Sheffield United's record with and without Gustavo Hamer this season amid suspension blow
Sheffield United ace Gustavo Hamer has been given a two-match ban after earning his tenth Championship yellow card of the season.
Sheffield United will be without Gustavo Hamer for their upcoming clashes with Norwich City and Birmingham City after he was shown his tenth yellow card of the season in Saturday’s 1-1 draw with West Bromwich Albion.
The former Coventry City man was cautioned in the closing stages of the contest for reacting angrily to a decision made by referee Dean Whitestone. He appeared to have warned Hamer earlier about dissent and was seemingly left with no choice but to whip out a yellow card.
A tenth booking of the season triggered an automatic two match-ban for Hamer, meaning he will miss Wednesday night’s trip to Carrow Road to face Norwich and Saturday’s visit to St Andrew’s to take on Birmingham.
English Football League rules state that any player who amasses ten yellow cards within their team’s opening 37 league games must serve a two-match ban. Saturday’s draw with West Brom was the Blades’ 36th league outing of the season.
Although Hamer’s form has blown hot and cold this season, he is United’s most gifted player, meaning nine times out of ten he is identified as the man that gives United the best chance of winning games. He is a wonderful operator at this level and his absence will make the Blades weaker.
He has more assists than any other player in the Championship this season (ten) with seven of those being registered in his last nine appearances. With United’s play-off hopes just about still alive, losing him at this stage of the season does represent a blow.
But how have United fared without him previously this season? He has featured in 29 of their 36 Championship matches, missing six games between mid-October and late-November because of a knee injury.
In those six games he played no part in, United recorded two wins, one draw and three defeats, meaning they won seven points from a possible 18 without him. However, as a caveat, it is important to point out the Blades, at that particular juncture, were still trying to get their season off the ground following the exit of Rubén Sellés and return of Chris Wilder.
United have others that can step up in Hamer’s absence
The only game since that six-game absence that Hamer has played no part in was United’s 2-1 win over Stoke City on December 29. He was on the bench that evening. It means United, in total, have won ten points from a possible 21 when Hamer has not featured this term.
Looking at the other side of the coin, of the 29 matches Hamer has featured in, United have won 12, drawn three and lost 14, amassing 39 points. Of the 29 Championship appearances he has racked up this term, 20 of them have come as a starter.
United have won seven, drawn two and lost 11 of the 20 games the 28-year-old has started this season, earning 23 points, opposed to the 16 they have won when he has not been included in the starting XI and has come off the bench.
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Cobbling all the numbers together, United have won almost 80 per cent of their points when Hamer has been available this season, highlighting his importance and influence. However, they have won 26 of their 49 points when Hamer has not been included in the starting XI, meaning they have demonstrated they can cope without him.
He has just one direct goal contribution as a substitute this season - a fine goal in a 3-0 win over Portsmouth at Bramall Lane in November - meaning United still would have won that game without his impressive strike.
In summary, losing Hamer for two games at such a critical stage of the season, particularly when United need every point they can possibly get their hands on to keep their fading play-off dream alive, is a blow. When he is on song, he is their best player, capable of coming up with moments of magic that can decide any game.
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However, on the flip side, United have proven they can win games without him this term, securing eight wins when he has not been in the starting XI. Considering United have won just 15 league games this term, just over half of them have been secured without their talisman in their starting XI.
His absence marks a blow, but United have already proven they have others they can turn to in his absence to get the job done.