Professional Development League, North
Tuesday 26 April 2022
Played at Bramall Lane
SUFC 2021/22 Game #69
By all that is Holy, this Blog should really begin with a celebration of a great title winning season for our U23s. But, the Carrier Bag Firm have out done themselves again. With some utter nonsense. So, I have to begin with the following statement…
Just fucking look at what they are collecting now.
You may recall that the Carrier Bag Firm are basically named for the bags they use to secrete all manner of meaningless bits of paper that they "must have" in their collections. Civilians might be satisfied with first team home match programmes. The CBF, not so. It's got to be the programme, a match ticket & a teamsheet. And, of course, teamsheets & match tickets from Academy games are a must.
There's like a swap meeting at these U23 home games at The Lane. They bring all manner of paperwork to hand out & make sure everyone who needs something, gets something. At least you can say the CBF is a mutually supportive organisation.
But. Tonight. Fuck. Me. Not content with programme, ticket, teamsheet. Another bit of paper has reared its crumpled head.
The printed Stewards Briefing used to … well … to brief the Stewards. No. Really. Now a collectable.
Moving on. Are you familiar with the work of Isaac Jefferies? Isaac is 16, he turns 17 next month as it goes, and he joined Cardiff City as an 8 year old. Isaac came on as substitute for The Bluebirds in an U23 away match at Coventry City yesterday. And, scored the winner in a 2-1 victory - in the 87th minute.
The Carrier Bag Firm will forever know that as - the goal that was heard around S4.
Because, that was the goal that clinched the 2021/22 title for Sheffield United U23. While they were sitting on the sofa. Champions for the second season running. Although, it's worth remembering "the churn" in Academy football. The U23s were second bottom after 25 games in the Covid hit 2019/20 season. And, also second bottom the previous (2018/19) season. Let's not be thinking about a dynasty just yet.
And, our historic lack of investment/ambition in Academy facilities & programs means we remain a Category 2 Academy. Effectively playing in (but winning) U23 Academy Division Three North.
In the knockabout arguments about Academy Success, there are three basic criteria.
Winning leagues/collecting medals
Developing players & selling them for big money (in the hope of reinvestment into the first team squad)
Progressing players into our own first team
It's fine. Relax. If your team is not very good at one, you can always claim one of the others is the most important.
Recently, we've mostly lived on selling players. Your Walkers, Maguires, Calvert-Lewins, Ramsdales & your Brooks.
A partly deliberate, partly enforced change of strategy this season has seen us bring kids through to the first team. Your Norrington-Davies, Ndiaye, Gordon, Jebbison. Maybe even your Osula.
Investment in the Academy facilities & programs AND bringing our own youngsters into the first team will (humble opinion) both remain difficult for us. Because we are what I call a Striving Club. As opposed to a settled & consolidating club. We are always battling against relegation, trying to get automatic, or to creep into the play offs.
Against that striving, the fucking lot would go up if we diverted serious money away from first team wages & recruitment for Academy investment & recruitment. Or, if we settled for one of our own youngsters at RCB when we can harvest the Russian Clubs are banned after invading Ukraine market. (FFS)
Part of that striving comes from who we are. And part comes from the introduction of the play offs. Which have created more striving clubs & fewer investors in yoooot clubs.
But, that's all for another day. Because today is Game Day. Today we can concentrate & celebrate Criteria One. Winning leagues & medals.
As league winners in the North, the format should be - we play the team that finishes second in the South, at home, in a one leg play off. (And, there's every chance that would be at Bramall Lane). Currently, Bristol City, Ipswich Town & Cardiff City are battling it out for the top two spots in the South. The league season is due to finish on 3 May. Indeed, United will have a hand in the South Group. As our final game is away at Ipswich (don't ask…). And, of course, young Issac might still have another hand to play if we lock horns with his Cardiff City team should they finish second.
Right. Tonight. I thought that was a pretty even game. Both sides had chances. A lot of our problems were self-inflicted. And with a late equaliser, maybe we were a little lucky to come out of that with a draw. We started both halves brightly enough. And I'd sum the whole thing up as - energetic but sloppy.
Ex squeeze Kamarl Grant has started 8 games for the SUFC U23s this season & 3 subs. But, tonight, he turned up as #4 for the 'wall. Kamarl set up as a right centre back - in a fluid sometimes 4, sometimes 5, Millwall back line. Millwall were a real danger from whipped in free kicks and corners all night. Kamarl got a great header on one on 71, which flashed just wide.
Callum Hiddleston betwixt sticks again. Lopata anchoring a back three with Ky Gordon on his right, and Miguel Freckleton on his left. Sachdev wide right. Buyabu left. The impressive Arblaster in centre mid. Brooks on his left, Sydie Peck on his right. Hassan Ayari & Dan Jebbison up top.
One thing I'm going to mention about Lopata is that they use him as a Quarterback as well as a Centre Back. A lot of the ball goes through him. Time after time, throw ins on our right were thrown, backwards and quite long, to him to (re)start the build up.
Oliver Arblaster faded a bit as the game went on. But, he has a great game plan. He's got a bit of that radar thing going on. He scans the location of the opposition players. And his body shape and positioning is excellent. Couple all that with a great first touch - and he is blinding at facing the opponent's goal with the ball at his feet very quickly. Perfect as an outlet & as build up. Really impressive (in bursts).
However, Daniel Jebbison, frustrating again. I worry about his touch. He constantly seems to get the ball caught, clumsily, between his feet.
In the first 20, the Young Blades seemed well on top. A lot going through Arblaster. But, both Hassan & Jebbo struggling to get anything going up top.
On 32 minutes, I started making a note along the lines of…
Our only real problems at the back are self inflicted. Sloppy passing along the back line giving Millwall a way in.
And. Lo. Before I'd finished writing that - Millwall scored. We got robbed, they broke down the left, and scored from a good low shot across Hiddleston.
Our first real chance came just after that. Ayari wriggling free in the box. But shooting over the top. More or less straight away, a South Londoner slipped under pressure from Jebbison. The keeper rushed way, way out to deal with it. But could only find Peck on the halfway. He hit a clever low shot towards "the empty goal". But a Millwall player got a desperate block on it around the penalty dot.
United started the second half with a storm. (The often anonymous) Brooks hit a post with a great left foot shot from outside the box. Then, quarterback Lopata found Sachdev with a long ball. He skipped forward & pulled it back perfectly for Hassan. But, he clipped it just wide.
But, wouldn't you just know it, another defensive fuck up on 68 saw the Millwall striker lift it just over the top. As the last 20 started, I felt we were sliding down. Players missing. Second best all over the shop. But, Will Lankshear (on for Ayari) found space and fed 'dre Brooks. His cross had a bit of pinball afters. And it fell nicely to Jebbison who side footed the equaliser on 80 minutes.
Luckily, the Carrier Bag Firm are now well briefed on Stewards duties. So, the goal celebrations were contained.
(No Beer Day)
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