CONFIRMED Chris Wilder 3.0 - Returns for the third spell.

[Swinton Blade]

92 points and a play-off final that could have gone either way wasn't enough eh?

The style of play was predictable and we were lucky to win most our games last season, if it wasn't for Hamer and Cooper we would have finished mid table.

 

[Berkshire Blade]

I wonder which version of Wilder we'll get, for the third installment in the trilogy?

1st spell - plucky, likeable Wilder. Local lad, innovative tactics. Media sweetheart for giving the top flight a go.

2nd spell - More hardball, defiant, possibly even seen as arrogant by some. Strong character that managed to upset the pigs and some how, many neutrals.

3rd spell - ...

Imo not a huge difference between the first two spells. We didn't have the overlapping defenders but the tempo and type of football wasn't a huge change. We rarely battered people even in that promotion season yet people think of it more fondly than last year even before it fell apart people were complaining it wasn't like before when to me it wasn't hugely different!

 

[Nick Jansky]

That was something that added pressure on us from day one of the season. The fact that some people were fine with poor ownership resulting in that will never not astonish me but it seems you are the one who actually can't let that go.

It’s you who has resumed your digs at the Prince this week. Funnily enough, the majority on here seem to look back on his ownership positively. But you carry on being you.

 

[Blademan89]

Pathetically predictable.

COH talked about the club finally doing things differently. A more progressive style of football and a modern way of recruitment.

They’ve now ripped all that up because they got the wrong man in the summer and we end up with the football dinosaur again, and the risk of Brewster/ Cannon style signings whenever we have some money in the transfer kitty.

By reappointing Wilder, not only will it just continue the odd promotion on the back of turgid football & no hope of getting a foothold in the Premier League, it also asks serious questions of our ownership due to how easily they have folded like a pack of cards.

Clubs don’t always make the right calls, they certainly didn’t with Selles, but they had made the right calls re a change in how the club do things and now they show how flighty they are by just binning all that off and going back to Mike Bassett style management, instead of keeping the long term mission in place and trying to hire the right man second time round.

I don’t think I can handle watching Wilder’s grinding football, or listening to the crap that he spouts.

Utterly depressing.

You say about running the risk of brewster signings but let's all get this clear. Yes he turned out to be a disaster signing, but on paper he was exactly the type of player clubs are signing & would be astute, on paper he should & was our "delap, Trafford, mcatee" he had good pedigree & was on track to be a great player. He won world cup or euro golden boot for england U21s, got chamions league medal, looked good and scored for swansea in half a season.

Every signing is a gamble, unfortunately he didnt work out & im sure wilder is gutted as is everyone else involved. Liverpool wouldnt include a buy back if they also thought he was gash.

You all want brentford/Brighton and this new data & AI forward thinking stuff and its great when it comes off but is it not the same as singing somone such as brewster? Im sure the data all pointed to him. No one could foresee that season.

Did we need him no, id rather have us sunk £18-£20M into a LCB instead.

Cannon is slightly different, that was Coh flexing their muscles and over paid for him. As soon as Leicester said £10m we should have put phone down, we all would have taken the punt at £2m. They're as much to blame & scouts for cannon as anyone else.

Scouts even more so as they watched his games, which us that kept close eye on him from summer could see he was shit and hardly got invloved for stoke.

 

[Berkshire Blade]

It’s you who has resumed your digs at the Prince this week. Funnily enough, the majority on here seem to look back on his ownership positively. But you carry on being you.

I really love you trying to police my opinions. You can't and you won't. Stop trying

 

[PrestwichBlade]

You say about running the risk of brewster signings but let's all get this clear. Yes he turned out to be a disaster signing, but on paper he was exactly the type of player clubs are signing & would be astute, on paper he should & was our "delap, Trafford, mcatee" he had good pedigree & was on track to be a great player. He won world cup or euro golden boot for england U21s, got chamions league medal, looked good and scored for swansea in half a season.

Every signing is a gamble, unfortunately he didnt work out & im sure wilder is gutted as is everyone else involved. Liverpool wouldnt include a buy back if they also thought he was gash.

You all want brentford/Brighton and this new data & AI forward thinking stuff and its great when it comes off but is it not the same as singing somone such as brewster? Im sure the data all pointed to him. No one could foresee that season.

