Wilder - Get Rid Now, or After Last Game

[Sean Thornton]

I’m not disputing what you are saying but last summer there seemed many fewer fans with their heads above water on this one. My point was responding to that around forums not having an impact and I was simply expressing my view that it did last summer when there was much less “real world” noise - the point wasn’t relating to the football on the pitch which gets thrown back and forth from that time ad nauseum.

It gets thrown back because it was, and still is, clearly relevant. See this season over the last couple of months.

I don’t do Blades sites on FB and Twitter because you get the worst of both sides on there. If that is who they listened to it’s not a good pointer to the future. I doubt the less aggressive output on here turned their heads. Sorry, just don’t believe it.

 

[Nick Jansky]

I’m not disputing what you are saying but last summer there seemed many fewer fans with their heads above water on this one. My point was responding to that around forums not having an impact and I was simply expressing my view that it did last summer when there was much less “real world” noise - the point wasn’t relating to the football on the pitch which gets thrown back and forth from that time ad nauseum.

I think it probably had quite a lot to do with £0.5m of fines for really shite behaviour from manager & players, blowing promotion not once but twice from good positions and generally wanting to change direction. I think you’re overstating the effect of social media.

 

[Upton_Blade]

You don’t consider the shocking series of results that cost us an automatic place and the shenanigans surrounding it may have also been a talking point at board level or do you genuinely believe it was down to a “fairly small group”?

Unless they’ve learned anything, based on that theory, he’ll be gone next Sunday.

I genuinely think he was sacked last summer after being given a large amount, via fees and wages, in January to get us over the line and he failed massively.

It's as simple as that tbh!

 

[Lane Ender]

he’ll be gone next Sunday.

Stop getting my hopes up Sean

 

[Numpty's Dusty Ruts.]

My final(ish) word on this. We were in League 1 for 6 seasons. Not all of that time was an unmitigated disaster, although bits were. We got out of League 1 nine years ago, and went on a good run, spending two seasons in the PL, one great, one a disaster. In the five years since the 2021 relegation, the only promotion has been achieved under Paul Heckingbottom. This achievement also got the club out of a considerable financial hole, although it obviously didn't end well. Since his return, Chris Wilder has got the club to one playoff final following a season which should have resulted in automatic promotion. The standard of football, apart from a purple patch from November to February this season, has been grim to watch. It was appalling yesterday.
Considering this, in what universe is the current manager thought to be the answer to all the issues afflicting the club now, and for the foreseeable future??
If people think he is the answer, fair enough, but I just can't see any positive change if he remains.

 

[loveWalrusDaveTheBlade]

Not sure about that, think Wilder was sacked last year based on a fairly small but noisy group of fans online. Agree that group is much louder now but don’t minimise the largely negative power of social media. Personally I enjoy decent, respectful discussions - just want to keep it “social” rather than the abusive version that is so easy to emerge.

I completely agree with your point that the polarised and abusive dialogue that springs up so often on here is neither informative, thought provoking, nor entertaining ( those being the major reasons I come on here).
I don't personally think that much of the drivel spouted on here has any impact on decision making by the owners, and would be amazed and frightened in equal measure had it been a significant factor in the decision to dismiss Wilder.
My basic point was that I wish supporters would do more to support the team in the stadium on match day, because that's where we could - but currently don't (at home) - make an obvious difference. "Fortress Bramall Lane" has gone missing both on and off the pitch. We can influence both of those things in real life much more than we can from behind keyboards.

 

[loveWalrusDaveTheBlade]

My final(ish) word on this. We were in League 1 for 6 seasons. Not all of that time was an unmitigated disaster, although bits were. We got out of League 1 nine years ago, and went on a good run, spending two seasons in the PL, one great, one a disaster. In the five years since the 2021 relegation, the only promotion has been achieved under Paul Heckingbottom. This achievement also got the club out of a considerable financial hole, although it obviously didn't end well. Since his return, Chris Wilder has got the club to one playoff final following a season which should have resulted in automatic promotion. The standard of football, apart from a purple patch from November to February this season, has been grim to watch. It was appalling yesterday.
Considering this, in what universe is the current manager thought to be the answer to all the issues afflicting the club now, and for the foreseeable future??
If people think he is the answer, fair enough, but I just can't see any positive change if he remains.

Well, it certainly wouldn't be in a universe in which it is safe to assume, as a plank of an argument, that any given season "should have resulted in automatic promotion". I've never known a season in any division for any team in which that assumption can be certain from the outset.
I realise that it's your opinion, and have no problem with that, but it can't be relied upon as a 'fact' to support your argument.

