Pre-season 2026/27 VfL Bochum v. Sheffield United - 1st August 2026 - Preseason Friendly

[Jan Age]

Perfect pre season friendly to get us ready for the season ahead. Couldn't have gone any better giving the whiners all they need to be constantly whining all next fucking season.

1. All the Wilder out boys are already giving it some. Apparently he doesn't know what he's doing, never has done and he should only be measured on his failings.
2. Cannon's in the firing line already, thank goodness the keeper saved that shot today or that would really have pissed off the masses.
3. Sydie is still rubbish (he's actually really good) and we should bin him off for 2 million.
4. Chong's fucking wank, just played in the World Cup but we need to ship him back to Luton on a free.
5. Today's game was really boring, no one got injured the week before the season so what a set of fannies they must be not going mental in a friendly.

Think I missed a few and the game wasn't good but fuck me some of you little bitches need to find a new hobby. It was pre season, a fucking run around and the biggest thing to moan about is the lack of signings. We all know we need players, most of us know where we need them but fucking crying over a nil nil draw is a measure of the modern football fan sadly. I want it all, I want it now...

UTBFTP

Wilder is not the right choice - just because Selles was wrong doesn’t mean wilder was right again. But weve painted ourselves in to a corner so we are stuck with him.

Cannon is shit end of I’ve seen enough… however most strikers will struggle to score goals with wilder ball.

Sydie is a great player and IMO a potential England international but he will never realise his full potential under wilder.

Chong has a heart the size of a peanut and would never be in my starting 11 and shows how desperate we are to even be considering him.

 

[Dkc]

Wilder is not the right choice - just because Selles was wrong doesn’t mean wilder was right again. But weve painted ourselves in to a corner so we are stuck with him.

Cannon is shit end of I’ve seen enough… however most strikers will struggle to score goals with wilder ball.

Sydie is a great player and IMO a potential England international but he will never realise his full potential under wilder.

Chong has a heart the size of a peanut and would never be in my starting 11 and shows how desperate we are to even be considering him.

So how would you change things?. Presumably sack Wilder. And then? .

 

[Bell4]

Let’s keep it in perspective. It was a friendly with nothing riding on it. And the transfer window is open for a while yet. There will be ins and outs.

A legitimate time to judge will be after 10 games. If we are still looking slow and predictable and lacking in pace, power, height and flair then questions should absolutely be asked of the manager. But until then, there’s the benefit of the doubt and I’ll be keeping my powder dry in case I’m pleasantly surprised.

Then ……all hell will be let loose .

No one will be safe - no one , not even Ryan

 

[Bell4]

Radlers? Is that German for ‘Ladies of the night’.

Close

It’s actually

Der Mingerfooken

 

[Jan Age]

So how would you change things?. Presumably sack Wilder. And then? .

Like I say painted ourselves in to a corner so we are stuck with him - but yes it starts at the top
And works down and he will be gone if we sit bottom three after 10 games

 

[EddieColquhoun]

I went to Worksop yesterday to watch the Under 21's. No team sheet was available.
Does anyone know the name of the Blades number 9?

He worked hard against 2 very uncompromising centre backs. He was being dragged all over the place but never complained. Gave as good as he got.

Apologies for going off topic.

What was the score?

Was it Chris Eadie?

 

[Dkc]

Like I say painted ourselves in to a corner so we are stuck with him - but yes it starts at the top
And works down and he will be gone if we sit bottom three after 10 games

So upon sacking Wilder you would presumably sack all his coaching staff too, and pay compensation to them all. Where would the money come from to do this?

And if we're struggling which manager would you realistically bring in (not Pep) who would do better?

 

[bornablade]

What was the score?

Was it Chris Eadie?

No not Chris Eadie.

Lost 3-1. Could have been worse. Worksop were technically better. They played as if it was a competetive game. One challenge on Sam Curtis sent him into the surrounding barriers. Not necessary. I think Worksop had 3 yellow cards and generally speaking refs (I think) are reluctant to hand out cards in friendly pre-season matches. We couldn't really cope with their high press.

 

[Tom Bott]

View attachment 241240

Not my photo that one

Close

It’s actually

Der Mingerfooken

"Der Mingerfooken" appears to be a playful misspelling or variation of "gefingerpoken," a famous piece of pseudo-German tech humor popularized by signs in mid-20th-century computer labs warning people not to touch delicate equipment.

??

 

[Jan Age]

So upon sacking Wilder you would presumably sack all his coaching staff too, and pay compensation to them all. Where would the money come from to do this?

And if we're struggling which manager would you realistically bring in (not Pep) who would do better?

So you’re agreeing we’ve painted ourselves in to a corner ?

We’ve no money as we stall on targets so can’t waste getting rid of coaching staff

Team massively underprepared going in to the season and we will lose a couple between them and now

Systematic downgrading of the squad … league 1 beckons

 

[Dkc]

So you’re agreeing we’ve painted ourselves in to a corner ?

