The Three Survivors

Sheffield United U23 1 v Everton U23 3 

Premier League Cup, Group D 

Thursday 6 September 2022 

Played at Chesterfield 

SUFC 2021/22 Game #36 

That's put a bit of a dent in the chances of qualifying for the knockout stages of the Premier League Cup. We now lie third, on 4 points, 2 to play. Three points behind Peterborough & five points behind Everton.

One of the Carrier Bag Firm has just reminded me we beat Everton 3-1 (at Southport) in September. And then mused about how many of the starting XI from that night survived to the return fixture.Three. Starbuck, Cappello, Gomis. Of those, Starbuck was right wingback at Southport, but right centre back at Chesterfield. Cappello was left wingback at Southport, but up top (ish) in a two at Chesterfield. Nicksoen Gomis played left centre back in both games.

What does that demonstrate? Correct. The impressive record keeping & attention to detail of the CBF. And also, the amount of churn you can get at Academy U23 football.

There'd been some speculation Everton may play a weakened side tonight. Using their best U23s in the FA Cup this coming Saturday. Anyway, as an aside, Everton started five players tonight who had started in the September fixture. Zan-Luk Leban, Mackenzie Hunt, Reece Welch, Lewis Warrington, Tom Cannon.

So. It was Amissah betwixt sticks. Seriki wide right. Buyabu wide left. Starbuck, Belehouan, Gomis across the three. Ayari, Charlie Staniland & Brooks. With Ange & Will Osula up top.

Fair fucks to Chaz Staniland. I think that's his first start for the U Two Threes. He's been whacked into centre holding mid. With the where the fuck have they gone now roamers of Ayari & Brooks somewhere else. He often seemed a lone man in midfield. He did very well. Not much by way of taking it off the keeper & centre backs. But great positionally. Quick at closing his man. And nice and simple with the ball. Playing mainly facing his opponents goal.

I increasingly worry about Ayari. Anonymous for great swathes. And then not executing what he is actually good at - for eg set piece free kicks. I know they've fucked Ange Cappello about with what position they want him. And I know he was a bit freer up top tonight. But, as a smallish, impact, ball at his feet player, he looked much, much better than Hassan tonight.

Interesting that they tried Starbuck as a right CB. When he first arrived, and played right back/wingback, he was a constant attacking threat. But, I feel that has trickled away in more recent games. Seriki, Starbuck & Gomis provided a strong & marauding threat from the back. Buyabu is a bit smaller, but is powerful going forward. Jean Belehouan just anchored it in the middle.

I'd sum it up as - they were tending to burst with the ball at their feet from very deep, rather than overlap or support other players, although they were difficult to knock off the ball, eventually they just ran out of space & options. That basically tells the tale. A disjointed performance all round. Very little link up play. Relying mainly on individual skills. Lacking off the ball movement.

Cappello & Osula were lively enough. But collectively we couldn't really get anything going. The very early, 3rd minute, opener essentially came from a Nicksoen maraud forward in the left channel. That broke down a bit, but the ball fell wide to Cappello. He put a decent shot in. The keeper got a lot on it. But was ahead of himself & spilled it right to Will Osula. He bundled it home. 

Everton goals on 25, 45 & 49 brought it all home for David Unsworth's & Jose Baxter's boys. I'm not saying Everton were miles ahead of us. But that was a deserved win.

The pre match wait for the Teamsheets was in Carrier Bag Firm HQ East Mids - The Glassworks. Obviously, as a Brampton Brewery Tap, we're increasingly relying on Cask rotation for Beer Ticks. But, it's a great pub.

Brampton Brewery, Wasp Nest, English Bitter on Cask at 5%.

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Stats

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A Latin Declension Goal

Everton U23 1 v Sheffield United U23 3 

Premier League Cup, Group D 

Friday 17 September 2021 

Played at Southport

SUFC 2021/22 Game #9

Great, fully deserved win by the U Two Threes against a Club effectively two leagues higher. "But, did Everton play a weakened team Phil, as if it's like the Carabao Cup?"

Fuck knows, do you think the Carrier Bag Firm are nerdy geeks who know a load about opposition players? (smiley emoji thingy)

Repeat. Great, fully deserved win by the U Two Threes. 

