Sheffield United need to find middle ground or season will just peter out
That elusive sweet spot for Sheffield United is bang in the middle of two things Chris Wilder doesn’t want - playing it safe and being loose.
The latter, “turning over” possession, has been a central criticism of some recent performances.
But the alternative, possession for possession’s sake, is something the Blades boss will be equally desperate to avoid.
The natural reflex for players if they’ve been wasteful with the ball is to play it safe, or safer.
That’s why there’s such a fine balance between the two and managers have to aim in between.
Wilder is a naturally proactive operator. The last thing he’d want is for players to cow from making that marauding run or attempting that killer pass or clever one-two.
These always come at a risk. It’s probably a confidence thing. What comes naturally as a first instinct in winning sequences has turned into laboured and muddled thinking on occasions of late.
For instance, you could see players in three minds, let alone two, in the last home game with West Brom.
But maybe the greatest evil is to stop trying those risk-reward things that can open up a game to a team’s advantage.
United have good technical, naturally creative and positive players up the pitch.
Their strength is in being, to quote an oft-used cliche, on the front foot.
Wilder and his management team will be keen to restore that mix of being adventurous without being reckless.
Bottom line is they can’t sacrifice the former to have any lingering chance of making something meaningful of the rest of the season.
Wrexham at Bramall Lane this weekend, and all the razzmatazz that comes with it, is just the game to keep it going.