Our Manager

[blademan31]

It is a sad watch but some real sensible and interesting comments on this thread regarding context and balancing how much he can actually say about what he thinks.

These remaining 14 games are important, I feel. Of course, we are down, but he needs to find something to motivate the players - some sort of target - whether that's not finishing bottom, a points or goal target or simply motivating them to take a lot of satisfaction and pride from fcking up our remaining opponents seasons by beating them, be the party poopers/the jinx.

It's easy to say "play the kids" but we're not a top team. We have first team players, then very average to poor back up players, then a huge gap to literally kids with zero first team experience. They'd get embarrassed and the few first team players left in the starting 11 would throw the towel in.

Keep playing the strongest XI for pride and also play as close to what next season's starting XI will be. Chin up lads, football moves very fast, this time next year could be completely different!

 

[FMBlade1]

We're a football club learning how to compete in a lass than level playing field, not a "Shit embarrassment"

What's embarrassing is purported supporters unable to control their emotions and using a forum to spit their dummy out .

Have some humility and perspective mate.

I imagine if you were in a similar position you would want support,not lambasting from the safety of a keyboard.

I know who I would want next to me in the trenches.

What annoys me is how Wilder, and others, conflate critical discussion on a forum with abuse.

I have my say on here and in the pub, but I never boo the team. We have some idiots in our fanbase, Ramsdale is lucky there has been no fans this season as he would have got the disgusting George Long treatment otherwise. I just think that maybe we should have dropped Ramsdale earlier in the season and should try playing 4-4-2. I also think Wilder could have managed things better.

I am still behind the team, I still support the team and the club. I'm sure Keef Chedwyn is the same, yet it is you that feels the need to lay into other fans.

How does writing supportive comments (Pravda) on a keyboard do any good? We are all fans who have emotions, no need to sneer at that.

 

[Yoonited]

What annoys me is how Wilder, and others, conflate critical discussion on a forum with abuse.

I have my say on here and in the pub, but I never boo the team. We have some idiots in our fanbase, Ramsdale is lucky there has been no fans this season as he would have got the disgusting George Long treatment otherwise. I just think that maybe we should have dropped Ramsdale earlier in the season and should try playing 4-4-2. I also think Wilder could have managed things better.

I am still behind the team, I still support the team and the club. I'm sure Keef Chedwyn is the same, yet it is you that feels the need to lay into other fans.

How does writing supportive comments (Pravda) on a keyboard do any good? We are all fans who have emotions, no need to sneer at that.

Abuse? Where? I don't see where I have "laid into him" either

 

[FMBlade1]

Abuse? Where? I don't see where I have "laid into him" either

(There has been abuse subject to a police investigation which no-one on here has the facts, though that is a separate issue)

Well you said you wouldn't want to be in the trenches with him and that he spat his dummy out, I know it's not the worst thing to say but a bit condescending no?

 

[Thatsfootie]

What percentage of being a good manager is dealing well with the press? In your opinion.

In my opinion dealing well with the press is a small but significant part of a football manager's job. Being able to articulate a position is crucially more important when decisions are going badly.

 

[Keef Chedwyn]

We're a football club learning how to compete in a less than level playing field, not a "Shit embarrassment"

What's embarrassing is purported supporters unable to control their emotions and using a forum to spit their dummy out without evidencing how they would deal with managing a large organisation that has been mismanaged for decades.

Have some humility and perspective mate.

I imagine if you were in a similar position you would want support,not lambasting

I know who I would want next to me in the trenches.UTB

We're learning how to compete in a less than level playing field? So we've gone backwards then? Last season we just went for it, no learning required.

Forums are the best place for dummy spitting, keeps it off the streets.

Can't believe I got trenched again! Why can't I find someone to share a trench with

 

[The Crab]

We're learning how to compete in a less than level playing field? So we've gone backwards then? Last season we just went for it, no learning required.

Forums are the best place for dummy spitting, keeps it off the streets.

Can't believe I got trenched again! Why can't I find someone to share a trench with

You can come and share mine. Apologies in advance about the funny smell, I wasn't expecting company............

 

[coolasanidiot]

We're learning how to compete in a less than level playing field? So we've gone backwards then? Last season we just went for it, no learning required.

Forums are the best place for dummy spitting, keeps it off the streets.

Can't believe I got trenched again! Why can't I find someone to share a trench with

You can- share it with FMBlade1-

We're all in the trench with Chris Wilder and his Red and White Army - he's got credit in the bank x10 fold and right now there is 30,000 in our trench and counting..

