Sheffield Telegraph
Paddy fears boo boysBy Alan Biggs
PADDY Kenny takes over from Neil Warnock as the pantomime villain when both return to Bramall Lane with Queens Park Rangers this weekend - and Kevin Blackwell won't shed any tears if his former goalkeeper walks into a chorus of boos.
The Blades boss even admits to hoping Kenny is unsettled by what is expected to be a stormy reception.
Club and fans stood by the 32-year-old keeper when he served a drugs ban that forced him to miss nearly the whole of last season - only for him to up sticks for Warnock's QPR in a £750,000 move.
Although it was a purely professional decision after Kenny was made an irresistible offer, he looks certain to face an angry backlash on Saturday.
And Blackwell, too, is being professional rather than personal in wondering if his side can use such an atmosphere to their advantage.
"I don't know what sort of reception Paddy will get, but I feel it will be a fairly hot one from what I'm hearing," the United manager told the Telegraph.
"Will it affect him? I hope it does. He's the enemy now, there's a match to be won and we want a result. Just as Neil will be looking for my keeper to throw one in, I'll be looking for his to do the same.
"But I don't really want to talk about Paddy. He's moved on and so have we. I'd rather concentrate on the fact that we've signed a very good keeper in Steve Simonsen."
Blackwell stood Kenny's corner with the Blades board at a time when there was a case for sacking him. In those circumstances, it's no surprise he will look to extract any element of advantage after being handed what he calls "the toughest start of any team in the Championship."
He added: "We got a good point at Cardiff, which we'd have taken every day of the week, and now we've got QPR at home followed by Middlesbrough away. That's three of the most fancied teams straight off.
"But I'm really pleased with the attitude the lads have shown already and I expect them to give it a good go. I'm working with a group of 15 or 16 players where everyone knows their job. That showed itself in the fact that there was no panic when we went down to 10 men at Cardiff last week. We were clearly well organised.
"The key difference when you look around is that the fancied sides, like QPR, have had a bit of money to spend. The reason people don't fancy us is that they look and see that, other than Morgs, Quinny and Monty, the whole team has changed.
"It's been a complete rebuild job from a couple of seasons ago and we're an unknown quantity. I'm also having to find out about the team as we go along.
"But I'm excited because we've got about 16 players who are capable of being in the starting line-up, whereas I only had eleven of that standard last season."
Kyle Bartley's return on a season-long loan from Arsenal will supplement the acquisition of former Burnley defender Stephen Jordan.
From here, United will maintain a flexible approach to transfer dealing.
Blackwell hinted in the Telegraph last month that a good start could free up some funds and now chief executive Trevor Birch has indicated that strong support could bring further signings.
"Like me, Trevor understands that we haven't paid a penny for players, they've all been without fees," said Blackwell. "For reasons which I appreciate, I haven't been afforded the same as Neil towards the end of his time here and also Bryan Robson.
"Obviously I'd like a bit of money to spend to improve the squad but I'm pleased with what I've got. It's a small squad but a decent squad and we have a core of players we can add to rather than having to sign a mass of players all at once."
QPR's 4-0 opening day win over Barnsley was an ominous sign but United seem to have settled quickly, too, in earning a 1-1 draw at Cardiff, complete with a revitalising goal from Ched Evans, after youngster Matt Lowton was sent off
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