Sheffield United fans have their say on how playing without fans affected Blades and how many thought season would end in relegation in Star's big survey
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We launched the survey to get Blades supporters’ views on a range of topics, with the results analysed, collated and then published in The Star in print and online.
Although only one per cent of respondents to the survey thought that United would go one better than last season and actually seal a place in Europe, 47.3 per cent thought the Blades would survive at the very least.
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Almost 44 per cent thought a mid-table finish would be secured and 5.5 per cent backed the Blades for a second successive top-10 place in the Premier League.
Unitedites seem more split on the cause of relegation, though. The four options presented to the question of what was the biggest factor in United’s struggles – no fans, not enough quality, injuries and recruitment/tactics –polled almost identical numbers, with not enough quality and recruitment/tactics edging it with 25.7 per cent each.
Although most fans refused to blame playing behind closed doors as the biggest factor in United’s relegation, there was almost unanimous agreement that it was a factor.
Asked what impact playing in front of no fans had, a whopping 93.6 per cent said it either shaped the season or made a big difference. Four per cent believed it had no impact at all and, curiously, 2.4 per cent thought it had a positive impact.
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