THE SIGNAL Wins It

Sheffield United 3 v Blackburn Rovers 2 

FA Cup 6th Round 

Sunday 19 March 2023 

SUFC 2022/23 Game #54 

Some people suggesting that the Carrier Bag Firm will have taken that oh so important game ultra seriously. And, will not have descended into their piss taking worst.

Wrong.

To start you off. Here's a picture, albeit with a bit of "he's further away" perspective, of Anel Ahmedhodžić & his carefully selected mascot. Proof positive that this great football club are improving. Not long ago, that mascot (shirt name Bradshaw) would have been allocated to the smallest, shortest United starter. Embarrassing both the mascot and the player. Not anymore, the current policy is for size appropriate player/mascot match ups.

Fucking close run thing, mind.

Wes & his little fella looking more comfortable I feel.

I'm a season ticket holder in the Bramall Lane Upper Corner. Binned out of there so some Up For The Cup Rover can get at it. So, I snaffled some South Stand Centre ticket from where I took that Mascot Match Up photo. That seat also gave me a great view of THE SIGNAL.

United decided to throw Billy Sharp in on 70. Two one down for the previous ten minutes at that point. Twenty (plenty) left to go for it. That sub required a reshuffle to a back four, with Jack Robinson hooked. Incidentally, when Heckingbottom wants to do that, my instinct says get Lowe off, move Robinson to conventional left back.

Anyway, (review the footage if you have any concerns), Heckingbottom felt the reshuffle needed a longer word with the players on the touchline. So, he ordered Matt Duke to deploy THE SIGNAL.

Only obeying orders, Matt deployed THE SIGNAL. (He deployed it poorly in my opinion as he had to shout to Foderingham in order for him to look at THE SIGNAL). Upon receiving THE SIGNAL, Wes sits on the turf just outside the box "needing treatment". Adam Davies, who can see THE SIGNAL from behind Matt, knows his role in this charade. He gets off the bench to do the stretches & chorus line kicks.

Meanwhile, Marcus Dewhurst, sat in the South Stand down in front of me is thinking;

"Is this it, is this for real, am I getting a shot at the bench next time out?"

"No Marcus, it was just THE SIGNAL I'm afraid"

So. Hecky gives his instructions to the mass ranks on the touchline. Wes gets a sit down. Adam puts unnecessary effort in. And, it's easy to say - THE SIGNAL worked. What a last twenty. Blackburn did their subs on 80. Oli Mc scored straight away. The Carrier Bag Firm oracles were at it;

"These can't fucking win now, They've put their defensive subs on, They can't fucking win it from here."

And, that TED talk also worked as Doyle T won it in time added on due to THE SIGNAL. Look I've grassed my own club up there for Dark Arts. No, I'm not going to make it worse by explaining what THE SIGNAL is. Suffice to say - it's fucking obvious.

What a Cup Tie. The CBF love Cup Ties. I celebrated with;

Abbeydale Brewery brewed in Collab with Sheffield Beer Week & Indie Beer Feast, Cloud Peak, Juicy West Coast Pale (is that a fucking thing now?) on Keg at 4.8%. Citra, Cascade and Mosaic.

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And ... It's Not Liiiiive

Blackburn Rovers 1 v Sheffield United 0 

The Championship 

Saturday 4 March 2023 

SUFC 2022/23 Game #49 

Beerless Blog on the road back to 14 Units.

It is rare that I post a photo which requires some explanation. But, here goes. Try to ignore the kid looking at his phone. Try to ignore the kid turning his back on the action. Try to ignore the empty seats. Although, fuck me, Blackburn get poor crowds don't they. You may care to note that the Rovers in that stand are all looking at some action down the far end which Blackburn are attacking. Indicative, I'm going to claim, that the game is still going on. Take my word for it - there's five minutes to go.

In those circumstances, what I'm asking you to focus on is the greyish browny tarpaulin thingy centre stage. That is the thingy covering the Sky Sports behind the goal live TV camera. You might think there should be a cameraperson operating said camera. You know, for the capturing of a Sheffield United breakaway, counter attack, equaliser to put the pressure on Middlesbrough.

But, I'm afraid the camera was decommissioned before the final whistle and the cameraperson had simply fucked off. Which I think says a lot about the prospect of us equalising that 5th minute opener. FFS.

It's difficult for me to continuity comment. As my compadres on the Coach, particularly the GangMaster, pointed out - I've been missing in action since we beat Hull City. Although that still felt like a this is where we are performance. 

