Audacious Double

Queens Park Rangers U21 0 v Sheffield United U21 2

U21 Professional Development League

Played at Hanwell Town

Tuesday 30 August 2022

SUFC 2022/23 Game #10

Sheffield United 4 v Reading 0

The Championship

Tuesday 30 August 2022

SUFC 2022/23 Game #11

Even though I say it myself, the Carrier Bag Firm pulled off an audacious double today. The Under 21s in West London in the afts, at a Ground Tick, and the First Team in S2 in the evening.

Let's deal with the deets first. Hanwell Town's Powerday Stadium is the 403rd different ground on which I've eyeballed a football game. And it's the 231st (out of infinity) upon which I've seen a Sheffield United XI play.

"Did all them grounds have corner flags though, Phil?"

I hear you query.

"Paaaah"

Is my response.

I heard the Hanwell Town guys say they were a bit surprised at how many people had turned up. They had been a little unsure as to whether to open the tea room/ bar. This was being explained as they were hastily opening it.

I spy Guinness, Stella, Corona, Budweiser & Birra Moretti taps. I spy opportunity that shouldn't be wasted. I spy man saying;

"We've got everything except draft beer"

He spy disappointed yet thirsty Carrier Bag Firm. I have to say, if my football club had not already chosen me over 60 years ago, I could happily come back reincarnated as a QPR Bagger. They're just crazily superb. All gathering moth to the flame like in the Hanwell swapshop clubhouse…

"Who needs a teamsheet from Peterborough U18s?"

A thoroughly enjoyable two nil away win for the Young Blades. In which QPR certainly played their part. I couldn't say United had any particular stand out players. But, a strong, switched on performance got us home.

It turns out that the trialist who came on as Sub in that home U21 defeat v Cardiff City. The one who I heard the bench call Matt. And who is, therefore, down in the sacred Carrier Bag Firm book as Matt le Trialist. Is MAX Haygarth. There now follows some Wikipedia.

Max Haygarth.

Winger or Midfielder.

Born Jan 2002.

Man Utd Academy since he was 8.

Released Jan 2021.

Subsequently made some first team appearances/bench for Brentford.

Released end 2021/22.

More recently trialled at Luton.

Max wore 11 this afts. Basically set up on the left side of midfield. I'd say more of an attacking midfielder than defensive or holding. Like the others, he was switched on and involved throughout. But, no need to get carried away just yet. He didn't dominate nor shine. Just a nice, clean, competent game.

I couldn't work the line up out at first. Effectively I "lost" a player as I was going around the positions. That player was Fernando Macedo. Although, the problem was actually pocket rocket Tom Angell. Me, I've got a lot of time for the way Tom plays the game. Committed & pulls out of nothing. As I saw him lurking on the left, I did a count, put him at left back, but in a four. What's going on there? I wrote the initial note as a back four. Yadda, Yadda and indeed Yadda. But, I realised I'd lost someone. Because, the frankly a bit on the small side, Tom Angell was lining up as LEFT CENTRE BACK. That is a brave call by Collo and the coaches.

So. Dylan Wharton with the gloves. Connor Barratt in the middle of the three. The roughly half his height Tom Angell on his left. Luther Williams on the right. Sai Sachdev out right wingback. Meaning that Fernando "the missing" Macedo was at left wing back. Previously (mainly) seen as a freedom to roam attacking midfielder/striker, that's also an interesting call. But, I suppose Ange Cappello has gone and they now need someone else for the LWB/Striker Hokey Cokey.

Chaz Staniland in midfield in front of the three. Max, previously Matt, on the left of midfield. George Broadbent on the right. Hassan Ayari and Theo Williams up top.

United opened the scoring on 11 minutes. Broadbent harried the defender into a loose pass. Which Sai Sachdev pounced on. Superb first time ball to the very aware Broadbent. He rounded the keeper and rolled home.

I see questions being asked about George. He's been out on loans, he's "getting on a bit". He seems nowhere near the first team. What are they doing with him?

Here's how I articulate it. Young, inexperienced players (eg Staniland) will develop better if they play alongside relatively experienced players who know their game (eg Broadbent). If you chuck too many inexperienced youngsters together, they can flounder & get overrun. George Broadbent is a good player at this level. You sometimes need a George, or a Reece York. Unfortunately, maybe their time is running out. But, important factoid here, you have to play eleven. Not all eleven will make it in the professional game. Iliman Ndiaye is the player he is, and developed the way he did, because he played alongside mucka's who helped him on his way.

Reece York (previously), George Broadbent (currently), fucking heroes, man.

Great work by George to force the error. Great work to spot the opportunity to run that channel. Great calm finish.

I noticed Collins constantly encouraging Macedo in his "new" LWB role. Good to see. Coaxing and Coaching.

United had a lot of the first half hour. Really troubling the Hooooops at corners and whipped in free kicks. Created a few open play chances an' all. On 26 minutes, as Hassan dithered when the cross came in, Collins nailed my mood;

"Just put it in the back of the net will you"

As the first half drew to a close, QPR did get more of a foothold. A good bit of sustained, recycle it and come again pressure. United were not tight enough around the box. But, were able to keep ball carriers going lateral, rather than breaking the line. One shot from the edge of the box was strong wristed by Dylan just out of reach of the Rangers striker. Another was easily smothered.

Indeed, Rangers also started the second 45 strongly. Their winger easily skipped past Sai Sachdev, got a cross in, only half cleared by Broadbent, and the loose ball ended with a good save by Dylan. Collins was clear (to Sachdev);

"One job there, just keep him there, you don't have to win it."

The game seemed to open up a bit. Really enjoyable. Both sides having periods of pressure and creating chances. On 70, Theo Williams held the ball up well, Hassan taking it off him & taking it on, he fed George, but he couldn't get it out from under, and his shot was miles over.

There was a bit of a reshuffle. Possibly to try and get a bit more control in midfield. RWB Sai Sachdev was hauled. Levis Pitan on. Chaz Staniland moved to RWB. Connor Barratt pushed into destructive spoiler midfield and Levis into the middle of the three. To my addled eyes, that looked like it made an impact immediately. Louie Marsh came on for Ayari on 78.

And, on 84, Louie was on the end of a great team goal to make it two nil. Such an intricate, flowing move that my mind's eye couldn't keep up. I've got both Williams involved at inside left, as Luther bursts through with the ball at his feet. Broadbent is in the mix and the ball is worked to Marsh who ends it with a low shot.

Having missed out on the Moretti, I worked hard to squeeze a beer in at;

The Barrel Vault

Unit 23, St Pancras International, London N1C 4QP

The 'spoons in St Pancras station. I quite like that pub. It has that passing through feel to it. No one lingering long enough for any bollocks to develop.

Southwark Brewing Co, Harvard, American Pale Ale on Cask at 5.5%

Cascade, Simcoe and Falconer's Flight hops.

And, then. What a night with the big lads at The Lane. At one nil for a long period, with a howler seeming only the next touch away, Reading stayed in it. For a bit. But, in the grand scheme, were nowhere near it. Reliant on long balls and a physical presence.

A textbook centre forward bullet header from Oli Mc. Norwood doing the lot. At times, his tackling was midfield enforcer level. I felt Doyle learned how to play Championship football in an instant. He got tackled. He went down holding something. He looked at the Ref. Nothing doing. And, lights came on - fucking hell, you can challenge like THAT can you. The rest was misery for Reading.

And Berge. What does he do? He helps it on. And does that help. YES!!!

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