Hit The Building

Sheffield United U23 4 v Hull City U23 0 

Professional Development League 

Tuesday 1 March 2022 

Played at Shirecliffe 

SUFC 2021/22 Game #58 

First things first, I'm primarily a Beer Blogger. Today's logistics meant that I didn't have a beer "associated" with that Academy game at Shirecliffe. But, shout out to the guy in the Detroit Lions wooly hat. He lives in Manchester. But had a day off work & needed to get to a game. So, Shirecliffe it was. And at half time, he reached into his bag & cracked open a tin of…

SALT, The Hop, Simcoe Edition at 5%

Move over. There's a new kid in town…

That was basically a complete team performance by the Young Blades. Everyone on their game. Knowing their jobs. Doing them. Didn't look to be a weak link out there. Even young Sachdev, normally a right back in a four for the U18s, was comfortable as right centre back in a three. Two up inside five minutes courtesy of Andre Brooks settled everything a lot. Early goals help.

Callum Hiddleston didn't have a lot to do. Sachdev, Big Mig Freckleton & Nicksoen Gomis as a three. A constantly marauding Femi Seriki on the right. (Replaced like for like by Joe Starbuck at half time while the Simcoe Edition was being cracked). Ange Cappello back to left wing back. Peck, Arblaster & Brooks across the mid. And Will Osula & Daniel Jebbison up top.

As I knew there'd be interest in a JebboWatch, I tried to keep tabs. At first, I thought it was Will on the right and Dan on 

the left. But, quickly, it all turned very fluid. I've already said it was a consummate display. So, I can clearly say Jebbison played well. He was certainly NOT head & shoulders above the other 21. Which is what you'd pray for. But, he was lively & involved & didn't hold back. On the day, I thought Osula looked a bit better. He seemed more mobile & looks for the ball more. He's got great ball at his feet skills.

On 30 minutes, he used those skills to the full. To the very brims I tells ye. Superb in n out twisty weavy stuff on the left. Picture perfect square ball onto Jebbison's toe. He hit home hard and low to make it 3-0. Daniel's celebration was prim, but proper. Pointing at his mucka Osula and acknowledging Will had done all the hard yards on that one. Assist with a big A and some capital Ss.

Somewhat surprisingly, neither Dan nor Will took a defensive role at Hull corners. Not that there were fucking many of those. It's such an important part of a modern striker's toolkit. 

So, Jebbison, under constant encouragement from Collins on the side, was very willing to close down & press. Speedy & trigonometric on the angles an' all. Also willing to come deep and show for the ball with his back to goal. For example, on 11 minutes, he came, brought it under close control, and turned to set up the attack. On 42, he came, flicked it left footed past his marker, and turned to win the run chase down the left. Dan looked strong running at defenders with the ball. A little ungainly maybe, certainly compared to Osula. But he wasn't afraid to put it on his left foot if that gave him an extra yard & a chance to get his shot off.

On 35 minutes, Andre Brooks fed Cappello wide left. He put a high cross to the edge of the six. Jebbison got on it, but there was no power in his looping header which dropped wide. Just before half time, Jebbison climbed very well for another cross from the left. This time, he got a load on it. And headed it down nicely. Nicely but wide!!!

I will say that the performances of both Jebbison & Osula were all the more impressive because Hull #5 (Festus Arthur) was ox strong & was very, very tight if/when the ball was played to his man.

Before all that shit, Brooks had put the game to bed, with the electric blanket on & a big fluffy fuck off duvet. On 4, Sydie Peck put a corner right under the bar. The City Hull keeper could only palm it upwards and not very far. Brooks knocked it in left footed. Within a minute, Seriki powered down the right, played the ball perfectly into Brooks stride & he powered it in along the deck.

In the second half, both Osula & Daniel joined the Shirecliffe Club. Membership awarded to those who shoot over the bar, over the netting, and Hit The Building.

And, on 73 minutes, Joe Starbuck finished it all off after great work by Ange on the left. My notes for the second half are non existent. One of the many joys of close to the action Academy football is you might get a chance to speak to someone who actually fucking knows what they are talking about. Indeed, I even asked the lino whether he could explain when the game can be brought back for a free kick after play on has been waved. (That was the Jebbo hitting the building incident. Because he'd gone on to create a chance and get a shot off, play couldn't be brought back for the obvious attempted trip on him).

