Impressive Stats

Burnley U23 1 v Sheffield United U23 6 (Six)

Professional Development League, North

Played at Tameside Stadium, Curzon Ashton

Monday 23 October 2017

SUFC 2017/18 Game 38

It’s difficult to know what to say about a game like that. Burnley are in the Premier League. But, this is actually their first year in the Professional Development League. There is not really promotion & relegation. Clubs just apply for their Academy to be graded at a higher level. So, this is all new to Burnley this season. There is a learning curve. I will say that everything went right for the Young Blades. And not just on the pitch. Challengers Forest U23 were held to a draw at Crewe earlier in the day. And, former division leaders Sheffield Wednesday kicked off at the same time. And lost 3-1 at Bolton. Shirecliffe Graduate Connor Hall came on as a 60 minute sub for Bolton. Five minutes from time, winning 2-1, he was fouled, got up & converted the Penalty to nail it. That result coupled with this resounding six goaler meant the Nippers were tucked up in their Jim Jams on Top Of The League.

Played 10, won six, lost four. Just one ahead of Wednesday who have played a game less. We’re top until at least Friday, when Wednesday go to Forest. The game was a bit mad. Burnley were in it in patches. They weren’t completely overwhelmed. Particularly in the first half, they played a pressing game. Really getting at the United players on the ball.

Heneghan again in the middle of a back three. Ferguson on his left. Sam Graham on his right. Jake Bennett & Rhys Norrington-Davies as wingbacks. Slater, Gilmour & Nathan Thomas in midfield. With Tyler Smith & Oliver Greaves up top. All five on our bench had played for the U18s on Saturday. One thing I noticed. Having been a critic of playing Graham on the right (rather than centre). In games like today. When we’re “comfortable”. He’s not bad at being the overlapping Centre Back. As early as the 8th minute, my notes have him bombing down the right in a great move involving Bennett & Slater. He was also being encouraged to get forward and get on the end of crosses.

Travis Binnion (swoon) is an encourager anyway. But, time & time again it was “Bomber, that is brilliant Mate”, etc.

I was a bit unsure about Thomas in this particular midfield role. I know it’s an odd criticism, but he was a bit too keen to get a shot off from distance. Sometimes, I felt there were better options available. But, fair play, he grew on me. He looks to thread the ball quickly and accurately at pace to his strikers. That made me realise, he’s got the vision & a good accurate pass on him.

Not much I can say about Tyler Smith. He was a handful all night. His game is based around his pace. But, he’s got to have the first touch, the strength to shrug off & a good finish on him to capitalise. All present on this parade.  He bagged the first. Just before half time he got free on the left, held it up, rolled it nicely to Thomas who calmly, but powerfully sidefooted it home from some distance.

Similar a couple of minutes later (still in the first half). Free on the left, held it up. This time, Ty knocked a more conventional square ball into the six yard box. Greaves had chased it down & had an easy ‘un. Tyler has sucked on the orange at HT & thought the equivalent of - stuff this free on the left, hold it up, give it somebody caper. In the Second Half Matthew, I’m going to be Keith Edwards.

Great ball/cross from the right by Regan Slater. Accurate & calm finish by Smith. And, six minutes later, he completes his Hat Trick. There was still a bit of time for the excellent Oliver Greaves show. Our sixth was his brace. And he has had one very very good chance to complete his hat trick as well. But, that would have been greedy. Difficult to go with anything other than the StatFacts. Three for Smith. Two assists. Two goals for Greaves. Six one win. Go Top.

And another impressive stat in The Font, Chorlton. Flash your CAMRA card and a £4.20 Pint becomes £3.15

The Font, Chorlton. Well. In a way, I've never seen anything like that. Half a dozen pukka British Craft Keg. Plus Camden, German & Belgians. Eight lovely, smaller, independents on cask. Minty mind. My pint was badged at £4.20. Except. Flash 'em your CAMRA Card. Equals money off. 10p. 20p. What?

Fuck no. Twenty Five Percent. Brings that £4.20 to £3.15.

Northern Whisper, Yammerhouse, American Pale Ale on cask at 4.5%. Superb that one. Perfectly balanced. Refreshing wine gummy smell. Comes up bitter straight away. Lots going on citrus, marmalade. Lingers, but doesn't grab your gullet. Love that.

PI, Chorlton. Four on cask. Six pukka craft keg. Nice and quiet one room affair. I was going to walk past. But, spied the blackboard outside. Plugging Runaway Brewery, badged for the pub, PI-PA keg IPA at 4.2%. A bit salad leaf bitter upfront. Not unpleasant. But makes you wonder. It sort of develops the wrong way around. It gets a little richer. And the aftertaste is deeper bitter. Will he? Won't he? Enjoyed it in the end.

The Marble Beer House Chorlton. Four of their own on cask. A few off across the cask & keg lines. I've got it as five keg. Essentially everything is their own or a Collab. But, that's the nature of the beast.  

Marble, Tuckerlovsky Session IPA on keg at 4.7%. Bit of a problem with the line. Wrong amount of gas. In the wrong place. He (& I) persevered. Came up well in the end. Initial hit tasted superb. But, it all felt a bit ordinary as I got further into it. Died into. Simple, but pleasant, bitterness. Nowt wrong with it. Session IPA is all….

555/1161