Sheffield United: Watford star warns Blades his club is back

Watford, Sheffield United’s first opponents of the new Championship campaign, were relegated last season because of repetitive and outdated training methods and the ‘disgraceful’ attitude displayed by one of their loan signings according to one of new manager Rob Edwards’ players.
James Shield
By James Shield
Published 25th Jul 2022, 10:30 BST
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Dan Gosling, the former Everton, Newcastle and AFC Bournemouth defender, used an interview with a regional newspaper to launch a series of scathing attacks on what he regarded as the factors behind the Hertfordshire club’s demise.

Criticising how Edwards’ predecessor Claudio Ranieri prepared for matches - “five aside games day after day…you don’t learn anything from it” - and also branding the Italian’s replacement Roy Hodgson’s tactics as uninteresting, Gosling saved his most damning comments for Ozan Tufan; recruited on a short-term basis from Fenerbahce.

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Emmanuel Dennis, Maduka Okoye and Dan Gosling of Watford look on from the subs bench during a pre-season friendly between Watford and Southampton: Richard Heathcote/Getty ImagesEmmanuel Dennis, Maduka Okoye and Dan Gosling of Watford look on from the subs bench during a pre-season friendly between Watford and Southampton: Richard Heathcote/Getty Images
Emmanuel Dennis, Maduka Okoye and Dan Gosling of Watford look on from the subs bench during a pre-season friendly between Watford and Southampton: Richard Heathcote/Getty Images

MORE: https://www.thestar.co.uk/sport/football/sheffield-united/sheffield-united-an-encouraging-update-on-manchester-city-midfielder-3779760

“They signed Tufan on loan from a Turkish club,” Gosling told the Watford Observer. “He was here on loan: Is he really going to care if the club goes down? He knew that whatever happened, he could go back to wherever he came from.

“He’s never played English football at all, never played here, never played in the Premier League. He wasn’t bothered and he wasn’t that fit either.”

Edwards replaced Hodgson at the helm earlier this summer, after steering Forest Green Rovers to promotion from League Two. Rovers issued a terse statement confirming Edwards’ departure, effectively accusing both him and Watford of negotiating behind their backs.

Dan Gosling could face Sheffield United at Vicarage RoadDan Gosling could face Sheffield United at Vicarage Road
Dan Gosling could face Sheffield United at Vicarage Road

But Gosling, who was cut from Watford’s squad during the second half of the previous campaign, believes Edwards is already making his mark.

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United travel to Vicarage Road on August 1st, with the fixture being broadcast live on television. It will be the first meeting between the two clubs since December 2019, when they played out a 1-1 draw in the Premier League at Bramall Lane.

“It was a real disgrace, easily the worst dressing room I’ve been a part of,” Gosling said, referring to last season. “So now that we’re clearing the decks and trying to build something new, it’s refreshing.”

“Some players didn’t hit the levels they were capable of,” he added. “But it was attitude that did for us.”

MORE: https://www.thestar.co.uk/sport/football/sheffield-united/sheffield-united-boss-reveals-why-he-changed-his-midfield-ahead-of-watford-opener-3779762

Related topics:WatfordBladesPremier LeagueRoy Hodgson