Blades taking on the world, no-nonsense Chris Wilder and the Shirecliffe 'supermarket': The best Sheffield United stories you might have missed

Another week without football but we appear to be getting closer to a return, albeit behind closed doors, and there’s been plenty to read about on the Sheffield United front from our Blades team at The Star.
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In case you might have missed something this week, here’s a handy wrap-up of the best of our United coverage from the last seven days.

WHAT PLAYERS CAN EXPECT

James Shield spoke to a leading sports psychologist to get some insight into the challenges and the potential positives that United players will face if and when they return to action, without the backing of their supporters.

Sheffield United's Enda Stevens and John Egan were speaking to The Star earlier this week (Pics: Eoin Doyle)Sheffield United's Enda Stevens and John Egan were speaking to The Star earlier this week (Pics: Eoin Doyle)
Sheffield United's Enda Stevens and John Egan were speaking to The Star earlier this week (Pics: Eoin Doyle)
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HOW TIME FLIES

It was four years go this week that Chris Wilder arrived at Sheffield United as Blades boss and set a course for an incredible adventure. We looked back on the week he rocked up, with James recalling the story of how Wilder made a very big change on his first day.

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Meanwhile, Chris Holt remembers the events that led to Wilder coming in and Nigel Adkins losing his job

WELL PREPARED

With football set for a comeback soon, Wilder explained that it won’t take too long for his team to be ready for action

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And he also has no sympathy for players who warn plans to complete the Premier League season by the end of July are a threat to their fitness.

SPREADING THE WORD

United are becoming big-hitters in the Arab-speaking world but Abdullah Alghamdi, who helped dream up the concept of Sheffield United’s Arabic Twitter account, believes this is only the start. Because those responsible for running the project, he reveals, are busy exploring how to spread the club’s message in a variety of other languages.

EXPERIENCED PLAYERS

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James wrote about how United must draw on the experience of their League One title winning campaign in order to overcome the physical and mental challenges the fixture schedule will present as top-flight clubs scramble to finish the season by the end of July

WHAT A NIGHT

Danny Hall caught up with a former Blades star to remember the night Paul Peschisolido prompted wild scenes at Bramall Lane as United beat Nottingham Forest to book a play-off final place

VIEW FROM THE TOP

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Steve Bettis, Sheffield United’s chief executive, spoke with us this week via skype and criticised some of the commentary surrounding the Premier League’s ‘Project Restart’ by reminding that players are not the only people affected by the break in competition because of the coronavirus pandemic.

IRISH BLADES GIVE THEIR VIEWS

Enda Stevens and John Egan were also interviewed by James this week…

Stevens provided an insight into the measures Sheffield United have put in place to protect their players from coronavirus, after appearing to dismiss a suggestion by Manchester City’s Sergio Aguero that the majority of Premier League footballers are “scared” by the prospect of returning to action before a vaccine is discovered.

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And Egan confirmed he is ready to play Premier League football next month, despite hearing several of the game’s biggest names claim they fear for their safety if the fixture suspension is lifted too soon.

AND FINALLY…

Colin Grainger, the former Sheffield United, Leeds and England player, was surprised by a video call from current England captain Harry Kane this week during the coronavirus lockdown. Read the heartwarming story HERE