Have you heard about Sheffield United’s overlapping centre-backs?



Well, of course you have. Chris Wilder’s unique system was obvious throughout Sheffield United’s rise to the Premier League and attracted plenty of attention last season. From the Blades’ opening game of this season, a 1-1 draw at Bournemouth, it was clear that Jack O’Connell and Chris Basham would continue their sudden charges downfield.



But looking exclusively at these players misses the point. Their runs are merely part of an Ajax-esque approach designed to overload opponents down the wings, and while it’s particularly unusual to see centre-backs popping up in wide positions, it’s also significant that Sheffield United’s forwards and central midfielders end up there too. Those players — plus the actual wing-backs — also deserve great credit for their team’s fine start to the campaign.



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