A Latin Declension Goal

Everton U23 1 v Sheffield United U23 3 

Premier League Cup, Group D 

Friday 17 September 2021 

Played at Southport

SUFC 2021/22 Game #9

Great, fully deserved win by the U Two Threes against a Club effectively two leagues higher. "But, did Everton play a weakened team Phil, as if it's like the Carabao Cup?"

Fuck knows, do you think the Carrier Bag Firm are nerdy geeks who know a load about opposition players? (smiley emoji thingy)

Repeat. Great, fully deserved win by the U Two Threes. 

In case you didn't know this is a Cup competition under the organisation of the Premier League. Some, but not all, Cat 1 & Cat 2 Academies enter. With a smattering of Cat 3s (I spied Mansfield Town & Southend United in the Group Tables). The Carrier Bag Firm love this cup. It's a chance for our (Cat 2) Academy to test themselves against the Big Boys in Cat 1 (and occasionally risk it at a Cat 3). Also. New grounds. New towns. New pubs. Sadly, not this week. We played Everton at Southport in the same competition in February 2019. We were a tad unlucky to lose that 2-1 to late goals after Reece York put us ahead.

The first phase is a four team group. Before moving to knockout. We're in with Everton, Burnley & Peterborough United.

Der Der Der - Der Der Der Der Der

One of THE iconic tunes of English football. I'm delighted to confirm that, even at Under 23 games, and even at Southport rather than Goodison Park, Everton enter the field to the Theme From Z Cars - ask your Grandad.

Jack Lester was in the dugout & shouting the do this's. No sign of Paul Heckingbottom.

Isn't the working assumption that Regan Slater had a deal break down in the Transfer Window? He hasn't played for a long time, and would be (you'd imagine) short on fitness. The simple thing to say is - to my eyes he's changed as a player. Inevitable really. I saw a lot of Regan in Academy football. That's more flexible than Big Boys pro football - where players become ever more specialised. Indeed I'm going to accuse - where players become ever more typecast.

That big engined, box to box, influence the play midfield whirlwind that I recall. Has become a sitting, holding midfielder. Regan played that role well. Alongside Arblaster & a more roaming & influential Zak Brunt. But, I'll say it how I see it - I felt Regan needed to get into this game more. I hope that's helped with his fitness & he can get something sorted in due course.

United played with what I can only describe as an extreme back three with wingbacks. Angelo Cappello on the left and Joe Starbuck on the right. Those two seemed always pushed up in a very attacking set up. Gordon, Lopata & Gomis across the back three. 

United were a constant threat from corners, free kicks and balls played in from out wide. I love how we seem to have gone very simple on corners - both the first team & U23s. Decide who's getting on the end of it - Lopata or Lankshear - screen him & block, he runs whatever pattern it is - peel off to back post, attack near post - put the ball where he is.

As early as the third minute, Brunt sent in a long free kick, Lopata clattered the keeper, but knocked it just over. But, the Toffees did put us under quite a bit of pressure early on as we were looking to settle in. Arblaster lost it in midfield & the Everton lad took it on well & forced a good save from Marcus. Everton scored on 8, and it looked scrappy & preventable. Looked like it should have been cleared before it was scrambled in low down past Marcus on the near post.

Great leveller on 13 from The Blades. Nice team goal. Ange Cappello stood a deepish cross up from the left. Will Lankshear climbed high and headed back across goal. And Louis Marsh very calmly picked his spot.

Lord knows what happened with our second goal on 24. My sightline was right along the hypotenuse of it. A move broke down for Zak as the defender toe poked it away. The ball just seemed to bounce into Joe Starbuck's stride. Did he look up? Fuck knows. Did Lankshear see a chance that a cross might come his way? Fuck knows.

But, what I know is Joe struck it hard & true along my sightline. And I couldn't help but see Lankshear in my eyeline. Is he going to get on the end of that? He is going to get on the end of that. He's got on the end of that. A true Latin Declension Goal.

We weren't exactly dominating, but we'd gone ahead & there was a 20 minute spell at the end of the first half where Everton couldn't get anything going. And our full on wing back game was paying off. Marsh & Lankshear were working very hard. Keeping the ball alive & making things happen. With Cappello often popping up as a third striker.

The back three were calm in defence. Working well together & tidying everything up. And. Will Lankshear put it to bed just 48 seconds after half time. Another Starbuck assist as he broke strongly down the right. A fairly straightforward roll across the box. Lankshear could have stepped over it & let someone else have a go. Lankshear could have helped it wider left where he had some marauders. But who wants their striker to do that shit? Lankshear greedied up and placed it into the corner. Three One. Two from Lankshear & an assist for the other obvs makes him a stats standout.

We continued to create chances. On 62, Gomis drove inside left with the ball & squared it to Brunt who really should have scored. On 78, Starbuck was powerful on the right again & Marsh, on the end of it, could have scored. Great win.

The Beer Den, 67a Duke St, Southport PR8 5BT

A lovely double shop fronted micropub. An outlet for beers from The Parker Brewery (also in Southport). They were showcasing;

The Parker Brewery, Centurion Pale Ale on Cask at 3.9%

The Parker Brewery, Dark Spartan Stout on Cask at 5%

(both sampled, obvs)

These sort of MicroPubs are just great aren't they? Friday TeaTime. They're becoming "the new local". Pissed up couple perched at the bar. Painter & decorator, with more paint on his overalls than the wall, nipping in on his way home. Colleagues celebrating the end of another fucking week. Older, should know better, drinker wearing a t-shirt quoting Mark E Smith. Just great.

Bar staff properly pulling casks through if they're new or first serving for a while. Just great.

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