 

[Old Programme seller]

It would be a good opportunity for a new face to manage us as we’re going to have to rebuild as there’s so many players going back after their loan period has finished and also players that will move on if they have a transfer value as we will have to cut our cloth.

 

[Keen Blade]

Quick reminder of what happened the first time we got rid of wilder:

View attachment 235872

Fancy using the ‘insanity is repeating the same thing’ cliche when you’re defending a manager here on his third stint. It’d be funny if it wasn’t so ridiculous.

We didn't get rid of him in early 2021 -
He got rid of himself.
He couldn't face the dogs breakfast he'd made of that season.
Then Hecky , Slava , Hecky again ,
und so weiter ....

 

[Keen Blade]

There’s no reasoning with them, so I’m not going to, it’s not worth my time and what little energy I have.

They’re happy with how things are, others think things could be better.

It’s possible to be grateful he kept us up, but think change is for the best. Not just the manager but how the club does things.

I’m tired of how we do things if I’m honest. Something is happening to me that I thought would never happen.

I’m falling out of love

It's very difficult to love a thing for which your respect is declining.

 

[CPB]

It would be a good opportunity for a new face to manage us as we’re going to have to rebuild as there’s so many players going back after their loan period has finished and also players that will move on if they have a transfer value as we will have to cut our cloth.

Whatever side of the argument for Wilder in or out. It's absolutely a build job this summer.

We have a few out of contract, a few we need to sell (suspects we likely know we will but probably not all of them)
And lastly some we as fans and current management want to get rid of under contract.

In any eventuality looking at over 10 signings this summer. Probably more like 12-14.
That's a big recruitment haul.

 

[Aston max]

Stop getting my hopes up Sean

 

[Nagima]

Its been a frustrating season. But it has been informative. The question is whether Wilder and the board understand what they have been looking at. Our recruitment has been a shambles with the exception of Bamford Bindon Riedawald. Hjelde Hoever Ogbene Matos Soumare are not even good cover.

The most galling is permanent signings of Rothwell who is lazy. Chong who is Lazy. McGuinness who will never make a championship centre back. Tanganga for me will only make it provided we get a strong centre back who can organise the back four. Cannon who is.......well just being Cannon mostly ineffective.

Performances from Hamer Campbell and Burrows have gone down significantly. We don't appear to be organised on the pitch. I question the coaching for that and for players making the same mistakes over and over.

At this stage I dont trust Wilder to get it right. His ability to see what is really happening and to make in game adjustments is poor. His inability to take criticism and learn from it instead of doubling down is bigger weakness.

 

[diplomat]

, it certainly wouldn't be in a universe in which it is safe to assume, as a plank of an argument, that any given season "should have resulted in automatic promotion". I've never known a season in any division for any team in which that assumption can be certain from the outset.
I realise that it's your opinion, and have no problem with that, but it can't be relied upon as a 'fact' to support your argument.

I think we over achieved last season and the stats should be applauded. But we relied heavily on a moment of brilliance and canny game management too much. What happened in the final few games could have happened in several other games.

 

[steve26272]

It would be a good opportunity for a new face to manage us as we’re going to have to rebuild as there’s so many players going back after their loan period has finished and also players that will move on if they have a transfer value as we will have to cut our cloth.

Although relegated Bloomfield at Oxford has done a good job considering
Mousinho at Portsmouth likewise

They also come across as decent blokes, young English managers who know the championship

 

[Broomhall Blade]

I completely agree with your point that the polarised and abusive dialogue that springs up so often on here is neither informative, thought provoking, nor entertaining ( those being the major reasons I come on here).
I don't personally think that much of the drivel spouted on here has any impact on decision making by the owners, and would be amazed and frightened in equal measure had it been a significant factor in the decision to dismiss Wilder.
My basic point was that I wish supporters would do more to support the team in the stadium on match day, because that's where we could - but currently don't (at home) - make an obvious difference. "Fortress Bramall Lane" has gone missing both on and off the pitch. We can influence both of those things in real life much more than we can from behind keyboards.

So are you saying we shouldn't criticise a manager on here, instead we should just sing our hearts out every match day ?
Does this apply to every manager or just Wilder ?
I take it you sang your heart out when Selles was manager ?
How bad does it actually have too get before you are allowed to criticise the manager on a forum.
It's also two way thing the team and the manager have too give us something to get behind. No amount of singing will turn a team playing boring sideways and backwards football and conceding soft goals against poor opposition like Blackburn and Preston into something different.

