Worst case scenario: let him have a crack at championship

[botoble]

Being 30 I have not seen Sheffield United as an established top flight team in my life time, as such I feel us being in the Premier league for any amount of time as a bonus rather than an expectancy.

However seeing some posts yesterday I can’t help but feel there are some very different opinions. That being the case I would love to find out what people’s views are on the managerial front going forward.

 

[BettingBlade]

Said elsewhere that the only man who can get the best out of these players is Wilder.

In my opinion I think we’ve largely spent quite badly, particularly this summer and ultimately we have a poor squad at this level. For this reason alone I think if anyone can get us playing, it’s Wilder. This team has always been greater than the sum of its parts but we really should have added a lot more quality than we have.

I can’t think of anyone better to get the best out of this squad than Wilder, which is why I think we are better off letting him finish the job he started. If we do somehow manage to stay up, we have to seriously learn from this season.

 

[Champagneblade]

Let's not make the same mistake as with Warnock.

Moving someone out is the easy bit.

Look at the projection of Neil's career compared to ours. 2 promotions to the top flight. 2 or 3 stints there. Never a worry of relegation from the Championship.

Contrast that with our own. A failed play off under Blacky, a relegation, 6 years in League one.

Same here. 5 years it will be this year. 2 promotions, not even bothering with the playoffs, one very solid consolidation in the Championship, one superb effort at the top table, 1 possible relegation after an injury ravaged season and with some pretty poor officiating impacting key games such as Villa, Leeds and Arsenal.

This is not the norm for us. This is a relative golden era. Even Dyche, for whom even now this season might be a relegation one, had to go down after promotion to come back stronger.

We have an identity. We have someone at the helm who cares and hurts as much as we do. Let's not be throwing this away through short-termism.

I was born in 1976. I've seen United play in the top flight for 7 seasons. Chris has delivered 2 of those. I'm not prepared to jump on any other bandwagon that sees him leave because the alternative is an awful downward spiral. We're not good at appointing managers. Occasionally we get lucky. This is one of those times. If anything Chris taking a bit of a knock this season might mean we can be tied together for longer. And for me at least, I'll raise a glass to that!

 

[Weasel]

Questions should be asked of Mr Wilder and some of his signings and why certain positions weren't strengthened.

He's not untouchable.

But CW stays all day long for me. He is and will be for a very long time (hopefully) the gaffer at the Lane.

 

[N20 Blade]

I’m happy for wilder to be given the chance. My question for the last few weeks remains ‘does he have the stomach for it?’.

Something is very different about him since lockdown and our poor run. It’s been heavily commented on but it’s relevant. He now sounds like everybody else in this situation.

I think if he stays on, he and we need to be certain he’s got the ‘fire in his belly’ and the heart to get us going again. Today’s Wilder would struggle in the championship just as this team would. It’s a relentless league and psychologically even harder in some respects if the expectations are high; as they would be.

Getting relegated is only going to make this harder. He’s a human being and continued failure leaves a mark on any individual. The best thing for Wilder the individual might be to take a sabbatical and clear his head. I’m not advocating this but simply making the point. He’s a proud man and has had an incredibly tough time as manager with his clubs. It can mark a man. The likes of lampard who are ‘silver spoon’ by comparison will never go through a tenth of what wilder has in his management career. But it scars and relegation with us, especially after last season, would leave an alright scar.

 

[botoble]

Great to see 4 quality and well thought out responses, not descending into insults and arguments!

I think the empty stadiums have hampered Wilders love for the game probably more so than the team, If relegated I believe Wilder would hate to see someone else at the helm having a potential push for promotion infront of 30k with a team he admitted he built for the future.

Sad as it is, I would love to see Wilder have a run at the championship with half of this team he has built, accepting some would be sold. Successful Championship seasons have probably been my favourite times of being a blade. The real clubs, the lack of the pretentiousness that comes with the PL. Whilst I would prefer to stay up, there is a lot I miss about the championship.

