The Star Blades

The difficult return to football continues for Sheffield United who have yet to rediscover themselves following the restart. The Star's Blades writer James Shield has his theories on the problems United are facing as he speaks to Liam Hoden to look back on the 3-0 defeat at Manchester United and look ahead to the FA Cup clash with Arsenal.

Back-to-back disappointing performances? A lack of intensity? Murmurings of discontent among a section of the support? This really is uncharted territory for Sheffield United in the 2019/20 season. It is fair to say that it hasn't been the return to action Unitedites will have been hoping for. Dissecting what has happened so far and in particular the defeat at Newcastle United, The Star's Blades w...

It might have been a long three months without football but it did not take long for the bite of technology to hurt Sheffield United again. But where the nitpicking nature of VAR has been the Blades' downfall in the past, their big return to action against Aston Villa was hit with an outright failure of technology. Digesting all that, plus United's performance in the goalless draw, The Star's Unit...

After three long, long months, Sheffield United now have the opportunity to resume one of the greatest seasons in the club's history and they are raring to go for at least 11 matches in a six week period. And with the Blades back, so returns our United podcast. Blades writers James Shield and Danny Hall join Liam Hoden to reflect on the season so far for Chris Wilder's men and look ahead for what...

The Blades are back to winning ways and in some style too following the excellent victory at Norwich. James Shield joins Liam Hoden to discuss the latest from Bramall Lane including the performance at Carrow Road, the impact of the new faces, those who may be on their way out and the futures of Billy Sharp and Ched Evans. Plus they look ahead to the FA Cup tie with Preston and the visit of Aston V...

If Sheffield Wednesday picked up a 0-0 win in the Steel City derby, did Sheffield United lose 0-0? Answering that question, James Shield joins Liam Hoden to look back on the derby and how United are shaping up following the result. They look at the business the Blades have done so far in the transfer window, look at what may or not be to come and talk which players may leave this month. And they l...

We've only gone and done the unthinkable and merged Sheffield Wednesday and Sheffield United. But don't panic, we've done it on the theoretical level. Here is the scenario: you have got the Blades and the Owls squads from which to select a combined XI. All currently contracted players are available, fit and ready for selection. That is the task we handed to The Star's Sheffield United writer James...

The second Steel City derby of the 2017/18 season is upon us and podcasts have collided once more to mark the big occasion. The Star's football writing heavyweights have gone toe to toe to build up to fight night on January 12. Sheffield United writer James Shield and Sheffield Wednesday reporting duo Dom Howson and Chris Holt duke it out over half an hour of chat with Liam Hoden acting as referee...