Ball Sup Blog... Academy U23 Title Game

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Ball_Sup (Phil)

Ball_Sup (Phil)

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Coventry U23s beat Watford U23s yesterday. That currently keeps Coventry's hopes of overtaking SUFC, to win the league, alive. Coventry have another game on Monday 25 April, at home v Cardiff.
If Coventry draw or win that, they continue to keep their chances of winning the league alive.

But, all ends up, ALL roads will lead to...

Tuesday, 26 April, 7pm, at Bramall Lane, v Millwall

Either the U23s will be celebrating having already won the league on the Sofa the day before. Or, they'll need just a point to win the league on the night. Hopefully, the trophy will be there, and presented one way or another.

(And, this is U23 Academy Division 3 North, there is NO promotion upwards, the top two in the North quality for play offs with the South Group to decide the U23 Professional Development League National Title. A title we have never won, but which Sheffield Wednesday U23 won in 2016/17)

So, get that potential Title Decider in your diaries. No fucking excuses - we're the Carrier Bag Firm - get with the program.
 



Ball_Sup (Phil) said:
Coventry U23s beat Watford U23s yesterday. That currently keeps Coventry's hopes of overtaking SUFC, to win the league, alive. Coventry have another game on Monday 25 April, at home v Cardiff.
If Coventry draw or win that, they continue to keep their chances of winning the league alive.

But, all ends up, ALL roads will lead to...

Tuesday, 26 April, 7pm, at Bramall Lane, v Millwall

Either the U23s will be celebrating having already won the league on the Sofa the day before. Or, they'll need just a point to win the league on the night. Hopefully, the trophy will be there, and presented one way or another.

(And, this is U23 Academy Division 3 North, there is NO promotion upwards, the top two in the North quality for play offs with the South Group to decide the U23 Professional Development League National Title. A title we have never won, but which Sheffield Wednesday U23 won in 2016/17)

So, get that potential Title Decider in your diaries. No fucking excuses - we're the Carrier Bag Firm - get with the program.
Click to expand...
Some facts about the South Barnsley title winning side: they only took one point from their two games against the United U23s that season (1-1 at the Lane, 2-1 at Middlewood with United's goals from current Hull teammates Ty Smith and Regan Slater).

They were fired to the title by 16-goal George Hirst who then forced a move to Leicester via Belgium. Hirst is currently on loan at Portsmouth where he has 10 goals in 36 games and, one would hope, a burning desire to score against Them on the last day of the season.

None of the U23s top 10 appearance makers for either side are still with their club. The difference is that we sold more than half of ours (Brooks, Whiteman, Smith, Slater, Reed) whereas theirs mainly left on frees (the exceptions being Thorniley and Hirst).

59 different players made at least one U23 appearance for United that season. That is outstanding.
 
You know what? I'd do anything to keep all this we're better than the pigs shit off these simple threads about our Academy games. Every time it descends into we're better because ... reasons.
Fucking done here.

Imagine going into that level of research detail to prove a point. Triggered.

It's an internet forum. Me & everybody else can post what they want. I get that. But, I'd do anything to use these threads to celebrate our Academy rather than ... t'Pigs ... in 3 2 1
 
ball-sup.blogspot.com

G R U N T E R

(this piece was originally published in Dem Blades Fanzine) Has anyone got David Attenborough's number? I've thought long & hard about the B...
ball-sup.blogspot.com ball-sup.blogspot.com
 
And, indeed, I've (again) shot my mouth off too soon & pressed the condescending button. I've let myself down. Embarrassed really. Please ignore my Original Post. I had thought I was using a fully up to date league table for my calculations. But, in checking that, I found the Professional Development League Regulations. And I've had a deep dive. It turns out SUFC Academy CANNOT win the title next week.

The actual regulations make it clear that it's 3 points for a win & one for a draw. But a number of additional criteria must be fulfilled before a team can be confirmed as Champions. Those additional criteria include...

Points adjustments for Head to Head results against your geographical rivals.
Points deducted for relying on one main goal goalscorer.
Points deducted for subsequent contract difficulties with players.
Additional points if any player goes on to make 10+ appearances for the first team.
Additional points for U23 Academy players still with the same club five years later.
Additional points if players are subsequently sold.
Points deducted if players subsequently leave on a free.
And, finally, one additional point for each player you use over the course of a season....

Those, I'm afraid, are the #FACTS of the Professional Development League. It seems that many of those criteria were brought in immediately AFTER SWFC won the title in 16/17. Wednesday won the game, some players dropped to their knees, some punched the air, some were in tears. And that was nothing compared to their families and team mates in the stands. Each of the players (on the night & squad) were announced in turn to the crowd, came forward & collected a medal. For some, their race was run, maybe find a club in non-league while working as a trainer in a gym.

But, you can't take that feeling away from them. With all their muckers around them - us, against the world. Highlight of their football careers, they'll tell their grandkids. "I once won a medal playing for Wednesday, here, look"

Except of course, they won't. Because, as we now know, having read the additional criteria in the PDL Regs we know the Medal Police had to track them down, five years later, and ask for the medals back. Because, although they won the 3 points for a win league - that dunt count.