 

[S40BLADE]

More then willing to see us break all premier league worst records and relegated if next season Wilder and Co take a new approach tactically and recruitment wise. Returning to a more attractive and flair based brand of football.

 

[DaleHillBlade]

More then willing to see us break all premier league worst records and relegated if next season Wilder and Co take a new approach tactically and recruitment wise. Returning to a more attractive and flair based brand of football.

Eh?

More than willing to see us humiliated on the basis that we may see an exciting season in the second tier.

Lift your sights my friend.

 

[robbiez666]

I think most people will agree that he deserves a chance at the Championship, if we go down. My only concern would be if we don't change anything and just keep on doing the same thing over again. I'd personally want to see some kind of development of another system, or at least a plan b.

I suspect if this kind of form and attitude continues then the results of such as poll would be different at the end of the season.

 

[Houston_Blade]

Now Monk is available can you put an option for sacking Wilder and getting Monk in please?!

 

[BornOnShorehamStreet]

Wilder is facing a crisis such as he has never faced in his managerial career.

It's either kill or cure and what doesn't kill you makes you stronger.

He needs support from everybody from the Prince to to the resident slashers.

So do the team and it saddens me if Rammers is getting shit slung at him on social media

I think he and they will pull through but it might take a relegation to do it.

 

[ComedyClub]

Being 30 I have not seen Sheffield United as an established top flight team in my life time, as such I feel us being in the Premier league for any amount of time as a bonus rather than an expectancy.

However seeing some posts yesterday I can’t help but feel there are some very different opinions. That being the case I would love to find out what people’s views are on the managerial front going forward.

I went for sack wilder after Christmas if we're still mathematically able to finish safe. However I'd add that that's if we continue on a poor run of results. I think we'll turn it round for what it's worth, but I still think serious questions need to be asked of our ongoing and future transfer plans, as this season's signings in particular have been extremely poor. Granted with resale value and growth and development in mind, we haven't bought players that are first 11 players, we've bought players we need to nurture and develop which we can't afford to do. Not to mention that resale value goes down if we drop a division below which is looking likely as things stand.

 

[Blade56]

Wilder is facing a crisis such as he has never faced in his managerial career.

It's either kill or cure and what doesn't kill you makes you stronger.

He needs support from everybody from the Prince to to the resident slashers.

So do the team and it saddens me if Rammers is getting shit slung at him on social media

I think he and they will pull through but it might take a relegation to do it.

Can’t understand if and why he’s getting grief. He’s Wilders stand out signing along with a Berger, rest a bit meh. Fortunately don’t do Twitter.

 

[SK10Blade]

If we keep CW and AK and are relegated are we still not better off than when they were first appointed? There will be a bigger list of teams that want to appoint them than there are of decent candidates to replace them. We have no idea what may or may not be happening behind the scenes.

 

[knowsnowt]

Why no "sack him and get Monk in"?

 

[GymClassHero]

Unless he completely lost the plot Wilder has a job for life. People seem to forget the teams we are up against, and the calibre of players and have their expectations skewed by last seasons heroics. The only reason you are even thinking that way is because Chris showed you the impossible is sometimes possible. He hasn't lost the dressing room and you don't become a dinosaur overnight!

 

[Stevo]

Let's not make the same mistake as with Warnock.

Moving someone out is the easy bit.

Look at the projection of Neil's career compared to ours. 2 promotions to the top flight. 2 or 3 stints there. Never a worry of relegation from the Championship.

Contrast that with our own. A failed play off under Blacky, a relegation, 6 years in League one.

Same here. 5 years it will be this year. 2 promotions, not even bothering with the playoffs, one very solid consolidation in the Championship, one superb effort at the top table, 1 possible relegation after an injury ravaged season and with some pretty poor officiating impacting key games such as Villa, Leeds and Arsenal.

