Young Blades in Europe "explained"

Sheffield United U23 2 v Bolton Wanderers U23 1 

Professional Development League 

Monday 2 March 2020 

Played at Shirecliffe

SUFC 2019/20 Game 54 

Twitter @ball_sup 

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Europe you say. Might go down to eighth you say. Top four within our sights you say. Crikey. It sounds like it's time for some Carrier Bag Firm BladesSplaining. What was that mate? Are there any European tournaments the Academy can play in? Strap yoursens in.

There are two European tournaments which English Academy sides can play in. The main one is the UEFA Youth League. (For U19). There are two routes to qualification. One route is effectively closed to United. That is the Domestic Champions route. To get in that door, you have to win whatever U18/19 title there is in your country. As United are a Category 2 Academy (not Category 1) we effectively play in the third tier of Academy football. With no promotion, and only one winner, even I'm saying we're unlikely to win that any time soon.

To wet your whistle. Derby County are in that path this year. Their U19 side have already played games in Minsk (Belarus), in Akraness (v Íþróttabandalag) (Iceland). And then beat Borussia Dortmund at home. They go to Salzburg this week. The Carrier Bag Firm salute you.

I'll digress. To explain another European tournament which is only open to Category 1 Academies (is not us). The Premier League International Cup. That is an "invitation" tournament for U23 teams. Twelve from England. Twelve from overseas. Disappointingly, all the games are played in England. Category 1 Academy Blackburn Rovers are in that one.

So….. United's only currently available route to European Academy football is the UEFA Youth League (see above) Champions League Path. U19 groups which "shadow" the main, first team, UEFA Champions League Groups. Nail that. If United qualify for the Champions League Group Stage (FFS), our Academy will ALSO, automatically, qualify for the UEFA Youth League Groups. That is currently making the Carrier Bag Firm heads spin.

Congratulations, you have just been informed by the Carrier Bag Firm.

Turning to today's game. First up. Logistics. You don't get many U23s at Shirecliffe any more. Chesterfield or The Lane normally. Shirecliffe has tried to up it's game now we're in the PL. I notice that laughable Bielsa Proof Fence is either fraying at the edges or non existent. And. More security. This time. For no reason. The Stewards held "the fans" at the bottom of the path. Whacked a green wristband on them. To allow them to walk into what is effectively a field. No. Really.

A battle of the Bottom Two this one. Bolton have an excuse. Because of their legal shenanigans, they had to shift a lot of their Academy lads into the first team squad. So, knock on, their U23s have won just once in 20. No Excuse United had won just four before today.

OK. There was a fair amount of effort out there. Not a great deal of quality. The first two goals stood out. On just five mins, one of the Lancashirearianites wriggled free on 25 yards. Left foot. Other foot. The lot. And he got a nice shot off to beat Jordan on his right. On 12 minutes, Callum Gribbin bagged the equaliser. Callum is one of those easy on the eye players. I mean that in a good way Pal. Glides. Looks effortless. Undoubtedly isn't. I've criticised him a bit before as being one of those "move it on" players. He needs to hurt teams more. He made his own space in the box. Great close control. At times, he can look - all left foot. But, pushed onto his right. He absolutely leathered it home with that peg.

Towards the end, I'd written it off as a one one bore draw. But, Callum won a penalty on 74 minutes. Wriggling again before being tripped. There was a bit of debate with Jake Young. But, Leo Gaxha won & banged the winner home. As it happens, that's about the best I can recall seeing Gaxha play. He had that sort of greedy streak that I love in predatory strikers. Very keen to run his channels & stay involved. He nearly put us ahead immediately after Callum's goal.

After half time (1-1), it looked like we pushed the wingbacks Boyes & Jake Kelly a bit further up. Jake had a great, but short, spell down the right. I'll also single out keeper Jordan Amissah. Bang on HT, he kept us in the game with a trademark strong wrist save. That partly emphasises how much Bolton were in it. As early as 22, Bolton put together a great flowing move down the left. The cross was swept in. Jordan had to make a great save & then a diving gather off the forward's toe. On 34, having rattled a few free kicks at the goal from distance, BWFC worked a routine at the next one. It kept floating & no one could get anything on it before it hit the post & dropped safe.