 

[RAP51]

My final(ish) word on this. We were in League 1 for 6 seasons. Not all of that time was an unmitigated disaster, although bits were. We got out of League 1 nine years ago, and went on a good run, spending two seasons in the PL, one great, one a disaster. In the five years since the 2021 relegation, the only promotion has been achieved under Paul Heckingbottom. This achievement also got the club out of a considerable financial hole, although it obviously didn't end well. Since his return, Chris Wilder has got the club to one playoff final following a season which should have resulted in automatic promotion. The standard of football, apart from a purple patch from November to February this season, has been grim to watch. It was appalling yesterday.
Considering this, in what universe is the current manager thought to be the answer to all the issues afflicting the club now, and for the foreseeable future??
If people think he is the answer, fair enough, but I just can't see any positive change if he remains.

Whilst appreciating the good times Wilder gave us and also the points haul last season I was tiring of his stubborness, lack of tactical awareness, especially at Wembley and the constant brawling by the players. I still wouldn't have been totally against keeping him but thought the time was right for a change naively expecting a proven replacement, not someone with no success apart from a 3-0 win at the Lane.
One year on, we are in a far worse situation, last seasons spine of the team has gone and a number of really sub standard players brought in.
I do not share Wilder's confidence in a rebuild, but he's not going to say anything else is he? However pragmatically he is probably our best option.
I don't think our owners have the resources to bankroll a massive spending spree and have no confidence in them at all to appoint an upgrade on Wilder. Of course there are better managers but there are plenty more who are worse and the owners seem to have little knowledge of English football.
Wilder would need paying off, putting more pressure on our financial situation and assuming he is going to have to wheel and deal in the close season he is probably our best bet in the shorter term.
We have missed a great opportunity of using our parachute payments wisely and some stability is now needed. Hopefully we don't follow our S6 neighbours next season but I think it will be a while before we start to become realistic promotion hopefuls.

 

[luffenhamblade]

So are you saying we shouldn't criticise a manager on here, instead we should just sing our hearts out every match day ?
Does this apply to every manager or just Wilder ?
I take it you sang your heart out when Selles was manager ?
How bad does it actually have too get before you are allowed to criticise the manager on a forum.
It's also two way thing the team and the manager have too give us something to get behind. No amount of singing will turn a team playing boring sideways and backwards football and conceding soft goals against poor opposition like Blackburn and Preston into something different.

Nothing wrong with criticising, it's the barbed jibes at "the other" side from both extremes which are tiresome and unwarranted.

 

[Numpty's Dusty Ruts.]

Whilst appreciating the good times Wilder gave us and also the points haul last season I was tiring of his stubborness, lack of tactical awareness, especially at Wembley and the constant brawling by the players. I still wouldn't have been totally against keeping him but thought the time was right for a change naively expecting a proven replacement, not someone with no success apart from a 3-0 win at the Lane.
One year on, we are in a far worse situation, last seasons spine of the team has gone and a number of really sub standard players brought in.
I do not share Wilder's confidence in a rebuild, but he's not going to say anything else is he? However pragmatically he is probably our best option.
I don't think our owners have the resources to bankroll a massive spending spree and have no confidence in them at all to appoint an upgrade on Wilder. Of course there are better managers but there are plenty more who are worse and the owners seem to have little knowledge of English football.
Wilder would need paying off, putting more pressure on our financial situation and assuming he is going to have to wheel and deal in the close season he is probably our best bet in the shorter term.
We have missed a great opportunity of using our parachute payments wisely and some stability is now needed. Hopefully we don't follow our S6 neighbours next season but I think it will be a while before we start to become realistic promotion hopefuls.

Thanks for your considered response. You make some good points in terms of CW staying, but I've had enough of the same old dross, and feel the board should "twist", even if it's a risk. I have renewed my ST, on the basis that I support United, not the manager, and it really does give me summat to do on a Saturday afternoon!! UTB!!

 

[loveWalrusDaveTheBlade]

So are you saying we shouldn't criticise a manager on here, instead we should just sing our hearts out every match day ?
Does this apply to every manager or just Wilder ?
I take it you sang your heart out when Selles was manager ?
How bad does it actually have too get before you are allowed to criticise the manager on a forum.
It's also two way thing the team and the manager have too give us something to get behind. No amount of singing will turn a team playing boring sideways and backwards football and conceding soft goals against poor opposition like Blackburn and Preston into something different.

