Misfortunes, However Better
A 4-2 loss, the first time we’ve conceded 4 goals since we played at Blackburn in the third round of the FA Cup last season, but nonetheless, our defeat at Bramall Lane wasn’t without its positives.
I’m not talking about how I discovered the most powerful hand drier in a football Stadium’s toilets (it nearly took my fingernails off) or the fact that, after following football avidly for 46 years. I discovered I’ve been spelling Bramall wrongly (surely it’s Bramhall?).
Instead, despite exiting the Carabao Cup at the first hurdle, we got a lot out of Tuesday’s match.
Firstly, a number of players got minutes in their legs. Pre-season has gone much more smoothly than last Summer. As I suggested a couple of weeks ago, we learned from the logistic set-backs of the 2023 US tour, and hit the opening day ready for the challenge.
However, new signings have been arriving late in the Summer, and a few of them missed out on the Wrex Coast Tour. That meant we have had to rely on the quality of pre-season they’ve been enjoying at their previous clubs, or picking up a free agent who will have had to make their own fitness arrangements. No well organised club will be completely happy about having that sort of factor out of their control.
As 10 of the 11 who started against Wycombe also started the Fleetwood friendly a week earlier, there was a number of players who needed pitch time. Tuesday helped to bring them up to speed.
Phil Parkinson didn’t make ten changes from Saturday’s team because he didn’t care about the Carabao Cup. Primarily, he did it because he has accumulated a squad with terrific strength in depth, many of whom will want to be seen as a first team regular.
If we’re going to make the best of that squad, we need to make sure that as many of them as possible are up to speed, familiar with our style of play, and ready to go when required.
We also need to make sure they feel involved. The spirit in the changing room was a major factor in our recent successes, and Parkinson will be careful to maintain that camaraderie. Unhappy players create a negative atmosphere, so making sure everyone is united behind the cause will be crucial.
The bottom line is that Parkinson didn’t select a second eleven. He selected a side of players he has faith in – five of the starting line-up were drafted in over the Summer to improve our options, remember.
We saw plenty to encourage us in those new players. Callum Burton is clearly an agile keeper who looks confident coming for the ball in the air. Dan Scarr and Lewis Brunt had a proper workout in defence against high quality opponents; Seb Revan was an exciting presence on the left, scoring a goal and creating opportunities with his dazzling speed. The one player who was difficult to gauge was Ollie Rathbone, deployed in an advanced position to counteract The Blades’ desire to play out from the back. His energy was obvious, though, and on paper he is an astute addition.
We lost a match, but set ourselves up for a tough run of fixtures, which is something I can accept. I also dried my hands more quickly than ever before. Not a bad night’s work, after all!