Great end to it all. The wind was blowing "with the Young Blades" down the hill. A number of Amissah's punts had gone long & out. At 90+3, Bolton got a corner & pushed their keeper up. Jordan actually made (another) great save. Knowing their glover was within touching distance, he "had a shot" out of his hands at the empty net. I'd guess maybe six yards wide. Anyway, I think I'm making the game sound better than it was. Yay. We won.

The Beer Adventure this week was to Manchester. I'm a big big fan of Beatnitz Republic. I had a superb glass of their "Hop Series". Same malts, different hops to showcase.

Beatnitz Republic, Comeback Tour, Cascade Wai-ti Styrian Dragon on keg at 4.5%. The citrus flavours just kept coming. It sounds odd, but there was a pleasant Strepsil anaesthetic undertow. 

Stats

I have now Blogged from 906 games in 2,022 days

Striker's Goal

Bolton Wanderers U23 1 v Sheffield United U23 1
U23 Professional Development League
Monday 19 November 2018
Played at Lancashire County FA Ground, Leyland

SUFC 2018/19 Game 40

May to May Brewery Visits - 64

Twitter @ball_sup
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My first visit to the newish Cloudwater Unit 9 Brewery Tap. Helpfully for us committed Brewery Hopper Geeks, that reunites with the actual brewery which is in Units 7 & 8. A lovely, upstairs platform room. Overlooking a lot of barrels. Ageing for the use of. Simple bar. No cash. Five core. Ten one offs. Three collabs. You have just got to love that. Got to.

My units have taken a pounding in recent days. A POUNDING I tell you. So, it was a relief to tuck into

Cloudwater, Small IPL Cashmere at 2.9%. Very refreshing. A good whack of sugar. Verging towards Barley Sugar Sweets. Gentle in the finish. Powerful punch flavours though for a short of three percenter.

A great game. Which the Young Blades will be a little disappointed not to get over the line. Nevertheless, a hard won point away at the league leaders. Once all today's results have been dusted, we've ended up 5th in the table. But, only four points cover those top 5 places. Bolton stay top. Ahead on 32 minutes, with Bolton not equalising until 76. But, both teams were in it all the time. Bolton hit the woodwork deep deep deep into stoppage time. And, Simeon Oure had a great chance near the death of normal time.

Sam Graham was back in the centre of a three for United. I'm guessing just to get him a bit of game time. No indication that his time at Oldham is up. George Cantrill on his right. Tom Williams on his left. Harry Sheppeard & Stephen Mallon as wingbacks. Very attacking wingbacks I might add. The looks young, is young, increasingly comfortable Harrison Neal picking it up off the back three. George Broadbent trying to do the engine room in midfield. Simeon Oure & Jordan Hallam sort of up top, popping up all over. Marcus Dewhurst is with England U18, so Jordan Amissah was gloving. Leaving just Reece York to mention. Pushed up a bit from where you'd normally expect. Bombing past Hallam & Oure as & when. Linking. Pressing. Lively. Doing the lot. He can have my Man Of The Match. But, it was a very assured performance one thru eleven.

I've checked back through my notes written in the bitter cold. Jordan Amissah deserves a mention. Two great saves on about 63 minutes kept us in it. And, he made an earlier great save from a header on about 22 minutes.

But, as said, both teams in it. The best thing about United's goal was the assist. Sheppeard stayed very strong as he broke through. And put a simple, in the mixer cross in towards Hallam. My reckoning was Hallam got a lot on it. The keeper made a great instinctive save. But, the ball cannoned into Hallam again & bounced in. Striker's goal, if so.

No real chance of stopping the bullet header equaliser on 70 minutes & bits. Great game. Leeds U23 at Stocksbridge, 2pm, Monday 26th next up.

747/1553

Sighs - EvansWatch

Bolton Wanderers U23 3 v Sheffield United U23 2

U23 Professional Development League

Played at the Lancashire FA County Ground, Leyland

Monday 15 January 2018

SUFC 2017/18 Game 43

The 202nd ground I’ve watched an SUFC XI on. The Lancashire FA County Ground in Leyland. If you stand in the right place & crane a bit. You can see the turnstiles from The Market Ale House, on Hough Lane. As I generally don’t retain much information for very long. That makes it my all time favourite ground - until the next one.