This is not the norm for us. This is a relative golden era. Even Dyche, for whom even now this season might be a relegation one, had to go down after promotion to come back stronger.

We have an identity. We have someone at the helm who cares and hurts as much as we do. Let's not be throwing this away through short-termism.

I was born in 1976. I've seen United play in the top flight for 7 seasons. Chris has delivered 2 of those. I'm not prepared to jump on any other bandwagon that sees him leave because the alternative is an awful downward spiral. We're not good at appointing managers. Occasionally we get lucky. This is one of those times. If anything Chris taking a bit of a knock this season might mean we can be tied together for longer. And for me at least, I'll raise a glass to that!

76......a truly vintage year

 

[Keef Chedwyn]

I think he's still in job for life credit but he's just had a few bits he's got to quickly recover and learn from.

 

[steve26272]

Let's not make the same mistake as with Warnock.

Moving someone out is the easy bit.

Look at the projection of Neil's career compared to ours. 2 promotions to the top flight. 2 or 3 stints there. Never a worry of relegation from the Championship.

Contrast that with our own. A failed play off under Blacky, a relegation, 6 years in League one.

Same here. 5 years it will be this year. 2 promotions, not even bothering with the playoffs, one very solid consolidation in the Championship, one superb effort at the top table, 1 possible relegation after an injury ravaged season and with some pretty poor officiating impacting key games such as Villa, Leeds and Arsenal.

This is not the norm for us. This is a relative golden era. Even Dyche, for whom even now this season might be a relegation one, had to go down after promotion to come back stronger.

We have an identity. We have someone at the helm who cares and hurts as much as we do. Let's not be throwing this away through short-termism.

I was born in 1976. I've seen United play in the top flight for 7 seasons. Chris has delivered 2 of those. I'm not prepared to jump on any other bandwagon that sees him leave because the alternative is an awful downward spiral. We're not good at appointing managers. Occasionally we get lucky. This is one of those times. If anything Chris taking a bit of a knock this season might mean we can be tied together for longer. And for me at least, I'll raise a glass to that!

My take at the time with Warnock, was if he keeps us up sack him, if he takes us down keep him - most people i said this to thought id been on the pop too much, by my logic was he is great at getting teams out of the championship, but not quite savvy enough for the prem.
Wilder has proved he can adapt to both, if we go down i dont think its a reflection on his ability, more a victim of circumstances, no crowds etc.
when i say this i mean it, he is the best manager for this group, would Pep fare any better in the championship with our players? unless he looses the dressing room, keep him and back him!

 

[Tony Currie]

See we are at 91% in favour of keeping Wilder if relegated. Thank goodness. Seems to be the vocal few on here making stupid threads - these people have not been supporting United for decades!

For example Warnock would have got us back up - Chris will do the same.

 

[GymClassHero]

My take at the time with Warnock, was if he keeps us up sack him, if he takes us down keep him - most people i said this to thought id been on the pop too much, by my logic was he is great at getting teams out of the championship, but not quite savvy enough for the prem.
Wilder has proved he can adapt to both, if we go down i dont think its a reflection on his ability, more a victim of circumstances, no crowds etc.
when i say this i mean it, he is the best manager for this group, would Pep fare any better in the championship with our players? unless he looses the dressing room, keep him and back him!

The reason we gave recruited championship players is so we can keep them and build if we go down, people don't seem to get that we are not a rich club we have to build with the long term future of the club in mind.

 

[SouthportBlade]

I'm not saying he's exonerated of any blame for current situation, hes not infallible and clearly mqde errors.

However, Wilder is also a victim of his own success and so dramatically raising expectations.

Promotion Year 1 is probably only year where he delivered in line with expectations - even then we crushed the league! We have over achieved in every other season, based on a 'normal' positive trajectory we'd probably be challenging for promotion in the Championship this year!

Like it or not, we have a squad & cost base that is still top end Championship.

