Rival Lines
Match Preview: Sheffield United v AFCB
Podcaster Interview: Blades Pod
Twitter: @bladespod
Ben at Blades Podcast was kind enough to spare a few minutes to answer some questions ahead of the game on Sunday. I wanted to find out why Sheffield united fans felt they had been doing so well and if they were prepared for what lies ahead- top six finish, European football, FA Cup glory! It's not a bad time to be a Blade is it?
CC: What do you think has been the real secret of Sheffield United's great season?
BP: There's a number of factors but a lot of them come back to the manager and backroom team. Our fitness levels this season have been sensational and we've avoided any serious injuries (touch wood). As to our manager and assistant, we've tweaked our formation and style for the Premier League and reaped the benefits of becoming a team that can live without the ball and break quickly. At the same time, we've retained (and improved on) the skill levels we had in possession last season, allowing us to break presses by playing out from the back against even the top teams - but now we have the pace of Mousset or the target of McBurnie to give us something different if we need it.
CC: If the club got into the top six do you think it would be ready for European football or could it be problematic for the club in the Premier League next season?
BP: Honestly no way of knowing. We were told we didn't have the depth for the Championship, then the Premier League, and now here we are. The club has spent some money in the last couple of transfer windows and we're not slow to move players on and find better versions of them, even in positions where it might not seem urgent to do so (eg, a fifth centre-back). We've also seen players take big leaps forward under Wilder in their second years with us, so I'd expect a few of the newer players to do that next year and suddenly emerge as genuine first-team players rather than fringe ones.
CC: Which of your players were you most worried about losing in the transfer window just past?
BP: I was confident none of them were going anywhere, although I do think someone will severely test our resolve for Jack O'Connell in the summer. The left-sided centre-back is not only a superb out-and-out defender but is superb on the ball and going forward. We can't understand how Tyrone Mings is in the England squad ahead of him, put it like that.
CC: Have you any injuries ahead of the Bournemouth match?
BP: David McGoldrick has missed the last few games but may be back for this one - we tend to take our time with injured players which is part of the reason we don't have many recurring injuries. Other than that, everyone sounds like they're good to go.
CC: What would you tell Bournemouth fans to look out for if it is their first trip to Bramall Lane?
BP: The beer. Sheffield is a brilliant city to visit as an away fan, particularly if you're going to Bramall Lane rather than the other lot. The Sheffield Tap is on Platform 1 of the station and well worth a visit, and then you're a short stroll from a huge range of pubs and bars - all within about ten minutes' walk from the Lane.
CC: What is your score prediction?
BP: 2-0 Blades, which would probably finally stop some United fans fretting about relegation...
CC: Which three teams will be relegated this season from the Premier League?
BP: Norwich are too far gone, West Ham have a brutal run of fixtures coming up and a poor manager/no home advantage whatsoever. The third one is harder - I think Watford will be fine, and Villa seem to squeak out a result when they need it. From the outside, it feels like a lot of things are going against Bournemouth with the injuries etc - you've picked up some important results recently, but if you end this month in the bottom three (or close to it) then it could be a rough end to the season with the fixtures after that.
CC: Have you followed Aaron Ramsdale's career since leaving the Blades and do you think he could potentially be England's number one?
BP: I have followed his career with Bournemouth, it's been good to see him playing in the Premier League. It was a move that made sense for us at the time as we were a League One club. As to playing for England - he's probably the next man up after Pickford, Pope, Heaton and Henderson, would be my guess. 21 is still incredibly young for a goalkeeper so he has plenty of development time ahead of him - playing in the Premier League at such a young age can only help that.
CC: Excellent answers from Ben at Blades Podcast. I have to admit, Sheffield united were not one of the teams I expected to see in the top 10 let alone the top six at this stage o the season. They have been particularly hard to beat but Bournemouth must find a way past them this time unlike i the first game in the season that ended as a -1 draw. Slip up here and we know Bournemouth could find themselves back in the bottom three.
Match Preview: Sheffield United v AFCB
Podcaster Interview: Blades Pod
Twitter: @bladespod
CC: What do you think has been the real secret of Sheffield United's great season?
BP: There's a number of factors but a lot of them come back to the manager and backroom team. Our fitness levels this season have been sensational and we've avoided any serious injuries (touch wood). As to our manager and assistant, we've tweaked our formation and style for the Premier League and reaped the benefits of becoming a team that can live without the ball and break quickly. At the same time, we've retained (and improved on) the skill levels we had in possession last season, allowing us to break presses by playing out from the back against even the top teams - but now we have the pace of Mousset or the target of McBurnie to give us something different if we need it.
CC: If the club got into the top six do you think it would be ready for European football or could it be problematic for the club in the Premier League next season?