It’s time for a Manifesto. Look away now. Ched Evans made his comeback in this one. After an operation. Given how crap Evans had been for us for a lot of his first spell. Then how dominant he’d been for us in poxy Division Three - all those years ago. And given that we’ve looked a bit light up top at times this season. There. Was. Some. Interest. Hello to anyone who is reading this Blog to find out how Evans did. Welcome. But, I’m NOT a Super Cheddar. He’s currently pulling on a United Shirt & he’s not a rapist. So, he’ll enjoy my full support. Exactly as Kane Deidrick-Roberts is/will/did. That’s how we Rock. I’m a Feminist. I condemn “those songs” which part of our fanbase revel in. I’m a (small l) liberal. The law has taken its course. Evans is welcome back from me. But, Super Ched, with all the connotations. Naah. Hired hand.

That was a mad game. Essentially United got battered. But, could easily have got something out of it. There were two impressive forwards on the park.. The most impressive was Connor Hall. He is a Shirecliffe Academy Graduate. Who we have let go. Maybe he was proving a point. But, he was bang up for it. Pacy. Strong on the ball. Couldn’t be shaken off it. He converted two penalties. Including the winner right at the death. I caught him “doing some leadership” as well. When Red Card Candidate Jake Wright Jnr was a huffing and a puffing, Hall simply pulled his own player away. Knowing full well that the old Jake didn’t need opponents to start a ruck. Dear God. I hope the Young Fella learns from his lessons now he’s back. By contrast. Jordan Hallam & (particularly) Tyler Smith were anonymous.  That was partly because of personnel & systems. It’s clear that some of the U18 Youth Cup qualified players are being “rested” towards that. No Graham, Slater, Parkhouse, Cantrill, Doherty. So, this was a disjointed United side. I’m saying they effectively played two trialists in a back four. Cameron Hawkes seemed to have been asked to fill in at Centre Back. And, inexplicably to me, recent trialist Charlie Scott, who played at the back last time, was anchoring midfield.  What with all that. And Evans. I presume they all had to wear name tags on the bus & in the dressing room. I doubt most of them had met before. To emphasise - we only named four subs as well.

It was Taters. Far too cold for me to make notes as the game was on. So. This Blog. Short on detail.

Charlie Scott. From Manchester United’s system. Played last week v Villa, in a back three. This time, he set up in front of a back four in midfield. I was much less impressed with him than I had been last week. As anonymous as the rest. Cutting him some slack. He did get more into the game later on. And, he scored the 2-2 equaliser. A firm accurate shot. More or less from the edge of the box after Evans had squared it to him. Over the two games. Yes. He does have something about him. Strong. Comfortable on the ball. Willing to get involved.

Kayne Diedrick-Roberts. I think is also from Manchester United’s system. Although he was released in May 2017. He set up over on the right of a back four. Conventional, not wing back. Google has him as a forward. I don't know what's gone on there. What can I say. We’d been in the boozer. It was freezing. The Bolton crowd were so feisty, we dubbed the stand - The Referees Stand. There were concentration issues. But, he barely registered with me. As lost as the others.

Morgan Williams. We can only assume he’s the guy who has been playing at Mickleover Sports. (We nabbed Jake Bennett from them remember - so don’t be too hasty to dismiss). His main stand out moment was getting sent off at the death. After a mistake by Jake Eastwood had left him “no option” but to bring the guy down. He set up as one of two centre backs. They were all run ragged by Bolton - and Connor in particular.

Not a good day for a) any of the trialists, b) any of the U23 regulars, c) United in general. And yet.

No doubt. The game changed when Evans came on. I’ll not exactly say he changed it. But, he came on at 60. It changed at 60. Within five, he’d pulled it back to 2-1. A nice clean header into the bottom corner. He looked strong and fit from the off. Doing his running off the ball. Strong on it. Causing problems. He must put the fear into defenders. He’s got a Bull vs China Shop quality. Leaning. Charging. Not many negative points from me. He was aggressive & tenacious in the right hand channel. That paid off as he wrestled the ball free. Stayed strong & got it across to Scott for the 2-2 equaliser. One goal. One assist. Changed the game. Lively & strong. A bit greedy at times. But, hey. Two each would have set it all off nicely.

