It is fair to say Sheffield United have had a bit of a stinker over the last 10 years, with relegation from the Championship to League One coming during this time, and the club currently in their sixth season in the third tier.

Things are looking like they are on the up though at Bramall Lane now under Chris Wilder, with the club finally looking capable of securing promotion back to the Championship.

Over the decade though, it's hard to argue that there has been some truly awful signings made, and some equally terrible players donning the red and white stripes of Sheffield United.

A host of loan players under Nigel Clough and Micky Adams, plus a few flops in the transfer market have led to Blades fans pulling their hair out at times.

With this thought in mind, FLW writer Lee Connor takes a look at the WORST Sheffield United XI from the past 10 years...

GK - Steve Simonsen

There can only really be one man in this spot for this team, and it is Steve Simonsen.

Not only for his blazing penalty miss in the playoff final against Huddersfield, but Simonsen in general never filled anyone with confidence. His career spiraled even further when leaving United, which just about sums it up for the former Everton man.

Def - Jordan Stewart

Stewart makes this team with ease, among a host of choices for defensive spots in a worst XI for the Blades.

Stewart never seemed to get going, and hardly ever showed any of the ability which had made him a Championship player. His performances in a Blades shirt left a lot to be desired, and he is not remembered too fondly by fans at Bramall Lane.

Def - Daryl Westlake

Easy choice again, but former Walsall man Westlake was never ever going to be good enough for United.

He spent just over a season with the club before drifting away and moving on Mansfield, before finding himself north of the border with Kilmarnock. He has since played for Stourbridge, which just shows the level of performance he was capable of. A terrible signing by the Blades.

Def - Marcus Williams

Another full back to make the team, but a poor one during his time with the Blades.

Williams should have been decent, he was quick enough, had experience, and could get forward. However, he was let down by any lack of delivery when he did get up the field, and his defending at times often left a lot to be desired.

Def - Andy Butler

An absolutely bizarre one, but Butler makes this team due to his strange time at the Lane.

Signed as someone who could potentially captain the club, something went drastically wrong for Butler early on in his career with United, and he was shipped back out almost as quick as he was signed up in the summer.

He never made a league appearance for the Blades, and moved back to Walsall on loan, before finding himself at Doncaster Rovers over the last few years.

Mid - Simon Lappin

He might be a defender by trade, but he is going in as a midfielder for me, more as testament to Nigel Clough's bizarre decision to put Lappin - a left back - in at central midfield!

Lappin was poor for the Blades, and though he wasn't here too long, he makes this team with quite considerable ease.

Mid - Dean Hammond

Most Blades would wonder how long it was before I got to Hammond, so here are.

Arguably one of the most hate players in Blades history, he was absolutely abysmal in 90% of games he played for United. He was reckless in the tackle, unfit, and clearly uninterested.

He 'endeared' himself further to United fans by activating a contract clause which gave him a year deal when Nigel Adkins had left. Needless to say, new manager Chris Wilder soon isolated and got shut of Hammond, and he is always mentioned by Blades fans in chats about worst players.

Mid - Martyn Woolford

Another signing by manager Nigel Adkins to make this team, winger Woolford simply looked to have ran out of steam by the time he got to United.

A player who was always seemingly a thorn in the side of the Blades for Scunthorpe, he failed to replicate that form for the Blades, and was reportedly seen making a few unsavoury hand gestures towards fans in his final few games for the club.

A player best left not remembered in the opinion of many a Blade.

Mid - Febian Brandy

The former Man United man was signed from Walsall after an excellent season for the Saddlers saw him impress immensely.

However, for the Blades, in a predominantly wide role, he would fail to deliver the goods, and often came in for plenty of criticism for his effort and all around performances.

He was soon moved on back to Walsall, and his career went downhill from there, with short spells at Rotherham and Rochdale coming to nothing.

Fwd - Michael Higdon

The big striker was brought in by Nigel Clough, and many expected him to be the answer to all United's goal scoring problems.

It was not to be though, and despite being made captain in his first appearance for the club, he never adjusted to life in League One, and looked overweight and short of fitness his entire stay at United.

He did chip in with a few goals, but he still makes this team with ease.

Fwd - Conor Sammon

There were a few strikers who could have made the final man in this team, Craig Beattie being one, Arturo Lupoli, and even Chris Porter was disliked by large sections of Bramall Lane.

However, none come close really to Conor Sammon, who had a torrid time of things for the Blades. The former Derby and Ipswich man was expected to revel at League One level, but instead did what he has done for most of his career, and miss the target more times than he hit the back of the net.

 

Blades fans, who makes your worst XI? Who should get a mention? Let us know in the comments!