However, there could be promising signs to come in the future, going by the latest edition of Football Manager.
The football management simulation game has been wildly popular since it’s initial release in 1992 and is now played by football fans and professional players alike.
‘FM’ is also used as a player database by football clubs due to their worldwide scouting network of around 1,300 scouts which developers use to ensure full accuracy across the game.
The ‘beta’ version of the game was released last week, giving players a chance to play an early access period while the final aspects of the game are being finalised.
The full version of Football Manager is released on November 9th.
Just for fun, we simulated three seasons into the future to see how Sheffield United could line up for the opening day of the 2024/25 season – and the results were very interesting.
The Blades have become somewhat of a yo-yo club after promotion back to the Premier League in 2022/23, followed by immediate relegation back to the Championship for the 2023/24 season and then promotion back to the top flight once again.
They’ve kept a decent chunk of their current squad, bolstered it with a few big signings (including an England international) and have found an exciting new manager out of fairly reasonable obscurity.
Here’s how our simulation had United looking for the first day of the 2024/25 season:
9. RW - Amath Ndiaye
The Senegal international had a loan spell at Fiorentina before United paid Mallorca £9.5 million at the start of the 2023/24 season for his services. He played a crucial part in their successful promotion bid with 11 goals across the Championship season. Photo: Aitor Alcalde
10. LW - Nemanja Radonjic
The Serbian international was not in the picture at Benfica and cost United just £5.5 million in January 2024. He was a stand out in the second half of the Championship campaign and is amongst the clubs MVPs with a transfer value of between £20 and £30 million Photo: Maja Hitij
11. CF - Rhian Brewster
The transfer window is still open and the Blades may well be looking for a new striker after Brewster's meagre return of just 15 goals in three seasons across the Championship and Premier League Photo: Laurence Griffiths
12. Substitutes
A number of new faces make up the bench on the first day of the season including Fulham's Bobby Decordova-Reid, Burnley's Charlie Taylor, Reading's John Swift and Montpellier's Jordan Ferri (pictured) among others Photo: PASCAL GUYOT