He Doesn't Live On Shoreham Street

Sheffield United 2 v Brighton & Hove Albion 5 

FA Cup Fourth Round 

Saturday 27 January 2024 

SUFC 2023/24 Game #42 

Sheffield United U18 0 v Birmingham City U18 2 

U18 Professional Development League 

Saturday 27 January 2024 

Played at Shirecliffe 

SUFC 2023/24 Game #41 

Sheffield United Community Foundation A 3 v Derby County Community Trust B 0 

Community & Education Football Alliance League, North Central 1 

Wednesday 24 January 2024 

Played at Handsworth 

SUFC 2023/24 Game #40 

This week's beer adventure was on Woodseats. I was brought up at the bottom of Woodseats Road in Sheffield. My Dad used to play snooker in the Woodseats Social Club. One year, the Committee did the end of year numbers and found they could offer Members 5p off a drink. My Dad and his mates immediately switched to drinking halves. That way, they got 10p off a Pint rather than a Bob. Fuckers.

Over Christmas 1977, I worked behind the bar in The Big Tree. Baptism of fire, that ‘un. A coach used to go from the Tree to Sheffield United away games. They called it - The Snakebites FC - coach.

Previously, I've been a #BigFan of Guzzle MicroPub on Chesterfield Road. But, recently, a number of other pubs/bars have opened on Woodseats. So, I went for a big catch up.

The Boston Arms

676 Chesterfield Rd, Woodseats, Sheffield S8 0SD

By the gennel, on a corner plot, next to Woodseats Primary School. Bar in the front room with some seats. A separate side room. And, I hear, some additional seats up top. When I went in, there were three Casks on. Including Abbeydale Moonshine. And a Keg list that was a tad safe & uninspiring. It's context ain't it? SALT Loom, the best in ground footie beer around. A go to. But, if it turns up on Woodseats, I'm all - fuck me, not again.

Still. I was on a little bit of a crawl. And I can only drink one at once!

Brew York, JARSA, IPA on Cask at 3.7%

They've acronymed it bruv. From Juicy And Refreshing Session Ale. Very nice beer. The initial burst is citrus. That hails a long way down. But there is some tropical fruit down there.

Mesters Tap

706 Chesterfield Rd, Woodseats, Sheffield S8 0SD

Same side of Chesterfield Road. The other side of the ‘spoons. Opposite Woodseats nick. My mate Craig was once locked up in Woodseats nick after a United home game. When he came to on the Sunday morning, the Copper asked him his name and address.

“What you asking me that for? You've locked me in all night. So, you must have took those details when I came in.”

“We did Sir, but we don't believe you're called Keith Edwards. And we don't believe you live on Shoreham Street…”

The outlet for Little Mesters Brewing. A single room affair. There was a hand pull. But no sign of anything on it. Seven on Keg. But those included Camden Hells, Pale and Stout.

For the uninitiated, Little Mesters was the phrase given to self employed craftsman in Sheffield. Often self employed in the cutlery game. The last living Little Mester was reputedly Stan Shaw. Stan died in 2021, aged 94. Legend has it he made knives for the Queen, US Presidents and Elvis Presley. Stan was awarded the British Empire Medal in 2017 for his services to manufacturing in Sheffield.

Little Mesters Brewing, Stan, IPA on Keg at 4.6%

That was named after Stan Shaw. It was an OK, but safe, keg IPA. Falling a little way short of the sort of Craft Stan and the other Mesters were famed for.

A longer schlep along Chesterfield Road, past The Big Tree, to a Gaff I did not even know was there until my guide/kidnapper pointed it out.

The Herd

5 Holmhirst Rd, Woodseats, Sheffield S8 0GU

The best way I can describe it is - a mini food court. The Baaa (fuck sake). No Forks Given (breakfast and street food). Dough Bros pizza. And maybe others. I was too taken aback by the wonder of it all. And this is in Woodseats.

SALT Huckaback, Hazy IPA on Keg at 5.5%

Mosaic, Citra and Amarillo Hops. The Citra coming through. A lot. Just the right amount of joooooce.

So, finally, just across the road to;

Guzzle MicroPub

843 Chesterfield Rd, Woodseats, Sheffield S8 0SQ

I've still got great feelings about Guzzle. I just think their throughput means there'll always be a new and interesting cask doing the rounds.

