No Cones No Ballboys Multiball

Sheffield United U21 2 v Nottingham Forest U21 3 

Premier League Cup QF 

Tuesday 9 April 2024 

Played at Bramall Lane 

SUFC 2023/24 Game #58 

NBDR 

No Beer Don't Read

The U Two Ones cup adventure ends on a proper cup tie night at The Lane. I felt we gave as good as we got. Maybe on a different night we win that. But, thoroughly enjoyable nevertheless.

The Carrier Bag Firm had been speculating for weeks, weeks I tells ye, would we bring the Big Guns out for this important Cup Tie.

Will Osula up top. ‘dre Brooks in midfield. Louie Louie Marsh on the road back to fitness. Big Guns.

Luke Faxon gloving. Dovydas Sasnauskas in the middle of a three. Mig Freckleton on his left. And Sai Sachdev at RCB. Sam Curtis wide right. Jay Tinsdale wide left. Osula up top. And fluid behind him. Marsh often in the True Ten role. Sydie Peck everywhere. Owen Hampson & Brooks doing a lot of fetching and carrying.

I think Sam Curtis is getting with the program now. I've had a dig about his positioning being a bit formulaic. Today, as the Young Blades looked to attack from the off, Sam pushed up, and pushed wide, into effective attacking positions.

I think he was helped by Sai being more of a natural RWB than RCB. Sai couldn't reset his autopilot. And was drifting wider and wider. Meaning Sam was pushing higher and higher. Maybe a happy accident which meant we were more of an attacking threat on that side.

House on fire start by United. A great run and shot by Brooks on just 6 minutes brought an instinctive save. But, Faxon and Freckleton got into a right fucking falling about fiasco on 11. When one or the other managed to recover their feet, the “clearance” hit the Forest attacker, and fell nicely for him to score easily. Nil One.

That was part of a little spell where Forest began to get a bit more control of the game. On 19, a lovely skip from Peck on the left ended with a clever cross going clean across goal, with no one able to get on the end of it. (So not that clever of a cross then Phil).

Immediately, Forest lost possession on halfway. And Peck put in a lovely chip from (say) just 10 yards inside the Forest half. Agonisingly over the bar.

As the first half was dragging on, I felt a bit frustrated by United's final threat. Lots of the ball wide and through the middle. But, a bit anonymous up top. Indeed, I had a bit of a go at Ryan Oné. Onlé to realise he wasn't playing. And it was Osula who was shit.

But, natch, Will was then involved in a great move which ended with him hitting a post. He played a superb flick layoff to Marsh. Who returned it into Will's stride. Great awareness to try and curl an edge of the boxer into the far corner. Absolutely rattled the post.

But. No mistake. Forest, still leading, were bang in it as well. #9 Osong was a right fucking handful.

United finished the first half at steam. On 43, Louie put in a weak finish to a good chance. On 45+2, Sasnauskas got on the end of a free kick, but his effort was blocked.

Will missed a great chance. But immediately (on 45+5), Owen H helped one across the box & Osula knocked home the equaliser. Half time One One.

United came out for the second half looking to attack. Sachdev, Curtis and Peck were combining well. Sachdev hit the bar on 50. But a great spell, with United well on top was ended on 56.

Andre Brooks lost it in an attacking position, a great breakaway and shot, and Forest were back in front. And. Fuck sake. They went three one on 59. Forest sub Konaté tearing us apart at this bit.

I might as well have my say on Andre Brooks. Didn't look like a first team squad player dropping down. Largely ineffective. And largely prone to make bad decisions and give it away against a sweeping counter attacking team. AnyRoadUp, he was hoiked for Macedo on 60.

Louie Marsh was clattered to win a Penalty on 69. There was no doubt in the mind of Osula that he was having it. Buried it. 3-2. Lot to play for.

I might as well have my say on Sydie Peck. Thoroughly influential throughout. Got that - this is my game, get out of the fucking way, if anyone's winning this, I am - thing going on. Beckhamesque (mentality wise).

