CW best ever signings by a Blades manager?

[bladesince64]

Other than Billy, Bash, Freeman, Coutts etc.whi we’re already here but have improved immensely.
I am struggling to think of another manager who has signed such a quality group of players as this. I go back to John Harris and include Bassett, Warnock as well,but when you look at Fleck, Norwood, JOC. Stevens, Baldock, Egan, Crainie, Goldy, etc these were all brought in at modest fees and what an insanely good team they’ve been moulded into.
Also at what value to the club are these boys now. Can’t think of any other manager who has achieved this.
We’re maybe not done yet either as far as where we want to be next season.
Wowser, what a job Chris has done!!

 

[HeCanDoMagic]

My first thought is to go with Jack O'Connell - paid peanuts and now worth millions, integral to the way we play, a centre half that can play with the ball and as a winger. Incredible.

One not so obvious suggestion - Simon Moore. Signed at a time when we desperately needed a keeper, his introduction settled the entire team and provided a platform for the promotion winning team, getting in team of the year also. No way would we have gone up with Long in goal.

 

[itsinyerblood]

I could be way off the mark where signings are concerned, but CW's defensive signings are the ones that most impress me.

Our current central defensive three, the fullbacks/wingbacks, the keepers that have stood between the sticks, these are the areas that I'd suggest we have benefited from most. I should also add that the way Wilder has slowly improved and strengthened the squad, and although one of our most recent signings, Martin Cranie, is an excellent example of the type of player that can be found if your ear is close to the ground.

I know this has been said many times before, but on a relatively meagre budget, hasn't our manager done fantastically well?

 

[S64 Blade]

A definite for me, during my time. Warnock signed 2/3 duds for every gem.

I'd probably say O'Connell is Wilder's best signing to date. But it's a close call.

 

[GuangzhouBlade]

Ryan Leonard, Ricky Holmes, Samir Cuarruthers, Lee Evans and John Lundstram were crucial in highlighting to the board that Wilder could only unearth so many League 1 gems giving him much needed funds to go and get Norwood.

 

[Geordie Blade]

It's no coincidence that he served under Dave Bassett. They share a very similar approach to signing players (not in playing style / tactics!) in that they sniff out some absolute bargain gems from the less fashionable places. It's a combination of good networks and a stubbornness of only picking those that would fit in with, or add to our system. There are so many managers out there who buy whichever big name players become available, and only later think about how they'll fit in. CW and AK seem to be firmly against that approach, thank goodness.

 

[Bayingblade]

My first thought is to go with Jack O'Connell - paid peanuts and now worth millions, integral to the way we play, a centre half that can play with the ball and as a winger. Incredible.

One not so obvious suggestion - Simon Moore. Signed at a time when we desperately needed a keeper, his introduction settled the entire team and provided a platform for the promotion winning team, getting in team of the year also. No way would we have gone up with Long in goal.

Another not so obvious one - Daniel Lafferty. Signed on deadline day after Hussey had seemingly proved either not good enough or not right for the system. Lafferty was both.

 

[Bristol Blade]

Is Paul Mitchell still with us? He also deserves a huge amount of credit for a lot of our signings since Wilder has come in.

 

[CaptainMorgans]

There’s a lot to choose from. But Jack O’Connell scoops it for me also. Oliver Norwood probably in 2nd.

 

[DifferentClass]

Wilder can also turn shit to gold. Look at Leon and MC Gold Rick.

He has signed some duds, but his best signings are among the best I've seen wearing the red and white.

 

[TomMounsey]

One of Wilder's biggest strengths is also that he isn't worried about admitting he got a signing wrong/ acknowledging that player wasn't fitting in

Leonard, Evans, Holmes etc. were got rid of sooner rather than later

 

[madeinsheffield]

The thing that impresses me is that it's evolution not revoution, no massive changes, no big egos coming in and upsetting the harmony.

Even the Leonard, Evans and such signings did serve a purpose, either on the pitch, pushing other team mates on or sold for more money.

Things are really good, such a turnaround in a short period of time from where we were, not just on the pitch but throughout the club, these are the good times and hopefully they will continue to be so

 

[Harry's Game]

Wilder has managed it in an era where you would think players capable of the quality we are seeing now would have been snapped up elsewhere.

I just hope even if we don’t go up we can hang on to him for years to come and back him so he can keep improving us year upon year.