Neepsend Brew Co., Alphito, Hazy Pale on Cask at 4.7%

Superb. Double dry-hopped Mosaic and Azacca. Wheat and oat malt base. Smooth as your chosen smooth thing. But some dandelion bitterness coming in.

Very enjoyable little trail up in Woodseats. Which I thoroughly enjoyed. I inevitably felt the Boston Arms beer choice was a bit "safe". I found the Mesters a bit odd. Didn't really feel like they were showcasing their own beers. Herd was a surprise and lovely.

But I still feel Guzzle is the best of a good bunch.

A poor show from the U18 Blades. Who couldn't really get anything going at all. Although, they were a bit better after the substitutions. The Young BlueNoses extending their lead at the top. They're now five points clear of Crewe. And, seven clear of Barnsley in third. Birmingham certainly fully deserved their points from this one. United remain in eighth. 

Ryan Andrews in goal.

Set up as a back three this week. Prunty (armband and attitude) in the middle, Okyere on his right, Tahir on his left. Sam Colechin wide right and George The Trialist wide left.

Jackson Blaize up top on the right, Marshall Francis on the left. Looked like Sam Aston anchoring midfield this week. Billy Blacker to the left, Ethan Cummings to the right. But, they were very fluid across there. 

Ethan Cummings fired wide on 24. But chances were scarce at both ends, despite BCFC being well on top. The Young Blades conceded on 41. George The Trialist made a mistake on the left corner of the penalty area, got robbed, and as Keeper Andrews came out, the striker went down over his outstretched arm. Penalty. From a defensive error. It's Shirecliffe. There's not many watching. You can hear what the players and staff are saying. That's part of the fun. Penalty. From a defensive mistake. And didn't Jayden Prunty let EVERYONE know who had made the mistake, and what he thought of him.

Keen readers will recall that Prunty had onfield slanging matches with both the bench and teammate Beattie, last week at Barnsley.

Ryan did really well to save the Pen. And, got an awful lot on the second go off the rebound. But he couldn't keep it out. One Nil Blues. The nearest defender to the scorer as he tracked down the rebound was George The Trialist. So, Prunty had another fucking go at him for not getting there first.

There's passion. And there's leadership. And there's out and out bullying. This Blog has been a supporter and “friend” to many Academy Lads over the years. But, we call it as we see it. Always.

“Jayden, you can fuck off with that eyeballs out berating of your teammates anytime you fancy.”

George The Trialist didn't come out for the second half. I hope he was putting Deep Heat in Brunty’s keks. Like for like Mekhi Haughton-Parris replacing George.

We went two down on 60. Failed to clear a corner. And the West Midlands Lad lobbed/volleyed it back in.

The Coaches changed it all up after that. Noah Kiwomya coming on for Marshall Francis. Blaize dropping back into midfield. With Blacker and Noah up top. We looked much more lively and coherent after that. Kiwomya even hitting the bar on 83.

But, that was it. Everyone back to the dressing room for a bollocking from Prunty!!!

Good team to watch ain't they Brighton? Just constantly looking to move it. And move it accurately to someone's feet. Not hopeful hot potato like a lot of United's play. And then. They don't give you a moment. Good positioning in the first place. And boom. They're on you. And, you feel they've got that decisive, clinical thing going on in the opponent's box. Not a bad fucking blueprint that.

Cup Run(neth) Over.

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Deceit, Angles, Triangles

Birmingham City U18 1 v Sheffield United U18 4 

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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A Squint & A Boot Audit

Sheffield United U18 0 v Birmingham City U18 2
U18 Professional Development League, North
Played at Shirecliffe

Sheffield United 2 v Burton Albion 0
The Championship

Tuesday 13 March 2018

SUFC 2017/18 Games 73 & 74

Twitter @ball_sup
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Double Header. Shirecliffe & The Lane. Sheffield Beer Week. Giggles.

Shakespeares Barrel Aged Beer Tap Takeover as part of Sheffield Beer Week. Salute. I wouldn't normally search out Barrel Aged Beers. That's the point of a Beer Week isn't it? Chuck yourself at summat different.

Abbeydale Funk Dungeon Wild Things, Barrel Aged Saison with added Pomegranate Tea on cask at 4.1%. Opaque, looks like pineapple juice in the glass. Sweet (surprised me), fizzy Haribo to smell. Just this side of pucker up sour. Bursts into fruit very quickly.

