Hello, is that Everton?

Sheffield United 1 v West Ham United 0

The Premier League 

Friday 10 January 2020 

Burnley U23 2 v Sheffield United U23 0 

U23 Professional Development League 

Played at Curzon Ashton 

Monday 13 January 2020 

SUFC 2019/20 Games 46 & 47 

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Nah. That part of our Academy Program. Going nowhere. Fast. Struggling to stay off the bottom of the league. Results plummeting. Yet more new faces masquerading as trialists. Soon be 50 players used in less than 20 games. Nobody stretching for the First Team. No joy out there. No smiles. Very little energy. Coaching staff getting sweary & ratty with players. Players going backwards before my very eyes if I'm honest. Man, I hope that Lester & Hughes have a plan. But, I’m not feeling it Brothers & Sisters. Look, we’re the Carrier Bag Firm. Seeing positives is in our DNA. We’ll come to those in due course. But, first. The main elephant in the room. David Parkhouse.

What’s going on? I was never his biggest fan. I never felt he scored nearly enough goals. But, I got it. Big physical presence. Get the ball up to him. He was sent out to play Big Boy Football at Derry City. Scored a bagful I understand. Rumours of a contract. Rumours of interest from other clubs. ?Everton? No fucking rumour today - woeful. I just don’t get it. Are they picking him against his will? Does he not even want to be in a shop window? Maybe help his mates out a bit? Jumping under crosses. Idling about. Being outmuscled time & time again by his Burnley muckers. The only discernible role I could see - he was the defensive zone man at corners. United effectively had four strikers across the squad. Parkhouse & Ndiaye started up top. Jake Young & Sammy Ompreon on the bench. Ndiaye is much better suited as the Ten for me. All four got a run. Parkhouse by far the worst of those four. Jake Young came on at 57 for Callum Gribbin, with Ndiaye slipping back into the Ten. Immediately. I’m saying, immediately. Jake looked twice as lively as Parkhouse. Immediately. 

At one stage, Jake collected the ball on the edge of his own box & ran with it to the edge of the Burnley penalty area. My contemporaneous notes tell the tale of how I was feeling. And, I quote;

“Get fucking Everton on the phone for him instead”

Parkhouse was subbed for Sammy Ompreon on 76. On 82, Oli Greaves rolled a great pass right into the stride of Sammy’s intelligent run. Only a Red Card pro foul prevented him getting his shot off. 

Right. Onwards. The Trialist was Noah van Geenen. Aged 20. Been in Sparta Rotterdam’s system. What’s he supposed to do? They’ve stuck him at Right Centre Back. With Kamarl Grant alongside him. Yes mate. THAT Kamarl Grant. The one who’s signing was announced this morning. Two complete newcomers. Probably the first word they’d spoken to each other was “yours” as the first cross came in.  It’s a joke. How is a trialist supposed to put his goods on show in those circumstances? How did he do? Guess. Nothing wrong particularly. Nothing right particularly. Looked like his shirt fitted him. It’s a joke. Big tall lad. Right footed.

To cap it all. Our “best” player (opinion), Reece York, was stuck in at makeshift Right Wing Back. Usually I’m a big fan of shoving players out of their comfortable position. But, not this afts mate. Have a look around. It says a lot about Reece’s all action style, flexibility and skills that the best effort in our first half came from him. Ndiaye wriggled free on the left, turned his man, and got a high looping cross over. It was actually Reece making all the ground to get on the end of that in the six yard box. But, he fouled the keeper in his jump. A few players showed some positives in parts. But, only in parts. We had nothing sustained at all. Although I liked the way Reece handled his role, he too was anonymous for stretches of the second half. Ndiaye was our main attacking threat in the first half. Coming deep. Winning the ball. Creating space with his close skills. He was also more prepared to, and more effective at, pressing the Burnley defence. But, there was so little going on around him. And, he got involved in a mad kerfuffle on 63. At one stage, a player from each side was on the deck. Ndiaye clearly took exception and squared up. In my opinion, the Burnley player was lucky as he put his hands on Ndiaye twice (upper chest/throat area). The ref actually brought the two captains together to give them the hard stare. Ndiaye was carrying on about 30 yards away even as that was happening. He’d Red Misted and put in a bad retaliatory challenge a few minutes later. The resulting free kick was floated in. Marking was woeful. And, a neat cushioned header looped in. Hughes immediately hauled Ndiaye off to avoid any further mither. 

