A hard reset and an acceptance of where we are

[ekke287]

Morning all, and a happy Easter to you and your family.

I’ve been on the fence on whether to post this or not, but after sitting on this for a few weeks I feel now is the right time.

Following Fridays draw, and the previous results of losing points from winning positions, it’s easy to see why we’re all looking at various issues as the main point of concern. In reality, I’m of the opinion that it’s not one thing, but a large number of smaller issues amounting to a consistent lack of progress on the pitch (and arguably off it).

It can’t be ignored that Wilder has just about turned our season round to almost guarantee survival, but equally he’s not the manager he used to be and these consistent collapses require him to shoulder some accountability.

Selles was the wrong choice, no one disputes that, but I think we need to wipe the slate clean and start again, including a new manager and rebuild of the squad. The owners need to have our backing on the tough decisions, and as fans we need to understand where we are, a squad in need of a rebuild and stability, essentially a long term project over a few seasons.

I worry that keeping things as it is condemns us to another wasted season next year, where we’re likely to have more CW old boys signings, no plan A and a group of owners scratching their heads about what’s going wrong.

If we’re going to rebuild after next season anyway, why not rip off the plaster and start now? Get a manager in with an idea of long term strategy and let them start trying to introduce it. And us, as fans, realising that changing a team requires time.

As fans, we’re scarred by Selles and Jokanivic, but unfortunately we need to persevere on these routes to change the narrative of the club. Every other club does it, and we’re left wondering how, but it’s not a unique approach. We’re not a one man club, and we need to adapt to a newer model to progress.

As fans we NEED to try and be patient, because I genuinely feel that we’re becoming numb to being Blades, seeing the players blowing out of their arse after sixty minutes and bang average teams putting us to the sword. Wilders pashun and fight has obviously gone, so we need a hard reset and patience going forwards.

All we can hope for is the owners learning from their mistakes and making informed choices going forwards.

Just my two quid, I’d be interested to hear yours.

 

[Kenilworth]

So, your answer to many issues that amount to a complex problem is to just change the manager and fans be patient?

Wonder what happened this season when the owners made that decision?

 

[Bell4]

Morning all, and a happy Easter to you and your family.

I’ve been on the fence on whether to post this or not, but after sitting on this for a few weeks I feel now is the right time.

Following Fridays draw, and the previous results of losing points from winning positions, it’s easy to see why we’re all looking at various issues as the main point of concern. In reality, I’m of the opinion that it’s not one thing, but a large number of smaller issues amounting to a consistent lack of progress on the pitch (and arguably off it).

It can’t be ignored that Wilder has just about turned our season round to almost guarantee survival, but equally he’s not the manager he used to be and these consistent collapses require him to shoulder some accountability.

Selles was the wrong choice, no one disputes that, but I think we need to wipe the slate clean and start again, including a new manager and rebuild of the squad. The owners need to have our backing on the tough decisions, and as fans we need to understand where we are, a squad in need of a rebuild and stability, essentially a long term project over a few seasons.

I worry that keeping things as it is condemns us to another wasted season next year, where we’re likely to have more CW old boys signings, no plan A and a group of owners scratching their heads about what’s going wrong.

If we’re going to rebuild after next season anyway, why not rip off the plaster and start now? Get a manager in with an idea of long term strategy and let them start trying to introduce it. And us, as fans, realising that changing a team requires time.

As fans, we’re scarred by Selles and Jokanivic, but unfortunately we need to persevere on these routes to change the narrative of the club. Every other club does it, and we’re left wondering how, but it’s not a unique approach. We’re not a one man club, and we need to adapt to a newer model to progress.

As fans we NEED to try and be patient, because I genuinely feel that we’re becoming numb to being Blades, seeing the players blowing out of their arse after sixty minutes and bang average teams putting us to the sword. Wilders pashun and fight has obviously gone, so we need a hard reset and patience going forwards.

All we can hope for is the owners learning from their mistakes and making informed choices going forwards.

