Reality check.

[MojoMuffin]

It's been a disappointing start to the season with a loss at home and a first game exit of the EFL Cup. This was always going to spark a reaction from those who didn't want Wilder to leave and those who wanted something new.

Sheffield United is going down the course of something new and no amount of hysteria or moaning is going to change that. The new owners have already forewarned things may take time which has been said to a fan base who in majority expect wins, autos or playoffs. This start has not gone down well in addition to the sale of Souza, Anel and the very different recruitmemt stratergy of players with future prospects.

Reality check. Souza wanted out and Anel wasn't going to sign an extension so anywhere close to 25m for the pair is sensible business. The opening match showed some very good attacking ability which was something fans were crying out for, but it was not without risk given the poor defense. Lastly, we're not good enough to be bothered about the EFL Cup, that was nothing more than a training/learning match for fringe players. Nowadays these early rounds are either for clubs who have no hope of promotion in their league or for the big boys to see if they get far enough to give it a proper go. We're in the middle along with most of the football league clubs who need to focus more on their respective leagues. Yes we brought on some first team talent but aside from Hamer, they can't do it on their own and require chemistry, team work and more coaching on a new style of play.

Everyone knows we have a glaring issue in defense. We need at least 2 proven CBs for the first team and a RB. We know it needs to happen, the press know it needs to happen, the manager hopefully knows it needs to happen and I genuinely suspect the owners will make it happen.

It's been a poor start and the timing hasn't been great with valued first team players leaving without replacement. Fans will be fearing a similar start as when Sander and Ndiaye left, but I will reserve judgement until the end of the window. We have 18 days left and whilst we need players urgently, they clearly have a certain way of recruiting players and I won't begrudge them for it until we have a better idea on how that will work out for us in a season that isn't just two games.

A big few weeks coming up but I'm going to be patient and quietly enjoy how things take shape. You don't have to, but it's not as bad as you think. UTB.

 

[Tony_Kaufman]

I thought the midfield was a bigger problem than the defence against Bristol. Bristol ran right through us as Hamer and Peck were nowhere to be seen as soon as our attacks broke down. Bristol exploited the gaps where they should have been leading to chances on goal. It was a strange game as we created and had enough chances for the scoreline to have been reversed in our favour. Something is very off in the O'Hare, Peck and Hamer combo and that was evident in pre-season when they played together.

 

[MojoMuffin]

I thought the midfield was a bigger problem than the defence against Bristol. Bristol ran right through us as Hamer and Peck were nowhere to be seen as soon as our attacks broke down. Bristol exploited the gaps where they should have been leading to chances on goal. It was a strange game as we created and had enough chances for the scoreline to have been reversed in our favour. Something is very off in the O'Hare, Peck and Hamer combo and that was evident in pre-season when they played together.

I agree, I was going to mention a positive about tonight with some of the ability Soumare showed but I didn't want to give the impression our entire season was on his shoulders given we have Davies and Arblaster hopefully playing a part. It's still somewhere I think we need signings but not as much a priority as the back line.

 

[Nedski]

Agree with all of that.

A good team starts with a solid defence. Unfortunately we don't have any top end championship centre backs, and we have literally no full backs at all. Burrows, Mccallum, Seriki and Curtis are wing backs who are all poor defensively. I'd rather see Burrows and Seriki playing left and right mid as they are decent going forwards and they would offer a lot more defensive support for the full backs. Throw in Hamer and Soumare in centre mid and we have a lot more balance between attack and defence.

 

[FredZeppelin]

It's been a disappointing start to the season with a loss at home and a first game exit of the EFL Cup. This was always going to spark a reaction from those who didn't want Wilder to leave and those who wanted something new.

Sheffield United is going down the course of something new and no amount of hysteria or moaning is going to change that. The new owners have already forewarned things may take time which has been said to a fan base who in majority expect wins, autos or playoffs. This start has not gone down well in addition to the sale of Souza, Anel and the very different recruitmemt stratergy of players with future prospects.

Reality check. Souza wanted out and Anel wasn't going to sign an extension so anywhere close to 25m for the pair is sensible business. The opening match showed some very good attacking ability which was something fans were crying out for, but it was not without risk given the poor defense. Lastly, we're not good enough to be bothered about the EFL Cup, that was nothing more than a training/learning match for fringe players. Nowadays these early rounds are either for clubs who have no hope of promotion in their league or for the big boys to see if they get far enough to give it a proper go. We're in the middle along with most of the football league clubs who need to focus more on their respective leagues. Yes we brought on some first team talent but aside from Hamer, they can't do it on their own and require chemistry, team work and more coaching on a new style of play.

