The aforementioned Times articles, if any one is interested:
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Henry Winter:
Chris Wilder’s men of steel on the road to Europe
Sheffield United 2 Bournemouth 1
It is the ferocious work ethic, the desire to improve individually and collectively, that defines Sheffield United and their rise so high in the table, “now fifth, two points behind fourth-placed Chelsea” as Bramall Lane’s overjoyed announcer declared at the final whistle.
They have the skill, too — Chris Basham with his Cruyff turns out of trouble, and John Lundstram with such wonderfully quick feet in scoring the winner — and the tactical nous to outwit opponents, but it is the strongly beating heart and ambitious mindset embodied by their driven manager, Chris Wilder, that most underpin Sheffield United’s success. “We are not a comfortable team,” Wilder said. They have reached the Premier League’s Euro zone by never being in the comfort zone.
Wilder challenges his players, benches them willingly. Lundstram, for example, has been seeking a considerably improved deal from the club, and Wilder has said in public that he will try to address the contract situations now that the transfer window has closed, but there was also a reminder of who is in charge. Wilder. Lundstram has started on the bench the past three league games — the loss to Manchester City, the win over Crystal Palace and now here — but Wilder spoke of how well he has contributed to the victories. Even if there is a slight disagreement over the contract, nothing has lessened Lundstram’s commitment, as evidenced when he came on.
Wilder also talked, more generally, of the “journey” the club are on, with the obvious implication that this band of brothers was going places, probably Europe, and that it would be strange for Lundstram to leave.
Wilder also made the point that players had to improve constantly, that he wanted only the endlessly driven. The likes of Basham had raised his game, Wilder continued, and so could resist the challenges of those who would take his place, whether new or old.
This is the Wilder way, challenging his players to develop, sharing his appetite to achieve at the club he loves deeply. As he talked afterwards, Wilder’s men were outside the Tony Currie Stand, stepping from the players’ entrance between the Platinum Suite and ticket office, and talking to family and friends waiting outside. Supporters came up to shake their hands, grab a quick selfie, and doubtless congratulate them on the performance, the victory, and the position in the table, sitting fifth on 39 points. United fans had chorused about staying up at the final whistle, tongues in cheek, because they know the direction of travel now, upwards, and possibly towards Europe.
The scene outside was a reminder of what a family club Sheffield United are, roots deep in the community, with the manager and the captain, Billy Sharp, both lifelong fans. So why leave? Money talks and talent walks, of course. The likes of Lundstram could go to a wealthier, more celebrated club, but would it have the feel of Sheffield United? Not all riches are in the bank. A wealth of memories shared with a dressing room of friends is also powerful. And would they become better players? The challenge set by Wilder, strengthening their game intelligence and influence, forged in steel to borrow the club’s mission statement, enhances the players. No comfort zone. No let-up.
They showed their character and resilience, recovering from Bournemouth’s powerful start. Eddie Howe shaped his side in a 4-4-1-1 formation, breaking swiftly, Adam Smith stepping forward from right back, the excellent Harry Wilson cutting in from the right, linking and creating while Ryan Fraser impressed on the left. Callum Wilson was a frequent threat, then scoring after 13 minutes. Andrew Surman found the referee, Jon Moss, too close, but eased away. Harry Wilson passed to Fraser, and met his cutback with a shot blocked but there was Callum Wilson driving the ball into the roof of the net.
ournemouth were good, Nathan Aké again outstanding in defence, but United’s work ethic was always there. The new boy, Sander Berge, making his home debut, clearly fits into Wilder’s “good people, ambitious” mantra when looking to strengthen his squad. The tall Norwegian earned widespread applause for maintaining attacks while holding off Surman, then Dan Gosling. Oli McBurnie, his socks slightly down, his hunger levels definitely up, had a shot that Aaron Ramsdale clutched.
But there is a relentlessness to Wilder’s side, a hatred of the concept of being comfortable, and they built and built, gradually finding a way past Aké. Enda Stevens drove the ball in hard and low, John Egan turned it goalwards, but Fraser cleared off the line. Sharp was quickest to the loose ball to equalise.
United intensified the pressure in the second period, willed on by their fans. Sharp was denied by Ramsdale, and the passion for the cause even brought a booking for Wilder, after a disagreement with Surman, and a pithy two-word response, one syllable each, when Egan was penalised for a challenge on Gosling.
There was so much to admire in United’s work, the attention taken by Basham’s control, and Cruyff turn, then Dean Henderson’s exceptional save to push away Fraser’s drive. The young goalkeeper has responded to Wilder’s challenging. His coaxing, sometimes tough love, sometimes uplifting words, have put Henderson in contention for England. Wilder talked his No 1 up afterwards, claiming he was the English goalkeeper in the best form, a verdict that must inspire Henderson.