Blackburn were closing every player down, every play. There was no time to think. I did wonder whether they'd be able to keep that level of intensity up. They did. And the Sky cameraperson knew they would.

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What Is A CDM, Who Cares

Sheffield United Community Foundation U19 1 v Barnsley SYT U19 2 

National Football Youth League 

North East Premier 

Wednesday 23 February 2022 

Played at Handsworth 

SUFC 2021/22 Game #55 

Sheffield United 1 v Blackburn Rovers 0 

The Championship 

Wednesday 23 February 2022 

SUFC 2021/22 Game #56 

Today's Blog features a Screen Grab. I know. Making a bid for a Blogging award or some shit. I sit in the Bramall Lane upper corner. Looking right down the touchline. Piss poor for judging offsides. But, it it goes out for a throw in, I'll fucking know. That view also gives a particular perspective on likely substitutions. You can see McCall waving subs back from the corner flag warm up. You get a bit of a view of them peeling off various layers of polyester training kit, sponsored by companies you have never heard of.

And, on 66 minutes, I had a down the line view of the Charlie Goode incident. Firstly, it just looked bad, even in real time. Whatever the merits on replay (where I thought it looked fucking worse), you can see why he's Reded him. But, I then had a forensic view of who had come from where to have their say in the aftermath.

Here's the grab timed at 66 minutes. Baldock in separatist negotiations. Goode himself taking it all in. Norwood patrolling the periphery. And, Oli McBurnie with the red mist. 

Here's the social media timed 12 minutes later at 78. That social media is announcing McBurnie actually coming ON as a Sub, despite his earlier "intervention".

One for the ages that one.

Incidentally, there's a dilemma the defensive line players face when doing their thang after a bad tackle. Goode goes through him. Gets to his feet and surveys the scene. There's like a frozen second. Then all hell breaks loose as Blackburn players start arriving. Gibbs-White in particular spreads his arms, stops/grabs three players from getting to Charlie Boy. Instinct. Protect your mate. Of course, if he lets them through, there's every chance they'll do summat crazy. And could be in the book (or worse) themselves. In the crazy world of football, Gibbs-White has sort of done the Blackburn players a favour by stopping them.

People often ask me…

"Phil, what do you see as the main differentiating characteristics & requirements between a Central Defensive Midfielder & a Wide Attacking Midfielder?"

Until today, I have tried, politely, to get over the point that I couldn't give two fucks. But, back to that view from the BLUT. Uninterrupted & diagonal. Corner Flag to Corner Flag. Now I get it. WhatSorryPardon. Are you now asking - "in what sense do you get it?"

Because, I kept pointing and shouting…

Sander Berge has fucking started with it over there!!!

And now he's still fucking got it down here!!!

That, Brothers, Sisters, Others is your current Wide Attacking Midfielder. Superb.

I see that Rovers are still managed by Tony Mowbray. Appointed February 2017. I see that Kyron Gordon wears #34 for Sheffield United. He was on the Bench. With Basham's injury being number one on the rumours chart. And with Goode suspended. Kyron's first team pathway has been swept clean a little. But, I wonder if either Mowbray or Gordon remember a previous time their planets aligned.

On 27 August 2019, Mowbray's Rovers were trailing 2-1 to The Blades at the Lane in the EFL Cup. Chasing the game, Tony was getting Royally pissed off at United's Ballboys/Ballgirls holding on to the spherical & not returning it quick enough. His patience broke & he "had a word" with one of the Ballboys & was booked for it. That Ballboy was Kyron Gordon. There was a bit of Social Media & Fans Forum chatter at the time about Mowbray gobbing off to a 12 year old. And, Mowbray was called all the names under the Sun. And some under the fucking Moon as well.

I pointed out at the time that "12 year old" had in fact captained our U18s many times & was now a regular for the U23s. The very day before, I had witnessed that same Kyron Gordon/Ballboy chase a referee across the pitch, while playing for SUFC U23s - demanding to know why the ref was "chatting shit" to him. Anyway. Tony say Hello to Kyron (again).

