The Selles Way

United's new boss never played high-level football. While some may consider this a disadvantage - he doesn't have the lived experience to say 'oh, I've been there'. But the 42-year-old has coaching and managerial experience beyond his years. Selles has coached in seven countries so far in a range of roles - most recently of course as manager of Hull City.

Selles has also worked as a data analyst, which is well aligned with the Blades' aim to shift recruitment and running of the club to a more statistical approach.

It is likely that the club's new algorithm will target players well-suited to Selles' ideal style of play. The Spaniard has spoken at length about his desire to play football with a focus on "organised, high-intensity moments", while also "defending as far away from the goal as possible, and pressing high". He likes his players to be able to play with high energy for ninety minutes, to be confident in possession and able to move the ball between the lines with pace and purpose. Think of how Andoni Iraola's Bournemouth played last season.

Selles is also likely to try and utilise 'fabricated transitions' at Bramall Lane. This is essentially when a team plays confidently with the ball in their defensive third in order to draw out the opposition press, before progressing the ball quickly and exploiting space that opens up.

In the past, this plan has been deployed through a 4-2-2-2 and 4-3-3 formation, with the latter being Selles' preferred structure. This could suit the Sheffield squad, who are already accustomed to a 4-3-3, albeit with a different style.

Yet, Selles isn't entirely set in his ways. His Hull team preferred to sit deep and counterattack, whereas Reading during his tenure played football more synonymous with his 'ideal' style. The Spaniard is adaptable, and as a result, Selles could be everything that United fans need in order to become hopeful for a promotion fight, especially after falling agonisingly short last campaign.

Selles' arrival could prove to be a catalyst for a series of major changes at Bramall Lane, particularly with the club's new recruitment strategy, But there are also a few players who suit this new-look Sheffield perfectly on paper.

The first of these is Anel Ahmedhodzic. The aforementioned idea of fabricated transitions is reliant on defenders who are confident in possession, and the Bosnian is just that. Harrison Burrows will also be suited to the new style, as Selles likes for his players to be able to move up the pitch quickly.

In midfield, Vinicius Souza suits Selles perfectly. Which is a real shame, considering the Brazilian is Wolfsburg-bound. Gustavo Hamer will likely suit the role as a catalyst for counterattacks, but the Dutchman might struggle to play at a high intensity for ninety minutes. As a result, reinforcements will be needed in midfield areas.

Matheus Dias is a 23-year-old Brazilian midfielder whose profile stacks up similarly to Souza's, both offensively and defensively.

Metric Vinicius Souza Matheus Dias Tackles per 90 3.52 2.65 Interceptions per 90 1.13 1.89 Blocks per 90 1.61 1.68 % of Aerials Won 62% 68% Take-On Success Rate 70% 61% Data from FBRef

Dias currently plays for Nacional in the Brazilian Serie A and is valued (by TransferMarkt) at 1.5 million euros. A change would take some adjusting to, with Nacional favouring a highly counterattacking approach - which is a big part of why the midfielder is in the bottom 13% for short passes attempted per 90 (14.38).

In the forward areas, one name that hangs in the balance regarding Selles' arrival is Tyrese Campbell. On one hand, the winger possesses many of his new manager's most desired qualities: pace, the ability to drive with the ball and more. On the other, his poor injury record in combination with the increased on-field physical demands his team will be under this season might become a problem.

_Essentially, it's pretty likely that the Blades will look to bring in a defender or two to help with build-up, a midfield replacement for Souza, and a winger or two who can cope with the physical demands of Selles' system. These changes may take time, but with the Spaniard on a 3-year deal, it could prove fruitful in the long run.

Selles is an extremely capable young manager who is absolutely capable of overseeing a promotion, but it may come down to whether or not Blades' fans will be patient in allowing their new manager to settle in. Alternatively, the Spaniard could fly out of the gates. Only time will tell._