Pundit fires worrying Sheffield United claim as concern at Bramall Lane grows | OneFootball

Ali Maxwell has harsh words for the Blades' Championship prospects

The Blades were beaten 1-0 to Fleetwood Town in the Carabao Cup, before losing 2-1 to Stoke City in their final game before the pause, leaving Chris Wilder's side 18th in the Championship after eight matches.

United have won just two of their opening eight league fixtures, while concerns over their performances have grown alongside their disappointing results.

Pundit makes worrying Sheffield United claim after poor Championship opening

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Speaking on the Not The Top 20 podcast, Ali Maxwell admitted he had been "astoundingly underwhelmed" by United's performances so far this season.

Maxwell also pointed to the mood surrounding the club, describing it as "very negative throughout pretty much all aspects" while discussing the pressure currently facing Wilder.

The Blades have struggled to create chances in the opening weeks of the campaign, with their attacking numbers providing further cause for concern.

"They've been really poor," Maxwell said, highlighting the fact that they have produced less than 1.0 expected goals in each of their last four games.

He also noted that United have scored first in only one of their eight matches so far, and even that game ended in defeat.

Fleetwood defeat and a poor run of performances.

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Maxwell's most striking point came when he suggested that United's standing could be distorting perceptions of just how poor their start has been.

The Blades reached the Championship play-off final last season after collecting 92 points under Wilder, while their recent Premier League experience and parachute payments have also shaped expectations around the club.

However, Maxwell argued that those factors should be ignored when assessing the current team.

"If you were just to look at this Sheffield United team in eight games and, to an extent, the lack of depth that they have in their squad... you would think they're one of the worst teams in the league," he said.

That assessment is backed by some of the Blades' underlying numbers.

They have scored only nine league goals so far and registered just 65 shots, the lowest total in the Championship.

Their non-penalty xG of 6.88 is also the second-lowest figure in the division.

The summer departures of Gustavo Hamer, Callum O'Hare and Andre Brooks have clearly left a sizeable creative void, with the trio directly involved in 41 of United's 66 Championship goals last season.

Sheffield United must urgently find the answers after international break

There are mitigating factors for Wilder and his players, with those departures leaving the squad short of creativity and depth.

United also remain involved in a wider off-field situation, with their ownership structure and the £35m dispute involving former owner Prince Abdullah continuing to attract scrutiny from the EFL and Independent Football Regulator.

That backdrop has only added to the sense of uncertainty around Bramall Lane.

Wilder himself has acknowledged that the club cannot continue selling key players without reinvesting, while supporters will expect a significant improvement when the Championship resumes.

United face Lincoln City in their first game after the international break, before a demanding run of seven matches in 29 days.

The Blades therefore have an opportunity to respond quickly, but Maxwell's assessment underlines why the pressure on Wilder and the club's hierarchy is unlikely to disappear without a marked improvement on the pitch.

As the pundit himself acknowledged, things could still get better for United.