Sheffield United look doomed to make an early exit from the Premier League after a two-season stay. After accomplishing a top table finish last season the Blades have struggled this time around, owing to a long list of injuries, supporters unable to attend live matches, and perhaps, failed recruitment in pre-season has turned this season into a catastrophe.
Seldom has supporters shown negativity towards manager Chris Wilder, since he took charge of his boyhood club in summer 2016, and guided the Blades to the League One summit in his first season in charge, though that too was a rock road affair having failed to win in his first four league matches in charge. It was charging to the now familiar 3-5-3-2 formation, from 4-4-2. After a full season in the Championship, Wilder was successful in guiding the Blades to promotion to the Premier League in 2019.
His fifth season in charge has brought many difficulties. He was allowed to recruit in pre-season, though several potential targets went elsewhere, with keeper Aaron Ramsdale being his main transfer target to become a first-team regular, having played in all the Blades competitive fixtures this season. Perhaps, further recruitment was required to bolster the first team rather than utility replacements. Wilder was also hampered with the chairman refusing to allow incoming players during the January transfer window, as he didn’t believe that it would improve the squad in time to save the club from relegation, giving supporters that feeling of being on a sinking ship with no way out of it.
However, Wilder himself, who has been given ‘god like’ status by the supporters, have potentially been naive in not switching to a different formation to suit the clubs crippling injury-list, and compact a defensive unit that has conceded 45 goals thus far this season, compared to 39 throughout the 2019-20 campaign. Whilst he has slightly changed the style of play to match the opposition (i.e. playing 5-3-2 against Manchester City), he hasn’t changed the formation entirely. It is a stubborn trait that is likened to a former manager, David Weir (pictured), who refused to change tactics when needed.
Weier’s reign at Sheffield United lasted 122 days from, 10th June 2013 to 11th October 2013. He won his first league game, out of thirteen league matches in charge, on the opening day of the season, 2-1 at home to Notts County. This proved to be his only league victory as a landslide saw the Blades go twelve games without a win under his stewardship. They managed draws with Colchester and Crawley, but elimination from the Football League Trophy at home to Hartlepool United proved to be the final straw and he was relieved of his duties.
The Scot attempted to implement a new style of football to Sheffield United, blueprinted on Barcelona’s short passing style, keeping possession majority in midfield and creating few attacking opportunities during the 90 minutes. Whilst the Spanish club would create approximately three chances in a match, they would usually end the game with at least two goals to their tally. As for United, it was clear that the intent was there but (with respect) the squad from the League One club lacked the quality required for such style of football.
Whilst it was commendable that Mr Weir would attempt such a difficult style of play and was accused of being naive in his approach in demanding that he would continue in his ‘project,’ that was otherwise causing unnecessary damage to United’s league position. Unsurprisingly, at the point of Weir’s departure, with five points the Blades laid joint bottom of the table. Coach Chris Morgan took temporally charge until Nigel Clough was appointed on 23rd October – and as they say, the rest is history!
Since Prince Abdullah won the right in court to claim sole ownership of the club in September 2019, Sheffield United have seemingly changed direction in leadership at the boardroom level, and how they would like Wilder to run the team. Reports last week suggested that a ‘Director of Football’ is to be brought in. These reports have since been rebuffed by the club, but other news in The Sun reporting that it would be cheaper to relieve the manger of his duties once the Blades are relegated suggests that there is unrest within the club.
Something needs to change; otherwise, I fear, the club will end up back where it started when Wilder took over. Whether that is a change in manager or a complete clear out of the squad in the summer with a new 3-year plan to guide the club back to the Premier League, who knows, but the future certainly isn’t shining bright right now for either Wilder or Sheffield United and its supporters.
Sack Wilder and you lose 10000 fans overnight.