UP THE BLADES!!

PRE SEASON

Played two strong sides against Lyon and Feyenoord, and was really happy with both results, beating Lyon the winners of the last seasons french cup, who played there strong first team against us, was the pick of results. Looking at the stats, some would say we was lucky, they had 13 more shots than us but only 4 more on target, we defended really well, we was unlucky if anything getting 5 players injured in first friendly of the new season! Against Oxford and Boston we played weak sides with a few early loan players getting a little run out.

INJURIES

Two first team players got serious injures Williams out for 4-5 month, while McDonald one of the key players ruled out for start of season with picking up a injury that will leave him out for 4-5 weeks.

TRANSFERS

As expected I was going to be busy and get a few loans in, 7 in total, also got experienced midfielder Zanetti in on a free, and a youth player in Smith. So know I have good enough squad with backup to challenge for promotion.

Really happy with these signings, Xisco should score a few in this league.

SKY BET ODDS

So the Bookies have us in 4th spot to get promoted, very good odds!

SEASON TICKETS

So The Blades sell a 3rd of there stadium capacity in season ticket sales, I think we will have an average crowd around 20,000 this season what will be great support!

AUGUST FIXTURES

So the season starts at home against York in the league cup, I will be fielding a weak side for this as all I want this season is promotion, some will say its negative but cup games can cost injuries, bans and fitness problems. I would like to think the team i put out will still do a good job.

League kicks off at home to Bournemouth on the Saturday 18th, then 3 days later we travel to play Leyton Orient away for a 7:45 kick off, we wrap up the month back at Bramall Lane against Scunthorpe.

What I want from the 3 opening league games is a solid 9 points, its hard to predict as no one has kicked a ball yet, but I think we have the quality to win them all.

THE TEAM

The team isn’t that big and I can only pick out a handful of key players who should be in the starting eleven.

GOALKEEPERS

All 3 are poor and look a little too weak to play at this level, both Long and Willis look to have a bright future but for now are lacking quality. Howard looks like he will have to take the number 1 spot if I fail to get a better keeper in on loan.

DEFENDERS

Looks the strongest part of the team, both Collins and Maguire should partner up well at center back, McMahon Looks the best out of the back four if I had to pick one, Maguire looks to have a promising future, looking to bring in a left back.

MIDFIELDERS

Both McDonald and Doyle look quality for this division, but the wide midfielders all poor, will be looking to bring in wide midfielders on loan.

STRIKERS

One stand out in Kitson, with Blackman been the only player to play along side him. will need to bring in two strikers minimum, Cofie had to terminate his loan he was very very poor.

I was born a Blade, so managing my supported club is a good challenge, there not in the best financial state and with there reputation they shouldn’t be in the 3rd tier of english football, so I hope to bring success to the club Iv supported since a child.

PERSONAL MESSAGE

With only a one year deal I will be giving it everything to get us promoted to the championship. The backroom team will not be changed.

EXPECTATIONS &  BUDGET

Promotion

£0 Transfer Budget £574 Wage Budget

ASSISTANT MANAGER RECOMMENDS FORMATIONS

Assistant manager Frank Barlow recommends these 3 formations and I think 4-4-2 will be the best to work with at Sheffield United.

They are nicknamed ‘The Blades‘, thanks to Sheffield’s worldwide reputation for steel production.[1] The Club play their home games at Bramall Lane, the oldest major stadium in the world still hosting football matches.
Sheffield United enjoyed possibly their most successful period between 1897 and 1902, winning the League in 1898 and the FA Cup in 1899 and 1902, with further wins following in 1915 and 1925. They were beaten finalists in the FA Cup in 1901 and 1936, and reached the semi-finals in 1961, 1993, 1998 and 2003. Their best performance in the League Cup was reaching the semi finals in 2003.
More recent times saw The Blades promoted to the Premier League in 2006, which shortly ended amidst controversy after just one season. Despite reaching the Championship play-off final in 2009, further decline followed, which saw The Blades relegated to the third tier of English football for the first time in 23 years.

Sheffield United play at Bramall Lane, near the centre of Sheffield. Bramall Lane is the oldest major league ground anywhere in the world, having hosted its first game in 1862.
Bramall Lane also hosted the world’s first ever floodlit football match on 14 October 1878 with two teams picked from the Sheffield Football Association. The power for the lights was provided by two generators.