Small Wins Fan

Liverpool 3 v Sheffield United 1 

Premier League 

Thursday 4 April 2024 

SUFC 2023/24 Game #56 

Apologies. Games coming thick & fast. Blogs not so. The age old dilemma whether to go or write about one you've gone.

And, I'm going to say, not as good as I remember it.

The Bard MicroPub

57 High St, Prescot L34 6HF

But, pushes the buttons. Opened a bit earlier for us. Following the GangMaster making them an offer they couldn't refuse. There's still that odd thing going on. Where after serving you, the BarPerson has to disappear ‘round the corner. In order to gather all the modern accoutrements for you to pay.

Maybe they'd had a recent Tap Takeover. Because there was surfeit of MBH (brewery in Knutsford) beer on the bar. Including those, there were four on Cask and two on Keg.

MBH Beer, Cheshire Pale, on Cask at 3.9%

Standard. Easy drinking. Lot to like identikit pale.

MBH Beer, Bunji, NZ Pale Ale on Cask at 3.8%

Standard. Pleasant and drinkable. But, I wouldn't have guessed that was Hopped NZ style.

MBH Beer, 1924, English Bitter on Cask at 4%

The best of the Cask on offer I felt. A proper modern English bitter. Nutty malt backbone which doesn't overpower. And leaves room for some hop action.

MBH Beer, UnChained, Hazy IPA on Keg at 4.4%

That was the best of the lot. Nice and pillowy. Although I felt it needed more bitterness.

Anfield. I'm going to say, not as good as I remember it.

Different fans are going to judge progress in different ways. Me? I've become a Small Wins Fan. For great swathes of this season, I don't even think there's been small wins. But, here we go. Good, very good, chances in the opening minutes. And, pegging them back to one one on 58. And holding that for 20.

Incidentally, gotta be converting those chances. Always.

Although it's gone down as an OG, that was a great win the ball back and be expansive goal. Small wins. All we got.

Incidentally, I damaged my voice during the pre-game. It was still not right by the Chelsea game. It all happened during You'll Never Walk Alone. My vocal chord damaging call-back repertoire was;

“Boooooo”

“Get fucked”

“Grow up”

(I'm not even sure what that last one was supposed to mean….)

I remain sixty five years old!!!!

You can find ALL my previous Blogs at

www.ball-sup.blogspot.com

Would you please consider subscribing (free) to have my Blog delivered to your email inbox (via Substack). Thank you.

You can find me on Social Media

X @ball_sup 

Untappd ball_sup 

Stats 

I have now Blogged from 1,406 games in 3,516 days 

Perfect Hot Potatoes

Sheffield United 1 v Brentford 0 

Premier League 

Saturday 9 December 2023 

SUFC 2023/24 Game #29 

Sheffield United 0 v Liverpool 2 

Premier League 

Wednesday 6 December 2023 

SUFC 2023/24 Game #28 

So. There we have it. New manager. We've made the change. Here's how the NOLs (New Old Lot) are putting the cones out now.

By the time I Blogged from that horrendous defeat at Brunlea, Heckingbottom had gone, and Wilder had arrived. I had a go at what I'd like to see, rather than what I thought he'd do. Simply, performance has improved and we've got a result.

We played more of the game facing the opponents goal. It was still all a bit hot potato at times. But, key players were willing and able to trap the ball, get it under control, and turn with it. That included Jack Robinson, turning calmly. And Cameron Archer, more hectic, but trying to lose his marker.

They've obviously been drilled to go a bit longer from the back. Particularly from goal kicks. They tried to exploit the fact we've got Auston Trusty at makeshift left back in a conventional four. Pushed him up halfway for goal kicks to try and win the header.

The press was controlled and shaped rather than harem scarem. That's useful for now so we're not always caught on the break. We looked comfortable ish as a back four. As we went into the disrupt yourself phase v Brentford, Max Lowe turned up and we went back to a three with wingbacks. The point there is - we've got options, we can be flexible.

Will Osula is SHOCKING as a zone man at defensive corners. He goes for balls he can't possibly get. Jumps under balls he should get. And has a tendency to get in the way. That needs working on. After he'd been subbed, the organisation failed and we had at least one corner with no one in the Zone.

In general, the strikers need to pull the trigger more. Any small percentage gains might get us the right side of the knife edge.

‘dre Brooks started both games. And Sydie Peck was trusted and came on. Brooks did very well. He's not one of those players in the Academy who make you shut up, sit up and look. Those are Harry Boyes, Louie Marsh and Kurt Havenhand. I feel Brooks has benefitted right place, right time a bit. We're short on bodies, he's not out on loan and he's not injured. But, he's grabbed it.

