Is Chris Wilder our Best Manager

[originaltrueblade]

There will be debate about this but it is IMHO That Chris Wilder is our best ever manager. Don’t get me wrong we have had some great managers but this guy has everything

Since the fifties we have had the likes of Joe Mercer then the brilliant John Harris and of course we cannot forget Ken Furphy. Ian Porterfield was the right man at that particular time and until Dave Bassett came along we were going nowhere followed by Neil Warnock who also brought Some great times to the Lane
BUT
Let’s look where we were when Chris Wilder took over a team of under achievers and we were going nowhere but he waved his magic wand and I can tell you that he can take us much further and don’t be surprised if a European slot in the not too distant future happens.
I’ve seen some great United teams and I never thought anyone would better John Harris but it is happened now
It is my humble opinion that Chris Wilder has now done just that.
Do you agree?

 

[NuddysGloves]

Yes

 

[guancheblade]

If he gets us in the top half by season end despite the odds at the start of the season then I would say yes, CW gets that status.

Thing is on league achievements alone perhaps Bassett has the edge (taking a team down immediately followed by double promotions is some feat). But factor in the style of football and tactical ingenuity, and a couple more seasons in the Prem then Wilder would just about take the title for me.

Qualify for Europe and it's no contest!

 

[Almosthuman]

Definitely in my lifetime (30 years). Loved Warnock as a kid but CW has everything including the most exciting style of football I've ever witnessed

 

[Addison]

John Nicholson (football secretary) - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

No this man is Sheffield Uniteds greatest manager ever by a country mile. Four FA Cup Wins, 1 Division 1 Title, 1 Championship of Gt Britain and two FA Cup finalists.

CW is doing well but still behind John Harris and Dave Bassett in terms of time spent managing in the top flight.

 

[JackSUFC]

John Nicholson was manager when we won our only 1st division title and all four of our FA Cups. Granted this was circa 100 years ago but still.

 

[Never be mastered]

Without a doubt in my lifetime too , others had bits of what wilder has got but not the full package
Long may it continue .
UTB NBM

 

[Stretch]

Not even in question anymore for me. I felt he was since he got us out of league 1, just in terms of the football on display and the feelgood factor/togetherness that he created in the club, but obviously we needed to see how we coped a bit further up the pyramid before it could be made definite.

I honestly think that if we keep him for the next 3 to 4 years he will get us major trophies.

 

[bornablade]

Not even in question anymore for me. I felt he was since he got us out of league 1, just in terms of the football on display and the feelgood factor/togetherness that he created in the club, but obviously we needed to see how we coped a bit further up the pyramid before it could be made definite.

I honestly think that if we keep him for the next 3 to 4 years he will get us major trophies.

For those who have supported the club for many a year that last sentence almost seems unbelievable.

 

[Sheffsteel]

Surely the answer has to be yes. What Wilder is doing almost seems like a miracle.
Ive said it before but it makes me sad knowing that loyal fans like Shred never got to see our unbelievable and remarkable rise.
However I really think the Wilder phenomenon is not just about Sheffield United, soon it will be a national story.

I think Wilder is just starting his journey and will become a really really big name.
He’ll become a historical national figure and be seen like a modern day Brian Clough.

 

[Robboblade1889]

I remember having this debate a couple of years ago and I argued he was then. It's not just about the success on the pitch it's style of play. It was argued then Bassett and warnock were still ahead of Wilder, this is not even a debate now he is head and shoulders above both and the best manager Sheffield united have ever had.

Enjoy this period in our history blades I think we will look back in 20, 30, 40 years and this era will still be talked about. I would build a statue in the car park now!

 

[Guesty]

John Nicholson (football secretary) - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

No this man is Sheffield Uniteds greatest manager ever by a country mile. Four FA Cup Wins, 1 Division 1 Title, 1 Championship of Gt Britain and two FA Cup finalists.

CW is doing well but still behind John Harris and Dave Bassett in terms of time spent managing in the top flight.

He wasn't a manager, technically. He was a general secretary or some such.

 

[Stretch]

For those who have supported the club for many a year that last sentence almost seems unbelievable.

I know mate, and with any other manager I wouldn't dream of such a thing. But Wilder and Knill of course,. have that magic about them.

 

[Addison]

He wasn't a manager, technically. He was a general secretary or some such.

Agree he didn't have the title manager as the Club didn't employ one in that period but he did undertake many of the duties associated with a modern day football manager. He coached and selected the team. Thats good enough to put him at the top of the list of being our greatest football manager IMO.

 

[BushBlade]

No, not yet. Based on what he’s done so far, he’s above Warnock but below Harris and Bassett. Obviously he will be the best if he does what some posters have predicted but it’s not happened yet.

 

[CaptainMorgans]

I'm approaching 30 too, so too young to appreciate Bassett. Nothing since the mid-to-late 90s onwards (when I was old enough to have some form of understanding) has come anywhere close to Wilder.

Warnock, the closest, is miles off. Although, I don't think during the Wilder years we have replicated any of the the big one off occasions we had during Warnock's era. We're probably just too consistent!

However, the atmosphere is nowhere close to what it was during the Warnock years. The 2002/3 season was just something else. I used to love the Lane when it was seriously raucous, tense & hostile. Occasions vs Leeds, Cardiff, Millwall, Wednesday. I don't agree with football violence in any form, but there was a certain buzz about those occasions that I used to love. Would love for it to come back but I think those days are gone.

 

[Plymouthblade]

Championship manager game predicts us to run the rule for years to come

 

[tomtheblade]

In my lifetime, yes.

