Sheffield United vs Bristol City

EFL Championship Matchweek 1 - Saturday 9th August 2025 - 17:30 - Bramall Lane
Please keep all discussion related to the match within this thread.

Player Ratings:
Matchday Stats/Player Ratings - https://www.s24su.com/forum/match-day/match/sheffield-united-vs-bristol-city.750/

Officials:

Referee: Josh Smith
Assistants: Sam Lewis and Andrew Dallison
Fourth Official: Tom Reeves

Coverage:

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[Greenwich Blade]

I'll try again with an earlier post that didn't quite come out properly. Today was all my fault, as predicted by me at 3.47 this afternoon. You can add it to my other premonitions including the death of Steve Irwin, the death of Fast Eddie of Motorhead, the giant spider in the bath, and Yes reforming with Jon Anderson in 1983.

 

[Kenworthy’s Tash]

Absolutely abysmal. Awful defending, and I include Cooper in that, he’s gone way off the boil.

 

[redandwhitewizard]

Not convinced we gain anything from playing Hamer in this position. He looked OK in the first friendly and since then average to poor. Barry seems nowhere near match fit. Defence far too slow to play a high line without getting ripped apart. Midfield non existent for the most part.
When you have to resort to bringing on Robinson to steady the ship then it's going to be a long season.
Reinforcements needed at the back and probably 2 more wide players.

 

[UddersBlade]

So worst start to a season at home for 71 years!!!!! Thanks to COH Sports!!!! That’s what you get with your ‘new approach / AI’ ….. with no money!!!!!

 

[PrestwichBlade]

Wilder aaahhhtt.

No we would have won 3 nil just like 89 days ago, with bland boring get 3 fucking points on the board football

Fuck me you're boring

 

[HillStreet Blade]

Well on the plus side my phone received a signal in the ground for the first time ever so I could read these comments instead of watching the game

 

[AWetFlannel]

We played 138 championship games under Wilder and never conceded more than 3.

The 5-4 against Fulham?

 

[Belvedere Blade]

 

[RAP51]

Turns out that buying one centre back in 6+ years and then selling him on the eve of the season has consequences. As I was reminded of Gillingham ten years ago, I'm not going postal, but that was not good

The accepted way of building a successful football team is to start with a strong spine gk,cb,cm,cf and then start from the back. Think this was Brian Clough's successful method and many others.
Hopefully tonight has been a wake up call for our owners and for Selles. This is the Championship, one of the toughest leagues in pro football and any weaknesses will be ruthlessly exploited.
If our delay in recruitment is to wait for quality players to be available then now is the time to go all out to get them. Of course the risk after tonight is that clubs will know we are desperate and running out of time and ask for more money. Without being over dramatic, the next couple of weeks are going to be very important for the long term future of the club.

 

[programmechap]

Oh

The 5-4 against Fulham?

Oh yes. Missed that one

 

[prescotblade]

Thought Selles did not hide in his after match interview.
Can’t think the team won’t learn from this.
We do need to look at our defensive play, but suspect with our attacking intent we’re always going to get caught at sometime or another.
Still think we’re have a better picture after 10 games.
Think we’re going to go through many emotions this season, maybe better than trying to defend a 1-0 lead and feeling nothing

 

[1066blade]

I'm genuinely concerned. Is Selles crap? Did we drop an almighty clanger getting rid of Chris?
I can't remember being this pissed off after the first game for years.

 

[Cassis]

Keeping them out on the pitch for a bollocking at the end of the game.

Good thing or bad?

Personally, I don’t like it.

I don’t like it either, should be done behind closed doors where they can all have their say.

 

[ChipButtyBlade]

Chaotic football....this is how under 11's play.

Get used to it there is more to follow.

 

[Not_a_Cheat]

We lost 5-2 home to Everton in the 1st game of 54-5.
Other times we've conceded 4 or more in the first league game

1913-14 Tottenham H 1-4
1947-8 Charlton A 0-4
1977-78 Tottenham A 2-4
1982-83 Portsmouth A 1-4
2015-16 Gillingham A 0-4

71 years ago then, at home.

