'The patient is quite sick', 'We have seen crazier in the Premier League' - Six Sheffield United fans give their reviews of 2020 from a Blades perspective

Well in touch of the European place when the season was halted due to the Covid-19 crisis, United have struggled since the Premier League's resumption without crowds and are odds-on with bookmakers to be relegated this season.

We asked six Blades fans for their thoughts on 2020 as a calendar year.

David Holley

This year we have seen everything from fast-paced creativity from Norwood, headlines from the media about a ‘pub team from Sheffield’ who play world class football, to a recent run of frustration with a poor start to this season.

In early 2020 I remember arguing with colleagues that we were unstoppable, our defence - held up by Henderson - was solid, midfield was creative and Billy and the others were able to find the net and make a difference. So much so we were chasing European Football.

Then Covid-19 struck and trips to the Lane with my dad were reduced to watching games on the TV. Singing from the Kop turned into children arguing as football was on the ‘big TV'.

This will be a year that people want to forget. However it’s also the year which fans will reflect on the Blades. Whether it's that pint before the game, chatting with friends, that ‘programme seller’ shouting from the stands or the slow march leaving the ground, there is something we all miss from 2020.

I miss seeing Wilder waving to the fans singing, I miss the view from seat, and signing the Greasy Chip Butty. The year has been tough on and off the field but the mighty Blades are as sharp as Sheffield and will cut through 2021 as well as this year started.

James Smith

The calendar year of 2019 was heralded as Sheffield United’s finest in a generation, so it’s only right that 2020 held much optimism amongst Blades fans. Riding high at the turn of the year, narrow defeats to the division’s two elite sides were a mere blip in a shock European push for the recently promoted United.

It took a global pandemic to rattle the team that had ridden a wave of momentum forged in passion and character. The break, the absence of the booming Bramall Lane support and injury to Jack O’Connell saw them stutter over the line in ninth - the warning signs were there. This season, without the balance and solidarity of JOC’s unique role or the Blades fans pushing the team forward, United have struggled to find their rhythm.

Despite being competitive in most games, the Blades are yet to recapture the spark that kickstarted the momentum of last season. Each defeat chips away at the confidence of the players, and it becomes harder to recapture that much needed mojo as the gap widens.

Despite this, Blades fans are united behind their leader. Chris Wilder and his staff have brought them this far, and has more than earned the right to steer them through these uncharted waters-even if the worst should happen.

Dave Leverto

I think the term is Long Covid!

The Blades began the year in great health. Flying high in the Premier League and looking good for a first FA Cup final since God was a lad – then came lockdown and if the wheels didn’t exactly come off, they were definitely wonky. Perhaps the first game back and THAT ghost goal were an ominous sign of what was to come as United struggled to get their breath back.

The patient looked out of danger with huge wins against Wolves, Spurs and Chelsea but then came the relapse and a ninth-place finish masking some serious problems.

Expectations were high for the new season but in truth the first six minutes against Wolves were a preview to what was to follow. No shortage of effort but low on quality and way too many errors.

The patient is really quite sick. We need medicine and we need it now.

Josh Chapman

The year, in the grand scheme of things, started so well. Unbeaten in nine of 11 games (in all competitions) including wins against West Ham, Bournemouth and Palace, was adding to the unbelievable first half of the season we’d had.

But then Covid hit.

After the Premier League resumed in July and United weren’t given a blatantly obvious goal, things have just gone downhill. Losing six of 11 games after such good form earlier in the season was really tough, and our season ended with a whimper.

This season, I think a lot of fans, me included, were expecting it to be a similar story to the start of last, but how wrong we were.

I’ve gone from thinking we had an unlucky start with red cards, decisions going against us, and losing by the odd goal, to fully accepting we’re getting relegated this season.

Overall, it’s just another loop in the rollercoaster journey that being a Sheffield United fan is. It was a season of immense highs, but now it’s a season of rock-bottom lows. Chris Wilder is still the only man for this club, though.

Joseph Hadfield

How do you sum up 2020 as a Blade? I’ll give it a go. Wilder loved Fernandinho’s “proper” tackle in January. And we all loved his reaction. Enda Stevens decided to enter his nomination for the Puskas Award while I was at the Lane in February.

Then came COVID.

Decided to turn your watch on yet? Technology still not going for us when football resumed in June. Six goals, six points against Chelski and Spurs in July. The European dream was shattered just after, and there’s been two points since then. Relegation looks inevitable to most football fans. Not to worry. Yet.

Fans will be back in time, some foul performances this campaign and few points on the board. But we have spirit as shown by Man Utd, Brighton, and only losing by a single goal so many times, times including against the big boys. Cut out the individual mistakes. No JOC, no Berge and no burger vans either. But we’re United, not Sheffield, simply Sheffield United.

David Friedland

On the back of a remarkable 2019 in which seen the Blades gain promotion back to the big time and have a dream start to their campaign, they started 2020 in eighth position in the Premier League.

Throughout the second half of the season, they stayed in a similar spot and experienced some famous wins. Chris Wilder guided his team to ninth, a truly wonderful job by him and the players.

The small break in between the end of last season and this season really was a test for all teams to see how they could manage; Chris Wilder's Blades have struggled.

Coming up to the new year and there has not been a lot to cheer about, sat rock bottom of the Premier League with 14 games played and not one game won is worrying.

There is still a large chunk of the season for the Blades to rectify the poor start, we have seen crazier in the Premier League.