“A point against one of the best performing sides in the division this season, who outplayed us at home.”
” I thoroughly enjoyed today’s game. Yes it wasn’t a pretty game but too often this season we’ve played attractive football with no reward – Villa away being a classic example. GP set the team up deliberately to combat a big physical side and it worked against today’s opponents. Wilder had no complaints at the result and recognised we had done our job efficiently. Well played Albion including a very healthy away following who clapped the team off very proudly at the end of the game.”
“it was a Hughtonesque performance and we pulled it off. A valuable point, if not an entertaining spectacle.”
“Still a fan of Potterball but pleased to see the change in tactics and personnel today to take on SU in a physical battle.”
“Horrible game of football to watch and still heading back from the game now. Feel like we stole a point. But will happily take it.”
“We can’t play like that every week though. Shelf united had enough chances to win that. Had we been playing a better team they’d have finished us off when we started to hoof everything clear. But these tactics worked well against Sheff U. Potter had obviously spotted how Sheff U aren’t really a great team with the ball, just one who win all the 2nd balls, throw themselves into tackles and show a never give up attitude in how they close down everything. But in technical terms they are not great. So we went there and tried to force them to play by sitting back and allowing them time on the ball. They couldn’t invent much other than crosses in which our back 3 did very well in dealing with. Could’ve nicked a win had Dunk scored but it’s very evident we’re too good to go down.”
“Looking at the table there aren’t many better ‘teams’ Good point despite what Twaddle continually said on the radio we played it right…SU have got a very good away record…partly because they like teams coming at them..we’d have played right into the hands if we had done that…hard fought result ..now we have to reinvent ourselves next Saturday when we will be looking for all three points”
“Shef pressed very well and were usually there for the second ball.”
“Good point really SU are a very tough side”
“The amount of crosses sheffield united got in compared to us was crazy. “
“I think we really missed out in bagging mcbernie I think him and Maupay would’ve made a fantastic pairing”
“They passed through us all game. Won every 2nd ball. Best side I have seen at the Amex. We were lucky today.”
“I thought we were awful and very lucky to get a point”
“we were awful but got a point.”
“The number of teams that have got a lucky and undeserved point against us tis season – West Ham, Villa, Burnley, Newcastle for a start – it’s about time we got a point we didn’t deserve! That’s the point I would happily have taken at kick off!”
“Should have been a red and penalty. They were better side though. Potter had it right. Away at bramble lane need those fighters today good point maybe an important one”
“Ref has some Sheffield United family I think”
“I found that a very annoying point. Every 50/50, every ricochet, everything seemed to fall sheffields way. We defended well enough, maybe I’m getting used to having 60%+ of the possession. I stand by my observation of them being the wasp at the picnic”
“Watching Final Score, Garth Crooks has been very complimentary about us, and stated Lundstram should have gone.”
“Sheff Utd are not as good as the hype.”
“That lot aren’t a real top six side we just failed to win any second balls, midfield turned over possession far to easily.”
“Nope…i think you could be mistaken there 1 Liverpool 26 46 76 2 Man City 26 38 54 3 Leicester 26 28 50 4 Chelsea 27 8 44 5 Tottenham 27 8 40 6 Sheff Utd 27 4 40″
“Albion away supporters – 10……sounded brilliant on my stream”
“Sheffield was a brilliant away day. Proper stadium, proper fans, proper game of football. Loved it! We robbed a point. Good luck for the rest of the season, blades”
“Blades vs Owls What a difference Same City, yet such a difference. Blades Fans Classy… Thumbs up Whereas, Wednesday fans Classless..”
“The Blades have had a cracking season back in the top flight. They are not invincible and have lost at Bramall Lane to Man City, Newcastle, Liverpool, Southampton & Leicester. This will be our first top flight match at Bramall Lane. Head to head we have won 9, drawn 6 & lost 13 times. We last won in Sheffield in 2005 back in the Championship with a 2-1 win. Goals by Richard Carpenter & Leon Knight with Kerry Mayo scoring an own goal !”
“They are not as invincible at home as they are away. Newcastle 0-2 (27% possession ) and Southampton 0-1 (52% possession) have both beaten them using very different tactics so there is more than one way to blunt a blade.”
“I thought Potter showed great naivety in the home game v Sheff Utd. Everyone knows their physical MO but for some reason he sent out a formation that was easily overwhelmed in midfield – Wilder’s very well drilled journeymen playing to 110% of their ability made us look the load of soft Southern jessies (that we mostly are). Very curious for Potter as a coach with a reputation for selecting teams/formations to suit each game. So I see this as a one off game requiring a specific line-up and would play our big guys at the back, together with a combative midfield – with Alzate and Bernardo who can defend and also bomb forward. Sheff Utd will offer a very physical, direct, pressing game. We didn’t deal with Decoure running directly at 4-5 Albion players yesterday so we also need to show more grit and stand up to their physicality or we could get overwhelmed.”
“Feeling strangely optomistic about this one, SU not so strong at home, BHA time to re group, new player not sure r of score yet but a win on the cards”
“Feel so positive about this”
“Got a good feeling about this. Sheff Utd playing far too well, credit to them. Hopefully they will have an off day.”
“we’re due to give someone a beating.”
“Sheffield Utd are gash in reality, If we could score goals from more positions we would have been up there to. Unfortunately for us we can’t score and the club did nothing to rectify it in January.”
“Genius analysis mate. We’ve scored 31 this season…….sheff utd have scored ………28 !!”
“Sheffield Utd really aren’t gash. They’re very good, aided and abetted by extraordinary levels of hard work and positivity.”
“We’re one of the draw specialists in the League as are Sheffield, so I’m going for an optmistic 1-1. If the game’s on that is.”
