Danny Mills has once again been giving his opinion on Sheffield United – this time after their 1-1 draw at West Ham United.
Mills irked many Blades fans when he described their team’s style as “direct” ahead of their first season in the Premier League in 12 years.
Clearly the former England international had not watched them during their promotion winning campaign in the Championship. Or at all since Chris Wilder became manager in 2016.
It is one thing giving an unpopular opinion on a side; it is quite another judging them based on nothing more than historical reputation.
Last time the Blades were in the top flight under Neil Warnock in 2006/07 they perhaps were a little direct. Yet under Wilder that is far from the case. Plus that was more than a decade ago.
SAKA, ANTONY AND 10 PREMIER LEAGUE STARS HEADING TO THEIR FIRST WORLD CUP
What has Danny Mills said about Sheffield United this time?
(Photo by Arfa Griffiths/West Ham United FC via Getty Images)
While not aiming quite such a blatant criticism at Wilder’s men this time around, Mills has clearly passed judgement yet again without actually watching them.
“Sometimes you get games like that, don’t you? Manchester City versus Tottenham at the start of the season, dominated, created so many chances to put the ball in the back of the net,” the ex-defender told Football Insider of West Ham’s dominance.
“It can happen in football and sometimes as a manager you’re left there on the sidelines, tearing your hair out, wondering how on earth that happened and that was probably one of those games.”
The giveaway here is the word “probably.” Maybe Mills heard Hammers boss Manuel Pellegrini’s assessment of the match. Pellegrini told the club’s official website the Blades didn’t create very much.
Or perhaps the pundit saw the match stats, in which the East Londoners enjoyed 60 per cent possession.
However, neither of those things tell the whole story. Wilder may have told the BBC after the game that he was disappointed with his team’s first half display, but that was because they should have scored.
David McGoldrick spurned a great opportunity, a deflected Enda Stevens strike almost squirmed in.
When Lys Mousset equalised following Robert Snodgrass’s opener it was very much justified. But the Hammers were still completely dominant. Probably.
