Slavisa Jokanovic’s Blades 3 years on … | OneFootball

Today marks three years since Slavisa Jokanovic led Sheffield United out at Bramall Lane as manager for the final time. The lacklustre nature of his time with the Blades is summed up by the game ending in a goalless draw.

Three years may not seem that long but the Blades have been promoted from and relegated back to the Championship since he was in charge.

His time at the Blades lasted just six months, three during the actual season, between 27th May and 25th November 2021.

The strangest part of his time at the club may be the symmetrical nature of his place in Blades’ managerial history. Wilder, Heckingbottom (interim), Jokanovic, Heckingbottom, Wilder.

So, three years down the line let’s look back at his time at the club.

The Promise

(Photo by George Wood/Getty Images)

After a season finishing bottom of the Premier League on 23 points, appointing Slavisa Jokanovic just four days after the season had ended felt like a no-brainer.

Jokanovic joined the Blades as a two-time promotion winner with Watford and Fulham. His Fulham promotion was particularly significant as the Cottagers went up through the playoffs. A skill the Blades have struggled to master and would cost us promotion at the end of the season he started.

To add to his CV, Jokanovic’s transfer window on the surface seemed very promising. With Morgan Gibbs-White, Ben Davies, Swedish No.1 Robin Olsen all joining the squad.

While, Iliman Ndiaye’s promising form in the youth teams left many hopeful for Jokanovic’s first season with the Blades. Especially, after his success with Fulham’s young players Ryan Sessegnon and Harvey Elliott.

The Struggles

(Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

Whilst, the transfer window looked promising on the surface, the reality soon kicked in. After half a decade of Chris Wilder’s effective 5-3-2, Jokanovic’s appointment showed the downside of the all-in approach of the once lauded system. Wilder’s love of wing-backs was in direct opposition to Jokanovic’s preference towards wingers.

As a result, Jokanovic’s reign as Blades manager wasn’t started on the best footing. With no natural wingers signed. Gibbs-White, Ndiaye and Oliver Burke were his best chance at using his preferred playing style.

In terms of those signed, Olsen’s signing as a new No.1 didn’t go as planned. Whilst, Ramsdale’s sudden departure to Arsenal forced the manager to find a new goalkeeper. Olsen’s notoriety outweighed his performances as a Blades keeper. With the Swede getting just one clean sheet and conceding 17 goals in his 11 games.

The Numbers

Jokanovic managed 22 games for the Blades recording eight wins, six draws and eight losses.

The highs of his time was the period between the 24th August and 18th September where he recorded three wins and two draws. The game vs. Peterborough United probably the main highlight as the Blades won 6-2 at Bramall Lane.

The numbers that likely saw Jokanovic be relieved his position were the goals conceded. With 27 goals against a goal difference of -2. If you compare that to this season so far, the Blades have conceded just 7 times and have a ten better goal difference of 12.

The league position was also not promising as the Blades sat sixteenth on just 23 points from a possible 57. With Chairman Steve Bettis said in a club statement: “Disappointingly, after a slow start, we have not seen an improvement in results, performances and we’d prefer to be in a better league position.”

The End

Possibly, summing up Jokanovic’s tenure his final game as Blades boss away at Reading saw a 1-0 win. The game summed up the lack of consistency that game with his time at the club.

A team that could win comfortably one week and then lose as comfortably in the next match. With an unfortunate possibility of finishing as mid-table as possible.

Takeaways

Jokanovic’s tenure firstly looked like a brilliant decision but whether it was the morale of the squad after a poor performance in the Premier League the season prior. Or a lack of transfer strategy to sign players that would fit his preferred system instead of signing impressive names. His time at Bramall Lane was far than successful.

However, Jokanovic’s appointment was helpful for the Blades in the long run. The disappointment of his time paved the way for Heckingbottom’s success. Like Ferguson at United or Wenger at Arsenal replacing Wilder’s mark on the club was always going to be difficult.

In many ways, Jokanovic helped to smooth the transition from Wilder to Heckingbottom putting a gap between the Blades 2020-21 failure and focus on getting back to the Premier League.