Sheffield United's big reset continues under Spanish sun as key difference highlighted 12 months on
After a disappointing campaign last time out, Sheffield United are using their training camp in Valencia to lay the foundations for a fresh promotion push - with players insisting this summer's preparations feel very different to 12 months ago.
By his own admission, Japhet Tanganga is not a huge fan of the initiation ceremonies that greet new arrivals at Sheffield United. Fortunately for the United skipper, there is only one new signing to hear singing on the club's current training camp in Valencia.
But that doesn’t mean United can’t still utilise this period in a meaningful way as they look to address the issues that dogged, and ultimately dashed, their hopes of making a late charge for the play-offs last term.
After returning to Bramall Lane in September, boss Chris Wilder frequently referred back to last summer’s pre-season preparations, under his predecessor Ruben Selles, as a key contributor to his players’ physical condition.
Pre-season has also been earmarked as a critical period mentally as well, with Wilder looking to instil his demands and messages into his squad ahead of the new campaign which kicks off next month.
"People undervalue sometimes how important coming in and having a full pre-season is,” said skipper Japhet Tanganga. “Coming in at the start with the manager here as well... he obviously wasn’t here at the start of last pre-season.
“It's important for us to get the information that we need to improve from last season and take it into this season. It's really big to have a full pre-season with everybody, build that camaraderie and then kind of grow from there going into the first game."
United would have preferred to have more pieces of their transfer jigsaw in places by this point, to avoid having to play catch-up with players the later they join in the summer.
But the market the Blades are currently focused on, that of mainly frees and loans, means they are not in total control as they wait for top-flight clubs to make decisions on the futures of some of their fringe players.
Donovan impressed on his first United appearance on Saturday, playing the first 45 minutes of a goalless friendly draw at Chesterfield, and insiders report he has looked bright on the Spanish camp as well.
Ryan One also joined the travelling party, having missed out at Chesterfield with a slight issue, along with in-demand United players Gus Hamer and Sydie Peck.
"It's important for us to get together, spend some time together, work hard, but also build that camaraderie,” Tanganga added ahead of next month’s Championship opener against Birmingham City.
“It’s an opportunity for us to go away as a team and bond in one place, get to know each other a bit more and build that camaraderie going into the season."