 

[Arcott]

Bed wetters 1 happy clappers 0
I know first game but that was everything the Bedwetters were saying and being derided for it.
Can't see it getting any better soon. Going forward okish until something useful needed to be done. 1 piece of quality. Defending shocking and won't improve until we get different players or a new system. Barry average at best, Bindon looks L1. Recruitment looks clueless and cant see Hamer or Cooper wanting to stay if it continues, long season coming up. Hope it was the wake up call they all need. see where we are in 10 games and that should indicate all the brilliant choices that have been made

 

[ancientblade]

if were going to play seriki and burrows in a back 4 we need better centre backs although thought bindon was promising and peck is no souza replacement hopefully soumare can do that job but for me we need 4/5 more to come in

 

[ChipButtyBlade]

Why do people keep saying Bristol were nothing special............they played with heart and a collectivness when defending..and attacked quickly and precisely....I thought that is how Selles wanted us to play...but he got mugged off by a German.

Worst performance from the Blades since Selles was here with Hull.

 

[nottingham blades]

His badly organised terrible tactics got us 92 points you say? I mean some might say it's not great getting 3 points most games, I liked it though.

Get your point but it was so boring , near the top all year and the lane was flat ,that's not us , shit in the prem ,boring in the championship, time to change one way or tuther for me.

 

[Nick Jansky]

As bad as that looked, a quality and commanding LCB to nurture Bindon and compensate for Burrows’ many defensive inadequacies would make a big difference. So would a quality CDM in place of Peck - hopefully that is Soumare.

Obviously, other things need to happen apart from that, but those two things would address the worst of it.

We then need a RB, RW & a striker to compete with Campbell.

Although a big plus was Campbell lasting for 90 minutes. Another was our xG. But defensively, including the midfield, it was shocking.

 

[ancientblade]

Why do people keep saying Bristol were nothing special............they played with heart and a collectivness when defending..and attacked quickly and precisely....I thought that is how Selles wanted us to play...but he got mugged off by a German.

Worst performance from the Blades since Selles was here with Hull.

have to agree we were poor defensively but thought bristol played really well organised and pace all over the pitch didnt see much difference from wilders tactics backwards sideways and far too many safe passes bristol played like i expected us to play under selles they will suprise a few big teams this season but boy do our new owners need to get that cheque book out in the next 2 weeks

 

[MartBlade]

Last season;

RND - nowhere near the team as he's not good enough
Robinson - nowhere near the team till Souttar got injured, not good enough
Brooks - not 1st team as he's not consistent enough

Bindon is only a young kid, should only be played sparingly till he's up to speed, not thrown it at the deep end.

I can't work out what we're trying to do and that's on the manager, but his hands have been tied recruitment wise.

I think we'll make some signings and this result may be instrumental in forcing the owners hand. I just hope Hamer and Cooper don't see what's coming and jump ship

Spot on … it’s definitely a concern that our better players may be tempted to move on if they get the opportunity.

 

[Broomhall Blade]

As bad as that looked, a quality and commanding LCB to nurture Bindon and compensate for Burrows’ many defensive inadequacies would make a big difference. So would a quality CDM in place of Peck - hopefully that is Soumare.

Obviously, other things need to happen apart from that, but those two things would address the worst of it.

We then need a RB, RW & a striker to compete with Campbell.

Although a big plus was Campbell lasting for 90 minutes. Another was our xG. But defensively, including the midfield, it was shocking.

In a weird way and obviously taking the result away I quite enjoyed the way we played today certainly in offence anyway. It made a nice change from passing it back all the time like last season.
We desperately need defensive reinforcements in two Central defenders if Robinson goes, and a right back
Its over to our owners now and I know you have defended them by saying the transfer window doesn't close until the end of August, I hope you are right because personally I have my doubts.

 

[Kenworthy’s Tash]

I don’t like it either, should be done behind closed doors where they can all have their say.

Agreed. Stinks of playing to the crowd that.

 

[MartBlade]

He’s not fit to lace Robinsons boots! Positionally clueless and breathing out of his arse after 5 minutes. Peck not up to the job he was picked for today. Hamer going through the motions after the hour, Cannon looking like, well, Cannon when he came on and One sadly wth the decision making of a 6 foot plus toddler.

Firstly the owners. 2 CB’s, RB, Striker and another CM. And sort out the Hamer situation. Now!

Secondly, even taking into account the above terrible start for Selles. The Wilder fanboys will be in their element but they aren’t the ones he needs to quickly win over.

Edit, thought Bindon looked decent on the ball, Barry looked quality.

