So to Derby and the final match of a season to forget. For manager Chris Wilder and supporters alike, it can't come soon enough. Will Sheffield United, on the back of two miserable home defeats, pull a rabbit out of the hat to at least reward travelling fans in a sell-out crowd at Pride Park? Derby can still secure the last play-off place if other results are kind to them, so they present a formidable challenge. The only certainty is that many familiar names in the Blades squad will be playing, or indeed have played their last match for the club.

Summary:

• The season has been defined by a significant lack of performance and ambition.
• Supporters continue to back the team, yet expectations for a strong finish are understandably low.
• The manager, Chris Wilder, recognizes the urgent need for a substantial squad overhaul.
• Many of United's current players lack the collective unity and character necessary for success.
• The departure of Gus Hamer is anticipated, as he seeks a more rewarding career opportunity.
• The upcoming match against Derby County, who could clinch the last play-off spot if other results go for them, pose a formidable challenge for the inconsistent Blades.

Links referenced in this episode:

• viewfromthejohnstreet.com

Can it get any worse?

Well, it just might.

But then again, does anyone care as this sorry season limps to the finish line?

The answer to that last question is yes, Chris Wilder does.

Unfortunately for the manager, that's as far as it goes and after all, it's his job.

Of course supporters will back the team at Derby county on Saturday.

That is what Blades do, but expectation is low of seeing United sign off with a fitting apology by producing a gutsy performance.

Guts is what has been missing from day one of this truly miserable campaign.

Derby are still in with a chance of grabbing the final playoff place should Hull or Wrexham fail to win.

They will be a motivated team on a mission.

If United's recent form is anything to go by, it could be a painful experience for traveling Blades fans.

United will look very different next season because the current representatives don't form a team.

They are a set of individuals, many of whom have played or will have played their last match for the club.

The reason is is not because they lack technical ability, but because of inadequacies in judgment and character.

Others will be leaving for a very different reason.

You can only wish Gus Harmer all the best if he decides to pack his bags and seek pastures new with 12 months left on a three year contract.

It's the anticipated outcome.

In truth, Hamer has just wasted 12 months of his valuable time.

The Brazilian born Dutchman, last season's Championship Player of the Year, has continued to give his all in a side not worthy of his exceptional talent.

Hamer is 29 at the end of June.

He must move on to fulfill his career.

United, meanwhile, need financial return on their 15 million pound investment to help fund the rebuild.

The club he came from, Coventry City, just promoted to the Premier League, are rumoured to be among those interested.

It would be comforting to think Sidi Pec, Andre Brooks, Femi Sirica and Callum o' Hare will remain at Bramall Lane, all targets of other clubs.

It's likely that at least one of them will be following Hama to take on a new challenge.

Even with them, the scale of a successful rebuild would be daunting without them, tantamount to almost starting again, something which Wilder has said repeatedly he is not afraid to do.

Watching an end of season video on the big screen just before kickoff at home to Preston, you would never have guessed this was a team that had lost 21 league matches and was about to make it 22.

Carefully edited scenes of constant joy, chest thumping and celebration bore little resemblance to the campaign Blades fans have had to endure.

United's media department produced a public relations masterpiece of not letting the facts get in the way of a good story.

It didn't get any better in what thankfully was the final home match of the season, a 10th league defeat yes 10 at Brammell Lane and against former Blades boss Paul Heckingbottom's bang average.

Preston North End a 32 scoreline disguises the true mediocrity of United's performance.

Shocking defending left them trailing by two goals after 20 minutes.

A second half penalty converted by Harmer lit a candle of hope.

Snuffed out Almost immediately by Preston's third, it was scored by Lewis Dobbin in the 76th minute.

He bounded freely into open space as United looked on striker Daniel Jebison, who scored the winner at Deepdale against his former club in October after United had thrown away a two goal lead.

Another familiar tale gave defender Mark McGuinness a torrid time and but for a super save by Adam Davies, Djebbo would have put Preston further ahead.

Another cute finish, his 13th of the season in league and cup by United's top scorer, Preston.

Patrick Bamford was merely a morsel to reward supporters who had remained in the ground.

I shudder to think where we might be if not for him.

This miserable result followed a 3:1 capitulation at the lane three days earlier to lowly Blackburn Rovers.

The nondescript team from Lancashire arrived fearing League one football next season.

By halftime they had secured championship status, the ease of which they can't have hoped for in their wildest dreams.

From a home perspective, the first half was particularly embarrassing.

Game over.

Having conceded three, Blackburn arrived in 21st position.

Preston was 16th.

In both first halves, two very ordinary teams were made to look like world beaters.

Wilder and his squad appeared uncomfortable, and rightly so, as they duly performed a customary lap of appreciation in front of the few like me who remained for the home farewell.

It was met by polite applause.

Unlike the last time I had witnessed a similar sparsely populated scene.

From Wilder's aftermath verdict on the Preston defeat, it was obvious he can't wait to rip through the squad and start a rebuild he has been itching for since returning on his white charger last September.

The job he freely admits was far bigger than he anticipated.

But he dragged United across a line that Morse will accept with a shrug of the shoulders in a a season to well and truly forget.

Sadly, it's not over yet.

If recent performances are a marker, that doesn't bode well for Blades at a sellout Pride Park United had two opportunities to show their worth and their appreciation to home supporters within three days against poor opposition.

They failed.

Derby chasing that sixth playoff spot are much more formidable.

So better to brace yourselves just in case there is to be one last blot on the landscape.

Thank you for listening to View from the John Street, a podcast Produced by website viewfromthejohnstreet.com Here you can find all episodes plus the latest written posts about the Blades.

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Thanks again and speak soon.

Sat.