Chris Wilder is considering changes to his Sheffield United side for tomorrow’s clash with Birmingham City, after last week’s poor defeat at West Bromwich Albion put a pin in the Blades’ balloon. A fuming Wilder let rip at his side after their 2-0 defeat at the Hawthorns.
The message has been rammed home to his side this week and Wilder must now decide how many of his players will come out of the side from last Friday and how many will be given the chance to go again.
His hands are tied in certain areas, with Sydie Peck and Ben Mee once again absent through injury, but there are dilemmas elsewhere which left the United boss admitting: “I’ve got to pick the right team, and the right combinations. There are a few players who have been in-form but weren't in the team.
“I said to Sydie this week, it's amazing how good a player you are when you're not in the team. So I think that just shows you what contribution he makes to the team and all the comments I've made about him over my time managing him.
“I’ve got to pick the right team and the lucky ones are the ones that get the opportunity to put it right. The ones that don't, they have got to play a part. And we have to play a part together as a group. It's not an individual sport.
“It's not a time to go individual. It's not a time to go selfish. It's not a time to worry, asking: ‘Why aren’t I playing?’ There's a reason why you're not playing. And it could be one of many. Whether it’s tactically, from a performance, or physically, or whatever. It's up to myself and the coaches to pick the right team and the right formation, against a talented team.”
We tasked our man to come up with the side he thinks Wilder will send out against the Blues - has he got it just abou right or would you do anything differently?
1. Michael Cooper
Beaten twice on Friday but he was let down by those in front of him and he'll hope for a more serene afternoon this time around | Getty Images
2. Femi Seriki
One of so many players who were below par at West Brom on Friday night but the honest truth is that there is no real alternative in a position that Wilder has identified as key in January, so he'll get the chance to go again | PA
3. Tyler Bindon
McGuinness had a tough time of it at the Hawthorns and I wouldn't be surprised to see him drop out of the side, especially with Bindon having a decent mini-run of recent form behind him Photo: Simon Bellis
4. Japhet Tanganga
With Ben Mee absent it means that whoever partners him Tanganga will likely have to shift out to the left, where he has been a little bit less composed than usual of late. But his class is undoubted and he'll come roaring back, no doubt | Justin Setterfield/Getty Images