Everyone knows we have a glaring issue in defense. We need at least 2 proven CBs for the first team and a RB. We know it needs to happen, the press know it needs to happen, the manager hopefully knows it needs to happen and I genuinely suspect the owners will make it happen.

It's been a poor start and the timing hasn't been great with valued first team players leaving without replacement. Fans will be fearing a similar start as when Sander and Ndiaye left, but I will reserve judgement until the end of the window. We have 18 days left and whilst we need players urgently, they clearly have a certain way of recruiting players and I won't begrudge them for it until we have a better idea on how that will work out for us in a season that isn't just two games.

A big few weeks coming up but I'm going to be patient and quietly enjoy how things take shape. You don't have to, but it's not as bad as you think. UTB.

Hope you're right mate, and I agree about Souza and Anel.

My main worry is the complete lack of preparation in identifying their replacements when it was known some time ago that both were likely to leave. Given what we have seen so far from these owners I also suspect that we will only target young players with potential to replace those we have lost, not the experienced 'leaders' we so desperately need.

I may be overly sceptical but I can see there being a real problem in 5-6 weeks time with us in the bottom half and no cohesion having been achieved due to a complete lack of a real leader in the team.

Just my gut feeling based on what we've seen and the general aesthetics of the team.

The owners need to get their act together very quickly because at the moment we look a rudderless.

utb

 

[Tarqs]

Agree with all of that.

A good team starts with a solid defence. Unfortunately we don't have any top end championship centre backs, and we have literally no full backs at all. Burrows, Mccallum, Seriki and Curtis are wing backs who are all poor defensively. I'd rather see Burrows and Seriki playing left and right mid as they are decent going forwards and they would offer a lot more defensive support for the full backs. Throw in Hamer and Soumare in centre mid and we have a lot more balance between attack and defence.

Curtis is absolutely not a wing back.

 

[FredZeppelin]

I agree, I was going to mention a positive about tonight with some of the ability Soumare showed but I didn't want to give the impression our entire season was on his shoulders given we have Davies and Arblaster hopefully playing a part. It's still somewhere I think we need signings but not as much a priority as the back line.

Soumare did look largely promising but he also showed his 'rawness' with that awful tackle on Doyle which should have been a straight red. I do think he looks like he has potential to be very good though based on only what he produced tonight.

Sanauskas, Marsh (in that central midfield role) and Ukaki look miles and miles away from being good enough for this season imo.

utb

 

[loyalblade95]

Soumare was the one (out of the ten changes, not including O'Hare) who stood out for me tonight, and I would be happy to start him against Swansea.

Yes, he's still raw (maybe that explains the Iroegbunam links) but he looks like he could be one of the missing links from last Saturday, against a good Birmingham side (a better lineup that the Ipswich game IMO).

 

[Houston_Blade]

There’s an arrogance around a section of our support where they think we’ll be fine.

We’ve sold good players and not replaced them (still time I know), we also decided to change the way we play and the way the club is run without committing to it properly (we’d need a DoF and proper structure in place).

We’ve also got rid of a manager who was a bit marmite but liked by a lot of fans (I’m ambivalent to the change but would like to see us progress as a club).

We’ve put in 2 really spineless performances against average teams. Fair enough the cup game was our reserves but we were absolutely dire.

If we’re not careful the arrogance that the club and fans are showing will bite us in the arse.

Get some proper signings made, not just cheap punts at Bulgarians or loans of unproven players or we’ll not be troubling the top 15 of the table this season.

 

[Badger Blade]

All that really needed to happen in terms of approach is to be a bit more attack minded rather than shutting up shop once we went ahead, knowing that a Souttar-less defence simply didn't have the ability to go into that sort of holding pattern, Wembley being the ultimate case study.

Wilder's team and approach just needed a tweak, not a full scale ripping up and starting again. Maybe Wilder could have done that himself?

Instead, the defence now looks like its been coached by Mark Hudson and while last night was fairly meaningless, it was very telling how poor we were going forward as well.

The fact that we had to rely on Gus scoring from the halfway line to get us back in the game summed up just how bad the second string are and how badly we need some proper reinforcements.

Anel, Hamza, Souza, Moore, JRS, Gilchrist, BBD, Brewster all gone from last seasons squad, all at the very least competent Championship footballers.

Replaced by Barry, Bindon and Soumare as players who are likely to start and Ukaki and Polendakov who will fill the Coulibaly void of foreigner signed on potential that they never fulfil. We're short of at least three potential starters plus a much needed Robinson replacement.

