Is Chris Wilder our Best Manager

[GRUMPY BLADE]

John Nicholson (football secretary) - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

No this man is Sheffield Uniteds greatest manager ever by a country mile. Four FA Cup Wins, 1 Division 1 Title, 1 Championship of Gt Britain and two FA Cup finalists.

CW is doing well but still behind John Harris and Dave Bassett in terms of time spent managing in the top flight.

Wait till Wilders kicked his ass.

 

[Sparky]

Best in my 50+ years

 

[BushBlade]

Wilder is by a distance , is our best ever manager, Dave Bassett did fantastic, but i saw the games towards the end of his time with us and they were bloody terrible!

But you haven’t seen the games toward the end of Wilder’s era yet. Bassett should’ve quit when we sold Deansy without him knowing. He’d still have been a legend, possibly more so because we wouldn’t have seen those final two seasons. I suspect that unless he’s offered the England job or a really big one, Chris will stay with us and it will eventually get a bit ‘Wenger’.

 

[Hillsboro Blade]

Billy McEwan 1987 team pisses all over this side. 5 foot 1 target man Richard Cadette up front, Andy face to stop a clock Barnsley, Andy ‘Goalie wag’ Leaning in the net. I do seriously still have night terrors, cold sweats and the shits thinking about that side.

 

[ATL Recs]

John Nicholson (football secretary) - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

No this man is Sheffield Uniteds greatest manager ever by a country mile. Four FA Cup Wins, 1 Division 1 Title, 1 Championship of Gt Britain and two FA Cup finalists.

CW is doing well but still behind John Harris and Dave Bassett in terms of time spent managing in the top flight.

Well I was privileged to watch John Harris and DB’s teams and as good and as stylish as JH’s teams could be and as determined as DB’s team could be this is on another level.
Can’t speak for Mr Nicholson but put this into some perspective football then and football now
This manager has a vision and with his support team has nurtured potential in every position into arguably quality premiership footballers
That’s special very special

 

[ATL Recs]

But you haven’t seen the games toward the end of Wilder’s era yet. Bassett should’ve quit when we sold Deansy without him knowing. He’d still have been a legend, possibly more so because we wouldn’t have seen those final two seasons. I suspect that unless he’s offered the England job or a really big one, Chris will stay with us and it will eventually get a bit ‘Wenger’.

Yes but Wilders teams aren’t about 1 individual if we lose JOC for example I’m certain he’ll have a replacement lined up probably already
A very talented football man we are in a very special era embrace it all

 

[Withington Blade]

Topics like this are very subjective. It’s a definite yes for me. His achievements cannot be underestimated. He’s delivered success with a good, exciting brand of football on a shoestring. Our rivals last season were pissing away millions and we blew them away. I’ve been going with my dad since the1980/81 season and I haven’t seen anyone better than Wilder and Knilly.

 

[wizadry]

For me Wilder is currently the best English manager around, did Bassett or Warnock ever get to that stage in their respective careers? The answer to that is no so hopefully that answers the question regards those two.

Harris? I’m not too sure about as it was before my time but the football played by the Blades by all accounts sounded very good at the time, he is the only one that can come close but in my lifetime Wilder wins it hands down and I’ve thought this for some time. He rescued Sheffield United.

 

[Dalelane01]

Who else has plucked so may players out of obscurity and made sucessess of players basically ready for the scrap heap .there as been no greater story other than Roy of the rovers.he mans already a LEG END no not a leg end a legend

 

[Woodwardfan]

I think it is just possible that Wilder and Knill can emulate Clough and Taylor on the national level of achievement, not just S2.

Hell of a way to go I hope but achievements to date are maybe ahead of the journey from such a low point.

Incredible.

 

[Grizzly blade]

Easiest answer ever. Yes.
Took over at one of our lowest ebbs.
Spent very little, while still selling our beet asset players at the time to rebuild. At the same time having us play a great style of exciting football of a calibre I have never seen a united side play.
A side with proper midfielders in...the type of midfielders we never seemed to have. And for that alone wins my vote.

If he stays at United for 10 years he will end up with a statue in the car park...I’m that confident he’s just going to make us better and better year on year.

 

[tincan]

He's done alright,but the only thing he has won is the 3rd division. When he has won the league like Nicholson, managed the club for 20 wartime years like Davison, topped the league like Harris or just scored 6 goals against another PL team (Spurs) like Bassett then he can approach such an honour.