The lots going in last ten of a cup tie. Multi balls being used. No cones mind. No ball boys mind. Forest subs fucking about with the balls so that they couldn't be used. Danny Cadamarteri going up there to keep them away from the balls. Suited United official and fringe Carrier Bag Firmer coming down from the stand to keep Forest subs away from the Multi Bs.

Time for Owen Hampson to get two yellows as we ended with ten men.

Proper Cup Tie.

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Unbeaten in Ten

Nottingham Forest U21 0 v Sheffield United U21 1

Monday 8 February 2016

Professional Development League 2, North

Played at The Nigel Doughty Academy

Twitter @ball_sup

Abbeydale Brewery - The Da Vinci Cod on cask at 4.5%. Man, that is a hoppy beer. Love it. Not deep powerful IPA bitterness. But, more grassy, citrus. Absolutely full on. Fresh. Great impact. Your tongue says FRUIT. But, which ones. It softens into some sweetness. Bitterness comes again in the long finish. Great beer.

And great result that. Huddersfield have had a blank week. So, that result puts us firmly in second. Four points behind. Although, we've played a game more than Huddersfield.

Let's deal with Diego. He lasted 33 minutes. Went off injured. Diagnosed as Limp. I didn't see him get a knock. Presume he did. He ended up over at the dugout in a discussion. He'd started just behind Dom Calvert-Lewin “in the hole”. He got himself up & down OK. But, as previous, he tries to impress by head down, no pass, shoot. Frus. Trating.

In a way, none of the others stood out. Just a good honest shift from everyone. Bob Harris looked the ticket. Stretched himself. Put himself about.

I thought the defence looked stronger than recent games. And that's without Tel. McGahey looked strong. Graham Kelly alongside him. With Shea Gordon at right back.

I was slightly disappointed with Flo Cuvelier & Calvert-Lewin. They didn't do much wrong. But, the way the first team is, you need these fringe players to burst through.

274/566

dove è Diego?

Sheffield United U21 2 v Nottingham Forest U21 0

Monday 30 November 2015

Twitter @ball_sup

Can't beat ‘em, join ‘em. Wetherspoons Monday Club has Guest Ales at £1.95 a pint (in The Sheaf Island). With a CAMRA Voucher that is net £1.45.

Kelham Island, Bud Ekins on cask at 5%. Love that. Light amber in colour. Nice tight head with some foam. Earthy, woody smell. Some indeterminate fruit coming through. All over quickly. But none the worse for that. Some nice initial sweetness, gives way quickly to a surprisingly heavy bitter hit. Great balance.

Stancil, Ginger Pale Ale on cask at 4%. I don't mind that. Most of the flavour is clearly coming from added Ginger. I prefer the upfront added ingredient approach. Better than keeping it secret. It's refreshing. Not overpowering. The ginger blends well with the bitterness.

Morgan’s U21s were third in the table this morning. Twenty points from 12 games. As it transpires, Forest were in fourth. Same points. Same games. Worse goal difference. Huddersfield are way out in front with 31 points from 13 games. They've won 10 of those.

Utd deserved to win that & remain in third. Although, there was not much going on for long stretches. It was a bit difficult to see how Morgan had set it up at times. Often, it seemed to be Jake Wright up top on his own. Jamie McDonagh was out there. So, a lone striker seemed a bit much. It all seemed isolated & disjointed.

I feel Connor Dimaio has gone backwards since he got to the fringes of the first team. But, today, he made a much better fist than in recent games.

David Brooks continues to intrigue me. From what I see, I like his attitude. He's got the skills. But, it's all a bit pedestrian, hold the ball. He needs to be incisive & make things happen. And, you can't ignore the size thing. He is very slight. Against a backcloth of our existing range of midgets…..

I hope Brooks can make it.

Ben Whiteman has topped it off with a belter. OK, it sat up well & fell right for him. But still. A belter.

247/496