Did we need him no, id rather have us sunk £18-£20M into a LCB instead.

Cannon is slightly different, that was Coh flexing their muscles and over paid for him. As soon as Leicester said £10m we should have put phone down, we all would have taken the punt at £2m. They're as much to blame & scouts for cannon as anyone else.

Scouts even more so as they watched his games, which us that kept close eye on him from summer could see he was shit and hardly got invloved for stoke.

I'd like to think AI would flag up "massive injury sustained 2018 - avoid"

 

[Shawy24]

Whatever your feelings are about Wilder’s return (and mine are mixed) , make no mistake that he has a major task ahead of him to get us out of the situation we now find ourselves in .

Irrespective of the departed manager’s failed tactics , the combination of the departure of of a number of players who made significant contributions to last season’s relative success together with what has always seemed to be a scattergun approach to new recruitment has left us much weaker than we were a year ago imo .

A number of these have yet to prove themselves at any decent level , whilst others were clearly at their best several years ago .

Add to that the fact that after our appalling start to the season many of them are dispirited , lacking in confidence and the obvious camaraderie and team spirit which was apparent last year , it makes for a very depressing picture .

If Wilder can turn this around he will have my utmost respect . Given the situation we are in , a top 6 finish would be a wonderful achievement in my view and even avoiding a relegation battle would be no mean feat .

I completely agree. I wonder how he’s going to cobble together a functioning team from the odds and sods recruited (Taranga excepted). At least he’s got a winger in Barry who satisfies his apparent desire to play inverted down the flanks. I would hope however that after last year he might abandon that.

Not relegated would do for me after COH mismanagement.

 

[Blademan89]

I'd like to think AI would flag up "massive injury sustained 2018 - avoid"

If we had the option of signing Rodri would you be saying. Massive injury last season - avoid?

I appreciate completely different players & worlds apart in terms of quality etc but the sentiment still remains the same.

 

[Nedski]

Cannon is slightly different, that was Coh flexing their muscles and over paid for him. As soon as Leicester said £10m we should have put phone down, we all would have taken the punt at £2m. They're as much to blame & scouts for cannon as anyone else.

Scouts even more so as they watched his games, which us that kept close eye on him from summer could see he was shit and hardly got invloved for stoke.

Cannon apparently had/has really positive AI stats which supported the signing.. Make of that what you will! I'm still hoping we paid closer to £4m with add ons which was reported.

It's also been said that Cannon really didn't want to come but Leicester and his agent forced the move. This would explain his face like a slapped arse. He's playing like an U9 that wants to play up front but has been told he's a defender today and is having a tantrum.

A loan to Preston would've suited all parties - it would have left us short up front but we're basically playing with 10 men when he's on the pitch anyway.

 

[Blademan89]

Cannon apparently had/has really positive AI stats which supported the signing.. Make of that what you will! I'm still hoping we paid closer to £4m with add ons which was reported.

It's also been said that Cannon really didn't want to come but Leicester and his agent forced the move. This would explain his face like a slapped arse. He's playing like an U9 that wants to play up front but has been told he's a defender today and is having a tantrum.

A loan to Preston would've suited all parties - it would have left us short up front but we're basically playing with 10 men when he's on the pitch anyway.

Ill be honest I dont trust this guys AI company or the guy himself, seems like a chancer & Cannons AI data would looks impressive to a Scottish 2nd division club, the other teams using this same company.

Just like those other random AIs we signed early on which the data AI stats showed was promising/positive & where one of those is now at that same Scottish club.

You can see he looks unhappy, so that I can believe but he also played simialr at stoke (althought i think he ran around a little more than he is for us).

Loan with obligation to buy would be good in January if we can get rid (or if we cant get rid perm).

 

[Champagneblade]

The style of play was predictable and we were lucky to win most our games last season, if it wasn't for Hamer and Cooper we would have finished mid table.

You don’t get 92 points through luck though. It requires a certain level of performance and character.

Perhaps we weren’t the most fluid but in most matches we were better than the opposition. I’d even say we were better overall than Sunderland.

Not saying there weren’t exceptions e.g. Pompey at home, but you can’t just discount Star players showing up when you need them to after the manager gave them that platform to do so.

Look at Hamer under Sellés; a shadow of the player who won Championship Player of the Year under Wilder. It was Wilder that brought Cooper in.