I ended up discussing that with my neighbour. Who turned out to be scouting the game. Having had a career as a performance coach & head of talent ID and recruitment at a number of clubs including Nottingham Forest & Birmingham City. He felt Jebbison and United were wasting their time fetching him back from Burton. But, when I explained what had happened to Didzy & Rhian and that we were short on first team strikers, he understood the dilemma.

He felt there was a general problem across recruitment & player development of midfielders. Too many pocket rocket box to box titches & not enough Sander Berge esque huge enforcers. He pointed to Oliver Arblaster as an example. He said that even elite Academies like Arsenal & Spurs just seemed packed with small ball players.

He was a Big Fan of players being loaned to National League clubs for their development. Even more so than L1 or L2. Under close questioning, he checked his notes, Gomis - looking at him out there, how do we know he can defend? If he was in a National League game he'd have to make a header every two minutes & a tackle every 90 seconds, then we'd know whether he can defend…

Fair point fella.

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Stats

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Player 4 Has Entered The Game

Hull City U23 0 v Sheffield United U23 2 

U23 Professional Development League 

Monday 18 October 2021 

Played at (currently) LNER Community Stadium, home of York City 

SUFC 2021/22 Game #18 

Sheffield United 1 v Millwall 2

The Championship 

Tuesday 19 October 2021 

SUFC 2021/22 Game #19 

Big game, big day for the Carrier Bag Firm. York City's "new ground" is the 226th different ground I've seen a Sheffield United XI play on. All levels, all ages, all competitions, all surfaces, all wearing a United kit, all with a badge on. (Also happens to be the 376th different ground I've visited for football).

One of the CBF Luminaries took a week off work to have a North Yorkshire holiday based around this fixture. Without realising the Millwall game was the day after & he'd miss that. York's new ground is on an out of town shopping & leisure complex. Two of the CBF Infantry decided to travel to the ground from York on those Council Electric Scooters that are doing the rounds in some Cities. Thing is, the ground is outside the range of those in York. Embedded GPS makes them cut out if you try to cross the zone border with them. They had to ride 'em back into Dodge, dump them at a charging station & walk the rest of the way. At least they got there before half time!!!!

I repeat Big Game, Big Day for the Carrier Bag Firm.

I quite like the new ground. It felt very much fit for purpose. Comfortable padded seats - I got (correctly) told off by a Steward for putting my feet on the seat in front. Plenty of space. Great sight lines.

The playing surface looked absolutely state of the art. One of those hard wearing grass & synthetic hybrids. As well as York City, there are regular games for BOTH Hull City & Leeds United Academy teams AND Rugby League.

Of course, it wouldn't be an SUFC Academy game without the inevitable shenanigans around getting in. From our Bus Stop, we did nearly a full lap of the ground looking for the relevant gate. That included a section in & out of the attached leisure centre. Eventually we saw two hi vizzers guarding a way in.

There was a guy in a suit in front of us. Here we go….

"Hello, can I help you?"

"Yes, I'm the Sheffield United team Coach Driver"

"And how can I help you?"

"I've parked the coach up where they've told me & now I'd like to watch the game please"

"Will your name be on our list?"

"Dunno, I'm the Coach Driver"

El High Viz closely inspects list. Is he looking under D for Driver? Or C for Coach? Fuck knows. (Oh & the confusion means there are two of them now.) The collective decision is reached & communicated.

"I think it'll be best if you just go through the spectators gate"

Player 4, me, now enters the game

"Hi mate, we're here as fans, we'll also need to go to the spectators gate, where is it please?"

"Sorry, I don't know"

(Insert Giggling here)

"I think it might be Gate 15"

"Super, where is that?"

"I don't really know, maybe that way, no possibly that way, er, not sure"

The Coach Driver & the Carrier Bag Firm turn left and enter the ground maybe 40 yards away through Gate Fucking THREE.

Quite an odd game that one. United were always comfortable, but never dominating. The second, clinching, goal didn't come until the 83rd minute. I thought the starting two up top, Cappello & Antwoine Hackford offered very little. Hackford lasted until 67, replaced by Ayari. Ange Cappello has been used as left wing back in some recent U23 games. But tonight, returned to the attacking role we've seen in him throughout his earlier career.

