Deadbat
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2020/21 SUFC SEASON REVIEW / SCHOOL REPORT
As I have traditionally done at the end of the last few seasons; it is that time again when I write a review of the campaign and also compile a school report for the different sections of the club. I will look at how they have fared and what are the prospects for next season for each respective department of the club.
If anyone wants a full copy in advance then DM me on twitter (Deadbat_DB) or on here your e mail address and I will gladly send over. This was always going to be a bit of a chore (some say why do you bother but I cannot just do it when we do well so over the last few weeks have tried to put something together – even if it reads like more of a horror story!) Hopefully there is some good stuff on the Academy, the prospects of the side/club too as much as detailing just what went wrong! Maybe it will be therapeutic. It was writing it in some ways! I completely understand if no one bothers reading though! It is around 100 pages long and over 54,000 words!!!
---
I will begin with the review of the season and a breakdown of the club, board and manager/s.
Over the next week, I will add to this with breakdowns of the players/squad at the club and do the same. I will look at contract situations (may be wrong with some of these so again come in if I have got any wrong) and what might happen to each area of the team.
---
Feel free to add comments/disagree/debate.....after each post I make. Certainly, some marks would have been quite a bit higher if I did it before lockdown but a quarter of the season was played so some who dropped off take a hit.
I have graded the board, the manager, players and the fans; in a traditional school report style of A+ to F- (every player who started at least one game- think I may have graded a few others too). Should really mark the new GCSE style numbering 1-9 but that would get really confusing!
I have had to grade players based on the games they did play so some players who played a lot more may still get a lower grade despite disproportionate number of games in comparison. I have also tried to discuss some of the u23/u18 players.
Of course, all the games have been seen via TV so maybe that is worth a caveat into my rating as often you do not always get a feel for players as much from your armchair.
If I have missed anyone then please say. Feel free to weigh in with critique, opinions and even in some cases agreements!
*I wrote some of this a few weeks ago so elements might be a bit out of date/inaccurate
Season review
The previous season had of course surpassed all expectations. The Blades finishing 9th was simply unthinkable when the campaign began and for most of it United entertained their fans and indeed the whole country with innovative, exciting and positive football. For the first 5 months the Blades were superb and took the game to several bigger and more established sides. After Xmas the quality probably dropped off but the Blades defensive steel was in evidence and after beating Norwich in early March, United sat 6th and dreams of Champions League football engulfed the giddy Blades faithful. A global pandemic then came and after a break from play, games returned but without fans. United did not look the same side and results dropped off. Two superb wins against Chelsea and Spurs saw European hopes revived but a late fade out meant it was not to be. Still a simply sensational season and one that had Chris Wilder the media darling and many praising United for what they had achieved.
The close season was a shorter one but most United fans thought that tweaks and addition to the squad in terms of real quality was all that was needed to compliment a solid looking spine. Outgoing were long serving heroes Leon Clarke (Shrewsbury), Kieron Freeman (eventually Swansea via Swindon) and Mark Duffy (Fleetwood). Also departing were Ben Heneghan (now Wimbledon), Ricky Holmes (now Southend) and Nathan Thomas (now Hamilton). Ravel Morrison’s stay was a shot one and he ended up in Holland and was training with Wednesday recently.
United also loaned out Luke Freeman (Forest), Rhys Norrington Davies (Luton and then Stoke), Regan Slater (Hull), Tyler Smith (Swindon) and Jake Eastwood (Kilmarnock and then Grimsby).
A new keeper would be on the agenda with Dean Henderson returning to Man Utd and in came former Blade Aaron Ramsdale for around 18 million pounds. Wes Foderingham had already arrived right at the end of the previous season.
Defensively, United had been linked with Anton Robinson and Matty Cash but both wound up at other clubs before Jayden Bogle and Max Lowe came in a double deal that was reckoned to cost United over 11 million. The Blades also brought in Ethan Ampadu who could play both defence and midfield in a season long loan from Chelsea.
