Hi
I'm an Ipswich Town fan who likes to write about the Championship over on Substack.
I've written an article about the numerous issues with the Selles appointment and the recruitment at Sheffield United this summer. I'd interested to hear your thoughts and please consider subscribing (it's free) to my page if you enjoy. I appreciate it's a topic that most Blades fans will be keen to move on from though!
What are your views on the rest of the season? Do you think promotion is still a realistic aim or is it a bridge too far after the poor start?
Firing Ruben Selles was the correct decision, but the debacle leaves the Blades in a difficult position.
jacobpowley.substack.com
Most Blades will say the sacking was madness etc etc without realising these owners are very intelligent and highly successful business men.
It wasn’t done on a whim, they’re paid millions for Sheff Utd and have obviously come up with a tactical plan why they thought Selles was preferable to Wilder.
I don’t agree with it….but these are the probably reasons for the change.
1: All new owners usually analyse their new business and are keen to make changes. It’s called putting their stamp on a club.
2: They probably saw that SUFC need to join 90% of other clubs in the world by having a more distant first team coach instead of a club manager who has his fingers in many pies. They probably saw CW as an older traditional type with old methods and wanted someone who accepts being a coach with less control.
3: Won’t have been impressed that Wilder walks around the club and training ground like he owns the place but that’s just becuase he’s from the city and a big fan who is passionate and proud to manager his club. Did Wilder have too much power at the club, probably yes and some owners don’t like that situation.
4: The owners wanted to fish in the much bigger foreign transfer market and will have noticed that Wilder has little experience managing foreigners where as Selles have much more experience coaching abroad and working with all nationalities.
5: Owners, especially in the US realise the value of reputation, hence why they like to appoint a Wayne Rooney or Steven Gerrard as manager.
A big name instantly raises the profile of a club.
I don’t agree with it but they won’t have been impressed hearing about Wilder being drunk singing about Danny Rohl after his win.
Also will have been concerned with poor disciplinary record regards players fighting, especially after the final whistle, this lack of discipline usually comes from a manager. Selles might be boring but he’s young, presentable and a very professional personality, guaranteed no trouble or controversy.
6: The owners have downplayed the importance of the effects a manager can have on results. They automatically assumed “good players = a good team”, however as we knew people like Wilder have hidden qualities like charisma, passion and the power to motivate. Selles was more of a theoretical computer manager.
7: You can imagine Selles turning up for his interview with iPad in hand….doing a PowerPoint presentation about how he uses statistical data to devise match tactics
And the owners will have been so impressed with Selles, thinking wow…..this guy embraces technology, he is the future Pep Gardiola.
The new owners have been naive thinking they can simply apply their high level business techniques and skills to football.
They made a mistake try to do things too quickly and taking things for granted, also made a massive mistake regards the choice of Selles, his record isn’t great so they were trying to be too clever but at least they’ve held their hand up regards their mistake and reversed their decision very quickly.
Anyway the sacking has done CW a massive favour. As well as receiving additional money.
Wilder now returns under much less pressure, he’ll be even hungrier to prove the owners wrong and he’ll be much more appreciated by the fanbase.
Roll on a few boring 1-0 unconvincing wins…..we’ll all take it now ha ha.
