Three defeats against three London clubs have all but put an end to Sheffield United’s slim survival hopes in recent weeks.
One goal scored (an own goal), six conceded, and zero points on the board have ensured a miserable couple of weeks for the Blades.
Devastating injuries, loss of form from key players, and a distinct lack of attacking threat have, at times, made United look very much like the Championship side they’re destined to be.
As Chris Wilder said earlier in the season, those aforementioned factors have created a perfect storm for failure. In fact, any other team in the league would struggle with the amount of injuries and individual errors the Blades have suffered.
However, in recent weeks, and to the surprise of many and delight of others, Aaron Ramsdale seems to have emerged stronger.
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After a miserable start to life at Bramall Lane which brought unnecessary online abuse, a couple of big errors, and a clear lack of confidence, Ramsdale has turned things round in recent times.
Aaron Ramsdale has struggled but now deserves credit where it’s due
There’s no point hiding behind it. You’re writer here has criticised Ramsdale at times this term. Questions over his handling, command of his box, and speed across his line, all things which have popped into the mind.
But football is all about opinions and it’s also a fast changing environment, where discussion points and opinion changes.
To Ramsdale’s credit, then, he deserves praise of late. Yes he’s only managed the one clean sheet this term, but he’s kept us in games in recent times.
Big saves at Man City ensured we were right in it until the final minute. Likewise against Chelsea and West Ham, if it wasn’t for Ramsdale we’d have been out of sight early on.
There is, of course, plenty for Ramsdale to improve on. He’ll probably admit that himself and he is a young goalkeeper anyway. He’s been part of a struggling team, behind a defence now decimated by injury.
Would any other goalkeeper have made that much of a difference this season? The answer is probably not, in all honesty.
These last few weeks can hopefully be a kickstart for Ramsdale. He’ll be as angry as anyone that results aren’t going United’s way. But purely from a personal point of view, he must be happier with how things are going.