Consulting the dressing-room

[HodgysBrokenThumb]

In today's Star (which has only positive stories about Carruthers, unlike - apparently - the web-site), Wilder says that he discussed the signing in advance with (unnamed) United players. Can anyone think of other managers who have openly said they have done this? It is hard to imagine big-name managers now or in the past who would have done this as a matter of course, except perhaps with a revered senior pro such as Gerrard.
I read this as yet another plus for Wilder. He wants a strong team-spirit, and is ensuring that new players fit in. And he helps by being seen to be willing to listen to the players and be up-front with them. Or could their be downsides - would it not be human nature for a senior pro to rubbish the character of a potential replacement? How will we react when we learn that we didn't sign the next Messi on McNulty's say so? I am again impressed by Wilder's way of doing things, or am I being naive?

 

[spongebobblade]

Totally agree with you HBT. Wilder has quite rightly identified player unity as being an absolutely essential ingredient to success. It's no good having the desire and ability if you can't work with the people around you. It also gives the players an even greater feeling of being valued which can only be good. Whether this is to do with the Cheltenham incident nobody knows. It's quite possible he's done this before and on the chance Wilder may be interested in you know who I would expect him to do it again. His man management while still commanding respect has been impeccable so far

 

[Rodley]

Warnock did it.

 

['Doc' Pace my hero]

That is why Ched Evans won't return

 

[coaxingstar71]

I can see this as a good thing, although I'd be surprised if it was the first time a manager had used his players knowledge. It seems a fairly obvious way of finding out if potential signings will fit in or not.

 

[I should coco]

It seems a fairly obvious way of finding out if potential signings will fit in or not.

To a point, but a more obvious route would be:

Do you like a high locker or one near the floor?

Would you be okay with locker number 13?

Do you drop silent-but-deadlys or happily take pride and own up?

 

[HodgysBrokenThumb]

I can see this as a good thing, although I'd be surprised if it was the first time a manager had used his players knowledge. It seems a fairly obvious way of finding out if potential signings will fit in or not.

I am sure you are right, but perhaps most would prefer it not to be known, because it could be a sign of weakness. Rodley mentions Warnock as one who did it. Warnock is a man of strong opinions - would he change his mind to accommodate players' views? Or would it be the Brian Clough 'We had a discussion and decided I was right' approach?

 

[coaxingstar71]

I am sure you are right, but perhaps most would prefer it not to be known, because it could be a sign of weakness. Rodley mentions Warnock as one who did it. Warnock is a man of strong opinions - would he change his mind to accommodate players' views? Or would it be the Brian Clough 'We had a discussion and decided I was right' approach?

It's funny though isn't it, I bet if you ask most of the players that played under both Warnock and Clough Snr, they would say how great it was to play for them. I've read Clough's auto and he was much closer to his players than was projected by him in the media. Of course we don't fully know what goes on behind the scenes but it's not a stretch of the imagination to think that if a player knew a player that a manager was interested in, then he might ask that player to check if he'd be interested in joining them for example. Then seems normal that manager would ask his player, "what's he like, is he a good lad" (ie good character) if he didn't know already.

 

[bladesmanluke]

Why have you bought the star?

 

[Sean Thornton]

Why have you bought the star?

^^^^^ This

 

[Slim Man]

That is why Ched Evans won't return

Don't see why the players should have a problem. He's an innocent man, just a bit of a scumbag for doing what he did but no worse than goes on at most clubs in the country.

 

[BushBlade]

They should be asking everyone they know who knows the target. All managers do. They phone round their contacts to get information on what a player's character is like etc.

Senior players also influence who gets into the first team.

It may be rare for a manager to admit it in public when he's actually buying a player but plenty will admit it as a general principle.

I listen to a huge number of interviews with ex players and managers on various radio and TV stations and I've heard this spoken about several times.

 

[Slim Man]

And I absolutely commend Wilder for this approach. Carruthers didn't show himself in the best light when he did a wee wee in a pint pot at the races and had his censored weapon all over the front pages.

It shows the lads are willing to give him a chance and just think it was a lad making a silly mistake which can happen from time to time. Fair play all round.

 

[Bladeloyal]

Does anyone believe a word the Sheffield star prints .

 

[Sothall_Blade]

I don't think it has anything to do with the Cheltenham incident.
His queries seem to have been more about what Carruthers is like to play against.
I can hardly see somebody like Fleck saying "He's a good player gaffer but I can't play alongside somebody who once did a wee in a pint pot".

Actual Wilder quotes from an unnamed source:-

“We’ve spoken to other pro’s about Samir, including lads at our place, about what they think,” the United manager said. “And they’ve all told us he is a quality player, very tough to compete against. Samir is a quality performer and, as far as we’re concerned, there’s even more to come from him. He ticks all the boxes for what we want here at this football club, including the right character, desire and attitude.”

“Samir was coming towards the end of his deal down there and, arguably, could have waited until it ran out to put himself in a better position money-wise,” Wilder continued. “But that’s not something he was interested in doing which tells you all you need to know. Samir made it clear he wanted to come and that he was excited about the prospect of representing this club, of playing at Bramall Lane.”

“Samir is someone we’ve been tracking for quite a while,” Wilder said. “Sometimes, you bring people in to make an immediate impact and there’s nothing wrong with that. Samir can make an impact because of his ability but he’s also someone for the long-term who we think can grow with this football club.”

 

[PeteBlade]

Don't see why the players should have a problem. He's an innocent man, just a bit of a scumbag for doing what he did but no worse than goes on at most clubs in the country.

