Chris Wilder's reputation has taken a battering across poor spells with Boro and Watford, Sheff Utd have just had a disastrous one-year spell in the Prem, but summer recruitment and early results are starting to make this look like a dream reunion after all according to Oli ( @BeastlyOli) from The Sheff Utd Way channel.
How was last season?
Last season was just a complete mess for so many reasons, but it’s hard to look past the first and most obvious - we sold our best bloody player a week before the season started.
The Iliman Ndiaye transfer saga had rumbled on all summer but when it finally looked resolved and a new contract was about to be signed the rug was pulled out and he left the club on the eve of the season. From that point onwards it was an inevitable dredge to relegation. The players stopped trying around mid-October, the defence were as useful as the proverbial chocolate teapot and all that was interspersed with some of the worst performances I can imagine any club putting forward in embarrassing defeats to Newcastle (twice), Arsenal (twice) and Burnley… TWICE!
It turns out I’m not quite over it…
Chris Wilder is back, this time it’s personal…
We’ll he wouldn’t have been my first choice to return to the club, and I do think that no other club in the Prem or Championship would have been looking at him after some disappointing spells with Boro & Watford. It did feel like the magic could have worn off. But he will always be a Bramall Lane legend, and we have to put our faith that he can rebuild us just like he has done before. Performances last season did improve once he’d joined the club - we actually competed for 30 mins in most of his games in charge before inevitably losing 5-1. With a full pre-season to get the players trained in his way, to build fitness which was sorely lacking last year and to bring in the profile of player he loves working with… if it goes right it could just be exactly what we need. But that’s a bloody big if based on the last few years for both Wilder and United’s recruitment team.
How’s this takeover progressing?
To be confirmed. This has been this summer’s Sheffield United saga and from something that looked guaranteed in May it’s on shaky footing as we enter August. Contrasting reports keep coming out in the media about whether it will go ahead but as a fan we have to cross our fingers and pray that a) the takeover goes ahead and b) that this takeover is the right takeover. Because the status quo sadly won’t deliver for United, our current owner Prince Abdullah is a good man, and I believe he wants the best for the club - his off field investments are very positive and would leave us in a better place than when he arrived- but his lack of personal wealth and ability to finance the club means sustainable progress on the pitch feels a long way away. So, for us to progress a change is required… but sometimes it could be better the devil you know and swapping a man who does seem to care for the club for a financial consortium certainly comes with its risks.
Blades so far…
Preston 0-2 Sheff Utd Arblaster 12, Hamer 55
Sheff Utd 4-2 Wrexham Trusty 35, Brunt og 57, Marsh 69, Slimane 85 – Boyle 29, Revan 90
Things seemed to have changed pretty dramatically at Sheff Utd since we initially spoke even two weeks ago, how would you describe the mood now?
The mood now is very positive at the Lane after a good opening day win and some very exciting transfer business. The fans are looking towards the top end of the division and something just feels right at the moment. I’m sure given the scars of last season there’s still he potential for defeat to have a big impact on the fan feeling but right now a United fanbase is looking forward to football on Saturday and I don’t think that’s been the case for a long time.
Were you very good on opening night, or were Preston very poor?
A combination of the two. Ryan Lowe’s departure from Preston probably speaks louder than anything else on how they played on Friday night with their limited attacks usually ending with an overhit cross onto the back row of the stand. United meanwhile controlled the game without being destructive, the two goals came from a big deflection and a worldie - so creativity still looks to be an area where United are waiting to fully click. It is very much hoped the addition of Jesurun Rak Sakyi should make a big difference in the effectiveness of United’s wing play.
The Blades also demonstrated in their 4-2 domination of Wrexham in the Carabao cup that they have found another way to score goals… not that’s it’s exactly a hidden master plan. It turns out smacking corners into the box to be attacked by a 6ft 7 Aussie centre half can be quite effective. In other news water is wet.
