Deadbat
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...of sorts. There was no team sheets and so I do not know any names of players really (sorry long gone from days when I used to watch Jags, Monty, Tongey etc when we played at Abbeydale and I knew who a lot of the players were!) Seem to be a bit out of the loop.
I popped up to the Academy at Shirecliffe as had a few days off work.
Under 16's and Under 18's both played against Wednesday counterparts.
Nigel Adkins was there watching on as was a few others such as Glenn Roeder, Simon Tracey, Mark Todd, Matt Duke (now goalkeeping coach in the Academy), Nicky Weaver (Weds keeping coach) and David Hirst (Weds under 16 coach). Decent crowd in attendance. I also heard a scout on the phone to someone saying he was happy with their checks and they would be hoping to complete the deal for Ryan Woods from Shrewsbury as they had seen him 15 times nows (he was a scouser but not sure of club- might have been Wigan from things he was saying; it was not us I do not think so look out for that deal!). Also said they were watching Bradshaw again at the weekend. As I say unsure who he represented.
I did not watch much of the under 16 game but United led 1-0 at half time but lost 2-1. It was a close game but the winner from Weds was a great run and strike. Could have gone either way from bits I saw.
I did watch most of the under 18 game. On the Wednesday website there is a ridiculously biased report that says dominant Owls miss out. It mentions every one of the about 3 chances they had in the first half and miss the umpteen chances United had. United really ought to have been 4 or 5-0 up at half time kicking down the slope. They dallied too much in front of goal and took too long when they got in really good positions Finally the goal came when a stone wall penalty was awarded after an excellent run from the United midfielder. The penalty was converted very well to give United the least they deserved.
Second half was a different story as Wednesday were much the better side. They had a number of corners and eventually scored when the United left back who had been very good going forward let the winger who sidefooted home one on one. Wednesday then looked the more likely winner but United came again and right at the death they scored a winner.
In terms of play there was not much in the game overall. Both teams tried to get it down and play when they could although Weds did got a bit too long at times much to their undoing to the tall George Hirst (brother of David). Hirst Jnr is about 6'4 (at 16 or 17 I think) and is very gangly Looks nothing like his rotund Dad on the touchline. To be honest he was quite poor but only one game/early days. the tall black lad at centre back had him under control all game for United - he was decent whoever he was!
His name might have been Adebowale but could be wrong. For Weds the right winger was tricky and caused problems and they had a lad on the left too (think someone said they had signed him from Arsenal he looked ok).
They (Weds) also had a giant blond centre back who was nearly as tall as Hirst Jr but he looked similarly clumsy. Shows being a big un might work at the very young groups but eventually skill and athleticism tends to take over and those players are the ones that often stand out more over someone who is just tall but does not have the same ability.
For United I think we had Jordan Slew’s brother, Jorome up front. He is quite small if that is who it is but he did not really get in the game.
The keeper Ramsdale looked a bit shaky and kept missing crosses. The two midfielders were neat and tidy. Think one was an Irish lad called Gordon. Someone near me said United had mostly first years where as Weds had a lot of second years. Still with so many youngsters (Reed, Calvert Lewin) now in the first team reckoning means many of the under 18’s will then play for the u21’s as seems to be happening.
Suppose any win against the old enemy is a win and the last minute goal was celebrated wildly by the players but it was quite an enjoyable game on the whole and fairly even (as I say the report on swfc.co.uk is ridiculous). I used to like going up to Abbeydale and latterly Shirecliffe but annoying I don’t know many of the players (partly my fault being out of touch with academy players coming though and partly due to them not listing the teams anywhere pre match).
I popped up to the Academy at Shirecliffe as had a few days off work.
Under 16's and Under 18's both played against Wednesday counterparts.
Nigel Adkins was there watching on as was a few others such as Glenn Roeder, Simon Tracey, Mark Todd, Matt Duke (now goalkeeping coach in the Academy), Nicky Weaver (Weds keeping coach) and David Hirst (Weds under 16 coach). Decent crowd in attendance. I also heard a scout on the phone to someone saying he was happy with their checks and they would be hoping to complete the deal for Ryan Woods from Shrewsbury as they had seen him 15 times nows (he was a scouser but not sure of club- might have been Wigan from things he was saying; it was not us I do not think so look out for that deal!). Also said they were watching Bradshaw again at the weekend. As I say unsure who he represented.
I did not watch much of the under 16 game but United led 1-0 at half time but lost 2-1. It was a close game but the winner from Weds was a great run and strike. Could have gone either way from bits I saw.
I did watch most of the under 18 game. On the Wednesday website there is a ridiculously biased report that says dominant Owls miss out. It mentions every one of the about 3 chances they had in the first half and miss the umpteen chances United had. United really ought to have been 4 or 5-0 up at half time kicking down the slope. They dallied too much in front of goal and took too long when they got in really good positions Finally the goal came when a stone wall penalty was awarded after an excellent run from the United midfielder. The penalty was converted very well to give United the least they deserved.
Second half was a different story as Wednesday were much the better side. They had a number of corners and eventually scored when the United left back who had been very good going forward let the winger who sidefooted home one on one. Wednesday then looked the more likely winner but United came again and right at the death they scored a winner.
In terms of play there was not much in the game overall. Both teams tried to get it down and play when they could although Weds did got a bit too long at times much to their undoing to the tall George Hirst (brother of David). Hirst Jnr is about 6'4 (at 16 or 17 I think) and is very gangly Looks nothing like his rotund Dad on the touchline. To be honest he was quite poor but only one game/early days. the tall black lad at centre back had him under control all game for United - he was decent whoever he was!
His name might have been Adebowale but could be wrong. For Weds the right winger was tricky and caused problems and they had a lad on the left too (think someone said they had signed him from Arsenal he looked ok).
They (Weds) also had a giant blond centre back who was nearly as tall as Hirst Jr but he looked similarly clumsy. Shows being a big un might work at the very young groups but eventually skill and athleticism tends to take over and those players are the ones that often stand out more over someone who is just tall but does not have the same ability.
For United I think we had Jordan Slew’s brother, Jorome up front. He is quite small if that is who it is but he did not really get in the game.
The keeper Ramsdale looked a bit shaky and kept missing crosses. The two midfielders were neat and tidy. Think one was an Irish lad called Gordon. Someone near me said United had mostly first years where as Weds had a lot of second years. Still with so many youngsters (Reed, Calvert Lewin) now in the first team reckoning means many of the under 18’s will then play for the u21’s as seems to be happening.
Suppose any win against the old enemy is a win and the last minute goal was celebrated wildly by the players but it was quite an enjoyable game on the whole and fairly even (as I say the report on swfc.co.uk is ridiculous). I used to like going up to Abbeydale and latterly Shirecliffe but annoying I don’t know many of the players (partly my fault being out of touch with academy players coming though and partly due to them not listing the teams anywhere pre match).