He's got the brain and discipline to do the defensive stuff. Against Liverpool, Darren Ward had given Andre the number to mark at corners. And I watched keenly, he was obsessed with getting close to him and moving with him around the box. He also had a fill in behind role on those goal kicks as Trusty pushed.

But, most people will have noticed Brooks in transitions. Short, diagonal dribbles. Even when he's robbed, the ball just breaks 50/50 loose high up the pitch. He's made it difficult for Wilder to drop him.

I didn't include Peck in that Boyes, Marsh, Havenhand fanboy list. Only because I feel he drifts at times in Academy games. Peck has great feet. He can hit corners left or right foot. He has lovely low trajectory cross field balls. And he's great at moving it quickly and accurately - perfect hot potatoes.

I'm happy to say that all those insightful points were considered and developed over some lovely beers. I'm going to single out as follows.

Nailmaker Brewing Company (Barnsley), Wentworth IPA on Cask at 4.8%

My photo doesn't do it justice. But, that was ridiculously clear. Pale straw in the glass. Just the merest hint of blackcurrant in the first bite. The bitter held back a bit longer. And icing sugar dusting and dancing on your lips. Excellent.

Siren Craft Brew (Wokingham), Coldblooded Christmas, Chocolate Porter on Keg at 5%

Another beer from Siren which uses Amburana wood Spirals in the brew. It comes across as deep, dark chocolate at first. That was a bit too dominant for me and overpowered the slightly spicy orange background. But a very moreish beer.

You can find ALL my previous Blogs at

www.ball-sup.blogspot.com

Would you please consider subscribing (free) to have my Blog delivered to your email inbox (via Substack). Thank you.

You can find me on Social Media

X @ball_sup 

Untappd ball_sup 

Stats 

I have now Blogged from 1,349 games in 3,399 days 

It Were Frozzen

Sheffield United Community Foundation U19 2 v Liverpool 2 

National Football Youth League 

North East Premier 

Wednesday 8 December 2021 

Played at Handsworth 

SUFC 2021/22 Game #32 

It's a Thing now. I had that in the week;

Abbeydale Brewery, Fresh Hop Heathen on Cask at 4.1%

Look, I'm shooting from the hip now, as a lay-person beer drinker. Rather than someone who knows what they're talking about. Beer needs Hops. Which come in a variety of different guises.

Some are picked and just put in a big bag. And when they get to the brewery they are a combination of dried flowers & dust.

Some are processed in a factory and turned into Hop Pellets which the brewer can drop into the big steel tanky things.

Some are dried out, say like raisins are, and can be used to give an extra burst of hop flavour.

Some are used very quickly after picking. Often by breweries very close to the hop fields. These are often called Green Hop beers. Occasionally, you'll see Green Hop Beer Festivals.

And, now we have Fresh Hops. Which really are better described as Frozen Hops. Hops which are picked & flash frozen immediately. And then transported, frozen, along the supply chain. So that when they reach the Brewery in S8, they can be defrosted. And used as "fresh as the day they were picked".

This is the first Hop Harvest year when Frozen Hops have been globally available. The ones used in this Abbeydale Heathen were picked in Grandview, Washington State in the USA. Grown and processed by Wyckoff Farms. (Historically, they had the equipment & logistics to harvest, freeze & export Blueberries).

Abbeydale explain that they emptied out their brewing schedule once they knew the hops were on their way across the Atlantic, and via Liverpool. In that way, the brew kit would be ready to use them as fresh as daisies.

The frozen batch were Mosaic Hops. I think Abbeydale did something rather clever in using a thoroughly tried & tested (malt) recipe in Heathen Pale. One less moving part if you like. Basically, they have then chucked the Hop Kitchen Sink at it. Using the Hops at different stages in the brewing & other wizardry.

Frozen Fresh Hop beers are truly one off. Because the next batch of frozen hops (ie next year), are bound to taste a little different to this years. It felt a bit special to be able to pile in at The Rising Sun, which is effectively my geographical local. Very nice. Big, punchy hop flavours in the smell & in the taste. Not one single off tone in it. Fresh & zingy.

An enjoyable game up at Handsworth. Disrupted by what at first looked like a nasty ankle injury to one of the Liverpool lads over on the far side. There was a lot of concern around him for a bit. The linesman on my side of the pitch came over to ask me whether I'd seen what had happened over there on the far side. Neither of us could work it out. AnyRoadUp, he was eventually hopped over to the bench and spent the rest of the game lied flat on the bench. I hope they drove the minibus down to the bottom car park for him !!!