 

[Wizard]

The style of play was predictable and we were lucky to win most our games last season, if it wasn't for Hamer and Cooper we would have finished mid table.

I don't understand where this idea that we were a middling team has come from.

In terms of xGD, Leeds were a huge standout and Burnley's excellent defence gave them a leg up on the other playoff contenders but we also performed strongly over the season. Being a top 6 attack AND defence is not easy.

1. Leeds: ATT 1st, DEF 1st, xGD 1st
2. Burnley: ATT 10th, DEF 2nd, xGD 2nd
------------------------------------------------------------------
3. Sheff Utd: ATT 6th, DEF 3rd, xGD 3rd
4. Sunderland: ATT 8th, DEF 5th, xGD 7th
5. Coventry: ATT 2nd, DEF 8th, xGD 4th
6. Bristol City: ATT 6th, DEF 15th, xGD 10th
------------------------------------------------------------------
Others:
9. West Brom: ATT 9th, DEF 4th, xGD 6th
10. Middlesbrough: ATT 3rd, DEF 13th, xGD 5th
13. Norwich: ATT 4th, DEF 12th, xGD 8th
12. Wednesday: ATT 5th, DEF 18th, xGD 11th


xG


xGA


xGD

 

[PrestwichBlade]

If we had the option of signing Rodri would you be saying. Massive injury last season - avoid?

I appreciate completely different players & worlds apart in terms of quality etc but the sentiment still remains the same.

I mean, you've answered your question yourself! Let's be right, we wasted a shit load of money on a dud, it's been argued to death; it happens, but let's not try and start making out it was a sensible decision, it wasn't.

 

[Broomhall Blade]

Why don’t you rate Wilder?

He’s been promoted from 5th tier to 1st tier and has a top half finish.

He’s just got our highest points total ever at the 2nd tier.

Genuinely curious as to what your criteria is to be ‘rated’. What are you looking for in a manager? and who is fulfilling this criteria that is a realistic candidate to be Sheffield United manager.

Genuinely curious as to whether you are unrealistic in who should manage us or if you are looking for something different and results are not the main driver for you.

There are a few reasons really.
You are right I want to be entertained when I go to watch United, yes results matter and I think you can have both as Burnley and Leeds did last season.
I know we got our highest total ever last season but it was hard work watching it at times, we would win the ball in defence and move forward a few yards and stop and pass backwards or sideways letting the opposition get back.
Leeds and Burnley attacked when they won the ball even Ipswich did on Friday admittedly we did help them by not having any full backs in position.

We can't seem to shoot from outside the box something thats been a problem for a while.

He doesn't seem to have a plan B certainly not attacking wise.
His substitutions are generally on the defensive side.

He blew the play off final, you could see what was happening when we had the goal disallowed in that it gave Sunderland and their fans a lift but didn't do anything to counter act that.

His antics in the Pub, I know alot of Blades like that but it was embarrassing, I hate Wednesday but singing about another clubs manager on a table in a pub not a good look.

He's ok when things are going his way but soon becomes salty when they are not.

I just don't think he's good enough to get us to the Premiership and certainly not to keep us there so we are going to be changing manager again in a season or two.

These are my opinions and I realise im in the minority but I can't help how I feel, I just feel we have taken a backwards step.

 

[Balham]

Cannon apparently had/has really positive AI stats which supported the signing.. Make of that what you will! I'm still hoping we paid closer to £4m with add ons which was reported.

It's also been said that Cannon really didn't want to come but Leicester and his agent forced the move. This would explain his face like a slapped arse. He's playing like an U9 that wants to play up front but has been told he's a defender today and is having a tantrum.

A loan to Preston would've suited all parties - it would have left us short up front but we're basically playing with 10 men when he's on the pitch anyway.

Cannon didn't have good stats. His availability was notified to the manager who'd wanted him in the summer and he was able to present it as a final piece in the promotion jigsaw to get the board's sign off. Don't forget, both of the other Chris Wilder promotion seasons saw a different type of striker brought into the club in January to get us over the line: Hanson in 2016/17; Hogan and Madine in 2018/19.

