Don't Walk Past

Millwall U23 0 v Sheffield United U23 0
U23 Professional Development League
Monday 15 April 2019

SUFC 2018/19 Game 83
2018/19 Football Season Brewery Visits - 103

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United Under 23 finish next to bottom of the ten clubs in the North Group. Played 28, won 9, drawn 9, lost 10. A goal difference of minus 6. Sheffield Wednesday won away at QPR today. That allowed them to leapfrog us into eighth. Hull City finished below us, bottom of the ten. This year, Leeds ran away with the North Group. Some teams haven't quite finished yet, but Leeds have & they are currently 10 points clear at the top. Crewe, Birmingham & Burnley all still have a shot at the second play off place. Ipswich have won the South. With Coventry & Crystal Palace still going for the second play off position darn sarf. In the Cup, the Young Blades were knocked out at the interminable group stage.

On countback, I did 15 of the 28 league games this season, plus 4 of the cup games, and three pre seasons which were billed/definitely recognisable as Under 23. Along the way, I've used this U23 season to tick off SIX new grounds watching an SUFC XI.

Frickley Athletic
Whitby Town (SUFC v Hull & Middlesbrough)
Wingate & Finchley (SUFC v Watford)
Florence Park, Tiptree (SUFC v Colchester)
Southport (SUFC v Everton)

And, the sixth, today. The Millwall Training Ground. The 219th different ground I've watch an SUFC XI on. Indeed, I fear I must issue a Carrier Bag Firm ADVISORY. Millwall U23s at the training ground are invariably listed as BEHIND CLOSED DOORS on the MFC Website. Obvs, we're the CBF We'll Come At It Sideways. There are ways & means of Blagging In. Which we did (a big thank you to those who helped). But, the ADVISORY is, you can stand on Calmont Road and watch through the fence. Perfectly doable. No drama.

In terms of where we are in the league, that's a disappointing season. Callum Semple, Harvey Gilmour & Jordan Hallam were moved on to League & Scottish League clubs in the January Window. Tyler Smith, Regan Slater, Stephen Mallon, Sam Graham, Rhys Norrington-Davies, David Parkhouse & Jordan Doherty are all still our players. But, are currently loaned out across the globe and leagues. The First Team are (currently) a Top, Top Championship side. Realistically, all of this current U23 crop, including the older lads out on loan, are a million miles away from the first team squad. That's not a criticism of the players, of recruitment, of development. That's just reality. At our current level, only the very, very best players can survive to the first team.

Clearly, there are very big decisions to be taken about the future for/by some of this Under 23 group. But, that is very much the nature of the beast. Harsh. Cull, and move on. If, and only if, it comes to it, I'd be a little disappointed to see Mallon & Norrington-Davies go. No need to check previous Blogs. But, if you did, you'd see I find Mallon frustrating. Over the years, he's been injured. A lot. And, because of that, I'm not sure we've fully seen the best of him yet. When he does play, man alive, he needs to stamp himself in & on games a lot more. Get in there. Make something happen. But, he is a flair player. All the tricks. Binnion et al will have a close eye on how he is doing in Australia.

Generally, it feels that those out on the park today are the “not out on loan” U23 core. Dewhurst, Gordon, Gomis, Boyes, Neal, Young, Brunt were (I believe) all Under 18 qualified this season. As were Williams, Amissah & Potts from today's bench. In general, it's not the season to be culling those young lads. Although, I'm unconvinced about Jake Young. I know. I know. He's only been here for two minutes. But, he's a striker. He's got to knock some bodies about, bring his muckers into the game AND SCORE. He isn't/doesn't.

Making the point that - the best we've got, the standout players, doesn't mean I'm pitching them for games any time soon. It means just that - relatively, the best we've got. Here goes nothing.

Marcus Dewhurst has been playing at Guiseley. To my eyes, he's developing physically. Looks a little taller. Looks a little leaner. Looks an athlete. He still looks a little unconventional at times. He made a game saving, point blank, save deep into injury time to secure the point.