The pre match was in the Ecclesall Ale Club (again). It's got a LOT going for it. Great & changing beer range. Right side of town for me. But, not necessarily for many others going to The Lane. Means it's usually possible to find a seat. However, tonight it felt a bit cliquey. At one stage, I was convinced that everyone in the pub knew everyone apart from me. Barstaff & Customers seemed indistinguishable & interchangeable. All constantly disappearing out the front for a fag. At one stage, each time the door opened, I'd taken to giving a cheery "hi mate" to whoever came in, in the hope I'd be inducted. Anyway. Cliquey in an OK, I'm not complaining, way. Good luck. (It would be nice to know who are the actual barstaff though).

With games coming thick n fast. And a joyous United team that it's difficult to tear out of your head. My alcohol units are drifting, drifting I tells ye. So, I am currently celebrating South of 4% hoppy table beers.

Vocation Brewery (Hebden Bridge), Low Altitude, on Keg at 3.4%

The Bumph says Simcoe, Sabra & Talus Hops. It was super. Lots of tropics. Orange Juice and Pineapple. Full of flavour. But, came up a bit short on bittering.

Redwillow Brewery (Macclesfield), Nelson Dip Hop, NZ Pale on Keg at 4.1%

Nelson Sauvin Hops. Some stuff about Hop Dipping claimed. Shrugs. Dipping Hops into the beer? Shrugs (again). Very grapey. Shocks you at first. But it calms down once you get used to it. There's a sort of tobacco and/or biscuit thing going on as well.

(Later. In the Rising Sun, Fulwood Road)

Abbeydale Brewery, Unbeliever Apricot Gose on Keg at 4.4%

The barstaff tasted it "with me" as I ordered it. Fair to say - divided opinion. I didn't find it too sharp, nor too sour. It was one of them alchemy beers. How do they make it taste like that from where they started? Alchemy. Maybe even balsamic in the smell. The taste is all about those apricots though. Salt comes through more & more as you attack it. That salt works exceedingly well.

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Who You Gonna Call? Guinness Busters

Blackburn Rovers 3 v Sheffield United 1 

The Championship 

Saturday 6 November 2021 

SUFC 2021/22 Game #25 

Rhian got one today. And it was a good 'un. Sharp The Provider does really well on the right. Looks like he picks Rhian out. Rhian does the scorers thing of working out which bit of him to get on it. And this time gets it right. And I am acutely aware he's got it wrong many times before. But, Rhian got one today. Get some more…

But, we completely fell apart. Seemingly gifting goals. And missing chances that could have put us back in it. Deflating. Poor. Mustn't get into this fucking rut.

On a rare day when Rhian scored, there was another rarity. The Sportsman coach, the Carrier Bag Firm vee-hickle of choice today, stopped in a village/town WITHOUT a Wetherspoons. The fall out from that will fester for some time. Me? Am I bothered, though?

Northern Whisper Rawtenstall Tap Room

18 Newchurch Rd, Rawtenstall, Rossendale BB4 7QX

I've never even heard of Northern Whisper. So, to find their very modern & well appointed Tap Room was a great start to the day. On a day of No 'Spoons, this place was most definitely not a 'Spoons. Still a fuck up mind. Here we were on a Saturday, to find all CASK is one and half English pounds on Wednesdays. Hello, operator, could you put me through to the EFL 2022/23 Fixture Scheduling Dept please.

Two of their own on Cask, alongside three guests.

All their own across the seven (ish) kegs. Annoyingly, their "core" American Pale & IPA were off. And there was a surprisingly large set of "lager" variations across 'em. You know what they say, when in Rawtenstall.

Northern Whisper, Helles on Keg at 4%

Just excellent that. Very well put together. As required, the sugar was spot on.

Northern Whisper, Beltie On Nitro, Stout at 4.8%

(that was available on Cask as well). Great, straight ahead, Guinness busting stout.

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SUFC are past tense

Sheffield United 2 v Blackburn Rovers 1
EFL League Cup
Tuesday 27 August 2019

Yorkshire Vikings 187 for 7
beat
Northamptonshire Steelbacks 107 all out (18 overs)
by 80 runs
T20 Blast, North Group
Thursday 29 August 2019
Played at Headingley

Chelsea 2 v Sheffield United 2
Premier League
Saturday 31 August 2019

SUFC 2019/20 Games 16 & 17

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I was a bit introspective during the Chelsea game. Like many others, it looked to me like Lys Mousset had knocked in the equaliser on 89 minutes. Later credited as an O.G. Obviously, we can press on, caution to the wind, for the injury time winner. Obviously, we can game manage the clock down & see the point out. But, you know what. I'd have been broadly OK if Chelsea had got the winner. Analysing that. It's because I feel the first rung is to be competitive. To live with teams. Not just the Big Six or the Small Thirteen. All of them, the Premier League teams. Get beat one nil, but compete. Get beat two one having competed. At half time, two nil down, standing off, conceding space. You wonder - can we be competitive. Whereas, at 90, two each. We're past tense. We have competed.