 

[Varkanoid]

Instead, the defence now looks like its been coached by Mark Hudson and while last night was fairly meaningless, it was very telling how poor we were going forward as well.
The fact that we had to rely on Gus scoring from the halfway line to get us back in the game summed up just how bad the second string are and how badly we need some proper reinforcements.

and on the bright side Birmingham smashed us on the stats in the box and only managed a deflected shot going in. Drawing with Ipswich I was expecting them to run rings rounds us and arguably they didnt. It was just full of mistakes by the Blades giving the game away. If they get their poo together next meeting we should win them. Early days.

 

[AnstonBlade1]

People need to get getting promoted out of their heads, this is our level we’re a mid table championship side.

 

[HeCanDoMagic]

It's been a disappointing start to the season with a loss at home and a first game exit of the EFL Cup. This was always going to spark a reaction from those who didn't want Wilder to leave and those who wanted something new.

Sheffield United is going down the course of something new and no amount of hysteria or moaning is going to change that. The new owners have already forewarned things may take time which has been said to a fan base who in majority expect wins, autos or playoffs. This start has not gone down well in addition to the sale of Souza, Anel and the very different recruitmemt stratergy of players with future prospects.

Reality check. Souza wanted out and Anel wasn't going to sign an extension so anywhere close to 25m for the pair is sensible business. The opening match showed some very good attacking ability which was something fans were crying out for, but it was not without risk given the poor defense. Lastly, we're not good enough to be bothered about the EFL Cup, that was nothing more than a training/learning match for fringe players. Nowadays these early rounds are either for clubs who have no hope of promotion in their league or for the big boys to see if they get far enough to give it a proper go. We're in the middle along with most of the football league clubs who need to focus more on their respective leagues. Yes we brought on some first team talent but aside from Hamer, they can't do it on their own and require chemistry, team work and more coaching on a new style of play.

Everyone knows we have a glaring issue in defense. We need at least 2 proven CBs for the first team and a RB. We know it needs to happen, the press know it needs to happen, the manager hopefully knows it needs to happen and I genuinely suspect the owners will make it happen.

It's been a poor start and the timing hasn't been great with valued first team players leaving without replacement. Fans will be fearing a similar start as when Sander and Ndiaye left, but I will reserve judgement until the end of the window. We have 18 days left and whilst we need players urgently, they clearly have a certain way of recruiting players and I won't begrudge them for it until we have a better idea on how that will work out for us in a season that isn't just two games.

A big few weeks coming up but I'm going to be patient and quietly enjoy how things take shape. You don't have to, but it's not as bad as you think. UTB.

My worry is that the new owners can't deliver what they initially intended to.

 

[LONDON_BLADE]

Well put. I agree, getting my stones ready for the end of the window, more with the board in mind than the manager.

It's been a disappointing start to the season with a loss at home and a first game exit of the EFL Cup. This was always going to spark a reaction from those who didn't want Wilder to leave and those who wanted something new.

Sheffield United is going down the course of something new and no amount of hysteria or moaning is going to change that. The new owners have already forewarned things may take time which has been said to a fan base who in majority expect wins, autos or playoffs. This start has not gone down well in addition to the sale of Souza, Anel and the very different recruitmemt stratergy of players with future prospects.

Reality check. Souza wanted out and Anel wasn't going to sign an extension so anywhere close to 25m for the pair is sensible business. The opening match showed some very good attacking ability which was something fans were crying out for, but it was not without risk given the poor defense. Lastly, we're not good enough to be bothered about the EFL Cup, that was nothing more than a training/learning match for fringe players. Nowadays these early rounds are either for clubs who have no hope of promotion in their league or for the big boys to see if they get far enough to give it a proper go. We're in the middle along with most of the football league clubs who need to focus more on their respective leagues. Yes we brought on some first team talent but aside from Hamer, they can't do it on their own and require chemistry, team work and more coaching on a new style of play.

Everyone knows we have a glaring issue in defense. We need at least 2 proven CBs for the first team and a RB. We know it needs to happen, the press know it needs to happen, the manager hopefully knows it needs to happen and I genuinely suspect the owners will make it happen.

It's been a poor start and the timing hasn't been great with valued first team players leaving without replacement. Fans will be fearing a similar start as when Sander and Ndiaye left, but I will reserve judgement until the end of the window. We have 18 days left and whilst we need players urgently, they clearly have a certain way of recruiting players and I won't begrudge them for it until we have a better idea on how that will work out for us in a season that isn't just two games.

A big few weeks coming up but I'm going to be patient and quietly enjoy how things take shape. You don't have to, but it's not as bad as you think. UTB.

 

[luffenhamblade]

People need to get getting promoted out of their heads, this is our level we’re a mid table championship side.

No we're not and haven’t been for some time.

