"Really worrying" - Sheffield United reaction given as Ruben Selles hits out | OneFootball

FLW's Sheffield United fan pundit has given his view on whether head coach Ruben Selles has been given enough support in the transfer market.

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more...

It is fair to say it has been a challenging start to life at Sheffield United for the club's new head coach, Ruben Selles.

After losing 2-1 to Sunderland in last season's play-off final, Sheffield United made the controversial decision to part company with manager Chris Wilder in June due to what seemed to be disagreements over the club's new data-driven recruitment model.

Selles was named as Wilder's replacement, but the Spaniard has lost both of his opening two games in charge, with the Blades suffering a 4-1 defeat at home to Bristol City in the league on Saturday before exiting the EFL Cup following a 2-1 loss at Birmingham City on Wednesday night.

In addition to the poor form on the pitch, United have lost a number of their stars this summer, including Anel Ahmedhodzic, Vini Souza and Kieffer Moore, and amid speculation over the future of the likes of Jack Robinson and Tyrese Campbell, Selles warned the board against selling any more players without having a replacement already in the building.

The Blades have brought in five new signings during the transfer window so far in Mihail Polendakov, Tyler Bindon, Djibril Soumare, Ehije Ukaki and Louie Barry, but as frustration increases over the lack of new arrivals, Selles admitted on Thursday that the club's recruitment process has "not been good enough".

When asked if he was beginning to question the intentions of the club's owners, FLW's Sheffield United fan pundit Jimmy, from the YouTube channel Blades Ramble, admitted that he is concerned by current events at Bramall Lane, and he criticised the board for their lack of communication with supporters.

"What's happening to our football club at the moment is really concerning," Jimmy told FLW.

"We've gone from a team that finished a distant third in the league, well ahead of fourth, to a team that's scrambling around and can't get signings over the line.

"You follow your club through thick and thin, and if they want to change the philosophy of the club and how the club is structured and how the team operates, then that's one thing.

"But I think the lack of communication with the fan base is quite naive on the owners' part. At least open the door and let us know a little bit about the plans and what your intentions are for the club going forward.

"Other than sparse written communication, we've not really had any communication from the new owners at all.

"Ruben Selles is cutting a really frustrated figure now.

"In his last press conference, he was saying that we can't allow any more players to go out before being replaced.

"Today, he is saying that we've not been good enough, and while he includes himself in it, he is saying that the process has not been acceptable.

"Straight away, a new manager is coming out before his second competitive league game saying that the owners haven't done enough effectively.

"It's a really, really worrying time."

Steve Rosen and Helmy Eltoukhy must provide Ruben Selles with increased transfer backing

Optimism was high after COH Sports completed their £100 million takeover of Sheffield United in December, and a strong January transfer window that included the signing of striker Tom Cannon for a fee of around £10 million only increased the feel-good factor around Bramall Lane.

However, just over six months later, the owners have made the unpopular call to replace Wilder with a manager who is still relatively unproven at Championship level in Selles, and it appears the Spaniard is having to work on a limited budget, while also having some of his best players sold without replacements being lined up.

It is a bold move from Selles to speak out against the board so early in his tenure, but his latest comments are a sign of the growing frustration at the club, and owners Steve Rosen and Helmy Eltoukhy must provide him with the five signings he has requested before the end of the window to give him a chance of delivering success this season.