Just my two quid, I’d be interested to hear yours.

What makes you say CWs Pashun and Fight has gone ?

I don’t see that at all

 

[GeorgeDonis1889]

Well I'm glad you decided to post this because there just aren't enough Wilder needs to be sacked threads atm

 

[The Crab]

What makes you say CWs Pashun and Fight has gone ?

I don’t see that at all

You don’t see much from him when he storms down the tunnel in a paddy

 

[Kenilworth]

You don’t see much from him when he storms down the tunnel in a paddy

Didn’t we all do that on Friday?

 

[54yrblade]

Leads from the front when there's a kop left to adore the chosen one, but p*sses off when we draw or lose.

A poor, poor leader in that respect, and totally at odds with his words.

At least Selles had the bottle to face the fans when he knew he would get battered.

 

[SwissBlade]

Morning all, and a happy Easter to you and your family.

I’ve been on the fence on whether to post this or not, but after sitting on this for a few weeks I feel now is the right time.

Following Fridays draw, and the previous results of losing points from winning positions, it’s easy to see why we’re all looking at various issues as the main point of concern. In reality, I’m of the opinion that it’s not one thing, but a large number of smaller issues amounting to a consistent lack of progress on the pitch (and arguably off it).

It can’t be ignored that Wilder has just about turned our season round to almost guarantee survival, but equally he’s not the manager he used to be and these consistent collapses require him to shoulder some accountability.

Selles was the wrong choice, no one disputes that, but I think we need to wipe the slate clean and start again, including a new manager and rebuild of the squad. The owners need to have our backing on the tough decisions, and as fans we need to understand where we are, a squad in need of a rebuild and stability, essentially a long term project over a few seasons.

I worry that keeping things as it is condemns us to another wasted season next year, where we’re likely to have more CW old boys signings, no plan A and a group of owners scratching their heads about what’s going wrong.

If we’re going to rebuild after next season anyway, why not rip off the plaster and start now? Get a manager in with an idea of long term strategy and let them start trying to introduce it. And us, as fans, realising that changing a team requires time.

As fans, we’re scarred by Selles and Jokanivic, but unfortunately we need to persevere on these routes to change the narrative of the club. Every other club does it, and we’re left wondering how, but it’s not a unique approach. We’re not a one man club, and we need to adapt to a newer model to progress.

As fans we NEED to try and be patient, because I genuinely feel that we’re becoming numb to being Blades, seeing the players blowing out of their arse after sixty minutes and bang average teams putting us to the sword. Wilders pashun and fight has obviously gone, so we need a hard reset and patience going forwards.

All we can hope for is the owners learning from their mistakes and making informed choices going forwards.

Just my two quid, I’d be interested to hear yours.

Much of what I will say below, I've said before.

Changes always have to come with backing and purpose. In the cases of Selles and Slav, there was no purpose, but crucially, we brought in coaches that weren't used to doing much more than Coaching. Neither could recruit, Slav wasn't backed to recruit, he went with what he had. Selles had very late resources to recruit, which suggests that he wasn't in charge of that side.

Wilder brings everything under one roof, whilst we don't have the structure with a DoF and everything under that umbrella, he's able to steady the ship for a period of time and prepare us for the next step. Hecky was similar. Warnock, Bassett, in different times also had these old school skills and abilities. Yes we have people that make the financial negotiations, but Wilder is able to pull it all together.

I don't think we're in a position or have the expertise in the ownership group to make the big changes that people want. I also think that with Wilder we do have stability, he does need support.

The club need to do more and i feel that the owners (prince previously and coh) need a plan, under the prince he didn't really have one as he was looking to sell, so it felt temporary. This lot need to make themselves a little more accountable, make some plans and start to move the club forward. Its bigger than Wilder. The ownership is very passive.

