Leeds United at Sheffield United Preview: Can the Whites start their new era with victory?
Paul Heckingbottom’s first game as Leeds Head Coach is a tough Yorkshire derby.
“Well…” as Thomas Christiansen used to say, its been a Heck of a week.
Regarding his sacking, I have sympathy for Christiansen as he wasn’t the guy in charge of recruitment — but he did say he was happy with his squad, which is more than I can say for the rest of us. After recent performances, we all knew the time was coming and we all knew that we would struggle against Cardiff with the available players we had.
One could be excused of feeling deflated after the result and less than excited with the new Managerial appointment of Paul Heckingbottom after fans wanted a bigger name.
But now the dust has settled, I for one am up for this game. It could be the dawn of (another) new era and who better to play than play-off and Yorkshire rivals Sheffield United to kick off the new era. On this day our South Yorkshire cousins may as well be from Lancashire as there will be no love lost. If Hecky plays this right, the sound of the whistle at Bramall lane Saturday lunch time could signal a turning point in both United’s season and club fortunes.
One thing that stuck out with Christiansen that frustrated the fans was that he was inflexible in his formations. Heckingbottom on the other hand has experimented with formations during his tenure at Barnsley settling on 4–4–2 or a 4–1–4–1 line up. The latter was a formation used by Monk that gave United an admirable unbeaten run and saw them in the play-off positions for the most of last season. Away from home in this promotion 6 pointer against the Blades 4–1–4–1 could be ideal. It would provide cover for the defence which is sure to be tested whilst deploying wide men to hit on the counter. However, with the players available for Saturday who should sit in the holding role?
Nowt for Second readers were polled and came out in favour of Adam Forshaw with 70% of votes. Interestingly “don’t change formation” received no votes.
Forshaw has Impressed in his first 2 games and would suit this role should Heckingbottom prefer it.
Assuming Jansson is fit and Roberts isn’t this would be my line up.
Key Man
This has to be Paul Heckingbottom. He is tasked with picking up the morale of an injury and suspension hit team, to such a degree so they can be competitive in a blood and thunder Yorkshire derby and getting the formation right whilst knowing another heavy defeat could damage the remnants of the season. But owner Radrizzani says that Heckingbottom has motivation and mentality to succeed in the job and his experience is not a concern.
The 40 year old former Defender has played for 11 clubs in a 16 year career, making 418 appearances in total. He has had less than 3 years managerial experience but in that short time with Barnsley, he has won the Football League Trophy, gained promotion through a play off and secured a 14th placed league finish in their first season back in the championship.
However, it’s his work with coaching youth that I think has caught Andrea Radrizanni’s eye. He is credited with bringing through the likes of John Stones who is now a regular England international. His initial coaching role with Barnsley was with the development squad and his success there eventually led him to the full managerial post at Oakwell. He also has a BSC (Hons) in Sports Coaching. Leeds currently has one eye on the U23 set up and is awash with young players, players that could be called upon as injuries and suspensions bite.
His stats whilst managing in the Championship are played 83, Won 23, Drawn 23, lost 37 giving a win ratio of 37.7%. However these stats don’t reflect the fact that Barnsley FC sold their best players in recent transfer windows, Hourihane, Winnall, Bree and Mawson.
Although finishing lower in the league, some Barnsley stats compare favourably against Leeds. This stat will especially please Leeds fans: Barnsley’s shot on goal during his tenure 391 against a Leeds total of 352 for the same period. Add to that their total shots from set pieces of 95 compared with Leeds at 76 and things are looking up.
Sheffield United
Off form and dropping down the table, The Blades badly need 3 points and would dearly love to pick the bones of a punch drunk Leeds United. They are currently in 8th spot on 46 points which is 5 points off the last play-off place. This makes them 2 places and 2 points above Leeds.
A loss against the Whites would not just see them lose bragging rights it would see them drop behind them in the table and could damage their season beyond repair.
However they have made a great start to life back in the Championship and their successes so far has led to co-owner Prince Abdullah preparing a bid to take full control from Kevin McCabe.
They have been relatively quiet in the January window with possibly the takeover affecting spending or confidence in the squad is high. In came 30 year old midfielder Ricky Holmes on a permanent and on loan came the promising striker, James Wilson from Manchester United.
Their current top scorer is Leon Clarke on 15 for all comps and behind him is former White Billy Sharp on 9.
In a rallying cry to his player Manager Chris Wilder has said that other teams are writing of his team’s chances but he claims the team’s character and spirit will prove them wrong.
Injuries and suspensions
United will continue to be without Samu Saiz, Liam Cooper and now Gaetano Berardi who are all suspended. Phillips returns to the squad but doubts remain for Caleb Ekuban. We also await news on Tyler Roberts however Pontus Jansson should feature. Ayling and Shaughnessy are both still quite some time away.
Sheffield’s Chelsea loanee Jamal Blackman will face a late fitness test however Goalkeeper Simon Moore will definitely miss as he serves a red card suspension.
Form
Leeds United: D| L | L | D | L
Sheffield United: D | D | W | L |L
Head-to-Head
At Sheffield there have been 37 meeting between these two sides. The Blades have been victorious on 17 occasions whilst Leeds has won 8 with 12 games drawn.
WHAT
Sheffield United v Leeds United
SKY Bet EFL Championship Fixture
WHERE
Bramall Lane, Sheffield
SKY Football Channel, BBC Radio Leeds, International Listings
#SHULEE
WHEN
Saturday 10 February 2018, 12:30 pm
WHO
Predicted starting XI’s
Leeds United: Wiedwald, De Bock, Jansson, Pennington, Anita, Phillips, Forshaw, Alioski, Hernandez, Roofe, Lassogga
Sheffield United: Blackman, O’Connell, Stearman, Basham, Stevens, Baldock, Fleck Leonard, Evans, Wilson, Clarke
ODDS
Leeds 19/5
Sheffield United 4/5
Draw 13/5
PREDICTION
I can’t see Hecky starting this game with a Devil may care approach and what ever formation he chooses I feel it will be a counter attacking option. Should Jansson play Leeds have a solid defence but can they get the goals? I think there will be a lack of opportunity in this close encounter. A draw is my bet.
