The mother and father of all hangovers – Oppo Profile Friday, 7th Nov 2025 12:03 by Clive Whittingham Sheff Utd failed to win promotion last season despite accumulating 92 points, and the hangover from that play-off final disaster against Sunderland has been substantial with relegation to League One now a distinct possibility - @BeastlyOli from @SheffUtdWay is our oppo fan this week. Let's take it in order... Sacking Chris Wilder in the summer and replacing him with Ruben Seles, thinking at the time? At the time it felt like questionable timing but possibly a positive step forward. Wilder had made us a very successful but functional team last year that was lacking some excitement. There had also been discipline issues (we got around £500k fines) last season. So, fans could see the logic in a change - even if most did disagree with the timing, because let’s be right sacking manager after 90+ point season is a huge call. And then y’know the owners got their first choice - by recent reports the only person they even interviewed- and Ruben Selles was young, highly rated and promised exciting football. What could possibly go wrong? What summer transfer window activity was done? What was left undone? How's the "AI recruitment model" going? We lost key men in Anel Ahmedhodzic, Vini Souza and our abundance of loan players who played a huge role in getting us to the play off final. We didn’t replace them. Early signings were loans that were led by Selles (Barry, Bindon) none of which look up to the level. AI identified some players that were signed and promptly forgotten about - Zätterström is yet to play a minute this season despite our defensive issues - however the one bright spark in AI recruitment is Djibril Soumare who finally looks ready to contribute and has had a good last few games. Before the window was over though the baby went out with the bath water and we went out on a supermarket sweep to get as many defenders as possible. Japhet Tanganga is undoubtedly an exciting signing - despite his difficulties so far this season - while our raid on Luton for Mark McGuinness & Tahiti Chong looks more and more like panic set in by the game. Up front we lost Kieffer Moore - currently tearing it up for Wrexham - decided not to sign Oli McBurnie - currently tearing it up for Hull and kept Tom Cannon - currently making me tear my hair out at every opportunity. Danny Ings came in but looks every bit a 33-year-old frequently injured free agent signed after the window closed. Ins >>> Nils Zätterström, 20, CB, Malmo, £3m >>> Ehije Ukaki, 20, RW, Botev Plovdiv, £500k >>> Mihail Polendakov, 18, RB, Septemvri Sofia, £500k >>> Mark McGuinness, 24, CB, Luton, Undisclosed >>> Tahith Chong, 25, AM, Luton, Undisclosed >>> Japhet Tanganga, 26, CB, Millwall, Undisclosed >>> Alex Matos, 20, CM, Chelsea, Undisclosed >>> Danny Ings, 33, CF, West Ham, Free >>> Ben Mee, 35, CB, Brentford, Free >>> Jairo Riedewald, 29, DM, Unattached, Free >>> Louie Barry, 22, LW, Villa, Loan >>> Tyler Bindon, 20, CB, Forest, Loan >>> Djibril Soumare, 22, DM, Braga, Loan Chieo Ogbene, 28, RW, Ipswich, Loan >>> Ben Godfrey, 27, CB, Atalanta, Loan Outs >>> Vini Souza, 26, DM, Wolfsburg, £14m >>> Anel Ahmedhodzic, 26, CB, Feyenoord, £6m >>> Kieffer Moore, 32, CF, Wrexham, £2m >>> Jack Robinson, 32, CB, Birmingham, £150k >>> Rhian Brewster, 25, CF, Derby, Free >>> Jefferson Caceres, 22, LW, Dunfermline, Undisclosed >>> Rhys Norrington-Davies, 26, LB, QPR, Loan >>> Ivo Grbic, 29, GK, Karagumruk, Loan A 4-1 defeat on day one and a Phil Brown team talk on the pitch not an auspicious start, but why did it go so wrong so quickly for Selles? Sacking fair enough? Is he totally to blame here? He was always on a bit of a hiding to nothing - following Wilder and such a winning season, being under an ownership with no plan or experience and a transfer window which saw the squad go backwards in the summer - but my word he didn’t help himself. We actually played alright against Bristol City the opening day and it’s fair to say his on pitch remonstration didn’t get any positive responses from the players. From that point onwards four games, four defeats, no goals scored, eight goals conceded - the players weren’t having him, the fans didn’t want him, the ownership were MIA. A recipe for disaster. So, yes, he had to be sacked. No question. But no, he’s not entirely to blame for why that all went so wrong. And in many ways he was always set up to fail. Returning to Wilder just weeks after sacking him. Wild. What did you make of that decision? Bizarre. But probably the only decision available to the owners that’s the fans would have accepted. The owners had bet the farm on Selles and it was an abject failure. At that point Bramall Lane needed a pick me up, needed a unifying voice and ultimately needed Chris wilder. But, I said it at the time and will say it now, this needs to be the final time we go back to the well. Blades in the league so far… What's he changed? How have things been since? A few positive results but it doesn't seem to have moved the needle that much... It’s a good question. Wilder has nine points from nine games but frankly on the pitch we still look like a team bereft of confidence and sleep walking to relegation. We’re creating more chances - and there’s a level of competitive now to the team that was completely missing earlier in the season. But it’s the same old issues - defenders being unable to defend - and the mental weakness in the squad is tearing us apart. We won back-to-back games v Watford & Blackburn and we’re 2-0 up at Preston after 20 minutes. Since then we’ve conceded nine, scored two and lost three out of three - including turning that 2-0 lead into a 3-2 defeat at Deepdale. Where is the team strong and weak? Where is the team strong? Where is the team weak? How much time have you got? The goalkeeper situation is a massive risk ahead of the game on Saturday. Michael Cooper - who lowkey is having a very poor season himself - is potentially out injured and his replacement Adam Davies was to blame for one if not two goals in our defeat against Coventry. Tanganga is playing right back and looks completely lost. We have tried a hybrid 4/5atb system and it’s leaving him isolated and out of place. At CB Mark McGuinness has the turning circle of a bus, so a long ball over the top regularly catches him out. In midfield we lack any physicality and are easily overrun by a team with speed and power. Sydie Peck has taken several steps back from last season. Up front we are just lacking in any creativity from the wings. Only Callum O Hare is capable of any creativity and everything good happens through him. Best and worst case scenarios from here? Best case scenario - we get into mid table safety and end the season in a comfortable position away from the threat of relegation. Worst case scenario – League One awaits. And with every game this looks a more and more likely outcome to a horrible season. Revised expectations for the season? In August I said I couldn’t see any scenario in which we didn’t finish in the top six. That aged well. Right now my expectations? Are that we stay up. But just. And I am in absolutely no doubt that we’re in a relegation battle. Links >>> Sheffield United official website >>> Bramall Lane ground guide >>> Blades Ramble — Contributor’s YouTube channel >>> The Sheff Utd Way – Contributor’s Website/Channel >>> S2 4SU — Message Board >>> Sheffield Star — Local Press If you enjoy LoftforWords, please consider supporting the site through a subscription to our Patreon or tip us via our PayPal account loftforwords@yahoo.co.uk. Pictures - Reuters Connect Please report offensive, libellous or inappropriate posts by using the links provided.
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