That brought Oli Greaves on. Oli was also initially lively. Before succumbing to the general malaise. To be fair, I’d written Utd off. But, they did have a much brighter later spell & could have nicked one back a couple of times. Harrison Foulstone arrived late and had a good shot saved. Greaves drew a great save from the keeper from the free kick when Ompreon had been hauled over. Parkhouse’s main positive contribution was on 55. He got a good ball over from the left for Ndiaye. But, he could only dink it at the keeper.

But, overall, very little to carp about. Very disjointed. Very little build up play. Very little link up play. Very little energy. And NO Beer.

Stats
I have now Blogged from 894 games in 1,973 days

Underhit to someone too slow

Sheffield United U23 0 v Burnley U23 3
U23 Professional Development League
Monday 30 September 2019
Played at Bramall Lane

SUFC 2019/20 Game 29

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Well beaten. Burnley Under 23s are still unbeaten this season. Although they have had a bundle of draws. I haven't got the stats. But, "every" long, hopeful, cross field pass from the Young Blades sailed out for a throw in. Behind the man. Ahead of the man. Or, the old simple favourite - over the man. Likewise, "every" short ball, between the lines, for the man coming towards the ball, was underhit, in the general direction of someone too slow off the fucking mark anyway.

It's telling that we had a brief better spell. Immediately after half time. Once Harry Boyes had replaced Stephen Mallon & Callum Gribbin had replaced Ravel Morrison. Briefly, that injected a bit of energy into things. Briefly.

We continue to ring the changes at U23. And, I'm broadly supportive of that. We have a crop of players, young players, at this level. Rotation seems a sensible thing to do. Nominally, there were Four Fringers out there. Michael Verrips - obvs Third Keeper. A difficult & important role. One twisted ankle, or Howler Hendo can't play v Man U, away from the first team bench. Kieron Freeman trying to get it all together over on the right. Both the villain & the victim of those booming cross fielders I mentioned earlier. Kieron had a difficult game. Burnley 7 (Ne-Jai Tucker) seemed to be knocking him over a lot of the time.  Kean Bryan played on the left side of a back three. He had a mixed game if I’m honest. He has a simple game about him. Reasonably well organised. Looking good positional sense. A bit of speed over a short piece of ground. He wasn’t shy overlapping in true Blades Stylee. But, I felt he was lucky to stay on after a horror tackle on 55 mins. Looked a diving in ankle snapper to me, a long way down the left touchline, in an attacking position, not defending. He got Yellow. And, there was only a bit of complaining from the Burnlarians. So, maybe it wasn’t quite as bad as I saw it. And, from my angle in the South Stand, it looked like he was simply outjumped by Rob Harker (Burnley 9) for their first. As I replay it in my head, maybe Harker just lost him a bit & got in front of him. Same point. Only five minutes gone. A good high & deep cross. Clean, banging header into the roof of the net.

Ravel Morrison didn’t come out for the second half. I think that was probably planned. Just getting miles in those legs. He was composed & competent. But, he was really just a turntable. Take the ball. Safely. Give the ball. Safely. He very rarely moved it quickly. On occasion, he seemed oblivious to Wingbacks & Centre Backs overlapping. Preferring to slow it down & bring it back into the middle. Callum Gribbin at least livened it up for a brief spell. Coming through the line. Moving at pace with the ball at his feet. On 68 minutes, Gribbin switched the ball - left foot, right foot, moved it along the edge of the box & got a good right foot shot off, which flashed wide. Don’t get me wrong. That didn’t last long either.  Maybe the nippers best chance was as late as 78 minutes. The ever marauding Harry Boyes (unsubstantiated unpopular opinion - he’s going to be a better player than Rhys Norrington-Davies) was fouled on the edge of the box. Gribbin’s free kick was palmed away by the Brunlea keeper. Iliman Ndiaye headed the rebound narrowly wide.

Burnley 9 Harker was a real handful all afts. He lost/outjumped Bryan for the first header. And, he poo-poo’ed any Young Blades comeback on 62 mins. This time, a good deep corner from the right. There was some blocking. But, even more defensive confusion. And Harker got a strong downward header which bounced in.  While we’re at it. Those two goal assist crosses from Burnley contrasted with United’s crosses. George Broadbent’s in particular were shit, into the first man, all game. 

