Speed inherits tough task at Sheffield Utd
Taking over in February 2008 after Bryan Robson's disastrous spell in charge, he made the Blades the second-best team in the Championship for the remainder of the campaign, reached the play-off final the following year and wasn't far off last season, and all that was achieved without spending much.
Blackwell's successor is 40-year-old Gary Speed, whose only experience is as a coach at Bolton and Sheffield United. While the appointment is undoubtedly a gamble, Speed has been backed to succeed by several significant figures - well, Robbie Savage and Warnock anyway.
Inexperience didn't stop Roy Keane (Sunderland) and Roberto Di Matteo (West Brom) from delivering automatic promotion in their first and second seasons in management respectively, but Speed isn't expected to have as instant an impact.
Sheffield United were [22.0] to win the Championship before the shambles against QPR, yet have since gone out to [44.0]. If there's one positive for Speed's side, it's that they got their away game against Cardiff out of the way on the opening weekend, before the arrival of Craig Bellamy!
The Welshman is [4.2] to get his managerial career off to a winning start in a tough televised opener away at Middlesbrough on Sunday lunchtime.
Will Speed be a success? Have your say below or join the debate on the Betfair football forum...
Published: 18 Aug 2010
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