Up front, the Blades opted to move on Callum Robinson only a year after he had been a record transfer at the time and decided to swap him for Oli Burke from West Brom.
Ismaila Coulibaly was signed from Norway and then loaned out to sister club Beerschot and seen as one for the future.
A new striker was linked but it was not till late in the window that Rhian Brewster arrived in another record signing deal of 23 million from Champions Liverpool.
With a shortened pre-season, a trip to Scotland that saw a game curtailed by the weather was followed by a 2-0 win at Derby and a 2-2 draw with Preston. There was no overseas trip and everything (for all clubs) seemed a bit rushed. Indeed, it was only 50 days since the last game of the previous season to the opener at the Lane against Wolves. Of course, there were no fans to be attending for the first period of the season and even though there were small allocations at some clubs, it ended up being the entire campaign played behind closed doors in reality.
The expectations for the start of the season from United’s own fans were very much along the lines of no one expected us to be in a relegation battle. Not sure many thought we would be around the European places, especially as we had not really added maybe the quality to the starting line up with only the keeper swap really going to be any significant change in the line-up and many feeling the top of the pitch was still an area lacking somewhat. I think it was not ridiculous to suggest we would be looking to around mid-table at best and maybe we might drop off a bit but that with a year behind us would also have more confidence that players were comfortable at this level. I think I had us around 13th -16th in the end but thought we would be at least 6-10 points away from relegation places at least. Thoughts were already turning to us establishing ourselves at this level and expanding the stadium and also maybe moving to a new training ground. On reflection it seems most of us got carried away and we were a long way from being set at this level but at the time it seemed we had got to a position where many felt our stay at this level would be longer than it had been in many of our lifetimes. Not sure I saw any pundits tipping us to go down or struggle either, a far cry from a year ago!
September
The season began in pouring rain as the Blades faced Wolves at the Lane in mid-September. It had not seemed long that John Egan’s stoppage time header had dramatically won a game between these sides in similarly poor conditions. This time, it was a disastrous start for United. They were 2-0 through Jiminez and Saiss inside six minutes. The Blades could not recover and it was an opening day loss. After a defeat in the Cup at Burnley on penalties that saw McGoldrick net and the debuts of Lowe and Bogle, United went to Villa and had another shocking start with Egan harshly sent off for pulling down Watkins a long way from goal. United then missed a penalty through John Lundstram (the Villa player who committed the foul on Basham stayed on!) and a Konsa header saw a better 2nd half showing where the ten men were quite resilient, lose out. The final game of the month saw Leeds come to town and United missed a number of chances as did the visitors in an open game but Patrick Bamford’s late header meant it was three defeats from three games in a shocking start for Wilder’s men. Even worse was news coming in before the game started that Jack O’Connell had suffered a serious injury and would probably miss the season.
October
A trip to the Emirates and United again were on the wrong end of a poor decision as David Luiz should have been sent for a clear pull back on Burke but he escaped a red card and Arsenal scored two goals in quick succession. A late McGoldrick curler was too little too late. The Blades finally got a point when they drew with newly promoted Fulham at the Lane but they were lucky to get anything. Mitrovic missed a penalty and two late chances which meant Sharp’s penalty got United off the board. Newcomer Brewster who had signed in the week made his debut from the bench.
The next game at Liverpool saw the Blades put in a good performance and they led thanks to Berge’s penalty and could have had at least one more spot kick but Mane and Jota’s goals meant it was back to losing ways. A narrow defeat to Man City with former Blade Kyle Walker scoring did not tell the full story as United were never really in the game. The Blades were rock bottom and 1 point from 7 games meant it was already looking likely to be a relegation battle. The enterprising football from last season was nowhere to be seen and defensive frailties with Robinson, Stevens and Ampadu struggling in the O’Connell role. At the other end United were not threatening and not scoring. The midfield also was getting overrun and outplayed routinely.