I’ve reviewed the video posted by Burnley for the second goal on 14 minutes. By eye, in real time, it looked like Freeman was outfought in his right channel. Lost that battle. And, then just stopped. The fella has made ten yards. Squared it & his mate has rocketed it in from all of 30 yards. On the video, you can see Freeman static. (Which I think looks appalling). But, he does wake up a bit & get a fruitless chase in.

Burnley pressed more, looked stronger, fitter, quicker & switched on. United had low effort & low energy in lots of areas. Backing off the ball constantly.

For these home U23 games at Bramall Lane, everyone is accommodated in The Platinum Suite. A few tables are left out for you to sit at. The bar is open. They'll bang out tea, coffee, hot chocolate etc over there. And, you can then trot up the stairs to a padded seat. All of which gave some Don, wearing a mismatched set of old SUFC Shell Suit parts, and assorted merch, a unique Ball Supping opportunity. I've gone out early. To eyeball the warm up. And I've gone a long way up the Platinum Seats. Into the hills. To avoid all the discussions by the Carrier Bag Firm Paper Aficionados about who has got more Teamsheets than whom. Just before kick off, Shell Suit Don waddles up the steps. He even goes higher than me. Yet, he's carrying a real glass, a branded chalice glass with a stem, a proper pint glass of Birra Moretti lager. He sits in the row behind me. Surveys his Pint lovingly. And starts on it as the match kicks off. Took a good five minutes for The Steward to catch on. Explain to him he's bang out of order. And shadow him down the steps. So he can miss some of the game drinking his Pint out of view of the pitch.

I went down the more traditional route of Wetherspoons Monday Club. In The Sheaf Island. A few Bob knocked off the price of a cask ale. Last day of the September CAMRA 50p vouchers as well. Makes a pint £1.49.

Loch Lomond Brewery, Lost In Mosaic on cask at 5%. I really enjoyed that one. Surprised a little how good it was. Lovely bitterness off the hops. Piney & Citrus. The bitterness grew a bit into yet more richness.

Stats
I have now Blogged from 862 games in 1,868 days

Shop Window XI

Sheffield United 1 v West Bromwich Albion 2
The Championship
Friday 14 December 2018

Sheffield United U23 1 v Burnley U23 3
U23 Professional Development League
Monday 17 December 2018
Played at Stocksbridge Park Steels

SUFC 2018/19 Games 48 & 49

May to May Brewery Visits - 69

Twitter @ball_sup
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I’m leaving the West Brom game alone in this Blog. But, there is still quite a lot to get through.

U23s v Burnley
Jake Eastwood was back in the brightly coloured shirt after a while away. Sam Graham was back in the middle of a three, I presume he’s not back permanently, but just getting some game time. Tyler Smith has been recalled from his loan spell at Barrow. He featured on the bench for the first team last Friday. Maybe he’ll go on loan again in the window. Given his relative success at Barrow, maybe a bit further up the pyramid. Keenan Ferguson & Oli Graves were both on the bench, after being out a while with injuries. First team recent regulars and fringers Kieron Freeman, Daniel Lafferty & John Lundstram were all given a game. Maybe to get some time in their legs. Maybe to give them a chance to get some form back. Or, maybe, (dramatic music plays) to put them in the shop window for a January move. Rumours are rife. I know. I started most of them. And, finally, Kean Bryan was back out there. Back on his next rehab/comeback trail.

Let’s summarise up top. Burnley were well worth that win. They are a very physical side. Not in the sense of dirty. Just big, strong & at it. A real test for this Mixed Bag O’Blades. One of their weapons was long throws. Again, United needed to really step up to deal with that. I’m usually too busy making incomprehensible notes & trying to work out emojis for my in game Tweets to pay too much attention to individual opposition players. But, head & shoulders standout was Dwight McNeil, at 8 for Burnley. He scored a wonder goal. Appeared to pop up all over the gaff. Constantly driving forward into space from midfield.

Jean Belehouan
I’m going to come on to Kean Bryan later. But, I was impressed with Jean Belehouan for United. Wearing two, but playing on the right of a back three, with Sam Graham in the middle & Bryan on the left. Jean (some web searches say he hails from France) was at Manchester United for 7 years before falling in love with Shirecliffe in 2017. I’ve seen quite a bit of him. In answer to a recent question on an Internet Forum, I said that, while he doesn't seem to make obvious howling errors, you sometimes forget he's out there. He doesn't make you sit up, but he's competent enough. Well, today, I thought he did very well in challenging circumstances. He had to fit in a three/five who were all way more experienced than him. And, deal with a very physical strike force. He took responsibility well & was a key part of organising the defence. He was subbed in a reshuffle on 75.

