Ladbrokes Think you should back SUFC for Promotion.......

[S5Blade]

Sheffield United headed into the season among the favourites for promotion at 15/8, with Chris Wilder having made a slew of savvy buys while clearing out some of the Blades’ deadwood.

And after an early-season wobble, they’ve found form in the past 10 days, beating a solid Oxford United side and inflicting Gillingham’s only league defeat at Priestfield this season. So, now is the time to back the Blades at 12/5 for promotion. Here’s why.

Their fighting spirit is second to none

Oxford United had already knocked Birmingham City out of the League Cup when they travelled to Bramall Lane, meaning things didn’t look good for the then-winless Blades. But a combination of defensive organisation and intelligent attacking play turned the game on its head, thanks to Billy Sharp and James Wilson’s goals.

And their spirited resolve was even more evident during last weekend’s victory at Gillingham, as the Blades dominated the match after going behind, notching up more shots on and off target, corners and possession, with Billy Sharp’s penalty eventually giving the visitors another comeback win.

Cut out those occasional defensive lapses which have seen them fall behind, and there’s no reason the Bramall Lane outfit can’t go on an impressive winning run.

They have a proven goalscorer

It’s no coincidence that League One’s top scorers in the last two seasons – Preston’s Joe Garner and Wigan’s Will Grigg – were both involved in promotion-winning sides.

League One’s games this season have frequently been settled by a single strike, with five of last weekend’s seven wins coming by the narrowest of margins – and the trio of goals scored by Billy Sharp so far have given the Blades five of their seven points so far this season.

Having netted a whopping 21 times in the third-tier last time out, the experienced striker’s game-reading and eye for goal look sharper than ever, while the service he’s had from midfield and via full-backs Danny Lafferty and Kieron Freeman has given him more than enough opportunities to find the net.

The toughest trips are out of the way

The Blades have already visited title favourites Millwall, highly-rated Gillingham and an impressive Bolton Wanderers side, meaning that they’re certain to start picking up points on the road, with three of the division’s toughest fixtures now in their rear-view mirror.

In the next handful, they’re off to a struggling Shrewsbury side who have suffered seven defeats in 10 at New Meadow, as well as Northampton, who boast a solitary league win this season.

A good run in those games could see those odds of promotion quickly tumble – leaving a healthy cash-out for those keen to play it safe, or putting Wilder’s men in the driving seat to make that 12/5 look like easy money.

Sheffield United travel to AFC Wimbledon this weekend, with 7/5 for the visitors to enjoy a third league victory on the trot.

And for those backing them to come from behind and win again, that’s priced up at a tasty 12/1.

 

[BushBlade]

Please give us your cash you gullible twats.

 

[Ricky]

I do think we're going to have a good away record. Could've easily had 5 points from the three hard away games we've had so far. 3-5-2 will serve us well.

 

[TJB.]

We've proven time and time again in this division that we can make an 'easy' away trip look difficult.

 

[Esablade]

Consistency is the key to getting out of this league...we often do worse against the so-called poorer teams in the league...

 

[Bayingblade]

.

Having netted a whopping 21 times in the third-tier last time out, the experienced striker’s game-reading and eye for goal look sharper than ever,

I'd dispute that

while the service he’s had from midfield and via full-backs Danny Lafferty and Kieron Freeman has given him more than enough opportunities to find the net.

But he's missing them, unfortunately. Hopefully, he will soon turn things round and start to put away the chances he gets as well as those around him creating more for him.

 

[itsinyerblood]

Sharp will do well this season, he just gets on with his job and doesn't allow any misses to weigh on his mind, always the sign of someone born to score.
I do think we've removed a small battalion of mediocrity, allowing Wilder to invest in players he believes will perform and deliver more consistently. Defensively, although there's work to be done, we do seem to have that desire to better the opposition when they pose a threat. Key in this is the new keeper, seems far and away an improvement on Long. I just hope the young guy learns and improves as a result of Moore's presence.

Still unsure about midfield, but maybe when there's a settled selection (meaning players performing to their max), perhaps then we'll see what Fleck, Coutts and t'others can do once they've developed an understanding of their respective roles. Personally, I think we need an 'enforcer'. someone willing to disrupt and battle, allowing the creative element to create chances, but time will tell.....

Upfront, I think Sharp's place is his to lose. There's a part of me that thinks there's a partnership in Clarke and Done, but for the moment Billy holds the position. As for Duffy, is he the new JCR? Or can he become the winger that consistently causes all sorts of problems to the opposition? I happen to like Done, but I think he's been miscast and needs what every player requires, to know that his manager trusts him in his correct position, namely upfront with a remit to roam. Then there's Caolan Lavery. This fella could disrupt all my theories and become an essential fixture if he produces the talent that Wilder thinks he possesses. A good problem to have I think you'd agree.

Generally we appear to have good competition, and that may just be the thing that turns the Blades into a team of winners.

 

[Bladesway]

Sheffield United headed into the season among the favourites for promotion at 15/8, with Chris Wilder having made a slew of savvy buys while clearing out some of the Blades’ deadwood.