Unfortunately. That win means Bolton have leapfrogged us into second in the table. We’ve got 27 points from 17 games. Now in third. Sheffield Wednesday remain top 31 points from 16 games. Cup games. The weather. Etc. Taking their toll on the tidiness of the table. Some teams have played 18. Some 14.

Great MicroPub The Market Ale House. It looked very much like they have a “local beer only” policy. Although when you can call Manchester local, you’re laughing. Even the Lager was from Bury.

Blackedge, Hop Pale on cask at 3.8%
Hophurst, twisted Vine on cask at 4.1%

594/1245

Who scored?

Sheffield United U23 3 v Bolton Wanderers U23 2

Professional Development League, North

Monday 16 October 2017

SUFC 2017/18 Game 35

Wetherspoon’s Real Ale Festival. Monday Club. CAMRA 50p voucher. You know the drill.

Arcadia Brewing Company. From Kalamazoo in Michigan. This one brewed at Banks’s Wolverhampton. Autumn Wheat on cask at a whopping 6%.

Unusual, but lovely & serious beer. Strong enough to feel like it's numbing you from the off. Great tight head on this one. Smells just the zesty side of sour. Lots of orange peel. All the flavours play around. I was pretty sure I was getting spice in the earlier mouthfuls. But, as I've got down it, it's more orange. There's a background yeast funkiness. But, that just adds to the flavour. Rather than challenge. Fella knows what he's doing. Even in Wolverhampton. Salute.

I got into a right pickle live tweeting that. I was convinced Oliver Greaves had scored United’s second. At half time, I convinced myself that he hadn’t. On the full time whistle, one of the Carrier Bag Firm asked him. So, Oliver either scored both the second & third United goals. Or, is a convincing liar & will go far in the game.

Some facts would be appropriate. Sheffield United U23s have won that. After being a goal down in 3 minutes. Level a minute later. Through an Own Goal. The did he, didn’t he, Greaves goal was on 8 minutes. Eight minutes. To leave it 2-1 to the Young Blades at that point. Greaves knocked a great one in off the bar just on half time. Bolton dragged it back to 3-2 with a shot off a post. Jake Eastwood saved a Penalty on 67 minutes. Breathless. Can’t keep up. Mate, you should have been there…..

That win also puts the Young Blades TOP of Professional Development League, North. They’ve leapfrogged both Nottingham Forest & Sheffield Wednesday. Fifteen points from nine games. Won five. Lost four. It’s good. But, not all it seems. We’ve played two games more than both Forest & Wednesday. And, they’re both just one point behind us. SWFC play tomorrow. Let’s enjoy it all while it lasts.

Jake Bennett was missing. Although I’m sure I saw him in the stand. SUFC web says he’s injured. I need to remind everybody that Freeman is injured. I know we’ve got Baldock. And, I know we’ve got more Centre Halves than a club full of Centre Halves. Who we can & will juggle should the need arise for a right wingback. But, Bennett is the best right wingback in the development system. Back off. I’m not saying he’s ready. I’m saying he’s it. I hope it’s just a niggle. So, that if there is room on the bench - he’s “available”.

Regan Slater & David Parkhouse were both on the bench. All that juggling meant there was  a starting shirt for Oliver Greaves. Although, you tell me, that starting shirt was Number 14. He’s scored a few in the 18s. He gets a bench for the U23s most weeks. And he had a great, great game here. Once the dust had settled. I’m crediting him with two goals. His first (our second) a very neat solo effort. Mazy, no one can touch me, run into the box. It opened up for him. Calm finish. His second a well hit cross shot that beat the keeper, hit the bar and cannoned down & in. He was involved in lots of stuff. Not playing as out & out striker. With Ty Smith & Hallam more conventionally up front. More of a link/10. Busy in midfield. Filling in as & when for the CBs when they did the overlapping thang. Very impressive today.

To show what sort of game it was, Jake Eastwood also had a stormer betwixt sticks. The Greater Manchesterist didn’t look all that comfortable as he ran up to take the spot kick. But, Jake made a good diving save. Jake even made a great save in that third minute Bolton goal. A little dink ball over the top found ex-Blade & Academy Graduate Connor Hall in space. He did well. Took it on his stride & got a powerful shot off. Great save by Eastwood. But, another Bolteronian was following up & drilled it home.