We’ve no money as we stall on targets so can’t waste getting rid of coaching staff

Team massively underprepared going in to the season and we will lose a couple between them and now

Systematic downgrading of the squad … league 1 beckons

Typical post from someone who criticises but offers no solution other than "Wilder out". No acknowledgement of the cost of sacking the manager and his team. No suggestions as to who to bring in instead. No recognition that we can't afford a proven manager who is more likely to get us promoted to the PL on a limited budget. No names suggested. No players suggested. Just "Football's boring so Wilder out'.

How do you know the team is massively underprepared anyway? Have you been at the training sessions?

We just had an away draw in a friendly at a decent second-tier German side. Similar to playing away at Boro or Swansea. We didn't play like Barca or Brazil but we deserved a draw.

Therefore...Wilder must go. Right.

 

[Bladesman]

 

[Greasy Chap Butty]

It was inevitable, with their worldwide fan base, we'd bump into a Wensdi at some point.

 

[Harrisblade]

Can't bear to listen to him anymore

Don't then - you know it makes sense!

 

[Jan Age]

Typical post from someone who criticises but offers no solution other than "Wilder out". No acknowledgement of the cost of sacking the manager and his team. No suggestions as to who to bring in instead. No recognition that we can't afford a proven manager who is more likely to get us promoted to the PL on a limited budget. No names suggested. No players suggested. Just "Football's boring so Wilder out'.

How do you know the team is massively underprepared anyway? Have you been at the training sessions?

We just had an away draw in a friendly at a decent second-tier German side. Similar to playing away at Boro or Swansea. We didn't play like Barca or Brazil but we deserved a draw.

Therefore...Wilder must go. Right.

They were massively short last season and there’s been no improvement

This is football where nobody thinks or acts logically … it’s a results based business ….if the results aren’t there then something needs to change

This is why wilder kept his job in the play off final season the football was shocking but he got results …

The owners , quite rightly, wanted to take a change and then made a terrible decision with Selles and AI… they then went straight back to wilder … he steadied the ship but the football was still terrible ….

If I was paid by the club to come up with solutions I would scour the world for a new coach etc. but im not

For now I will stand by my opinion that the owners have now firmly painted themselves in to a corner with wilder we are stuck with him regardless … for the 90 minutes they play the team will always get my full support but outside of that I want to see some serious change in approach across the club… which tbh has nothing to show for 3 years of prem football apart from some minor modifications

 

[Keen Blade]

Massive shout-out to Sebastian from Bochum - he's their fan liaison. He's put up with a table full of Unitedites talking bollocks all evening and even dragged his missus out for a drink. Absolutely fantastic trip and apparently Bochum have been spot on with the football club.

It would be lovely to welcome them back, as long as Sheffielders would be as obliging as our German hosts.

Plenty on here would oblige a tall blond German

 

[Keen Blade]

Like I say painted ourselves in to a corner so we are stuck with him - but yes it starts at the top
And works down and he will be gone if we sit bottom three after 10 games

Those at the top should already have their plan should that contingency arise. They need to identify the replacement in advance this time , with a bit more brains than last time.

 

[Jan Age]

Those at the top should already have their plan should that contingency arise. They need to identify the replacement in advance this time , with a bit more brains than last time.

I 100 agree

 

[SwissBlade]

So you’re agreeing we’ve painted ourselves in to a corner ?

We’ve no money as we stall on targets so can’t waste getting rid of coaching staff

Team massively underprepared going in to the season and we will lose a couple between them and now

Systematic downgrading of the squad … league 1 beckons

I think you're right, we painted ourselves into a corner, but it was with Selles and not Wilder coming back. In my view.

There seems to be a pattern with the owners that we don't prepare well and don't really have a plan. As you said, the team is massively under prepared again and Wilder can only do so much. He's clearly wanted the targets he's talked of, Souttar and Phillips, but getting the deal done is above him. He will certainly be frustrated with that.

The owners not having a plan which the fans can understand is a real issue, you're right that we're downgrading the playing staff but again, its a circumstance of where we are financially.

To make big changes we'd need to understand the benefits of doing so, I think we're looking to stabilise the club and as one thread was titled we need to "reshape the squad".

There has to be a singular goal of moving the club forwards, presumably this is what the owners wanted with Selles without realising that he couldn't deliver on the field and unlikely he could support with delivering off it either.

Wilder, for now at least can help the owners reshape the club as we try and rebuild on a budget. Its far from perfect, but until there is more experience coming into the club from to the owners side, its hard to do it without him. As they most likely found last summer when they created the mess.

 

[Jan Age]

I think you're right, we painted ourselves into a corner, but it was with Selles and not Wilder coming back. In my view.

There seems to be a pattern with the owners that we don't prepare well and don't really have a plan. As you said, the team is massively under prepared again and Wilder can only do so much. He's clearly wanted the targets he's talked of, Souttar and Phillips, but getting the deal done is above him. He will certainly be frustrated with that.

