Maybe he wasn’t one of our own after all?

[Bladepicker]

If you listen to Chris’s last couple of interviews and also local journalist all Chris wanted was to still be manager and have control over who is brought in. The owners want a coach and that coach to work with the players someone else brings in.
Can anyone say this is the right approach? That’s not saying people should be brought in to help the manager but it isn’t like that at all. They want someone to make the decisions fully on recruitment.

Given Wilder's transfer dealings since we got promoted and the limited market we seemed to shop from I don't think anyone can blame the board for wanting a different recruitment model?

Is it the board's fault Wilder has made poor signing on top of poor signing?

Again Wilder is a fantastic manager who was able to galvanise and get the best out of the players but his record on recruitment at the top level was abysmal. Why shouldn't the board be critical of this?

If you think the reason Wilder decided he wouldn't be able to continue is because he wasnt going to be in control of transfers I don't think you can blame the board. I think you have to look at:

20 million on McBurnie
9 million on sicknote
20 odd million on Brewster
5 million on Freeman then shipped out to Forest when weak in that area.
3.5 to 5m on Osborn. Lovely lad and a tryer but blimey.
1 million on Jack Robinson. I know that's peanuts but if Forest had given us a million to take him I'd still feel ripped off.
Circa 7m on C Robinson. A winger when we don't play wingers.
Swapped him for another winger. Only the most comedic 'footballer' ever seen.
However much on Max Lowe when we already have RND at a similar if not better level.
18m on Rammers - will prove decent value in the end I suspect but a lot of money when we were struggling elsewhere for someone who isn't (yet) a world beater.

Jesus. If I was the owner I'd want to change my recruitment plans too. If this is what happened I just wish Wilder had been able to accept and try work under this model. If not he won't have a top job anywhere.

 

[Hamburg Blade]

If that was the case it would have better for Wilder to resign at the end of last season with his head held high and his legacy intact.

The board are also in the wrong for trying to force this through when Wilder was clearly struggling mentally to the point they have broken him. Wilder has made mistakes but to apportion all blame on him is absolutely ridiculous with the covid situation and injuries. Our board have contributed massively to Wilder not being himself this year and being so defensive. Publicly backing him while privately chastising him and trying to force changed on him was not the way to go. Especially not right now.

I think it's too much to have expected Wilder to walk at the end of such a fantastic season, even if he could see the board wanted to make changes he wasn't happy with. We would all have said he needed to stay and fight his corner.

With regard to some of the criticism of his role in this season's failure, it would now appear that in addition to fighting a battle to stay in the PL against a long injury list, a policy that didn't enable him to sign his first choice players - or players of the correct calibre, dealing with a group of players who went off the boil and a pandemic that hit us more than most, he was also fighting a board that wanted to change the way he worked against his explicit wishes. The mental strain must have been enormous. The only people backing him, apparently, were the fans - but to venture on to social media to see that backing would have revealed "time for him to go", "lost the plot", "he's to blame", etc.

 

[Mojo]

I think it's too much to have expected Wilder to walk at the end of such a fantastic season, even if he could see the board wanted to make changes he wasn't happy with. We would all have said he needed to stay and fight his corner.

With regard to some of the criticism of his role in this season's failure, it would now appear that in addition to fighting a battle to stay in the PL against a long injury list, a policy that didn't enable him to sign his first choice players - or players of the correct calibre, dealing with a group of players who went off the boil and a pandemic that hit us more than most, he was also fighting a board that wanted to change the way he worked against his explicit wishes. The mental strain must have been enormous. The only people backing him, apparently, were the fans - but to venture on to social media to see that backing would have revealed "time for him to go", "lost the plot", "he's to blame", etc.

I agree with you mate it would have been unfeasible for him to leave then and it would have caused WW3 in sheffield but in hindsight it would have been better than how it has ended up.

Totally agree on the mental strain comments as well.

 

[Hamburg Blade]

Given Wilder's transfer dealings since we got promoted and the limited market we seemed to shop from I don't think anyone can blame the board for wanting a different recruitment model?

Is it the board's fault Wilder has made poor signing on top of poor signing?

Again Wilder is a fantastic manager who was able to galvanise and get the best out of the players but his record on recruitment at the top level was abysmal. Why shouldn't the board be critical of this?

