Blues looking to end 2025 travels with a victory.
Contents:
- Introduction
- Predicted line-ups
- Out of possession play
- In possession play
- Statistical quirk
- Key players
- Prediction
Last weekend threw up another twist in Birmingham City’s Jekyll and Hyde style saga as the home mask finally slipped. We all knew deep down that lashing four goals past each opponent would falter eventually but to crumble against a Charlton Athletic side who offered little was disappointing.
That result marked the end of another lacklustre week in which Blues only mustered up one point from a possible nine, after again stuttering twice on away soil. It’s hard to pinpoint quite why the performances on the road have been so abject but they’re proving a real stumbling block.
When points away from home are in short supply it’s probably not ideal to be facing a Sheffield United side who have lost just one of their six home matches since Chris Wilder returned to the Blades dugout for the third time.
The Blades look inspired under their (sort of) new boss and have injected an enthused tempo to their game that has seen them record three goal hauls against Blackburn Rovers, Sheffield Wednesday, Portsmouth and Leicester City whilst they even went one better against Stoke City.
It’s probably to be expected of a squad that boasts such quality amongst their ranks but nevertheless they’re a side to be feared and it may prove another tough afternoon for Chris Davies’ team. So what will Wilder’s side look like?
Sheffield United have settled on a variation of a 4-4-2 shape lately and plenty of spots in the side have been settled. Michael Cooper, Japhet Tanganga and Jairo Riedewald have been stalwarts down the spine whilst young pair Femi Seriki and Andre Brooks have struck up a nice partnership down the right.
There are plenty of options in forward areas with Tom Cannon, Danny Ings and Patrick Bamford all vying for a spot alongside Tyrese Campbell. Midfield availability is up in the air after Sydie Peck suffered a calf injury whilst Ollie Arblaster continues his return from a long-term absence.
For Blues it may be time to trial a new partner for Jay Stansfield with Marvin Ducksch struggling to impose himself on games. Kyogo Furuhashi could do with a run of games whilst perhaps Keshi Anderson could return to a more central area.
Predicted line-ups:
Out of possession work:
Despite conceding the fifth most goals in the division, only four sides have kept more clean sheets than Sheffield United.
Opposition’s half:
Sheffield United are probably the most aggressive out of possession side in the division, winning possession more times in the opposition final third than any other side in the Championship.
They love to squeeze their opponents into small spaces and capitalise on any heavy touches or loose passes. They’re able to be so energetic due to the fact that the strikers cover plenty of ground. The core they’ve established are all workhorses and in Campbell and Cannon they’ve got plenty of speed to get across the backline quickly.
In addition to the forwards they’re also able to turnover possession well due to the other players they commit forwards.
Riedewald is the midfielder who sits which allows his partner – likely Djibril Soumare – to push on to the opposition’s deepest midfielder and sweep up any passes that get through the first line of Blades attackers.
They usually have plenty of bodies in close proximity due to the face they commit so many forwards when attacking as I’ll come on to later.
Both the full-backs Seriki and Harrison Burrows are allowed to step forwards in possession which means they’re often high if the Blades lose if and therefore can get out to the opposition’s wingers and full-backs in no time.
It’s not just that Wilder’s side are sprinting at their opponents and putting them under pressure, but it’s the way they cleverly close off space. Both Callum O’Hare and Peck rank in the top 12 for possession won in the division and that’s a result of the spaces they adopt without the ball.
Playing through the Blades may prove tricky but having Ryan Allsop back in goal could open up the possibility of those long switches out towards Demarai Gray and Stansfield particularly with Seriki pushing further upfield.
Own half:
When they do settle into a deeper out of possession shape the 4-4-2 becomes more of a 4-2-3-1. The second striker drops in to become a sort of number 10 whilst Campbell continues to apply pressure to the centre-backs.
What strikes me about a potential weakness is the transition between these phases. When Blades do push forwards, Riedewald often tucks in down the left flank to cover the space vacated by Burrows. With the other midfielder joining the press this can open a chasm of space just in front of the backline.
When teams play into this space quickly, or shift the ball wide and stretch the Blades midfielders either side they can then attack these areas. Queens Park Rangers and West Bromwich Albion were both able to threaten the Blades in these kinds of areas.
