Sheffield United told they’re in a ‘good place’ despite play-off final defeat, but one man has to stay now

Add as preferred source on Google

Sheffield United will be licking their wounds for a while after a shock Championship play-off final defeat, but what they do this summer will be key to how next season goes for the Blades.

Few would have bet against Sheffield United in the Wembley showcase, having seen Chris Wilder’s men dominate for much of the season and then brush aside Bristol City in the play-off semi-finals.

Indeed, the Championship play-off final was largely controlled by the Blades, but they ended up being stung by a fine finish from Eliezer Mayenda and a last-gasp stunner from Tommy Watson.

It is Sunderland who will now go to the Premier League, while Sheffield United’s torrid play-off record goes on.

So, is it time for doom and gloom at Bramall Lane, or is there still hope for the future? Here’s what we know about the summer and beyond for the Blades.

• READ MORE: The £146m reason Premier League clubs were all backing one team when Sheffield United and Sunderland clashed

Sheffield United’s first task is to keep Chris Wilder

We spoke to our Chief Football Correspondent, Graeme Bailey, to get the inside track on what Sheffield United may be feeling now, and what their priorities are for the coming months.

He said: “Sheffield United came up short, but they are still in a good place. Still, whilst Sunderland will keep their star men, the Blades are going to face a battle.

“The first thing is to make sure Chris Wilder hangs around; they have the right man in charge and they can’t forget that.

“I don’t see how they can hang onto their Brazilian stars, though. Gustavo Hamer ran the final before going off injured, which is a very strange repeat of what happened to him whilst with Coventry City.

“The other is Vinicius Souza – a huge talent, quite literally – the giant Brazilian has been awesome for United but there are a host of clubs looking at him. I also think their Bosnian star Anel Ahmedhodzic is unlikely to want another Championship season.”

This shouldn’t be much of a surprise to any Sheffield United fans. Indeed, we revealed just a few weeks ago that failure to secure promotion would see the Blades picked apart this summer, and it’s now very likely to happen.

Bailey added: “It’s a huge summer coming for Sheffield United, but they should look back 12 months when their Yorkshire rivals Leeds lost in similar circumstance. They need to heed the lessons learned at Elland Road, which were put into practice this season.”

• READ MORE: Fans all make same Gustavo Hamer point that Sheffield United will be very worried by after Sunderland nightmare

How it all went wrong for Sheffield United this season

Sheffield United started the season with two points deducted, but they were still full of hope given the fact they had a manager who knows this league and a squad brimming with some of the best players in the Championship.

They made good on that promise for much of the campaign, too, emerging as one of the three main contenders for the title, before falling short at the final hurdle during the 46-game season.

That run of three successive defeats — to Oxford United, Millwall, and Plymouth Argyle — ultimately cost United dearly, and then the loss to Burnley obviously sealed their fate.

It’s a frustrating one to take overall, given the Blades were in the top two longer than Burnley this year, but the table doesn’t lie.

And then again, during the play-off final, United only have themselves to blame for coming undone against a spirited Sunderland side who fought to the wire.

Sheffield United are now the worst play-off team ever, officially, with their fifth defeat in a final. They will have to pick themselves up again next term, but this defeat will take a long time to recover from.