The owners not having a plan which the fans can understand is a real issue, you're right that we're downgrading the playing staff but again, its a circumstance of where we are financially.

To make big changes we'd need to understand the benefits of doing so, I think we're looking to stabilise the club and as one thread was titled we need to "reshape the squad".

There has to be a singular goal of moving the club forwards, presumably this is what the owners wanted with Selles without realising that he couldn't deliver on the field and unlikely he could support with delivering off it either.

Wilder, for now at least can help the owners reshape the club as we try and rebuild on a budget. Its far from perfect, but until there is more experience coming into the club from to the owners side, its hard to do it without him. As they most likely found last summer when they created the mess.

I’d agree with all that mate … you put it better than me … I simply say ‘we are stuck with him’ but I agree there’s three things in place right now that makes for a perfect storm

1. Clueless owners
2. Tactically Inept manager
3. Below par players

Oh and 4…..

A divided fan base

Trouble brewing this season

 

[SwissBlade]

I’d agree with all that mate … you put it better than me … I simply say ‘we are stuck with him’ but I agree there’s three things in place right now that makes for a perfect storm

1. Clueless owners
2. Tactically Inept manager
3. Below par players

Oh and 4…..

A divided fan base

Trouble brewing this season

Yeah i think we are stuck with him, which perhaps should also temper expectations.

I don't think that once our business is done at the end of the window that we'll be in too bad shape, but it does need a lot to fall into place.

on your points:

1. Clueless owners - is correct. Perhaps they're not, but the signs since they came in are all pointing to them being incompetent. They don't have a problem spending money, to an extent and within the frame work of the rules, but they are misguided.

2. Tactically inept manager - I'd disagree, he's got a proven track record with us and turned things around to a point last season, he's not doing his best work, but he's ok.

3. Below par players - I think he's changing that, not every signing works and there is definitely a level of transition we're going through because of past failings. The quality of players isn't of course what we had when the PL money was coming in but might be ok to keep us mid table.

4. Divided fanbase - Yes and no. We'll always have mixed opinions, but is the fan base divided in the ground? 2000 fans in Bochum didn't appear to be, will there be a big division in the first home game with 20,000+ fans, i doubt it. But we do need a reasonable start.

Trouble brewing? I don't think so, We need to see how the business goes, get some signings in sooner rather than later and give the manager and the team a chance to at least get things right.... If we're bottom 3 by oct, i'll be revisiting my thoughts, but i don't honestly think it'll come to that if we do a bit of business to bring some players in. And that might come with a few more going out. But thats not always a bad thing.

 

[EddieColquhoun]

No not Chris Eadie.

Lost 3-1. Could have been worse. Worksop were technically better. They played as if it was a competetive game. One challenge on Sam Curtis sent him into the surrounding barriers. Not necessary. I think Worksop had 3 yellow cards and generally speaking refs (think) are reluctant to hand out cards in friendly pre-season matches. We couldn't really cope with their high press.

Looks like we went with a young team.
The no.9 looks like @Ball-Sup(Phil) favourite
Covarne "Longshanks" Leon.

 

[The Crab]

Prison bars look more fun tbh

The Bochum Redemption

 

[Maurice Maurice]

I’d agree with all that mate … you put it better than me … I simply say ‘we are stuck with him’ but I agree there’s three things in place right now that makes for a perfect storm

1. Clueless owners
2. Tactically Inept manager
3. Below par players

Oh and 4…..

A divided fan base

Trouble brewing this season

Not sure about 'stuck' with him, I'd imagine most teams fans in this league feel the same way about their manager. As to the rest well...

1. I don't know a great deal about the owners, as astute rich businessmen who usually guard their fortunes I am surprised they chose Sheffield United to invest in though. The lack of signings this close to the season starting doesn't suggest they have much of a clue, or it could be they don't really care.
2. On our day we play some great football. When we play on the front foot and move the ball quick we're as good as anybody in this league. When we do the slow build up, death by a thousand passes across our back line we're woeful. Not sure if that's what we set up to do or the high press from the opposition forces us to do that. I hope Wilder goes with a more front foot approach this season.
3. We have a mixed bag of players, we need Souttar and/or a big centre half who can stop us getting bullied. We didn't need Jairo back, he's slow and ineffective, we needed someone with energy there who could move the ball forward quicker. Doyle would have been a better option for me. Up front Campbell's done, he goes to clubs, starts out ok then gets comfortable and lazy, that's where he appears to be now. Cannon isn't the answer, he doesn't fit how we play and would be better off somewhere like Preston, Charlton etc. We need to give One a run and/or get another one in up front.
4. We've always had a divided fan base, it's what keeps conversations going in the pub after the game.

We're currently a mid to top half Championship team, need some tweaks to seriously challenge for me but I don't think we'll be down at the bottom, I don't get the hysteria after a poor first half in a pre season friendly. Guess I'm old and don't have the energy to let football ruin my life anymore like some do.

UTBFTP