The statistics that quietly expose Sheffield United's biggest rebuild task in seismic summer
Replacing goals, creativity and star quality could all be on Sheffield United’s agenda this close season - but the statistics suggest Chris Wilder’s biggest rebuild task may actually involve rediscovering the control and balance quietly lost with the biggest decision he has made so far this summer.
Sheffield United may yet be faced with the challenge of substituting Gustavo Hamer’s magic this summer, and are keen to ensure the burden upon top scorer Patrick Bamford’s shoulders is eased next season. But the biggest task facing Chris Wilder and Co. may actually turn out to be replacing something less glamorous, but arguably just as important.
Because for all the debate around United’s decision to release Jairo Riedewald, the cold numbers behind his short spell at Bramall Lane only reinforce why supporters reacted so strongly to the news in the first place.
Statistics can never tell the full story in football. If they did, recruitment would be easy, managers would all be mathematicians and every data-led signing would become a roaring success. But personality, leadership, mentality and timing still matter enormously.
But equally, the underlying numbers are not meaningless either. And some of the figures from Riedewald’s first, and only, season at United are difficult to ignore. The most eye-catching, in an end-of-season breakdown from EFL Stats, was the Dutchman’s plus/minus record of +19.
Put simply, the figure measures goals scored versus goals conceded while a player is on the pitch and the statistic backs up the eye test which suggested that, so often last season, United crumbled when Riedewald was invariably substituted around the hour mark.
His absence, owing to his ongoing fitness struggle after a pre-season without a club, was a big factor in United dropping almost 30 points from winning positions over the entire season. Holding on and taking just half of those would have put them in the play-offs, despite their terror start.
Statistics are always there to be manipulated by anyone with an agenda and plus/minus figures can sometimes flatter players. They are heavily dependent on team performance, game state and even luck. But anyone who watched United regularly last season could see the calming effect Riedewald often had in midfield.
He gave United control in the middle of the park. He slowed games down when they needed slowing down, offering composure to a side which too often looked chaotic during another turbulent campaign.
He was the type of player you only really recognised in his absence, which is now permanent from United’s point of view. The test now is to find someone capable of replicating that influence - and ideally even improving upon it.
Boss Wilder has never been one to shy away from challenges and isn’t about to start now. He makes decisions with conviction and with United’s best interests in mind and at heart. That, in essence, is what he is paid to do. And like all managers, he lives and dies by those calls.
Away from Riedewald, the wider statistics paint an interesting picture of United’s season too. For all the criticism aimed at Tanganga during parts of his debut campaign, the skipper topped several key defensive categories including clearances, interceptions, blocks, completed passes and minutes played.
It is hardly the statistical profile of a defender falling apart every week, even if consistency occasionally deserted him and United undoubtedly need more from him this time around. One of the success stories was Seriki, enjoying arguably his breakthrough year at Bramall Lane.
The academy graduate led United for tackles, tackles won and progressive carries - underlining the athleticism and aggression Wilder wants far more of moving forward. Little wonder he was the subject of a swatted-away bid in January.
So too was fellow academy product Andre Brooks, whose dribbling numbers also highlight why there remains excitement around his ceiling, while Gustavo Hamer’s dominance creatively was almost predictable at this stage. The assists, expected assists and chances created columns were all dominated by the Dutchman.
He may yet depart this summer, or remain the headline act at United. Bamford is the man expected to lead the line. But the success or failure of United’s rebuild may ultimately hinge on whether they can rediscover the control and balance that their quiet man subtly brought to the side.