James Shield's Sheffield United Column: I'll let you into a secret, and it's about Aaron Ramsdale

Whisper it quietly, but I’m about to let you into a secret.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

Around a year or so ago, a former football player turned friend decided to try his luck in the media after retiring from the professional game. He wasn’t interested in writing. So he opted for television reckoning, quite correctly, that his insightful opinions were tailor-made for the pundits’ table. And I wasn’t surprised when he started to get a few gigs, being hired on a pretty regular basis by one of the major sports channels. Then, all of a sudden, the work seemed to dry up. I wondered what had happened.

A quick phone call revealed all. He had quit.

“I know what I think, I know what I believe and I don’t need anyone telling me,” my exasperated pal told me. “I’d listen all day long if they were giving me advice on how to be better in front of the cameras or the nuts and bolts of the job. What I don’t want to do, though, is get asked to start waffling about something I don’t think is right.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Basically, as the person who shall remain nameless went on to explain, he would get a message towards the end of either the first or second half encouraging - no, make that ordering - him to discuss a particular topic. Fair enough I thought. Until he admitted that if both of the talking heads on duty agreed on it, one was politely instructed to pretend they didn’t. “It’s entertainment after all,” one of the producers informed him. “It keeps people interested if they see you arguing. It creates debate. And there’s a good chance too that the websites might pick up on it, which is great publicity.”

Aaron Ramsdale, the Sheffield United goalkeeper, fell victim to something similar earlier this week. Making his second debut for the club, after from a three year spell with AFC Bournemouth, the youngster’s performance against Wolverhampton Wanderers was forensically examined and then ruthlessly picked apart by many ex-pro’s turned expert analysts. The general consensus appeared to be, even though I personally find it nonsensical, that he was at fault for the second of the two goals Wolverhampton Wanderers scored inside the opening six minutes.

Ramsdale was always going to find himself under the spotlight more than anyone else in that contest. Not because of his eight figure transfer fee - a significant investment for United but still pretty minuscule by Premier League standards. Rather it was the fact he was replacing Dean Henderson, now back at Manchester United following two hugely successful seasons at Bramall Lane, which saw him develop from self-confident young hopeful into an England international in waiting. The debate, I suspect, had already been framed before kick-off. Unless Ramsdale delivered the type of display that would make Gordon Banks, Peter Shilton and Lev Yashin green with envy, then it would be suggested United had been weakened in this department because Henderson has left. That may or may not turn out to be the case but it is impossible to tell just one game into the new campaign. The give away, for me at least, was the fact the narrative been peddled ignored the fact he also made two excellent saves, first from Pedro Neto and then Romain Saiss as Wolves held on to win 2-0. Oh, and the fact no one made the point that, even if Ramsdale has a habit of arching his back as he dives through the air, Henderson also demonstrated weaknesses in a United jersey - particularly when it came to saving shots directed towards his near post. That’s not a criticism or a dig. Simply an acknowledgement that even the best have flaws.

Everyone has got an opinion. There’s nothing wrong with that at all. In fact many reading this column will probably think Ramsdale might have done more to keep Saiss’ header out. I think they’re spouting rubbish. But they are free to disagree. I’ve got no problem with that.

Aaron Ramsdale and John Egan during Sheffield United's Premier League game against Wolverhampton Wanderers: Simon Bellis/SportimageAaron Ramsdale and John Egan during Sheffield United's Premier League game against Wolverhampton Wanderers: Simon Bellis/Sportimage
Aaron Ramsdale and John Egan during Sheffield United's Premier League game against Wolverhampton Wanderers: Simon Bellis/Sportimage
Hide Ad
Hide Ad

What I do take issue with, however, is the tenor of some post-match discussions. The fact some folk feel the need, because they’ve been given the technology to freeze frame footage and draw squiggly lines all over our screens, to scrutinise every single action leading to every single goal.

“His foot was a millimetre on the wrong side. His weight was badly adjusted because he should have anticipated that ball might do a loop the loop as it flew through the air. Seriously, they’ve got to do better. It just isn’t good enough.”

Sometimes I get the impression, that because being fluent in the language of the footballing technocrats is now the fashion, people simply feel the need to dissect things even when there’s nothing to dissect. “Why was Saiss allowed to meet that centre unchallenged?” was, in my humble opinion, the only question which needed to be answered.

I love hearing the thoughts and theories of those in the business as much as the next man and woman. I appreciate, particularly at the highest level, football has to be about the pursuit of excellence.

The Star's Sheffield United writer James ShieldThe Star's Sheffield United writer James Shield
The Star's Sheffield United writer James Shield
Hide Ad
Hide Ad

I also remain confused, if every action of every game contains so many mistakes, why we don’t see the majority finishing in goalless draws. Or only settled by strikes similar to the one Roberto Carlos produced for Brazil during 1997’s Tournoi de France. Then again, I always thought Fabien Barthez got his angles all wrong.

An important message: Thank you for reading this article, one of dozens we publish every single day to provide you with the best, most up-to-date and most informative coverage of YOUR club. This depth of coverage costs, so to help us maintain the high-quality reporting that you are used to from the football team at The Star, please consider taking out a subscription to our new discounted sports-only package. You'll find all the details at https://www.thestar.co.uk/subscriptions/sports.

Your support is much appreciated.

Chris Holt, Football Editor