James & Kirkman, Empress Of India, 40 year old Scotch Whisky Barrel Aged English IPA on cask at 6%. Very tasty. Somewhat bizarrely, I get the merest hint of Tizer in the initial taste. The hop bitterness kicks in. But, it is well balanced & gentle. There is an inevitable lingering sweetness - but very pleasant.

Shirecliffe

That was a disappointing result. It turned out that Birmingham U23s were playing at roughly the same time. And, Twitter was claiming they'd sent a young U23 team to that. So, logically (& hopefully) that could should would be a young & inexperienced BlueNose U18 out there today. Didn't look like it. They competed fully & strongly. In what was quite an even game until the last 15.

There were pluses for the Young Blades. Battering Ram striker David Parkhouse is coming back from injury. He’s U18 qualified, but has already played at U21 for Northern Ireland. Parkhouse is one of those players you always seem to notice early doors. Giving someone a knock. Winning his header. Head down, run at someone. Natch, he was lively early on. He was part of Utds best early move after 7. Feeding fellow up topper Tom Clare. He did very well to get a shot off. But, it dragged wide of the far post. Incidentally, that's the first time I've (to my knowledge) seen Tom Clare. Get him to bring his Birth Certificate to the next 'un. Bearded Giant at U18.

But, then, a cloud, after a lining, which had looked a bit shiny. Parkhouse was off at HT. I didn't get a good butchers. But I asked the Carrier Bag Firm's Dedicated Dugout Detachment what he'd observed. Limping. Came the concise report. Maybe not too bad.

I also felt that was the best game I'd seen Jean Belehouan play in a United shirt. He's the fella picked up after leaving Manchester United’s Academy system. Generally, he sets up as conventional Centre Back, of two. Today, he was alongside Kyron Gordon. Jean was having a right old skool ding dong dog fight with the Brum 9. Winning some. Losing some. But, clearly, putting it in. I also noted his confidence in possession & his distribution. Good game for/from him.

Marcus Dewhurst had a dodgy minute just before half time. A fairly tame shot seemed to burst through his hands. But, drooped (yes, drooped) over for a corner. Which he then flapped at a bit. However, it remained clean sheets all round until the 73rd minute. Marcus was beaten by a shot low down at his right hand side. City seemed to kick on a bit then. No real surprise when they added a second after 81. Whistle blows. Find Beer.

The Lane

Good to get that one over the line. A little bit of grinding. But, I felt we were the better team. It all felt a bit flat in the first half. Competent. But, flat. Lee Evans did well. Giving. Going. Getting. That gives the wing backs a bit of confidence & momentum. And, if you're really lucky, you'll possibly see a Centre Back Marauding.

I had to do a right old squint & boot audit for the first goal. I'd clocked it was Baldock getting wide right. A good accurate ball in. A powerful white booted in the corner finish. Who's that? Stearman? Wait. Wrong boots. Who? Left wing back Stevens. That's who. Getting up with play. A run into the box. Across towards the near post. That's a Sheffield United Indicator Goal. Wing Back to Wing Back. Indicating we're back at it (at times).

Check the Blog. I'll not claim I Told You So. But, let the record show I'm a big David Brooks fan. That second was just, simply, how to score a goal. Target man (Sharp) comes deep. Shows. Gets a flick off. To attacking midfielder (Duffy) moving at pace. Who gets an accurate pass off. To a striker. Who has lost his man. And. Sees. Only. Space. No, to be fair. He can actually see a bit more space ahead of all the space he can see. Put the ball in his stride. Yes.

I know Brooks has had the Fever. I know he's had the Spasm. I know all the strikers, including today's nominee Wilson, have done OK at times. I know Wilder knows. But, if, when, get Brooks as one of the top two. Sit the lot of 'em down. Show them that fucking video.

624/1302

Not Sweet Isolation

Birmingham City U18 1 v Sheffield United U18 0

FA Youth Cup

Played at St Andrew’s

Tuesday 16 January 2018

SUFC 2017/18 Game 44

What I thought was a strength as the game kicked off. Turned out to be a weakness. David Parkhouse was running around like a fly, whose arse was blue. Chasing down the keeper. Chasing down the full backs. Hello. I thought. But, quickly, I realised that was because he was playing some mad, lone striker role. All night. He was isolated up top. No link play. He was winning some headers. But, no one to chase the flick ons. Isolated. All night. To be honest, I’m not sure how they’ve come up with that. Have they scouted & decided that’s the right shape? Have they simply reacted to who they’ve got available? And, why haven’t they changed it up, when it’s clearly not working?