The midfield four was stuffed with the pocket rockets. On the way home, we tried to think of the last big tall midfield enforcer we've had in the U23 team. And we struggled, who the fuck is that guy?

Arblaster, Maguire, Slater & Brunt

Maguire was brought down for the Penalty scored by Brunt. & Regan bagged that clincher on 83. All four were influential & busy all night.

It was all very flexible. Although I felt Slater was in a more attacking role than we'd seen him previously. Maybe, maybe, in EFL football he'll eventually make his way as the holding central midfield player he's down as. But, tonight, it was great to see him unleashed a bit. Ayari found him with a great ball to the left hand corner of the box, he brought it neatly onto his right foot & curled it past the keeper.

Towards the end of the first half, Frankie Maguire had been fouled in the box on the right. Brunt took a no nonsense, smash it past the keeper approach to give us the lead.

And, I'll say about Oliver Arblaster, he didn't look different to the more experienced and older three alongside him. He had that same livewire thing going on and I was impressed by him.

Back four tonight. Starbuck on the right. (Incidentally, he had a quieter game than of late.) Gordon & Lopata in the middle. And Nicksoen Gomis as a conventional (fucking tall, but conventional) left back. Thing is. The Tiger Cubs were no threat for a lot of the game. And Nix couldn't help himself. Particularly later on. Marauding forward down the left & into the channels like a good 'un.

I love seeing players play "out of position" sometimes. You can tell a lot about a player in those circumstances. Obvs, he had it a bit easy. But, it was a joy to watch Gomis getting it on tonight.

United often tried to find Lopata at dead balls. Occasionally, he was a decoy to get Ky Gordon on it. Ky hit the post as early as the 8th after arriving late on a worked corner.

Otherwise, the defence was very organised & comfortable. Dealing with & tidying up everything.

That result leaves us second in the table. A point behind leaders Coventry. And a four point gap to Peterborough.

The Maltings

Tanner's Moat, York YO1 6HU

Was very busy with lunch time lunchers.

Treboom Brewery, Yorkshire Sparkle, Citrus Pale Ale on Cask at 4%

Lemon washing up liquid citrus. Very pale. Nice & drinkable as you get down it.

The Ackhorne

9 St Martin's Ln, York YO1 6LR

Proper fraying at the edges side street boozer.

Ainsty Ales, Cool Citra on Cask at 4.4%.

I thought that was very good. Although the hop bitterness is not intense, it certainly kept on coming.

The Market Cat

6 Jubbergate, York YO1 8RT

Modern, slightly up market bar on three floors. Of course we didn't know it had seating on three floors until we had to climb them for a piss. And, it's essentially a Thornbridge pub.

Atom, Echo Chamber, West Coast Pale on Cask at 5.5%

Decent enough. But underpowered in all the key West Coast areas.

The Three Legged Mare

15 High Petergate, York YO1 7EN

My favourite pub of the four. Simple & modern with a large bar front.

Bad Seed Brewery, Game Plan, Ekuanot Pale on Cask at 4.2%

Lovely beer, with a hint of spiciness in the rear.

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Draw Puts Us Top

Sheffield United U23 1 v Hull City U23 1
U23 Professional Development League
Monday 1 October 2018
Played at Stocksbridge Park Steels

SUFC 2018/19 Game 28

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It’s boom or bust isn’t it Pal? Saturday’s Blog from Millwall was NAFF (No Actual Fucking Football). Today’s from the U Two Threes has NO BEER. Ah well, here goes.

A great game, which I felt could have gone either way. United came very strong towards the end. Some subs. Some tactical changes. Made a difference. Lead to a good few chances at the end. No doubt, I’m a bit annoyed to come away from that without a win & three points. It would be difficult to single any player out as having a superb or bad game. Collectively, it was a very competent performance.  That point pushes us above Birmingham to Top the table. But, that may be short lived as there are games tonight that could see Leeds or Forest shoot above us. Still, we’re good here. Unbeaten in five, we’re putting a good run together.