 

[ancientblade]

im not 100% in favour of bringing chris back but it is the sensible thing to do at least we wont be heading back to league 1 like the porkers of s6 i just hope we get the adventurous chris back of yesteryear the football last season was succesful but the football was dull just hanging on to 1 - 0 leads lets start playing attractive attacking football again that keeps our fans off their mobiles

 

[kop blade]

hi i hope your all ok bet your all elated tufty is back i am he a massiah on radio sheffield football heaven interview on monday which was great chris basham was on he spoke about tufty says how it is yes thats what makes it special to have one of our own in charge the players respect him and play for him hes a king of blades some dont like him but thsts upto them i love him and he can get us winning again hes one of the best gaffers in 2nd tier hes a blades fan thats a sheffield united fc thing he sees what fans see they wont boo tufty we will hammer teams the sufc squad they wont down tools v charlton next match we will win the loud roar at the s2 lane to welcome him back from all over the lane ground and the kop will be electric be buzzing tufty grinds results out just be good if he could play 2 wingers but im not boss id rather grind 1.0 wins than that crapo selles chaos ball who cant win he had no play A or plan b shocking i backed him at 1st but he only talks about winning hes not for us niw tufty his back we can win now chris wilders in the dugout we ar back we will hammer teams again like we knocked 6 past bristol city semis last year thats how we should set up bash is a kop god i love this fella hes speaks so much sense get him at lane has a coach kop legend .i realy respecto he arrived at leeds utd 0.1 win i was there that day its my favorite ever away goal from bashenbaur come home pal we love you buddy bash the kop god im so happy tufty is back were back,,utb..yyiippeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

 

[Greasy Chap Butty]

Any news on a presser?
Be interesting to see his take on it all, attitude, adapting the new players etc etc

 

[Cyprus Blade]

 

[pedro]

There are a few reasons really.
You are right I want to be entertained when I go to watch United, yes results matter and I think you can have both as Burnley and Leeds did last season.
I know we got our highest total ever last season but it was hard work watching it at times, we would win the ball in defence and move forward a few yards and stop and pass backwards or sideways letting the opposition get back.
Leeds and Burnley attacked when they won the ball even Ipswich did on Friday admittedly we did help them by not having any full backs in position.

We can't seem to shoot from outside the box something thats been a problem for a while.

He doesn't seem to have a plan B certainly not attacking wise.
His substitutions are generally on the defensive side.

He blew the play off final, you could see what was happening when we had the goal disallowed in that it gave Sunderland and their fans a lift but didn't do anything to counter act that.

His antics in the Pub, I know alot of Blades like that but it was embarrassing, I hate Wednesday but singing about another clubs manager on a table in a pub not a good look.

He's ok when things are going his way but soon becomes salty when they are not.

I just don't think he's good enough to get us to the Premiership and certainly not to keep us there so we are going to be changing manager again in a season or two.

These are my opinions and I realise im in the minority but I can't help how I feel, I just feel we have taken a backwards step.

Another woke supporter

 

[sufc323]

It’s alright Tyrese, I won’t drop you for Tom Cannon

 

[FTPE]

I'd take this 5 match losing streak, and have given Chris an extended Summer holiday just to get rid of Brewster and Robbo.

 

[KMC-1889]

For Cannon/Brewster see Cooper, Baldock,Stevens, Burrows, Fleck , Norwood, McGoldrick, Coutts, Ndaye, Berge, OConnell, and many more.
All managers sign a duck egg now and again that cost a hell of a lot more than we spent.

Tell you what I can give you a much longer list.

Lee Evans
Ryan Leonard
Ricky Holmes
Ben Henegen
Nathan Thomas
Cameron Carter Vickers
Chris Hussey
Conor Washington
Kean Bryan
Scott Hogan
Ben Woodburn
Lee Evans
Marvin Johnson
Danny Lafferty
Callum Robinson
Oli Burke
Jack Rodwell
Ravel Morison
Luke Freeman
Michael Verrips
Pana Retsos
Muhamed Besic
Ricardo Zikovic
Rhian Brewster
Max Lowe
Ismail Coulibaly
Tom Cannon
Jamie Shackleton
Brereton-Diaz (V2)
Harry Clarke

And I’ve given him a massive pass on some very average footballers like Ramsdale, Mousset & McBurnie.

Complete myth that he can spot a player.