November
United led at Chelsea with a well-made goal. McGoldrick scoring again. However, Chelsea scored 4 without reply and for the first time since coming up, United got a bit of a going over. United had two games they would have reckoned would have provided them with a chance to get that first win but another poor showing against West Ham saw Haller score a long-range strike and McBurnie hit the post at the other end. The game at West Brom a week later was incredible with United missing a hatful of chances and Gallagher scored for the home team. The series of late misses culminating in Mousset’s sitter summed up the season.
December
Leicester were a side that had caused problems for United last season but despite leading, McBurnie scored his first goal of the season and they were well in the game until Fleck’s mistake saw Vardy away to score a cruel winner in injury time. The shots of Wilder crestfallen on his haunches as the ball hit the net was one of the images of the season so far in depicting United’s horrific season where pretty much everything had gone wrong. A 3-0 defeat at Southampton was the first real sign that the wheels had really come off. The team looked a shell of the one from last season and were not even competing at times in this game – a staple of the Wilder era. A better showing at home to Manchester United saw the Blades lead thanks to a Henderson error and McGoldrick scoring again but the pace and power from the visitors took the game away and a late rally was not enough.
A trip to the Amex saw Lundstram sent off but United made a decent fist of it and led thanks to league debutant Bogle’s goal but a late Wellbeck strike denied them that first win and in the end they could have lost. Boxing Day should have been a full house and a buoyant Blades crowd cheering on the side but an empty soulless Bramall Lane was the location for another defeat as Everton won in yet another one goal defeat. It was another game where United barely threatened and these narrow losses were covering up the paucity of quality in all aspects of United’s play.
January
The defeat at Crystal Palace rivalled the Southampton loss in ineptitude as the way the home side scored their goals and the complete lack of threat as an attacking force meant that first victory seemed like it may never come. United fans were looking through the record books and the Derby side who previously had been the worst side in top flight history was genuinely being rivalled. The FA Cup at least provided that winning feeling as a 3-2 victory at Bristol Rovers provided some respite. A few days later and the Blades could celebrate three points after around half a year without such a haul! A 1-0 win over Newcastle with Sharp’s penalty at least meant we had finally won a game in the league! Late drama nearly saw Bogle put though his own goal but the Blades hung on. United were not able to follow this up and were well beaten by Spurs at the Lane a few days later although they did beat Plymouth in the 4th round of the FA Cup to advance in this competition.
The month ended with two much better performances against the Manchester clubs. Firstly, the Blades incredibly went to Old Trafford and won with goals from Bryan and Burke with a make shift defence superbly marshalled by veteran Jagielka. Then at the weekend, United had a real go at the Etihad and despite trailing early nearly stole a point with Fleck’s late strike just going the wrong side of the post.
At the end of the month the board opted not to enter the transfer market and after Wilder’s messages of needing fresh bodies into the group, the first signs of real cracks in the relationship started to perhaps develop.
February
A vital game against West Brom that United had to win started the month and despite trailing, Bogle and Sharp scored to ensure they did just that. Chelsea then beat United with poor defending on show again. The Cup continued to give some cheer and Bristol City were beaten 1-0 with Sharp clinical from the spot again but after the recent improvements in the league, United had to try and put together some kind of concerted run. Sadly, a limp 3-0 defeat at the London Stadium to West Ham and an equally insipid showing across the Capital at Fulham saw another loss although the Blades should have had a late penalty.
Any talk of survival seemed extravagant now and a routine 2-0 defeat to Liverpool who missed several chances and were denied by the much-improved Aaron Ramsdale who was not one of United’s stand out performers in games after an inconsistent start to his 2nd Blades career.
March
Aston Villa were in great form but without star man Grealish, McGoldrick scored a neat goal and despite another harsh red card, this time Jagielka, the Blades put in the sort of defensive effort we had not seen all season and held on. United could not build on this commitment and resilience and the next weekend, they put in a really poor performance at home to Southampton. Results elsewhere meant United were surely as good as down.
The following days Chris Wilder and the club parted ways and United were not only staring relegation in the face but the whole club seemingly were now in upheaval. It was such a far cry from a year previous and as incredible turnaround downwards, as the resurgence upwards had been the previous few years. Paul Heckingbottom was put in temporary charge as social media and local media speculated on why Wilder had left. A few days later the Blades were demolished 5-0 at Leicester in an embarrassing performance where a spiritless side looked almost like they had downed tools with their leader gone.