BP: Honestly no way of knowing. We were told we didn't have the depth for the Championship, then the Premier League, and now here we are. The club has spent some money in the last couple of transfer windows and we're not slow to move players on and find better versions of them, even in positions where it might not seem urgent to do so (eg, a fifth centre-back). We've also seen players take big leaps forward under Wilder in their second years with us, so I'd expect a few of the newer players to do that next year and suddenly emerge as genuine first-team players rather than fringe ones.
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CC: Are you worried that Chris Wilder is getting linked to new jobs now more often than Eddie Howe?
BP: No - it couldn't be much rosier at the moment. A messy ownership dispute was settled a few months ago, Wilder recently signed a contract until 2024 and the club just broke its transfer record for the fifth time in seven months. Plans are in place on and off the pitch for the continued progress of the club and I just don't see a situation where Wilder leaves unless there's a job he truly can't turn down - and teams like Man Utd are too myopic to consider him. With respect to someone like Everton, what do they really have that the Blades currently do not?
CC: Which game do you think has been Sheffield United's best result and why?
BP: On paper, the 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge, coming back from 2-0 down, is probably the standout. But I thought our dismantling of Burnley - a "proper" Premier League team - was just an incredible performance. We were 3-0 up at half-time and Burnley seemed utterly shellshocked at the speed and incisiveness with which we attacked. Their left-back was hauled off at half-time and we should really have made it 4, 5 or 6 in the second half.
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CC: Do you feel you are in with a big chance of getting to the latter stages of the FA Cup and does the competition interest fans as much as the Premier League?
BP: It is a very, very good opportunity to have a run. Reading away is about as winnable as you could ask for at this stage, and then you're into the last 8 where only Man City are probably a "no chance" opponent (I'm assuming Liverpool will continue to play half a team, at best). The 5th round doesn't take place until early March, and we're 99% likely to be safe by then if we're not already, so we can afford to take it seriously. I think a lot of fans weren't bothered for the first few rounds but our league form has meant we can suddenly look at it with a bit more interest.
CC: What have you made of Lys Mousset?
BP: Amazing. We can't believe how good he is. There was a lot of rubbish written about this being the "worst signing of the season" when he joined but he immediately looked fantastic for us. He's so fast, plus his touch, finishing and strength are first-rate - he scored with his first five shots on target with us, and has set up plenty of goals himself. The only issue is his fitness - he's still not good enough for much more than 60-70 minutes. If we can get him to peak fitness this summer... wow.
BP: I was confident none of them were going anywhere, although I do think someone will severely test our resolve for Jack O'Connell in the summer. The left-sided centre-back is not only a superb out-and-out defender but is superb on the ball and going forward. We can't understand how Tyrone Mings is in the England squad ahead of him, put it like that.
CC: Have you any injuries ahead of the Bournemouth match?
BP: David McGoldrick has missed the last few games but may be back for this one - we tend to take our time with injured players which is part of the reason we don't have many recurring injuries. Other than that, everyone sounds like they're good to go.
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BP: The beer. Sheffield is a brilliant city to visit as an away fan, particularly if you're going to Bramall Lane rather than the other lot. The Sheffield Tap is on Platform 1 of the station and well worth a visit, and then you're a short stroll from a huge range of pubs and bars - all within about ten minutes' walk from the Lane.
CC: What is your score prediction?
BP: 2-0 Blades, which would probably finally stop some United fans fretting about relegation...
CC: Which three teams will be relegated this season from the Premier League?
BP: Norwich are too far gone, West Ham have a brutal run of fixtures coming up and a poor manager/no home advantage whatsoever. The third one is harder - I think Watford will be fine, and Villa seem to squeak out a result when they need it. From the outside, it feels like a lot of things are going against Bournemouth with the injuries etc - you've picked up some important results recently, but if you end this month in the bottom three (or close to it) then it could be a rough end to the season with the fixtures after that.
CC: Have you followed Aaron Ramsdale's career since leaving the Blades and do you think he could potentially be England's number one?
BP: I have followed his career with Bournemouth, it's been good to see him playing in the Premier League. It was a move that made sense for us at the time as we were a League One club. As to playing for England - he's probably the next man up after Pickford, Pope, Heaton and Henderson, would be my guess. 21 is still incredibly young for a goalkeeper so he has plenty of development time ahead of him - playing in the Premier League at such a young age can only help that.
CC: Excellent answers from Ben at Blades Podcast. I have to admit, Sheffield united were not one of the teams I expected to see in the top 10 let alone the top six at this stage o the season. They have been particularly hard to beat but Bournemouth must find a way past them this time unlike i the first game in the season that ended as a -1 draw. Slip up here and we know Bournemouth could find themselves back in the bottom three.
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