If you think the reason Wilder decided he wouldn't be able to continue is because he wasnt going to be in control of transfers I don't think you can blame the board. I think you have to look at:

20 million on McBurnie
9 million on sicknote
20 odd million on Brewster
5 million on Freeman then shipped out to Forest when weak in that area.
3.5 to 5m on Osborn. Lovely lad and a tryer but blimey.
1 million on Jack Robinson. I know that's peanuts but if Forest had given us a million to take him I'd still feel ripped off.
Circa 7m on C Robinson. A winger when we don't play wingers.
Swapped him for another winger. Only the most comedic 'footballer' ever seen.
However much on Max Lowe when we already have RND at a similar if not better level.
18m on Rammers - will prove decent value in the end I suspect but a lot of money when we were struggling elsewhere for someone who isn't (yet) a world beater.

Jesus. If I was the owner I'd want to change my recruitment plans too. If this is what happened I just wish Wilder had been able to accept and try work under this model. If not he won't have a top job anywhere.

McBurnie - who thought it was a dreadful signing when it was rumoured/announced? He probably wasn't the first choice, either, but do you really think the board thought it was an awful decision but let Wilder do it anyway?
Mousset actually proved his worth last season - very quickly forgotten when it suits.
Brewster has shown some real class but has arrived in a completely dysfunctional team as a young lad. He needs leaders to propel him forward yet we think he should have solved the goal drought all on his lonesome. This was not a bad signing and as Wilder pointed out, the board and everyone involved signed him, again it wasn't a lone decision.
Freeman, Osborn and the rest, even C Robinson, you are really talking peanuts for a PL team. I find it hard to believe that Wilder wanted these players instead of more expensive alternatives. Blaming him for these signings is bizarre.
Rammers wasn't 18m, he may have 18m value when you take everything into account, but it's about cash available and cash flow, and to be honest he's proved a good keeper in front of a dreadful defence.
And then of course you've missed off any of his signings that were good or value for money.

So I'll say again, I don't see how a DoF would have been any better with the same funds and the same restraints. But let's dispell the myth that wanting a DoF is anything to do with his signings this season. The current owner and board have wanted one long before these signings and - having provided only limited resources for signings - have apparently used those same signings to force the issue. So it's a complete red herring that these signings are why the board wanted change and it's time people stopped seeing a DoF as a solve-all that will rid ourselves of duff signings once and for all.

 

[1987]

Agreed.
I don't think I said that you said he was sacked.
I said that if he was sacked he would get a pay-off.
I assume there was something along the lines of a pay-off, ie sorting out terms/pay-off/non-disclosure, etc., in trying to agree on how to bring it to an end from Friday morning to Saturday night.
It seems that on Friday morning CW tendered his resignation. I am at a loss to understand how there would be constructive dismissal involved in all of this.
I am sure he had a very good contract (very well paid, good incentives, hopefully a relegation clause, etc.) but surely it was not so one-sided and totally advantageous to him as to allow him to claim constructive dismissal if the board wanted, say, a DoF or insisted some players would be sold next season.
Any employment contract would, invariably, provide for changes as and when times, situations, change, etc.

We're all guessing, and NDA's will probably make sure we never really know the reasons on what's gone on behind closed doors. Seems the club don't want it coming out.

But if you acknowledge there was a payoff and that he wasn't sacked, I don't really know where else that leaves us - it could also be a constructive dismissal via more reasons than that. That being said, we've no idea.

The main point is that it's probably deeper and more complicated (and more damaging for the board) than the current narratives.

 

[tincan]

All of that rings true. I would only say that I don't think a DoF, in the role of sole recruiter, works or doesn't work based on how much money the club has to spend. I think people make a link because it tends to be the rich clubs who have one, but I think that's down to the ability of the club to pay the extra wages of a DoF plus it only makes sense to have one if you're also shelling out for a scouting network.

It can work if you've got the right personnel. One advantage is you can employ a manager based on his coaching/tactical ability and it doesn't matter whether he's useless in the transfer market. With us, the stupid thing the board have (allegedly) done is force it on someone who has been clear he wants to control the transfers. Fine if you don't want to keep him, but he has been highly successful on the pitch and is liked by the fans.
I don't think our board are experienced enough to understand how precious that can be. Or too stupid to recognise it. They don't grow on trees. A manager who's got the support of the fans even in our position? I doubt it'll happen again. We could be back to the hiring and firing cycle.

Wilder may have made some duff signings, or signings that will turn out well but were wrong for this season, but no doubt the board a) knew and signed off on his targets/signings, b) could easily have worked with him to set up a scouting network and recruitment team under his management and c) knew which signings he would have prefered but didn't stump up the cash, (not that I'm saying the cash was there in the first place).
All in all, I just don't see how a DoF would have been guaranteed to do any better than Wilder or how it helps to have someone delivering players to the manager, who the manager might not even want. But because some of the signings haven't delivered what was hoped, despite the realism of the constraints on getting the first choice players it turns out we needed, some fans are clutching at the idea of a DoF being the answer to all the problems. Just as they think Europe is awash with top PL players who are available for a pittance, will play for low wages and are piss easy to spot and sign.