Pretty much spot on post….I guess I qualify as a “Wilder Fanboy” (in my view he would have been the best option to take us up this season as I’m very skeptical that the owners have the money or acumen to change things effectively and he knows how to win in this division on a relative shoestring).
That said, I’m right behind the new manager now that we’ve made the change. Unfortunately the performance today immediately calls his judgement and tactics into question but he needs time to show us how he gets a reaction from the players. Crucially he needs to be strong enough to let the owners know that he needs proper backing as we are at least 2 real quality defenders short… and look lightweight across the team. Let’s hope he’s not a Yes Man.
We’ll see how it pans out - there’s no point looking backwards but as starts go this is almost as bad as I could have imagined.
Oh … and that “Welcome Ruben” banner … just WTF? We are not Americans and we wait for people to prove themselves before they get Heroes Welcomes… or is it just me?

 

[Shakin Stevens is my Dad]

View attachment 218817

View attachment 218817

Reyt. So Borat says we were crap. Bristol wasn’t. And Borat is first in the crap queue!

 

[Inter_blade83]

A couple of things from today.

Seeing RND starting at CB raised an eyebrow (or both). He isn't and never will be a central CB.

Having Peck and Hamer in the middle clearly isn't going to work. I was surprised that even though he's had little time to train that he didnt throw on Soumare in the centre to relieve Hamer and get him forward more.

Brooks had a shocker

Cannon will never be a right sided forward

Campbell, OHare, Barry, and Burrows were excellent going forward and created a lot of opportunities.

Don't understand why One was thrown out on the left when it was clear as day that we needed him in the middle using his strength.

Some baffling substitutions, but at least he tried to do something I suppose.

The players looked like they downed tools after the 4th.

We need 2 CBs immediately, hopefully Soumare will slot in the centre mid and boss it a la Souza, and I think we'll be more solid down the middle and allow those up top to flourish.

Oh, and we need a right back that's not going to give the ball aaay 90% of the time.

However, it wasn't as bad as the scoreline suggested. They scored 4 goals from 5 shots on target (the first 4 on target all went in btw). All 4 goals came from sloppy passes and dribbles from us. The RND one for the 4th was atrocious. He had 4 players to his right he could have played a 10 yard pass to, but went and tried a 40 yard pass to the left instead, and was rightly hooked for it after.

 

[MartBlade]

I don’t like it either, should be done behind closed doors where they can all have their say.

Seems like a good way to lose the dressing room rapidly if you’re not careful. Let’s hope they’re all big enough to take the criticism.

 

[Broomhall Blade]

have to agree we were poor defensively but thought bristol played really well organised and pace all over the pitch didnt see much difference from wilders tactics backwards sideways and far too many safe passes bristol played like i expected us to play under selles they will suprise a few big teams this season but boy do our new owners need to get that cheque book out in the next 2 weeks

I didn't think they were that good, just that they had a defence and we didn't.
The fact ours was so shambolic which wasn't a total surprise considering we sold our best defender 3 days before the game and didn't sign a replacement and also haven’t brought a right back in.

 

[MartBlade]

A couple of things from today.

Seeing RND starting at CB raised an eyebrow (or both). He isn't and never will be a central CB.

Having Peck and Hamer in the middle clearly isn't going to work. I was surprised that even though he's had little time to train that he didnt throw on Soumare in the centre to relieve Hamer and get him forward more.

Brooks had a shocker

Cannon will never be a right sided forward

Campbell, OHare, Barry, and Burrows were excellent going forward and created a lot of opportunities.

Don't understand why One was thrown out on the left when it was clear as day that we needed him in the middle using his strength.

Some baffling substitutions, but at least he tried to do something I suppose.

The players looked like they downed tools after the 4th.

We need 2 CBs immediately, hopefully Soumare will slot in the centre mid and boss it a la Souza, and I think we'll be more solid down the middle and allow those up top to flourish.

Oh, and we need a right back that's not going to give the ball aaay 90% of the time.

However, it wasn't as bad as the scoreline suggested. They scored 4 goals from 5 shots on target (the first 4 on target all went in btw). All 4 goals came from sloppy passes and dribbles from us. The RND one for the 4th was atrocious. He had 4 players to his right he could have played a 10 yard pass to, but went and tried a 40 yard pass to the left instead, and was rightly hooked for it after.

Absolutely spot on post. I like Seriki going forward…. Maybe a solution is to bring in a proper defender at right back and play Seriki on the right side of midfield because Brooks yet again just looked like he doesn’t want to get involved enough whereas at least Seriki is brave, quick and direct going forward. Just a thought.