I haven't said anywhere that you shouldn't criticise the manager, or anything else, on here. You've taken it upon yourself to suggest that, for reasons known only to you.
What I have suggested is that when voicing those justified criticisms, it would be more enjoyable and useful to read structured criticism or debate, rather than the same old posters spewing out bile towards the manager or player in question, or even to other supporters who choose to challenge their view. Calling players "dogshit", calling Blades fans"pigs" or "Wilderettes", or posting simply for the purpose of trying to put other peoples opinions down by making a series of wrong assumptions about motive (as you have done here) is tedious, and reminiscent of junior school playgrounds.
My comments have nothing to do specifically with Wilder, or Selles, or any other manager. That is another wrong assumption on your part. Why do you suggest that to be the case? I'm talking about supporting Sheffield United.
Vocal support of football teams has never won a football match by itself. There are, however, innumerable examples of it inspiring teams to raise their standards and play better. It also tends to make the whole matchday experience more involving and enjoyable for all, which is surely the point of going to the match?
As for the 'two way thing', I'd certainly agree that good performances make it easier to raise a positive atmosphere - that's a statement of the obvious. However, this idea that the team have to give us something to get behind is just a lazy excuse to blame somebody else for our own shortcomings.

 

[Dkc]

Do you honestly believe no there manage in the world can do a better job for us than CW?

Of course he doesn't.

Not sure why the Wilder-haters always claim that his supporters believe he's the only man who can do the job. It's simply not true.

When Selles was sacked, most people believed that Wilder was the safest bet to steady the ship and avoid relegation. He's done that with games to spare. As an added bonus he's done the double over the pigs for the second year running and relegated them.

We gave him a contract until next summer. Parachute payments are gone. We know he can build teams that push for promotion on limited budgets.

Of course another manager might do better next season. But it's equally (or more) likely they will do worse. It would be a massive gamble. What if we find ourselves in a relegation scrap at Christmas? We would not be able to afford another change.

Sacking Wilder now would entail paying off his contract and sacking Knill and the rest of the coaching staff. Breaching all their contracts and paying everyone off. And that's before you start bringing in the players and staff this new manager wants.

In a season where we must really tighten our belts we simply can't afford that costly gamble. Wilder's here until Summer 2027. Get over it and get behind the team. Next summer a decision will be taken on whether to renew his contract. If we don't renew, we don't have to pay compensation to Wilder, Knill or anyone else.

 

[Keen Blade]

I haven't said anywhere that you shouldn't criticise the manager, or anything else, on here. You've taken it upon yourself to suggest that, for reasons known only to you.
What I have suggested is that when voicing those justified criticisms, it would be more enjoyable and useful to read structured criticism or debate, rather than the same old posters spewing out bile towards the manager or player in question, or even to other supporters who choose to challenge their view. Calling players "dogshit", calling Blades fans"pigs" or "Wilderettes", or posting simply for the purpose of trying to put other peoples opinions down by making a series of wrong assumptions about motive (as you have done here) is tedious, and reminiscent of junior school playgrounds.
My comments have nothing to do specifically with Wilder, or Selles, or any other manager. That is another wrong assumption on your part. Why do you suggest that to be the case? I'm talking about supporting Sheffield United.
Vocal support of football teams has never won a football match by itself. There are, however, innumerable examples of it inspiring teams to raise their standards and play better. It also tends to make the whole matchday experience more involving and enjoyable for all, which is surely the point of going to the match?
As for the 'two way thing', I'd certainly agree that good performances make it easier to raise a positive atmosphere - that's a statement of the obvious. However, this idea that the team have to give us something to get behind is just a lazy excuse to blame somebody else for our own shortcomings.

Sanctimonious rubbish.

 

[Greasy Chap Butty]

Of course he doesn't.

Not sure why the Wilder-haters always claim that his supporters believe he's the only man who can do the job. It's simply not true.

When Selles was sacked, most people believed that Wilder was the safest bet to steady the ship and avoid relegation. He's done that with games to spare. As an added bonus he's done the double over the pigs for the second year running and relegated them.

We gave him a contract until next summer. Parachute payments are gone. We know he can build teams that push for promotion on limited budgets.

Of course another manager might do better next season. But it's equally (or more) likely they will do worse. It would be a massive gamble. What if we find ourselves in a relegation scrap at Christmas? We would not be able to afford another change.

Sacking Wilder now would entail paying off his contract and sacking Knill and the rest of the coaching staff. Breaching all their contracts and paying everyone off. And that's before you start bringing in the players and staff this new manager wants.