Given the PL average wage is nearly twice as much of the last 3 world cup winning nations of Germany and Spain - nearly 3times as much as France (https://www.statista.com/statistics/1022140/european-soccer-wage-costs-by-league/) , this is a reason why 66% of the PL players are foreign. So, it follows a DoF can get better value for money from those markets.
Given also how close we actually were too Champions League football for much of last season, its quite understandable HRH strategy was preparing for a possibly assault on Europe. To rely on our legends to keep up the pace for a 4th consecutive season is pushing things too far and for CW to use the issue of a DoF as the reason to leave is a little weak. All successful teams need them, so the Managers role will sadly be consigned to clubs who cannot afford them - Championship level clubs and below. If he does pick up another championship club and he takes them up - the same statistics will be presented to him and he will have to resign from there as he can't reasonably use the DoF now where he is a legend and not next seasons club when he'll be just another pleb.
He actually has to become the DoF himself and then recruit the coaches he wants to train the team.

 

[WeAreBlades1889]

I probably shouldn't bother with you as your post count, sign up date, and tenor of posts indicate that you're a pig troll? If I'm ight how's your season going However for clarity for the hard of thinking: I'm not "emotional" or a "fanboy". Your post and the cult of the Prince however...

Oh...so because your a 'we'll - known MEMBER' that automatically means your word means more than mine, does it?!
It's almost as if your part of a cult and take constant offence at criticism of Chris.
The pig insults don't fly, so please go back and answer any of the questions I asked in my previous posts.
Worst run ever, which started since the back end of last season
Players under performing week after week and you expect them to get us straight back up
Manager playing his same formation, which has been found out and there is no plan B
Terrible signings, who brought NOTHING to the club and this goes back a few years
These are genuine faults, for which the management is liable.
Not a fan of the Prince whatsoever, but we're stuck with him.
Wilder has gone, so get over it

 

[BlairBlade]

We're all guessing, and NDA's will probably make sure we never really know the reasons on what's gone on behind closed doors. Seems the club don't want it coming out.

But if you acknowledge there was a payoff and that he wasn't sacked, I don't really know where else that leaves us - it could also be a constructive dismissal via more reasons than that. That being said, we've no idea.

The main point is that it's probably deeper and more complicated (and more damaging for the board) than the current narratives.

I agree with a lot of that.

You are certainly correct in that this is going to be more damaging for the board if they don't come out and say something much better than they have done so far.

 

[nopigfansintown]

Oh...so because your a 'we'll - known MEMBER' that automatically means your word means more than mine, does it?!
It's almost as if your part of a cult and take constant offence at criticism of Chris.
The pig insults don't fly, so please go back and answer any of the questions I asked in my previous posts.
Worst run ever, which started since the back end of last season
Players under performing week after week and you expect them to get us straight back up
Manager playing his same formation, which has been found out and there is no plan B
Terrible signings, who brought NOTHING to the club and this goes back a few years
These are genuine faults, for which the management is liable.
Not a fan of the Prince whatsoever, but we're stuck with him.
Wilder has gone, so get over it

Well I've reported you for abuse for the opening line of this ill thought riposte. Please don't respond to my posts if you have to go ad hominem.
I don't take offence re criticism of CW, so that's a red herring. Feel free to apologise. How can we have our worst run ever when we're in the Prem? Our worst run ever was in the fourth division. You obviously didn't think that one through. How can terrible signings have gone back years when we finished 9th in the PL? Again think before typing. The rest is just subjective nonsense with no basis is facts and not worthy of my time. Toodle pip!

 

[Hamburg Blade]

Given the PL average wage is nearly twice as much of the last 3 world cup winning nations of Germany and Spain - nearly 3times as much as France (https://www.statista.com/statistics/1022140/european-soccer-wage-costs-by-league/) , this is a reason why 66% of the PL players are foreign. So, it follows a DoF can get better value for money from those markets.

