Is the goal now to avoid being the worst ever Premier League side? Sheffield United half-season review

The 2020/21 season has been nothing short of a calamity for Sheffield United thus far. Sat rock bottom of the Premier League with five points from 19 games, the South Yorkshire outfit are giving the 2007/08 Derby County side a good run for their money in the race for the unwanted title of worst ever Premier League team.

Already 11 points adrift of safety, will the target now be to avoid taking that unwanted crown from the Rams, with avoiding relegation looking a miracle?

Five key games

Sheffield United 0-2 Wolves

The Blades would’ve been hoping that they could build on their impressive first season back in the top-flight, at the end of which they finished ninth. However, in their opening game, they were shocked instantly. 

Within six minutes they found themselves 2-0 down at home to Wolves with goals from Raul Jimenez and Roman Saïs three minutes apart from each other. 

Chris Wilder’s side looked flat and uninspiring, particularly in the final third. It was the worst possible way to get their campaign started and foreshadowed what was to come in the following months.

West Brom 1-0 Sheffield United

Arguably United’s poorest result of the season so far, handing West Brom their first win of the season. The Baggies have only gone on to win one more game since this clash at the Hawthorns in late November. 

Conor Gallagher’s early strike made the difference in the contest, but what was particularly concerning for Chris Wilder was the fact that his side had 21 shots (five on target) and yet couldn’t find the back of the net. 

Still winless at this point, the game would’ve been identified as a must-win for the Blades after just ten games, yet they couldn’t come away with a result.

Sheffield United 1-2 Leicester

Despite losing 16 Premier League games from 19 so far, Sheffield United have rarely been beaten comfortably. In fact, 11 of their 16 defeats have been by a single goal.

The South Yorkshire club certainly haven’t had the rub of the green for large spells this campaign, and their home clash with Leicester certainly proved that. 

Set to pick up just their second point of the season after Oli McBurnie cancelled out Ayoze Perez’s opener, the Blades looked relatively comfortable against the Foxes in the dying moments of their meeting at Bramall Lane.

However, an individual error in the middle of the park saw Jamie Vardy played through into a one-on-one position with Aaron Ramsdale having little chance in goal to keep the Sheffield Wednesday-supporting striker out. 

It was bitterly cruel and a strong contender for a moment to best summarise the story of their season.

Brighton 1-1 Sheffield United

One of United’s better performances so far, their trip to the Amex in December almost ended with three points.

John Lundstram produced a naïve challenge to get himself sent off in the first half, however, his side was able to find the opening goal as substitute Jayden Bogle found the back of the net on his debut for the South Yorkshire club.

Chris Wilder’s men couldn’t hold on though, and the Seagulls’ one-man advantage paid dividends as substitute Danny Welbeck bundled the ball into the back of the net.

On reflection, the Blades were probably relieved to have taken a point in the end with a late flurry of chances to win the contest squandered by the south-coast club. 

A decent performance but still just two points to the good after 14 games and still without a win.

Sheffield United 1-0 Newcastle

At the 18th time of asking, Sheffield United recorded a Premier League victory as Billy Sharp’s second-half penalty was enough to overcome Newcastle United at Bramall Lane.

A scrappy affair and certainly one that won’t live long in the memories of the neutrals who watched the game. But it was enough to put an end to the longest ever winless start in the Premier League and give the Blades a much-needed victory.

 

Star players

There aren’t many players who have performed well for the Blades so far this season, but there are a few that have quite possibly gone under the radar.

David McGoldrick has been one of the shining lights of what’s been a dark, drab season. Scoring five goals in the Premier League thus far, he’s already doubled his league tally from last season and added one more. The former-Ireland international is also United’s top scorer having scored half of their league goals this season.

 Bogle also deserves a mention. Having signed from Derby County alongside Max Lowe in an £11m double transfer, the 20-year-old wing-back has had to be patient for his chance.

However, when that opportunity came, he grabbed it with vigour, scoring just minutes into his debut at Brighton. A place on the bench in the 1-0 defeats to Everton and Burnley followed but Chris Wilder has given the youngster the nod in the last three games, with one of those being the 1-0 win over Newcastle.

Billy Sharp, albeit having had limited game time, has single-handedly won his boyhood club four of their five Premier League points with penalties against Fulham and Newcastle. The 34-year-old striker certainly deserves a mention.

 

Underperforming players

This area is less complex. Having been on the cusp of a European spot last season, Sheffield United have massively underperformed when comparing the performances of this campaign to those of last.

Despite not being prolific in front of goal, the Blades relied on a steely defence, conceding the fourth-fewest goals last term (39). However, this campaign they’ve already shipped 32, with the defence looking a shadow of it’s former self.

The likes of John Egan, Chris Basham, George Baldock and Enda Stevens haven’t come close to replicating their impressive form last term this time out. Granted, the absence of Jack O’Connell has proved costly, but what was a formidable backline last season has looked weak and prone to individual errors.

Oliver Norwood is another senior player who has had a disappointing campaign, unable to reach the standard he set last term and back in the Championship.

The signings of Aaron Ramsdale and Rhian Brewster also haven’t yet gone to plan. Ramsdale, having left United for Bournemouth for £1m in 2017, returned to Bramall Lane in the summer for 19 times that fee following the Cherries’ relegation. 

Since then he’s kept one clean sheet in the 19 games in which he’s been between the sticks and hasn’t looked overly convincing. 

As for Brewster, the 20-year-old striker was signed from Liverpool with the hope that he could help contribute Sheffield United’s lack of goals after an impressive loan spell at Swansea. Unfortunately, the £20m signing is yet to find the back of the net.

What’s next?

This season already looks like a bottomless pit of despair for the Blades. On course for a return to the Championship, Chris Wilder will be keen that, if they are to go down, his side will put in a fight as opposed to going down with a whimper.

The boyhood Sheffield United fan may not even last much longer in his job. It would be desperately cruel on the 53-year-old to relieve him of his duties and may not make a difference; it may be too late to make a change.

What’s certain though is that, if they are to avoid the unwanted label of worst ever Premier League team, Sheffield United have to pick up more points in the second half of the season than they did in the first half.

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