I've got a lot of time for Kyron Gordon. He's another one who is growing into his body. I didn't quite get him at first. But, now, he is a calm, strong central defender. OK, OK, he still looks all knees & elbows at times. But, he gets the job done. Good positional sense. Good in the tackle. Those long legs will chase you down.

Both Oliver Greaves & Harrison Neal have been saddled with my “one to watch” praise in the past. I still like the look of Neal. He's an intelligent player. With a great box to box engine. But, I'm worried his development is standing still. He doesn't quite seem to have that pop up anywhere & everywhere quality he'll need.

Greaves is continuing to develop. At times this season, I feel he's been hampered a bit by our lack of out & out strikers. He's sometimes had to play up top. Or as a rigid 10. That isolates him a bit. Play goes around and over him. But, when he gets a more roving role, and goes out wide, he buzzes & can hurt teams. Needs to score more. But, don't they all.

I'm also going to mention Reece York. He's a strong, reliable & committed team member. Solid. And, hey, you need solid. My sources tell me he's started 33 of the Under 23s 34 league & cup games this season. And came off the bench for the other. Outstanding metrics fella.

Me. Travis Binnion. Man Crush. In comparison to some of the snarlers you see on the other benches, Travis is sweetness & light. I can imagine he surprises & riles fans of other academies. Because he is loud & constant. Sure, at times, he sits down, slurps on a bottle of water, reflects. But then, 90 seconds later “get forward Boyesey” “come on Reece go with him”. He encourages. He explains. If it's shit, he'll occasionally tell them. Most of his encouragement is about effort. He wants the wing backs to push on. He wants the centre backs to overlap. He wants his midfield to be an engine room. So, he's on them to do that. Most of his explanation is about positional play. How, if a player does X, the defender will have to do Y, so another player will get the chance to do Z. Today, he was sat on the bench while the coaches warmed the starters up with one of those rondo games in a 40 yard square of cones. Even then, couldn't stop, encouraging, cajoling. Travis is an asset.

Specifically, that was a reasonably enjoyable game. High on effort. Low on clear cut chances. United bypassed midfield a bit too much for my tastes. A great move on 10 minutes had Harry Sheppeard feeding underlapping CB Jake Bennett on the right. Bennett slipped a superb, right in his stride ball to Oli Greaves running lateral. But, his shot was smuggled out for a corner. On 39, an accurate ball over the top & some great control put a Millwall striker clear. But, a superb last ditch challenge from Gordon kept it level. Otherwise, a bit of cancelling each other out. No lack of effort from either team though.

Oh yes. We had a spectacular beer day. We lucked in. With the superb, that word doesn't do it justice, Star And Garter in Bromley. Thing is, I'd been for a night out in Bromley just three weeks ago with the Carrier Bag Firm Ticket Gangmaster ahead of the Under 23s away at Palace. On that occasion, I reckon I must have been 30 yards away from The Star And Garter. And missed it. Amateur Hour. Anyway, never look back.

The main bit of the horseshoe bar directly faces the door & the street. Honestly, if you look in and walk past, don't call yourself a drinker. It's fucking hypnotic. Eye watering. Seven on cask. Thirteen dreamy kegs. I had;

Verdant Brewing Co & Collective Arts Brewing (Ontario), Five A.M., Double IPA on keg at 8%.

Northern Monk, Patrons Project 16.02 // Haze Outdoors // Getting Caught In The Rain // Basqueland Brewing Co // Whitelabs Copenhagen // Piña Colada Milkshake IPA on keg at 7.4%

Thornbridge Brewery & Burning Sky Brewery, Flora, IPA on keg at 6.5%

DEYA Brewing Co, Steady Rolling Man, Pale on keg at 5.2%.

They were ALL WINNERS. Although, the Patrons Project Piña Colada was a bit much. But, 

Outstanding Beer Of The Day can go to that 5.2% DEYA Pale. A nice bit of fruit juice up top. Then the Hop Bombs start. I couldn't put it down. (On the table, it went down my neck quick enough).

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