Sheffield United’s rocky start to the Championship season took a turn for the worse just before the international break.

The Blades were defeated 1-0 by Fleetwood Town in the Carabao Cup, then lost 2-1 to Stoke City in their penultimate game before the break, leaving Chris Wilder’s side 18th in the Championship after eight games.

United have won only two of their first eight league games, and doubts about their performances have developed alongside their poor results.

After Sheffield United’s terrible Championship start, a pundit makes a scary claim.

Ali Maxwell acknowledged on the Not The Top 20 podcast that he had been “astoundingly underwhelmed” by United’s performances this season.

Maxwell also mentioned the club’s mood, characterising it as “very negative throughout pretty much all aspects” while analysing Wilder’s current situation.

The Blades have failed to produce chances in the early stages of the season, and their offensive numbers are a matter for concern.”They’ve been really poor,” Maxwell remarked, noting that they’ve scored less than 1.0 predicted goals in each of their last four games.

He also mentioned that United has only scored first in one of its eight encounters thus far, and that game ended in defeat.

The remarks come at a tough moment for Wilder, whose job has undoubtedly become a discussion point following the Fleetwood defeat and a dismal run of performances.

Sheffield United’s reputation conceals a concerning reality for the Blades.

Maxwell’s most stunning statement came when he claimed that United’s status may be misleading perceptions of how bad their start has been.

The Blades advanced to the Championship play-off final last season after scoring 92 points under Wilder, and their recent Premier League experience and parachute payments have undoubtedly influenced expectations at the club.

However, Maxwell claimed that these elements should be overlooked while evaluating the current team.

Sheffield United’s Championship statistics thus far (via FotMob)
Home AwayTotal: Played: 4 4 8 Won: 1 1 2 Drew: 1 2 3 Lost: 2 1 3 Goals for/against: 4/6 5/5 9/11
-2 0 -2 Points 4 5 9 “If you were just to look at this Sheffield United team in eight games and, to an extent, the lack of depth that they have in their squad… you would think they’re one of the worst teams in the league,” he stated.

That opinion is supported by some of the Blades’ underlying data.

They have only scored nine league goals and taken 65 shots, the lowest total in the Championship.

Their non-penalty xG is 6.88, the division’s second-lowest figure.

The summer departures of Gustavo Hamer, Callum O’Hare, and Andre Brooks have certainly left a significant creative gap, since the trio was directly involved in 41 of United’s 66 Championship goals last season.

Sheffield United must swiftly discover the answers following the international break.

There are some mitigating factors for Wilder and his players, as the departures leave the club lacking in creativity and depth.

The EFL and Independent Football Regulator continue to investigate United’s ownership structure and the £35 million dispute involving former owner Prince Abdullah.

That backdrop has only added to the air of unease surrounding Bramall Lane.

Wilder has accepted that the club cannot continue to sell key players without reinvesting, and fans can anticipate a major improvement when the Championship begins.

United’s first game back from the international break is against Lincoln City, followed by a difficult run of seven games in 29 days.

The Blades now have an opportunity to respond fast, but Maxwell’s assessment highlights why the pressure on Wilder and the club’s hierarchy is unlikely to subside without significant progress on the pitch.

As the pundit admitted, things may still improve for United.

However, based just on the first eight games, there are growing concerns.