When I say 'summer holidays' what image immediately pops into your mind? Go on, let's do that exercise now. Look away from the laptop/phone screen, close your eyes, and just think of what comes to mind with the phrase 'summer holidays'... Done? Ok good, now, this is just a guess but did you think of sandy beaches and crashing waves? Because I think that's the go to image. Now imagine what that sandy beach would look like in the middle of a suburb in Lisbon. Bit of a strange image to transplant ain't it? But that sandy beach is what Sheffield United opened up their pre-season campaign on against new Portuguese top flight outfit Casa Pia. After a few days out in Portugal doing warm weather training, The Blades culminated the camp with a friendly against The Os Gansos (The Geese, hell of a nickname btw). So, did we slide over the sand like a sandworm out of Dune? Or did we sink into the quicksand whilst a bunch of geese laughed at us. Let's take a look.
United lined up in a special 'pre-season' all white kit as our new away kit is not yet ready to be unveiled. The first half starting XI would be the more experienced team that we would put out during the 90 minutes with the only youth product in the XI being Harrison Neal. There was no place in the squad for new signing Tommy Doyle but there was space for our other signing Anel Ahmedhodzic. United started the game with a couple of crosses peppering the Casa Pia area but then disaster struck just 4 minutes into the game our hosts took the lead. Neal was pressurised into losing the ball just outside our area with Godwin being slipped in to slot home under Davies to give The Geese the early lead. United tried to mount an immediate response with a flurry of set pieces. one was scrambled clear to the edge of the box that Neal set screaming narrowly over the bar which led to another corner that the head of a United player but that the Casa Pia keeper saved. Another corner and this time it was the turn of John Egan to try an effort on goal but his header was met with a save. Casa Pia came into the game after this a bit with some impressive counter attacking that came to a crescendo with a Casa Pia effort going high over the bar despite the man being unmarked from a corner. Despite the comeback, United would get level with an Osborn free kick causing a scramble in the box which eventually fell to Sander Berge who prodded home to get us level and give us our first goal of pre-season. United went back into the ascendancy and could have had a second minutes later when the ball found it's way to Rhian Brewster who's swivelled effort slammed the outside of the post and bobbled away for a goal kick. As the half came to an end it would be our hosts who would have the best chance to take the lead with Godwin once again causing our backline issues with his effort forcing Adam Davies into a very smart save to prevent us going into the break losing which, on the run of play, would have been extremely harsh but, alas, we ended the half all square. An almost completely new XI came out for the second half with only Davies and Gomis (subbed on for RND after about 20 mins) being the survivors. This was a much younger starting XI to our first half outfit with the only 'senior' players really being Norwood, Bash, Fleck, Stevens and Davies. Jebbison and Osula led the line for United and there would be more pressure applied by our hosts as they tried to capitalise on a Norwood error but sent their effort bellowing over the bar. Kyron Gordon can probably count himself lucky that he wasn't sent off after he brought down an attacker who was clean through but, because it was a pre-season friendly, he got away with a booking. United did work their way into the half a bit after this and just after the hour managed to get a second goal! Casa Pia gave the ball away cheaply to Daniel Jebbison who expertly shimmied past a defender and slammed home emphatically just outside the penalty box to give us the lead! It was an extremely well taken effort from Jebbo with his goal actually coming from his weak foot. United began to apply the pressure a bit now and we should have had a third not long after when Fleck played a lovely chipped ball to Osula who, with the goal more or less at his mercy, either missed the ball or mishit it which saw the ball travel safely behind the goal. A real shame for the young Dane who did impress throughout his second half stint. This was the last effort of note in the game as United managed to see off some late Casa Pia pressure to secure a well deserved first win of the pre season! It was very interesting to see the two contrasting games played by both of our outfits in the first and second half. Casa Pia were very game opposition and were a very decent measuring stick as we start our six match stint in pre-season. The first half team was probably something similar to what we'll see at some point in the season and, despite the error for the Casa Pia goal, we played some very good stuff at times with our quick passing causing our hosts a few problems. Our set piece taking was also pretty much spot on during the first 45 with every corner more or less seeing us get efforts off on goal and our equaliser came from a free kick. Our second half outfit meanwhile, included more experimental members of our squad but the young guns produced a fantastic performance against a much older Casa Pia side and held them off well whilst still creating chances that eventually saw us grab a winner. All in all, a very positive start to pre-season and we now turn our focus towards a mid morning clash with Lincoln City! Until next time, UTB.
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AuthorHi my name is John and i will be giving my thoughts on the blades matches and all blades related news in this section Archives
November 2022
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