Premier League Cup, Group B
Monday 9 October 2023
Played at Chesterfield
SUFC 2022/24 Game #16
Let's begin with THE INSIGHT. We ain't had one of them for a bit. This competition pitches lower level Academies (Cat 2), like Premier League Sheffield United, against the Academy Big Boys (Cat 1), like League One Reading. So, I like to have a gander at how Cat 1 Academies conduct themselves.
Reading had pulled a goal back on 45 +7 (FFS) to go in at half time 2-1 down. Having seen United reduced to ten men on 34 minutes. Except the EIGHT Reading "coaches" on the bench didn't go in at half time. As their players streamed past them for their HT Jaffas (a variety developed in Palestine let me remind you), the Reading coaches stepped onto the pitch.
They conducted an analysis of the first half. Right there on the pitch. In full view of the stands. With the Carrier Bag Firm desperately earwigging. With hand held whiteboards. Video playbacks. Notepads. The lot. It all seemed fairly structured. Different coaches being asked for their input. Interim summing up. Tooing. Froing. Conclusions drawn. Plans made. And after a good few minutes, all eight of them headed down the tunnel to join their lads.
I didn't quite know what to make of it. Some of the CBF remarked it looked like it might be part of a - Coaching The Coaches - process. Whatevs. It was a very intriguing insight as to how Reading Academy go about their business.
It took me an age to work out the Young Blades system at the start.
The CBF main man, Marcus Dewhurst in goal. Lovely to see Rhian Brewster up top with Antwoine Hackford. Owen Hampson anchoring midfield. With 'dre Brooks (right mainly) and the returning John Fleck (left mainly). Chaz of Staniland wide right. Jili Buyabu wide left. Tall lad Femi Seriki at RCB. Tall lad Ben Drake at LCB.
Consult the teamsheet. Count the players. Run through it again. Is it four at the back? What am I missing? Oh. Fuck me. That's frankly not as tall as the others, Jack Waldron in the middle of the three. First start for the U21s this season (I think). Usually seen as a right full back, or right wing back. Brave choice.
He did well. I'm not damning Jack. But, he played like a Championship player. You get one free shove on your man in the Champo. He wasn't to know exactly how the Ref would manage this one. But, Jack used any free shoves he was allowed to perfection. Clearing many a long ball and cross.
And. Frankly. Fuck knows what happened on 23. Marcus went deliberately long. Seeming to pick a man out. United player coming in off the left. Outjumped his man by feet plural. Superb header into Hackford's stride. He took it on and finished smartly.
Same script. Who's got the header in? Who knocked it on to 'twoine? Roll call. School register. It's only Centre Half Jack Waldron coming in off the left wing. Magnificent Madness.
That made it 2-0 to the Blades. Rhi Rhi had opened it up on 17. Nice and simple. Buyabu broke down the left. Squared it and Brewster rifled it home. Rhian had another great effort on 33. A good downward header which went just wide.
The game shifted on 34. With a straight red for Fleck. That looked fair enough to me. Clumsy. High. Not a great deal of dangerous contact. But too high to survive.
In the ten man reshuffle, we went four at the back. Moving Staniland in front of the back four and shuffling Femi and Jack further right.
It's worth explaining that this competition is very much a Premier League competition. And it's not just the players who are Academying. So are the Refs and Linos. They'll be keen to show the Assessors sat in the stands that they're fully conversant with all the latest edicts. Hence 11 fucking minutes of added on. From fucking nowhere. In which, Reading scored a neat glancing header. Which I felt was preventable.
Anyway. Two up. Man off. Conceded a goal. Reading coaches have the debrief on the pitch. Waldron replaced by Dovydas Sasnauskas. Rhian pulled for George Dickinson. Brooks pushed up. Second half. Here we go.
Whatever emerged from the half time thingamabob, Reading were right in it from the start. They hit a post on 55. I did feel we'd gone into our shell a bit. Giving their players far too much space. Reading hit the post again on 61. And, we were in - no surprise - territory when they equalised on 70 minutes.
At that stage, it was all them. 'nando Macedo came on with ten to go. And we became more of an attacking threat. Could have nicked it. I suppose cold light of day is - drawing after being tened for 55 minutes ain't bad. But, from two up, I was a little disappointed.
It felt goooood to be back in The Glass Works (388 Sheffield Rd, Chesterfield S41 8LF). If you like a pub where a larger than average amount of Bollocks will be talked. This is for you. And, Beer Of The Week is still £2.75. Four of their own on Cask, two guests.
Brampton Brewery, God Bless The Absentee, IPA on Cask at 4.8%
A great, classic English Cask IPA. Quite a lot of sultana, date, etc fruit. Back of the throat bitterness and all a bit anesthetic.
Brampton Brewery, Ascalon, Session Bitter on Cask at 3.8%
A lovely "modern" bitter. Not too sweet. Not cloying. Easy drinking. Enough of the Hops to keep you at it.
Ampersand Brew Co (Norfolk), Blass - Continental Cask Pale at 4.3%
In making my choice for my third pint, I consulted my preferred App. Which declared this beer to be out of production. Here's an insight into the Carrier Bag Firm process. If it's out of production, you won't be able to tick it in the future. It's here. Now. On the bar. Or never. I'm having that. Simples.
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