Sydie Peck has a new challenge after finding himself in unexpected Sheffield United role
Following the departures of Andre Brooks, Gustavo Hamer and Callum O’Hare, Sheffield United are having to come up with alternative solutions to create opportunities.
Following a run of three defeats in their last four Championship matches, Sheffield United will be under pressure to get back on track when they welcome Lincoln City to Bramall Lane on Saturday afternoon.
The Blades signed off for the international break with a 2-1 defeat to Stoke City at the bet365 Stadium after stunning strikes from Jack McGlynn and Sam Gallagher turned the game in the home side’s favour, following Kalvin Phillips’ earlier opener for United.
United, not for the first time this season, struggled to create chances, registering an xG (expected goals) tally of just 0.36. It was the fifth time in their first eight Championship matches this season that their xG count had been below one.
However, having lost Andre Brooks, Gustavo Hamer and Callum O’Hare during the summer transfer window, United were always going to feel the pinch. The aforementioned trio were United’s three most creative players and were not directly replaced, meaning a drop-off in chance creation was inevitable.
Romelle Donovan and Ben Brereton Díaz were the only attacking players added to Chris Wilder’s squad during the summer, and the former has been in and out of the team recently, while the latter is still getting fully up to speed after arriving towards the end of the transfer window. Jordan Ayew is also getting up to speed after arriving last month as a free agent.
Having lost three such influential figures, United are still searching for a formula that will increase their chance-creation levels. xG is a metric used to gauge the quality of the chances being created, and United have struggled to consistently create them. Again, given the circumstances, that should not come as a surprise.
The Blades, whose highest xG tally (2.21) so far this season came in their 3-2 win over Bolton Wanderers at Bramall Lane last month, have recorded fewer shots (66) than anyone else in the division so far this term, while only three teams have a lower collective xG than United’s tally of 7.67.
When you run through United’s squad, it quickly becomes apparent that they are limited out wide and do not have an attack-minded midfielder renowned for creating chances. United’s midfield options are very strong on paper, but Joe Rothwell, Oliver Arblaster, Jaïro Riedewald, Sydie Peck and Phillips are not attacking midfielders, meaning that department does not have the profile of midfielder United need to try to make up for the losses of Brooks, O’Hare and Hamer.
According to data provided by statistical specialists Opta, Peck has been United’s most creative player so far this season, creating 14 chances in their first eight Championship outings. Of those 14 opportunities the England Under-21 international has created, nine have come from open play.
Perhaps surprisingly, though, only 14 players in the Championship have created more chances than Peck so far this term, suggesting the United ace has stepped up and raised his game in an attacking sense. He has registered two assists and scored one goal in the league thus far.
Peck’s tally of 14 chances created has put him head and shoulders above his United teammates when it comes to creating opportunities, with his closest competitor, Patrick Bamford, having created six opportunities. Rothwell is marginally behind Bamford, with a tally of five.
In 40 Championship appearances last season, Peck registered four assists, meaning he is already halfway to matching that tally after just eight games this season.
Peck may not be renowned as an attack-minded, creative midfield operator, but he has stepped up in an attacking sense amid United’s lack of architects, establishing himself as their most creative player so far this season.
The challenge for the former Arsenal youngster now is to try to sustain it.