The Premier League has been in existence since 1992 when the FA revised their old First Division format. Since then there have been thousands of players who have played in the top flight, however, MSN has listed its top 35 worst players, and it names two former Sheffield United players.
Both of these players were signed by Neil Warnock and played during the 2006/07 season, which saw the Blades relegated by a matter of goal difference following a final-day showdown defeat to Wigan Athletic – losing 2-1 to the Latics who survived the drop at the expense of the Blades.
One of Warnock’s first signings in July 2006 was the £3million signing of Preston North End defender Claude Davis (below) – a club record at the time. He played 22 games (in all competitions), for United, but his spell in S2 lasted only one season, before joining newly promoted Derby County in July 2007. Having suffered relegation with the Blades, his record with the Rams wasn’t improved after the Pride Park club experienced relegation, finishing bottom of the league with a record lowly eleven points. Owing to his lowly Premier League record of two successive relegations, MSN, have placed him 14th out of 35 worse players.
Football – Middlesbrough v Sheffield United FA Barclays Premiership – The Riverside Stadium – 1/1/07
Middlesbrough’s Yakubu and Sheffield United’s Claude Davis
Mandatory Credit: Action Images / Michael Regan
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In addition, former Leicester City and Wolverhampton Wanderers striker Ade Akinbiyi was named as the 21st worst player on the list. He was signed in January 2006 in a £1.75million deal from Burnley and was part of United’s promotion-winning team from the Championship. Within a month of his arrival, he was the Hillsborough Hero after scoring in the Steel City Derby as United beat the old enemy 2-1 in their own backyard.
Unfortunately, once the Blades reached the Premier League, he played just three times for the Blades in the top flight. United had signed Rob Hulse and he found appearances at a premium. The following January he completed a £750,000 move back to Turf Moor.