Our first sight of Kean Bryan. Who effectively joined us on a free transfer from Manchester City in the SSANAP Window (Sign Someone, Anyone, NOW, Any Price). We don’t know whether he’s been signed a Development Player or a First Team Fringer. We suspect, First Team Fringer. He’s 21, knocking on 22. So, he’s the Old Man of this team today. We presume he’s making his way back to fitness. He played just the first half. But, he didn’t look to be carrying a knock or feeling any ill effects. I’m guessing he’s just been down for 45 all the time & that was a planned substitution.

There was no way I could keep up with the formation & personnel changes at the back. Conventional four. A three. You here. Him there. We were very fluid. Bryan basically set up in the Rarely Seen Back Four. As the left centre back, with George Cantrill alongside him. Jake Bennett as conventional right back, Harry Boyes on the left. Early on, they looked awful in that. Hull were really good at dropping accurate balls over the CBs, into the channels, making the CBs face their own goals. Maybe they’d gone four to accommodate Bryan. But, it was poor George Cantrill who found himself in trouble a few times. Turned and running shoulder to shoulder with his attacker a good few times. Chasing a ball towards his end. Hull had a great shout for a Penalty. Which could have also been a Red Card. And, on 14 there was a right old horrendous mix up down that “Cantrill” channel. The keeper Amissah came a bit too far. The Hull striker made things difficult. Everyone was spinning round trying to locate the ball on the radar. A shout. Who knows? Yours, mine, keepers? George headed it just past his own keeper who was heading for no man’s land. And, a simple task for the Hull lad to roll it in.

Anyway. Kean Bryan. He looked on the pace. He was loud & vociferous in organising the defence. Advance scouting of opposition set pieces won’t help you much at this level. Live on your wits. Or die trying. So, I noticed that Bryan was always searching out Hull’s tallest player at corners & free kicks and marking him. Taking that responsibility. Making sure the match up was right. He grew a bit as the game went on. He became even more comfortable & confident, from a solid base. Some nice strong and powerful headers from balls pumped in. And, some nice distribution down the left channel when he got the chance.  It’s just that the rest of the team, particularly Cantrill looked a bit all at sea (at times) with a back four. Over time, Cantrill, Bryan, Kyron Gordon, Jordan Doherty and Jake Bennett all had a go at the Centre Back two or three shuffle.

But, some great combinations all over the pitch for the Young Blades. Hallam & Oure combining well. York & Doherty getting well forward at times & combining well. Boyes & Greaves combining well down the left. There seemed a lot to like. I think Oure is “growing a bit”. Every time I see him he looks a bit taller & leaner. A typical surging run from Jake Bennett on 28 was partially halted by a hack clear. The ball fell to Oure and he just knocked it back in, and over the Hull keeper into the net. In terms of “makes you notice him” skills, Oli Greaves had a good first half. Essentially up top with Oure, he was very lively. Not afraid to come looking for it. And, that Greedy In A Good Way thing when running with the ball & trying to get a shot off.

Harry Sheppeard hit a post on 52 mins. (Sub) Stephen Mallon swept a shot into the net from a deep cross. Only for that to be ruled out (I think for a foul by other Sub Parkhouse). I know not whether Hull tired or United just got stronger, but as the game went deep - we were in only one winner territory.  Oh. But, Hull were not being overrun. They were well in it at times. It was ding dong battle. With much to praise all over the park for the Young Blades. The early Hull onslaught. A bit of uncertainty from players not used to playing together. And, that horrendous Amissah/Cantrill Balls Up. That’s put us on the back foot a bit & cost us. And, we just couldn’t quite get back for the winner.

723/1504

Hull Chanty Guy

Sheffield United U23 3 v Hull City U23 1

Whitby Town Challenge Cup 3rd Place Play Off

Saturday 28 July 2018

SUFC 2018/19 Game 10

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Life is about choices. Did you know that? Here's a fact for you. Today, Saturday 28 July, Hull City sent their First Team to Barnsley. They drew one apiece. But, some Hull Carrier Bagger has CHOSEN to come to the U23 game at Whitby. Stand under the Tin Shed. Behind Binnion & John Dungworth. And chant, on his Jack Jones, with associated clapping actions, for the whole 90.

