Two Shirt, Two Goal Hero

Chesterfield 0 v Sheffield United XI 5
Pre Season Friendly
Tuesday 23 July 2019

Matlock Town 0 v Sheffield United XI 3
Pre Season Friendly
Tuesday 30 July 2019

SUFC 2019/20 Games 7 & 8

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Oooohhh how did he do Phil? The French fella who smashed the transfer record. How did he do? Poor. Lys Mousset made his Sheffield United Shirt debut 62 minutes into that friendly at Matlock Town. He replaced a very lively Ravel Morrison, who had been knocking long & short balls all over the gaff, all night. Lys gave the ball away early in his stint. And showed no interest in getting it back. He got clattered & moaned like fuck for a bit. He was slipped in on the edge of the box on 70 minutes & air kicked it nowhere. (That looked comical horrendous btw). The main word cropping up in my notes about him is "again". As in he's lost it. Initially, he went further up top than Leon Clarke. Subsequently, he dropped deep, so that both Mark Duffy & Harry Boyes were advanced on him. No drama. I don't know the kid. I'm more familiar with his PriceTag. It's pre season. It's a makeshift side of new lads, fringers, on the way outers, shop windowers & genuine development kids. Most of whom have never met each other, let alone played together. On that history, I will not judge the future. But, he was poor.

Don't dwell kiddos. Many positives out there. I felt that was a good, committed workout for the Blades. The game was played at pace. And, United deserved that win. Really, it should have been more. Heneghan, Stearman and Wright set up as the three. Freeman out right & Harry Boyes out left. Kean Bryan & Reece York busy, busy, busy taking it off them & the keeper. Duffy in a more attacking role. At first, it looked like Morrison & Leon Clarke up top. But, often, Morrison was bossing midfield, with Lone Leon up top. One thing to note there is Bryan in midfield. Whereas we've normally seen him in a back three. I've said it before, and elsewhere, he looks calm & comfortable on the ball. (Scored the third while I was in the Boy's Room). I like him.

Ravel Morrison started well & shone for all the 62 minutes before his planned substitution. Constantly looking for the ball. Never afraid to go with the Hollywood cross field ball. (Normally to Freeman). But, I thought he was best playing quick, instinctive & incisive shorter balls. On 11, there was a great move involving Boyes & the overlapping Wright on the left. They worked it inside to Morrison, he intelligently squared it to Reece York. Reece got his shot off, forcing the keeper to make a great save. Two minutes later, Morrison played a superb ball right into Leon's stride. He took it on & rifled it home for his second. Morrison nearly scored himself on 17, a neat free kick needing a superb palm out save by the keeper to his left.

If Harry Boyes & Reece York didn't enjoy that out there, they shouldn't be footballers. It looked a hoot. Boyes was popping up all over the shop. The nominal left wingback, overlapping down the right on a good few occasions. Often in the box as well. I'll say "easy night". But, you make your own fun. Harry had a great shot that hit the post on 60 minutes. You know what, he's got something. I really enjoyed watching him tonight. Ditto York, who I have mentioned already. Buzzing around. Taking responsibility. I know. Friendly. Matlock. But, Reece didn't look out of place out there. He took a right old clattering in the second half. As players ran towards "the action" from all angles to leave an impression, Reece just hobbled away & left them to it. Nice attitude Pal.

Leon Clarke scored the opening two goals. He could/should have had a Hat Trick and a Hat Full. Class act. Played with number 43 on his back the first half. And number 31 the second half. Why? Because Leon. Mark Duffy didn't do much wrong. But, it felt a bit subdued from him. Just in patches he was buzzing. Linking particularly well with Morrison at times. Only a point blank save by the Matlock keeper on 39 minutes kept him from scoring. 

There was nothing at all flat about the first half performance from United. Committed, buzzing, intelligent. Things went off the boil a bit in the second half. Matlock got back into it. But, Heneghan, Stearman & Wright and Marcus dealt with the few threats that came their way.

I missed an opportunity in the Clubhouse. Bottles of Matlock Town badged March Of The Gladiators. Brewed by Hilltop Brewery, Tansley. I was Royally pissed off when I realised. However. Fuller's, cricket branded Sticky Wicket on cask at 4.7% surprised me a bit. In a very good way. Nice & bright, with a herby, grassy bitterness which drew me in from the off.

Stats
I have now Blogged from 826 games in 1,806 days

Let's move on

Matlock Town 2  v Sheffield United 1
(Billed as an XI)

Pre Season Friendly

Wednesday 19 July 2017

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What have we got? Game minutes. GPS yardage. Three beers.