United made a decent fist of their FA Cup quarter final at Chelsea and missed chances before a late goal sealed matters for the home side and effectively ended the Blades season in terms of games with any real meaning.
April
A trip to Yorkshire rivals Leeds, showed the different directions the two clubs were heading as a slick home side sliced thought the Blades and should have won by more than the 2-1 score line with Ben Osborn’s goal the only bright note of another poor performance. A week later and another capitulation. This time to a weakened Arsenal side who won going away in an easy 3-0 victory. The chairman than also resigned as the turmoil at the club continued.
Lundstram had become a focal point for recent defeats and was finally taken out of the team. A better performance against Wolves but another defeat as Stevens’ chance and miss led to a Wolves break and a winner moments later. At least there was a spirit in this showing but other results meant this finally confirmed the inevitable relegation that in truth had been hanging over the club for weeks.
The Blades did finally get a win for caretaker Heckingbottom as they beat Brighton 1-0 with McGoldrick scoring a scrappy winner but Ramsdale standing out again in a rare clean sheet for the side.
May
The final month began after Betis had declared a five-man short list that contained Heckingbottom rather surprisingly as it seemed whatever plans the Blades had for the new man had not been going smoothly. United got walloped at Spurs in another lame performance where Gareth Bale took them apart with a hat trick in a game where they were once again completely over matched. Another lacklustre showing followed at home to Palace as we trailed in a minute and lost easily not having a shot despite a bright cameo from young Daniel Jebbison. A week later the same player scored the winner on his full debut as United finally put in a performance of note in an excellent win at Everton. United could not follow this up with a poor display at Newcastle as finally the crowds came back but the Blades never got going and were back to the slow, clueless play seen much of the season.
For the first time for 14 months, fans came back into Bramall Lane for the game against Burnley in the final game of the season and United ended a terrible season with a victory.
As I have traditionally done at the end of the last few seasons; it is that time again when I write a review of the campaign and also compile a school report for the different sections of the club. I will look at how they have fared and what are the prospects for next season for each respective department of the club.
If anyone wants a full copy in advance then DM me on twitter (Deadbat_DB) or on here your e mail address and I will gladly send over. This was always going to be a bit of a chore (some say why do you bother but I cannot just do it when we do well so over the last few weeks have tried to put something together – even if it reads like more of a horror story!) Hopefully there is some good stuff on the Academy, the prospects of the side/club too as much as detailing just what went wrong! Maybe it will be therapeutic. It was writing it in some ways! I completely understand if no one bothers reading though! It is around 100 pages long and over 54,000 words!!!
---
I will begin with the review of the season and a breakdown of the club, board and manager/s.
Over the next week, I will add to this with breakdowns of the players/squad at the club and do the same. I will look at contract situations (may be wrong with some of these so again come in if I have got any wrong) and what might happen to each area of the team.
---
Feel free to add comments/disagree/debate.....after each post I make. Certainly, some marks would have been quite a bit higher if I did it before lockdown but a quarter of the season was played so some who dropped off take a hit.
I have graded the board, the manager, players and the fans; in a traditional school report style of A+ to F- (every player who started at least one game- think I may have graded a few others too). Should really mark the new GCSE style numbering 1-9 but that would get really confusing!
I have had to grade players based on the games they did play so some players who played a lot more may still get a lower grade despite disproportionate number of games in comparison. I have also tried to discuss some of the u23/u18 players.
Of course, all the games have been seen via TV so maybe that is worth a caveat into my rating as often you do not always get a feel for players as much from your armchair.
If I have missed anyone then please say. Feel free to weigh in with critique, opinions and even in some cases agreements!
