Iliman Ndiaye’s Best Sheffield United Moments | OneFootball

Iliman Ndiaye had many great moments in a Sheffield United shirt and today he turns 25. His emergence under Paul Heckingbottom had many Blades understanding his sizeable potential. Whilst, he may be realising it an Everton shirt at least the collective faith in him is being proven correct.

Today, for his 25th birthday, let’s look back on his time at Sheffield United. At the best moments of his early years as a professional footballer.

First Sheffield United Goals

His first league start for Sheffield United came against Peterborough United on 11 September 2021. After previously, coming off the bench against Leicester City in the Premier League and against Derby County in the EFL Cup.

The game itself was great for the Blades and arguably the best under Slavisa Jokanovic. The Blades ended up six-two winners. With two goals from Ben Osborn, one from Morgan Gibbs-White and one from John Fleck. As well as a brace from Iliman Ndiaye.

Ndiaye opened the scoring after Rhys Norrington-Davies played a ball over the top to Gibbs-White down the right. Gibbs-White pulled the ball back to just inside the penalty area for Ndiaye to guide the ball with his right foot past a helpless Christy Pym.

With the Blades in front four goals to one, Iliman Ndiaye scored his second on 70 minutes. Down the left, Billy Sharp played the ball back to Norrington-Davies who played it back to Sharp who did a one-two with Osborn. Sharp reached the byline and lifted the ball back towards goal for Ndiaye to head the ball in, in front of the kop. To give the Blades a 5-1 lead.

Between his two goals, he also assisted Morgan Gibbs-White’s goal. A perfect full league debut with more to come.

The 2021-2022 run-in

Whilst, the Blades would ultimately lose in the 2021-2022 playoff semi-finals. Iliman Ndiaye’s form in the last five games was crucial to qualifying for them in the first place.

Sheffield United 1 – 2 Reading

His run of goals began in the 42nd game of the season against Reading. After the Blades had been behind since the 17th minute after a Lucas Joao opener. Ndiaye scored in the 90th minute after Daniel Jebbison flicked the ball forward to Egan in the box. The Blades’ centre-back passed the ball left to Ndiaye let the ball come across him before finishing with his left. Unfortunately, Reading would score in added time but it would be the first of his goalscoring run.

Sheffield United 1 -0 Cardiff City

Ndiaye scored the only goal of the game on the 47th minute. After Morgan Gibbs-White played the ball backwards to Chris Basham who returned the ball to him down the right, before Gibbs-White sent in a fast cross for Ndiaye to score in front of the Kop.

QPR 1 – 3 Sheffield United

After Charlie Austin opened the scoring for QPR on 31 minutes. Iliman Ndiaye started the Blades’ comeback. An Oliver Norwood corner on 54 minutes found Egan who headed down at the back post before Sander Berge’s shot was blocked. The ball bounced around falling to Ndiaye who buried the ball into the back of the net.

His goal allowed Jack Robinson and Conor Hourihane to continue the Blades’ second-half momentum and secure victory at Loftus Road.

Sheffield United 4 – 0 Fulham

The Blades hosted the Champions Fulham at Bramall Lane and sent them off to the Premier League with the opposite of a guard of honour.

Morgan Gibbs-White opened the scoring ten minutes in. Before assisting Ndiaye for the Blades’ second. Sander Berge on the edge of the box played the ball left to Morgan Gibbs-White who completed the triangle of passes to an unmarked Ndiaye. The Senegal international finished simply with his left foot.

Ndiaye would then assist Sander Berge’s third and the Blades would finish the scoring with Sander Berge assisting Enda Stevens.

Key Stats from 2022-2023

Iliman Ndiaye has many individual moments of brilliance that a spreadsheet can never describe with numbers alone. Although, his 2022-2023 season where he managed exactly a goal contribution every two games. With 15 goals and 11 assists in 52 matches.

He finished as the Championship’s 8th top scorer tied with current Blades’ forward Ben Brereton Diaz. He also finished joint second in the Championship’s assist table tied with current Blade Gustavo Hamer.

After featuring in all 46 Championship games and starting 43 of them. Ndiaye’s ten assists beat his expected assists of 3.68 by almost three times. Unsurprisingly, he was in the 98th percentile for chances created (51). Plus, he was the best Championship forward for successful dribbles with 112.

He was also amongst the most fouled forwards in the Championship winning 73. He was also one of the best tackling forwards in the Championship winning 71% of his tackles. Ndiaye won the ball back in the final third 45 times and completed 221 recoveries. As well as winning 272 duels.

The goal against Spurs

In his final season, Ndiaye’s only goal outside of his fourteen Championship ones was a crucial one. In the fifth round of the FA Cup, a strong performance against Spurs was capped off by Iliman Ndiaye 79 minutes in.

Tommy Doyle passed the ball forwards to James McAtee who played it left to Ndiaye. Ndiaye played it back to Jack Robinson whose blocked pass fell back to Ndiaye just inside the box. He cut inside beating three Spurs’ defenders before shooting through a crowd. With the ball flying past Fraser Forster at his near post. 1-0.

A goal that sent the Blades through to a quarter-final against Blackburn Rover and an eventual Wembley semi-final against Manchester City.

A great individual season for Iliman Ndiaye ended strongly for the Blades gaining automatic promotion to the Premier League and a trip to Wembley.

Takeaways

It would be nice to say after the 2022-2023 season that nothing else of note happened. Ndiaye stayed at Bramall Lane and continued to thrive as a Blade.

Personally, seeing him stay at Bramall Lane would have been the best signing of the 2023 summer window. But it is also understandable that he wanted to return to his boyhood Marseille. It’s also likely given how he’s performed at Everton that he wouldn’t still be at Sheffield United anyway. With his potential suitors after Goodison Park having far more financial might than the Blades.

Ultimately, Ndiaye is the most technically gifted player, I’ve seen play for Sheffield United and he left behind a lot of good memories. Undoubtedly, in the next five to ten years, he will be linked with a return to Bramall Lane to finish his playing days. Like other successful academy players Kyle Walker and Harry Maguire. So, look forward to that future rumour mill.