It’s fair to say that Sheffield United’s performances this season have been pretty terrible in the main.
The Blades had picked up two good results before the international break before it was back to business as usual last weekend, as Bournemouth became the latest team to steamroll United.
Paul Heckingbottom often talks about stats and in the immediate aftermath of the defeat against the Cherries point to the high running stats he’d looked at.
However, there are more worrying and concerning stats for Heckingbottom and in a nutshell, they prove what he’s currently trying at Bramall Lane isn’t working.
Sheffield United stats show problems across the pitch
To be honest, those who watch Sheffield United regularly probably don’t need the stats to tell you what we are witnessing.
We’re seeing teams waltz through our defence into our box, take shots at will at Wes Foderingham, and win the ball back with ease from our midfielders. Likewise, we are seeing the Blades show hardly any threat going forward.
And the stats back it up. Shared by the respected Blades social account The Bladesman this week, United are bottom or in the bottom percentiles in nearly all key areas.
Across Europe’s top five leagues and 96 teams, United are worst in key stat metrics (per game) such as shots against, shots on target against, shots on target (from United), progressive carries, crosses, and crucially, opposition touches in our box.
That paints a picture in itself. But when you add in only three teams have scored less goals and only five teams have won less of their aerial duels, then it’s pretty much abysmal viewing.
Paul Heckingbottom has to change something
Of course, it’s not for us on this site or any reader to come up with the solution. That is Paul Heckingbottom’s job and right now, he’s getting it wrong.
Sure, there is a lack of quality in the squad and the sales of Ndiaye and Berge in the summer have a lot to answer for. But surely, he could be getting more out of this squad?
We are so easy to play against. The fact teams are getting shots off at will and just walking into our box is the most worrying. Heckingbottom can surely come up with a way of playing that reduces this, even if means sacrificing something at the attacking end, which, let’s be honest, is hardly thriving.
It could mean going to a four at the back with two screeners in front. It might mean we change personnel and get more legs in the team (somehow). Or, it could mean we go back to basics and just become hard to beat by being horrible to play against.
Either way, the stats simply back up what we are all watching right now. It’s not good enough, and if it’s another defeat this weekend at Burnley, then surely time is up for Heckingbottom.