*I wrote some of this a few weeks ago so elements might be a bit out of date/inaccurate
Season review
The previous season had of course surpassed all expectations. The Blades finishing 9th was simply unthinkable when the campaign began and for most of it United entertained their fans and indeed the whole country with innovative, exciting and positive football. For the first 5 months the Blades were superb and took the game to several bigger and more established sides. After Xmas the quality probably dropped off but the Blades defensive steel was in evidence and after beating Norwich in early March, United sat 6th and dreams of Champions League football engulfed the giddy Blades faithful. A global pandemic then came and after a break from play, games returned but without fans. United did not look the same side and results dropped off. Two superb wins against Chelsea and Spurs saw European hopes revived but a late fade out meant it was not to be. Still a simply sensational season and one that had Chris Wilder the media darling and many praising United for what they had achieved.
The close season was a shorter one but most United fans thought that tweaks and addition to the squad in terms of real quality was all that was needed to compliment a solid looking spine. Outgoing were long serving heroes Leon Clarke (Shrewsbury), Kieron Freeman (eventually Swansea via Swindon) and Mark Duffy (Fleetwood). Also departing were Ben Heneghan (now Wimbledon), Ricky Holmes (now Southend) and Nathan Thomas (now Hamilton). Ravel Morrison’s stay was a shot one and he ended up in Holland and was training with Wednesday recently.
United also loaned out Luke Freeman (Forest), Rhys Norrington Davies (Luton and then Stoke), Regan Slater (Hull), Tyler Smith (Swindon) and Jake Eastwood (Kilmarnock and then Grimsby).
A new keeper would be on the agenda with Dean Henderson returning to Man Utd and in came former Blade Aaron Ramsdale for around 18 million pounds. Wes Foderingham had already arrived right at the end of the previous season.
Defensively, United had been linked with Anton Robinson and Matty Cash but both wound up at other clubs before Jayden Bogle and Max Lowe came in a double deal that was reckoned to cost United over 11 million. The Blades also brought in Ethan Ampadu who could play both defence and midfield in a season long loan from Chelsea.
Up front, the Blades opted to move on Callum Robinson only a year after he had been a record transfer at the time and decided to swap him for Oli Burke from West Brom.
Ismaila Coulibaly was signed from Norway and then loaned out to sister club Beerschot and seen as one for the future.
A new striker was linked but it was not till late in the window that Rhian Brewster arrived in another record signing deal of 23 million from Champions Liverpool.
With a shortened pre-season, a trip to Scotland that saw a game curtailed by the weather was followed by a 2-0 win at Derby and a 2-2 draw with Preston. There was no overseas trip and everything (for all clubs) seemed a bit rushed. Indeed, it was only 50 days since the last game of the previous season to the opener at the Lane against Wolves. Of course, there were no fans to be attending for the first period of the season and even though there were small allocations at some clubs, it ended up being the entire campaign played behind closed doors in reality.
The expectations for the start of the season from United’s own fans were very much along the lines of no one expected us to be in a relegation battle. Not sure many thought we would be around the European places, especially as we had not really added maybe the quality to the starting line up with only the keeper swap really going to be any significant change in the line-up and many feeling the top of the pitch was still an area lacking somewhat. I think it was not ridiculous to suggest we would be looking to around mid-table at best and maybe we might drop off a bit but that with a year behind us would also have more confidence that players were comfortable at this level. I think I had us around 13th -16th in the end but thought we would be at least 6-10 points away from relegation places at least. Thoughts were already turning to us establishing ourselves at this level and expanding the stadium and also maybe moving to a new training ground. On reflection it seems most of us got carried away and we were a long way from being set at this level but at the time it seemed we had got to a position where many felt our stay at this level would be longer than it had been in many of our lifetimes. Not sure I saw any pundits tipping us to go down or struggle either, a far cry from a year ago!
