Martin Smith: Sheffield United showing their class in a Premier League that lacks consistency

How many Sheffield United fans would have reacted that way back in September?

Most of them you’d think, and the Premier League table still takes some believing.

Interesting take on the Blades position from one lifelong fan, let’s call him Mark, who holds the view that though United are playing superbly, look solid and have the nous and patience to undo even the best of teams, it’s a lot to do with the opposition.

The Premier League, this school of thought goes, just isn’t that good.

What?

The world’s richest, most glamorous league with global reach and billions of followers?

Yes, that one.

He may actually have a point.

Apart from the imperious Liverpool, there isn’t a lot of consistent quality.

City are in and out, Leicester likewise, though not as good, Chelsea and Tottenham can’t sustain a run and Manchester United are all over the place.

The rest, apart from The Blades are ‘two bob’ as Dave Bassett might say.

This particular fan is confident that United will beat any team they face whenever they take the pitch.

So far, you have to say, he’s bang on.

* Connor Wickham might be just what Sheffield Wednesday needs.

Big, powerful with an eye for goal, a player who offers manager Garry Monk something different up front.

With just 41 appearances for Palace in almost five years he should be raring to go.

Injuries aside he’s ideal and if he can be as productive as the last time he was at the club in 2013-14 - eight goal in 11 games - he might just be the spark that fires The Owls into the play-offs.

17 great action shots from Sheffield Steelers v Nottingham Panthers

* Poor old Johnny May, as Dexy’s Midnight Runners almost sang in 1982.

The England winger wasn’t born until eight years later but you had to feel for him on Sunday as he provided the highlight of England’s depressing 24-17 defeat in Paris.

How soon fortunes change.

Two matches before this weekend’s loss England were celebrating a historic World Cup semi-final victory over New Zealand with the trophy beckoning.

We know the rest but defeat to a France team that hasn’t been much use for a decade is particularly disheartening

As Dexy’s went on to sing in that number one anthem Come On Eileen all those years ago: ’Sounded sad upon the radio’.

It certainly did.

Come on Eddie.

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