Sheffield United defender and club legend, Chris Basham, has revealed how Slavisa Jokanovic is drilling certain things into the Blades squad in order for them to keep on improving.
Jokanovic is still very much working hard to get things going exactly the way he wants them to be at Bramall Lane. A change in formation, to his more recognised 4-2-3-1 from the Chris Wilder embedded 3-5-2, has meant some inconsistencies in results this term.
But, things are coming together under Jokanovic. A win against Barnsley at the weekend was closer than it needed to be in the end. In fact, the Blades probably should have scored five or six at Oakwell.
And speaking to the Sheffield Star, experienced defender Chris Basham has said that the Serbian has been drilling positional play into the Sheffield United squad.
“He spoke to us about the importance of being in the right positions, in possession and out of it. It was really good, because it was all about how doing that can help you stay in control and make sure things pan out in the way you want them to, not letting the opposition dictate things,” Basham said of a team meeting prior to Barnsley.
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“The manager and the people around him are very big on that,” he added. “It’s something they are really working with us a lot on and it teaches us a lot. There’s always things you can get better at and that is obviously going to be one of them.”
Our View: Plenty to work on but coming together
Despite some shaky results, United have actually taken 16 points from the last 27 available. Which all in all, isn’t a bad return. It’s just shy of the two points per game that’s normally required for promotion.
But, the comments about positional sense are bang on from Jokanovic. It’s something the squad needs to get used to. They’ve been so drilled under Wilder, that it’s bound to take some adjustment.
January will be big for United. A new winger will be on the agenda, which could in turn mean a few also depart. Indeed, Jokanovic has already been fielding questions about Rhian Brewster.
As it stands, the Blades are just three points outside the top five. Realistically, the top six is the aim. But if things keep clicking and improving, then this squad is more than capable of putting a run together to challenge higher up.