Opinion: Three Teams That Can More Than Compete With Sheffield United This Season | OneFootball

As the 2025/26 Championship season edges closer, Sheffield United will be aiming for a return to the Premier League at the second time of asking, after losing in the Championship play-off final last term.

But as the Blades found out in the previous campaign, it’s a difficult task to achieve, especially when you have two merely perfect teams in Burnley and Leeds United right across the season.

While the Clarets and the Whites gained promotion along with Sunderland, there is a genuine case for the second tier being more competitive this time around. Which, of course, is not what United want to hear.

In this article, I will list some of the teams that I personally feel can more than compete with the Blades and cause them issues when coming up against them.

Three Teams That Sheffield United Should Be Wary of This Season

Southampton

Sheffield United English striker #10 Cameron Archer (R) celebrates with Sheffield United’s Brazilian midfielder #21 Vinicius Souza (L) after his shot hits the post then goes into the net off Everton’s English goalkeeper #01 Jordan Pickford, for an own goal during the English Premier League football match between Sheffield United and Everton at Bramall Lane in Sheffield, northern England on September 2, 2023. (Photo by Darren Staples / AFP)

An obvious one to start is Southampton, who finished bottom of the Premier League last time out after achieving just 12 points, but their ambition in the summer only increased. The Saints brought in one of the brightest managers in Europe today in Will Still. The 32-year-old is known for his adaptable and proactive tactical approach and his ability to get the very best out of young players players.

Now, we still have a few weeks left in the window, but as things stand, Southampton have a strong squad for the Championship. Cameron Archer, Adam Armstrong and Ben Brereton Diaz are all capable of finding the net frequently at this level. All of them possess explosiveness which means they will always be a threat in transition and for runs in behind the defence.

In terms of creativity, Tyler Dibling, who could end up leaving St Mary’s come September. But, even outside of him, Joe Aribo and Flynn Downes are big threats in the middle and final third. Expect Shea Charles to be a standout performer under Still, who is solid going both ways.

Defensively, the Saints should be good enough with the likes of young defenders Taylor Harwood-Bellis and Ronnie Edwards, with Jack Stephens being the more experienced man. Charlie Taylor and Ryan Manning are decent enough left-backs at Championship level when called upon. James Bree may get the nod at right-back on most occasions because of his excellent dead-ball delivery.

At 23, Gavin Bazunu still has time to improve on his previous Championship showing where he did produce some good saves but also had many moments to forget as well.

Birmingham City

SHEFFIELD, ENGLAND – MARCH 19: Tommy Doyle of Sheffield United in action during the Emirates FA Cup Quarter Final match between Sheffield United and Blackburn Rovers at Bramall Lane on March 19, 2023 in Sheffield, England. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images)

After a chaotic number of years, Birmingham City finally feel like a club with direction. Under the management of Chris Davies, who continues to impress with his tactical intelligence and adaptability, the Blues look like genuine promotion hopefuls.

Their 2025 summer window has been one of the most impressive in the Championship. The headline signings are: Eiran Cashin on loan from Brighton, a dominant, ball-playing centre-back who fills a long-term gap at the heart of their defence. Another loan signing is Tommy Doyle, a creative and progressive monster during his time in the Championship with the Blades.

Players like Bright Osayi-Samuel and Demarai Gray have bags of pace and can carry the ball a long way. Again, another team that could be dangerous in transition. When I look at this Blues team, I get the feeling they looked at how Sunderland got promoted and are trying to replicate that.

The one issue I can see in this squad is the goalkeeper. Whether it was because a poor defence was in front of him or not, James Beadle did look very suspect last term at Sheffield Wednesday. He has mistakes in him, and he is weak at commanding his box.

Queens Park Rangers

LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 22: Ilias Chair of Queens Park Rangers gets past Josh Eccles of Coventry City during the Sky Bet Championship match between Queens Park Rangers FC and Coventry City FC at Loftus Road on October 22, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

Now, this one may surprise a few people but I really like the look of the QPR team as things stand. Granted, they don’t have a standout striker, but Zan Celar, Rayan Kolli and Michael Frey should get plenty of opportunities in front of goal this season.

Ilias Chair took a step back in terms of goals and assists last term but that was due to playing less than 40 times for the first time since the 2018/19 campaign. Chair occupying a playmaker role out on the left with license to cut inside, with Kwame Poku on the other flank, opposition full-backs will be dreading coming up against those two. Additionally, Karamoko Dembele showed promising signs last season, and I expect the attack-minded midfielder to further improve.

Jonathan Varane and Sam Field compliment Dembele well, sitting behind him as a defensive screen. Nicolas Madsen is also a solid player given his versatility in a number of roles.

Again, the weakness of this team is defensively, particularly left-back and goalkeeper. Jimmy Dunne, who can play right-back, Jake Clarke-Salter, Liam Morrison and Steve Cook is a decent mix to pick from in central defence. But the two young left-backs, especially 19-year-old Brazilian Esquerdinha, are inexperienced at Championship level.

31-year-old Paul Nardi in between the sticks is an average Championship goalkeeper, but is that really good enough if you want to be involved in a top-six push? We shall wait and see.