‘The fire in their bellies has gone’: Graeme Souness admits Sheffield United look ‘DOOMED’ after hammering at Southampton – and says the owners will be ‘looking closely’ at …
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Graeme Souness believes Sheffield United are ‘doomed’ after their defeat at Southampton saw them remain rooted to the bottom of the Premier League table.
The club, who memorably recorded a ninth-placed finish last season, have struggled for form throughout the current campaign and have picked up just a single point.
Their latest setback, the 3-0 humbling on the south coast, piled on their misery – and Sky Sports’ pundits are unified in agreement that pressure is now mounting on the beleaguered Chris Wilder.
Graeme Souness believes Sheffield United are ‘doomed’ after their defeat by Southampton
Sheffield United remain at the bottom of the table after picking up just one point this season
Che Adams, Stuart Armstrong and Nathan Redmond all found the target on Sunday afternoon, and Souness insists it is the poor morale and lack of belief among Sheffield United’s players that may seal their fate.
He said: ‘What’s different this year? If you break it down, different goalkeeper, (Jack) O’Connell’s been out for a long time and they’re not enjoying any luck in front of goal.
‘I don’t think the effort isn’t there. I just think, when they conceded the first goal today, you just saw their heads dropping and some of the fire in their bellies go.
‘That will be a concern for anyone. It’s a dangerous combination to have if you aren’t scoring goals and you’re conceding goals… you’re doomed.’
Souness insists low morale and a lack of belief are the underlying factors to the club’s struggle
Wilder, a boyhood Blades fan, received backing from owner Prince Abdullah before the defeat at St Mary’s – but Souness says time is rapidly running out for the coach to reverse his team’s ailing fortunes.
‘He’s got to turn it around quickly,’ he added. ‘Chris will know the score.
‘I imagine the board and the owners will be looking at this situation very closely and I hate to say that.
‘I’ve been in that situation as a manager when things aren’t going your way. That’s the reality of being a manager.’
Chris Wilder is under severe pressure at the helm of his boyhood club after their latest setback
Patrice Evra echoed Souness’ sentiment and described Sheffield United’s current woes as a ‘disaster’.
‘We had a little chat earlier about it, the problem is one point after 12 games,’ he said.
‘Sacking the manager? I don’t know if that would be the best option. The problem is they still have one point and the difference is last year they didn’t concede and they did score.
‘This year they are not scoring goals and that another big problem. It’s difficult because I like Chris Wilder as a manager but the table is a disaster.’
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