And after an early-season wobble, they’ve found form in the past 10 days, beating a solid Oxford United side and inflicting Gillingham’s only league defeat at Priestfield this season. So, now is the time to back the Blades at 12/5 for promotion. Here’s why.

Their fighting spirit is second to none

Oxford United had already knocked Birmingham City out of the League Cup when they travelled to Bramall Lane, meaning things didn’t look good for the then-winless Blades. But a combination of defensive organisation and intelligent attacking play turned the game on its head, thanks to Billy Sharp and James Wilson’s goals.

And their spirited resolve was even more evident during last weekend’s victory at Gillingham, as the Blades dominated the match after going behind, notching up more shots on and off target, corners and possession, with Billy Sharp’s penalty eventually giving the visitors another comeback win.

Cut out those occasional defensive lapses which have seen them fall behind, and there’s no reason the Bramall Lane outfit can’t go on an impressive winning run.

They have a proven goalscorer

It’s no coincidence that League One’s top scorers in the last two seasons – Preston’s Joe Garner and Wigan’s Will Grigg – were both involved in promotion-winning sides.

League One’s games this season have frequently been settled by a single strike, with five of last weekend’s seven wins coming by the narrowest of margins – and the trio of goals scored by Billy Sharp so far have given the Blades five of their seven points so far this season.

Having netted a whopping 21 times in the third-tier last time out, the experienced striker’s game-reading and eye for goal look sharper than ever, while the service he’s had from midfield and via full-backs Danny Lafferty and Kieron Freeman has given him more than enough opportunities to find the net.

The toughest trips are out of the way

The Blades have already visited title favourites Millwall, highly-rated Gillingham and an impressive Bolton Wanderers side, meaning that they’re certain to start picking up points on the road, with three of the division’s toughest fixtures now in their rear-view mirror.

In the next handful, they’re off to a struggling Shrewsbury side who have suffered seven defeats in 10 at New Meadow, as well as Northampton, who boast a solitary league win this season.

A good run in those games could see those odds of promotion quickly tumble – leaving a healthy cash-out for those keen to play it safe, or putting Wilder’s men in the driving seat to make that 12/5 look like easy money.

Sheffield United travel to AFC Wimbledon this weekend, with 7/5 for the visitors to enjoy a third league victory on the trot.

And for those backing them to come from behind and win again, that’s priced up at a tasty 12/1.

To be cynical for a moment (I know) if you were a bookmaker wouldn't you dangle the carrot in front of the fans of the biggest club in the division? Or am I just to damn dark for my own good?

 

[Shalalalafenoughty]

Please give us your cash you gullible twats.

Indeed.

If you have a look at Ladbrokes' prices on that particular market, the total percentage book is 113.6%. What this basically means is that if they attract proportionate business on every team - so, for example, twice as much money is taken by them on a 4/1 shot as is taken on an 8/1 shot, ten times as much on a 2/1 shot as on a 20/1 shot - then for every £113.60 taken in stakes at those prices they will only have to pay out £100 in winnings.

That's a very healthy profit margin and it's in their interests to drum up business at those odds.

 

[PeteBlade]

Bookies have been making us favourites for promotion for around 5 or 6 seasons.

 

[Blade58]

Please give us your cash you gullible twats.

I already have

 

[mattbianco1]

The Blades have already visited title favourites Millwall, highly-rated Gillingham and an impressive Bolton Wanderers

I thought that earlier. All good teams and all away.

 

[Fulwood Blade]

and why shouldn't the bookies have a point?

We started crap, got worse - problems seen early by CW - others brought in - change information to suit what we actually have not what CW thought we had and we start playing a bit better.

There is plenty of time for more work in training and oodles of time to grow into the season.

Of course it can all go pear shaped - quite easily as we still have some fragile players.

Defence well on the way to being sorted - we move on to the next game.

UTB

 

[COME BACK CHED]

To be cynical for a moment (I know) if you were a bookmaker wouldn't you dangle the carrot in front of the fans of the biggest club in the division? Or am I just to damn dark for my own good?

No you are bang on , never trust them they can always lay it off if they need to , probably by telling another big club that they will get promoted next month .

 

[Broomhall Blade]

I've just had £10 on us at 10/1 to win the league. Just got a feeling it's our season.
I think we are a side who will only get better. And as they say we have got 3 tough away games out of way.
I also think not having the loan market available will help us, we seem to have cover in all areas better than most other sides. So we should be able to cope with injuries and suspensions better than most.

 

[Sothall_Blade]

So we were just under 2-1 before a ball was kicked and we're just over 2-1 now we're 17th and our rivals have a five point advantage.

Terrible odds before. Even worse now!

 

[jt64]

Of course they think we should bet with them at 12/5, given it's more than half a point worse than every single other bookmaker

 

[Revolution]

Ladbrokes are right about one thing: the 3 away games we have played were tough games on paper, and were at grounds where by and large we haven't done well recently.