“Didn’t think sheff looked that great against Bournemouth. If we work hard we can get a point”
“Sheff Utd were the better team by far”
“Very impressed with Sheffield Utd and hope they make it into the top 6, obviously without the need of beating us, they work so hard all over the pitch they press high but always leave a sweeper type player very deep and they are very narrow, we failed to exploit the space on the wing last time we played them so hopefully we will have learned the lesson and put in a shift.”
“Not confident we can get anything at Sheff Utd. They will out power us.”
“I fear we’re doomed playing against them.”
“We need a result much more than they do and hopefully we can upset the odds and scrape a draw. We will get nothing from them though unless we are disciplined (this is not West Ham we are playing). Try and keep it tight and safe for an hour and then go for it. Curtains if they lead.”
“Want 3 points from the next two matches. I don’t expect anything from this match. “
“I think a point would be something we all would be glad to achieve against a club like SUFC although the Albion desperately need a win and all three points. How did the Albion get in this situation after hiring a brilliant manager such as GraPott?”
“It’s impossible to predict when we can’t even guess more than 5 of the starting line up . . . . we won’t keep a clean sheet so there’s 1 for Shef Utd . . . . but we may score more”
“MOTM Sander Berge, runs the game …. post match NSC questions as to why the hell we didn’t sign him.”
“Wouldn’t it be great to have someone on our books who can whip in a cross like Oliver Norwood. Oh…”
“That’s harsh. I think many agreed and will agree that he wasn’t good enough for the prem at that time. Glad he’s done well but hindsight because he’s in a team who’s had a good season isn’t for me. Still wouldn’t be bowled over with signing him now. Stephens and Kayla were much better than him then.”
” just seen Sheffield United fixtures remaining. They can very easily take fourth. Next 3 are us, Norwich and Newcastle. Would have been villa in that too but they’re still in the cup and almost guaranteed a quarter final spot.”
“Let’s hope Sheff Utd get a bit carried away with thinking of this, and lose a little focus for the next game.”
“I can see Sheff Utd stumbling a bit to get enough goals to maintain 5th.”
“I reckon Sheffield United have a great chance of reaching 4th place. They have a great team spirit and huge amounts of energy. Do I want them in the Champions League? I don’t think so, it would be embarrassing.”
“I think Spurs will finish 5th, Everton 6th and Sheffield United around 9th or 10th”
“I’d like Sheff U to break into the top 4. The football establishment needs constant reminding that football exists outside of the “Top” 6. Caveat: after they’ve been derailed by a “sensational” Albion performance at Bramall Lane”
Here I take a look atBlades players out on loan. Unfortunately Regen Slater and Sam Graham have spent most of the season out injured whilst Marcus Dewhurst has yet to make his debut for Carlisle.
“Ravel Morrison will be a massive success at Boro under woodgate. Woody knows the score, coz hes had his own problems in years gone by, so he knows the sketch. Tell ya man the beginning is now for Rav at the mighy reds.”
“I said this when he signed he’s been a total bellend through his career but what might have turned his attention to boro is woody who can give him his experience of over coming his bad habits away from the field my judgement is out on this one could sure woodys qualities”
“I think it’s safe to say he’s gonna need a game or two to fully get up to speed. He’s been fine so far.”
“seems neat and tidy enough”
“Looks ok”
“Terrible first 20 mins, didn’t look a footballer at all, then he started to get on the ball and ping it about. He was the one midfielder that was using the width and finding the Fbs”
“I don’t know why we took Ravel off. He’s the only one in the team comfortable with the ball at his feet.”
“Howson and Ravel are the only ones Who offers something when we have the ball”
“Looked alright today if it weren’t for that donkey heneghan getting sent off for no reason we’d of won comfortably”
“thick, clumsy dickhead.”
“He can go for me, we just have such a shite defence he stands out better but he’s a donkey.”
“Ben Heneghan hasn’t had a good game since we extended his loan, cost us again today.”
“What’s happened to Heneghan these last couple of months? Erratic form and now a needless red card. Time out of the side might not do him any harm.”
“been all over the place recently”
“Heneghan has slyly been a liability for weeks now what’s going on.” “I really like Heneghan but he’s been a bit suspect for the last few weeks now.”
“Glad someone said it iv been thinking the same since tranmere away where he got bullied”
“No one can slag this lad off he works hard every game. Yes hes made a few mistakes but who hasn’t and today the red card was one of them”
“He will always be one of us. Hope he signs the contract and takes us up next season”
“Hope he signs in the summer”
“We will not win the war with Duffy and Bogle”
“You can also see from Duffy that it is a good ball-solid player. But yeah. 34 years and looks a bit on the heavy side. Hope that a way will be found that Duffy can use his creativity to serve Boggle and Summervile.”
“Duffy also good, mobile and looking for openings”
“Boggel and Duffy are a bit worried, a bit too short to judge them, but a lot more threatening than Necid.”
“Laurens de Bock and Duffy, the greatest European talents a few years ago and now let to Ado to fight against relegation in the Netherlands. It can go crazy in the life of a soccer player”
“Mark Duffy is really bad. Always leave the pass line to Dumfries open, which happily rumbles over it every time”
“Send Duffy and Spence back.”
“A quality debut”
“That Bryan looks a player, I like him shallot”
“Bryan looks like a prize onion. A shallot some might say…”
“Kean Bryan MOM” “He was outstanding”
“love Bryan quality centre half”
“Kean Bryan looks a find!”
“Kean Bryan. Player.”