Towards the end, chasing the game, Sam Graham has gone up top as well. And, we’ve caused ‘em more problems in that ten minutes than in the rest of the game. Indeed, Graham should have equalised right at the death. Sub Reon Potts & poor lone sod Parkhouse combined well. Parky put the ball across. Graham looked unmarked in an ocean. But, maybe his whole life flashed before him. He sort of stooped for the header. Got too low. Got under the ball & made very poor contact.

During the earlier, calmer periods, Graham had originally set up as Centre Back with George Cantrill. Kyron Gordon was conventional right back - with Will Portman pushed up in front of him. Harry Boyes was conventional left back. Not sure mate. Could that be the Harry Boyes who has been in the Manchester City Academy. Regan Slater & George Broadbent set up as Centre Mid. I might as well say this now. Theoretically, we had some big hitters out there. Slater has played in the Championship & FA Cup. I’m not particularly singling him out. But, NONE of them really got it going tonight. They weren’t bad. They were ordinary. No one stood up.

As it happened, Cantrill was injured (clattered into the boards) as early as the 7th minute. He ploughed on. But, was subbed at 18. It was a fairly simple reshuffle - Gordon dropped to Centre Back & Portman at right back. As a measure of how much we were struggling, the main thing I noticed about Ky Gordon as the game wore on, was how much he ended up having to turn around & pass it back to keeper Dewhurst !!

OK. Right. Look. We started bright enough. Slater breaking it up in midfield. Broadbent looking strong & comfortable on the ball. Parkhouse sent from Centre Forward Target Man Central Casting - harrying, winning headers. The whole team, generally, harrying & hustling. But, gradually, Birmingham came more into it. And stayed in it. And were the only team in it. Increasingly, The Blues were playing with confidence. They were linking well. Short, sharp, accurate passes to the kid 10 yards in front. Relentless. Some great flowing moves, with intricate & accurate passing.

United were defending OK. Keeping the attacks to the edge of the box. Restricting Birmingham to just long range shots. But, I felt we were not getting tight on them & not closing down enough. When Birmingham shifted it up & went for long passes, they were even catching us out with them. Particularly over the top of Portman on our right.

As an attacking threat, as I’ve said, Parkhouse just couldn’t get into the game, at all, anywhere, anytime after about the first 20. (Save for the everyone up top flurry at the end). Fair do. He worked hard at times. And, I’m not trying to scapegoat him. He was Capital I Isolated.

The second half began with more of the same. Plus, in addition to close link play, and good balls over the top, Brum were now running at us with the ball at pace. We did continue to have our moments. But, they seemed to be about hustle, bustle, harrying. Rather than calm, quality. Even set pieces weren’t getting us anywhere. Doherty curled an edge of the box free kick over the bar on 63 mins.

Within a minute. We were a goal behind. As in, inevitably a goal behind. It seemed a bit self-inflicted. Some back pedalling. Defenders giving it away on the halfway. Their bloke has took it on very well. Running at our defence. Turning them left. Then right. Basically, they’re inside out is what I’m trying to get across. And, a neat calm finish as well. (Maybe a little deflection - the Carrier Bag Firm couldn’t agree when we debriefed).

After 70 mins, we went for more urgency. It’s a Cup Game after all. To get Reon Potts on, we subbed the sub (Tom Williams who had come on at Cantrill’s injury). Let’s be honest. That is rarely a good look. We also got Angelo Cappello on. It made it a bit more promising. For a few minutes. But, it all felt more of the same. We did have a shout for a Penalty as Ange went down. And, then that excellent chance for Sam Graham. But, no nonsense. Birmingham were the better team. Technically better. More organised. Better shape. Deserved it. I felt disappointed in United. That choice for the isolated lone striker had killed us an attacking threat. The Big Dogs never got going. And, we were prone to errors.

Enough of that Shit. The evening had started well. I’d route marched down the hill. Through some grim back streets & industrial units. Under the inevitable railway arches. To the marvellous Clink Beer. In the Birmingham Creative Quarter. Across from the Custard Factory. No. Really.

