The Tactical Tiller

Sheffield United 1 v Arsenal 0

Premier League

Monday 21 October 2019

SUFC 2019/20 Game 32

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What a great win. It feels like we are really in it now. Celebrating the win with a few beers later on, I got distracted by some defensive statistics. I sort of get it a bit more now. We do not park the bus. We are not a defensive team. But we are very good at defending. Not as good at attacking, but that is the game. Don't concede any, score one. With our game plan, I feel it is desperately important that we score first. We can then manage the game. Small adjustments on the tactical tiller. substitutions at the right time. And manage the game over the line from there.

We seem very well organised defensively for corners. Over the course of that game, McGoldrick & McBurnie played The Zone Man. At one stage, I saw Darren Ward frantically signaling to Lundstram. pointing at him and making a circular motion with his hand. In real-time, I had no idea. But, of course, at the next corner it dawned on me that Darren had just been making sure Lundstram realised he was now the zone man. Gotta love that flexibility and versatility. Three different zone men all doing the job.

We are by no means just a set-piece team. But it's clearly an important part of the game at this level. There is always something going on. The ones I really like are the simple routines which get one of the centre backs free at the back stick. And lo, it came to pass. Norwood zings one over, O'Connell gets free, heads it into the mixer, the Moose does the rest.

On Saturday, I criticised BrewDog for having too many beers for Collabfest 2019. but let's turn it 180, let's turn it to our advantage. It's going to take a while to shift them. So don't be surprised if they are randomly turning up on BrewDog bars for the next few weeks. Despite the fact that Collabfest officially finished on Sunday, BrewDog Sheffield certainly had a good few still on. One door closes, etc. I was able to plough through another four taking the running total up to 11.

Hawkshead Brewery (Cumbria) x BrewDog Carlisle, Costa Del Solway, Tart IPA at 7.4%.

Nice & juicy. But, there is definitely a hop kick at the end. Keeps coming.

Double-Barrelled Brewery (Reading) x BrewDog Oxford, Shark In My Roof, Imperial Caramel Porter at 7.3%.

Great mix of flavours. I was getting lots of liquorice in the first gulp. But, further in, it's deep red fruit. But, still got liquorice in it.

St. Mars of the Desert (Sheffield) x BrewDog Sheffield, Shoquaddyquaddy, Belgian Quadruple at 9.4%.

Well. Where to start. Full. On. A load of Toffee Crisps boiled for two hours. Takes your head off.

Brewgineers (Goteborg) x BrewDog Goteborg, Elderflower Lemon IPA at 7.4%.

Yes. A banging simple beer. The bitterness grows. But stays the right side of harsh.

Stats
I have now Blogged from 867 games in 1,889 days