Guardian--Premier League team of the season so far

[ShockingBadBuy]

They may not get into Wednesday's squad, but Lundstram makes The Guardian's Prem team of the season so far. Egan on the bench.

Premier League 2019-20: team of the season so far

Liverpool’s full-backs, the beating hearts of Chelsea and Sheffield United and an evergreen striker feature in our leading XI

www.theguardian.com

John Lundstram (Sheffield United)
He’s in everyone’s fantasy football teams, so why can’t he be in this one? It is no fluke that a player who struggled to get into the Blades team last season is now the beating heart of Chris Wilder’s side. A formation tweak has given John Lundstram license to get forwards from midfield and the 25-year-old has grabbed the opportunity with both hands. He’s scored three goals this season, timing his runs to perfection and showing lovely composure in front of goal. He has a phenomenal engine and is as happy creating chances as finishing them off. He may not be Kevin De Bruyne, Fabinho or N’Golo Kanté, but he’s been every bit as effective for the upwardly mobile Blades as any of those illustrious midfielders have been for their teams so far.


"He may not be Kevin De Bruyne, Fabinho or N’Golo Kanté ..."

 

[I should coco]

On a similar theme. the Torygraph's player of the season for us is Lunny too, although they do accept there are plenty of other contenders:

Premier League November audit, part three: Manchester City to Sheffield United - how has your club's season gone so far?

It's the international window, which means the Premier League clubs have a two-week break and a chance to take stock of how the new season is progressing.

www.telegraph.co.uk

"Player of the season:So many to choose from because their success is very much a team effort, but perhaps the one who has caught the eye most is midfielder John Lundstram. A player who spent so many years being sent out on loan by Everton to clubs in League One and Two because he supposedly wasn’t good enough for the Premier League, who has made the step up from the Championship look effortless. There have been others – Enda Stevens, George Baldock, Oliver Norwood and David McGoldrick have all shone at different times."

 

[Houso]

I know there were a handful of Blades who always said Lunny shouldn't be written off, but I refuse to believe anyone would have expected this at around a third of the way in.

Absolutely bonky madness.

 

[Boxer Blade]

I know there were a handful of Blades who always said Lunny shouldn't be written off, but I refuse to believe anyone would have expected this at around a third of the way in.

Absolutely bonky madness.

Makes you wonder who could be next to shine, McBurnie? Robinson? Osborne? Bryan?

 

[Beans]

Just reading the list of names is mental - Schmeichel, Alexander-Arnold, Van Dijk, Robertson... Lundstram

 

[Tynemouth Blade]

Makes you wonder who could be next to shine, McBurnie? Robinson? Osborne? Bryan?

It won't be McBurnie!

 

[bongleblade]

Makes you wonder who could be next to shine, McBurnie? Robinson? Osborne? Bryan?

out of those i would pick Osborne... but watch it be Bryan!

 

[S64 Blade]

Strange how they have Mane in over Abraham. Would pretty much agree with the side otherwise.

 

[HodgysBrokenThumb]

Strange how they have Mane in over Abraham. Would pretty much agree with the side otherwise.

Always good to have someone to win you a few penalties?

 

[Groucho Blade]

“The upwardly mobile Blades” ... Oh yes, I love that

 

[Scooter_mcgavin]

Strange how they have Mane in over Abraham. Would pretty much agree with the side otherwise.

Think Mane is world class personally.

 

[S64 Blade]

Think Mane is world class personally.

He is, but the article is for team of the season, so far. Abraham has played better than Mane.

 

[Scooter_mcgavin]

He is, but the article is for team of the season, so far. Abraham has played better than Mane.

Is that based on goals, or do you actually think hes played better?

I'd have mane every day of the week over abraham.

 

[Harry's Game]

Lunny keeping KDB out of their starting line up.

Just another standard day on Planet Lundstram ...

 

[S64 Blade]

Is that based on goals, or do you actually think hes played better?

I'd have mane every day of the week over abraham.

It’s based on the season so far. Which is what the article is in relation to.