In case you didn't know this is a Cup competition under the organisation of the Premier League. Some, but not all, Cat 1 & Cat 2 Academies enter. With a smattering of Cat 3s (I spied Mansfield Town & Southend United in the Group Tables). The Carrier Bag Firm love this cup. It's a chance for our (Cat 2) Academy to test themselves against the Big Boys in Cat 1 (and occasionally risk it at a Cat 3). Also. New grounds. New towns. New pubs. Sadly, not this week. We played Everton at Southport in the same competition in February 2019. We were a tad unlucky to lose that 2-1 to late goals after Reece York put us ahead.

The first phase is a four team group. Before moving to knockout. We're in with Everton, Burnley & Peterborough United.

Der Der Der - Der Der Der Der Der

One of THE iconic tunes of English football. I'm delighted to confirm that, even at Under 23 games, and even at Southport rather than Goodison Park, Everton enter the field to the Theme From Z Cars - ask your Grandad.

Jack Lester was in the dugout & shouting the do this's. No sign of Paul Heckingbottom.

Isn't the working assumption that Regan Slater had a deal break down in the Transfer Window? He hasn't played for a long time, and would be (you'd imagine) short on fitness. The simple thing to say is - to my eyes he's changed as a player. Inevitable really. I saw a lot of Regan in Academy football. That's more flexible than Big Boys pro football - where players become ever more specialised. Indeed I'm going to accuse - where players become ever more typecast.

That big engined, box to box, influence the play midfield whirlwind that I recall. Has become a sitting, holding midfielder. Regan played that role well. Alongside Arblaster & a more roaming & influential Zak Brunt. But, I'll say it how I see it - I felt Regan needed to get into this game more. I hope that's helped with his fitness & he can get something sorted in due course.

United played with what I can only describe as an extreme back three with wingbacks. Angelo Cappello on the left and Joe Starbuck on the right. Those two seemed always pushed up in a very attacking set up. Gordon, Lopata & Gomis across the back three. 

United were a constant threat from corners, free kicks and balls played in from out wide. I love how we seem to have gone very simple on corners - both the first team & U23s. Decide who's getting on the end of it - Lopata or Lankshear - screen him & block, he runs whatever pattern it is - peel off to back post, attack near post - put the ball where he is.

As early as the third minute, Brunt sent in a long free kick, Lopata clattered the keeper, but knocked it just over. But, the Toffees did put us under quite a bit of pressure early on as we were looking to settle in. Arblaster lost it in midfield & the Everton lad took it on well & forced a good save from Marcus. Everton scored on 8, and it looked scrappy & preventable. Looked like it should have been cleared before it was scrambled in low down past Marcus on the near post.

Great leveller on 13 from The Blades. Nice team goal. Ange Cappello stood a deepish cross up from the left. Will Lankshear climbed high and headed back across goal. And Louis Marsh very calmly picked his spot.

Lord knows what happened with our second goal on 24. My sightline was right along the hypotenuse of it. A move broke down for Zak as the defender toe poked it away. The ball just seemed to bounce into Joe Starbuck's stride. Did he look up? Fuck knows. Did Lankshear see a chance that a cross might come his way? Fuck knows.

But, what I know is Joe struck it hard & true along my sightline. And I couldn't help but see Lankshear in my eyeline. Is he going to get on the end of that? He is going to get on the end of that. He's got on the end of that. A true Latin Declension Goal.

We weren't exactly dominating, but we'd gone ahead & there was a 20 minute spell at the end of the first half where Everton couldn't get anything going. And our full on wing back game was paying off. Marsh & Lankshear were working very hard. Keeping the ball alive & making things happen. With Cappello often popping up as a third striker.

The back three were calm in defence. Working well together & tidying everything up. And. Will Lankshear put it to bed just 48 seconds after half time. Another Starbuck assist as he broke strongly down the right. A fairly straightforward roll across the box. Lankshear could have stepped over it & let someone else have a go. Lankshear could have helped it wider left where he had some marauders. But who wants their striker to do that shit? Lankshear greedied up and placed it into the corner. Three One. Two from Lankshear & an assist for the other obvs makes him a stats standout.

We continued to create chances. On 62, Gomis drove inside left with the ball & squared it to Brunt who really should have scored. On 78, Starbuck was powerful on the right again & Marsh, on the end of it, could have scored. Great win.

The Beer Den, 67a Duke St, Southport PR8 5BT

A lovely double shop fronted micropub. An outlet for beers from The Parker Brewery (also in Southport). They were showcasing;

The Parker Brewery, Centurion Pale Ale on Cask at 3.9%

The Parker Brewery, Dark Spartan Stout on Cask at 5%

(both sampled, obvs)

These sort of MicroPubs are just great aren't they? Friday TeaTime. They're becoming "the new local". Pissed up couple perched at the bar. Painter & decorator, with more paint on his overalls than the wall, nipping in on his way home. Colleagues celebrating the end of another fucking week. Older, should know better, drinker wearing a t-shirt quoting Mark E Smith. Just great.

