Football Season Guide

The 2012/13 season will be remembered by Sheffield United fans for an inexplicable gamble their board took late in the season, as they replaced Danny Wilson with the inexperienced Chris Morgan at the helm and saw the side not only fialing to reach direct promotion, but also losing in the Play-off semi-finals to underdogs Yeovil. It was therefore yet another season of Play-off frustration for the Blades, who will now try to escape a third tier at the third attempt, with their fans growing increasingly restless by the disproportion between the size of the club and the division that they find themselves in. The Blades will start their campaign with another inexperienced manager, as former defender David Weir, best known for his time with Everton and Rangers, takes over despite having no previous managerial experience. Two regular starters have left in the likes of Barry Robson and Dave Kitson, but ready made replacements have been signed in Stephen McGinn, who spent time on loan at Shrewsbury last season, and former Bournemouth man Lyle Taylor, who scored 24 goals in 34 appearances for Falkirk last season. Moreover, the Blades also signed defender Jasper Johns from Everton and forward Febian Brandy, who had an excellent season at Walsall. Given the transfer dealings theyve made so far, they seem a touch stronger than last season, but their fans will be concerned about Weir's lack of managerial experience and the abysmal home performances the players have been constantly displaying last season.