Sky Sports pundit Don Goodman has admitted that he believes that Sheffield United's players have been extremely disappointing this season and has urged the club to pick up their performance levels in the Championship.
Having led Fulham and Watford to promotion to the Premier League during his respective spells at these two clubs, Slavisa Jokanovic would have been hoping to achieve a great deal of success during the opening stages of his stint in charge of the Blades.
However, United have yet to deliver the goods on a consistent basis in the second-tier under the guidance of the Serbian as they have only managed to show glimpses of promise.
Currently 18th in the Championship standings, the Blades will need to improve over the Christmas period if they are to challenge for a play-off place next year as they are already seven points adrift of the top-six.
Set to face Coventry City this weekend, United could be in for a tough afternoon at Bramall Lane if they produce another underwhelming display in this fixture.
Making reference to United's players, Goodman has insisted that they need to step up to the mark at this level.
Speaking on the latest episode of the Sky Sports EFL Podcast about the Blades, Goodman said: "This team has been the biggest disappointment to me by an absolute country mile.
"People talk about relegation hangovers, I'm not having it, I just can't have it.
"When you list player for player that squad, what those players are producing regardless of the fact that the manager has changed is a disgrace.
"It's about time that they have a long, hard look in the mirror.
"This is Sheffield United, newly-relegated, in the Championship and player for player, for them to be where they are, is an absolute joke.
"So people can chuck all they want at Slavisa Jokanovic but the players need to take responsibility and just get a grip.
"Look at the minute they are seven points outside of a play-off spot and with those players, they have the ability to win four, five, six games in a row but they need to find that spark."
The Verdict
It is hard to disagree with Goodman's view as the Blades have been extremely underwhelming in the Championship this season.
Whereas it was always going to take United some time to adapt to life under Jokanovic, a host of their players have been way below par.
In order to have any chance of challenging for a play-off place during the latter stages of the current campaign, the Blades simply have to improve their consistency at this level.
By securing all three points in their showdown with Coventry on Saturday, United may be able to use the confidence gained from this result to climb the Championship standings in the coming weeks.