Tyler Smith
It’s small margins. Maybe he did look a little bit stronger. He certainly had it all on with this Burnley team. I feel Tyler has a pretty good all round set of skills. Today, he had to spend a lot of time coming very deep for the ball, and playing with his back to goal, a long way from goal. Working his socks off. OK. You do what you got to. But, he looks best to me when he’s got a channel to run into. And, there was little of that going on. However, in the role he was forced into, there were snippets of good stuff. On 26 minutes, he stayed very strong, more or less wrestling & shaking his marker off. And, he had another good run on goal after that.  Others tell me it was a blatant foul to rob Tyler, only just in the opposition half, on 17 minutes. It was knocked a little forward and Burnley’s McNeil took it on, burst through & into a midfield gap. It all set up nicely for him & he let go a superb shot from 25/30 yards which rocketed past Eastwood to make it one nil.

John Lundstram
Mixed bag. Look, no drama, he was clearly one of the more accomplished players out there. But, at times, you wondered whether he was making it count. I guess he sort of set up as the midfielder to take it off the back three. Although he was roving quite a bit all game. He carted a very poor free kick out of play on just one minute. Uncharitably, he seemed to be trying to play too many Hollywood Balls for me. Get it off Belehouan on our right, turn, and try and zing it way, way over to Lafferty on our left. Fair do. He’s sort of got the skills to do that. But, even if he hit the man, it looked a bit like he was isolating play, rather than building. Early in the second half, I thought the Young Blades Plus Big Lads were trying to play a bit shorter & quicker - like their usual style. And, Lundstram looked better (to me) doing that. Positively, there was some great - all the angles - interplay with Freeman at times. A great move on just 12 fed York & then Mallon. Although the chance came to nothing. At one stage, I had to check whether he was taking the piss. He seemed to be deliberately alternating right & left foot long passes. He wasn’t of course, but it made me realise & appreciate his two footedness and skill. I like Lundstram, he’s clearly in the mix if/when other midfielders get a knock/suspension or need a break.

Kieron Freeman
Right. He’s turned up in the column inches above. He also had a key hand in our equaliser on 37 minutes. He combined well to free Reece York on our right. Reece whipped a ball across the six yard box. Lafferty sort of kept it in, kept it live & knocked it back all at the same time. It fell nicely for Stephen Mallon, who calmly knocked it in with his left foot. But, all told, I didn’t think Freeman had a good one. He looked a bit disinterested and uncommitted at times. Burnley had gone two one ahead in first half stoppage time. Poked home following a goalmouth scramble at a corner. But, their third, killer, goal (64 mins) looked like a major defensive error by Freeman to me. He lost it, horrendously, on the half way line. He couldn’t recover, ended up on his arse. And the Burnley fella took it all the way into the box and rifled it under Eastwood. Don’t take my word for it. Long before that, a neutral behind me asked “Who is number 7? Is he a first teamer?” I tried to explain the situation. The bloke responded “I thought so, he’s clearly just going through the motions”. Telling comment that.

Kean Bryan
Because of the stuttering start he’s had to his Utd career, we don’t know. Has he been brought in as a hopefully fully formed member of the first team squad? To sit alongside Egan, O’Connell, Basham, Stearman & the lesser spotted Jake Wright The Elder. Or has he been brought in as a Development Player? And, don’t get me started on Ben Heneghan. Anyway, I saw Kean play 45 for the U Two Threes earlier in the season. And, I liked the way the wind was blowing then. Today, he lasted until 65 minutes. Simeon Oure came on for him (looked planned) & there was a reshuffle which effectively put Lafferty into the back three. And, hey, I still like the early look of Kean Bryan. A lot of his play is calm & composed. He judges balls very well. If he comes in quick for a loose ball, he gets there. If he comes forward to try & head a hoof ball clear, he gets there. Now, a comparison. In the first two minutes, Lundstram wasted a free kick, Bryan got in a very strong, but fair, crunching tackle on their no. 7 over on the far side. He left nothing, the lot went in, perfectly timed. Ooohhh Hello. I felt a little bit sorry for their 7. Emphasising, it was a fair challenge. Ended with a throw to them. But, he’s “tried to get up off the deck a number of times, and failed”.  Bryan switched on quickly and picked up on the long throws. Dealing with them very effectively on our left. I felt he looked very comfortable in a three. That very much seemed to suit him. He’s one of those defenders who just seems to be able to tidy shit up. Good positioning. Reads it well. Got a bit of pace. Gets there. Deals. On 24 minutes, one of the Burnley lot just drifted past Lafferty easily. But, there was Bryan just in the right place to get it all tidy. He was also with the overlapping programme as well. Not all the time, but he did have all the bomb wide attributes.

