Blunt Blades can’t cut it

SHEFFIELD UNITED are in for a difficult season and heading for a grim relegation battle.

That’s quite a slump, having been in contention for European qualification in March.

The blunted Blades are caught in a trap familiar to many a bottom-half side – terrified to attack and add risk to their play for fear of being torn apart by the elite.

Banked up and cautious, they stay in a game, look competitive and never get thrashed in the hope they can nick something on the break.

At some points, the brakes have to be released and confidence restored.

It will take all of Chris Wilder’s combative nous to dig them out of this slump.

The narrow success margins they were operating under are falling the wrong way.

Could you also question the hunger and edge of a side who famously rose from League One to find mid-table comfort in the top flight last season?

New, bigger-money contracts have been dished out, new additions signed for large fees and on decent contracts. It can all tilt the dynamic of a team worthy of the description for three brilliant seasons.

New deals have also been turned down. Long-serving John Lundstram faces being frozen out and sold in January, believing he can make more money elsewhere by becoming a free agent in June.

Before the trip to Chelsea last night, United had lost 11 of their 17 league games since the restart.

Only twice had they scored more than one goal in a game, heaping pressure on their back five.

Three goals in seven games is also a miserable return and why they took a gamble on signing Rhian Brewster from Liverpool for up to £23million.

Wilder needed a “box player” a poacher with an instinct and

Brewster was a calculated risk in their market place, who will need time to integrate and settle.

He might be the answer.