It was basically pretty even all round. But, Liverpool got their noses ahead with goals on 32 & 34.

An equaliser on 56 put the Blackboard Blades back in it. But, as it got deeper, Liverpool seemed to be controlling the game. Ever more attacking intent. Some of it desperate. Was rewarded by a claw the game back two all equaliser on 81. Good game.

Twitter @ball_sup 

www.twitter.com/ball_sup 

Untappd ball_sup 

Stats

I have now Blogged from 1,034 games in 2,668 days 

Attack after Attack on his Jacks

Sheffield United 1 v Watford 1 

Premier League 

Thursday 26 December 2019 

Manchester City 2 v Sheffield United 0 

Premier League 

Sunday 29 December 2019 

Liverpool 2 v Sheffield United 0 

Premier League 

Thursday 2 January 2020 

SUFC 2019/20 Games 41, 42 & 43 

Twitter @ball_sup 

www.twitter.com/ball_sup 

Untappd ball_sup 

That "new" Manchester City ground, opened for the 2003/04 season, was the 225th ground I have seen a Sheffield United XI play on. Although, I have actually been to the ground before (England). 

All a bit flat really. Man cannot live by ground ticking alone. Mad kick off times. On mad days. Meant I was on the Coach. Visiting some great pubs. But, the surgical precision needed essentially meant - great pubs I've already been to. Just one point across the lot. Flat.

In the crazy world of Sheffield United, that Liverpool game finally felt like we'd arrived in the Premier League "as expected". 21 games in. The New fucking Year. Before I've felt - nowt to come here. I'll take that. It didn't help that we conceded early. Following a defensive oooohhhh he's fallen over. But, we never really got going. The back three had to back. Precious little attacking threat from them. At one point, it seemed like Basham was just clearing Liverpool attack after attack on his Jack's. Header after header. Liverpool had a simple plan. Work hard. All the time. And, when you've got the ball, move quickly to exploit every little squint of space.

On playback, I marveled at how Salah plays Mane in for the second. And, after Wilder had slung Sharp on, I swear….. At one point, Billy got the ball just in the attacking half, and was immediately swarmed by four of 'em. Including Salah. FFS.

For Blogging sake, I'll mention - The Crafty Pint, Stalybridge. That's just down the street from the more familiar to me - Bridge Beers. A nice place. It felt a bit cliquey. But, that's just time of day, time of year. Four on cask. The best was;

Donkeystone Brewing Co, APA on cask at 3.8%.

Stats
I have now Blogged from 890 games in 1,962 days

I'm Familiar

Sheffield United 0 v Liverpool 1
Premier League
Saturday 28 September 2019

SUFC 2019/20 Game 28

Twitter @ball_sup
www.twitter.com/ball_sup
Untappd ball_sup

I'm familiar with winning games by having good players.
I'm familiar with grabbing points by effort, work rate, putting the lot in.
I'm familiar with kicking the other lot off the park.
I'm familiar with parking the bus.
I'm familiar with setting up - lone striker, three at the back, two tight lines.

But, honestly, I'm less familiar with those increasingly imperceptible differences, changes, shifts. The ones with the circles & lines drawn on Match Of The Day. So, I'm a little clueless as to which bits have meant we've been able to frustrate (European Champions, there I've said it) Liverpool. Whilst also creating enough chances to win the fucking thing ourselves. Oh. And, I'm familiar with the mistake that cost us. The howler. The Hendo Howler. Yes. Familiar. Thanks.

McBurnie cutting across and hitting it at the keeper. Robinson getting his shot off. Fleck driving in, but taking it off his left foot. Their defence, in those moments, seemed nowhere. Backed off. Backing off. Unfamiliar.

The Industry Tap is fully open then. After the match, queues formed. An impressive 21 tap lines. A slight perception of - but, they're all Sours. They're not. But, there's a lot of them. Basically, there were only three HopHead beers on. And, two of those, despite looking excellent "on paper", came up a bit short. But, I'm being a bit grudging there.

Turning Point Brew Co, Backwards Marathon on keg at 6.3%.
Polly's Brew Co, Amarillo El Dorado India Pale Ale on keg at 7.1%.
Neither tasted up to those abvs. Neither really went anywhere. Neither felt rich or intense.

Staggeringly Good, StaggerSaurus on keg at 4%. That was excellent. Packing a whole heap of flavour in at "just" 4%. Initial salad leaf bitterness. That developed towards tobacco & got richer & richer, thicker & bitter. (Of course, head says you've got to be a bit careful calling your gaff "Staggeringly Good").

Stats
I have now Blogged from 861 games in 1,866 days