Sheffield United: The most mid-table side ever? | OneFootball

If Isaac Newton’s third law of motion were a football club, it would be Sheffield United in 2025-2026. Every step forward matched by an equal step back. From start to finish, not good, not bad, just very middling. You could say the most mid-table season ever.

The Manager Change and Re-do

Ruben Selles, a step forwards? I know what you are thinking surely not. But remember you and I now have hindsight. Regardless of whether you agreed with Chris Wilder’s second departure or not. Sheffield United were promised a young and progressive manager.

In concept, that’s not a terrible idea. The execution however is important and much like the finishing on display against Wrexham on Saturday, that was lacking.

After some decent pre-season results against opposition that masked the impending doom. There was a brief grace period of the opening 45 against Bristol City. The Blades were attacking, the passing moves were flowing and then the whistle blew for half-time. As the Selles hype-train left the station. Soon enough it was a 5-0 defeat to Ipswich Town and the experiment ended.

Return to Chris Wilder, not the dinosaur manager other fans label him as but an admission of old over new. A return from promised progression to the old reliable.

Wilder’s revolution took the Blades from the bottom three to outside playoff contenders. Bramall Lane was a fortress again. Whilst, the Blades’ form topped the form tables. Only coming unstuck against the current top two when they visited Bramall Lane. Two performances that have derailed the Blades from outside playoff hopefuls to just a mid-table side.

Ultimately, the managerial situation of any club is going to dictate to a large extent how a season will go. Placing Wilder on the back foot meant the Blades would always struggle to challenge for the top six. This season has also shown up the limitations of last season’s side and Wilder. The winning moments, the fitness issues, the ability to keep hold of a narrow win that made the Blades so great last season. They have all swung the other way this season.

The Transfer Windows

You can tell something about the quality of Sheffield United’s last two transfer windows based on the fact that the best two signings came outside of them. Jairo Riedewald in October and Patrick Bamford in November. Need some midfield experience? Riedewald on a free. Lacking a clinical striker who offers something different? Bamford on a free. It’s the Wilder way.

Summer

The summer however wasn’t Wilder at all. The early signings whether made by AI or otherwise were underwhelming. With the latter stages of the window a scramble to bring in recognised EFL players.

With hindsight, the window proved to be the lower end of mid-table as many expected. Tanganga has proven, as was thought, to be a decent signing, but the window also threw up the unexpected star signing of Selles’ favourite Tyler Bindon. Whilst, players like McGuinness, Chong, Mee and Soumare have played their roles to varying successes.

But for all those players, the summer signings of Barry and Godfrey (no longer with the club). As well as Ogbene, Ings and Zatterstrom who have so far been ineffective. The summer panic left the Blades mainly on the back foot.

January

January was a Wilder window, his fingerprints all over it. Again he wanted experienced quality mixed with his own unique brand of going in for a player until you sign them. Previously on Wilder’s radar, Hoever, Rothwell and Phillips finally arrived through the door. Whilst Hjelde, who came in to cover the injured Sam McCallum has had the unfortunate role of being the rarely seen understudy of Harrison Burrows. Only 51 minutes is a bit harsh Chris, it’s a decent drive down from Sunderland.

Phillips most visibly resembles a Wilder signing, a player who has hit their potential but got lost along the way. To be fair you don’t turn down Manchester City. Although, for both Phillips and Rothwell two players looking for a new start, Wilder has been unable to work his usual magic. Not much of this is Wilder’s fault, of course, what with Rothwell’s debut red and Phillips’ injury issues.

Much like Selles’ appointment, Phillips’ arrival high-profile but low-impact points to a wider style over substance approach. An approach to paper over the cracks after being placed in a time crunch.

Mid-Table Stats

Sheffield United are deservedly mid-table and after six straight losses in the league at the start of the season. The relief in perspective of not going down can’t be lost. But the Blades have really leaned into the mid-table form recently.

Points Per Game

At stages since Wilder’s return the Blades were earning two points a game, the hallowed points per game required for promotion pushes. But now we’re 34 league games into Wilder’s third tenure. It’s all become a bit too predictable.

For the last near decade since Wilder’s arrival in the summer of 2016. Whether, Wilder or Heckingbottom, whoever was in the dugout. Something has happened. This season while a step back is the first time in a long time where Easter weekend means very little. At least in the Premier League relegation seasons. There was a pride element.

The Blades are lost at sea in that sense. Leading to a points per game since Wilder’s return of 1.47. It doesn’t get any more mid-table than that.

No draws (Extreme Mid-Table)

The only thing not mid-table about Sheffield United is the ability to draw games. It’s a nearly non-existent ability. The lowest amount of draws in the division with five. Sheffield United don’t have the usual issue of a mid-table side looking to push on. There’s no need to turn draws into wins, it’s a need to stop turning wins into defeats.

15 wins against 19 defeats would be somewhat of an emotional rollercoaster of form. Except unfortunately Sheffield United have gone about it in a very dull way. The early wins of Wilder part three which were exciting goal-fests have been replaced with an inevitable feeling after taking the lead. 27 points dropped from winning positions this season is like the 90 minute equivalent of a VAR decision. Don’t celebrate that victory just yet by the hour mark it will be chalked off.

Ultimately, leading to one big draw across the season with 46 matches culminating in mid-table.

Goals For/Goals Against

Another interesting or uninteresting fact about Sheffield United’s 2025-2026 is the balanced goals for and goals against. Both on 54 goals for and 54 against. It’s the football equivalent of being stuck in neutral, although to be fair a remaining seven matches of 0-0 draws is favourable to what current form is showing.

Not to mention the Blades’ points total, the usual Championship safety blanket of 50 points has been reached. Opta Analyst data suggests the Blades are likely to reach 60 by the end of the season. The difference in the two totals is how nervous you want your pessimistic friend on the Kop to be.

Overview

If you had said Sheffield United would be mid-table this season at the end of last season, the statement would have been met with disappointment.

Personally, like many Blades, the perspective of how bad the start was makes mid-table safety somewhat of a relief. Heading to League One is a headache best worth avoided. Although, having said that I can also see the frustration of Blades that wanted the side to push for the playoffs more. Even those who question Wilder’s future as manager.

The two feelings should be able to exist. Much like the club this season we can sit in the middle somewhere. We can be grateful for Chris coming in and saving the club from a relegation battle. But also rue missed chances to retrieve the season and the amount of points dropped. Hopefully next season the Blades can ironically get the balance right and leave the equal and opposite reactions to Isaac Newton.