 

[Pollingtonblade]

The fact that he’s signed midfielders that can create should be applauded.

To think we had dross like Monty Doyle Flynn Hammond as midfielders in the not to distant past makes me shudder

 

[Chali 2na]

His hit/miss ratio is certainly far better than any recent manager we've had (Wanock onwards).

He's also done this while having a smaller budget (relative to the division and era) than his predecessors.

Long live King Wilder

 

[Chali 2na]

Wilder can also turn shit to gold. Look at Leon and MC Gold Rick.

He has signed some duds, but his best signings are among the best I've seen wearing the red and white.

Neither player could be fairly described as shit before we signed them, despite their improvements.

 

[metty]

The best signing we've made has been Paul Mitchell, he unearthed the gems that Chris Wilder and Alan Knill have polished.

 

[nopigfansintown]

If Wilder buys a player and they don't work out, they've cost us peanuts so who cares. He's even doubled our money on two of them: Leonard and Evans.
If they do work out it's a massive bonus. Most of them do work out. Great housekeeper is Chris.

 

[Killamarshblades]

Jake Wright, Simon Moore and Lafferty were all fantastic signings that were vital in making sure we went up. Fleck and JOC have to be the standout ones overall

 

[BushBlade]

His hit/miss ratio is certainly far better than any recent manager we've had (Wanock onwards).

He's also done this while having a smaller budget (relative to the division and era) than his predecessors.

Long live King Wilder

I’m not convinced Bassett had a bigger budget relative to this division and his era. I’m not sure about Harris, a bit before my time but I suspect his wasn’t great either.

 

[Chali 2na]

I’m not convinced Bassett had a bigger budget relative to this division and his era. I’m not sure about Harris, a bit before my time but I suspect his wasn’t great either.

I'm only really talking about recent managers, as based on the little I know about Bassett I think you'd be right.

 

[bladesince64]

Cast your mind back a while to when we had the likes of McEveley, Collins, Harris, Scougall, Baxter, Campbell Ryce etc

That just makes me shudder!

 

[BushBlade]

I'm only really talking about recent managers, as based on the little I know about Bassett I think you'd be right.

Post Bassett, Kendall put together a pretty decent side but spent a bit to do so. If we’d gone for a better manager than Spackman we’d have won the league that season. IMO of course. Rather like West Brom this season.

 

[georgebernardshaw]

I’m not convinced Bassett had a bigger budget relative to this division and his era. I’m not sure about Harris, a bit before my time but I suspect his wasn’t great either.

With Messrs. Wragg and H.Blacow Yates on the board at that time, the words “great” and “budget” had not entered the Sheffield vocabulary, never mind been discussed

 

[crucialkneeligaman]

Wilder can also turn shit to gold. Look at Leon and MC Gold Rick.

He has signed some duds, but his best signings are among the best I've seen wearing the red and white.

Don't think either of those two players were ever shit.

 

[Chali 2na]

Post Bassett, Kendall put together a pretty decent side but spent a bit to do so. If we’d gone for a better manager than Spackman we’d have won the league that season. IMO of course. Rather like West Brom this season.

Same could be said for Robson in 07/08 and Clough in 14/15 I reckon.

Seems like a recurring theme

 

[bornablade]

John Harris - Badger, Woodward, Jones, Salmons - all plucked from the playing fields of South Yorkshire and just beyond.

Archie Clark was John Harris's Paul Mitchell.

 

[Kevincarterversion2.0]

If I have to pick one, it would be Jack. Quality in L1 and Champ.

 

[TCsLoveChild]

Wilder's best signing was his own signature on the contract to become United's manager. I've been watching us since 1971 and for me Wilder is the best we've had, bar none. UTB

 

[KoppedOff]

If Wilder buys a player and they don't work out, they've cost us peanuts so who cares. He's even doubled our money on two of them: Leonard and Evans.
If they do work out it's a massive bonus. Most of them do work out. Great housekeeper is Chris.

Absolutely spot on. This is the crucial bit to me. There HAVE been a few duds; but they are sussed out and replaced so quickly and are generally so low-risk financially that it never has a lasting effect. Definitely credit to Mitchell, but for me it really shows Wilders willingness to accept he’s made a mistake and rectify it. The vast majority of managers ego’s/ stubbornness wouldn't allow that, certainly not at the speed Wilder does.