FourFourTwo UK – September 2019

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BramallLanepubs K nOW...?

tendtobeforhome

fansonly,butThe

Globe, fiveminutes

fromthestation,

welcomestravelling

support– asdoes

thenearby’Spoons...

Definitelycheckout

@bladespod, whose

weeklypodcastis

well-receivedby

manyBladesfans–

andtheyalsohave

a nicesidelinein

analysisonTwitter.

TheBladesscored

thefirstPremier

Leaguegoal,Brian

Deaneburying

a headerpastPeter

Schmeichelin1992.

Agreasychipbutty. Thechantof

thesamename,sungtothetune

ofAnnie’sSongbyJohnDenver,

is alsoa regularontheterraces.

HaveapintofMagnet. Partof

theJohnSmith’sbrewery,it

remainspopulararoundSheffield,

if nottherestofthecountry.

FourFourTwo Season Preview 2019-20 33

JOHNFLECK

Fleckwasdubbedthe‘ScottishWayneRooney’

whenhecamethroughtheranksatRangers,

andthemidfielder’swandofa leftfootandlove

ofa tacklemakehimindispensableinthisside.

HehastheabilitytoshineinthePremierLeague.

KEY PLAYER

18

TH

VIEW FROM THE STAn DS

JAMES SOCIK @BLADES_ANALYTIC

This season will be different

because we won’t finish 2nd!

Save the date for Liverpool away

on New Year’s Day, for sure.

Our best celebrity fans are

Sean Bean and Jessica Ennis-Hill.

I don’t know who’s the worst, but

Mark Labbett, aka ‘The Beast’ in

The Chase, is... unique.

The opposition player I secretly

admire is David Silva. In my eyes,

he’s one of the best players ever

to grace the Premier League.

Our most underrated player is

Enda Stevens.

Our key player will be United’s

system. I know that’s a tactical

answer, but the way that we play,

there are many key players who

contribute – yet it’s the system

itself that can surprise opponents

and pin them back, allowing us to

build play. In terms of individuals,

keep an eye out for Jack O’Connell,

who’s the left-sided centre-half

in our back three. Not only is he

immense defensively, but he’s

often witnessed overlapping the

left-sided wing-back in the final

third, in order to put crosses in.

The fans’ view of the gaffer

is that he’s the most popular

manager in the Premier League.

Wilder is a Blades fan; he was

a Blades ballboy; he played for

the Blades in our previous best

era; and he came in three years

ago when the club was at its

lowest point since the 1980s,

galvanised the club, took us up

and never looked back. He’s

no-nonsense, he’s funny, he’s

a genius, he’s one of our own.

We’ll finish 15th, optimistically,

but I’d take 17th in a heartbeat!

FIVE-POIn T PLAn

1

TAKE A DEEP BREATH

It’s easier said than done, but given
United’s remarkable success since
Wilder’s appointment in 2016, it’s
vital they retain a sense of perspective
if things don’t go their way this season.
Defeats can take some getting used to
when you’ve spent three years winning
more than half of your league fixtures.

2

KEEP HOME FIRES BURNING

The Blades had the second tier’s
joint-best home record in 2018-19
and they conceded half as many
goals as Norwich, the team who shared
that honour. Forget trips to Anfield, the
Etihad and Tottenham’s new stadium

• Sheffield United’s Premier League
  status will be determined by results at
  Bramall Lane. Hosting Crystal Palace
  first up provides a decent chance to get
  some points on the board, before three
  of the ‘Big Six’ visit during the autumn.

3

RETAIN THE CORE

It’s unlikely that Wilder will make
the same mistake as Fulham last
season (partly because he doesn’t
have the budget). Although the gaffer
isn’t sentimental in his selections, the
likes of Mark Duffy, John Fleck and Billy
Sharp have earned the chance to test
themselves in the Premier League after
helping his team to two promotions in
three years, even if reinforcements and
top-flight quality are also required.

4

GIVE SHARP A CHANCE

On that note, club skipper Sharp
is the highest-scoring Englishman
in all professional football this
century and has amassed more than
300 appearances in the Championship
alone – but, incredibly, he has played
just 18 minutes in the Premier League.
Even at 33, it wouldn’t be a huge shock
to see him grasp his long-awaited shot
at the top flight with both hands, and
Wilder knows this. If inspiration is still
required, Sharp and Wilder need look
no further than Brighton’s Glenn Murray.

5

SHOW NO FEAR

Every club in the Premier League
deserves respect, and they’ll get
it. At the same time, the Blades
won’t run scared from anyone, and if
they do lose matches then it won’t be
without a fight – something that has
become a hallmark under Wilder.

SEASOn PREVIEW

AUGUST

10 Bournemouth (a)

18 Crystal Palace (h)

24 Leicester (h)

31 Chelsea (a)

SEPTEMBER

14 Southampton (h)

21 Everton (a)

28 Liverpool (h)

OCTOBER

5 Watford (a)

19 Arsenal (h)

26 West Ham (a)

NOVEMBER

2 Burnley (h)

9 Tottenham (a)

23 Man United (h)

30 Wolves (a)

DECEMBER

3 Newcastle (h)

7 Norwich (a)

14 Aston Villa (h)

21 Brighton (a)

26 Watford (h)

28 Man City (a)

JANUARY

1 Liverpool (a)

11 West Ham (h)

18 Arsenal (a)

21 Man City (h)

FEBRUARY

1 Crystal Palace (a)

8 Bournemouth (h)

22 Brighton (h)

29 Aston Villa (a)

MARCH

7 Norwich (h)

14 Newcastle (a)

21 Man United (a)

APRIL

4 Tottenham (h)

11 Burnley (a)

18 Wolves (h)

25 Chelsea (h)

MAY

2 Leicester (a)

9 Everton (h)

17 Southampton (a)

FIXTURES

They’ve rightly won a lot

of admirers, but do they

have enough quality?