Coming back to that Mousset "goal". He's not quite up to speed yet is he? A whipped in cross from his twin strike partner out wide. Ask yourself - what's the first thing Lys should be thinking? Get on the end of this one? Have a nudge at my marker? No Fam. This is Sheffield United. His first thought, on the edge of the six yard box, should be - which one of my Centre Backs is with me and is he in a better scoring position. Oh yeah - John Egan - up there, fucking competing.

A good bunch of my mates are Chelsea. Old Skool. So, the Carrier Bag Firm have a bit of a free pass in the pubs down that way. I was very happy to press the flesh, pat the backs & do the smiling pre match. But, there wasn't going to be much going on Beer Adventure wise. A compromise drink. A much tighter joint utility firm after. No compromise. We celebrated the competitive two all with an IPA Frenzy.

Ghost Whale is a lovely single room, shop front affair not far from East Putney tube station, on Richmond Road. They've also got an outlet in Brixton. Sofas, stools & a welcoming central table running down the middle. Bottle & can fridges lining the walls. A keg wall at the back. Six on. The tale of the tape was;

Wylam Jakehead on keg at 6.3%
North Brewing Co. Paria IPA 3.0 in a tin at 6%
Vibrant Forest, Kaleidoscope in a tin at 6.2%
Brew York, X-Parrot Tropical IPA in a tin at 6.5%
Polly's Brew Co Citra Ekuanot India Pale Ale in a tin at 7%
Wylam Currency Of The People in a tin at 8.2%

And a non-IPA
Laughing Monk Brewery, Strawberry Pulpit (Belgian Blonde) on keg at 6%

Stats
I have now Blogged from 841 games in 1,838 days

Ghost Of Games Past

Ipswich Town 1 v Sheffield United 1
The Championship
Saturday 22 December 2018

Sheffield United 3 v Derby County 1
The Championship
Wednesday 26 December 2018

Sheffield United 3 v Blackburn Rovers 0
The Championship
Saturday 29 December 2018

SUFC 2018/19 Games 50, 51 & 52

May to May Brewery Visits - 71

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The Blog has had a bit of time off over Christmas. We all need time to get our paperwork in order. The confirmed signing of Kieran Dowell, on loan from Everton, has pushed me to finally get my Young Lions Spreadsheet into line. That means this is going to be an odd Blog. The Ghost of Games Past. Since I started writing a Blog, I've had the good fortune to be able to watch many more England Age Group games. Looking back over that period allows me to explain that Kieran Dowell is my guy already. I've already seen him win two trophies. The FIFA U20 World Cup in Korea 2017. And the Maurice Revello U21 Tournament in France 2018 (formerly the Toulon Tournament).

Across those two tournaments, and warm ups etc, I've seen Kieran start 11 times & come on as Sub twice. I didn't know, did I? How could I know in October 2016? That one day, down the track, he'd sign for us. Check the spreadsheet, I've seen 159 different players in a Young England shirt in my Blog years. I can't be expected to have detailed scouting notes on them all. So. Sorry. If you're looking for notes on Kieran's skills & abilities, I've got nowt. Look away & stop reading now.

My attention in the lead up to the U20 World Cup in Korea was drawn more towards Louis Reed. Reed, who was our player at the time, played alongside Dowell against The Netherlands at Oldham, 5 October 2016. Harry Chapman, who was on loan to us at the time, also started that game. Dominic Calvert-Lewin (who was already an Everton player by then) came on as an 81st minute sub. Dean Henderson was an unused Sub. So FIVE players who had, did, or would play for The Blades were in that England U20 squad in October 2016. It's interesting to contrast what has happened to those five since.

The 2018/19 season to date stats are;
Kieran Dowell. Two League Cup games for Everton.
Dean Henderson. 25 Championship games for The Blades.
DCL. 18 Premier League & one League Cup game for Everton
Harry Chapman. Three League Cup & one Checkatrade game for Middlesbrough.
Louis Reed. Fourteen League One, two FA Cup & 4 Checkatrade games for Peterborough.