I had it that Burnley hit the woodwork twice. And, they wasted a couple of easy looking chances. United weren’t overrun. But, only a few glimpses of attacking play & urgency.  We had a good spell towards the end of the first half. (Killed by the Burnley stoppage time goal of course). Reece York hit a powerful shot, which the keeper effectively chested away. We did have a handful of flowing moves, particularly down our left. Stephen Mallon had the ball under close control on the edge of the box a few times. But, Burnley were really organised in making sure he went lateral across the box and couldn’t see a way in. United looked better in a very brief spell in the second half when we went shorter.

The Beer
Two of us ticked off a new MicroPub in S6 called The Brass Monkey. On Middlewood Road, opposite the park. I’m feeling benevolent, so I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt. There was nothing wrong. But, a lot of Teething seemed to be going on. It’s a modern, quirky place. It looked to me like the banquette benches were old bus seats that had been creatively carpented. A simple one room affair. High tables and chairs to watch the coming & goings through the window. And those bus seats down one wall. Two on cask. One of which was hand labelled on the Clip as “Rocking Rudolph” - no mention of Brewery (presumably Greene King, Hardy & Hansons) nor abv. The other cask was Belgian Blue. The craft kegs were from Legitimate Industries. That has passed my by. Their web presence & beer names seem to be a neat piss take - “Bank Job” “Election Fraud”. I’m afraid I didn’t get the chance to pile in. Anyway, three members of owners/staff were having ongoing Teething discussions in the pub. What’s this Gin? Which Whisky is Irish? How do you pronounce Talisker? If a Brewery want their beer on, should we ask them for a third handpump? The pints of Rocking were coming up big head, short beer. No great drama. Nothing awful. But, all that lot needs to settle down so it becomes a lovely nice pub. Full time whistle at Stocksbridge, bus or lift to Middlewood, one stop hop to Leppings Lane. It’s on our route Pal. We’ll. Be. Back.

Next up for the Under 23s is Crewe away on 7 Jan.

756/1581

Football as Art, not Science

Worksop Town U19 2 v Sheffield United Futures U19 2
North Midlands Development Football League, U19s Division
Thursday 18 October 2018
Played at Sandy Lane, Worksop

Derby County 2 v Sheffield United 1
The Championship
Saturday 20 October 2018

Burnley U23 6 v Sheffield United U23 0
U23 Professional Development League
Monday 22 October 2018
Played at Curzon Ashton

SUFC 2018/19 Games 29, 30 & 31

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Under 23s at Burnley

Hell. That was a tonking. Robbie Brady has 39 caps for the Republic of Ireland. Ben Gibson signed for Burnley for £15m in the Summer and has been in a full England squad. Both started today for Burnley. I'm not looking for excuses. I'm looking for context. Burnley played really well. At a good pace & tempo. Their link up play was excellent. And, some clinical finishing. It'll seem an obvious thing to say. But, there was also some poor defending from the Young Blades.

We started with a back three. Essentially, only George Cantrill of those is a “proper” Centre Back. George Broadbent & Jordan Doherty were “filling in”. Cantrill was caught out horrendously on just 5 minutes. A ball over him, his man was free, & George slipped on his arse anyway. One. Nil.

Binnion & Dungworth tried to change it. Cantrill was subbed as early as 16 minutes. By battering ram Centre Forward David Parkhouse. They went four at the back. Oli Greaves got a knock. Needed icing. Harrison Neal on for him to shore the midfield up.

A couple of goals seemed to come from simple crosses/dead balls dropped in behind the Centre Backs, between them & the Keeper (Dewhurst). No one dealing with those properly. Good headers. You're going to get punished.

I'll credit Utd. They did stick at it. Nothing petulant. Always looking to stop their man - just, they rarely could. Always looking to take their man on - just they rarely could. Never got in the game. Second best. Learn. Move on. Still third. Just a point behind Bolton. And three behind leaders Leeds.