If it was overall, do you think Lundstram would be in? He’s not better than DeBruyne (yet )

 

[Badger Blade]

Unbelievable when you consider he only started 5 games in the Championship last season, just goes to show what you can get out of players when they're well managed, same in any walk of life really

 

[CarlMcBlade]

Upwardly mobile Blades chasing down Manc City

 

[Nick Jansky]

He is, but the article is for team of the season, so far. Abraham has played better than Mane.

Disagree. Abraham scores goals. Mane scores & provides a lot to the team besides that. Much better player.

 

[Carlton Blade]

Just reading the list of names is mental - Schmeichel, Alexander-Arnold, Van Dijk, Robertson... Lundstram

I know! Alexander-Arnold is nowhere near as good as the rest of the players on that list

 

[North East Blade]

Down as a defender

 

[HeCanDoMagic]

Telegraphs 'audit of the season so far';

Sheffield United
Moment of the season: There was a suggestion, based on lazy stereotypes and a blatant lack of research, that Sheffield United were a dull, long ball team in the Burnley mould. They would be physical and direct and try to grind their way to survival, but they are far more than that. There is genuine innovation in the way Chris Wilder sets them up and the goal they scored against Tottenham Hotspur, with 23 passes in the build up to George Baldock finding the net, was indicative of the style of football. Sometimes, it takes a goal against one of the big teams to make a real impression and the Blades are playing cutting edge football.

Player of the season:So many to choose from because their success is very much a team effort, but perhaps the one who has caught the eye most is midfielder John Lundstram. A player who spent so many years being sent out on loan by Everton to clubs in League One and Two because he supposedly wasn’t good enough for the Premier League, who has made the step up from the Championship look effortless. There have been others – Enda Stevens, George Baldock, Oliver Norwood and David McGoldrick have all shone at different times.


Biggest surprise: There have been lots of them. Nobody expected them to flourish in the top flight but it might have been the performance against European champions Liverpool that made everyone sit up and pay attention. Wilder’s side lost the game 1-0 because of a goalkeeping error but they deserved at least a point, as Jurgen Klopp admitted.
Biggest headache: Everything has been fun so far and the sense of adventure has been joyous for all those involved, but there is still a long way to go. At some point, Wilder will have to deal with a dip in form and results and we have not seen the team play under real pressure yet. The Premier League is an unforgiving place for newly promoted teams who get carried away with their early success.

Manager’s popularity: There is not a more popular manager in the Premier League than Wilder. The Sheffield United fan who has guided the club from League One into the Premier League. Already a strong candidate to win manager of the year, the only fear is he will start to attract attention from bigger clubs and will be lured away at some point.

Board's popularity: No major issues here although the new owner, Prince Abdullah Bin Mosaad Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, remains an unknown quantity after winning his courtroom battle with former chairman, local businessman Kevin McCabe. The bitter dispute between them was rather unedifying, although it is too early to say what the long term ramifications will be.
Best-case scenario from here... Sheffield United are currently fifth, leading a crowded and extremely tight mid-table pack, so who can say for sure that they are not good enough to secure a Europa League place this season? On the early evidence, Sheffield United could match Wolverhampton Wanderers’ achievements.
Worst-case scenario from here... That this is as good as it gets, that teams work out how to nullify them, that injuries begin to cut deeper into the squad and they end up in a relegation battle in the spring. As well as they have done, survival remains the first target.

Overall grade: A

 

[Tony]

It won't be McBurnie!

Think you'll find you'll be totally wrong on that prediction. Plenty to come from this guy.

 

[Tynemouth Blade]

Think you'll find you'll be totally wrong on that prediction. Plenty to come from this guy.

I won't be holding my breath!

 

[cahill]

Did we all fall asleep during the summer and wake up in an alternative Universe ? Just who is this John Lundstram imposter ?

 

[cahill]

Think you'll find you'll be totally wrong on that prediction. Plenty to come from this guy.

Sincerely hope so

 

[Bennyand the Blades]

Love the way Lundstram has taken his chance this season but, I just can't forget the one off never to be repeated fantastic goal scoring of Mat Done, the season before we bought him...…..

 

[bornablade]

So all they've done is choose players from the top 5 in the Premier league. What about others like us further down.....

Oh hang on a second.