There is also a full page piece in The Sunday Times today, based on an interview that Wilder has given to Jonathan Northcroft. The article is very much focussed on Wilder himself and not necessarily what United have done over the past 3 years.
The antidote to the positive article is provided at the foot of the page by the wooden-top columnist, Rod Liddle, in a piece entitled, "Nice to see fans at West Ham turn on the messiah but high-flying Blades are my tip for the drop".
In brief, this notoriously flawed individual - and that's not just a reference to his daft hair, bad shirt and punchable face - has decided that Watford and Norwich are "doomed", and that they will be joined by either Palace or United.
His view is based on what he calls "the most reliable statistical indicator of who will survive" which he states with unequivocal certainty despite no apparent evidence to back it up, is, "the number of shots on goal per game".
Thus, Everton, who are likely to still be stuck on 14 points when 2020 comes around, will be fine because they are 8th in the all-important 'shots per game table'. Similarly, Southampton have had a lot of shots in a couple of recent games so they'll be fine. Apparently, they "show a certain resilience" too, although if I've seen a team more lacking in resilience than the team that lost 9-0 at home to Leicester, I can't think who it is.
He continues with a lovely bit of traditional ignorance by describing United as currently being, "borne aloft on spirit and superb organisation". He also asserts that we have "a knack of losing points late in games". Bearing in mind that we have taken the lead in 5 games this season, of which we won 4 and saved a draw in the other, it's not clear where that genial analysis comes from.
Anyway, all of this leads to have United as his bet for relegation.
Cretin.
www.telegraph.co.uk