I hope at some point he takes the cup seriously though, I think we could actually win something if we did

 

[Guesty]

Agree he didn't have the title manager as the Club didn't employ one in that period but he did undertake many of the duties associated with a modern day football manager. He coached and selected the team. Thats good enough to put him at the top of the list of being our greatest football manager IMO.

I don't necessarily disagree.

 

[Nick Jansky]

Been watching us for 51 years, best manager in my time. Bassett & Warnock (eventually) brought success, but not with such style and in arguably easier eras. Its never been better than this.

 

[Niceguyeddie]

This is the best football ive ever seen at the lane and I've been a fan since div 4 days

Wilders achievements have surpassed warnocks and are on a part with bassets buy if you think of the style in which Wilder has achieved his success then he has to be the main man ,keeping us up this season would cement that and who knows we may even win a trophy under him .the possibilities are endless

 

[Sean Thornton]

John Nicholson was manager when we won our only 1st division title and all four of our FA Cups. Granted this was circa 100 years ago but still.

I've heard he didn't rate Billy, so it's a no from me

 

[BigBed]

There will be debate about this but it is IMHO That Chris Wilder is our best ever manager. Don’t get me wrong we have had some great managers but this guy has everything

Since the fifties we have had the likes of Joe Mercer then the brilliant John Harris and of course we cannot forget Ken Furphy. Ian Porterfield was the right man at that particular time and until Dave Bassett came along we were going nowhere followed by Neil Warnock who also brought Some great times to the Lane
BUT
Let’s look where we were when Chris Wilder took over a team of under achievers and we were going nowhere but he waved his magic wand and I can tell you that he can take us much further and don’t be surprised if a European slot in the not too distant future happens.
I’ve seen some great United teams and I never thought anyone would better John Harris but it is happened now
It is my humble opinion that Chris Wilder has now done just that.
Do you agree?

No, Chris Wilder is THEE GREATEST MANAGER! that's is all.

I was winding a Wendy lad at work up a bit today, and he said that he thinks wilder is "the best manager in England", and "possibly the world"!!
He's now allowed into my workshop.

 

[Nicolaus_Copernicus]

This is the best football ive ever seen at the lane and I've been a fan since div 4 days

Wilders achievements have surpassed warnocks and are on a part with bassets buy if you think of the style in which Wilder has achieved his success then he has to be the main man ,keeping us up this season would cement that and who knows we may even win a trophy under him .the possibilities are endless

It's certainly the best football on a consistent basis in that time frame.

 

[Silent Blade]

Agree he didn't have the title manager as the Club didn't employ one in that period but he did undertake many of the duties associated with a modern day football manager. He coached and selected the team. Thats good enough to put him at the top of the list of being our greatest football manager IMO.

Nicholson never coached the team, George Waller and Jack Houseley (and later Harry Johnson snr) were the trainers. The football committee along with the club captain selected the team . The captain decided on tactics (just like the cricket captain does). Nicholson was only responsible for signing players, arranging contracts and secretarial duties. I have not seen any evidence that he gets involved with trainings, talking tactics and I am not even sure if he was part of the football committee that selected the team. Our first manager was Teddy Davison in 1932

 

[BladeInIreland]

Wilder has to be the best. It is more difficult in the modern game to rise up like we have imo.

 

[Antonb]

Wilder is by a distance , is our best ever manager, Dave Bassett did fantastic, but i saw the games towards the end of his time with us and they were bloody terrible!

 

[Seanshoreham]

Always been a John Harris (a Scot like my dad) fan and his fabulous 1971 team - never thought I'd change until now.
IMO Chris and Alan have saved this club from oblivion - I mean 6th in the Prem ⚔

 

[Yoonited]

There will be debate about this but it is IMHO That Chris Wilder is our best ever manager. Don’t get me wrong we have had some great managers but this guy has everything

Since the fifties we have had the likes of Joe Mercer then the brilliant John Harris and of course we cannot forget Ken Furphy. Ian Porterfield was the right man at that particular time and until Dave Bassett came along we were going nowhere followed by Neil Warnock who also brought Some great times to the Lane
BUT
Let’s look where we were when Chris Wilder took over a team of under achievers and we were going nowhere but he waved his magic wand and I can tell you that he can take us much further and don’t be surprised if a European slot in the not too distant future happens.
I’ve seen some great United teams and I never thought anyone would better John Harris but it is happened now
It is my humble opinion that Chris Wilder has now done just that.
Do you agree?

Without a doubt in my mind

 

[blade67]

This is without doubt the most enjoyable time to be Blade in my time following the side since the late 1970s

However, the performances of the 91/92 Bassett side, especially in the 2nd half of that season were equally remarkable. For example their results against the top 7 sides in the league that year were

Leeds - lost 3-2 in the last home game of the season to the champions. A cracking end to end match
Man Utd - lost 2-1 at home in a very hard fought game
Sheff Wed - won 3-1 away to this lot, whatever happened to them ?
Arsenal - draw 1-1 at home with the best side in the country at that time. It was a fantastic match
Man city - won 4-2 at home
Liverpool - won 2-0 at home
villa - drew 1-1 away

Also beat Spurs, Everton, Chelsea and Forest in that run in and were good value for many of those wins

Key players included Tracey , Gage, Gayle, Beesley, Cowan, Whitehouse, Bryson, Gannon, Hodges, Hoyland, Deane, Agana, Bradshaw etc. etc.

Bob Booker got a few games in a certain Chris Wilder played 4 games

They were the only side I've seen that compares to this team.