Wilder has shown how adaptable he is over the years, once again, he's got to get to work over the summer and rebuild, yet again. Stability is key for this summer. Rebuild and move forward despite the drop in revenues

 

[Greasy Chap Butty]

The Selles disaster is not proof that changing manager away from Wilder is a route to failure.
It's logically nonsense. Selles was crap, fact. There's nothing at all to say any other manger choice to replace him would have done the same or better than Wilder.

I'm not chomping at the bit for him to go, but there is zero logic in assuming he is the only man for the job.

 

[Shawy24]

Much of what I will say below, I've said before.

Changes always have to come with backing and purpose. In the cases of Selles and Slav, there was no purpose, but crucially, we brought in coaches that weren't used to doing much more than Coaching. Neither could recruit, Slav wasn't backed to recruit, he went with what he had. Selles had very late resources to recruit, which suggests that he wasn't in charge of that side.

Wilder brings everything under one roof, whilst we don't have the structure with a DoF and everything under that umbrella, he's able to steady the ship for a period of time and prepare us for the next step. Hecky was similar. Warnock, Bassett, in different times also had these old school skills and abilities. Yes we have people that make the financial negotiations, but Wilder is able to pull it all together.

I don't think we're in a position or have the expertise in the ownership group to make the big changes that people want. I also think that with Wilder we do have stability, he does need support.

The club need to do more and i feel that the owners (prince previously and coh) need a plan, under the prince he didn't really have one as he was looking to sell, so it felt temporary. This lot need to make themselves a little more accountable, make some plans and start to move the club forward. Its bigger than Wilder. The ownership is very passive.

Wilder has shown how adaptable he is over the years, once again, he's got to get to work over the summer and rebuild, yet again. Stability is key for this summer. Rebuild and move forward despite the drop in revenues

Simple. What we need is a billionaire owner. Bloody EFL

 

[The Crab]

Didn’t we all do that on Friday?

touché

 

[manxblade]

Why change a manger who as proven he can get promoted from the championship.

 

[Davalon]

What ex-Blades that get the club are out there though?

 

[Greasy Chap Butty]

Why change a manger who as proven he can get promoted from the championship.

He's also proved he can't..

 

[manxblade]

He's also proved he can't..

Who are you thinking of for the replacement then

 

[nopigfansintown]

The squad needed rebuilding after last season, now it needs totally demolishing due to the shocking summer 2025.

We did really well to patch together an automatic challenge last season, but essentially we kicked the can down the road. The approach will be a gradualist one if done correctly. Patience is the name of the game. It'll be incredibly difficult to have the 10-12 players we need in for next pre season so it's probably the following season when the good work (if done correctly) will pay off. 8th place would be a great season next season. Lower mid table would be acceptable.

 

[Bergen Blade]

Much of what I will say below, I've said before.

Changes always have to come with backing and purpose. In the cases of Selles and Slav, there was no purpose, but crucially, we brought in coaches that weren't used to doing much more than Coaching. Neither could recruit, Slav wasn't backed to recruit, he went with what he had. Selles had very late resources to recruit, which suggests that he wasn't in charge of that side.

Wilder brings everything under one roof, whilst we don't have the structure with a DoF and everything under that umbrella, he's able to steady the ship for a period of time and prepare us for the next step. Hecky was similar. Warnock, Bassett, in different times also had these old school skills and abilities. Yes we have people that make the financial negotiations, but Wilder is able to pull it all together.

I don't think we're in a position or have the expertise in the ownership group to make the big changes that people want. I also think that with Wilder we do have stability, he does need support.

The club need to do more and i feel that the owners (prince previously and coh) need a plan, under the prince he didn't really have one as he was looking to sell, so it felt temporary. This lot need to make themselves a little more accountable, make some plans and start to move the club forward. Its bigger than Wilder. The ownership is very passive.