To not give Wilder a chance if we get relegated is frankly ludicrous! One thing Wilder has done, that gets overlooked, is set us up for the future - maintaining a fair cost base, bringing average age of squad down, signing players likely to grow in value etc

Whilst there shouldn't be sentiment, as football is a ruthless game, i see questioning if he's the right man to take us forward as clearly misguided, or at best short sighted.

 

[1987]

I think i needed to see this poll, shows how deafening a huge minority can be. Something to think about RE: the players too.

Wilders not perfect and he has got to improve in a few areas. He's guilty of being naive, stubborn and perhaps feeling a little sorry for himself.

Hes learning at this level just like we all are, and he will be the right manager for me regardless - no manager will know the club or have its success and interests at heart more and hes clearly a talented manager - we finished 9th last season ffs.

 

[Joey1889]

I think he's still in job for life credit but he's just had a few bits he's got to quickly recover and learn from.

Personally I completely agree. However, it's not like we haven't seen a foreign owner without the same sentiments as fans get rid of a well liked manager before.

Adkins (shudder) was loved by Southampton fans. Most neutrals couldn't believe it when he was replaced by an unheard of manager in England called Mauricio Pochettino. Look how well that turned out btw.

We just have to hope that our foreign owner doesn't do the same. In fairness to the Prince, everything he has done so far has been positive. Let's hope that continues.

 

[Revolution]

I would not fire Wilder now. And I don’t think it’s currently possible to speculate when might be the right time to do so, or even if there will be a right time. Too many variables at play.

 

[N20 Blade]

If we keep CW and AK and are relegated are we still not better off than when they were first appointed? There will be a bigger list of teams that want to appoint them than there are of decent candidates to replace them. We have no idea what may or may not be happening behind the scenes.

Interesting point, the club and fans can be as loyal as possible, but there is nothing to stop CW/AK deciding enough is enough, which has to be a strong possibility.

 

[Champagneblade]

My take at the time with Warnock, was if he keeps us up sack him, if he takes us down keep him - most people i said this to thought id been on the pop too much, by my logic was he is great at getting teams out of the championship, but not quite savvy enough for the prem.
Wilder has proved he can adapt to both, if we go down i dont think its a reflection on his ability, more a victim of circumstances, no crowds etc.
when i say this i mean it, he is the best manager for this group, would Pep fare any better in the championship with our players? unless he looses the dressing room, keep him and back him!

I do take your point though it would have been harsh sacking him, having kept us up and to be fair nobody has seen what he'd be like with a second PL season and the money that goes with it. He's a bit of a victim of circumstance in that regard. Nobody gives him a job there so he has to get a team up. When he gets them up, he ends up with a budget in the bottom 2 and can't overachieve by 2 spots. It's not the most damning endictment.

Whatever people thought of Warnock, if Robson was previewed as the alternative i think lost of us would have said 'stick'.

 

[Nade]

I find that poll quite comforting and it just goes to show that most people are not in line with the loudest on here.

Personally I'd be happy to stick with Wilder next season even if we go down.

 

[CaptainMorgans]

I would 100% keep Wilder. But he does need to show a little more of a willingness to adapt.

11 games & 10 losses tells a story. It will be pretty criminal if we just continue to play the same way as we are doing over the next handful of games.
I don't think we can, or will, accept another 11 games & 10 losses. Things do need to improve if he is to stay in his role. To be honest, if it continues as it is I think he might resign before he's pushed anyway.

The biggest thing is to acknowledge that we have got our recruitment wrong.
The scouting infrastructure needs to improve. I know Chris is proud of "having his fingerprints on everything" at the club, but I do think he needs to maybe concede a little bit of control in this department.
Maybe a Director of Football needs to come in, or maybe we go to a Brentford style recruitment model (although I don't think this could happen over night).

 

[sitwell]

6 years ago this week we played Orient in the league. Is there really any need for the question never mind a fucking poll.