Someone is presumably seeing something in Sam Graham I’m not. He’s set up again as the right of a back three. Recently with Heneghan in the middle. This time with George Cantrill in the middle. I don’t get it mesen’. Graham looks so comfortable, powerful & dominant in the middle of three. But, currently, Binnion & the coneheads are persevering with him on the right.

A better more controlled tempo for me in this game. Less Scarem of the Harem variety. But, ditto First Team, looking to be a constant attacking threat. Good game though. Bolton chucked the lot in at times. Could have gone either way.

552/1154

4 Trialists=4 Brown Envelopes

Bolton Wanderers U23 3 v Sheffield United U23 1

U23 Professional Development League, North

Wednesday 19 April 2017

Twitter @ball_sup

U23 Season Round Up

That defeat means United can no longer finish in a top two Play Off spot. So, we have only one more game left at this level this season. Unfortunately, I can’t make that game at home to Crewe on Monday 24 April. So, that's it for my U23 season. I’m naturally disappointed we haven’t made the Play Offs like we did last year. Win that final game & we’ll finish above Crewe. Maybe as high as 3rd - but 4th seems more likely. After tonight, we’re played 27, won 12 & drawn 6 (lost 8) - 42 points. Goal difference of +10. Only 6 points cover Bolton in 2nd with 46 down to Birmingham in 7th with 40 points.

I’ve had a countback. I’ve done seven U23 Professional Development League games at home & six away. Plus two at home & two away in the Premier League Cup. Plus one at home & two away in the Central League Cup. To give a total of twenty U23 games this season, ten at home & ten away. That has helped me sweep up six new grounds;

Parkgate FC (Rotherham away)
QPR’s training ground at Imperial College, Harlington
Fleetwood’s training ground at Poolfoot Farm
Adams Park, Wycombe Wanderers (Reading away)
Huddersfield’s training ground at Canalside
Solihull Moors (Birmingham away)

At Canalside, Huddersfield I had Timothy Taylor’s, Landlord on cask in the Clubhouse.
At Poolfoot Farm, Fleetwood I had a bottle of BrewDog, Dead Pony Club in the Clubhouse
At Imperial College, QPR we’ve been for a drink before & after in the superb White Hart in Harlington
Good, good season that.

But, standout new beer destination of the U23 season was definitely The Heidrun in High Wycombe before the Reading away match.

Today’s Trialists

Strewth. Binnion won’t have been able to carry all the Brown Envelopes from this one. I counted four trialists. I spoke to the Dads of two of ‘em. And one I can’t even track down on Google. Look, it’s a bit of a nonsense ain’t it. Leagues to be won. Play Offs to get into. And, we end up letting a load of our kids go before the season ends. So, that we can try a load of other kids let go by other clubs. No continuity. Disruption.

I saw nothing from any of them to turn me on. Malakai Hinckson-Mars. From Chelsea’s system. Set up as an upfront rover with increasing liability Jake Wright Junior. Left channel if anything. In the first half, he had a good run on the ball & set Wright free with an intelligent pass, who could have scored (but didn’t). He was bullied a bit at times by the Bolton Big Lads. He was isolated for much of the game & needed to (but couldn’t) find a way in. He was eventually subbed for David Parkhouse.

Rob Worrall. Signed by Nottingham Forest from Harrogate Town. Set up as wide left midfield in a conventional four. It was noticeable a number of Bolton attacks came down his side early doors. Before they got it shored up. He came more into the game as time wore on. Tidy at times. But, he made no sort of impact. Lasted until 83. Subbed by Will Portman.

Callum Lees (from Everton’s system) & James Taylor (from who knows where - maybe he’s A Ringer) set up as Centre Backs in a conventional four. Naturally, at CB, they had more of the game than Worrall & Malakai. Taylor in particular was mobile & did his work out wide when necessary. All tidy. Won some headers. But, Bolton were on top for large periods. Running through midfield & getting shots off from the edge of the box. The defence needed organising to stop all that palaver.

The Familiar

I know they’re familiar. But, the players I noticed were Jake Bennett & David Brooks. Bennett got a number of great blocks & last ditch tackles in. And, he was even involved in a great attacking move to send Jake Wright Junior free. Unfortunately, Bennett had to go off after he got a knock.

