Sam Parry
Dear Sheffield United first-team players,
I enjoyed Luton away earlier in February. Not only was it the second time I’d seen us win away in the space of a month (see Gillingham), but also the second time I’d seen us win away all season. So thank you.
Before the game, one of the lads at the pub said: “I just don't really like anyone in this team.” I didn’t know at the time whether it was harsh or an accurate summary of my feelings too; albeit I wasn’t conflicted after the game because we won and you all played pretty well.
In case you are not aware, the last truly unlikeable team was Nigel Adkins’ side in 2015-16. Too many cast-offs and overpaid loanees.
On the final day of that season, I got into an argument with a bloke sitting next to me on the Kop who was obsessed with pinning every bit of blame on Paul Coutts. Always languid and not exactly an engine, Coutts would've been the hate figure of that season were it not for Dean Hammond.
Coutts was in that easy-to-dislike zone. A central midfielder who can't tackle but possessed great technique and no dearth of crap players around him unable to take advantage of his ability. As we lost 2-0 to Scunthorpe, Coutts misplaced a pass, and the bloke on the KOP spat fury at him. I argued back, saying he was a good player in a crap team. He argued back. I argued back. We sat back in our seats and stewed.
I digress for a reason. At the end of 15/16, even I — a Coutts supporter — would’ve got rid of him. And in fact, your current manager, Chris Wilder, transfer listed him in the summer. But somehow, by the end of the 16/17 season, Coutts was one of our best players.
In what turned out to be a 100-point, title-winning team, he glided about the place. Keeping possession, starting build-ups, pinging balls. It was a joy to watch him in a good team, where once his presence was loathed by many.
I only bring him up because you are all — with some youthful exceptions — in that easy-to-dislike zone. I don’t tell you this to be needlessly cruel, it’s just what happens when you play for a team with the worst defensive record in top-flight history.
Getting out of that zone won’t be easy. But if you take a leaf out of Paul Coutts’ book and show us what you’re capable of next season, all will be forgiven. In fact, more than forgiven. Ask Chris Basham, he’ll remember how it goes. Or consult the literature. There’s plenty of it.
Former Arsenal player (and lifestyle guru?) Tony Adams once wrote:
“Play for the name on the front of the shirt…
…and they will remember the name on the back.”
He could have added, “Play for personal pride, play for money, play for the enjoyment, play because you’re lucky enough to have the talent, play for the name on the front of the shirt and - failing all that - just f*****ng play well…”. Much to his discredit, he didn’t.
Anyhow. Here’s my own bit of lifestyle advice for you all for 2024/25:
Give us a season to remember, and we’ll find a reason to forget.
Best wishes and UTB,
Sam
Really good. And if getting to Coutts-level legend status seems a stretch for some of this squad, see also to a lesser extent the turnaround for Kieron Freeman - had loan spells out, transfer-listed at the same time as Coutts, played a key role in that title winning team (and important supporting role in the promotion that followed). It’s never too late for a nice redemption arc.
Honestly, I think there's a grain of truth here. And it's sad to see that some of those who appear more interested in playing for their next move are some of those who you would hope for better from.
Many a time I've been sat in the kop, or scrolling twitter, listening to/seeing players who are undeniably good get slagged off for not doing everything perfectly. The problem is almost invariably the team, rather than the individual (notable exceptions apply, of course who were genuinely just rubbish, like Luke Thomas. And some players who were capable of brilliance in a very good team who were nonetheless disappointing, like Moose).
So it is right now. We have a lot of first teamers who'd rather take their chances out of a job in summer than commit to another grinding season in the championship next year (I've been resigned since October, but hopefully there aren't many Blades left who are only prolonging their own upset, and ruining the coming summer, by entertaining delusions of our survival in the Prem?), and are playing with all the passion of the guy in the office who knows he's leaving soon, and is just awaiting a start date for a new job.
Full disclosure: I always thought reappointing Wilder was a mistake. I still think giving him a long term deal was. If I were the prince I'd have given the job to McCall until the end of the season and been tapping up some young, up and coming, tactically innovative managers who've been doing well in lower leagues. And honestly, I truly believe that Wilder is the wrong man for the sour atmosphere at the moment. We saw last time he was here that for all the undeniable passion and unity he can create in a team that's doing well (especially one punching well above their weight against all the odds), he can also do the opposite when the chips are down and the team are underperforming.
What I would like to see, is a full reset next season. Sure, paying out Wilder won't be ideal, but I'd like to see a young manager (maybe one of the ones who just about fails to get promoted out of the champ this season, or alternatively Carrick, who must be fancying a go at a club with just a tad more money and willingness to not sell every player who was any good EVERY summer), to come in and assemble a squad around the core of players who are under contract. If we have to sell Anel then this all gets a little harder, and we may have to, but if not:
Build around Anel and Trusty, Hamer, Souza, T.Davies (who I think could be a massive player for us next season), Brooks, Osula and Jebbo, even Brewster if the poor lad can just manage to stay fit for more than 5 games. Give new deals to Norwood (however angry that would make about ½ of the fan base), Ozzy, Egan, and Bogle if we can't persuade Baldock to stay. Offer one to McBurnie but not being held to ransom (one good season out of five isn't the sort we should be rewarding with mega money), and Amissah (who's looked alright when he's played, and deserves a go at number 2. And assemble the rest of the squad as best we can. Ideally from new investment, but if not, use the one season of parachute money to give it a proper go.
Without new investment/ownership, and sticking to the same strategy that stopped working in 2020, only leads one way for me. That's the path that sees us in league one again before we're back in the Prem, and in all honesty, it's the one I believe we'll take instead of changing course.