Premier League crisis club of the week 2023/24: Sheffield United

Another week, another Premier League club in crisis.

At 4pm on Sunday, Chelsea looked all set to be the topic of this article once again following yet another defeat at Stamford Bridge.

However, one club stepped forward at 4.30pm to spare their blushes.

That club was Sheffield United.

What's the crisis?

Well...they lost 8-0 to Newcastle United at Bramall Lane on Sunday.

That is the club's worst ever tanking, and the joint-second biggest defeat any club has ever suffered during the Premier League era.

All of that is bad enough to earn the 'crisis club of the week' tag, but then you add in the fact that the Blades have taken just one point from their opening six Games of the season and, oh brother, do you have a Football club in a deep, deep crisis.

Vinicius Souza
Bad day at the office for the Blades / James Gill - Danehouse/GettyImages
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Why are they in crisis?

Here's how Sheffield United's starting XI looked for the game on Sunday:

Foderingham; Bogle, Ahmedhodzic, Egan, Robinson, Thomas; Norwood, de Souza Costa, Hamer; Archer, McAtee.

It's not exactly Premier League quality, is it?

That's been the issue for the Blades so far this season: they simply don't have the players to really hurt decent top flight teams.

Add to that the tactical naivety shown by Paul Heckingbottom at half-time in the Game against Newcastle, when his team were 3-0 down he opted to take off a defender for a forward, and you have a Football that you can't possibly imagine picking up Premier League points any time soon.

What can they do to rectify it?

Appointing a more experienced Premier League manager may be a start, but ultimately Sheffield United just need to stem the bleeding until January when they can sign more players.

If the Blades are in touching distance of safety heading into the transfer window, a few shrewd signings may be enough to keep them up when you consider the lack of quality on show from other teams down near the bottom of the table in the early weeks of the season.

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