The Missing

Birmingham City U23 1 v Sheffield United U23 1
Professional Development League
Monday 23 September 2019
Played at St Andrew’s

SUFC 2019/20 Game 25

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I thought that was all a bit scrappy. On balance, I feel Birmingham had the better, more clear cut chances. But, the Young Blades were not out of it by any means. I had to bin off my initial views on the game & recalibrate when Reece York equalised in the 80th minute. There was a lot going on in the last ten minutes & either side might have gone on to win it.  Let’s start with the speculation. If you believe Wilder’s Media Manipulation, then both McBurnie & McGoldrick will still be carrying injuries from the weekend. And Billy Sharp is still suspended. Given that the rules of the League Cup, as “voted for” by the fans, are that you’re not allowed to play your best players, we might be a bit light for the game v Sunderland on Wednesday. So, there’s more interest in those who are not here at Birmingham today, than those who are.  Michael Verrips was here, played the full 90. But, there were no other players you would call First Team Fringers.

I’m sort of intrigued by two of The Missing. Jake Young had started 5 of the six U23 games to date - and been Sub for the other. You could say we’re three strikers light for Sunderland. Jake is an out & out target man striker. And, to my knowledge is not injured. So, maybe he could feature somehow on Wednesday. Stephen Mallon is one of the more advanced & experienced U23 players. He’s just spent time on loan in Australia with Central Coast Mariners. Bluntly, I’m not sure what they’re going to do with Stephen. There is no real point in him coming back to play Development Football again. He’s started once for the U23s this season (Sub twice). Anyway. He wasn’t here at St Andrew’s either. It would be easy to read too much into that.

I had a special look at recently signed Ta’Shae Andall-Gibbons today. He took a good few whacks and was down for fairly extensive treatment twice. But, he lasted the 90. I must say. He surprised me a bit. And, I liked the look of him. My understanding is that he’s been at the same Rising Ballers Academy as Iliman Ndiaye. In short spells, they seemed to have a telepathic sense of where the other one was & what he was up to. Ta’Shae looks a little on the small side. Mainly height. He’ll grow. He’s already reasonably strong & stocky in his trunk & legs. He set up in a midfield three with Reece York & Callum Gribbin. They all roamed around a bit. But, Ta’Shae was more back of the diamond, taking it off the keeper & back three, Coutts role. He’s got that short back lift, but quick & accurate pass thing going on. As if he’s placing the ball there rather than passing it. Ta’Shae was very combative in midfield. Fighting his corner. Putting himself in. Trying to rob his man. And often succeeding. As early as the second minute, he robbed his man, & got it to Ndiaye. In turn, he pushed it to Sammy Ompreon, right into his stride, but his shot blazed over. Maybe Ta’ Shae took a few minutes to adjust to it all. Some of Birmingham’s triangular passes & moves were easily going around him & putting him out of the game. 

But, very quickly, he switched on. Constantly looking for the ball, and quick to close down when required. He has good vision. In spells, not all the time granted, he was running the show. He was disciplined & organised. Kept his position well & held the shape of that midfield together. It’s maybe a little unfair. But, that contrasts with Callum Gribbin. I felt he drifted out of the game at times. A bit mardy as well, if some other bod wasn’t doing what he thought was needed. 

I’m also going to say a little something about Harry Boyes. His football is sometimes so joyful that it makes me laugh out loud. Left wingback. Does the defensive duties well. But, really it’s his energy pushing forward. Wave after wave. And, he’s given the freedom to more or less do what he likes. And, what he fucking likes is popping up in the Inside Right, occasionally wide right, channel. All I’ve got in my head is - what’s he doing there? And, he’s effective as well. As early as ten minutes, he popped inside right & created a great chance by flicking it through to Ompreon.

After a bit of building pressure, the BlueNoses scored an it’s been coming goal on 70 minutes. I felt it was a worked corner routine. Pushed low to a guy arriving in the box. He got a great rising right foot shot off. Which crackled into the roof of the net. To be honest, I’d written it off. But, Reece York, Reece Yorked for the second game running. On 70, he took all the matters into his own hands. Bursting through from midfield with the ball at his feet. His pace meant the only thing the Midlandarian could do was a lunge across him foul. Sammy Ompreon looked longingly at Reece, from the penalty spot. No. No. No. As per last week, Captain York pulled himself up, took it himself. And belted home the equaliser. 

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