 

[Harry's Game]

We are a Campbell injury away from having Cannon or One’ as our main Striker

 

[JayGreen17]

People need to get getting promoted out of their heads, this is our level we’re a mid table championship side.

Loser mentality and one that will see us drift back to L1 -

 

[Northyorksblade]

Good post. I would have played a strong side last night, just to get a win on the board. If the next game is a loss, I fear it could affect players. Once they hear the groans from the fans, their heads will go down and it just goes from bad to worse.

 

[Aston max]

It's been a disappointing start to the season with a loss at home and a first game exit of the EFL Cup. This was always going to spark a reaction from those who didn't want Wilder to leave and those who wanted something new.

Sheffield United is going down the course of something new and no amount of hysteria or moaning is going to change that. The new owners have already forewarned things may take time which has been said to a fan base who in majority expect wins, autos or playoffs. This start has not gone down well in addition to the sale of Souza, Anel and the very different recruitmemt stratergy of players with future prospects.

Reality check. Souza wanted out and Anel wasn't going to sign an extension so anywhere close to 25m for the pair is sensible business. The opening match showed some very good attacking ability which was something fans were crying out for, but it was not without risk given the poor defense. Lastly, we're not good enough to be bothered about the EFL Cup, that was nothing more than a training/learning match for fringe players. Nowadays these early rounds are either for clubs who have no hope of promotion in their league or for the big boys to see if they get far enough to give it a proper go. We're in the middle along with most of the football league clubs who need to focus more on their respective leagues. Yes we brought on some first team talent but aside from Hamer, they can't do it on their own and require chemistry, team work and more coaching on a new style of play.

Everyone knows we have a glaring issue in defense. We need at least 2 proven CBs for the first team and a RB. We know it needs to happen, the press know it needs to happen, the manager hopefully knows it needs to happen and I genuinely suspect the owners will make it happen.

It's been a poor start and the timing hasn't been great with valued first team players leaving without replacement. Fans will be fearing a similar start as when Sander and Ndiaye left, but I will reserve judgement until the end of the window. We have 18 days left and whilst we need players urgently, they clearly have a certain way of recruiting players and I won't begrudge them for it until we have a better idea on how that will work out for us in a season that isn't just two games.

A big few weeks coming up but I'm going to be patient and quietly enjoy how things take shape. You don't have to, but it's not as bad as you think. UTB.

I couldn't have put it more elegantly myself mate , TY !!
We've developed a certain number of entitled supporters because of our "few" forays into the "EPL " in recent times .

 

[HillStreet Blade]

I totally agree with that. Watched a Benjamin Bloom video last week analysing the relegated prem clubs over the last 10 seasons. Half were promoted in the first or second season. Of the rest those that did go up took 4-5 seasons. Others like Stoke and Swansea have been the definition of mediocrity. This season was so important but so far it does not look like even the play offs are within reach. Still time to bring in the required players but not confident about it.

 

[HillStreet Blade]

Good post. I would have played a strong side last night, just to get a win on the board. If the next game is a loss, I fear it could affect players. Once they hear the groans from the fans, their heads will go down and it just goes from bad to worse.

Also that may affect whether players want to join us.

 

[Brownieblade]

There’s an arrogance around a section of our support where they think we’ll be fine.

We’ve sold good players and not replaced them (still time I know), we also decided to change the way we play and the way the club is run without committing to it properly (we’d need a DoF and proper structure in place).

We’ve also got rid of a manager who was a bit marmite but liked by a lot of fans (I’m ambivalent to the change but would like to see us progress as a club).

We’ve put in 2 really spineless performances against average teams. Fair enough the cup game was our reserves but we were absolutely dire.

If we’re not careful the arrogance that the club and fans are showing will bite us in the arse.

Get some proper signings made, not just cheap punts at Bulgarians or loans of unproven players or we’ll not be troubling the top 15 of the table this season.

You have no argument to back up the claim we haven’t committed to it properly, it’s been less than one window and none of us know the plan

I appreciate that that may come across as arrogant, it’s not and it’s not meant too

But we have a squad that’s largely remained intact, yes we have lost a couple of players but there is no reason why a lot of Pitt support have instantly gone to they are all shit and we are in very real trouble

I don’t agree it’s arrogance to believe that let’s wait and see it play out is a good position to take

 

[Pollingtonblade]

I am in the process of revising my 100 point prediction.

 

[Berkshire Blade]

I totally agree with that. Watched a Benjamin Bloom video last week analysing the relegated prem clubs over the last 10 seasons. Half were promoted in the first or second season. Of the rest those that did go up took 4-5 seasons. Others like Stoke and Swansea have been the definition of mediocrity. This season was so important but so far it does not look like even the play offs are within reach. Still time to bring in the required players but not confident about it.