“Awful defending from Bryan for their goal”
“He needs to win more headers at the back”
“Only second game that Nsiala and Bryan plays together so some mistakes are bound to happen. ”
“Callum Robinson has changed this side”
“How good is Callum Robinson though”
“Callum Robinson is a superb footballer, been the piece we have had missing since the Diangana injury. His time here will only make him a better player with the attitude he has”
“I have a feeling he’ll be an integral cog in the wheel during the run in great business”
“Robinson outstanding”
“Callum Robinson is a lovely football player”
“Few shouts for Man of the Match today but Callum Robinson for me. He has given us that extra dimension that we’ve been missing. Real energy, goal-threat and seems to have a great understanding with HRK, Krov and Matheus. Softened the loss of Grady big time. Great loan”
“Robinson has had three solid games, a breath of fresh air”
“Robinson was fabulous today”
“Robinson gives us so much going forward”
“what a excellent loan signing was brilliant today”
“Robinson MOM by a mile”
“Love Robinson he is just a brute of a player”
“He’s combined very well with Kron, Pereira and Townsend to create more attacking opportunities. Already a popular figure with other players based on their interactions on field”
“I thought Nathan Thomas was absolutely immense yesterday. A different player to a little while ago. I’ve always like his style of play, who wouldn’t , he can create a bit of magic from nothing, but like others I have sometimes questioned his fitness and will. Yesterday, particularly in the second half he just kept going. Every time we broke forward it was him, running into the box and shooting, running forward and passing. Nothing came off yestrday, on other days it could be another hat trick.” “Thomas is playing exceptionally well atm”
“Thomas skinned his man every time he had the ball”
“we all know on his day he can be a match winner, but he really needs to learn when to shoot and when to lay the ball off to a team mate in a better position.”
“Described as an enigma…sums him up perfectly. Awesome v FGR, v Cheltenham a plethora of heavy touches, poor choices and woeful set pieces. Not his best game by a long way but next game could be the total opposite.”
“tried always an option, but not good enough. Was his man with the assist from the goal, not sure given how poor he is defensively why he’s not left up at set pieces.”
“A pretty anonymous debut. Starved of service, yes, but did blaze his one chance way over the bar from inside the box after arguably our best move of the game.”
“Smith looked lively but didn’t get the service and was isolated as well.”
“Cant really judge him yet”
“Looks decent”
“Sponsors’ Man of the Match and with good reason. Defended well for the most part and created quite a few chances, including winning the penalty, through his driving forward runs on the left. He’s got a successful career ahead of him at a higher level than this.”
“Fully justified BBM’s controversial decision to play him at centre-back rather than Keohane over the last few weeks. Has the pace and strength to play this role effectively against dangerous opponents and was terrific in his reading of the game throughout”
“Weird he was filling in at centre half despite being one of the most successful crossers this season in League One.”
“He’s phenomenal”
“Not his best performance either and I wonder if he has maybe been rushed back from the knock he picked up”
“He was ripped to shreds against Sunderland”
“He was turned inside out more times than I can mention”
“Parkhouse didn’t do anything! It was his 1st start so i’m willing to give him benefit of the doubt.”
“Didn’t offer anything”
“Parkhouse looks what he is a big lump who has been playing in the Irish league! Feel sorry”
“Parkhouse (Shithouse in my opinion)”
“I thought Parkhouse tried, we was basically just asked to impersonate Cassidy”
“Why isn’t Parkhouse starting? We loan out Cowley and get another “goal scorer” on fire and we don’t start with him.”
“Parkhouse not even in the squad?? Our great new saviour striker not playing… injured already??”
A selection of quotes from neutral fans on Sheffield United’s season so far
Arsenal Fans
“Well done Sheffield if keep going like this they’ll be at least in europa next season. “
“Sheffield could make top 4 with the rate they’re going.”
“Sheffield United deserve so much credit, they are 5th in the league! It isn’t after 5 games, it isn’t after 10 games…it’s after 26 ****ing games…outstanding from Wilder.”
“Fair play where its due they deserve all the credits so far!”
“We should keep an eye on Wilder.”
Spurs Fans
“Sheffield united’s run in is good. They’re well in it for that last top 4 place.”
“Sheffield United are only two points off Chelsea in fourth, I don’t care what anybody says this has to be getting to the Chelsea players.”
“Sheffield in the Champions League would be hillarious”
“Well if we aren’t to get top 4, I hope S United do”
“Sheffield’s crossing is just unbelievable”
“Berge looks very average so far. Gave the ball away in lead up to Bournemouth goal and then went straight to sleep allowing the attacker to get the cross in. Based on that game, a midfield that consisted of him and Tanguy would be called ‘can’t run, won’t run’! Sander doesn’t look the most mobile”
“Dunno why lunstrum is getting benched recently, twice now he’s come on and done v well. Plus messing up my fantasy team”
“I’ve had a dislike of them after getting beaten up outside bramall lane when a student.”
Everton Fans
“Frustrating to think where we may have been this season, had we not dropped points to the smaller teams (Norwich, Sheff Utd, Brighton, Newcastle)”
“Sheff Utd are impressive but I doubt they’ll stay above us.”
“It’s testament to how rubbish the league is this year when we’re actually contending for Europe. Credit to Sheffield United though: they’ve done well!”
“I wonder what the media would say if we have a really good set of results in the next 4 matches and passed by the heroes of current media, their favourites Sheffield Utd?”
“It will be a few years and a miracle performed by Carlo before we are accepted as on of the “top” clubs. Even Sheff Utd will have to repeat this season for two more years before they get to be a member. Leicester are just about inside the door”
“Sheffield united I feel are a one season wonder”
“For where we aspire to be, players like Berge are not good enough”
Wolves Fans
“Would be a great testament to footballs to the team and the manager if they finish with Europa league. I wish them all the best.”
“Sheffield United are good. Very good. It’s brilliant to have teams like them, Leicester and ourselves putting the cat right among the pigeons.”
” fair play to Sheffield United, what a fantastic team they are currently. Guess like us last season (and this!) lots of their top players getting speculatively linked with moves away.”
“Sheffield United are having a fantastic season and look a very good team. Better than us is hard to say. Very few of their players get in our side and yet they may well finish above us and some of the “big 6″.”
“I don’t think Sheffield Utd are better than us? They’re in better form… very good side of course.”
“Sheffield United aren’t better than us. They have had better luck with injuries (mostly playing the same team like us) and not had a dozen extra games due to EL. They absolutely earn their place in the top 6 right now but I don’t think they are better.”
