Dhaka Tribune Sports has decided to discuss last year’s performance and potential of the teams in the forthcoming English Premier League.
In our series of discussion Thursday, we will analyze various aspects of Sheffield United, known to be the first ever English sports club to use United in its name.
Sheffield are one of only four clubs to win each of the first four tiers, and also one of the founding members of the revamped EPL, where they scored the first goal of the new era in 1992/93, against Manchester United.
Nicknamed the Blades due to the history of Sheffield’s steel production, the club from south Yorkshire only ever won the top-flight league once before the turn of the 20th century.
After a 12-year gap, Sheffield gained promotion to the EPL last season, under former Blades player and 2018/19 League Managers Association’s manager of the year, Chris Wilder.
Solely owned by Saudi Arabia’s Abdullah bin Musa'ad bin Abdulaziz al Saud, the club punched above its weight in its first season back to the top flight following more than a decade, finishing ninth after hovering around the European places for most parts of the season.
London clubs Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea were victims of Sheffield’s possession-based football last season; Wilder preferring short, quick passes in his 3-5-2 formation.
Sheffield’s workmanlike approach under the stewardship of Wilder means there are no standout stars, only a high functioning team grafting hard as an unit.
Forwards Oliver McBurnie and Lys Mousset led the way with six goals each last season, while Mousset and wing back Enda Stevens top the assists chart with four apiece.
Interestingly, the Bramall Lane outfit conceded less goals than Chelsea, Leicester City, Tottenham, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Arsenal, who all finished above Sheffield.
This is in large owing to the settled back-three of Chris Basham, Jack O’Connell and John Egan, with Basham playing all but 80 minutes last season in the league, and O’Connell featuring in all 38 games.
Alongside O’Connell, right wing back George Baldock has also played all 38 matches, and along with left wing back Stevens, form an important part of Wilder’s plans – the flying, overlapping wing backs.
The three central midfielders in the shape of John Fleck, Oliver Norwood and John Lundstram form the backbone of Sheffield, with McBurnie and Mousset upfront providing the goals.
One area though under scrutiny next season would be the goalkeeper’s position.
Aaron Ramsdale rejoined Sheffield this season from Bournemouth following the departure of Dean Henderson, who joined parent club United on a permanent deal after registering 13 clean sheets last season, the joint third highest.
Ramsdale is the second most expensive signing in the club’s history at £18.5m, and Wilder said they are on the lookout for further signings before the transfer window closes in the first week of next month.
The Blades entertain Wolves at home in their opening fixture on September 15, before taking on newly promoted Leeds United in the hotly-contested Yorkshire derby on September 26.