September
The season began in pouring rain as the Blades faced Wolves at the Lane in mid-September. It had not seemed long that John Egan’s stoppage time header had dramatically won a game between these sides in similarly poor conditions. This time, it was a disastrous start for United. They were 2-0 through Jiminez and Saiss inside six minutes. The Blades could not recover and it was an opening day loss. After a defeat in the Cup at Burnley on penalties that saw McGoldrick net and the debuts of Lowe and Bogle, United went to Villa and had another shocking start with Egan harshly sent off for pulling down Watkins a long way from goal. United then missed a penalty through John Lundstram (the Villa player who committed the foul on Basham stayed on!) and a Konsa header saw a better 2nd half showing where the ten men were quite resilient, lose out. The final game of the month saw Leeds come to town and United missed a number of chances as did the visitors in an open game but Patrick Bamford’s late header meant it was three defeats from three games in a shocking start for Wilder’s men. Even worse was news coming in before the game started that Jack O’Connell had suffered a serious injury and would probably miss the season.
October
A trip to the Emirates and United again were on the wrong end of a poor decision as David Luiz should have been sent for a clear pull back on Burke but he escaped a red card and Arsenal scored two goals in quick succession. A late McGoldrick curler was too little too late. The Blades finally got a point when they drew with newly promoted Fulham at the Lane but they were lucky to get anything. Mitrovic missed a penalty and two late chances which meant Sharp’s penalty got United off the board. Newcomer Brewster who had signed in the week made his debut from the bench.
The next game at Liverpool saw the Blades put in a good performance and they led thanks to Berge’s penalty and could have had at least one more spot kick but Mane and Jota’s goals meant it was back to losing ways. A narrow defeat to Man City with former Blade Kyle Walker scoring did not tell the full story as United were never really in the game. The Blades were rock bottom and 1 point from 7 games meant it was already looking likely to be a relegation battle. The enterprising football from last season was nowhere to be seen and defensive frailties with Robinson, Stevens and Ampadu struggling in the O’Connell role. At the other end United were not threatening and not scoring. The midfield also was getting overrun and outplayed routinely.
November
United led at Chelsea with a well-made goal. McGoldrick scoring again. However, Chelsea scored 4 without reply and for the first time since coming up, United got a bit of a going over. United had two games they would have reckoned would have provided them with a chance to get that first win but another poor showing against West Ham saw Haller score a long-range strike and McBurnie hit the post at the other end. The game at West Brom a week later was incredible with United missing a hatful of chances and Gallagher scored for the home team. The series of late misses culminating in Mousset’s sitter summed up the season.
December
Leicester were a side that had caused problems for United last season but despite leading, McBurnie scored his first goal of the season and they were well in the game until Fleck’s mistake saw Vardy away to score a cruel winner in injury time. The shots of Wilder crestfallen on his haunches as the ball hit the net was one of the images of the season so far in depicting United’s horrific season where pretty much everything had gone wrong. A 3-0 defeat at Southampton was the first real sign that the wheels had really come off. The team looked a shell of the one from last season and were not even competing at times in this game – a staple of the Wilder era. A better showing at home to Manchester United saw the Blades lead thanks to a Henderson error and McGoldrick scoring again but the pace and power from the visitors took the game away and a late rally was not enough.
A trip to the Amex saw Lundstram sent off but United made a decent fist of it and led thanks to league debutant Bogle’s goal but a late Wellbeck strike denied them that first win and in the end they could have lost. Boxing Day should have been a full house and a buoyant Blades crowd cheering on the side but an empty soulless Bramall Lane was the location for another defeat as Everton won in yet another one goal defeat. It was another game where United barely threatened and these narrow losses were covering up the paucity of quality in all aspects of United’s play.
January
The defeat at Crystal Palace rivalled the Southampton loss in ineptitude as the way the home side scored their goals and the complete lack of threat as an attacking force meant that first victory seemed like it may never come. United fans were looking through the record books and the Derby side who previously had been the worst side in top flight history was genuinely being rivalled. The FA Cup at least provided that winning feeling as a 3-2 victory at Bristol Rovers provided some respite. A few days later and the Blades could celebrate three points after around half a year without such a haul! A 1-0 win over Newcastle with Sharp’s penalty at least meant we had finally won a game in the league! Late drama nearly saw Bogle put though his own goal but the Blades hung on. United were not able to follow this up and were well beaten by Spurs at the Lane a few days later although they did beat Plymouth in the 4th round of the FA Cup to advance in this competition.