Derby County Away

Each person sees it differently don't they? But, man, there's a lot of analysing goes on nowadays. As I've said before, I've got two degrees in Applied Statistics. So, I'm not Number Blind. But, I prefer my football as Art not Science. I see pictures, not details. I was riveted by that picture. I'm seeing, two good teams, playing different styles, going for it & putting the lot in.

United are/were mesmerising when they overload down the flanks. That inevitably creates holes, gaps, spaces when it breaks down. And, Derby were superb at trying to expose those gaps with pacy counter attacks. Here's my analysis. You ain't got men all over the fucking pitch. You've got to find a strength, exploit it.

What a Goal. Strong surging run from Fleck into small gap after small gap. He doesn't know exactly where the overload on the right is. He certainly doesn't know who's overloading. But, he fucking knows. Someone. Somewhere. Basham….

I'm not sure what happened after half time. Did we change summat? Did they? Did we start running out of gas? I'm not fussed, I'm riveted.

The Beer

And….
It's BrewDog Collabfest time again.
Excellent….

You remember the format right? Every BrewDog bar (including some of those overseas) pair up with an independent Brewery local to them. Brew a one off beer. Those beers come on across all BrewDog bars across a long weekend. BrewDog on Division Street in Sheffield had eight on. With a LOT of rotation across the two days I was able to chuck myself in. Sampled 14 in total.

To fully explain the concept & just how mad the beers get, it's always worth a ThrowBack. Always….

So, ThrowBack to 2014. Alechemy & BrewDog Dundee. A Smoked Porter. The Barley/Malt is smoked over an open flame. To give a toasty, smoky flavour to what will be a black beer. Yes. Yes. Yes Phil, we all know what a Smoked Porter is. What's the point of mentioning this particular one?

Well. The wood used on the fire to smoke the Barley/Malt. That came from Scott's Antarctic Ship RSS Discovery. No. It really did….

Anyway. 2019. A fair few sours turned up on the Sheffield Fonts. A very honourable mention to that Fallen Brewing Co. Stirlinger Weisse at 3.6%. “Nominally” Berliner Weisse style. But, in a sense better than that. There's gonna be a theme here. That. I like. Because it's one dimensional. Takes you on a simple, sour trip. Full of flavour and then some.

Similarly, a did what it says on the Clip beer, was Orebro Brygghus, Black Oyster Stout at 5.3%. A lovely, modern, straight ahead Stout with bags of flavour.

I'm also going to mention Three Hills Brewing, Brut-berry Crumble at 5.5%. I quote - Triple hopped brut IPA infused with blackberries & lightly dosed with cinnamon, aged on dark & medium French Oak. Of itself, it tasted alright. Sweet but balanced. But, if I'd blind tasted that, would I have even said “it's beer”. Doubt it. Cocktail. Smoothie. Alcopop. Wine & fruit spritzer. All contenders.

Two stand outers. Two Tribes, Dry Your Eyes Mate at 4.7%. Superb. Red berry off some dried currants (or similar). Deep & rich. The hop hit is gentle, but distinct, and not overpowered.

Up Front Brewing, The Obvious Choice at 8%. Because it's “a DIPA”, the New England business seems less gloopy, less of a distraction. Great beer. At that abv, the sugar & the hoppiness overcomes my feelings of "oh no, not another jug of gloop". Rich & tongue tingling.

733/1525

Impressive Stats

Burnley U23 1 v Sheffield United U23 6 (Six)

Professional Development League, North

Played at Tameside Stadium, Curzon Ashton

Monday 23 October 2017

SUFC 2017/18 Game 38

It’s difficult to know what to say about a game like that. Burnley are in the Premier League. But, this is actually their first year in the Professional Development League. There is not really promotion & relegation. Clubs just apply for their Academy to be graded at a higher level. So, this is all new to Burnley this season. There is a learning curve. I will say that everything went right for the Young Blades. And not just on the pitch. Challengers Forest U23 were held to a draw at Crewe earlier in the day. And, former division leaders Sheffield Wednesday kicked off at the same time. And lost 3-1 at Bolton. Shirecliffe Graduate Connor Hall came on as a 60 minute sub for Bolton. Five minutes from time, winning 2-1, he was fouled, got up & converted the Penalty to nail it. That result coupled with this resounding six goaler meant the Nippers were tucked up in their Jim Jams on Top Of The League.