“Sheffield United aren’t better than us, they’re ahead of us in the table at the moment but they’re not a better outfit. This isn’t saying they’re not a good side, they are, they work as a team and they fully deserve to be pushing towards the top six but I expect that at the end of the season we’ll be above them.”
“As long as we finish above them! I am not fond to be honest. Hit the deck quicker than some of villas players so that’s saying something.”
Man City Fans
“can’t believe how they keep grinding out results they are utter shite”
“They are dire”
“Sheffield United really are shit, Fleck aside”
“Absolute Sunday morning stuff.”
“They didn;t deserve to beat Bournemouth. Lovely goal though”
“Regardless still some achievement at this stage of the season for sheff utd to be fifth and two points off a champions league spot ( although having played a game more )”
“There’s a lot of very ordinary sides in the PL. That being said, credit must go to Wilder and Howe. Wilder for getting his side to punch above their weight this season”
“Rag but Henderson is deffo better than Pickford”
Southampton Fans
“Genuinely looking forward to the last game of the season to see Sheffield Uniteds away support as they’ve been bigging it up so much! Was shocking atmosphere when we were there earlier in the season, so it’ll be their chance to prove themselves!”
“Feels like Sheffield Utd have had winnable games for weeks and weeks”
“Sheffield United They don’t want to stand still.A team safe from relegation and target achieved but still want to strengthen yet saints fans should be happy as we are nearly safe.Such a small club mentality. “
“If Sheffield United could sign Sander Berge then why couldn’t we?”
Watford Fans
“Can you not see we need to spend ! Sheff Utd spent 20m on a player in jan & it’s there 1st season up in prem”
“Proper team Sheff Utd. Didn’t start either half particularly well but ground out a good result. It’s embarrassing watching the Bournemouth players shouting and screaming as they go to ground looking for cards. As the United players just popped straight up looking to get on with play. So hope they’re one of the three to get relegated. “
“Never thought I’d celebrate a late Sheff Utd goal like that. What a f-kin state this season has turned me into.”
“Go on Sheffield United! Want them to win for Watford reasons but also they are playing the game properly not throwing themselves to the floor like Bournemouth.”
“Gosling deserved worse than a few sarky comments for trying to get a Sheffield United player who never touched him sent off”
Man Utd Fans
“It’s been fun to watch them this season”
“Sheffield United are definitely getting that 4th spot.”
“Sheffield United’s crossing is next level, cant beat a good cross, causes so many problems especially when u have players in the box with a quality delivery”,
“Chris Wilder has Sheffield so well drilled it’s incredible. A clear style of play + results will have them play Europa League next season if they keep on going like this”
“Nobody can tell me Sheffield United’s players are superior man for man compared to our side – makes all the ‘I need time’ propaganda look absolutely silly from Ole and co. Just shows you what an impact a competent coach have on ANY set of players.”
“If life were FIFA, this would be true, but it’s not. Players aren’t an accumulation of their stats. Mentality matters just as much. Sheffield United may not be technically superior, but they are mentally stronger, and that makes a difference”
“Mean while ole needs 200 million player in each position to beat Newcastle and Bournemouth LMAO”
“Sheff Utd play the right style of football and every single player gives 100% game in game out. Shame that we don’t have these levels of performances, where every single player digs deep.”
“Sheffield came from the championship and they’re a better COACHED team than us”
“I dont think Sheffield United got a star creative player in their team, they’re just well coached”
“Isn’t it funny that Sheffield United have a better manager than the Great Manchester United”
“On paper we got the a better squad than sheffield but they playing fantastic football than us. Ole with his excuses will never take us anywhere”
“It’s good seen dean Henderson playing so well for Sheffield United… but well enough to see him getting them into the top four… qualify for the champions league…only for him to come back to us in the summer playing the Europa league… life is funny”
“We’re 4 points behind sheffield united but our assistant manager is out there tweeting like we’re on top of the league table”
Norwich Fans
“They are the team of the season by far.”
“Fair play to them. Done brilliantly so far, a European spot would be a great reward for them”
“Fair Play Sheffield United. Makes me think what might have been if Norwich would have pushed the boat out not crazily but just a touch.”
“To be fair Sheff U been building squad for +5yrs & have very wealthy owner, we don’t!! Very poor investment previously & lacking in stability over same period as Sheff U. Keeping what we have now & growing will finally give what we the fans crave.”
“Sheff Utd have spent quite a lot..”
“Getting wound up about sheff utd being 5th & us bottom really is the biggest waste of energy I can think of. There are too many differences between the clubs to list at this point in time plus we’re half way through a 5 year plan, I’ll wait to judge”
“Whilst important to credit Sheff U for a fabulous season, it’s also worth mentioning that had they suffered the same defensive injury crisis we did, they’d also sit at the foot of the table. Nothing beats a big old dollop of good luck in football.”
“They’ve been absolutely amazing but the one time this season they had to make wholesale changes to their defence they let in 3 goals”.
“So without injuries you think we’d be 5th in the league? …. lol”
“Many parallels between our 2011/12 season (1st back in the PL) and Sheff Utd.’s current one. Both managers dragged the clubs up from L1 with squads built from lower leagues. Will Wilder be tempted by the Villa job in the summer?”
Aston Villa Fans
” think what wilder is doing w Sheffield United is the model for any team wanting to be competitive in the PL”
“Would be hilarious to see Sheff Utd and Leicester making the top 4 and Man Utd, Chelsea and Spurs miss out.”
“Was watching Sheffield United this weekend and while they obviously have signed new players as well, they are very drilled in their roles and it looks like they know each others movement to a tee. And a large part of this in my mind is having the same manager and squad over several years. ”
“Sheffield Utd have mature senior pros forming the spine of the side – Basham (31), Fleck (28), Norwood (28), Sharp (34), McGoldrick (32). It’s a much more mature group of players than ours, and all those senior players were there last season.”