 

[SheepdipBlade]

This video is quite worrying. Wilder has worked wonders for our club but his non-vebal communication skills displayed here reveal, quite possibly, someone who can probably identify some of our problems but perhaps has no ideas left about what to try next to address them given current resources. He is hesitant, mumbling, stuttering and his body language is almost as if he is trying to hide from the situation and the camera.
Having said that, my instinct is that he should keep his post and try to recover the success of previous seasons next year in the Championship. It suggests to me that much also needs changing within our club to afford him more assistance, especially, for example, in recruitment, financial and forward planning areas.
This is only my second post here so I have no intention to fuel any existing arguments but we are, after, all, all on the same side. The long term future stability of our club should be the main aim given the many examples elsewhere.

Many years ago I took a degree in Social Psychology which included non verbal communications. It's been many years since I used that training but for what it's worth I wouldn't see anything unusual about his body language. There are points that could be made about his eye contact and about his hands. If you were reaching you might point to voice tone.

To be honest, what I see is a disappointed bloke trying to give honest but difficult answers and thinking about what he's saying. I also see a bloke who has probably never been given a single pointer about how to make clear public presentations - which I think is more likely to be the root cause of his quite muddled and wandering comments, his eye contact etc.

But as I say, it's been a long time since I was involved in counseling and stuff - so I could be totally wrong.

 

[Robboblade1889]

FMBlade1 i think this abuse thing is a bit of a myth. Most the the replies from people defending the manager are just that replies and facts. The abuse is aimed at these people who are making things up or trying to rewrite history. He’s never said fans can’t have their opinion he’s pretty much said that since he has been here however if he feels a small group of fans are having a go and he disagrees then why can’t he also have his opinion. We can’t pick and choose when we want him to be honest.
Yes it’s been poor at times this season but here’s a thought why not judge the shape and style when everything is back to normal.

 

[Keef Chedwyn]

You can- share it with FMBlade1-

We're all in the trench with Chris Wilder and his Red and White Army - he's got credit in the bank x10 fold and right now there is 30,000 in our trench and counting..

Wilder will probably slag you all off and blame the trenchfoot on the drainage you built not having the qualiteh that the Germans have.

 

[benn5712]

Are we all Dinosaurs maybe ? Us fans that are totally wrong. Blades feel we are part of Sheffield United, umbilical chord connecting all together.
We like having our own as Manager and Skipper, love it when players come in and are bitten by the Blades virus.
Maybe the EPL is trying to rid that fan connection from it's model, I have that feeling. Money and a product to sell worldwide all important.

 

[Hamburg Blade]

I’m in two minds about this.. if we get back up quickly then we may well find ourselves in the same position of having to fight above our weight again, and that is not sustainable. If we take the long view of having Wilder build a dynasty (Fergie style) then patience and incremental steps is the sensible way forward.

Problem being, and I now contradict myself, I don’t think there are the resources outside of the PL to allow sufficient construction. We won’t build a team capable of an extended stay in the top division with the resources we have. Unless we strike hard in the next couple of seasons.

Wilder has proven, beyond any doubt whatsoever, that he can build a team for promotion. He has proven he can build a team that competes in the Premier League. He hasn’t proven yet he can build a team that is sustainable. He deserves the opportunity to do so.

But I guess it’s what we want, a few years of yo-yo excitement or a long term strategy to have the Blades where they belong as a top table team.

What you're describing is the problem with the PL. We've hit the brick wall that keeps a handful of teams in perpetual riches and the rest struggle to keep up. We've slammed into it in spectacular style this season, but look at how many other clubs have the same problem, year on year out, trying to stay in the PL or trying to get back into it, never having enough money to do it, never being comfortable.
In some ways it's good, it should be a fight for every club, every season, that's competitive sport, except that there are some clubs that it doesn't apply to and that's why it's all about money. The handful of clubs that will never be relegated again make the PL a very small division with a high chance of relegation for everyone else. Those that have a bit of money now and look alright might be back in the Championship in a couple of years with debt problems and players costing too much and playing badly who can't be shifted.

 

[Keef Chedwyn]

FMBlade1 i think this abuse thing is a bit of a myth. Most the the replies from people defending the manager are just that replies and facts. The abuse is aimed at these people who are making things up or trying to rewrite history. He’s never said fans can’t have their opinion he’s pretty much said that since he has been here however if he feels a small group of fans are having a go and he disagrees then why can’t he also have his opinion. We can’t pick and choose when we want him to be honest.
Yes it’s been poor at times this season but here’s a thought why not judge the shape and style when everything is back to normal.

He needs to manage his team not find yet another thing to be a victim of.

 

[FMBlade1]

FMBlade1 i think this abuse thing is a bit of a myth. Most the the replies from people defending the manager are just that replies and facts. The abuse is aimed at these people who are making things up or trying to rewrite history. He’s never said fans can’t have their opinion he’s pretty much said that since he has been here however if he feels a small group of fans are having a go and he disagrees then why can’t he also have his opinion. We can’t pick and choose when we want him to be honest.
Yes it’s been poor at times this season but here’s a thought why not judge the shape and style when everything is back to normal.