Played 10, won six, lost four. Just one ahead of Wednesday who have played a game less. We’re top until at least Friday, when Wednesday go to Forest. The game was a bit mad. Burnley were in it in patches. They weren’t completely overwhelmed. Particularly in the first half, they played a pressing game. Really getting at the United players on the ball.

Heneghan again in the middle of a back three. Ferguson on his left. Sam Graham on his right. Jake Bennett & Rhys Norrington-Davies as wingbacks. Slater, Gilmour & Nathan Thomas in midfield. With Tyler Smith & Oliver Greaves up top. All five on our bench had played for the U18s on Saturday. One thing I noticed. Having been a critic of playing Graham on the right (rather than centre). In games like today. When we’re “comfortable”. He’s not bad at being the overlapping Centre Back. As early as the 8th minute, my notes have him bombing down the right in a great move involving Bennett & Slater. He was also being encouraged to get forward and get on the end of crosses.

Travis Binnion (swoon) is an encourager anyway. But, time & time again it was “Bomber, that is brilliant Mate”, etc.

I was a bit unsure about Thomas in this particular midfield role. I know it’s an odd criticism, but he was a bit too keen to get a shot off from distance. Sometimes, I felt there were better options available. But, fair play, he grew on me. He looks to thread the ball quickly and accurately at pace to his strikers. That made me realise, he’s got the vision & a good accurate pass on him.

Not much I can say about Tyler Smith. He was a handful all night. His game is based around his pace. But, he’s got to have the first touch, the strength to shrug off & a good finish on him to capitalise. All present on this parade.  He bagged the first. Just before half time he got free on the left, held it up, rolled it nicely to Thomas who calmly, but powerfully sidefooted it home from some distance.

Similar a couple of minutes later (still in the first half). Free on the left, held it up. This time, Ty knocked a more conventional square ball into the six yard box. Greaves had chased it down & had an easy ‘un. Tyler has sucked on the orange at HT & thought the equivalent of - stuff this free on the left, hold it up, give it somebody caper. In the Second Half Matthew, I’m going to be Keith Edwards.

Great ball/cross from the right by Regan Slater. Accurate & calm finish by Smith. And, six minutes later, he completes his Hat Trick. There was still a bit of time for the excellent Oliver Greaves show. Our sixth was his brace. And he has had one very very good chance to complete his hat trick as well. But, that would have been greedy. Difficult to go with anything other than the StatFacts. Three for Smith. Two assists. Two goals for Greaves. Six one win. Go Top.

And another impressive stat in The Font, Chorlton. Flash your CAMRA card and a £4.20 Pint becomes £3.15

The Font, Chorlton. Well. In a way, I've never seen anything like that. Half a dozen pukka British Craft Keg. Plus Camden, German & Belgians. Eight lovely, smaller, independents on cask. Minty mind. My pint was badged at £4.20. Except. Flash 'em your CAMRA Card. Equals money off. 10p. 20p. What?

Fuck no. Twenty Five Percent. Brings that £4.20 to £3.15.

Northern Whisper, Yammerhouse, American Pale Ale on cask at 4.5%. Superb that one. Perfectly balanced. Refreshing wine gummy smell. Comes up bitter straight away. Lots going on citrus, marmalade. Lingers, but doesn't grab your gullet. Love that.

PI, Chorlton. Four on cask. Six pukka craft keg. Nice and quiet one room affair. I was going to walk past. But, spied the blackboard outside. Plugging Runaway Brewery, badged for the pub, PI-PA keg IPA at 4.2%. A bit salad leaf bitter upfront. Not unpleasant. But makes you wonder. It sort of develops the wrong way around. It gets a little richer. And the aftertaste is deeper bitter. Will he? Won't he? Enjoyed it in the end.

The Marble Beer House Chorlton. Four of their own on cask. A few off across the cask & keg lines. I've got it as five keg. Essentially everything is their own or a Collab. But, that's the nature of the beast.  

Marble, Tuckerlovsky Session IPA on keg at 4.7%. Bit of a problem with the line. Wrong amount of gas. In the wrong place. He (& I) persevered. Came up well in the end. Initial hit tasted superb. But, it all felt a bit ordinary as I got further into it. Died into. Simple, but pleasant, bitterness. Nowt wrong with it. Session IPA is all….

555/1161