 

[Silent Blade]

Seasons in top tier

John Harris (9 and half) 1961/62 to 1967/68 and 1971/72 to December 1973
Teddy Davison (5) 1932/33 to 1933/34 and 1946/47 to 1948/49
Dave Bassett (4) 1990/91 to 1993/94
Reg Freeman (2) 1953/54 to 1954/55
Ken Furphy (less than 2) December 1973 to October 1975
Joe Mercer (1) 1955/56
Neil Warnock (1) 2006/07
Jimmy Sirrel (7 months) October 1975 to May 1976
Cec Coldwell (Caretaker for 2 weeks) October 1975

 

[FATTYFOULKE]

Nicholson never coached the team, George Waller and Jack Houseley (and later Harry Johnson snr) were the trainers. The football committee along with the club captain selected the team . The captain decided on tactics (just like the cricket captain does). Nicholson was only responsible for signing players, arranging contracts and secretarial duties. I have not seen any evidence that he gets involved with trainings, talking tactics and I am not even sure if he was part of the football committee that selected the team. Our first manager was Teddy Davison in 1932

Closely followed by our first relegation out of the top flight in ‘34.

As has been mentioned by others, under Wilder I actually think we will some cups and maybe qualify for Europe through league position if he stays.

For me it’s all about keeping him.

 

[YorkBlade]

He's certainly my favourite. He ticks all the boxes, all the boxes being he's a Blade and isn't Micky Adams, Steve Thompson or Neil Warnock.

 

[HodgysBrokenThumb]

In answer to the original question in the title (which needs a question-mark, as I am in full pedant mode), let me be the first to say that the answer can only be yes, as he is our only manager... A proper answer needs a bit more thought.

 

[wizadry]

He's done alright,but the only thing he has won is the 3rd division. When he has won the league like Nicholson, managed the club for 20 wartime years like Davison, topped the league like Harris or just scored 6 goals against another PL team (Spurs) like Bassett then he can approach such an honour.

The money in football now means it is very hard for Wilder to achieve most of the things you mention, I’m not saying he can’t achieve them because he can but to do what he’s done with the budget he has had compared to others is nothing short of unbelievable, taking us from the basement of league one to 6th in the Prem, in his time here, on the budgets he’s had compared to others is nothing short of a miracle in footballing terms.

For you to say “he’s done alright” is probably the biggest umbrage dealt out to Wilder and his back room staff in his whole spell here to date.

If the worst thing did happen and Wilder left for pastures new you can bet your bottom dollar that a lot of the players would want to go with him, it would be a catastrophe for us and I’ve never once felt that way about a Blades manager, that’s a credit to the unbelievable job he’s doing.

The board shenanigans haven’t helped and other than making the board members stand up and listen to him around the time of the Hull away game he’s just brushed it to one side and got on with it, brilliant management. He seems to know how to handle every situation, an incredible management attribute to have.

His recruitment in general has been very good and even the ones he gets wrong he’s not stubborn (another great attribute of a good manager to have) and gets rid or takes them out of the team pronto, fan fucking tastic.

Unfortunately for us he will manage England one day, I’ve no doubt about it, not one other top Blades manager has ever achieved that? this is another reason why he’s the best ever.

 

[DifferentClass]

Probably the best in my lifetime, and that's saying something. Bassett and Warnock were both decent, but could they hold their own in the modern Prem?

Mind you, I was firmly on the "give Adkins another chance" bandwagon so my opinion may not count for much.

 

[Hunter_999]

Probably the best in my lifetime, and that's saying something. Bassett and Warnock were both decent, but could they hold their own in the modern Prem?

Mind you, I was firmly on the "give Adkins another chance" bandwagon so my opinion may not count for much.

Takes an exceptionally brave man....

 

[Cerberus Blade]

I think Wilder is the best. Harris was manager when I started watching. He built a great team and had more talented individuals than the current side imo. But you couldn’t rely on them to perform week in, week out. They may be brilliant, they may just collapse. You never really knew which United would turn up.

Basset was a genius. He built a team out of nothing and nobodies. He got them galvanised into a feisty fighting unit, with some talent that he personally discovered. He was very smart because he knew how to make the most of what he’d got. And he had very little in terms of funds. But he played to the players strengths. It wasn’t always pretty but it was effective.

Porterfield built a team of talented footballers for the level we were at. He made some fantastic signings and was expert in putting the right combination of players together. He had generous funds to make this possible.

Warnock was a great motivator of players. He produced some of the most memorable moments in recent decades. But he was also negative, especially away from home, and he had the benefit of 8 seasons and hundreds of signings before he got us back to the top flight.