In a season where we must really tighten our belts we simply can't afford that costly gamble. Wilder's here until Summer 2027. Get over it and get behind the team. Next summer a decision will be taken on whether to renew his contract. If we don't renew, we don't have to pay compensation to Wilder, Knill or anyone else.

1. I'm not a Wilder hater.

2. What do the words I replied to mean then??

 

[ekke287]

It’s ironic that Wilders appointments and signings have given us the unofficial nickname of Brexit Blades, because, like Brexit, his appointment this season has driven a massive wedge down the middle of the fan base.

Instead of unifying us off the pitch, we’re at a point where we’re simply taking pot shots at the other side to prove we were right in our opinions all along.

It’s an almighty fuck up, and could take years to undo.

Unfortunately we need to draw a line under everything and put our trust in the higher ups to recognise and rectify, which is difficult to as a fan base when we’ve sat through and witnessed the evidence of their decision making very recently.

Wilder has two options for me, either find that spark and rebuild or walk away for the better of the club he loves. Pride and arrogance will likely stop the latter, so unless he’s removed, we have to hope for the former.

 

[Dkc]

It’s ironic that Wilders appointments and signings have given us the unofficial nickname of Brexit Blades, because, like Brexit, his appointment this season has driven a massive wedge down the middle of the fan base.

Instead of unifying us off the pitch, we’re at a point where we’re simply taking pot shots at the other side to prove we were right in our opinions all along.

It’s an almighty fuck up, and could take years to undo.

Not true. There's not a massive split. There's a vocal online minority who want shut of Wilder, and will want shut of every manager who doesn't deliver instant success. Unfortunately it's part of today's culture. People get bored easily and want change for change's sake. No promotion? Change the manager, he's shit.

If there was indeed a massive split, we would be hearing anti-Wilder songs from the terraces. We aren't.

Of course there is a lot of criticism, which is often deserved. But to imply that half of our fanbase support sacking Wilder this summer is way off the mark. It's probably less than 10%.

 

[ben1987]

Not true. There's not a massive split. There's a vocal online minority who want shut of Wilder, and will want shut of every manager who doesn't deliver instant success. Unfortunately it's part of today's culture. People get bored easily and want change for change's sake. No promotion? Change the manager, he's shit.

If there was indeed a massive split, we would be hearing anti-Wilder songs from the terraces. We aren't.

Of course there is a lot of criticism, which is often deserved. But to imply that half of our fanbase support sacking Wilder this summer is way off the mark. It's probably less than 10%.

Disagree.

I think it’s far closer to 50/50.

There is the vocal extremes from both sides doing the majority of the arguing but amongst my blades supporting acquaintance, area of the stadium and social media feeds it’s a lot more than 10% who would prefer a change of direction.

A lot of the blades who are leaning towards change are sensible enough to respect his past achievements and realise it’s not personal so are not openly chanting for him out. A lot of the people who were chanting Selles out were the Wilder fans. It’s not a simple as there’s just a group of fans who’ll chant against any manager.

 

[Hanauer]

No one in our pub group wants him out so it's a 100% stay.

 

[ATL Recs]

So your call is to get rid then? OK you're probably right. But who calls the shots in guarding against a Seles mk2?

Think the worry is Selles mk2 may already have the job

 

[Dkc]

Disagree.

I think it’s far closer to 50/50.

There is the vocal extremes from both sides doing the majority of the arguing but amongst my blades supporting acquaintance, area of the stadium and social media feeds it’s a lot more than 10% who would prefer a change of direction.

A lot of the blades who are leaning towards change are sensible enough to respect his past achievements and realise it’s not personal so are not openly chanting for him out. A lot of the people who were chanting Selles out were the Wilder fans. It’s not a simple as there’s just a group of fans who’ll chant against any manager.

All my mates want him to stay. But that isn't objective either.

Best way to gauge it is the crowd. Are they singing "Wilder Out" or Get Out of Our Club?"

if half the fans wanted him out, they'd be letting him know.

 

[Greasy Chap Butty]

All my mates want him to stay. But that isn't objective either.

Best way to gauge it is the crowd. Are they singing "Wilder Out" or Get Out of Our Club?"

if half the fans wanted him out, they'd be letting him know.

No, because they don't feel that strongly about it, to vocally demand he goes.
I think we need a new direction, along with a DoF. At the same time, I'd probably go with him staying on next season, to give him a real opportunity to do his own thing. Then make a decision.
There might be a 50/50 split, but only a 10/10 split of those who feel massively strongly about either option.