They probably don't share the obsession with him that some of our fans have.

 

[Ricky]

That is why Ched Evans won't return

Yeah, I can just see it...


"Billy, what do you think about us signing Ched Evans?"

"Yeah he's a good player gaffer and we'd work well together but me and the lads read through the case extensively and we decided that she was too drunk to consent. We were all in agreement that we'd rather not be promoted than be associated with someone who once took advantage of a drunken girl..."

 

[HodgysBrokenThumb]

Why have you bought the star?

Because it brought to my attention a direct quote from our manager, which I found interesting and I have not seen or heard elsewhere. It might have been played on Radio Sheffield, but I don't often listen to it. Is that a reasonable answer? It is not intended to persuade you to buy it, only to explain why I do.

 

[coolhandluke]

Another dent in Wilder's managerial armour .

First came his strop about Clarkes "alleged " inability to form an effective partnership with Sharp . He picks him for the Northampton game and is subsequently forced to haul him off when the inevitable happened .

And now we find out he's asking players whether he should sign somebody or not .

Whilst his first ' gaff ' was easily corrected , this second one is far more serious . Too many opinions can and does lead to indecision . And secondly , these requests for opinions from certain players can easily lead to simmering accusations of cliques amongst the first team .

Come on CW don't go down this road .

 

[BushBlade]

Does anyone believe a word the Sheffield star prints .

They usually get the date right.

 

[Robby Blade]

That is why Ched Evans won't return

That is why Ched Evans will return.




P. S Doc Pace was my first hero.

 

[JJBlade]

Contrary to some beliefs, good players like to be at a club that is making new signings.
It shows that they are an ambitious club that wants to go places.

Carruthers is not coming in to directly replace anybody, but he is also not coming in as the standard, utility, versatile, cover player that Sheffield United are so famous for.
He is coming in as a player who will immediately challenge Coutts, Fleck, Duffy and Basham but not necessarily take their shirt.

The squad should be players of similar standards throughout, one of which gets the first team shirt based on form and the others working hard to get the shirt off them.

For too long we have gone down the road of having a first team and then filling in the squad with another 20 players of lesser quality just to cover injuries and suspensions

 

[Clarkey87]

To me it shows a good grasp of man management.

Why would a manager sign a player if it turned out that said player he was interested in had an attitude problem and was known in footballing circles as being a bit of a prick at the risk of disrupting good squad harmony? (This scenario is hypothetical and is in no way related to any particular manager or player - just a generalisation)

In this case, I read it - "lads, what do you think of XXXXX" ....... "Yeah he's a good lad gaffer, hard to play against and nice to talk to". That'll be the total sum of the conversation.

 

[JJBlade]

Yeah, I can just see it...


"Billy, what do you think about us signing Ched Evans?"

"Yeah he's a good player gaffer and we'd work well together but me and the lads read through the case extensively and we decided that she was too drunk to consent. We were all in agreement that we'd rather not be promoted than be associated with someone who once took advantage of a drunken girl..."

It's funny how things are interpreted
But it seems that even Hollywood doesn't have a problem with what Evans did

 

[seanbeenstattoo]

Wilder. "Right guys,Im after this guy from the Plastics and I'm just doing a straw poll on your view on Golden Showers? For or against?"

Seems it was overwhelmingly in favour.

 

['Doc' Pace my hero]

That is why Ched Evans will return.




P. S Doc Pace was my first hero.

I might not be right,but I think the senior players would think it was not worth taking the risk,can you imagine what would happen if it all went wrong !!!

 

[HodgysBrokenThumb]

Another dent in Wilder's managerial armour .

First came his strop about Clarkes "alleged " inability to form an effective partnership with Sharp . He picks him for the Northampton game and is subsequently forced to haul him off when the inevitable happened .

And now we find out he's asking players whether he should sign somebody or not .

Whilst his first ' gaff ' was easily corrected , this second one is far more serious . Too many opinions can and does lead to indecision . And secondly , these requests for opinions from certain players can easily lead to simmering accusations of cliques amongst the first team .

Come on CW don't go down this road .

On the first point, Clarke did pick up an injury, and so far, Wilder has not tried to hide mistakes, as when he replaced Hussey very quickly. He may not be ruling Clarke out yet.
Your last point is a good one. Management is not a precise science - consult, and it can lead to the problems you outline, but if you ignore the players' views, you can soon lose their respect. And success depends on getting the most out of the players every minute of every game. I guess each group has to approached differently, which is why the job is so difficult. Team spirit seems good at the moment, which is one of the reasons for Wilder's success so far.

 

[Kevincarterversion2.0]

Seems sensible to me - I think this happens at a lot of clubs - especially if you have players with their heads screwed on, and are very experienced - and will give you (the manager) an honest and informed view.

I bet it happened in the James Beattie/Gary Speed era too.

 

[RammyBlade]

Totally agree with you HBT. Wilder has quite rightly identified player unity as being an absolutely essential ingredient to success. It's no good having the desire and ability if you can't work with the people around you. It also gives the players an even greater feeling of being valued which can only be good. Whether this is to do with the Cheltenham incident nobody knows. It's quite possible he's done this before and on the chance Wilder may be interested in you know who I would expect him to do it again. His man management while still commanding respect has been impeccable so far

Its very good management and also will give the incoming player a lot of confidence that his signing has been endorsed by his new team mates. Bet there will be a bit of banter though saying you only got the job because of ME !

 

[BushBlade]

I might not be right,but I think the senior players would think it was not worth taking the risk,can you imagine what would happen if it all went wrong !!!

In what way? Do you think he might do it again?