Bring your gloves

Rotherham United 1 v Sheffield United 2
(Billed as First Team)

Pre Season Friendly

Friday 21 July 2017

Twitter @ball_sup

Right. We have a Goalkeeping Dilemma. Simon Moore went off injured very early on. It didn't look particularly good. He tried to get up after treatment at least once. And looked in a fair bit of trouble. He went off on the stretcher. I think I saw him sat back on the bench late on. But, I couldn't see whether he was using crutches/ski boot. Presumably, he'll have a scan & prognosis. The first league game is still two weeks ago after all.

Jake Eastwood came on. Readers will know I'm unlikely to say negative stuff about Development players. That aside. I thought Eastwood did OK. Indeed, he'll be pissed off not ending with a clean sheet. He made a couple of good saves from accurate long range shots. Ooohhh strong wrists as well. Push it well out, no rebounds to tap in. I love that. He dealt well, but more importantly, confidently with crosses. Seemed to be switched on & well organised. (I thought he had a fairly poor game at Matlock on Wednesday).

I've seen a lot of him at Development level. I have to say. It'll be a tall ask & a risk if he has to start v Brentford. Not because he hasn't got the skills. But, because he's just a young lad, inexperienced. But, they'll still play with a ball & a goal 8 yards wide. If he has to be chucked in, so be it. No complaints from me.

There are two (nominal) first team games v Stoke & v Eastleigh next week anyway. I know Wilder's phone will be red hot with Goalies Agents pitching their fella - “he's got his own gloves an’ all”. But, surely Eastwood will start against Stoke. Unless I've misjudged Moore’s injury.

So. We might as well have a list. And. The rest are.

Behind Simon Moore. We've got GEORGE LONG on loan at AFC Wimbledon. He was an unused substitute tonight as Wimbledon beat Burton 3-0. Long is 23 now. He's had two shaky and brief periods as SUFC number 1. Under both Adkins & Wilder. Once Wilder bought Moore, Long was effectively sub Goalie for the rest of the season. Received wisdom is that he can't be recalled from his season long loan a ground stealing cuckoo club AFC Wimbledon.

Then we have the aforementioned JAKE EASTWOOD. He is 20.

Behind Jake, and a regular in the 2016/17 U18 Development team, is HUGO WARHURST. I think Hugo started at Worksop last Tuesday. Maybe he also started v Scarborough last Saturday. Sorry, I'm not sure.

And. Currently a heartbeat from the Championship Bench. If Moore can’t make it, if Long is at Wimbledon all year, if Eastwood pulls up lame, on the Bench behind Warhurst is MARCUS DEWHURST - First Year Scholar this year. I actually saw Marcus start the game v Sheffield FC on 11 July. The SUFC webpage says he was actually an outfield player up until age 14. Make of that what you will…….

Maybe that's Wilder’s preferred starting XI. It's certainly his Legacy XI. Stearman slips in for Ebanks-Landell. The Brooks thing cropped up again. United were struggling to get anything going & were a bit flat. I’m not going to say he changed the game immediately. But, I am going to say - the game did change immediately. He made crucial passes for both goals which made it 2-0 at that stage.  For the first, he held the ball up in the box on our right. He could/should have gone down that right channel. But, instead, he waited for Basham (ffs). And just gave him a little left foot slip pass. Basham banged it across. And in the kerfuffle, it went in as an OG. For the second, Brooks did a little left foot under it lift pass into the area. Really the keeper & defender should have dealt with it. But didn’t. Allowing Stevens to nip in and slide it home. Defenders don’t like what Brooks does. Runs at ‘em. Dinks it. Chips it, Lifts it. Even though he might not score. Even though he might not get a direct assist. He/it just creates worry, panic, uncertainty. Enough of that & somebody will cash in. They did here……….

The Cutlers’ Arms. Chantry Brewery outlet. Eight of their own on cask.
Blue Moon on cask at 4.2%. Great beer. Lots of citrus, but quite gentle.

505/1067
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