Opposition View: Sheffield United
It’s been a whirlwind couple of years for Sheffield United. As recently as the 2016-17 season, the Blades were struggling along in League One, rattling through managers and at a level which a club of there size should never really have to compete at. Unless you’re The Leeds United, then it’s just funny.
Fast forward three years and United are back in the Premier League for the first time since 2007. Not only that, but they’ve been the surprise package of the season, finding themselves challenging for a European spot as we approach the halfway stage of the campaign.
What’s the secret? We spoke to Paul Holland from Vital Blades about United’s remarkable rise, Chris Wilder, Oliver Norwood and whether they could “do a Wolves”.
What a season Sheffield United are having. How have you taken to the Premier League so easily?
When Sheffield United were promoted to the Premier League last season, I thought that we would have to go out and buy almost an entire XI, with the exception of a few players who already looked top flight capable. Admittedly Chris Wilder’s summer signings seemed questionable, with only Lys Mousset, Phil Jagielka, Mo Besic on loan and Ravel Morrison with any real Premiership experience.
Wilder has signed players to suit the formation, rather than gone for quality and fitted a team around them, and that so called Yorkshire spirit sees us battling hard from the first to the last minute. I wouldn’t say that we have found life in the big league easy, it’s more that our system has surprised the elite which has seen us take seven points so far this season from the “so-called” top six – though as of yet we haven’t faced Manchester City.
What have been your highlights so far?
Taking four points from our first two games was pretty sweet and I am impressed by our away form, having not lost on the road since January at Swansea City. We will lose away at some point that’s for sure.
Had we beaten Manchester United, rather than throwing away a two goal lead inside eight minutes, then that would have been my highlight so far. But I was proud, despite defeat, in the display we put out against Liverpool and the 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge when we were 2-0 down at half-time was pretty good too.
Chris Wilder had a brief spell with us as a player in 1999. Tell us a little about what he is like as a manager?
Wilder installed belief in the club. It’s unreal to think that three seasons ago we were 3-0 down inside 15 minutes at home to Southend and now we are playing with the big boys. He is a local lad who comes from Stocksbridge, which is about a mile away from Hillsborough. As a nipper, he was a ball boy, supporter and player with the Blades. He knows what the club is about and he knows how the supporters’ minds work. We don’t mind if a player doesn’t necessarily have ability as long as they give 100% for the shirt – that is what matters, and we’d back any player who gives it.
Chris, and his assistant Alan Knil who equally deserves praise, have at times been labelled as the modern Brian Clough and Peter Taylor, whom Brighton fans will obviously know all about. They almost joined Charlton before taking up the opportunity to manage United, despite being warned against it at the time and they really have risen the club from the ashes.
Our manager reminds me of Neil Warnock (another Blades supporter) with his passion on the touchline. He kicks every ball and celebrates every goal as if he was the one who planted it into the Kop End with the roaring fans cheering it in.
We’ve heard plenty about the Blades’ overlapping centre backs. What can we expect to see from them at the Amex?
Pretty much the same as we’ve done all season. We like to press high up the pitch, allow defenders to make a mistake by losing possession and then we’ll pounce. In the last few days there has been a great analysis posted on Twitter from former England and Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher, who expertly explains how United attack the opposition.
Most teams will fear their opponents attackers, but it’s more of a case of the defence with United who like to get forward and leave the odd defender back to sweep up.
Oliver Norwood is another ex-Albion player, one who did a pretty underrated job for us in our promotion season. How good has he been for you?
His signature was somewhat fortunate. Paul Coutts had been injured after breaking his leg at Burton Albion in December 2018, and without any replacements, Lee Evans from Wolves was brought in. However, in the following August, Evans decided to leave for former club Wigan and with Coutts still not back a replacement was needed.
Wilder said publicly that he wasn’t concerned as he had a replacement lined up that was ‘better than Evans,’ and the fans wouldn’t be disappointed. He was right. Norwood is more of a defensive-midfielder for us, but the balls played across the field are superb and he is the best crosser of the ball I’ve seen in a United shirt. We are also surprised that he’s conquered three back-to-back promotions to the Premier League, yet neither Brighton nor Fulham were keen on giving him an opportunity in the big league.
What are your realistic expectations for the remainder of the season?
When United were promoted I said I would be happy with finishing in 17th, and thus staying up. I also didn’t mind if we went down as long as they gave it their all – battling is all we ask. We are now up to seventh and fans are slowly dreaming of Europe. Personally my expectations remain the same, a run of defeats and we can still slip down the table, but I’d like to think that having started well, we’ll finish around mid table.
What are the weaknesses of Sheffield United? Anything that Graham Potter can look to exploit?
John Flack, the man we call the Scottish De Bruyne, is suspended this weekend. Having scored twice in the win against Villa last Saturday, he’ll be missed and Wilder will probably look to replace him with either Besic or Luke Freeman. It will mean that United may be missing a tough tackler in the middle but Wilder has brought in players who can fit into positions.
Since undertaking this over-lapping centre-halves with surging forward wing-backs system, United have struggled against sides who put ten men behind the ball. Games of note were the last three Sheffield Derbies which have ended 0-0, and the recent 2-0 defeat at home to Newcastle. United struggle to break down two banks of four, but you’d think that Brighton wouldn’t do that at home, surely?
It’s been over 13 years since we last faced each other. Do you have any particular fond memories of facing Brighton?
I’ve been watching United since 1996, so there haven’t been many encounters since then. I recall United coming from two goals down (I think) to win 4-2 with super sub Carl Asaba netting a 13 minute (or something like that) hat-trick and Michael Brown scoring the other. Other than that game, I don’t recall other games against Brighton.
Based on what you’ve seen so far, who do you think is winning the league, who are finishing top four and who is going down?
Right now, it seems pretty certain that Liverpool are already crowned champions, even though league titles have never been won in December. I don’t see Leicester as a serious title threat but they are second in the league on merit, and unless Manchester City can surge up the table, then only the Foxes can match Liverpool but I don’t believe they have the strength in depth to overtake the Reds in the league in the long run. As for the remaining Champions League spots I can see Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City doing enough after the New Year to finish in the top four.
The teams who will and can go down is difficult to predict as some teams pull away when they look to be in the danger zone. I cannot see Watford and Norwich doing enough to stay up, and can see any one from Villa, Bournemouth and Brighton slipping into the bottom three.
Finally, a prediction for Saturday?
With one defeat in ten games, the neutrals will no doubt fancy an away win. But whilst we have done well on the road, we haven’t always picked up maximum points. I see Neal Maupay being an issue for us. He is a player I would have liked United to have signed in the summer. We are due a loss at some point in the season away but I do believe that we’ll come away with at least a point; 1-1.
Thanks to Paul for answering our questions. You can read more about the remarkable rise of Sheffield United over on Vital Blades and on the Vital Blades Twitter account.