Wilder has shown how adaptable he is over the years, once again, he's got to get to work over the summer and rebuild, yet again. Stability is key for this summer. Rebuild and move forward despite the drop in revenues

I agree that the current structure of the club will make it difficult for a new manager to succeed. First team coaches like Selles lack the ability to assess the squad, identify shortcomings and the players needed to address them. The data driven approach lacked someone to assess the level those players came from and how they'd fit into the squad and the English Championship. The squad needs a summer rebuild, but it won't be easy.

 

[Kozzy_is_my_Dad]

I'd like to see two priorities:

1. Commitment to building the hierarchy of the club, longer-term. Modernise us. This will take time.

2. A transfer strategy that goes for signing up-and-coming players, with decent ceilings but ready to contribute - Baldock, Enda, Fleck, JOC, etc...

 

[Greasy Chap Butty]

Who are you thinking of for the replacement then

I'm not. I'd probably give him another season, to give him a chance to do the full job. After that I don't know enough, but for those who could only pick Wilder or Warnock, have a look at how Southampton played last night. It is possible.

Btw The 'who else' comment also makes no sense in my mind. It just seems as blinkered as you can get. Every other club in the world have managers many if them are doing much better than us. It's like telling someone who wants to get divorced not to, unless they've got a new wife lined up.

 

[bartman]

So, your answer to many issues that amount to a complex problem is to just change the manager and fans be patient?

Wonder what happened this season when the owners made that decision?

Wilder's main job this season was to stop us being relegated which he has achieved but that doesn't mean his ability to take us forward shouldn't be questioned.

Of course Wilder should be given the opportunity to rebuild but the board also be looking for potential replacements in case Wilder is unable to take us further. Losing 30 points from winning positions and only winning one game from the last 7 would also suggest Wilder has to rethink how he manages,coaches and tactically sets up a team aswell as change his approach to game management team which has clearly been ineffective at times.

There will be a large turnover of players in the close season, including a few players sales. If Wilder doesn't get this right and get us potentially challenging for the top 8 by Christmas, board will have to make a change

 

[Kenilworth]

Leads from the front when there's a kop left to adore the chosen one, but p*sses off when we draw or lose.

A poor, poor leader in that respect, and totally at odds with his words.

At least Selles had the bottle to face the fans when he knew he would get battered.

What?
Really?
What?
Bottle?
Your dislike of Wilder is so great that you take the tiniest, most obscure, potentially redeeming factor from the SeLLLLLLEs debacle an that’s the stick you want to beat him with?

That’s bordering on Wednesday logic. Getting beat every game but at least we’ve got the best away fans in the country

 

[Yewsman]

Changing the manager. It's easy to get rid of CW. The difficulty is getting the right replacement. How many times did we change manager during our 6 seasons in L1? Pretty much all were no good (although Danny Wilson was unlucky as the Ched Evans rape case ruined our chances of getting Automatic promotion). Eventually we got CW who had done well in non league and L2 but turned out to be brilliant, taking us out of L1 and to the EPL. Get the right man and anything is possible. Ipswich with McKenna and other examples at Cardiff, Lincoln. But get it wrong as we did in L1 or with Jaconavich, Selles.and we end up back in L1. How do we get the right man? I don't know but maybe the devil you know is the best option?

 

[Carlton Blade]

Who the manager is is much less important than who's making the decisions on how the club will operate as a whole under the new SCR financial rules and with much less TV revenue.

The current plan is to hope Wilder et al can pull out the sort of sensational transfer dealing that occurred in 16-19. That's unlikely because that sort of return from a net transfer spend of zero and a wage bill of no more than £70m over 3 seasons is almost unprecedented.

The likely outcome is an ok season because we'llhave a decent wage bill and Wilder is competent. I think it'll be similar to this one post Selles, and a deferment of the decision on how the club moves forward.

Then, who knows

 

[SwissBlade]

Two good posts here:

I agree that the current structure of the club will make it difficult for a new manager to succeed. First team coaches like Selles lack the ability to assess the squad, identify shortcomings and the players needed to address them. The data driven approach lacked someone to assess the level those players came from and how they'd fit into the squad and the English Championship. The squad needs a summer rebuild, but it won't be easy.