Lys Mousset soon followed Lundstram into the fray and, echoing Wilder’s belief in the importance of the collective, the two substitutes combined for the winner with six minutes remaining. Mousset whipped a cross in from the left, Lundstram controlled with his right, then finished deftly with his left. The game finished with the tireless McBurnie clearing at left back, then running forward, winning a free kick off Simon Francis, running down the clock, that hunger for victory imbuing all of Wilder’s players.
Sheffield United (5-3-2): D Henderson 8 — G Baldock 6, C Basham 7, J Egan, J O’Connell 7, E Stevens 6 — S Berge 5 (J Lundstram 60min, 5), O Norwood 6, R Fleck 6 — O McBurnie 7, B Sharp 8 (L Mousset 74). Subs not used P Jagielka, D McGoldrick, M Verrips, B Osborn, P Retsos. Booked Stevens, Mousset.
Bournemouth (4-3-3): A Ramsdale 6 — A Smith 6, S Francis 6, N Aké 7, D Rico 6 — P Billing 6, A Surman 7 (D Solanke 84), D Gosling 7 — H Wilson 8 (J King 72), C Wilson 7, R Fraser 7 (J Stanislas 87). Subs not used A Boruc, S Cook, L Cook, J Stacey. Booked Francis, Surman, C Wilson.
Referee J Moss.
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Martin Hardy:
Bournemouth showed us how to succeed, says Chris Wilder
Sheffield United have used Eddie Howe’s side as a template
“It’s a working-class city so we play working-class football,” Alan Knill, the Sheffield United No 2, said last week.
Yesterday, in the midst of a tense battle with Bournemouth, his boss Chris Wilder demonstrated that steely determination as he stood his ground during a mêlée involving players from both teams. The altercation happened as the Bournemouth midfielder Andrew Surman had looked to grab the ball off Wilder. It ended when a burly steward in a white shirt stepped between the warring parties, but not before the Kop had sang, “Wilder, knock him out, Wilder, Wilder, knock him out.”
But it has not been about standing their ground this season, quite the contrary. The debate has already started that Wilder should win manager of the year. Each victory demands more attention and in the discussion it is important to remember United’s the starting position, when plenty had the club heading straight out of the Premier League.
Those predictions look particularly dated now and failed to comprehend the energy that Wilder’s side has and the bond he has forged with players and fans, of which he remains the latter. They were relentless in the second half, having been vulnerable in the first. It was interesting that Wilder used Eddie Howe and the fine job he has done at Bournemouth to show his players how to grow into the Premier League.
“Three years ago we were at the same training complex as Bournemouth and they were in the Premier League and it was our first season in the Championship,” Wilder said. “I asked one of their boys to come and have a few words with our boys because the likes of Harry Arter and Simon Francis had been on the journey and had started off, some in League One.
“I have great admiration for what they have done. It’s difficult, it’s relentless and it’s a punishing league. I have huge respect for their path and Eddie and Jason [Tindall, assistant manager] and how they have changed that club around.”
Howe could not hide his devastation in defeat. His side were excellent for the first half-hour, during which they led through Callum Wilson. The rise and fall of an English manager’s reputation is sometimes difficult to keep up with. It has been a hard season for the Bournemouth manager — who has admirably kept to his principles and style of play — and four victories since the end of September is testament to that, especially as the most recent two of those came in January and February.
Conceding in the second minute of first-half injury time after a mistake from the Bournemouth goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale gave Sheffield United a hold in the game and they were relentless after that.
“We built momentum, we built pressure and it was us, it was us, it was us,” said Wilder, and the claustrophobic nature of his words captured his side’s play perfectly. Six minutes remained when John Lundstram scored with quick feet, teed up by Lys Mousset. Both players were brought on from the bench by Wilder. As a manager there are times when you should buy a lottery ticket.
For Howe, that is not now. He was still linked heavily with the vacant positions at Arsenal and Everton just weeks ago and his star remains bright, but there will be a relegation fight when his side returns to action in another unforgiving test away to Burnley on February 22.
“It is a feeling of frustration for me,” he said. “It is a horrible emotion to keep with you.”
Howe will take that into the break but Wilder is emboldened by victory. His skirmish with Surman was at the start of the second half and both men were shown yellow cards, but there was no apology. Sheffield United don’t work like that. “It’s a passionate game and I’m a passionate manager,” said Wilder, with a team built in that image.
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