Sheffield United have been the surprise package in the Premier League this season, with lifelong fan, and manager, Chris Wilder guiding the Blades to seventh in the table as they approach the halfway mark in the season. But is their success so far sustainable, and can they challenge for a European spot?
In short, yes, they can. Sheffield United are outperforming their expected goals but only by a fractional margin, meaning that the sides strike rate so far is sustainable, and they are creating high-value chances which they should continue to finish. While the Blade’s expected goals conceded is actually five above what it should be, so in theory, Sheffield United will concede less in the future, allowing that number to level out.
Furthermore, Wilder’s sides expected points is just 1.7 higher than the model predicts, unlike Newcastle United and Crystal Palace, who are vastly outperforming the number of points they have been expected to accumulate. So, the Blades place in the Premier League table is deserved based on their performances.
But they must not become complacent as Hull City did when the accumulated 21 points in their opening 13 games of the 2008/09 season, before collecting just 14 more from their next 25 fixtures. Though with a manager with Wilder’s mentality, it is tough to see that happening.
Inspiration for Sheffield United should come in the form of Wolves performances last season. Nuno Santo’s side finished seventh, despite being newly promoted from the Championship. Like Wilder at Sheffield, Wolves had a manager with a clear plan who stuck to a specific tactical system which was universally implemented by the outfield players.
Sheffield have also been fortunate with injuries to date and have not had any long-term absentee’s or been forced to rotate their squad much. As well as, only having Premier League fixtures to contend with means like Wolves and Leicester City before them, there is plenty of time on the training ground to prepare for their next match.
The success Wilder and his players have been enjoying is completely disserved and is absolutely sustainable, providing they keep hold of their manager, and the squad remains problem-free.
