On My Pants I Spilled Expectorant

Coventry City U23 2 v Sheffield United U23 0 U23 Professional Development League 

Tuesday 14 December 2021 

Played at The Alan Higgs Centre 

SUFC 2021/22 Game #33 

Coventry did a number on us there. We looked second best in all departments. I can see why they top the division. Strong, fit powerful lads. Well drilled and switched on. There were brief periods where it looked like the Young Blades had gone. Heads dropping. Ratty with each other. And niggling with the Covos. So, credit, they kept it to just two for 80 minutes, after conceding two early goals. We had a few chances. But even they were snapped at or lame n tame.

United set up as a back three with wingbacks. And it didn't work. Time & time, Coventry were playing balls down the wings, in between the wing backs & centre back for their players to run onto. Inch perfect many of them. When that didn't look on, they were happy to hit it over the wingbacks into space. Again, with precision.

Centre backs getting dragged all over the gaff.

United have an important FA Youth Cup game the day after this visit to Coventry. And I think that will have influenced team selection a bit. George Dickinson was making his U23 debut. One of the subs was 15 year old Kurtis Havenhand. Even "bringing back" loanees Maguire, Gomis & Neal for the day, it still felt like we were bare boning it.

And. Let's talk about Harrison Neal. This pocket rocket, box to box, or holding midfielder set up as the middle centre back in a three. And, played very statically. It looked horrendous. At the beginning of the second half, he made three howlers in the first three minutes. Hoofing a clearance high into the West Midlands Stratosphere, straight up, with no control whatsoever, eventually conceding a corner off that. Then, being caught in absolute no man's land, coming deep left for his man, realising he maybe shouldn't be there & retreating without getting within 6 yards of him. And then completely miscontrolling a ball in his own box.

Look. I'm a big H Neal fan. Maybe they wanted to have a look at him at the back. As they did a few times with Ben Whiteman. I'm all for that. Maybe they just wanted to pull him out of his comfort zone to see how he coped (hint - he didn't). I'm all for that. Maybe they wanted to play a three against what they knew would be a strong Sky Blues, but didn't really have the personnel & had to juggle. If it's an experiment, it's got a long way to go.

Grant on his right, with Starbuck outside him. Gomis on his left, with Ange Cappello outside him. I feel for Ange, man. One week left wingback. One week up top. Can't be doing him any good. Maguire trying to anchor the chaos around him. Andre Brooks & Debut Dickinson helping out in midfield. Will Osula & Hassan Ayari up top.

Coventry got all the work done early. On just four minutes, a powerful run in the inside right channel & a low shot. The Carrier Bag Firm were left perplexed as to how that beat Jordan. And then on 11 minutes. Just a great goal to watch to put City two up. How football should be played. At purpose, at pace, but with a whole heap of simplicity. A great inside the defender pass out to the left wing (yes, that fucking move again). A good low cross deep into the six yard. Jordan scrabbling across to see what he can do. But a simple, get everything on it, knock in at the far post.

The Blades had a chance on 26. Great work by Cappello on the left. His good deep cross found Hassan at the back stick. But, he really should have done better. His tame shot was straight into the keeper's hands.

But City finished the half much the stronger. And two up. Their striker was all over Neal, getting his body in the right place & holding him off easily. More than once an' all.

My notes simply say - getting mullered down our left.

Coventry pressed really well all the game. Not just harem scarem, run at him. But, collectively, intelligently as a group. Closing the angles, stopping the outlets.

But United did have a chance to claw something back on 61. A high cross saw Osula muff his header, more or less hitting his own feet. As the ball bounced loose, Ayari hit the side netting. Typical of the day.

Osula was our main attacking threat. Busy all afternoon. I think Ayari coasts a bit at times.

Havenhand subbed for Osula on 66. And to end the whole shambling affair, Grant was red carded with five to go.

The Carrier Bag Firm have also asked me to explain - there were no fucking teamsheets either…

A much more enjoyable sequel in;

Hops d'Amour Micropub

67 Corporation St, Coventry CV1 1GX

A single room, shop front micro. Clearly lots of regulars in. Bloke stood at the bar offering me recommendations (I don't mind that). Bar person happy to explain what's on. Local Ales clearly marked. Six on the Sticks. And four pukka keg. Superb place. Worth the trip.

I'm often asked "Phil, you often quote song lyrics in your Blog, what's your all time favourite rhyming couplet?"

Easy.

"On my pants I spilled expectorant

And the colonel shot better with 30 pints"

This classic brought to your aurals in Underground Medicine by The Fall.

Now, it so happens that three Cov Lads got together, formed a small brewery, and named it Underground Medicine after THAT Fall song. So, today, I went;

Underground Medicine, Lizard Lounge, Blackberry Gose on Cask at a lip lickable 3%

I'm reliably informed that the Blackberries were foraged locally, but the Sea Salt wasn't. The salt was a bit of a shock to the system initially, very dominant. But, as you get down it & get with the program, it does all go well in the balance with the berries. 3.5/5

Underground Medicine, Dig For Fire, Pale Ale on Keg at 4.2%

(Itself named after a Pixies track). I found that a bit thin & uninspiring at first. But as I settled in, there was some nice orange sugar. Simple, well put together pale. 3.5/5

But, DEFFO Outstanding Beer Of The Day was;

Byatt's, HopLab Twinkle, Pale Ale on Cask at 4.8%

Absolutely brilliant. Right up there. Amarillo, Admiral, Mandarina & Bavaria Hops. The orange marmalade really comes through. And there's a great hit of lingering bitterness to send you on your way. 4/5

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