Clink Beer is one of those multi purpose off licence & bar affairs. You can get a Growler filled from the taps & take that home. Or you can grab a tin or bottle from the fridge & drink it at one of the tables. Keg only. No Cask. I’m alright with that, mind.  One of the things I love about the smaller, independent, non-chain, unlinked, craft beer venues is the lottery of who you’ll end up with. I looked down the eight strong keg list. Saw a Collaboration Beer. I loves a Collab me. I said to this evening’s Mine Host.

“I very much fancy that Glasshouse/Burning Soul/Odyssey Collaboration IPA”

“I brewed that one” - said the fella. Oh. My. Word. I love the FA Youth Cup to bits. But - “I brewed that one”. Let the record show. That’s what we’ve come for.

Glasshouse/Burning Soul/Odyssey Collaboration West Coast IPA on keg at 7%.

Great beer. The bitter is a little hidden at first. But, grows steadily. The background sweetness is always there. It is 7% after all. I get it as pineapple syrup. You (I) don’t see many West Coast style beers at 7%. I was intrigued, surprised & delighted. Lovely beer.

595/1246

6 on the bounce, 3 at the back

Sheffield United U18 4 v Birmingham City U18 3
U18 Professional Development League 2, North
Played at Shirecliffe

Sheffield United 1 v Port Vale 0
League 1
Played at Bramall Lane

Saturday 20 February 2016

Twitter @ball_sup

Today’s Adkins quotient - 4/11 = 36% (Long, Reed & Sharp & I’ve chucked him Che in (plucked from non-league)).

Shirecliffe

It was the battle of 2nd & 3rd at Shirecliffe. The United Nippers were always just shading it. But, tight at the end. Jordan Hallam (2), Nat Crofts & Manny Adebowale (as I recall). That means United leapfrog above the BlueNoses into 2nd place. And, that is six wins on the Bounce. On The Bounce I say.

A very noisy linesman over my side. Some great coaching from him at times. “Lino, how is that a foul, I went for the ball?”. “You went for it & missed it, that’s a free kick, if you go for it & get it, that’s a tackle”. Sensible policies for better football.

The Lane

A win. Deserved. Less Toxic. But, he’s changing all the time. OK, I’ll give him that one. He’s changed, It’s worked. They’ve won. All the talk is of too many players. How we need a clear out once contracts start running out. Yet, he’s using those very same players. One option would be simply to decide now who we’re sticking with longer term. And pad the rest of the team out with the “soon to be released”. Maybe he’s doing that. Who knows?

Anyway. Unusual, but it makes sense. He’s set up 3-5-2. With Brayford & Woolford as wing backs. If they (or others) can do that job, I see the sense. Brayford was a key attacking option, but he’s been off the pace recently. Playing like that brings him more into the game. And you’ve got a solid midfield. Maybe more likely to create chances going forward. Anyway, we won.

Louis Reed. Needs to step up now. He’s OK on the ball. Looking for it. Getting it. Giving it. But, it is not incisive. It doesn’t have an impact. Square. Ten yards. Backwards. Accurate enough. (Most of the time) strong enough. Needs to develop Killer Balls. Step Up.

McCabe all over everything. Including an official statement. Partly, I get it. Him and the Saudi are the owners. They’ve put money in. Simple, as owners, we’re stuck with them. They can do what they like. That’s what being an owner is. Unless they sell……

There is some mad criticism aimed at McCabe in particular. All based on the simple fact that we’re pissing around in Division 3, with no immediate prospects. Stick to that charge and he’s Bang To Rights. But. It becomes. We’re in Div 3, he must be taking money out of the Club. We’re in Division 3, he’s not putting money into the Club.

So, he can Lord It. I haven’t taken a penny out of this Club. We have spent (insert large figure). I’ll boil him down. We’ve spent. It nearly worked. We got to some Play Offs & lost.

The real deal is - if you’re not taking money out, if you’re putting a lot in, why are we pissing around in Division 3? Someone has made HUGE mistakes along the way. Bad appointments. Bad recruitment. Bad signings. Bad strategy. Bad. Not ill luck & Tevez.

The Beer

A lovely Fuggle Bunny, Chapter 3, Golden Orchard on cask at 5%.

280/578