What's gone through his head? Can't fathom. Can only marvel. I'm not going to insult him by saying “he's in my Firm, he's CBF”.

Sir, I'd be honoured to be in your Firm.

Although the fucking racket was incessant. I didn't detect anything xenophobic or sexist. When his team have scored, he's gone with “Who are ye…”. He's not infallible as that is a strange choice. At one point it was “...small town in Barnsley …” Mate, let's keep in civil.

The only thing I thought of joining in with were the anti Allam chants. Sorry Brother, I neither knew the words nor tune.

I thought that was a good, competent performance by the Young Blades, who were well worth the win. We had a lovely one door opens, another door opens situation. Jordan Doherty was with the First Team last night. So, today, they gave him a bit of chill time on the bench. That gave Reece York a chance to shine. He did. Brightly.

Hitherto. In the games I've seen, Reece has been slotted in midfield on the right hand side. Today, he took a much deeper role. Just in front of the back three. Indeed, in the mix with the back three at times. There was a LOT of wind. Making clearances by Marcus Dewhurst & the defenders difficult. That played right into Reece's hands. Getting it from the back. Giving it. Buzzing.

He was also Armbanding. So, someone at Shirecliffe has him right on the radar. (Blah Blah Blah something something something … drove past RAF Fylingdales to get to Whitby .. Blah Blah something Radar…. needs work).

I don't want to kill his chances. But, I'm blue in the face. Jordan Hallam has got a real chance. Maybe not with United. But, a real chance with someone. He has the extra skill. He does deadball. Ty Smith was brought down on the edge of the box on fif fucking teen seconds. Hallam set it. Some directions from John Dungworth on the bench about who should stand where in the wall. Don't deny it. It happens to you an’ all. Embrace it. You just fancy someone to score sometimes. No logic - he's putting this in.

You can go for power. You can play the margins. Aim just wide. Curl it back. Or. Pick a spot. That the keeper can't reach. Hit it. Reel away with your arms in the air. It was just beautiful. One minute five seconds on my timepiece.

We'll stick with Jordan Hallam for a moment. He set up as attacking midfielder. Left hand side if owt. With Simeon Oure on the right. The yards & possession that Reece York put in allowed them both to flourish. Hull had clawed one back just before the half. My notes say that Hallam had been pushed even further forward as the 2nd half started. On 54, Tyler Smith broke free down the inside right channel. He got a good low shot off. The keeper dived full stretch & parried it. Jordan H arrived late. But, he's arrived. And knocked his second in.

On a different day, I might have been writing - Christ Ty Smith missed some chances. But, it wasn't today. Christ - Ty Smith has been involved in loads. Brought down for the first. Key assist for the second. A good few other clear cut chances. And, as they say, “deservedly” on 89 minutes, Tyler got his goal to wrap it up 3-1.

Sheppeard & Hallam & Boyes & Oure all combined consistently well down the flanks. The defence were solid & interchangeable. Great competent performance.

I wish wish wish I'd stayed around for the Final. Whitby v Boro. The Whitby Man Of The Match was TRIALIST. What a time to be alive.

All I've got is Outstanding Beer Of The Day.
Twisted Angel Brewing, DDH Comet White Label #7 on cask at 4.2% in The Little Angel. Hoppy & lovely.

692/1441

Brooks at 90+3

Hull City U23 1 v Sheffield United U23 2

U23 Professional Development League, North

Played at North Ferriby United

Monday 12 February 2018

SUFC 2017/18 Game 58

That was the 204th different ground I have watched a Sheffield United XI play on. All teams, ages, competitions & surfaces.

Beer Roundup

Day out in Hull. Lovely. That’s what we’re here for. I sort of got my pub planning the wrong way around. I was in the best place first. And, it all felt a little bit downhill from there. Although I have to say, I thoroughly enjoyed ALL the beers.

So, Bar Of The Day award can go to Furley & Co. I've got it as ten pukka craft keg. And, a great varied, pick the bones out of that lot, selection it was. Five ditto Cask. Really, really great place.

Roosters & Magic Rock Collab, Northern Powerhouse on keg at 4.5%. Billed as US Session IPA.
I loved that one from the get go. Pulls up nice & bitter from the off. Fairly neutral smell. There is a bit of lemon citrus swirling in. Superb.

