"A drama free zone at Bramall Lane" - EFL pundit makes clear Sheffield United prediction | OneFootball

The Blades have come flying out the blocks upon their return to the Football League

EFL pundit Adrian Clarke has tipped Sheffield United to be among the pacesetters for the rest of the Championship campaign, after being blown away by the Blades at the start of the season.

Chris Wilder’s side currently sit joint-top of the Championship as it stands, with the Steel City outfit picking up six victories in their opening nine league matches before the international break.

In fact, United would stand top on their own accord if it wasn’t for a two-point deduction incurred at the start of the season, handed to them by the EFL due to financial irregularities.

But with their performances so far this season, and the effect the new signings have had on the club, Clarke can’t see many clubs keeping apace with the recently-relegated Premier League side as the season progresses, as they search for an immediate return to the top flight.

Adrian Clarke lauds impact of Sheffield United summer signings

Wilder was working with his hands tied behind his back for a lot of the recent summer transfer window, with the takeover situation at Bramall Lane hampering any chances of splashing the cash amid their return to the Football League.

Of the ten players brought into the club before the August 30 deadline, only three cost a fee, with Peterborough United fullback Harrison Burrows, AFC Bournemouth striker Kieffer Moore and Plymouth Argyle goalkeeper Michael Cooper all requiring the chequebook to be brought out.

A number of free signings and shrewd loan deals from Premier League sides have also bolstered Wider’s options as it stands, with Clarke purring at what he has seen from the Yorkshire side so far.

Speaking on the What the EFL?! Podcast, he said: “It’s a drama free zone at Bramall Lane at the moment, and I would suggest that it is all going very efficiently for Chris Wilder and his team.

“I think he has got them playing like a Blades team plays; excellent out of possession, solid and organised, aggressive, the sort of football that the fans in Sheffield want to see.

“They want to see whole-hearted football, they want to see players playing for the badge, and I think they have got it back, after what was a diabolical season in the Premier League.

“Out of possession I think they are probably the best team in the division at the moment, they have only let in three goals in nine games, and they would be top of the league if they hadn’t have had two points deduction.

“It’s going very nicely, some of the new signings have been great, the goalkeeper in particular; I have always liked Michael Cooper who they got from Plymouth, his save percentage currently stands at 92.3%, which is off the chart good.

“He has got six clean sheets in a row, six from seven matches in total, so he is brilliant. Jesurun Rak-Sakyi is competing with Andre Brooks for a start on the right, with is one of the only positions that Wilder is fiddling with, the rest of the team kind of picks itself at the moment.

“He is flying, he got a brace at the weekend, then guys like Harry Souttar, who went to Leicester and was miserable, couldn’t get a sniff; they love him up there, and he is looking really solid.”

Adrian Clarke hails Gustavo Hamer impact on Sheffield United performances

While a number of new recruits have caught the eye at Bramall Lane this season, it is one of those who featured in the Premier League last season who has had one of the biggest impacts so far.

Everyone who follows the EFL will know exactly what Gustavo Hamer can do at the level, given his fantastic record at Coventry City before making the move to Yorkshire last summer.

Since dropping back down to the second tier, the Dutchman has grabbed four goals in nine games, and has underlined his importance to the side with a number of standout displays.

With the playmaker’s performances and the all-round displays from this United side of late, Clarke can’t see many contenders keeping up with them as the season progresses, with the former Southend United man tipping them for success in the season ahead.

He continued: “It is all going very swimmingly, and I think Gustavo Hamer has got to be up there [for best players in the Championship], he is absolutely in the conversation with Borja Sainz this season.

“Some of the goals he scores are ridiculous, but he also contributes a lot out of possession as well, he is a very hard-working midfielder that will track back.

“So they have got their mojo back, and because they have such a settled team, they have such a good off the ball structure, and because they haven’t really got going yet in terms of attack.

“Kieffer Moore is playing alright but not scoring that many, you could say the same about a few of the others, and I think they are going to stay in the top two or three for the entirety of this season.”