Chris's Biggest Challenge

[robbiez666]

Let's be honest, every time he's been up against it Wilder has come out with flying colours. However, the next two months will probably be his biggest challenge yet.

We've got 6 tough games before we're likely to have reinforcements (Preston, Villa, Derby away & Bristol City, Sunderland and Bolton at home) and he's likely to have roughly the same players available to do it with (Baldock hopefully as well but I'm not convinced he'll be available for all those games).

To a degree, opposition managers seem to have worked out how to succeed against us. Our defence has looked very shaky of late and when we're pressured we struggle to play ourselves out without Coutts and have not really got the option of going long successfully to clear our lines.

Today demonstrated the difficulties we have if we just play one up top. Balls shooting across the box with no one to put them in.

After the next 6 games, we may have bolstered our squad, but then on the 12th we have Wednesday, followed by Norwich (away) and Villa.

If we're still in the play-off spots by the end of January I think he'll have done an incredible job.

 

[sheffielder]

The challenge for Chris is coming from the fans. I think he’s owed more than he’s getting back tonight

 

[robbiez666]

The challenge for Chris is coming from the fans. I think he’s owed more than he’s getting back tonight

I don't quite follow. He may have made a mistake (by his own admission) today, but I've not seen anyone have a go at him? Or question his ability.

 

[sheffielder]

I don't quite follow. He may have made a mistake (by his own admission) today, but I've not seen anyone have a go at him? Or question his ability.

we just need to get behind the team and not question. He's worked it out before. Far too much flapping, probably most of the people who spend their other spare time getting a rise out of the pigs.

 

[robbiez666]

we just need to get behind the team and not question. He's worked it out before. Far too much flapping, probably most of the people who spend their other spare time getting a rise out of the pigs.

This is a discussion forum! I believe you should never stop questioning anything in life.

 

[Pedro's Winger]

It's his biggest challenge since having one point from four games last season.
One point from three games since Coutts did his leg and we're no nearer to an answer to the quarterback's absence.
Didn't go today but in the previous two games it looked like Duffy in particular was missing Coutts' presence.
Could be a long second half of the season unless Wilder works some magic.

 

[Esablade]

The biggest challenge is getting us into the Prem on one of the lowest budgets in the Champ...we’ve had a great start and expectations are high...I’m really looking forward to how we meet this challenge.

UTB!

 

[Gimli]

I don't think there's anything wrong with questioning things - of course we all love Wilder, but we can't just pretend he always gets it right - by his own admission he made a mistake with bringing Stearman in (not that this was the only reason for the defeat today).

I think his biggest challenge is to work out how to win without key players - when everyone is fit the team basically picks itself - Blackman, Baldock, Bash, Wright, JO'C, Edna, Coutts, Fleck, Duffy, Sharp, Clarke - its a massive miss to not have Coutts, clearly he's an excellent player who keeps everything ticking over, but the bigger problem (in my opinion) is when Baldock (and unfortunately, Freeman) is out as the shape is ruined as Bash has to go out wide which isn't his strength, CCV has to move to RCB and he can't maraud like Bash and it makes the team lop-sided.

Anyway don't want to sound critical because I'm still delighted with how the season is going, and CWAK is doing a superb job.

 

[robbiez666]

I said it when Coutts got injured and I stand by it, he does a lot more for the team than we notice. He's the glue which connects it all together. Sure, RWB is also a miss but Coutts links defence to midfield, midfield to attack, protects the defence and always gives them an option by coming deep for the ball.

It's arguable whether Coutts, Duffy or Fleck is our best player, but I think Coutts is our most important player.

 

[LS16Blade]

I said it when Coutts got injured and I stand by it, he does a lot more for the team than we notice. He's the glue which connects it all together. Sure, RWB is also a miss but Coutts links defence to midfield, midfield to attack, protects the defence and always gives them an option by coming deep for the ball.

It's arguable whether Coutts, Duffy or Fleck is our best player, but I think Coutts is our most important player.

Agree with all of that, save that I personally do not think there is any argument about who is our most important player; it is Coutts by a mile. He was the absolute fulcrum of what we were doing.

I felt sick when Coutts was stretchered off at Burton. Having seen the standard of the competition in this league, I said early in the season that if Coutts, Fleck and Duffy played in the majority of games, there was a good chance that we would get promoted.

Like plenty of Blades, though, I knew full well what losing Coutts would mean. After the Burton match, I predicted that we would get 1 point from the next 15, and regrettably that's exactly what is coming to pass. It's absolutely sickening.

 

[Fanny magnet]

Think we all knew what a loss couttsy would be
Hence the muted celebrations after a 3-1 away win
Reminded me of the hulse Injury in the prem
We knew it could be the end of our premier league stay if we couldn't replace him and we didn't