Brooks scored United’s goal with a great direct from a wide free kick effort. Otherwise, generally glided around. He has the ball a lot. But, he does lose it a lot as well. Which creates problems behind him. In the second half, the Greater Manchesterists cottoned on a bit, got him man to man, and he was less effective. He is becoming more of a complete player. Happy to do the tracking back & hard yards.

The Game

I think it was clear, a lot of United’s U18 qualified players are being held back for the U18 Play Off Semi Final on Friday. United were second best. It was a bit disappointing. Bolton broke through from midfield more or less at will. It was down the other end from where the Carrier Bag Firm were, but a Boltoner went down & Jake Wright Junior was shown a straight red in his own penalty area. Fair dos. Jake Eastwood made a fine save from the penalty. Jake W - come on mate - what’s going on? Love the determination & getting under skin qualities. But, you can’t be leaving us with ten men nearly every other week. Jake Eastwood made some great saves. But, he also looked a bit shaky at times.

The Beer

Bob’s Brewing Co., Yakima Chief on cask at 5.2%

465/974
86

Out Of Sorts

Sheffield United U23 1 v Bolton Wanderers U23 2

Professional Development League, North

Played at Bramall Lane

Monday 6 March 2017

Twitter @ball_sup

A disappointing night at The Lane. The top two were playing each other over in East Yorks. (Hull City v SWFC). Crewe Alex had won in the afts to jump above United. But, there was a real chance to make a bit of ground on one of the Top Two. As it stands after that is all done & dusted - SWFC are top with 42 from 22, the Hull with 33 from 22, then Alex 32 from 21. Then The Blades are in 4th - 31 pts from 19 games. It’s a 28 game league. So, we’ve got games in hand. But, Wednesday are looking really strong at the minute. Gonna be tough to close an 11 point gap. Second will be a good finish as it’ll put us in the four team play offs for the overall Title. Anyway, I feel that was an opportunity missed tonight.

The U Two Threes looked a little out of sorts. Jake Wright was really the only aerial threat up top. To be honest, he was out muscled, out wrestled & out jumped by the Bolton centre backs. His usual belligerent self. But, he was snuffed out. That said, both teams had little trouble getting to the bye line & knocking it back. That was really where our main threat came from.

Chapman & Brooks back from injury & trialist Jack Bainbridge in the middle of a back three. It’s going to sound odd. I’ve said it before. I’m saying it here. Sometimes the “tricky little players” like Brooks & Chapman are given such a free role that the team and they suffer. Particularly at Development level, I’m convinced they’d benefit from playing in a more fixed role. Anyway - both Chapman & Brooks looked back to their near best. Both had all the ball skills going on. Brooks in particular gave the ball away far too much for my liking. And, he wasn’t the only one! As I say, mad as it sounds, too fluid & flexible to be effective. Chapman lasted to 68 & Brooks a little while longer. Overall, lively & on the right track. But, nowhere near as effective has I have seen them.

I didn’t see anything from Bainbridge to make me sit up & not have a drink. Tall, athletic, organised. He made a right Ball Sup in the second half with a misplaced pass - really the Greater Manchesterarianists should have made it three right there. We’ll see.

For a long period in the first half, Utd were getting battered down our left (Kelly & Mallon). Kelly was having a right old rough ride. Both of their goals came from wide, with low crosses swept in & knocked in from within the 6 yard box. Something not right there. I felt Eastwood needed to be more commanding in those circumstances. Binnion was pushing things forward. Constantly on at Bennett & Mallon to get forward. Later in the second half, Jake Bennett effectively played behind the front two. Nice cameo from Tyler Smith (replaced Chapman). They seemed more dynamic, pacy & direct with him up with Jake Wright.

Little Critters, Sleepy Badger Oatmeal Stout on Cask at 4.5% in The Sheaf Island. On the Monday Dividend. On the bar at £2.35. Monday Club makes it £1.99. CAMRA voucher makes it £1.49 a pint.

Black black in the glass. Thin, perma latte head all the way down. Comes in three. If anything, it's bitter lead. Fill your palate quickly. Gives way immediately to the sweetness. Mainly red fruit. Well balanced, not overpowering sweet. Lingers, before the best bit. Not really toast, more a gentle burnt. With some final & long, intense, but balanced bitterness. Great beer.

454/937
77