Many of those who defend the manager (as is their right) then conflate criticism of the manager as being abuse and then they themselves lay into the posters making such criticisms.

As for Wilder, he has sneered at fans for various reasons, just unnecessary and uncalled for imho. No other manager these days do it, so why should he?

 

[Thatsfootie]

So how he comes across in interviews in the media is of paramount importance ?
More important than what his team does on the pitch ? obviously we are not doing great atm
Are you trying to say how he comes across in interviews straight after the final whistle makes him a bad manager
Surely its how he articulates himself to the players that really counts

Would you be confident if you had seen Norwood pass the ball straight to their player giving West Ham the chance to score and one of your central defenders not mark a player from a corner giving him the easiest of free headers. Im sure hes told them not to do those things he then has to face the media and come across all confident

Its corporate management bollocks lets talk about ball parks and say basically a lot
Letss get Adkins back we can talk about geese

I have not stated that it is of paramount importance but simply that good communication is important especially when there is a need for identifying, stating and dealing with problems confidently in the public view. Our manager is probably very capable in communicating with players in the changing room which requires a different style. What you say as a manager and how you say it is important especially in the midst of difficulties.

 

[coolasanidiot]

Wilder will probably slag you all off and blame the trenchfoot on the drainage you built not having the qualiteh that the Germans have.

Your wrong Keef- we've known him a few years now- he's rock solid, With him at the helm, we've won many battles, and he's been fair to us all. Latest endeavour fair play we've all took a heavy pounding, but that wasn't really down to him, we didn't carry out his tactics very well.

Safe to say - we are all right behind him now- and because of his glorious knowledge- the next venture should be good, keep the faith.

 

[The Crab]

It's ironic, all the talk of Trenches, when quite a few people take entrenched positions.

To me, a message board is the ideal place to offer an opinion, and I don't understand why you have to be an expert to offer one. Most of us base our opinions on what we see, and have seen over the years. I've been watching since circa late 70's early 80's, I'd say that makes me more of a masochist than an expert!

I think it's unnecessary for the comments like "armchair fans" or "Playstation Managers" to be made, it smacks of a nerve being hit. It's just an opinion, debate, disagree by all means. But if you fire back with snide cheap comments, then that makes you no more worthy of being in the Trench than the person the comment is aimed at.

We are all going through a shitty time, and the thing that has given us our greatest escape, The Blades, well at the minute it's all going sideways. So combine that, and you are going to get pissed off people making comments that might have warranted a little more thought before being said / typed.

 

[itsinyerblood]

I'm generally loathe to offer tuppence worth of harsh criticism, but after last season's excellent display and final position, my hope was that the board would grasp the nettle and allow CW to strengthen the squad in anticipation of what was always going to be a tough and difficult season. Sadly, the players we've brought in have mainly been less able than the quality we've needed, so where the blame lies I'm unsure. No doubt we're a relatively poor club, but if there was ever a time to bring in several decent players it was this season.

Please, no more lightweights, even if it means ensuring we have fewer numbers, I'd prefer to see obviously good players rather than triers who simply aren't good enough. One final thought, to secure this type of player we're going to have to resolve the issue of paying improved wages, is this being addressed?

 

[Thatsfootie]

Many years ago I took a degree in Social Psychology which included non verbal communications. It's been many years since I used that training but for what it's worth I wouldn't see anything unusual about his body language. There are points that could be made about his eye contact and about his hands. If you were reaching you might point to voice tone.

To be honest, what I see is a disappointed bloke trying to give honest but difficult answers and thinking about what he's saying. I also see a bloke who has probably never been given a single pointer about how to make clear public presentations - which I think is more likely to be the root cause of his quite muddled and wandering comments, his eye contact etc.

But as I say, it's been a long time since I was involved in counseling and stuff - so I could be totally wrong.

Yes, I agree that, as I have already suggested, he needs some help in developing and using communication skills to best advantage. This isn't a big issue and there are a lot of managers who communicate badly at times. My own small criticisms (and I repeat Wilder has my support) have developed over the good times and now the bad. Every little way of rebuilding confidence and belief is important to the whole.
I've been supporting our club since the 1950s and we all wish it to flourish. I perhaps should add that year's ago I lectured in management to undergrads and postgrads so I hope I'm not talking through my hat!

 

[ancientblade]

I'm generally loathe to offer tuppence worth of harsh criticism, but after last season's excellent display and final position, my hope was that the board would grasp the nettle and allow CW to strengthen the squad in anticipation of what was always going to be a tough and difficult season. Sadly, the players we've brought in have mainly been less able than the quality we've needed, so where the blame lies I'm unsure. No doubt we're a relatively poor club, but if there was ever a time to bring in several decent players it was this season.