A partnership of Kyogo and Stansfield could be well placed to exploit this with Blues looking to play longer and pick up second balls. Blades have a really strong aerial duel rate – the second most won in the division – but with short numbers in front of them it could be an avenue to make the most of.
There’s also the prospect that Blues could double up on Seriki in crossing areas as other teams have done this season. As touched on above Stansfield likes to peel into the space between the centre-back and right-back which could draw Seriki towards him from a cross, and leave Gray free behind him.
The fact Blades don’t necessarily deploy a traditional left-winger and instead use either O’Hare or Gustavo Hamer there means there could be an opportunity for Tomoki Iwata to get into space too. O’Hare/Hamer will likely be tasked with applying pressure on Tommy Doyle which could leave Blues with a numerical advantage down the right.
In possession work:
Sheffield United’s 9% conversion rate is the fifth worst in the division.
Build up:
Sheffield United’s build up approach is really interesting in a division where plenty of teams try to stifle their opponents with the same 4-4-2 shape off the ball.
Wilder has sought to platform his sides strengths and has decided that plenty of them come out wide – with many of the same wide options he had last season.
As such they’re all about funnelling the ball into the channels and then utilising the ability of their individuals. That makes for an interesting build up shape as Burrows holds width on the left so he’s pushed on, leaving Tanganga, the other centre-back and Seriki as a back three with Riedewald in front of them.
Sometimes the other midfielder will be deep to assist in progressing the ball but often they push on into a right attacking midfield role with O’Hare/Hamer adopting a similar space on the opposite side.
The fact they’re so light centrally in build up can leave the opposition without natural players to close down or mark. It also means they can stretch teams wider and move the ball from side to side until there is a numerical overload.
One flaw of having so many players wide is that there are big gaps between players and passes can be cut out as they’re easier to telegraph. One way they’ve sought to correct this is by players like O’Hare and Seriki standing on the opposition’s wide-men and thus allowing a passing channel around them to the Blades’ wingers.
I think the energy of Kyogo could be important in applying pressure to their defenders when they get on the ball, as they’re the base of everything in front of them. If Blades can get the ball wide consistently it’ll isolate Iwata and Alex Cochrane who may struggle to stop crosses in.
Chance creation:
Despite a fairly middling possession rank, Sheffield United have managed to carve out plenty of chances consistently in their games.
As I touched on they’re able to get players wide and with the types of forwards at their disposal they can be really effective in the area. Brooks and Burrows are both great crossers of the ball whilst Seriki has shown great energy getting beyond the backline and delivering.
With both O’Hare/Hamer and the other midfielder pushing forwards into attacking midfield roles they are able to combine quickly in half spaces with multiple players in close proximity. This can lead to them then getting plenty of players into the area with four or five bodies usually in the box.
Even when they’re not crossing, Blades’ players have registered more carries into the penalty area than any other team this season so the likes of O’Hare and Brooks can be really dangerous when they’re given license to drift infield.
Blades also have a superb set piece xG for – the best in the league – and they’ll hope to turn it into more goals. What’s really effective about their approach is the positioning of players on the edge of the box allows them to sustain attacks, generate multiple waves and get shots off from set plays.
Sheffield United have won more corners than any other team in the division, partly due to their wide build up, and they’ve also taken the third most touches in the opposition box. When playing against a Blues team who are very vulnerable defending deep inside their own box this could be a big worry.
Statistical quirk:
Sheffield United have taken 161 corners so far this season – 39 more than the second best team (Stoke, 122).
Key players:
- Japhet Tanganga – the former Spurs defender is beginning to justify his summer price tag and has become a staple of the Blades’ defence.
- Callum O’Hare – starting to fill the creative void in Yorkshire, O’Hare has been an all-round danger across the season.
- Tyrese Campbell – Campbell has continued to look a top forward under Wilder and can turn half-chances into goals at will.
This is a huge test for Blues heading into their final away game of the calendar year. Bramall Lane is a ground where previous Blues teams have had decent success but it does feel like they’ve turned a corner recently.
There is encouragement from their defeat to West Bromwich Albion and the likes of QPR also caused them plenty of issues. But is it realistic to assume that Davies’ team can really get a result given what we’ve seen lately? I’m not sure but I hope I’m proven wrong.
My prediction: Sheffield United 3, Birmingham City 1.