Gene Pool Brewing, Paleo on cask at 3.9%. (Vintage Bar). Great beer. Full of flavour. At first, I thought it was a bit tart. But, just my buds playing tricks on me. Balanced & packs a punch for 3.9%.

Timothy Taylor, Ram Tam on cask at 4.3%. (George Hotel). Dark, Winter style. Fairly gentle. A little bit of everything. Some spice. Some sugar. Goes towards bitter. Thick & chunky. Incidentally, there was a cabal of locals stood front & centre at the bar. As I stared through, round, over them to see the clips, I became the butt of some joke or other. Bar lady sort of joined in with them. I gave ‘em the old “I don’t know why I’m looking anyway, I’ve been told it all comes out of the same barrel”. To shut them up. Which it did. But, it’s not good to take the piss out of a random guy walking in. Marked down for that.

Half Moon, Old Forge Bitter on cask at 3.8%. (The Whalebone). Malty. With a nice leap into some peach action. And, some bitter. Nice beer. All nicely balanced. Keeps you interested. Proper, decent cask beer.

U23 League Roundup

That win puts us back into contention. Up to Third. 31 points from 20 games. Ten games to go now. SWFC are three points above us, also from 20 games. Bolton are top - 34 points, but from only 19 games. It’s top two for a Play Off spot. (No promotion - the top two in the North play off with the top two in the South to decide an overall winner). We’ve played both SWFC & Bolton twice already - so, no six pointers we can take advantage of.

Today’s Game

I’m going to say. Overall. I think Hull were marginally the better side. Counts for nothing though. We’ve won it at the death - 90+3 on my watch - last kick of the game. In the first half, Hull started very lively. They were quick, accurate & strong. At times, I felt we were disjointed & we really struggled to get anything going. But, we deffo had our moments & we stayed in it. We had just about the best chance of the first half - worked it well on our left. Norrington-Davies got on it - but blazed his shot a little too high. Certainly not overrun - just that Hull shaded it for me. David Brooks, comeback trail from injury, came on for the second half. Made the first goal. Scored that injury time winner. Looked the most composed player on the park. He’s made the difference really - instrumental in Utd winning it.

I’ve been critical of Sam Graham recently. But, I thought he had a better game today. Maybe having Heneghan in the centre of three helped anchor it all a bit. Graham was on the right. (Jordan Doherty filling in again on the left). Callum Semple was an unused sub. Injuries, suspensions, poor form aside - Graham, Heneghan & Semple should be the best three Blade Centre Backs at this level. They’ve not had a chance to start together yet. If/when - maybe we’ll get a bit of consistency back. NONE of those will play in the middle of a three on Day One if they ever break into the first team. So, ALL of them need some experience on the left/right. Actually, accommodating everyone at U23 will become a bit of a problem.

Stephen Mallon set up as Right Wing Back. And, basically, he’s all Left Foot. Glides around with the ball wherever he is. I’m a fan. But, he surely can’t make it long term on the right. It’ll be him (Mallon) & Rhys Norrington-Davies for the Left Wing Back slot. Or, Mallon will have to “dislodge” Slater, Gilmour or Hallam (no. 10) in midfield. Nice problem to have. And, there’ll be injuries, dips, rotation, etc.

I thought Regan Slater was a bit off tonight. His standards have slipped a little recently. He was anonymous in parts. And, was a touch petulant. Berating his colleagues at times. Needs to get back in his groove. And. I’m going to say that Hugo Warhurst looked confident & comfortable tonight. Dealt well with crosses. The Hull equaliser looked a mess though. A corner dropped right into the six yard mixer wasn’t dealt with. Warhurst actually makes a very good save low to his left. But, the rebound is scrambled home.

Kieron Freeman came on at 60 minutes for the start of his comeback trail. He replaced Jordan Hallam - and slotted into Right Wing Back. Allowing Stephen Mallon to move into midfield (see above….) Freeman was assured & comfortable. He wasn’t actually “cruising”. But, he was sort of “nursing” his way in. Just getting used to the grass. In the main, no bombing runs, not much overlapping. But, confident & on the money. No dramas.