Please, no more lightweights, even if it means ensuring we have fewer numbers, I'd prefer to see obviously good players rather than triers who simply aren't good enough. One final thought, to secure this type of player we're going to have to resolve the issue of paying improved wages, is this being addressed?

well its got to be addressed when we get back to the premier league sounds daft when players are on 20k a week but we cant carry on paying peanuts and if we cant we will just become a yo yo team which i suspect is what will happen chris is obviously frustrated at not being able to bring the players in he wanted

 

[kevreedy]

Up to last season, we had been very lucky with no long term injuries. now three players Berge O'Connell and Egan. other players have been out for a while as well.
Other players out short term. Wilder can,t pick a full-strength team. and does not have a world-class squad like a lot of premier league clubs.no wonder we are struggling.no matter what happens. Chris Wilder should stay at Bramall Lane. He is the best manager for us.

 

[PokerBlade]

Many of those who defend the manager (as is their right) then conflate criticism of the manager as being abuse and then they themselves lay into the posters making such criticisms.

As for Wilder, he has sneered at fans for various reasons, just unnecessary and uncalled for imho. No other manager these days do it, so why should he?

I suppose it's just when people read things like "in particular after Leicester away last season in one of the most disgraceful outbursts I have ever seen at our football club." it's hard for people at face value to rationalise that as "just criticism". I don't know if you intend it this way but when I read your posts it usually comes across as though you want to engage in this kind of hyperbolic framing and then walk it back to something much more defensible. Which is something we all do from time to time, I guess, it just makes it harder to feel sympathy when you get strong reactions to posts like that.

 

[Tynemouth Blade]

I, like a lot of us, have been somewhat pissed off with a lot our performances since the restart and especially this season, and why not seeing just how shite we've been, but I've just been reminded of the following from probably the best football manager my generation ever witnessed:

I'll still be a Blade whatever happens and whatever league we play in as I have been for well over 50 years!
Players, and managers, come and go, but the Club will continue and so will my support. UTB

 

[Pedro Verde]

I have not stated that it is of paramount importance but simply that good communication is important especially when there is a need for identifying, stating and dealing with problems confidently in the public view. Our manager is probably very capable in communicating with players in the changing room which requires a different style. What you say as a manager and how you say it is important especially in the midst of difficulties.

Why should Wilder deal with problems in front of the media its in the changing room and out on the training pitch that really matters, Wilder got pelters for calling Henderson out in public, but it worked. So I think Wilder knows a lot more about dealing with football players and staff, than me and you I think hes been hes been pretty successful over the years
Everybody used to say how refreshing it was to listen to Wilders interviews, how honest they were he probably cant be that honest now
I see you lectured in management at University. I had plenty of experience in dealing with management trainees out of University and to say I was less than impressed is a wild understatement most of them were fucking useless

 

[Yoonited]

We're learning how to compete in a less than level playing field? So we've gone backwards then? Last season we just went for it, no learning required.

Forums are the best place for dummy spitting, keeps it off the streets.

Can't believe I got trenched again! Why can't I find someone to share a trench with

I agree, we do look like we've gone backwards,but that wasn't my pointI'm not sure the two seasons can be compared in an appes with apples kinda way given the unusual set of circumstances that covid created. Nor am I saying Wilder hasn't made errors,but in short he still gets my vote.

 

[Yoonited]

(There has been abuse subject to a police investigation which no-one on here has the facts, though that is a separate issue)

Well you said you wouldn't want to be in the trenches with him and that he spat his dummy out, I know it's not the worst thing to say but a bit condescending no?

I didn't think so.Keef didn't say so. And I said I know who I would want to be in the trenches with. Nowhere did I say Keef wasn't welcome,though you might argue it was implied.

 

[Big Hitter]

"We shall fight them in the trenches and in the hills..........." ( Apologies to WSC.)

Cw was obviously upset at the result and performance as we all were. He's not allowed a little time to get his thoughts and TV face back on before some twat with a mike is pushing it in his face hoping he'll say something outrageous or incriminating....like piss off.

 

[Robboblade1889]

Wilder will probably slag you all off and blame the trenchfoot on the drainage you built not having the qualiteh that the Germans have.

FMBlade1 its shit like this that makes people start throwing abuse! I mean really this is one of a number of posts by this poster with no substance just pure shit. These will be the ones stating they will never step foot again in Bramall lane if we end up on the managerial merry go round and drop like a stone.
Surely the manager has shown our fans enough in his tenure to say he will have us bang at it again? Modern day football fans fuck em!

 

[Bennyand the Blades]

We have the big "knew it all along" hatchet men, coming out of the wood work on here now, but be honest, who really could possibly have seen this season coming ?
Mr Wilder is and has been one of the best managers we've had at this club i.m.o and his record proves that, but as soon as things start going wrong there are these knuckle heads who have never done anything good for the blades in their lives trying to drag him down some of you lot should be ashamed.....