Nothing more to really come out of that lot. Very few SUFC players have done themselves any favours out there. You couldn’t really say anyone has had a nightmare. But, Matlock were well worth that win. Knill was in charge. Brooks, Lavery, Jake Wright Snr & Thomas all finished the game at Chesterfield (I think). And, all started the game here. It was all bits. A bit here. A bit there. Initially set up as a back four of Jake Bennett, Sam Graham, Wright Snr & Wallace. With David Brooks initially back of the diamond Coutts role - taking it off the back two. Maybe they just wanted to try it. Natch, he did it well (enough). But, he’s not had anything like the impact he’s had in the free role in the hole he’s had at Chesterfield yesterday. And, natch, he wasn’t as effective as Coutts.

They switched it a half-time. Jake Wright Jnr had taken a bang just before the whistle. He didn't come out. So, Graham, Wright Jnr & Wallace as a back three. Jake Bennett wide right. Nathan Thomas wide left. Lavery on his jacks up top - and once it had settled down, both Duffy & Brooks in the hole behind that front one. Brooks did come more into it in that role.  I felt Harvey Gilmour (maybe Fleck role) was about the best out there once he’d subbed for Wright Jnr. At least he got around & up and down. (Compared to a somewhat missing in action Regan Slater).

Eventually. Jordan Hallam & Ty Smith came on for Brooks & Lavery. That jiggled it up a bit for a while. But, basically, no one in a red n white shirt could get anything together. Passes astray. Little dinks going past ‘em. Losing their men. As I said, it wasn’t awful. But nowhere near the Races.  Too conservative & safe at times. Not really looking to make owt happen. So nowt did. File that away. Minutes done, yards run.

The MoCa Bar, Matlock. (In the CAMRA Good Beer Guide). One roomed bar, with patio out the back. Wood, everywhere. I'd thoroughly recommend this place. Seven on cask. An array of keg. But nothing pukka new English. The cask range was varied & tempting.

The name had me. Totally Brewed, Punch In The Face IPA on cask at 4.8%. Superb that. I'm not always a fan of cask IPAs. But, they've got that spot on. Glorious in the glass. Almost honey like smell - just deep enough. Then some citrus. It doesn't grab your throat, but the bitterness is there early & grows & almost sweetens at the end. Loved it.

Stanley's Alehouse. Up. A. Hill. A Big Hill. Five on Cask. Abstract Jungle, Jackal on cask at 4.2%. Porter. I was a bit unsure. But, the fella persevered. A little sweeter than I imagined. But, none the worse for that. Well balanced. Some red fruit. Some allspice. Nice beer.

Two cask beers on IN THE GROUND. Nice large Clubhouse at Matlock. There was Doom Bar (speaking of too safe). But, I had Hancock’s HB on cask at 3.6%. Decent enough. But, I ain't writing home about it.

504/1065
5

Adkins, Getting There?

Matlock Town 1 v Sheffield United 4
(billed as U21)

Tuesday 28 July 2015

Twitter @ball_sup

The General Outlook

Nigel Adkins was here at the game. Maybe you could tell from the team picked that he is getting somewhere. This was a very different U21 team. Previously, he's used and kept a discernible (but large) First Team Squad. De Girolamo, Calvert-Lewin, Dimaio always looked down the pecking order. They have dropped down to this level at Matlock. Maybe he felt Scougall, Done & J Wallace need more minutes in them. So, he's dropped them down to this level. Maybe he's still working things out at centre back. So, he's had another look at Kieran Wallace in that role. Or maybe he's just down the pecking order.

I'm intrigued by Louis Reed being out there. I'd hope he is very much part of the first team plans.

Scouting Report

An Andrew Cartwright out there. Essentially set up as a conventional left back. By common rumour, the guy who used to be in the Sunderland system (age 20). Did the shift. Competent. Nothing bad. Nothing spectacular.

Hospital Report

We've ended up with an ambulance driving around the perimeter & taking Matt Done to hospital. Less than 10 minutes in. Him & the Matlock fella have both gone in strong on essentially a 50/50. Limbs everywhere. Both on the deck. I assume Done has come down heavily.

He was helped off as walking wounded. Very gingerly. From my angle, I thought he was holding his left ribs. But, it has transpired it's his right arm/shoulder which he is holding across himself. He was sucking on oxygen on the bench. Once in the ambulance, it stayed motionless for a good while. Presumably making him comfortable.

Hey. I'm not a doctor. But, one of the Carrier Bag Firm exchanged words with a United Official & was told - collarbone.

Club House Report

Great set up. Lots of space. High ceiling. Jennings Cumberland on cask at 4%. Although I didn't have one. Because. ....

Beer Report

I had one in Sheffield, in The Beer Engine. My transport changed to "lift" in the hours before departure. So, that made more sense.

A glorious Atom, India Pale Ale on cask at 5.6%. Best pint I've had in a while. Intensely rich & bitter from the off, without being overpowering. Against a maltier background. Superb.

176/371