With the 2023/24 Premier League season about to kick off this weekend, The Hard Tackle assesses the prospects of Sheffield United.
The highly-anticipated 2023/24 season will kick off in a few days. And all clubs are putting the final touches to their pre-season preparations. As for the fans, they are getting their predictions in, with a few clubs featuring unanimously forecast for the top four and relegation zone. And Sheffield United will be one of the odds-on favourites for the drop, come May.
Sheffield United might not have an illustrious history as a first-tier team. But they have spent decades in the top flight. However, the Blades were actually one of the founder members of the Football League Second Division in 1892 before earning promotion to the First Division.
The South Yorkshire club subsequently spent over four decades in the top flight before getting relegated in 1934. After that, they yo-yoed between the top two tiers of English football before enduring a fall from grace in the 1980s.
As for their participation in the top flight during the Premier League era, the Blades have spent only five seasons in the competition, with their longest spell coming in League One. But after two seasons in the EFL Championship, Sheffield United will return to the Premier League in the 2023/24 campaign. And before we preview the upcoming term, let us look back at 2022/23.
The Prelude
Sheffield United spent the 2022/23 season in the EFL Championship after coming agonisingly close to returning to the Premier League at the first attempt. And they ensured they did not need to go through the playoffs grind again by clinching the second automatic promotion spot last term.
The Blades did not start the 2022/23 season well, winning just one of the first three games. But they did not bow out of the top-six places after Matchday 3, consistently remaining ahead of the competition despite losing 11 games in the campaign.
The secret to Sheffield United’s success was embarking on long unbeaten runs spanning ten games on two occasions. And apart from a six-game winless run shortly before the World Cup break, they did not have elongated spells where they failed to emerge victorious.
Beating their competitors for P2 also helped Paul Heckingbottom’s men. And Sheffield United finished a whopping 11 points ahead of third-placed Luton Town. So they were in the middle of nowhere, with champions Burnley ten ahead.
Squad Update
Sheffield United would have hoped to be more active in the market just before the start of the 2023/24 season. But the Blades have managed only four signings thus far in the ongoing transfer window. And apart from Auston Trusty, no other new arrival inspires much confidence.
But Trusty might be a trustworthy asset for Sheffield United, considering his exploits for Birmingham City FC last term. After all, the 24-year-old was the Player of the Season for the Midlands club in the 2022/23 campaign. So he should shore up the Sheffield United backline considerably.
From Media, Pennsylvania to the @premierleague.
The story so far for Auston Trusty. 📖🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/MRbDlVJWTj
— Sheffield United (@SheffieldUnited) August 3, 2023
But the jury is out on the credentials of Anis Slimane, Benie Traore, and Yasser Larouci. However, if nothing else, they will beef up Paul Heckingbottom’s squad while coming in handy when the games come thick and fast later in the season.
As for the departures, the Blades have lost several players who have been important for them in many seasons. Iliman Ndiaye’s exit will sting the most as he would have been their leading figure in the upcoming campaign. And after guiding Sheffield United back to the Premier League, they would have wanted the Senegalese international in the squad.
Meanwhile, the other notable departures were former captain Billy Sharp and Enda Stevens, two players who were pivotal to Sheffield United’s previous promotion-clinching campaign. In addition, Sander Berge has left to join Burnley. And his exit will leave a sour taste in the mouth of Sheffield United fans, especially considering the club he will potentially join.
Key Fixtures
The Blades are back! 😍@premierleague 🔜⏳ pic.twitter.com/gbkw41vAK3
— Sheffield United (@SheffieldUnited) June 15, 2023
The 2023/24 Premier League season begins favourably for Sheffield United, as they will face Crystal Palace (H) and Nottingham Forest (A) in the first two games. But the subsequent run will be tricky as a high-profile club will be up against them practically every other game.
August will end with Manchester City visiting them at Bramall Lane. Then September will feature tricky fixtures against Tottenham Hotspur, Newcastle United, and West Ham United. October will not get any easier either, with Manchester United and Arsenal being two of their three opponents. And the match versus Fulham at Craven Cottage will not be any easier either.
November should offer some respite, and they will fancy their chances of getting favourable results against Wolverhampton Wanderers, Brighton & Hove Albion, and Bournemouth. And December will also present some promising fixtures, as Sheffield United will face Burnley and Luton Town.
January and February will be crucial months for Sheffield United, as they will not face a single ‘Big Six’ team during that period. And while West Ham and Aston Villa will be tricky fixtures, the Blades need to win such games to ensure their survival.
The pattern of facing a big team in practically every alternate game will return in the last three months. So Sheffield United will not have the opportunity to build any momentum during the run-in. And every point will be of utmost importance if they are to avoid dropping to the EFL Championship straightaway.
The key dates in 2023/24. 🔑📅 pic.twitter.com/OKeyQ0DAaS
— Sheffield United (@SheffieldUnited) June 15, 2023
Key Players
Anel Ahmedhodzic
The defensive unit was instrumental in keeping Sheffield United in the Premier League a few years ago. The backline was so colossal that the Blades finished in the top half, showcasing promising signs for a bright future in the top tier.
So when their backline crumbled in the 2020/21 season, it was hardly surprising that the Blades finished rock bottom in the Premier League. That happened because their attack was not clinical or prolific enough to pull them out of trouble. The same issue remains to this day at Bramall Lane. Hence, the performances of Anel Ahmedhodzic will be crucial.
The Bosnian international was a pivotal figure for Sheffield United last season, turning out 40 times in all competitions. And apart from his performances at the back, he also chipped in with seven goals. Anything close to that output will be critical for a goal-shy Sheffield United.
Most importantly, though, Ahmedhodzic will have to play out of his skin to keep Sheffield United in the Premier League beyond the 2023/24 season. Failure to do so will produce another campaign akin to 2020/21, leaving the South Yorkshire club high and dry in the bottom half.
🇧🇦 Anel Ahmedhodžić – Sheffield United 22/23
2⃣9⃣ Appearances
5⃣ Goals
2⃣ Assists
1⃣9⃣ Wins⚽️ All competitions up to 26/02/23 pic.twitter.com/EcRYqRCk2g
— Hal – Sheff United Way ⚔️ (@HalTheBlade) February 26, 2023
John Fleck
As iterated earlier, goals might come at a premium for Sheffield United in the upcoming season. And the departure of Iliman Ndiaye does not help their case either, considering the Senegalese international was the only prolific attacker in Paul Heckingbottom’s squad.
So Heckingbottom will need every goal he can get from his midfielders and defenders. This brings John Fleck into the picture, even though the Scottish midfielder might not be an undisputed first-choice player for Sheffield United in the upcoming season.
The 31-year-old made a remarkable contribution from the middle of the park the last time the Blades were in the Premier League. And his contribution in the final third will again be critical whenever he finds himself on the pitch.
Season Expectations
Failure to make the necessary changes to the squad after securing promotion to a higher league often sets clubs up for failure. And Sheffield United will need to perform miracles to produce a campaign similar to 2019/20.
But we should forget a potential top-half place for a while, as finishing outside the relegation zone will take some doing. And with Paul Heckingbottom’s squad sorely lacking goals, his men need to play as much more than the sum of their parts to remain clear of the bottom three spots.
Sheffield United’s offensive unit will be the Achilles heel for them. And unless the Blades sign a prolific attacker to the squad, they will be up for a long season. That said, the defence might produce some miracles.
But it might not be enough for them to secure a spot in the Premier League next season. So we predict a difficult campaign for Heckingbottom & Co. which might end in relegation to the EFL Championship.
