Sheffield United’s game at Mansfield looked tricky on paper.
The same opponents knocked them out of the FA Cup in January and they’ll be a tough outfit in League One this season.
The Blades, though, swept them aside 3-0. Effective, dominant and comfortably through to the second round of the EFL Cup.
It showed that United are still capable this year, even with Andre Brooks now playing for Norwich and Gus Hamer going to Coventry.
But help is needed.
The finger needs to be pointed at the owners, COH Sports, after another summer that leaves more questions than answers.
Former owners, United World, are claiming they’re owed £35m, with the prolific sports barrister Nick De Marco brought in to work on their case.
The current owners have played it all down – but what exactly is the situation?
Fans want to know what’s going on. Is there money to spend?
The lack of clarity has meant that Chris Wilder has been left to address fan concerns. I had to ask him about the situation at the press conference last week. Not because I think he’s well placed to reassure supporters – but simply because he’s the only person at the club we can ask.
There’s another bid in for Leicester defender Harry Souttar. If that deal is done for a good price, some of the concern will fade. It’d be a quality addition.
But in the aftermath of the Brooks and Hamer sales, only two new arrivals have come in – 34-year-old full-back Matt Doherty, who was a free agent after leaving Wolves, and forward Romelle Donovan, 19, on loan from Brentford.
The manager talks about waiting out the loan market. Where’s the money from the sales?
The fans are doing their bit. They rocked up to Bochum, drank it dry and sang their hearts out.
I was at the meet-and-greet they did in a bar in the city. For two hours before the event began, the centre was serenaded by one United song after another.
The manager and players were welcomed as heroes. It was impressive and there was more of the same at the game.
The fans need a reason to believe. They need a reason to invest their faith in these owners. That happens by giving the manager the tools he needs to produce a good season.
If that isn’t possible, it needs to be explained why. Not left for the manager to be put on the spot by journalists.
Is the money there? And if not, what then? What is the plan from the owners – short and long term?
It’s not unusual for players like Brooks and Hamer to leave. One has gone for big money, the other had an expiring contract.
Yet this is a club that has become accustomed to being in the mix for the Premier League. It’s very easy to drift into the status of Championship also rans. Once you end up there, you get stuck.
Everything must be done to avoid that happening.
It’s the responsibility of the people running Sheffield United to avoid that fate.
It means getting the Souttar deal done, adding a replacement for Hamer and getting the extra body or two on top of that Wilder needs to enable the Blades to thrive.
