We welcome Sheffield United to Selhurst tonight, to see if we can move on from the horror show against Arsenal. To see how the Blades are feeling, I caught up with fan and season ticket holder, Lee Turner.
TEB – It feels like your season feels quite different now compared with earlier in the season – how much of a difference has Chris Wilder made?
LT – There has been a positive change. It has brought a bit of passion back. I wasn’t convinced on Wilder’s re-appointment, given how it ended it felt a bit of an ‘easy’ appointment. Having said that, it is a lot better – we’ve been in games a lot more, playing much more progressively.
TEB – So what is the ambition for the rest of the season? Are you still fighting or resigned to going back down?
LT – I think we’re down to be honest. Obviously want to feel we’re still competing. The game changer would be if Forest get a points deduction. In terms of a fan perspective, if we get to the end of the season with a chance of staying up, I’ll be over the moon.
TEB – So tactics, what is it looking like, back to overlapping centre backs?
LT – Actually no. It’s quite a departure from the previous Wilder regime and how we lined up earlier in the season. We now tend to go as a 4-3-3 playing Brereton Diaz and Archer as wide forwards. I estimate the starting eleven will only feature 3-4 of the same players that started against Palace in the first game of the season.
TEB – In terms of the game, is it all about points for you now?
LT – Yes. Performances have been better, which has made us enjoy going to matches more, but we need points! To have any chance we need a few fluky wins or something! Would take points over performance 100% right now.
TEB – Despite the challenging first half of the season, who has been your star so far?
LT – Since Wilder has come back, probably Bogle – he’s defending and attacking very well. But overall, for the season I’d say James Macatee. He’s class.
TEB – Earlier in the season I asked who you would want from Palace – you said Eze – still holding with that?
LT – Yeah, probably although a part of me would just go for Dean Henderson. Having seen up close how good he can be, he really should be England’s number one. It does show the different tiers in the league in terms of spending power. We would have loved him back, but no way we could have spent £15m at that point. So we’re left paying a couple of million for Atletico’s backup instead.
TEB – To the game then, what’s your prediction?
LT – 1-0 to United (heart speaking rather than head!)
TEB – Anything else to look out for
LT – Speaking of Henderson, it’s worth looking out for how he reacts. I think the United fans will give him a good reception as he really was great for us, but I suspect there will be a little bit of banter with him as well from the away end. Given though that set pieces were a bit of a weak spot for Palace last time out I expect we’ll try and test him there for sure.
TEB – Cheers Lee, here’s to a tasty encounter!
