Sheffield United predictions: Blunt Blades likely to struggle
- Sheffield United finished second in the Championship last season
- The Blades have sold last season’s top scorer, Iliman Ndiaye
- Recommended bet: Sheffield United to be relegated
Sheffield United are back in the Premier League after a two-year spell in the Championship, and survival is clearly their priority for the season ahead.
The South Yorkshire outfit amassed an impressive points haul of 91 in the second tier last term as they finished 11 points clear of Luton in third — but they arguably go into the new campaign with a weaker squad as things stand.
Last season
After an opening-day defeat at Watford, the Blades won seven of their next nine Championship games, drawing the other two, to firmly establish themselves as promotion contenders — and never really looked back.
The Bramall Lane club were never outside of the promotion places from the end of August and they led the way for seven rounds of fixtures.
A pair of defeats in October did see them relinquish first place but after a 1-0 win at Cardiff in November they moved back into second place and remained there for the rest of the season to seal promotion.
A run to the semi-finals of the FA Cup was another highlight in an excellent campaign for the Sheffield side but they fell short at Wembley, losing 3-0 to eventual winners Manchester City.
The manager
Paul Heckingbottom is gearing up for his first campaign in permanent charge of a Premier League club and his second full season in charge of Sheffield United, having seen out the Blades' doomed campaign in 2020-21 as caretaker boss after Chris Wilder had departed.
The 46-year-old, who had a spell with arch rivals Sheffield Wednesday as a player, stepped up from his role as Under-23s boss to replace Slavisa Jokanović in November 2021, having initially been overlooked in favour of the former Fulham manager.
Heckingbottom does have plenty of management experience, however, and he led Barnsley to League One promotion in the 2015-16 season and the EFL Trophy the same year, before brief stints in charge of Leeds and Hibs.
Leading Sheffield United back into the Premier League is arguably his greatest achievement as a boss to date, and keeping the Blades up would surely eclipse that feat.
Transfers
The Blades are yet to make any big moves in the summer window and so far have recruited just three new players.
Tunisia international Anis Ben Slimane, 22, has arrived from Brondby. The Danish-born midfielder has been capped 27 times by his country but has spent his entire club career to date in Denmark.
United have also signed 20-year-old winger Benie Traore from Sweden’s Hacken and USA international defender Auston Trusty, 20, from Arsenal.
Trusty impressed on loan at Birmingham City last season and is perhaps the only signing they have made so far who is likely to be a regular starter.
Last season’s top scorer Iliman Ndiaye has joined French giants Marseille for an undisclosed fee and the Blades are yet to sign a replacement.
The Bramall Lane club have also lost another of last season’s top performers as midfielder James McAtee has returned to parent club Manchester City after a loan spell.
Strengths and weaknesses
The Blades’ greatest strength is their defensive resolve as they shipped just 39 goals in the Championship last term, with only champions Burnley conceding fewer.
Sander Berge is a quality operator and he impressed in the top flight the last time Sheffield United were in the top flight, while fellow midfielder John Fleck also has Premier League experience and brings further quality to the middle of the park.
A lack of creativity is a concern, however, and the Blades need someone to fill the scoring void created by Ndiaye’s absence — whether that involves a current player stepping up or further additions before the transfer window closes.
Best outright bet
All three of the promoted sides managed to survive last season but it would take a huge effort for Sheffield United to avoid an immediate return to the Championship.
The squad is undeniably weaker than it was last season following Ndiaye’s departure and McAtee’s return to Manchester.
A lack of quality in the final third looks a big concern and if the Blades do not manage to strengthen in attack before the transfer window closes they could be set for a tough season.
Given their expected struggles and lack of goals in particular, the Blades are worth considering to finish bottom of the pile at 3/1 with LiveScore Bet.