“Sheff United 5th. Incredible from them. Fair play. 10 wins to our 7. Makes you think where we could’ve been with a striker. Not saying we would be up there but at least safe.”
“Chris Wilder has done a fantastic job with Sheffield United this season, but I wonder if some injuries will bite them at the end of the year and if they’ll start falling down the table.”
“I’m quite sad that Sander Berge ended up at Sheffield U”
Newcastle Fans
“They’re safe now”
“Got a lot of time for Sheffield United (family members who support them) but I don’t think 40 will be enough this year. We may see a record points haul for a relegated side. BUT they’re in a superior position to many. Well done and good luck to them.”
“Wilder bring a fresh mindset to the players and the league, no praising of effort or commitment, that’s a given. Hope they get into Europe, they deserve it.”
“I think Bruce has done a good job since taking over . I don’t however agree with this not having the players to play a different way. Brighton ,sheff Utd don’t play that way . I think we actually have some decent technical players and we don’t play to their strengths”
“How can a newly promoted side in sheff united made up of championship and league 1 players play a much better brand of football (with success) but we cannot. Chris wilder manages to do it with less tools.”
“Wilder is a vastly superior coach. Bruce still has no identity or playing style after 6 months and several players were not here under rafa.”
“we got the wrong Sheffield manager in the summer that’s definitely for sure!”
“I’m all for crediting Sheff Utd for having a great season & yes good on them for breaking their transfer record today but there’s still not one of their players I’d have in my Newcastle team”
“Certainly not McGoldrick but the rest of their strikers are better than what we have. The new guy Sander Berge is coming in with a lot of expectation. Overall though they are stronger than us in striker area so it’s unfair to say we wouldn’t take at least one striker off them”
“ill never take away Liverpool success this season but.. how bad have all the other teams been. I mean without doubt Newcastle (my team) will be in trouble next season if teams get back to winning/ more consistent form. Newcastle Sheffield proving good contenders through consistency.”
Liverpool Fans
“Storm Ciara stops the whole of the UK but not Sheffield United”
“I’m a bit in love with this Sheff Utd team.”
“The definition of hardwork, organisation & preparation. You dont need to have the most expensive players to compete in this league, you just need players that know their jobs & give 100% each game. Full credit due to all players & staff at the only decent “United” in the league!”
“Exceptional job, really like Sheff U and Chris Wilder. Seems great team spirit and a load of neat and tidy players. More power to them “
“Met a couple in Turkey last summer and they both thought SUFC would do ok but most likely get relegated. For them alone I’m over the moon for this side. And by the way, so much more than just a well organised defensive team!”
“Would love to see Messi turn up for a Champions League game at Bramall Lane.”
“Wilder has done it with a largely Championship level squad, and a few good additions. Meanwhile, the likes of Hodgson are whinging about no signings and battling relegation, when they’ve got more than good enough resources to be comfortable.”
Leicester Fans
“You can tell it’s a winter break when Sheff Utd and Leeds are the main talking points in the football world over the last week”
“Sheff Utd are playing similar to the way we did when we won the title fair play to them”
“We had some of the best players in the league. They haven’t got a single player who’d make a top half side. And most wouldn’t make a bottom half side. It makes their achievement very impressive. But don’t kid ourselves that they are any good.”
“They have team full of players who’d make a top half side, that top half side being Sheffield United.”
“Hope Sheffield United can sneak into the top four, big credit to Chris Wilder. What a job he’s doing there!”
“Love to see the mass panic of the big clubs when Leicester and Sheffield United get in to the Champions League. Man Utd and Arsenal will be screaming, banging on the doors of UEFA begging for closed shop European Super League.”
“Individually they aren’t anything special but the system and the way the players compliment one another is priceless and more effective than anything Man Utd and the like could try and simply purchase off the shelf. They don’t need the so called technical ability from key players, as long as Wilder keeps them progressing and bringing in the eight players who can play their unique system then they’ll stay a top 8 team comfortably. It’s great to see. ”
“They don’t have great individuals but they’re a good team who nail the job they’re told to do. There are many ways to skin a cat. The real test will come next year when people are more aware of what they do. Can they adapt. But right now, they’re a good team doing the business for their manager. “
“They aren’t very good”
“You don’t get to 5th after 26 games without being ‘very good’. “
“Only a fool writes off a team in their position with 12 games to go.There are plenty of fools about though.”
“I saw the same comments about us on every opposing teams forum in 15/16 – right before we played and beat them. It’s pure snobbery. “
“Sheffield United are brilliant, a very likeable team with a very likeable manager.”
“I’m glad Wilder called Bournemouth out for their play acting. When we played them I thought they were awful for it. Worst in the league for it”
“O’Connell should be considered for the England squad”
“Nobody’s really mentioning the likes of O’Connell though, I’d throw Baldock into the mix too, both worthy of a call up imo.”
“Henderson too”
“Henderson comes across as a right arrogant bastard but yeah he should be considered for England.”
“He’s way behind Pope. And Foster. But ahead of Pickford. But no prizes for guessing who Southgate likes best.”
West Ham Fans
“2 points off fifth place in Feb for the Blades. Whatever you think about that club in a general sense, that’s quite something”
“Most if the crap was from Kevin McCabe, much like the owners of our club”
“Champions League for Sheff Utd and relegation for us…”
“Time to bin the Tevez masks”
“They are having a great season and Wilder has done a superb job there – really building a team that knows what it’s good at and capable of. I know it sometimes looks folly when some people, myself included, said that top 6 was possible in the early part of the season – but they, and Leicester, are proving it.”
“Wilder should cut bait and ask his agent to take any ‘upgraded’ role in the summer (or during the panic stations that start in November for underperforming clubs). He’s done a brilliant job there but there’s no historical example of a team like that succeeding in the long term. Howe and Dyche could tell him a thing or two about not jumping when the planets briefly align. One ‘status’ club on your CV and you’re on the circuit forever. (Moyes is the one to speak to about that).”
