SAYS BALDOCK
GEORGE BALDOCK says Sheffield United’s band of brothers were inspired by everyone writing them off even before the season began.
Blades boss Chris Wilder pinned up articles in the dressing room to challenge his players to prove the critics wrong.
One radio show wrote off their chances of staying in the top flight, dismissed Billy Sharp as a League One striker and claimed they would end up being worse than Huddersfield.
Baldock, 27, said: “I think it was on TALKSPORT, the line was, ‘Sheffield United aren’t even taking this Premier League seriously. Billy Sharp is a League One player.’
“What? He scored 25 goals last season in the Championship!
“Another one was we play basic football. That was baffling because if you watch us, then one word you can’t call us is basic.
“I understand that some people try to get a reaction. I try to laugh it off, prove people wrong and through hard work we’ve been able to do that.
“Personally I understood we’d have our doubters and individually I knew I’d have critics in a game of opinions.
“But I’ve always said that if I got to the Premier League, I knew it would suit my game. I believed it would suit me potentially more than the Championship.”
Baldock has played every minute of all the Blades’ 28 Premier League games, helping them up to seventh in the table when matches were suspended.
He added: “I love testing myself against the best players, going one v one, testing your speed and agility. I’ve always had a burning desire to show people that is my game.”
Baldock has worked his way up by starting at MK Dons and going out on loan at Oxford, Tamworth and an important learning curve in Iceland.
He went to a grammar school, got four A-stars, six As and a B in his GCSES.
He has two older brothers – James is a doctor while he jokes he has stepped out of Sam’s shadow as he plays for Reading. He also played cricket to a good level.
Wilder’s talent for signing the right type of player has helped ensure a strong mentality in the dressing room.
“I could honestly say that if I got married tomorrow, I’d invite 15 of them!” said Baldock.
“It’s that close. Billy Sharp is a main reason. Any new player is instantly welcomed, brought into the changing room and there’s an instant bit of banter.”