Bar staff properly pulling casks through if they're new or first serving for a while. Just great.

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Stats

I have now Blogged from 1,001 games in 2,586 days 

8% Drink Off

Everton U23 2 v Sheffield United U23 1
Premier League Cup
Sunday 24 February 2019
Played at Southport FC

Clipstone U21 1 v Sheffield United Futures U21 6
North Midlands Development Football League U21 Division
Wednesday 27 February 2019

SUFC 2018/19 Games 72 & 73
2018/19 Football Season Brewery Visits - 92

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Stay grounded. The Merseyrail Community Stadium, Haig Avenue, Southport was/is the 214th ground I have seen an SUFC XI play on. The Lido Ground, East Clipstone, the 215th. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I've heard it all before. “Can't have” “Not real grounds” “Doesn't make you a Big Blade, I'd do that if I had the time & money” - money, may I add, which you waste on bits of polyester with some dodgy loan shark, trading on people's financial misfortune, company name across the front. It's all about priorities. I've done the grounds, deal with it.

U21 Futures

Clipstone have a great stand behind the goal. A well maintained shed roof & just a single row of comfortable seats. The Carrier Bag Firm love a One Rower. I might as well deal with that Futures game as I can do a bit of a round up. The U21s Division is, perennially, impossible to fathom. An unbalanced fixture list in the first place. Teams from the North Division (eg us), play a few Cross Division games against teams from the South Division (eg Clipstone). Some teams have already dropped out of the league part way through the season. Others have had points deducted for various infringements (usually surrounding ineligible players). Despite all that, Handsworth Parramore U21s have been ridic. They've already won the league. With (I think) two games left to play. They're unbeaten, invincible, played 13, won 12. And, they're in the cup final.

Handsworth have now won the U21s three years running. Having won the U19s the two years before that. Salute. It's fair to say that Sheffield United Futures U21 are at the back end of that scale. I make that just two wins and three draws from 11 games. Rooted. Bottom of six. Still, tonight was sort of like v like. Clipstone are rooted, bottom of the South. And, United were clearly the better side on the night. We bagged the first on 17 minutes, and were four up after 33, having missed a Penalty. That was game over. We continued to have good chances throughout. But, credit to Clipstone in the second half & for getting on the scoresheet.

I was very close to the action. There was a one v one pushing in the chest stand off right in front of me. With other players arriving quickly. The Ref did well to calm it all down. He looked around & spotted one of the late SUFC arrivals…

“Number Five, you again, what are you even doing over here, getting involved?”
“Come on Ref, he's my mate, you have to help your mate out don't you. I'm sure you'd help your mate out if someone was pushing him…”
Exactly…..

U23 Academy

I thought that was a great, great battling performance by the U23s. Everton are effectively two rungs above us. They're the top ranked U23 side in the country at the moment. United had a great run in this Premier League Cup last season. Knocked out at the Semi Final stage last year (by Swansea City). So, it's a bit disappointing to get put out at the Group Stage this go around. But. Recriminations. Not the time. No first team fringers on Sunday. Just the best of the current crop who are still here. Look, Everton were probably the better team. But, impressive work rate from the Young Blades kept them in it. And, on 60 minutes, Reece York got on the end of a cross & stayed very calm to put his header away for a one nil lead.

One of the CBF asked “when's the draw for the next round Phil?, as I nipped along for a celebratory piss. The Jinxing Bastard. Sure 'nuff. Two late Everton goals & other results later in the week dumped us out.

Some Bars are run really well. Friendly. For example. Just such a place is Tap & Bottles in Southport. I was aahhing, with associated uumming, at the bar. The fella helped me out. And, I plumped for half of a particularly tempting 8% Imperial/Double IPA. We were the first & only customers that time on a Sunday. He got a third of a pint from the tap - and it ran out. So. He gave that to me. Free. As is required by the International Law of I'm In Your Bar Smiling Pal. And. Therefore. I got the rare opportunity for AN 8% DRINK OFF.

Both had the gloopy look of New England style IPAs.

North Brewing Co. Ursa Major, on keg at 8.1%. Felt like it had a bit missing. It was neither heavily fruity gloopy, nor dreamily hoppy. If anything, I had it as a bit bland. At that abv, the sugar hit was nice. The best bit really. But, that's a shame.