Which is why the tried and trusted was how I would have gone. We rolled the dice and it may yet work.

Or we might come to realise just like with Slav that the old method was very well suited and a huge course change without a huge investment isn't wise.

 

[Brownieblade]

We haven’t been a top tier regular stable since the days of Harry

There is no tried and tested way, doesn’t mean this model will be any different, only time will tell

But Championship is our level until we do something otherwise to change it

 

[Rodley]

There’s an arrogance around a section of our support where they think we’ll be fine.

We’ve sold good players and not replaced them (still time I know), we also decided to change the way we play and the way the club is run without committing to it properly (we’d need a DoF and proper structure in place).

We’ve also got rid of a manager who was a bit marmite but liked by a lot of fans (I’m ambivalent to the change but would like to see us progress as a club).

We’ve put in 2 really spineless performances against average teams. Fair enough the cup game was our reserves but we were absolutely dire.

If we’re not careful the arrogance that the club and fans are showing will bite us in the arse.

Get some proper signings made, not just cheap punts at Bulgarians or loans of unproven players or we’ll not be troubling the top 15 of the table this season.

I think when there’s very little information from the Ownership, just vague buzzwords like AI, plus an unproven manager with no great experience and exotic signings who could be anything, you can allow yourself to get (understandably) swept up in the excitement. It feels fresh and new.

The reality is if we defend like we have been doing and don’t improve the system and personnel (permanent recruitment seems in paralysis), we’ll be down the bottom half of the league. The players look miserable and the body language is poor. Which for a team with parachute payments who finished 3rd last year is all pretty dire.

Let’s see how we go against Swansea on Saturday. They’ve recruited well but ultimately will be a midtable outfit like Bristol. We need to see personnel in and make adjustments so we don’t look like Dog & Duck defensively. This is one of our easier games then we have a tough run coming up. If we don’t arrest the current form, we’ll be in bother.

 

[coaxingstar71]

My concern is that we appear to have lost the ability to even do the basics right. Despite what anyone thinks about our style of play last season, you can't argue that we did the basics, compete, win tackles, win headers, and we could certainly defend as a team. In the two games so far, it's been shambolic. The amount of times we've simply gifted the opposition the ball in our final third is criminal. I agree that losing Anel was a huge loss and Souza to a lesser extent. Our lack of planning for that is very concerning. There have been plenty of decent defenders move to other championship clubs in this window but we've not signed any. I'd like us to go for Lewis Travis at Blackburn who's a good RB and was their captain. I suspect we'll continue with a player who's raw and rather injury prone and another who, frankly, isn't good enough.
I hope we're not seriously expecting the Lithuanian lad to play regularly as on last night's evidence, he can't even kick a ball properly!

We've all enjoyed the car crash summer our neighbours have had, but at least they seem to have some spirit and fight. We don't appear to have any of that.
We need 2 decent strong CB's and a good RB MINIMUM before the window closes, otherwise I think we'll be in a relegation fight by Christmas and given our lack of fight, I don't fancy our chances when the chips are down.

 

[Pedro's Winger]

You have no argument to back up the claim we haven’t committed to it properly, it’s been less than one window and none of us know the plan

I appreciate that that may come across as arrogant, it’s not and it’s not meant too

But we have a squad that’s largely remained intact, yes we have lost a couple of players but there is no reason why a lot of Pitt support have instantly gone to they are all shit and we are in very real trouble

I don’t agree it’s arrogance to believe that let’s wait and see it play out is a good position to take

A squad that's largely remained intact?
We haven't committed to anything, just created a complete mess.

 

[coaxingstar71]

We haven’t been a top tier regular stable since the days of Harry

There is no tried and tested way, doesn’t mean this model will be any different, only time will tell

But Championship is our level until we do something otherwise to change it

We have done something to change it and we'll be in League 1 because of it.

 

[Rodley]

Which is why the tried and trusted was how I would have gone. We rolled the dice and it may yet work.

Or we might come to realise just like with Slav that the old method was very well suited and a huge course change without a huge investment isn't wise.

Wilder has gone, no going back. The point for me is that we were looking at smaller adjustments and improvements to “get over the top”. A manager capable of building on what we had, making us more attacking / progressive but still capable of mixing it would have been my choice. Instead we’ve chosen to rip it up and make a major adjustment, but seemingly not considered we don’t have the resource to do so. All within a short term window before we’ll have to rip the squad up again next summer when we lose the parachute payments.

It’s all a complete headscratcher - I suspect even the players share that view.