Transfer business suddenly looks very impressive, tell us who's come in and what you make of it?
I’ve been hugely impressed with United’s transfer business so far this summer. Kieffer Moore, Callum O’Hare, Alfie Gilchrist and Harrison Burrows are all excellent additions and have already started to make their mark in the first team with all four starting and impressing against Preston. Harry Souttar - the aforementioned Aussie- made his debut against Wrexham and looked a dominant presence in both boxes - as well as just being generally absolutely massive.
We are expecting the announcement of Palace winger Jesurun Rak Sakyi and Plymouth keeper Michael Cooper before the game on Saturday - with both expected to at least be in the squad- and these are two more very exciting moves. A tricky winger and a keeper who many consider to be the best outside of the EFL makes our starting 11 look like one of the more formidable in the league. We still need some depth but overall we leave this window so much stronger than we started it - and with a team considerably better than last years "Premier League” squad
Ins >>> Harrison Burrows, 22, LB, Peterborough, £3m >>> Michael Cooper, 24, GK, Plymouth, £2m >>> Kieffer Moore, 31, CF, Bournemouth, £1.5m >>> Callum O’Hare, 26, AM, Coventry, Free >>> Jamie Shackleton, 24, RB, Leeds, Free >>> Sam McCallum, 23, LB, Norwich, Free >>> Tyrese Campbell, 24, CF, Stoke, Free >>> Harry Souttar, 25, CB, Leicester, Loan >>> Alfie Gilchrist, 20, CB, Chelsea, Loan
Outs >>> Cameron Archer, 22, AM, Villa, £15m >>> William Osula, 21, CF, Newcastle, £10m >>> Jayden Bogle, 23, RB, Leeds, £5m >>> Benie Traore, 21, CF, Basel, £4m >>> Roddy McScotsman, 28, CF, Las Palmas, Free >>> George Baldock, 31, RB, Panathinaikos, Free >>> Max Lowe, 27, LB, Sheff Wed, Free >>> Ben Osborn, 29, CM, Derby, Free >>> Daniel Jebbison, 20, CF, Bournemouth, Free >>> Wes Foderingham, 33, GK, West Ham, Free >>> Sam Curtis, 18, RB, Peterborough, Loan >>> John Egan, 31, CB, Released >>> Oliver Norwood, 33, CM, Released >>> Chris Basham, 35, CB, Released >>> Jordan Amissah, 22, GK, Released
What's left to do? Where still needs strengthening?
We still need additional depth as mentioned above. A striker to back up Kieffer Moore is a most - Rhian Brewster continued his Sheffield United nightmare by missing a pen midweek against Wrexham, and so eyes are on who will fill this gap. Tom Cannon is the name that won’t go away in the rumour mill who would be an excellent addition despite his limited game time for Leicester last year – although stop press it looks like he may now be heading to West Brom.
There are suggestions that Anel Ahmedhodzic will leave the club this summer and so an extra CB to provide cover for Robinson & Souttar will be essential.
Beyond that wingers are the main need, Rak Sakyi will give us the natural width but with Callum O Hare/Gus Hamer playing off the left wing attacks can often be quite narrow - so a natural winger is required to just apply the finishing touches to the new style of play Wilder is aiming for.
Revised expectations for the season.
The starting 11 for me is now a definite automatic promotion contender. We’ve already caught up our -2 points deduction on Leeds - seen as another major contender- and therefore are effectively already back in the race. Ultimately due to concerns about squad depth I don’t think we will achieve those lofty targets but a home second leg in the play offs feels a very achievable aim now for this team.
Links >>> Sheffield United official website >>> Bramall Lane ground guide >>> Sheff Utd Way – Contributor’s YouTube Channel and Pod >>> The Shoreham View — YouTube channel >>> S2 4SU — Message Board >>> Sheffield Star — Local Press
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The Twitter @BeastlyOli, @SheffUtdWay @loftforwords