Premier League Cup, Group B
Monday 5 February 2024
Played at Chesterfield
SUFC 2023/24 Game #46
Sheffield United 0 v Aston Villa 5
Premier League
Saturday 3 February 2024
SUFC 2023/24 Game #45
You remember the Premier League Cup don't you? It's the competition where lower level, Cat 2, Academies like ours at Sheffield United, can mix it with the Cat 1 Big Boys - Reading, Blackburn Rovers and West Bromwich Albion. It's also a competition where the Premier League send Referees, Assistants and Fourthees to learn their trade under PL Regulations. And, didn't we fucking know that tonight.
There was a right kerfuffle before the start. Which we feel even delayed kick off by a minute or two. Let me explain. The Ref, etc know they're being watched (by assessors for eg). They know they've got to show a full appreciation for the PL Regs. So, he's gone through the checklist. And, he knows the Premier League uses multiball. In order to keep the game flowing. To stop time wasting. And, he knows that the multiballs have, under PL Regulations, to be placed on those cone things that like tee the ball up.
So, the Ref has insisted enough cone tees, of the right size & colour, are placed in the exact positions required by the PL Regs. Reminder, this is an U21 game, at Chesterfield. But you knows it. Rules is rules.
Eventually, after kerfuffle, enough cone tees are found and GPSed into the exact positions. The Ref is satisfied that the game will not be slowed down for want of balls on cones and can now continue.
“Bruv. There are no ballboys. Bruv. The players have to fetch balls out of play themselves. Bruv. The cones are there. But, there are no fucking ballboys…”
At this stage of an Academy Blog, I like to list the Sheffield United players, describing their set up across the park. Painting a picture for my readers. Today. Because of Referooooney. And his pernickety obsession with the PL Regs. I'm going to paint that picture using a slightly different brush.
17 Minutes. Sam Curtis. Booked
47. Evan Easton. Booked
71. George Dickinson. Booked
79. Ryan Oné. Straight Red
90. Macedo. Booked
90. Levis Pitan. Booked
At some point, at which I didn't note the time. Sheffield United goalkeeper Jordan Amissah was also booked. For time wasting. We were losing at the time!!!
“Bruv. You've booked him for time wasting. We're fucking losing bruv…”
I was informed at the end that he'd made fourteen bookings and one Red Card. Might not be an exact count. But seems legit.
As it happens. Maybe Jordan's time wasting was justified. Because, that defeat. And results elsewhere meant the Young Blades not only qualified out of their Premier League Cup. But actually won the group. Reading beat West Brom three nil. And, in the mix, Rovers ended up second behind us. With Albion missing out.
On balance, I felt United were second best tonight. They got the run around at times. Particularly out wide. But, we were able to adapt well and find a way of getting into the game. Blackburn were two up inside 25. Macedo pulled one back immediately. And Owen Hampson leveled just before half time. But Blackburn went ahead even more juster before half time. And that's how it stayed.
Debut for Sam Curtis. Hype surrounds. Tidy. But didn't stand out.
The Glassworks
388 Sheffield Rd, Chesterfield S41 8LF
Brampton Brewery, Brampton Best, Bitter on Cask at 4.2%
That is the 15th different Brampton Beer I've ticked in The Glassworks. Also Beer Of The Week - £2.85.
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