U18 Professional Development League
Tuesday 25 April 2023
Played at Wast Hills Training Ground
SUFC 2022/23 Game #65
No Beer Day
A trip out to the Birmingham City Academy/Training Ground at Wast Hills. On our way to the scheduled 11:30 kick off, we started seeing messages that the kick off would be delayed. As we were independently traveling and scattered across the locale, we agreed to gather ourselves outside The Man On The Moon pub to assess the situation. For this game, one Carrier Bag Firm Comrade had chosen a logo free black backpack as his receptacle of choice. As he approached the pub, one of the staff (cleaning outside) directed him "go 'round the back". He felt that was an odd instruction. Particularly as there seemed no obvious way into the pub from that angle. Anyway, complied. Upon returning 180 to the actual fucking door. And querying. The member of staff pointed to his non Carrier Bag and said;
"With that, I thought you'd come to repair something, if you want a drink, I'm afraid we don't open until twelve."
That'll learn him. We're the Carrier Bag Firm. The Carrier Bag is a virtue signal that you need to be going in the front of pubs. AnyRoadUp. In the confusion, the team bus came around the roundabout at 11:30. The exact time they should have been kicking off!!! (United will be reported to the Premier League for that. Rightly so. It's not fucking amateur hour.)
That deserved four oner all but guarantees the teeny tiny Blades in second place (behind Barnsley). And the end of season play offs for the National U18 Division Three title. No promotion from that level. If we lose our last three games (including one v Peterborough) and Peterborough win all their three. Then Posh can pip us for second. Providing they overcome a SEVENTEEN Goal Difference. We're all but guaranteed second.
I can also reveal what they've been working on at Shirecliffe all week. A never-seen-before three man short corner routine. Arranged down the side touchline, not the goal line. For example, just at the end of the first half. Right Centre Back Ben Drake stands over the ball as the kicker. Midfield engineer George Dickinson four yards along the touchline. Attacking midfielder Sam Aston another four yards along the same touchline.
They used this three man routine both right and left. With different clientele at times. Sometimes as a bluff, drawing an extra BlueNose defender out, and putting the conventional cross in. Sometimes as a way of changing the angle for the cross from the touchline. And sometimes to create triangles to get someone dribbling into the box down the byline.
Here's what I want to know. These are Development Players. Do the coaching staff say;
"Here's a three man corner routine we've dreamed up. Let's work on it."
Or do the staff say;
"We're gonna fuck off for a sandwich. You lot go over there. And see whether you can come up with a corner routine. Think about deception, numbers in the box, angles for crosses and short passing triangles to bypass defenders."
And then 40 minutes later, George Dickinson goes back to the canteen and says;
"Come and have a fucking look at this."
Wouldn't it be lovely if the development players came up with shit like this themselves. Make them think AND play.
Callum Yam in goal. Aforementioned Drake in a back four alongside Zain Tahir on his left and Mekhi Haughton-Parris at left back. Jack Waldron at right back.
A very fluid midfield of Brandon Ly, Sam Aston, George Dickinson and Stafford Clarke. With Tavio Ciccarelli and Noah Kiwomya up top. Kurtis Havenhand has now been missing for three games. I suspect he's got a longer term injury.
That felt like a young and a bit inexperienced eleven. Sam Colechin came on at 90 to replace Waldron. Sam, making his U18 debut, is only 14. Arlo Coubrough had earlier replaced Brandon Ly (83 mins). Arlo made his U18 debut in November, he was also only 14 at that stage.
Indeed, Arlo made an immediate impact this time around. Some build up down the right. A ball over the top into the channel, Arlo calmly squaring it for the A, to seal it at 4-1, as Tavio rolled it home.
The Blades had gone ahead on 6. Ly fed Clarke down the left. His cross was only half cleared and Sam Aston rifled it home. (Although the keeper did get a hand on it). Incidentally, absolutely deeeelish ball from Ly.
In the first 30 mins, United were dominating it. Chance after chance. On 8, Brandon Ly pulled a good save from the keeper. On 11, chaos in the BCFC defence as a hurried clearance hit another defender and rebounded onto the post. On 15, Jack Waldron marauding down the right, hit the bar with a powerful shot.
United really started to put some swagger in. Midfield players popping up all over the place. Everyone looking for space. Players, particularly Brandon Ly, loving it. Rewarded on 28, a flowing move across midfield, Stafford Clarke coming in off the left, his right foot cross was neatly steered home, first touch, by Noah Kiwomya.
However, some of the swagger became swagger for swagger sake. Rather than swagger to hurt the oppos. Birmingham finished the half strongly. Fair fucking play. And they pulled one back on 35. They had a great chance on 46. And Yam and Drake had to clear off the line on 49.
From 35 minutes to 65, it was all Birmingham. Jack Waldron had been a noticeable constant attacking threat. But was also constantly taken to the cleaners as a defender. He'll need a good fucking lie down after all that.
The Younger Blades went 3-1, against the run of play, on 65. Opinions are divided. Lovely, patient, recycle build up ended with Sam Aston put a searching ball in from the right. Brandon Ly was lurking. But, I felt a defender got a touch on it.
Three One. Before the subs. And that Arlo Coubrough assist at the death for the fourth. No doubt. Deserved winners. Lost their way for some of the game. Will be in the play offs. Fucking turn up on time for them yeah.
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