The month ended with two much better performances against the Manchester clubs. Firstly, the Blades incredibly went to Old Trafford and won with goals from Bryan and Burke with a make shift defence superbly marshalled by veteran Jagielka. Then at the weekend, United had a real go at the Etihad and despite trailing early nearly stole a point with Fleck’s late strike just going the wrong side of the post.
At the end of the month the board opted not to enter the transfer market and after Wilder’s messages of needing fresh bodies into the group, the first signs of real cracks in the relationship started to perhaps develop.
February
A vital game against West Brom that United had to win started the month and despite trailing, Bogle and Sharp scored to ensure they did just that. Chelsea then beat United with poor defending on show again. The Cup continued to give some cheer and Bristol City were beaten 1-0 with Sharp clinical from the spot again but after the recent improvements in the league, United had to try and put together some kind of concerted run. Sadly, a limp 3-0 defeat at the London Stadium to West Ham and an equally insipid showing across the Capital at Fulham saw another loss although the Blades should have had a late penalty.
Any talk of survival seemed extravagant now and a routine 2-0 defeat to Liverpool who missed several chances and were denied by the much-improved Aaron Ramsdale who was not one of United’s stand out performers in games after an inconsistent start to his 2nd Blades career.
March
Aston Villa were in great form but without star man Grealish, McGoldrick scored a neat goal and despite another harsh red card, this time Jagielka, the Blades put in the sort of defensive effort we had not seen all season and held on. United could not build on this commitment and resilience and the next weekend, they put in a really poor performance at home to Southampton. Results elsewhere meant United were surely as good as down.
The following days Chris Wilder and the club parted ways and United were not only staring relegation in the face but the whole club seemingly were now in upheaval. It was such a far cry from a year previous and as incredible turnaround downwards, as the resurgence upwards had been the previous few years. Paul Heckingbottom was put in temporary charge as social media and local media speculated on why Wilder had left. A few days later the Blades were demolished 5-0 at Leicester in an embarrassing performance where a spiritless side looked almost like they had downed tools with their leader gone.
United made a decent fist of their FA Cup quarter final at Chelsea and missed chances before a late goal sealed matters for the home side and effectively ended the Blades season in terms of games with any real meaning.
April
A trip to Yorkshire rivals Leeds, showed the different directions the two clubs were heading as a slick home side sliced thought the Blades and should have won by more than the 2-1 score line with Ben Osborn’s goal the only bright note of another poor performance. A week later and another capitulation. This time to a weakened Arsenal side who won going away in an easy 3-0 victory. The chairman than also resigned as the turmoil at the club continued.
Lundstram had become a focal point for recent defeats and was finally taken out of the team. A better performance against Wolves but another defeat as Stevens’ chance and miss led to a Wolves break and a winner moments later. At least there was a spirit in this showing but other results meant this finally confirmed the inevitable relegation that in truth had been hanging over the club for weeks.
The Blades did finally get a win for caretaker Heckingbottom as they beat Brighton 1-0 with McGoldrick scoring a scrappy winner but Ramsdale standing out again in a rare clean sheet for the side.
May
The final month began after Betis had declared a five-man short list that contained Heckingbottom rather surprisingly as it seemed whatever plans the Blades had for the new man had not been going smoothly. United got walloped at Spurs in another lame performance where Gareth Bale took them apart with a hat trick in a game where they were once again completely over matched. Another lacklustre showing followed at home to Palace as we trailed in a minute and lost easily not having a shot despite a bright cameo from young Daniel Jebbison. A week later the same player scored the winner on his full debut as United finally put in a performance of note in an excellent win at Everton. United could not follow this up with a poor display at Newcastle as finally the crowds came back but the Blades never got going and were back to the slow, clueless play seen much of the season.
For the first time for 14 months, fans came back into Bramall Lane for the game against Burnley in the final game of the season and United ended a terrible season with a victory.
