United's future playing style was one of the major questions asked of Gary Speed during the press conference to announce his appointment.

The new Blades boss is under no illusions that substance has to come over style initially, but says he knows exactly what he is looking to do with the players he has at his disposal.

Speed said: "I want to play winning football. Playing good attractive football is important, but I won't pass at all costs if we are letting in three goals every week.

"There isn't much time between now and Sunday, so I can't go drilling too much into the players before then, so it is very much going to be a work in progress on the training ground.

"You can't just change the style of play straight away, but you have to have firm ideas which I have got and no grey areas."

United's new boss knows he is in a results-based industry, but he is looking forward to hearing the Greasy Chip Buttie song reverberating around the Lane and is confident of the fans backing:

"We have got a great set of fans here that are all very passionate about the club. I remember playing here for Bolton in the Premiership and when Annie's Song came on, even as the opposition, the hairs on the back of my neck stood up. Even now when I hear it from the dugout I love it and the louder they sing it, the better.

"I want the fans to be patient, but I am not naive enough to think they won't tell me if things aren't going well, but that is part of management and football."