Fikayo Tomori & Adam Armstrong also started that U20 game in Oldham back in 2016. Tomori started for Derby in that marvellous three one win for The Blades on Boxing Day. And, Armstrong came on as Sub for Blackburn in that equally marvellous three nil win for The Blades on Saturday. Tomori has played 23 Championship & 4 League Cup games for Derby this season. Armstrong has also played 23 Championship games, plus two League Cup games.

England U21 won the Maurice Revello Tournament in 2018. The Final was against Mexico, who we had drawn nil each with in the group stage. Mexico scored very early. But England ground their way back into it. A great last 15 of the first half saw Dael Fry net the equaliser. And, after great work by Eddie Nketiah, Dowell rolled home the goal which proved to be the winner. The Young Lions player who stood out for me at this tournament was Eddie Nketiah. He has played four times for Arsenal’s first team this season.

Dowell also scored in the FIFA U20 World Cup Group game against the hosts South Korea (played in Suwon). As Louis Reed had not made the squad, and Harry Chapman had gone back to Middlesbrough, my main focus at that tournament was Calvert-Lewin. In terms of impact, Dom had a great tournament. He bagged the winner in the final. And, he’d got England off to a great start with the first goal in the opener v Argentina. Kieran Dowell also had a great game that day - two assists. Including for Dom’s goal. The players who stood out for me at the U20 World Cup were Josh Onomah (now in S6 of course) & by a distance, Dominic Solanke.

Looking at my Young Lions numbers has made me realise how I’m specialising in SUFC (ish) goalkeepers as Unused Subs. I’ve seen Dean Henderson as an Unused Sub SEVEN times (& play twice). I’ve seen Aaron Ramsdale as an Unused Sub four times (& play twice). I’ve seen Jamal Blackman as an Unused Sub once. And, I’ve seen Marcus Dewhurst as an Unused Sub four times. Poor that……

Incidentally. In tell it like it is style. Henderson only played once out at the U20 World Cup in Korea. Freddie Woodman was first choice keeper - with Dean & Luke Southwood on reserve duty. Henderson played in the group game v Guinea in Jeonju. Which finished one each. And England conceded a howler of an own goal. The aforementioned Fikayo Tomori played a blind, no look, back pass from inside the centre circle. Henderson is outside his box, maybe 22 yards. The hard hit pass just goes past his despairing drive and rolls into the net dead centre for the equaliser.

And, I’ve done two Breweries. The Briarbank Brewing Company in Ipswich. And, a new Brewery Tap in Sheffield. I’m going to allow myself to say - an unusual place. That was;

The Brewery Of Saint Mars Of The Desert (breathes….)
In an industrial area on Stevenson Road in Attercliffe S9. Call it as I see it. It looks like a Scout Hut from the outside. In a little yard off the street. The brightly (Red & White) painted door will help you find it. It said it was going to open at 1pm. We were early. We’re the Carrier Bag Firm. We ain’t playing at this. As we were hanging around, I thought I could smell something burning. I subsequently discovered that to be the RLF (roaring log fire) in the very welcoming brewery tap room. Single room affair. Decorated with French bar & beer paraphernalia. (Saint Mars du Desert is a town in Western France). Bar on the right. Seating on the left. Logs bang front. A good long chat to the two owners. I was told the Brew Kit was in another building in the yard. Some other punters were shown around, I was offered, but was on a schedule.

They had two beers on keg. The same in bottles in the fridge.

Cito, Golden Ale, at 4%. That was my favourite of the two. Lots of flavour. With a good whack of hops. Which just sit there nicely without overpowering.

Lupe, Hoppy Pale, at 5.5%. Nice flavours. The gentle orange off the Mandarina Hops was lovely. It seemed to come very late in the finish. But, in general, I felt that was all a little underpowered.

I’m sure they’re not mugs. Common sense says they’ve got it all on. There is NO footfall in that area. Remember The Carlton on Attercliffe Road. Once upon a time that was in the CAMRA guide, surely. It’s still there, but it’s days in The Guide must be long gone. Anyway - you pass that from the tram. They’ll have to live or die by Social Media, word of mouth, BLOGS, etc. Maybe their beers will turn up through distributors. Maybe they’re pioneers for a new resurgent ‘Cliffe. I’m sure (or I hope) costs are low. Brew it. Sell it. In an easy to maintain gaff. I thoroughly enjoyed the place and the beers.

759/1593