“Why would he want to do that? He’s a Sheffield United fan. Who is to say he doesn’t go elsewhere and, bereft if his team, he can not replicate what he achieved, never mind pushing higher?”
“Good manager, shite club”
“let’s see how they get on next season”
“A lot has gone their way this season.. down next season.”
Chelsea Fans
“Sheffield United only TWO points behind us. TWO. POINTS. BEHIND.”
“good on them! Least they’ll be staying up”
“I wouldn’t mind if Sheffield United got a Champions League place instead if us”
“Well you arent a real Chelsea fan then”
“Sheffield was a tougher match than we initially thought at the time.”
” the only other on paper tough game left is away at Sheffield United all the rest are versus dregs”
“If Sheffield get top 4, then Wilder is a lock in for top 3 manager of the decade minimum, already”
“Why can fking Sheffield defend with nonames and we still defend like shit?”
Burnley Fans
“You’d have thought Sheffield will stay up now”
“Media darlings, Sheffield United, pretty much safe now. “
“If Sheffield United aren’t safe then I’m worried”
“I would think 39 will be fine although I suspect they’ll get a few more”
“Would be great to see Sheff Utd finish in the top 4. What a season they’re having! “
“Henderson just seems to be getting better each game in the Sheff Utd goal. With Heaton out injured can see him in the frame for an England cap and certainly in the squad. His shot stopping is quite sensational and a keen reason for the number of clean sheets his club are keeping “
“Henderson has looked a very good goalkeeper this season at Sheff U. Bet they wish they could sign him. “
“First season syndrome, nailed on for relegation next season”
“That taxi from Bournemouth to Sheffield must have cost a fortune for Eddies Barmy Army”
“Play acting from Bournemouth really was top 4 quality. “
“Real shame, feels like a missed opportunity as don’t feel Sheffield United were at their best. That being said they deserved the victory, they’re not where they are by luck. Hope they get Europe. We’ll bounce back.”
“I’ve seen us play better, I’ve seen us play a lot worse. It’s one of those games where a team challenging for Europe narrowly beat a team in a relegation battle.”
“As good as they were, the first goal was fortunate and the second one was poor from us. We could’ve done more with our first half chances”
“Didnt take our chances early and Sheff Utd slowly wore us down.”
“If the opposition work twice as hard as you there is a good chance they will win.”
“Sheffield United were not at their best and this feels like two points dropped.”
“They’re basically a respectable Burnley; they play similarly but actually have some talent playing the ball around on the ground as well.”
“Our rolling around in so called game management added the time Sheffield United for them to score at the end of the 1st half. Sorry, our diving around under basic challenges was a disgrace.”
“where did that 3mins of added time in the 1st half come from?”
“Our rolling around counted for most of it”
“I don’t like the rolling around we do.”
“I don’t think we rolled around that much tbh, maybe on a rewatch it’ll stand out more. I thought Sheffield were excellent tbh, much better than I expected them to be- but still beatable. We had a few clear cut openings that we did nothing with.”
“Congratulations to Sheffield United for being the best team since Brazil’s 1970 World Cup team…………..or so the last 2 hours of listening to these tw@s on BT Sport would have me believe.”
“the fair result would have been a draw. Simple as that. We had as many chances as they did after all. Haven’t seen much mention here of that brilliant save by Henderson from Fraser at 1-1, I believe that goes in and we win the game. Fine lines. Despite Owen Hargreaves wetting himself, Sheffield didn’t batter us at all. They actually had some spells of pressure and then the game evened off again. The game was lost because we switched off at the end .”
“”A good team?” Somehow these guys are being viewed as the second coming of 2015-16 Leicester. I saw nothing to convince me that they should be fifth in the table (except their 39 points, I guess).”
” I thought they were terrible for 30 mins, and then huffed a bit and got another lucky deflection in the box. However that was our fault for sitting back and inviting them on. Second half they did nothing, and scored a fairly well worked goal while we stood and watched them. Out played no. Out ‘desired’ absolutely.”
“fair do’s to them they just run all over you and pump high balls into the box and the pressure usually tells for them in the end.”
“Sheff United get the job done, but it’s not in a pretty way. The overlapping CB’s is a thing (media dine out on it) but it’s not why they are where they are. Essentially they just get it in the box and are physical”
“Not sure what’s ‘so refreshing’ about Sheff U. Perhaps it’s because pundits are seeing something different (bar Burnley) . They simply don’t piss about. They just get the ball into the box quickly”.
“They aren’t that good and we aren’t that bad. I thought we created more than them second half but we still managed to lose”
“they were bang average weren’t they, and we let them have 4 points.”
“Sheff U are not a better side than us on paper, which brings me back to lack of imagination, fitness provision and organisation from the management team.”
“I thought we played quite well against a good, organised side and another bloody HOMER ref”
“Threw away three potential points to a talentless, but workman like team.”
“we lost in a poor game where both teams made plenty of mistakes but they dealt with the mistakes well, you cant blame conditions as it was the same for both, the ref was shite and let alot go that would of normally been fouls. sheff utd are very much like we were apart from more physical (not dirty)”
“I’m not sure Eddie has a clue what to do with So Lankey. Its a little bit like when he didn’t know what to do with Mousset prior to us selling him on.”
“We have just 2 pts fewer than 2017/18 when we were 10th. 2 pts more this time only puts us 15th. We’ve won more games than Arsenal (10th), who’ve lost the same as Man City (2nd). Sheff Utd (6th) have scored 1 more goal. Chelsea (4th) have conceded just 4 fewer Funny old game”
“Weather for Sunday not looking good… high winds and heavy rain at times. The home game in August was spoiled by unseasonably strong cross-winds as well.”
“Could work in our favour now we have started to go more direct, can turn the game into a scrap.”