So. Outstanding Beer Of The Day was

Verdant Brewing Co. People Do Odd Things, on keg at 8%.  That was thick & chewy. I got a head turning alcohol hit. And there was a lot more flavour to that. But, still a bit short of where I was going.

Stats
I have now Blogged from 783 games in 1,653 days

One Pub, Two Names

Brentford 2 v Sheffield United 3
The Championship
Tuesday 27 November 2018

Sheffield United U23 0 v Everton U23 1
Premier League Cup, Group B
Friday 30 November 2018
Played at Stocksbridge Park Steels

SUFC 2018/19 Games 42 & 43

May to May Brewery Visits - 67

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The Beer

I love a bit of unusual beer history me. Did you read my previous Blog? About the two Pressure Drop beers? Both brewed with the same Hops? But, with different “recipes”? No. Why not? We tasted them side by side in a classic Beer Off. It was a lovely bit of Blogging. Give it a hit up. Anyway, I mention that “two beers” Blog. Because this one is a Two Pubs Blog. The drink up before that marvellous away win at Brentford was in The Mawson Arms, in Chiswick, right next to the Fuller's Griffin Brewery. Or was it? The Mawson Arms is also the Fox and Hounds. The pub has two “legitimate names”. I've seen the story told a few different ways.

Basically, it's around the old Licencing Laws ruling that Beer could not be sold on the same premises as Wines & Spirits. The story is either those were the real rules, or it was a misunderstanding that those were the rules. Matters not. Because, in a classic manoeuvre, they just gave the pub two names. The authorities OK'd Ale in The Mawson Arms & OK'd Wine in the Fox and Hounds. Without understanding they were one and the same pub. What. Japes.

Maybe it's the water. But, I generally find Fuller's beers a bit thin. The three I had, including London Pride (I just HAD to), certainly were. It was a close call. But, my favourite of the day was,

Fuller's, Off Piste on cask at 4.6%. That was lovely and hoppy. Not powerful, but gentle & floral flowing through it. The inevitable thin mouthfeel actually suited the balance.

The Under 23s

A very young Blades XI, missing Norrington-Davies, Graham, Semple, Slater, Gilmour, Smith, Hallam & Parkhouse, gave a really good account of themselves. All of those listed are experienced and senior U23 players who are currently out on loan to further their development. I get that. But, I do sometimes feel there's a critical mass. Unless you retain a core of players, then it's difficult for the rest to shine. But, I get it.

The apparent gulf is that Everton are second in Premier League 2, Division 1 - the top division for U23 teams. United are fifth in Professional Development League, North. You could call that U23 Division 3. It was certainly NOT one way traffic. United had a really good spell from around 55 minutes to 80. And, there was a mad, great chance for the equaliser in stoppage time. Stephen Mallon had a shot blocked. Harry Boyes banged the rebound against the bar. And, Simeon Oure had a header from that rebound cleared.

Both teams were in it constantly. Chances at both ends. Neither could really get on top & impose control. On balance, I'm happy that Everton probably just shaved it. The Young Blades stayed in it by working really hard. In their better spells, they were happy to trust their skills. Passing it around the back line & through linking midfielders. Inevitably, there was the odd mistake. But, I felt if United hadn't played like that, getting the ball moving all the time, Everton could have really stamped control.

It was noticeable that Travis was constantly encouraging the players to keep working. Coaxing, rather than castigating.

George Cantrill set up in the middle of a three. Jean Belehouan on his right, Tommy Williams on his right. Harry Sheppeard & Stephen Mallon as wingbacks. Doherty, York and (presumed trialist) Kalinauskas in midfield. Jake Young & Simeon Oure up top.

That performance is not particularly one for singling individuals out. A collective effort. I thought Cantrill, Williams & Belehouan dealt well with a lot of things at the back in difficult circumstances. York started really well - but faded a bit I felt. Stephen Mallon shone at times. Let's put it simply. He's better when he's got the ball than when has hasn't.

Everton's goal on 25 minutes looked ugly. A surging run from midfield was ended by a crunching tackle (and foul) in the D, bang centre. From my angle, Marcus looked like he was set up on the left post. I'm sure that was a bit of an illusion. But, it looked a simple, up n over, bit of away curl, chip into acres of goal to his right.

There's no disgrace, lots to be proud of, in that defeat. We just need to hang on in there & get through the group stage.

750/1564