I'd like to see two priorities:

1. Commitment to building the hierarchy of the club, longer-term. Modernise us. This will take time.

2. A transfer strategy that goes for signing up-and-coming players, with decent ceilings but ready to contribute - Baldock, Enda, Fleck, JOC, etc...

I don't think we're a million miles off part two. Credit to the owners for wanting to follow a model of recruitment which could work, if, as Bergen Blade says, there are people at the club on board with this. We've not had that structure. More on that after point two

Over the years we've certainly looked to learn from and avoid the situations like with Billy, Didsy, Fleck, Coutts, Norwood, Bash, Egan etc where they were the core of the side that took us to the next level, but due to age and modern squad demands, have to be replaced.

The likes of Ramsdale, Max Lowe, Bogle, Berge, Brewster, McBurnie, even Cannon, were all intended to bring the age down whilst also having a ceiling

Our development Squad has also been a good stepping stone for young players like David Brooks, Peck, Ndiaye, Jebbison to come in and grow. We haven't just relied on the academy players coming through

What happened in the summer and this season was that we went all in on bringing in developing players, the likes of Soumares the apparent best of the bunch, but Matos and Zatterstrom identified as also being ready. They're clearly not and perhaps won't be. That's sometimes the gamble and takes us back to your point of structure in the club and Bergen Blade point about having people to assess these future / potential signings.

Something, again worth highlighting is the distinct difference in that Wilder is a manager from the English game, whereas, like Bergen Blade said, Selles was a first team coach. Wilders contribution is only appreciated inside the club once he's gone. Replacing someone with that experience from the English management business is not easy. Its foolish to assume that replacing him with a Coach will then fill the gap. There are so many facets to his experience and thats not a slight on Selles, just different background

So there is a need to look internally at the roles and responsibilities of the manager and how to separate some of that out, so that we can go in a different direction in the future. It needs to evolve though and thats, for me, why its hard to replace Wilder this summer.

 

[manxblade]

I'm not. I'd probably give him another season, to give him a chance to do the full job. After that I don't know enough, but for those who could only pick Wilder or Warnock, have a look at how Southampton played last night. It is possible.

Btw The 'who else' comment also makes no sense in my mind. It just seems as blinkered as you can get. Every other club in the world have managers many if them are doing much better than us. It's like telling someone who wants to get divorced not to, unless they've got a new wife lined up.

With your logic about wilder is like saying Pep is a failure because he didn't win the prem every season while at city

 

[Greasy Chap Butty]

With your logic about wilder is like saying Pep is a failure because he didn't win the prem every season while at city

Not really.
My logic is there are more managers available than just Wilder. Maybe that's bonkers??

 

[Paisley Blade]

I'd like to see two priorities:

1. Commitment to building the hierarchy of the club, longer-term. Modernise us. This will take time.

2. A transfer strategy that goes for signing up-and-coming players, with decent ceilings but ready to contribute - Baldock, Enda, Fleck, JOC, etc...

And stop buying crocked, old carthorses because they are 'good around the group.'

And stop saying fucking 'group'.

 

[Nick Jansky]

With your logic about wilder is like saying Pep is a failure because he didn't win the prem every season while at city

The most illogical thing is thinking that Wilder is someone the only person capable of managing the club. Because that’s just nonsense.

 

[Greasy Chap Butty]

We've tried replacing Jack O Connell and it hasn't worked. He needs to come back.

 

[Roygbiv]

While ever the club is ran in the old school, manager runs everything way, our scope for a decent coach is narrow. Wilder, for all his faults, is still probably the best man to manage the club in it's current state. Until we change we are destined for relying on hope that we stumble across a manager who can overcome the odds. I don't think that man is Wilder anymore but I also don't see who else is available that betters him in our current position. Its shit but we probably need to ride it out until it becomes blatantly obvious that we need a huge restructure