Four Three defeat specialists

Sheffield United U23 3 v Charlton Athletic U23 4
U23 Professional Development League
Monday 2 September 2019
Played at Bramall Lane

SUFC 2019/20 Game 18

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Second four three defeat on the bounce for the Young Blades. That felt like a mad game in real time. Charlton scored twice within minutes of United goals. I'll check later, but it felt like every goal was a deflection. And, there were belting crunching tackles going in from both teams.

Let us start with the hero from Chelsea on Saturday - Lys Mousset. I'm not sure of the plan, Stan. But, Lys did a comfortable full 90 minutes. Beginning with a neat cameo before the start. He had a conflab with twin striker Sammy Ompreon & midfield general George Broadbent. Lots of hand signals & pointing. As they got to grips with who would be doing what. Best thing I've got on Lys is - he played like you'd want an expensive first teamer to. Taking full responsibility & playing a full part. He was often with his back to goal, looking for the ball, taking it off one of his teammates. In his first team "impact" appearances, it has felt a bit - get ball, run with ball, shoot. This time out, albeit against Development level opponents, it was all more measured & all round.

Lys actually started a little sluggishly. Outjumped for his first two headers. But, as early as 15, he really should have put us one up. Ompreon playing him in one on one with the Charlton keeper, who made a great spread yourself block. Lys carved out another chance on 19. He met a great ball in from Kieron Freeman with one of those airborne, horizontal volley things. He got stuff on it. But, the keeper made another good save. United were very much on top at that stage. Heaven knows where they'd practiced it, but United scored from a worked free kick on 21 minutes. Very clever from George Broadbent to drill it low to Mousset. He had the time & skill to get his shot off. Blocked. Lys clobbered the rebound, it took a deflection. In all honesty, it was looping in. But, Reece York, didn't fancy leaving it to chance. So, correctly followed it up & poked it home. One. Nil.

I'm going to fast forward to 60 minutes. By that stage, it was three two to Charlton. This time, Mousset stayed strong & tricky on the edge of the box. Quick feet got it a yard or two forward to Reece York (again). He put it right into Sammy Ompreon's stride on the penalty spot. Sammy calmly tucked home the equaliser. (To be subbed before the restart by Jake Young).

I'll not say much about the other first team squader Kieron Freeman. He played a full 90, and a full part as well. Committed & up n down. Right wingback as you'd hope.

Maybe I'll move on to Callum Gribbin. Presumably still on trial. Also played last week against QPR U23s. Recently released out of Manchester United's system. Callum played 75 minutes. And was then standing up subbed (by Zak Brunt), looked planned, no issues. He more or less continued where he left off. It was just about his goal on 50 minutes which made it two each. Strong work on the right hand side of the box kept it alive. Callum got a strong shot off. Who knows where it was going without the deflection. But, with the deflection, it left the Charlton keeper stranded.

Callum merely confirmed he's got that effortless thing going on. He doesn't look lazy. He just moved easily & is comfortable on the ball. Moving right to left across midfield, making ground, playing his wingback (Harry Boyes) in. Leaving Charlton markers for dead. Making them resort to hauling him down. Look. He wasn't - my word, outstanding. But, in patches, he was running the show. Nothing flash. Everything effective.

The second trialist, named on the bench, was Florent Hoti. I'm not sure what's going on there. Google has him signing his first professional contract at Rochdale only in May 2019. (Worth noting that Rhys Norrington-Davies is at Rochdale, maybe we're developing a tie-in). He's a big fucker with a beard (for an 18 year old). He replaced Reece York. He set up in midfield. Bright & lively. And very quick to push forward & support attackers. He was looking for the ball and to play give n go.

Look. It was a mad game. As well as the seven goals. Bars were hit. Lines were cleared off. Last ditches were tackled. You couldn't stick your neck out & say there was some shit defending. But, the Young Blades in particular, need to get it all tightened up and sorted out. But, it was entertaining. We chucked the lot in for the last ten. Freeman marauding down the right. Slipping it inside to Harry Boyes, the fucking left wingback trying to get up inside him. In another attack, it was Keenan Ferguson looking for it in the box.

The Standout Beer Of The Day was;
Hopcraft, NZ Hopped Super Pale on cask at 4.2%.

I really liked that one. It was a great hoppy pale. The hop bitterness began a little salad leaf. But grew & developed. Packed with hops. Even coming across a little anaesthetic in the mouth.

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