. But, looked quite bright as a very pushed forward right wing back. Every time Reon Potts gets slung on, he puts the lot in for a short period, really geeing play up. But, it was probably a bit easier for those subs to make a bit of an impact. They hadn't yet been fully exposed to the speed, strength & accuracy Derby had.
Marcus made a number of very good saves. Or. Goals. More.
Tough, tough, tough for the Academy Lads. Meanwhile. The Carrier Bag Firm were on FIRE. I tucked away three Breweries. To bring my season tally to 77. Turning 60 last October has been a Game Changer. A Senior 60+ Derbyshire Wayfarer is Six And Half Quid all in. Train from Sheffield to any Derbyshire station. Then. Train or Bus anywhere in the County. Less than £6.51 for a day.
Boot Beer, at The Boot Inn, Repton.
Falstaff Brewery, Derby.
Brunswick Brewing Co, Derby.
I must admit, I very much liked The Falstaff. That felt like a proper, old, street corner boozer. Built on a variety of good quality cheap Ale. Change from a Fiver when the CBF went up for two pints. While I was dithering at the Bar, a local fella got served a pint of Falstaff, 3 Faze on cask at 3.8%. Which is what I was considering. Under gentle questioning, he described it as ….. an Afternoon Drink. Do me fella.
Nice beer, easy drinking (for your afternoons). Simple & gentle & floral off the hops. Beer Of The Day.
767/1610
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