By replacing Chris Wilder, Rubén Sellés is on his fourth managerial job of his career. His three previous jobs have seen him manage in all three of England’s top three leagues.

As such, Sellés has challenged himself against different levels of opponents. Each role and its respective level have brought their unique challenges. Requiring their unique solutions.

In his short time as a manager, Sellés has begun to establish his non-negotiables. Equally, he has found the benefits of being tactically flexible.

Formation

Let’s establish how Sellés likes to play first. In his roles at Southampton, Reading, and Hull City, he has divided his formations into two main ones. The 4-2-2-2 and 4-2-3-1.

With both formations possible with Sheffield United’s current players. The 4-2-3-1 he used to keep Hull City in the Championship. Positionally matching the formation utilised by Chris Wilder last season.

However, where Chris Wilder used the formation creating solid banks of players ready for the counter-attack. Sellés system focuses on players who can travel the distance and peg the opposition back in and out of possession.

Work-Rate

Whilst, he is willing to alter his formations slightly based on opponent. His non-negotiable is the work-rate of his players.

In an interview earlier this year with Not The Top 20 podcast. Sellés revealed the importance he places on hard-working players defensively and offensively.

Sellés said: “We want to be intense, we want to be aggressive and front-footed. When we press the higher the better.

“Offensively wise we want to be vertical. Not just a long-ball and direct attack. We want to put the opposition on the back foot. One pass to break the line and then attack the space.

“We aim to create that kind of game.”

At Reading his side were very effective at winning the ball high up the pitch. Despite, finishing 17th in his first and only full season, his Royals team were the 7th best in the division to win the ball back in the final third. Furthermore, his side improved last season finishing as the 6th best side at winning the ball in the final third.

Although, his progressive play at Hull City didn’t prove fruitful at Hull with the Tigers registering the lowest goals total in the league. With Sellés adding 26 goals in 27 games to the already poor 18 goals in 19 that preceded him.

In fairness to Sellés though. Hull City did create 49 of their total 79 big chances in games after his arrival. With his tactics leading to 62% of Hull City’s big chances across the season. Therefore, if Tyrese Campbell brings his shooting boots he could be in for a prolific season under Sellés.

The benefit of managing in different leagues

In this article we are looking at Sellés tactics and how they have involved. In the previously mentioned NTT20 interview. Sellés spoke of how managing in League One and Premier League has shaped his tactics in the Championship.

He said: “Every competition is different in the Premier League it isn’t just about your tactics. Individual players can change the game by themselves.

“In League One it is different. We tried the same philosophy with the 4-2-2-2 and being aggressive. But when we got into attacking positions the ball was not there. We had seven players trying to recreate the press and the ball would be back in our own half.

He continued: “That meant we had to change how we applied the press. Avoiding the long balls down the wide channels and looking inside to win the second ball. We also had to control the ball in possession more.”

How to implement what he learnt in the Championship

“In the Championship we need to combine Premier League and League One. We need to make a compact organised team who can press teams. As more opposition teams want to play from the back giving us more opportunities. But once they break our press we have to they have more quality to break us.”

Sellés went onto describe how he and his coaching team looked to play against teams at the top end of the division. With Sellés describing how they came back from 3-1 down to draw with Leeds. He knew his side would have less of the ball but Sellés and assistant James Oliver-Pearce had a plan.

“We work in 10 percent’s. My assistant James said if we can control 40% instead of 25% you’ll have more chance to control the game. Giving ourselves a better chance to get a point of more.”

Ultimately, the belief and the aim to control as much possession as possible paid off for Sellés and his Hull side. They finished the game with 40% of the ball claiming a vital point for the eventual safety. Later in the month, they did the same to the Blades but to greater effect using 39% possession and fast attacks. Leaving Bramall Lane with all three points at a three goal canter.

But it is mainly that ability to evolve into a side who can go to the end of games, flip them on their head that could prove most useful for United.

Never say die tactics

One of the main issues last season was what if Sheffield United went 1-0 down. When the Blades went behind there was rarely ever a reply.

The two notable occasions against Bristol City and Swansea City away came against sides with ten men. Albeit a short time at Ashton Gate with Dickie at 90+5 but a sending off that helped Burrows find space for the winner.

The Blades inability to reply to going behind culminated in the week from hell. The three consecutive losses to Oxford United (1-0), Millwall (0-1), Plymouth (2-1). All came from an inability to concede, dust themselves down and go again. With the game against Argyle showing what the Blades need to do more of only the Green side did it to them.

Whereas, Sellés, Hull City have shown a never say die attitude regardless of being behind or not.  The point against Leeds United after being behind 3-1 came from goals in 81st and 89th minutes. As well as beating Oxford United 2-1 after going behind in the second-half. Plus, whilst not strictly going behind, a 90+4 minute Charlie Hughes winner at Hillsborough proved to be crucial in securing their safety at the end of the season.

Takeaways

Rubén Sellés is by no means the finished article as a manager. He is learning as he leaps from job to job higher up the standings. His time at Southampton allowed him to see the pinnacle of the game in the opposition he faced. Now, ever since he is adapting his game in the hopes of returning to the top flight. A more experienced and more equipped manager.

The lessons he taken from the top flight and the third tier are as important as each other. He has adapted his game to let his team’s compete across ninety minutes against better sides on paper.

With a Blades’ side expected to be in the ascendency for most of the season, it could be great to see him evolve his tactics further. A side with more possession allowing him to up his percentages of controlling the ball. Therefore, potentially making his fast-flowing attacking football more effective. As there are more chances to start those attacking moves off.