Kendall changed our playing philosophy. He made us an attractive footballing team after Bassett. The transformation was incredible. But he didn’t stand the test of time.

I didn’t see United under John Nicholson but he was ant-VAR so I hear, so that rules him out for me. Not forward thinking enough!

So yes, it has to be Wilder!

 

[Champagneblade]

In Wilder's favour, you would also argue he's contending with the massive disparity from haves bad have-nots. This wouldn't have been the case in Nicholson's day. Teams would have operated with relative parity.

 

[wavy-blade]

He will go one day , so we need to plan for that occasion ⚰⤵

Who the fuck can replace him !!!

 

[wavy-blade]

I think Wilder is the best. Harris was manager when I started watching. He built a great team and had more talented individuals than the current side imo. But you couldn’t rely on them to perform week in, week out. They may be brilliant, they may just collapse. You never really knew which United would turn up.

Basset was a genius. He built a team out of nothing and nobodies. He got them galvanised into a feisty fighting unit, with some talent that he personally discovered. He was very smart because he knew how to make the most of what he’d got. And he had very little in terms of funds. But he played to the players strengths. It wasn’t always pretty but it was effective.

Porterfield built a team of talented footballers for the level we were at. He made some fantastic signings and was expert in putting the right combination of players together. He had generous funds to make this possible.

Warnock was a great motivator of players. He produced some of the most memorable moments in recent decades. But he was also negative, especially away from home, and he had the benefit of 8 seasons and hundreds of signings before he got us back to the top flight.

Kendall changed our playing philosophy. He made us an attractive footballing team after Bassett. The transformation was incredible. But he didn’t stand the test of time.

I didn’t see United under John Nicholson but he was ant-VAR so I hear, so that rules him out for me. Not forward thinking enough!

So yes, it has to be Wilder!

Ahh Kendall RIP , short tenure but boy did we play some great football .

 

[Treeton Blade]

Billy McEwan 1987 team pisses all over this side. 5 foot 1 target man Richard Cadette up front, Andy face to stop a clock Barnsley, Andy ‘Goalie wag’ Leaning in the net. I do seriously still have night terrors, cold sweats and the shits thinking about that side.

Those were the days, and opens up that old debate who was better, Mousset or Withe?, Norwood or Frain?

 

[SK10Blade]

Best ever? Not sure, difficult to compare with different times. Would I want anybody else in his place? No way.

 

[Cerberus Blade]

Those were the days, and opens up that old debate who was better, Mousset or Withe?, Norwood or Frain?

Billy McEwan eh? What a manager he was. The thing I remember most about his time in charge, was him continually saying "we don't need to spend money". The second thing I remember most about it, was me thinking, "Why the hell not?". A dour Scot with a grip like a barnacle on the club's finances.

 

[I should coco]

Who else has plucked so may players out of obscurity

Deane
Agana
Cowans
Scott
Tracey
Rees
Kelly

and made sucessess of players basically ready for the scrap heap

Bradhsaw
Booker
Gannon
Hodges

Chuck in DB bringing through Dane and Mitch and he didn't do a bad job at all, given even more pitiful resources than CW.

 

[10p]

Been watching us for 51 years, best manager in my time. Bassett & Warnock (eventually) brought success, but not with such style and in arguably easier eras. Its never been better than this.

In Keith Edwards’ book he says that John Harris did very little football coaching so it’s not comparing like for like with CW etc. More modern managers do a very different job.

 

[Harry's Game]

Yes I’m my lifetime I now say he is.

Will always be grateful to Dave Bassett for what he did as I firmly believe Sheffield United as anything approaching a major club would no longer exist if not for his appointment in 1988.

But CW to make us competitive at the highest level in this day and age with the financial competition out there is absolutely phenomenal.

 

[finlaytheblade]

If he gets us in the top half by season end despite the odds at the start of the season then I would say yes, CW gets that status.

Thing is on league achievements alone perhaps Bassett has the edge (taking a team down immediately followed by double promotions is some feat). But factor in the style of football and tactical ingenuity, and a couple more seasons in the Prem then Wilder would just about take the title for me.

Qualify for Europe and it's no contest!

Contest over Wilder win hands down.
Taking us from league one through the championship to premiership on a shoestring.
Go back as far as the 2nd world war , no one comes close the money swilling around in the championship now makes it harder than ever.
Money wise we were never at the disadvantage we have been under Wilder and who knows where it will end.
In my opinion of course !!