On the first day of the Championship, last season’s playoff semifinal rematch is set to take place, where the Blades won 6-0 on aggregate. This match will not be as one-sided, as many things have changed at both clubs.
At Bramall Lane, the new owners have brought in new ideas. That is why Chris Wilder was sacked and why 11 players have left the club. The most notable departures are those of Vini Souza and Anel Ahmedhodzic, two defensive stalwarts in Sheffield’s failed bid for promotion last year.
Wilder’s replacement, Ruben Selles, brings with him a new approach. The Blades seem to be abandoning their strategy of relying on experienced Championship players to focus on developing young talent and high pressing. In the long term, this strategy could pay off, but in the short term, there could be teething problems during the team’s transition—and this could lead to a goal-filled match at the weekend, especially considering the home side’s defensive weaknesses: young loanee Tyler Bindon and Jack Robinson have missed part of pre-season through injury.
Bristol City have also changed manager, with Gerhard Struber replacing Liam Manning. If his time at Barnsley is anything to go by, he will want his team to press high and play chaotic football. This is a significant change from his predecessor’s approach, who preferred a more orderly and structured defensive block, but the Robins certainly have the right men in attack to adapt to Struber’s style.
They could cause problems for Sheffield United, and the odds for both teams to score at 1.83 are reasonable given the circumstances, with a home win still the most likely outcome.
The “goal” (both teams to score) is at 1.83 on Goldbet and Lottomatica.
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