As the new 2015/16 season's curtains were lifted there was an air of optimism around Bramall Lane.

A new 'big name' manager, a new crop of players and a fresh belief. But as we edge towards the Christmas period, Sheffield United find themselves struggling in their fifth straight season in League One.

Sat outside the play-off places and a considerable nine point gap between themselves and the top two, the position their fans have expected them to be in for the last five years.

So why do sleeping giants United continue to struggle?

The managerial merry-go-round is the stand of factor to the neutral supporter, with eight managers coming and going during their League One slog, Kevin Blackwell, Gary Speed, John Carver, Micky Adams, Danny Wilson, Chris Morgan, David Weir and Nigel Clough respectively.

All failing, but the majority didn't even see their tenure last a year. In a League as robust as this it takes time for a new manager to settle. Had one of the above names been given three years, would the Blades be playing Championship Football now? Quite possibly.

But now with the ninth manager Nigel Adkins in the hot seat things were looking up. He is arguably the most credible manager on the list of recents and has a history of winning promotion from this league.

This paired with the wealth of quality he has to choose from in comparison to the majority of clubs at this level, the club should be the team to beat. yet United continue to struggle.

From listening to the views of Sheffield United supporters a plethora of factors have been to blame, amongst them; The board and their ambition, the type of player (often suggested that they are not built for League One), and even the atmosphere at the Lane with boo's ringing out from certain supporters on a regular basis.

Blades fans.... What is behind the League One struggle? And does something more serious need to change at the club? Leave us your thoughts in the comments below!