Express & Star

Sheffield United v Wolves: Inside track on the Blades

Wolves open their top flight season away at Bramall Lane - find out all about the Blades here.

Published
Last updated

We spoke with Ben Meakin, host of BladesPod, and the team at Dem Blades, to get a proper look at Chris Wilder's side.

See what he had to say here.

How has the pre-season been at Bramall Lane, have the club been having successful preparations?

BM: It was always going to be a strange preseason, but ours started in farcical circumstances with our first friendly abandoned at half-time due to a waterlogged pitch.

The international break and a few injuries have meant that barely any of our actual first team have played meaningful minutes (apart from for their countries), so I have no idea how it'll come together on Monday evening.

DB: It was a rather disruptive beginning to the pre-season, with a game in Scotland abandoned after a heavy downpour. I think it's always hard to judge the success of a pre-season; the manager seems happy, so by that token, so am I.

What sort of transfer business have we seen the club make, who stands out?

BM: The number one priority was to sign our own goalkeeper to replace Dean Henderson, who returned to Manchester United.

Aaron Ramsdale is the man we've turned to following Bournemouth's relegation, after we actually sold him to the Cherries a few years ago.

He's a promising young English keeper who had a decent season behind a woeful defence last year; he has some big gloves to fill here but will surely relish playing behind better defenders back in Sheffield.

Aside from that we've added depth in positions we simply didn't have last season: Jayden Bogle is an exciting prospect on the right wing, and Ethan Ampadu on loan from Chelsea gives us cover at the back and in midfield. Both will push our starters hard this season.

DB: Aaron Ramsdale has been the stand out signing. The Blades needed to replace Dean Henderson fast, and we moved quickly to acquire Ramsdale who came through the youth ranks at Sheffield United.

We also needed to add competition to our left and right wing-backs, and Wilder brought in Max Lowe and Jayden Bogle. And we've brought in Ethan Ampadu on loan from Chelsea.

Evolution this year at Sheffield United, not revolution (for that, see Aston Villa).

It was obviously a hugely successful season for the club last time around, what are expectations like this year?

BM: We surpassed most people's expectations last year so I think it's understandable that a lot of fans are really just looking for consolidation this season.

Chris Wilder the head coach / manager of Sheffield United and Oliver Norwood of Sheffield United celebrate at full time. (AMA)

A similar campaign to last year where we upset a few of the big boys and finish comfortably in mid-table would be a fantastic achievement.

I'm expecting a slight dip as the rest of the league looks stronger this year on paper, but a drop from 9th to say 12th or 13th would represent a good return - although it would be the first time that Chris Wilder has finished a season in a lower position than the one before...

DB: There seems to be a spectrum of views. Some expect the same, some anticipate us to finish a little lower down the table, some expect us to do much worse. I fall into the category of 'stay up at all costs and I don't care if it's 17th'.

Chris Wilder has been rightly praised for the job he's done at the club, can we expect him to evolve his style of play this season?

BM: There's an emphasis on being more creative, but I don't think we have had the time or the budget to see a complete evolution.

We showed last season that the way we play works and I think we'll stick to that.

DB: Yes, a bit of evolution. The hard-working, high-pressure, gutsiness won't change. What might be tweaked is our route to goal. While I still expect United to build up with their over-lapping wing-backs, I hope we can mix it up a little, and use players who can dribble and run directly at the opponent.

Are there any injury worries heading into the game?

BM: Yes, quite a few: Sander Berge returned early from international duty with a knock. David McGoldrick was called up for Ireland but didn't feature after a foot injury. Jack O'Connell has missed all of pre-season, Lys Mousset damaged his ankle in our final friendly and Oli McBurnie is also feeling his way back.

It would be a surprise if any of the first four started on Monday.

Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder

DB: Sander Berge came back from international duty with some kind of knee injury. Oli McBurnie has an ongoing niggle, but I expect him to be fine. The big loss would be Jack O'Connell who was injured at the back end of last season - I am still unsure as to whether he's match fit.

What's your predicted XI for the game?

BM: Injuries will likely mean we're turning to backups at left centre-back, right midfield, and up front: Ramsdale in goal, Jack Robinson, John Egan and Chris Basham at the back, Enda Stevens and George Baldock on the wings, John Fleck, Oli Norwood and John Lundstram in midfield, and McBurnie and Billy Sharp up front.

DB: Ramsdale; Baldock, Basham, Egan, Robinson, Stevens; Lundstram, Norwood, Fleck; McBurnie, Mousset.

What have you made of Wolves from afar, how far do you think they can go this season?

BM: There are a lot of similarities between us: a close-knit, hard-working and talented squad with a tactically-astute manager.

I see Wolves as the "next stage" of United, in terms of where we should be aiming to get to over the next few years (albeit without the access to Portuguese talent that Wolves have).

I've really enjoyed watching them over the last few seasons, Coady is a big favourite with Blades fans due to his United connections, and Traore is one of the most exciting players to watch in the whole league.

John Egan of Sheffield United and Raul Jimenez of Wolverhampton Wanderers (AMA)

I think the aim still has to be top six for this side - the big clubs have all strengthened but I still fancy them to finish ahead of at least one of Arsenal or Spurs.

DB: I have studied Wolves enough to include Vinagre in my Fantasy Football team (cue a giggle if I've got that wrong), but my opinion on the team largely based on last season.

And last season I was hugely impressed across the board, from number 1 to number 9. I am hoping that the first game of the season is the best time to play, and beat, Wolves. Wishful thinking, perhaps.

Your match prediction?

BM: It's going to be hard for us with a pieced-together line-up. Both games last season were close, so I'll go with a similar score here - 1-1.

DB: I always go confident (predicted a 3-0 for the last minute 1-0 win last season), so this time around, Blades 1-0 Wolves.

You can follow BladesPod on Twitter here. Meanwhile, follow Dem Blades here.