 

[TomTheBlade1889]

Any news on a presser?
Be interesting to see his take on it all, attitude, adapting the new players etc etc

2:30 today

 

[KMC-1889]

I’ve made my peace with it now, I have accepted we are an unserious football club, if it works and keeps us up then fine, if it doesn’t we are back in League one and well we have been there before.

We are never going to move up to the next level as a club and be like a Palace or Brighton on Brentford we have absolutely given up on that idea that is clear now.

What will be will be, I am not worrying about it.

Perfect summary.

 

[Blade45]

Another woke supporter

Broomhall Blade? Woke?

 

[Champagneblade]

There are a few reasons really.
You are right I want to be entertained when I go to watch United, yes results matter and I think you can have both as Burnley and Leeds did last season.
I know we got our highest total ever last season but it was hard work watching it at times, we would win the ball in defence and move forward a few yards and stop and pass backwards or sideways letting the opposition get back.
Leeds and Burnley attacked when they won the ball even Ipswich did on Friday admittedly we did help them by not having any full backs in position.

We can't seem to shoot from outside the box something thats been a problem for a while.

He doesn't seem to have a plan B certainly not attacking wise.
His substitutions are generally on the defensive side.

He blew the play off final, you could see what was happening when we had the goal disallowed in that it gave Sunderland and their fans a lift but didn't do anything to counter act that.

His antics in the Pub, I know alot of Blades like that but it was embarrassing, I hate Wednesday but singing about another clubs manager on a table in a pub not a good look.

He's ok when things are going his way but soon becomes salty when they are not.

I just don't think he's good enough to get us to the Premiership and certainly not to keep us there so we are going to be changing manager again in a season or two.

These are my opinions and I realise im in the minority but I can't help how I feel, I just feel we have taken a backwards step.

Thanks for your reply. Is there a manager you have in mind who would have been gettable or is it more that Wilder falls short on certain criteria but there may also not be an actual candidate that does?

Appreciate your openness by the way. It’s almost impossible for all fans to agree on everything from managers to safe standing to whether they should stock bovril or not

 

[Blademan89]

I mean, you've answered your question yourself! Let's be right, we wasted a shit load of money on a dud, it's been argued to death; it happens, but let's not try and start making out it was a sensible decision, it wasn't.

Hindsight is a great thing pal.

 

[Blademan89]

Tell you what I can give you a much longer list.

Lee Evans
Ryan Leonard
Ricky Holmes
Ben Henegen
Nathan Thomas
Cameron Carter Vickers
Chris Hussey
Conor Washington
Kean Bryan
Scott Hogan
Ben Woodburn
Lee Evans
Marvin Johnson
Danny Lafferty
Callum Robinson
Oli Burke
Jack Rodwell
Ravel Morison
Luke Freeman
Michael Verrips
Pana Retsos
Muhamed Besic
Ricardo Zikovic
Rhian Brewster
Max Lowe
Ismail Coulibaly
Tom Cannon
Jamie Shackleton
Brereton-Diaz (V2)
Harry Clarke

And I’ve given him a massive pass on some very average footballers like Ramsdale, Mousset & McBurnie.

Complete myth that he can spot a player.

Bbd, you wouldn't think would turn out bad in 2nd stint, although played out of position - unfair to put him on this list of his flops.

Besic was tidy & we all wanted to sing him perm, he didnt get opportunity to break in due to quality the starting 11 brought.

Lafferty was a solid lb in league one for us so again no on this list

Ccv - was solid for us on loan

Scott hogan scored a couple goals to get us over the line.

Lee Evans wasnt necessarily a flop, didnt get much time & was used as a make way for norwood.

Verrips, retos & zikovic I doubt was even his signings.

 

[Blademan89]

Tell you what I can give you a much longer list.


Ryan Leonard
Ricky Holmes
Ben Henegen
Nathan Thomas

Chris Hussey
Conor Washington
Kean Bryan

Ben Woodburn

Marvin Johnson

Callum Robinson
Oli Burke
Jack Rodwell
Ravel Morison
Luke Freeman
Michael Verrips*
Pana Retsos*
Muhamed Besic
Ricardo Zikovic*
Rhian Brewster

Ismail Coulibaly
Tom Cannon
Jamie Shackleton

Harry Clarke

Fixed it.

The list of actually good players brought in outweighs this list