So, understandably, the league rules do NOT have provision for a trophy & medal presentation on the night the three points league is over. They had a right palaver getting the medals back from Wednesday players that time. They're not going through that again.

So, my original post is wrong. I'm withdrawing it. Nothing to see next Tuesday at The Lane. None of that JOY stuff.
 
Consider me indirectly condescended. Thought you were better than that Ball_Sup (Phil).

I did 5 minutes research into that Wednesday U23 play off winning side as I was intrigued whether (m)any of them made it into Big Boys (tm) football and whether that would enable me to hold out hope that this current United squad would make a success of their collective and individual careers. Apologies if that offended you.
 
Balham Blade said:
Consider me indirectly condescended. Thought you were better than that Ball_Sup (Phil).

I did 5 minutes research into that Wednesday U23 play off winning side as I was intrigued whether (m)any of them made it into Big Boys (tm) football and whether that would enable me to hold out hope that this current United squad would make a success of their collective and individual careers. Apologies if that offended you.
Click to expand...
Pigs would have been more condescending...
 
Ball_Sup (Phil) said:
You know what? I'd do anything to keep all this we're better than the pigs shit off these simple threads about our Academy games. Every time it descends into we're better because ... reasons.
Fucking done here.

Imagine going into that level of research detail to prove a point. Triggered.

It's an internet forum. Me & everybody else can post what they want. I get that. But, I'd do anything to use these threads to celebrate our Academy rather than ... t'Pigs ... in 3 2 1
Click to expand...

It was you that mentioned Wednesday 🤣

I get the persona you try to portray, and genuinely really enjoy most of your posts, but you do tend to take it too far sometimes.
 
Ball_Sup (Phil) said:
You know what? I'd do anything to keep all this we're better than the pigs shit off these simple threads about our Academy games. Every time it descends into we're better because ... reasons.
Fucking done here.

Imagine going into that level of research detail to prove a point. Triggered.

It's an internet forum. Me & everybody else can post what they want. I get that. But, I'd do anything to use these threads to celebrate our Academy rather than ... t'Pigs ... in 3 2 1
Click to expand...
To be fair , Phil, I don't know how many times you have posted about Wendy U23s winning that title on a simple thread about an Academy game. You've finally got a bite.
You repeatedly used to post that you would never see another Academy graduate play for the first team. Since Hackford, Gordon, Lopata, Brunt, RND, Brunt, Ndiaye, Jebbison, Smith, Seriki and Osula played you appear to have changed tack.

🎣
 
Balham Blade said:
Some facts about the South Barnsley title winning side: they only took one point from their two games against the United U23s that season (1-1 at the Lane, 2-1 at Middlewood with United's goals from current Hull teammates Ty Smith and Regan Slater).

They were fired to the title by 16-goal George Hirst who then forced a move to Leicester via Belgium. Hirst is currently on loan at Portsmouth where he has 10 goals in 36 games and, one would hope, a burning desire to score against Them on the last day of the season.

None of the U23s top 10 appearance makers for either side are still with their club. The difference is that we sold more than half of ours (Brooks, Whiteman, Smith, Slater, Reed) whereas theirs mainly left on frees (the exceptions being Thorniley and Hirst).

59 different players made at least one U23 appearance for United that season. That is outstanding.
Click to expand...
At the time Chancer was throwing his money about. In hindsight, Wendies now question why none of their players were ever loaned out like at the more successful Academy at Shirecliffe.
 
EddieColquhoun said:
To be fair , Phil, I don't know how many times you have posted about Wendy U23s winning that title on a simple thread about an Academy game. You've finally got a bite.
You repeatedly used to post that you would never see another Academy graduate play for the first team. Since Hackford, Gordon, Lopata, Brunt, RND, Brunt, Ndiaye, Jebbison, Smith, Seriki and Osula played you appear to have changed tack.

🎣
Click to expand...
? Slater ? (Not sure how far back you've googled my repeated postings)
? Sharp ?
 



But... But... But.... What about the 'all conquering Wedsneday U23s' (@ The Sheffield Star.....).

Surely being all conquering means that they will have swept all before them in a glorious march to the title...

Someone needs to tell the Star that there is only 1 Sheffield side with an all conquering U23 (and U18s) side this season and they don't play in blue n white.

All conquering Wendies..... Get ta fuck.

Most importantly though. Really well done lads (the red n white lads that is). 😁
 
Are there any soft benefits to winning these titles?

Aside from the players evidently being the best in their category, can the club expect to benefit from an increased status. For example, making it easier to recruit talented youth coaching staff?

It’s evidently not a bad thing, but I hope there’s the upsides for those involved to benefit from.
 
winx blade said:
Great achievement for them both to do it! U23s back to back 👏🏻👏🏻
Click to expand...
Funny thing is, a few of them probably get medals from both.

I'd imagine Peck and Lankshear both played a fair few, maybe Arblaster.

Great achievement. Well done.

Hope they can both do well in the play off bit at the end too.
 



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