“not sure about risking King in what will be physical encounter”
“I’d bank anything on team v Sheff United being unchanged other than Steve Cook in for Lerma and a switch to 343. Eddie normally likes to match opponents up when they play 3 at the back.”
“They have had an awesome season, with a magnificent 23 GA. But only 26 GF. I could barely name three players if pushed, so it should be interesting watching. We defend well with the right line-up, midfield will be a challenge with Lerma absent but that was on the cards (bad pun alert) with him on 9 before last week – and I would almost prefer having him back against Burnley. I foresee 1-0 either way or maybe a 1-1 draw. Our game is sandwiched between Brighton-Watford and Man City-West Ham …. this will be a very interesting weekend.”
“Chris Wilder is a bloody good manager and really pleased Sheffield United are having a good season”
“Sheffield Utd should be tremendously proud of what they’re doing. But the PL circus meat grinder will knock them down and around in time. I’m sure they know that.”
“Not many teams getting it right…Sheff Utd maybe…with the momentum from promotion…just like us ..fresh and unknown! “
“Bournemouth are a strange side we always go through a bad spell and somehow start firing in goals at this stage of this season for some reason should be a good game with goals for both teams.The difference with Sheffield United and wolves from last season finishing 7th is wolves score more goals, whereas Sheffield United score by the odd goal or two and aren’t as clinical”
“If we don’t match Sheff Utd’s workrate and fight then we will lose its that simple”
“If we can get an early goal, this could really open up for us.”
“Play at our best and there are 2 points from Sheffield and Burnley”
“Sheff Utd love the Counter attack as do Burnley so we need to balance high tempo attack with defensive discipline.”
“The trip to Sheffield will be difficult; they’ve done some good business in January and are a tough side to crack open. Hate to sound pessimistic but that’s the game we’ll most likely lose out of the three games against them, Burnley and Chelsea”.
“Not sure if Zikovic will be playing as he has just recently signed for them from a Chinese club. But he certainly has pace”
“They have some new signings, one of which Berge is a club record fee and a very pacy forward in Richairo Zivkovic. But they probably will have to adjust to the PL. So Lee Mousset our old player and their leading scorer with 5 goals and leading with 3 assists will be one to watch.”
“They won’t care, they’re 6th.. But how did Sheffield United let Aaron Ramsdale go for £800k? Whether he’ll be a regular starter or not is another question, but he’ll certainly be a regular squad member for England going forward. Incredible for 21 years old”
“I don’t care what Sheffield Utd do…. Simon Francis is the original overlapping CB!”
“That Divvy 2 opener in 1987 was the only time we’ve ever beaten them, I think….”.
“Didn’t we play them at some point in the 80s while wearing Chelsea’s kit, or was that a different game?”
“0-0 draw in our promotion season. First time we had played a “big” club for years.”
“Another us v Sheff Utd fact is that despite only playing 15 league matches against them, we have played them in all four tiers.”
“I don’t know why I bother, frankly. Sometimes we’re lucky to get nil.”
“Hodgson must be gutted, one mistake away from a 0-0 draw.”
“Easy double over us”
“Our Midfield was woeful today. We were outplayed in both the Southampton and Sheffield matches. We desperately needed creativity… And today lacked any”
“We still look pretty blunt up top, but SU are a very good defensive outfit.”
“To be fair Shef Utd have a good defence and aren’t a bad side. But we haven’t got a player with any competence in front of goal.”
“We were technically better than them, but they were very well organised.”
“Sheffield United really weren’t anything special.”
“Got out shit housed today simple as that. Fair play to them.”
“Real shite house win that from Sheffield United from a game with nothing in it. Way it goes sometimes, decent from us for the most part. “
“Creatively they are the poorest team we have played this season. Organised? Yes, but they offered very little until we gifted them their goal. Thoroughly, thoroughly depressing.”
“They are cloggers and have a system on the occasions they get possession. It’s 90% guile and effort, 10% actual skill. Awful side, can’t stand teams like this in our top flight regardless of how much love you want to give them.”
“Ffs they’re not cloggers, they’re a decent team punching above their weight. Next season will be tougher for them.”
“Why will it be tougher? Surely decent players of skill will canter into the same position again. Or is it that they are organised cloggers punching”….
“I don’t like bigging up Sheffield United, because **** them… but I find it hard to deny that what they’ve done this season is impressive. It’s rare that any promoted team performs the way they have, so there’s more to it than “clogging” or simply being organised. Besides, it’s weird us criticising them for that when we’re hardly Barcelona or Brazil ourselves. We’ve basically been a kick and rush team for most of our time in the Premier League. I don’t want us to be cloggers, I want us to develop an identity that isn’t just get the ball to Zaha and hope for the best.”
“The fact is that on the balance of the season, they’ve played better football than us. Scored more goals, created better chances and likely had more possession. So again: what does it say about us when we’ve looked so ineffectual against them home and away. We’ve haven’t looked close to breaking them down, so it stands to reason that if they’re championship level cloggers then we must be lower championship level given how easily they’ve dealt with us”
“It’s not “US” that have looked ineffectual against them, it’s loads of sides. But the way they do it is awful anti-football. But if you like that then you must love Burnley and Huddersfield”
“I thought we were by far the better team against one of the top away teams in the Prem. They were a nasty time wasting fouling team who deserved nothing.”
“I bet Chris Wilder can’t believe his luck, Utd played awful and walked away with all 3 points! We play a truly miserable brand of football. People pay good money to watch that crap.”
“That’s 3 home games since the new year and we’ve lost to Derby, Saints and Sheff Utd without scoring a goal and never really looking convincing. Worrying times. Anyone who thinks we are safe from going down is deluded”
“Took my old man today. He said “why do Palace not attack down their right hand side?”. A simple observation from a man who watches very little football. We’re so unbalanced. It’s horrible. Fit Townsend will help somewhat, but we needed an attacking RB, we needed creativity from midfield. Complacent.”
