Can Sheffield United turn the tide on their difficult second season syndrome?

Sheffield United take on Leicester City at Bramall Lane this Sunday with The Blades desperate to pick up some much-needed points to keep their season alive.

After a more than encouraging return to the Premier League last time around, United are currently languishing at the bottom of the table and without a win in thirteen games.  Taking a solitary point against Fulham back in October, even reaching Derby County’s eleven-point total in being the worst Premier League team in history, is looking some way off at this time.

Whilst their first season back in the top flight provided some fantastic results and an admirable 9th place finish, at one point even threatening to make a challenge for a Europa League place, this season has certainly been a bump back down to earth. So what’s changed at Bramall Lane for Chris Wilder’s men as they look to get their season back on track?

The only notable departure over the summer was that of Manchester United loanee goalkeeper, Dean Henderson, returning to his parent club. Having been a top performer for Wilder in his previous two seasons, Henderson will have been a big miss in the dressing room and around the club after establishing himself as a leading figure of United’s heroics.

Those relationships and understanding that was developed with United’s defenders aren’t easily replaceable and whilst Aaron Ramsdale is still finding his feet in Sheffield, the string of successive defeats and failure to keep a clean sheet so far is hindering that rebuilding process.

Despite Henderson’s departure and Jack O’Connell likely to be ruled out for the entire campaign, United’s current problems exist further up the pitch. United struggled to score goals last time around with only Oli McBurnie and David McGoldrick making it into double figures.

Record signing Rhian Brewster and Oliver Burke are still yet to score for the Blades and McBurnie, who had twelve goals to his name last season is yet open his account for the new campaign. Veterans Billy Sharp and David McGoldrick only have three between them whilst Lys Mousset has only just returned from injury. 

The problems in front of goal were there for all to see in last weekend’s disappointing 1-0 defeat to West Brom in what was already billed a ‘must-win’ game in the mini-league battle in the bottom half of the division. Although United conceded a sloppy goal from Conor Gallagher to decide the game, they created more than enough chances to win the game, and handsomely too.

Oliver Burke, McBurnie, John Egan, Rhian Brewster, and Lys Mouset all missed chances to equalise, and whilst there was no doubt about some of the quality of football United played, they look a side that are very much struggling with confidence in front of goal.

Although the type of firepower United possesses may pale in significance to the riches of other Premier League clubs, it’s a really disappointing return particularly with the types of chances that United missed last weekend.

Supporters have pointed to the fact that the level of investment to survive in the top tier can’t be maintained on the cheap. United have one of the lowest premier league wage bills and having firmly established themselves as a mid-table team on the back of last seasons exploits have the club been too conservative in the summer transfer market which is now having a significant effect on the pitch as United look for a saviour to get them out of the current situation.

With a sound financial model in place, Wilder’s recruitment has generally been frugal, largely cherry-picking younger players from The Championship but their in itself, shows the clubs faith in a manager that can develop and nurture talent to manage the step up in the Premier League. 

Image: Lee Parker – CameraSport via Getty Image

Whilst Rhian Brewster has had a slow start to his United career, alongside Ethan Ampadu, they both look solid investments for the future and still have plenty of time to improve and impress. The likes of Jayden Bogle, Max Lowe, and  Oliver Burke are all players that have shown great potential at Championship level but the question is, can they do it quickly enough to pull themselves out of the relegation places.

Depth of quality within the squad is a concern and both Jack Robinson and Ben Osborn, players signed from Nottingham Forest, couldn’t hold down a  regular first-team place before Wilder snapped them up. Whilst it’s an admirable approach to improve and nurture younger players, there is an element that suggests they are at high risk of being unable to adapt to life in the Premier League.

That’s not to say that they won’t make the grade of course, but the Blades need proven Premier League quality at this time and the January transfer window is still six games away from opening. Whilst another season of consolidation would have been preferable to continue with the club’s longer-term model, the season has now turned into one of survival after such a disappointing start. 

With one of the lowest wage bills in the division, squad harmony, of course, needs to be considered, and undoubtedly, with bigger salaries, risks bigger egos coming with it. Whilst they are going through a difficult period, the club won’t want to follow in the footsteps of Huddersfield and Middlesbrough where extensive rebuilding work has had to take place to get an identity back.

With such a close-knit bunch, Wilder is working with a group that he trusts to implement his refreshing footballing approach. A side that will play in a manner that is easy on the eye but with a large dosage of character and tenacity.  

Behind closed doors is another factor that isn’t helping their cause. Any team that is struggling at the foot of the Premier League needs their supporters. Blades fans packed into Bramall Lane on match day would make a difference to Wilder’s men. The cauldron that it can be, to spur players on, United needs the masses back sooner rather than later. With fans slowly returning back into stadiums, Wilder is hoping Sheffield comes out of Tier Three restrictions in coming weeks.

“Even the smallest amount would have been fabulous on Sunday.  Hopefully, we’ll get supporters back inside Bramall Lane because I’d be delighted. It’ll be a special day when that happens.”

For now, United have to dig deep and hope to pick at least something from the Leicester game tomorrow in gaining momentum back into their season. Not that Wilder will be undeterred by an underdog tag, you’d fancy that he’ll be looking to use the pressure and criticism to United’s advantage. It’s a needs must situation and if complacency could be leveled at United off the pitch with recruitment, there was no lack of desire evident at The Hawthorns

‘The siege mentality is there. When we’ve got our best results it’s been done with the attitude that it’s us against the world. I understand that and we’re fine with it”

Image: Richard Sellers/PA Wire/PA Images

Brendan Rogers will be mindful that his Leicester side can’t afford to fall into Wilder’s trap and will be looking to get his side back to winning ways having gone four games without a win. 

“I’ve watched a number of their games and they’ve been unfortunate. They’ve gone really close. You can see that honesty in their group and the work-rate in their group is still very much there. Of course, this is a league where you look to your next game, your next challenge, and it’s relentless, the level of this league.”

Still in fourth place, Rogers will be looking to bounce back from a disappointing defeat to Fulham and will have Jamie Vardy, James Maddison and Kasper Schmeichel back for selection.

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