OK. The Brooks Show. You get the chance to be very close to the action at grounds such as North Ferriby. Maybe it’s that. Maybe it’s an optical illusion. Maybe it’s happening. But, he looks bigger to me. Still wiry. But, a touch taller. More upright. We had a bit more of killer cross field ball Brooks than mazy nutmegging lunatic Brooks tonight. A bit of a free role. They do that deliberately so that Binnion can get at it on the touchline - “Brooksy - Brooksy - Brooksy”. But mainly attacking central midfield - with Ty Smith & Jake Wright looking up the channels in front of him. What can I say. He just makes shit happen. Three minutes in - he’s popped up on the right - took a few on - good low cross - Hallam foxing in the boxing - gets on it at the near post - never in doubt.

And, a lovely bit of confusion for that 90+3 winner. The Carrier Bag Firm had, by that time, formed a pincer movement phalanx to ward off any ambush by the Hull Firm. Two in the centre of the main stand. Two (inc me) stood on the far right - near the touchline the Young Blades were attacking. Brooks was a-flicking & a-wiggling. Got free of his marker. Tearing down on the keeper. Looked from our position (on the side) like a little dink over the keeper. “Yes - it’s in” ….. Except the ball ends up on the track - not in the back of the net. What’s happened there? - Ref gives it - Brooksy wheels away for a simple celebration. Hole in the net is what. In fact the Lino on our side has had an equipment ‘mare. Hole in his net & his flag has fallen apart in the first half. Amateur Hour.

Then having given it the old - “go on Brooksy - Yes, it’s in … CONFUSION …. Superb Brooksy”. The Hull PA announce Jake Wright Jnr as the goalscorer. The Carrier Bag Firm form up again on point. And, one of the others also thinks it might have been Wright who scored. Weren’t…...

609/1273

Those Puns Though

Sheffield United U23 0 v Hull City U23 1

Monday 24 October 2016

U23 Professional Development League 2, North

Played at Bramall Lane

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I'm sorry, that was a disappointing & flat game. Even the goal was a shite rebound thing. No midweek game for the Big Boy Blades. So, lots of perennials could drop from the Saturday Subs Bench to the Monday U23 Starting XI.

Ramsdale, Brown, Whiteman, Scougall, Hussey, Chapman.

So, while that is the right thing to do, it's disruptive to the “settled” U23 side. And it showed. But, there is a double disappointment. None of those first team fringers looked like they were banging the door down.

David Brooks had his most anonymous game in ages. Whiteman popped up over my side in the second half. I'd forgotten he was playing! I know it's commonly accepted wisdom. But, you do wonder whether some of these players really are going backwards. Disappointing all round.

CollabFest

Each BrewDog bar collaborates with a local brewery to produce a (supposedly) one off beer. Each of those beers is (supposedly) available at every BrewDog bar across an extended weekend.

It's been going a few years. And, the number of BrewDog bars grows. The result. Loads of fucked about with beers. The result. Puns for names. In. Evitable.

I've finished my run at it on the way to this Hull game. But, across the weekend, I've had.

Soho/Fourpure, Mangoes Into A Bar 5%. Sour Mango Wheat Beer.

Shepherds Bush/Siren, Ten Dollar Shake 6.6%. Fruit Smoothie IPA.

Camden/Howling Hops, Raspberry Ripple Ice Cream Pale Ale 5.5%. Lactose pale ale with raspberries.

Aberdeen/Fierce, Black Flagship 6.5%. Bramble & Chocolate Porter.

A not too tinkered with, Leeds/Roosters, I'm A Lumberjack (& I'm Oak Aged) 5.7%. Oak Aged IPA.

A straight up, Liverpool/Liverpool Craft, Magnolia IPA 6%.

A straight up brain chiseler, Bristol/Wiper & True, Don't Get Lemon 9.5%. Double IPA.

But, the best of the lot. And not just out of loyalty. Was the Sheffield/Abbeydale, Iced Tea Dead People 4.6%. Peach Iced Tea beer.

Fucked about with. Oh yes. But, not in your face & throat. SUBTLE. And all the better for that. I'm squarely anti-reinheitsgebot. Put stuff in if you want to mate. But, try to remember it's fucking beer at the end of the day.

Salute to Sheffield/Abbeydale. They got it right. Those puns though.

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