“So didn’t deserve to lose today”
“Didn’t deserve that at all ffs”
“until they scored we were by far the better team. Its just we have a shocking striker.”
“Honestly, played well. VG’s first error and it happens I guess. This lineup was great but just want Max to start and I think we can create many more chances but inspiring game for me. Shows we can attack”
“Sheff Utd should have been playing with 10 men for over half the game and yet the ref tried to send Ward off!”
“As for Andy Madley, his incompetence knows no bounds. That was one of the most embarrassing refereeing performances I’ve seen at Selhurst”
“The ref was an utter joke. Booking Tomkins, nearly sending Ward off for a foul not even bookable, and letting SU get away with foul after foul, including one on Wilf that nearly took his legs off.”
“If we don’t take this lot seriously we’ll be in trouble. We need to be positive from the start.”
“Sheff United arguably a tougher game than the likes of Arsenal.”
“Got to be honest, Im not looking forward to it.”
“This is one game I am not looking forward to. One of our worst performance of the season was away against them. They play the type of football that gives us nightmares.”
“I don’t think we’ll match their intensity and they’ll take the points.”
“Loss written all over it”
“Who ever Roy picks it will be ultra defensive and hope we nick a goal same as always.”
“It will not make any difference who we pick, it will end up like the Southampton game with more then likely the same score, it’s just the way they play and what they’ve been doing away from home all season ..we sadly won’t like it at all and everyone on here will go bonkers again, expect nothing that’s what I advise all of you to do. “
“If we try as you desire to attack at will and in the same fashion as Sheffield United the score will end up even worse then the loss I predict, we have players who can only operate in the way they’re playing now, mainly because they’re not good enough to do otherwise. “
“I’m sorry but I’m still really on a downer from the Saints game and I don’t see an improvement in result for this one.I was at the Blades game earlier in the season and we were woeful, disinterested and just outfought and out harried. They’ll do exactly the same to us this time and we’ve shown recently we just don’t have the appetite for this type of game. I’m really not looking forward to it but I’ll be there all the same hoping for some kind of miracle that we actually play some entertaining football for a change. ”
“As Sheffield attack down the flanks Roy probably won’t go 4-4-2. More likely to stick to 4-3-3 with the two wide forwards helping out with defence on the wings.”
“Ayew can drop back to help out the midfield when needed and Wilf can have the freedom to roam. I usually would say I prefer him out on the wing but Sheff Utd effectively snuffed him out last time out and I think he and Ayew would make us more fluid. I also think this line up would give us better cover on the wings, which Sheff Utd seem keen to exploit”
“Man I love Chris Wilder and look how he speaks about us. Massive admiration for everything he’s doing at Sheffield United. Hopefully then don’t beat us on Saturday ffs”
“If you’d been told in August that we’d be 3pts behind Sheff Utd at this point you be thinking “oh shit” – until you were also told that Chelsea and Spurs would have lost more games than us and that we’d be above Arsenal as well.”
“Sheff Utd are said to be having a great season… they have 33 points??Just think 2 extra wins rather than losses Silly draws/// and that Wolves 2 pts lost, we would be 5th!!But two of those games we won had we lost, we would be 16th!!”
“Without a game being played, we have gone from 25/1 to 14/1 at best for relegation. Lose against Sheff United and things will start looking even worse. Where are all the people assuming we have been doing really well with one of the highest wage bills in the country?”
“I think staying up will require 44 points this season.”
“44 to stay up, would need some bizarre results”
“this is a season where the bottom teams are constantly taking points off each other. If this trend continues it will be less points required than usual to stay up not more. Be surprised if we need 38”
“Retsos only got fit again in the course of the first half of the season. Why would we let him go?”
“not willing to give up retsos at all, and if so, only with an exceptional offer that is significantly above market value. Anything else would be nonsense.”
“If we gave up Retsos, Dragovic and Danger in winter, Rolfes would have been able to get rid of 4 players (including Jedvaj) within 6 months, which for various reasons did not meet the requirements formulated by Carro. This may sound a bit hard, especially with Retsos and Danger (which I really like), because both of them had really bad luck with injuries. “
“Retsos needs game practice”
“I wish that the reports that he was released for winter are wrong. Would be really bitter if he should not prevail with us, because I see the greatest potential in this position compared to bender and wiser”
“Incredible why he never gets a chance”
“Just don’t understand why he gets so little time.”
“maybe because he felt hurt since his commitment and bosz wants to bring him back a little more carefully? who knows”
“He defensively shows why he is considered a talent.”
“Someone in the club has to whisper in Peter’s ear that Retsos was already a regular here at 19. In his eyes he is probably just some talent that has been hurt forever and is of no interest.”
“He has been remarkable after such a long break in the competitive game.”
“The boy is good, wide awake. Will prevail.”
“has already indicated his talent in a top European club in a top league. In addition, he is now a national player and versatile”.
“Found him defensively not that bad. Forward rather harmless”
“Solid at the back, not at the front. But don’t blame him. He is a trained IV and is primarily used in the AV positions.”
“His passing us strong, he is duel strong. As a full-back, you have to offer a lot offensively”.
“He is very tough”
“He showed a lot of light and shadow in his time, so I honestly don’t see any great increase in value. At most the long contract term would drive the price if someone absolutely wanted it”.
“He played his part um … solidly. It’s ok .. with the many racing pigs in the league that need to be raged, he has to sort his legs first.”
“He is 19 and just out of the A-junior age; still has eggshells behind his ears and understands hardly a word of German here … A talent – nothing more. At 27, that’ll be a top defender. As long as you will have to suffer one or two times while watching; normal for a training club …”
“The guy likes to make 1-2 hair-raising mistakes per game. In addition, the blind passes. If he only lifted his head, then these passes would also arrive. But well, he’s only 19 years old.”
“What good does it do if he plays well against once Hamburg and is otherwise always catastrophic? “
“He can do something with the ball. Presented a very neat re-launch of the Greek.”
