Following Sheffield United’s devastating 8-0 loss to Newcastle in their home match on Sunday, former forward Carl Asaba shared his thoughts on the performance during an interview on the Blades Heaven podcast on BBC Radio Sheffield.
“In isolation you can look at this and think it was one of the worst defensive displays I have seen, so passive and just watching the other team who are full of international top players.
“You know you have to be in their face, you know you have to unsettle them because they have got the quality to hurt any team, let alone us. Our pre-requisite for Sheffield United this season is you have to turn up, be committed, be brave, work your socks off and make your opposite number beat you physically. We didn’t do that, we tried to go tippy-tappy with one of the best teams in the Premier League and you can’t do it.”
The Blades travel to the London stadium on Saturday to face David Moyes’ West Ham United, who have had a good start to the campaign having beaten Chelsea, Brighton and Luton Town. However, they have suffered back-to-back 3-1 defeats to Manchester City and then Liverpool.
A cause for concern coming into this game on Saturday is that Sheffield United have conceded four goals from set pieces already, the most in the league. West Ham have scored two goals from set pieces [FBref]. With United facing one of the best set piece deliverers in the world in James Ward-Prowse, the Hammers will be licking their lips from dead-ball opportunities this weekend.