None of that follows quite as neatly as you want it to. If foreign players are happy to play for low wages and 66% of PL players are foreign, how are the wage bills of the PL clubs so much higher than ours?
We not only have to find players on the continent who are good enough for the PL, but who are also cheap enough for us to afford and will play for the wages we offer. That effectively means a player that is good enough for the PL but who nobody else wants. Not easy. And by good enough I mean demonstrably good enough, not has potential or could be but is a bit of a gamble, because that's just the same as buying from the Championship.
When something hasn't worked it's too easy to point to something else and say, look, that's the answer. The problem has been the wage structure. I understand the thinking behind it, but unless that changes the problems will remain wherever we try and buy from.
And to the point about a DoF, he can't see or lure players to the club any easier than a manager can if he is working under the same constraints. The way to spot these players is a scouting network. Whether their findings go through a DoF, a manager, a comittee, the board or a combination of several of those, I don't see the big difference - which is why I don't see why our owner/board are so determined to have one.

Given also how close we actually were too Champions League football for much of last season, its quite understandable HRH strategy was preparing for a possibly assault on Europe. To rely on our legends to keep up the pace for a 4th consecutive season is pushing things too far and for CW to use the issue of a DoF as the reason to leave is a little weak.

Assuming that was the main sticking point (and I don't think it was), I don't think it's unreasonable for any manager, who's success and career will be judged on the results he gets out of his team, to want to be responsible for signing the players in that team. As I said, if the board wanted they could have set up a recruitment team and placed it under Wilder and Knill's control. What's the difference? I suspect the difference is that Van Winkel is a friend of the Prince's and it's simply a case of both of them wanting to run the club in this way. If it's cost us our manager (as I say I think there's more to it) then that's just stupidity.
As for expecting our legends to carry on performing, clearly Wilder didn't think they would and why he kept buying youngsters for the future. What he didn't count on was a collapse of form meaning those young players wouldn't have time to gradually bed in.

All successful teams need them, so the Managers role will sadly be consigned to clubs who cannot afford them - Championship level clubs and below. If he does pick up another championship club and he takes them up - the same statistics will be presented to him and he will have to resign from there as he can't reasonably use the DoF now where he is a legend and not next seasons club when he'll be just another pleb.
He actually has to become the DoF himself and then recruit the coaches he wants to train the team.

Maybe they do, maybe they don't. If he signs with another club and makes it clear from the outset that he doesn't want one and they again try and force one on him, knowing what happened here, then they are stupid as well and he will probably walk again, having got another team promoted to the PL he won't have a problem getting another job. On the other hand if he accepts a situation from the very start, then that's up to him - if it is the only reason he's walked, yes that's odd, but even then a DoF role can be different from club to club and we may also be talking about personalities here.

 

[Sheffsteel]

Wilder has done enough to gain permanent legendary status and he deserves full respect.

He’s had a good run and I reckon he’s got out whilst the going was good.
He and is family can still live in the city without receiving hassle and threats.

As he’s a true Blade I’d suspect he’s been feeling it...with sleepless nights etc.
He also possibly feels he’s losing the dressing room and support from the owners.
So I reckon his family and close friends have advised him to get out.....before it turns really nasty.

I remember Nigel Pearson explaining in an interview 2 years ago that he still loves living in Sheffield and considers himself a fan of Sheff Wed.
They asked him directly “would he ever manage Sheff Wed”. His reply was very unlikely because he values his family life and privacy.
Said he would never live in the city where he manages just in case things turn sour....which in football management always do...sooner or later.

 

[nopigfansintown]

None of that follows quite as neatly as you want it to. If foreign players are happy to play for low wages and 66% of PL players are foreign, how are the wage bills of the PL clubs so much higher than ours?
We not only have to find players on the continent who are good enough for the PL, but who are also cheap enough for us to afford and will play for the wages we offer. That effectively means a player that is good enough for the PL but who nobody else wants. Not easy. And by good enough I mean demonstrably good enough, not has potential or could be but is a bit of a gamble, because that's just the same as buying from the Championship.
When something hasn't worked it's too easy to point to something else and say, look, that's the answer. The problem has been the wage structure. I understand the thinking behind it, but unless that changes the problems will remain wherever we try and buy from.
And to the point about a DoF, he can't see or lure players to the club any easier than a manager can if he is working under the same constraints. The way to spot these players is a scouting network. Whether their findings go through a DoF, a manager, a comittee, the board or a combination of several of those, I don't see the big difference - which is why I don't see why our owner/board are so determined to have one.


Assuming that was the main sticking point (and I don't think it was), I don't think it's unreasonable for any manager, who's success and career will be judged on the results he gets out of his team, to want to be responsible for signing the players in that team. As I said, if the board wanted they could have set up a recruitment team and placed it under Wilder and Knill's control. What's the difference? I suspect the difference is that Van Winkel is a friend of the Prince's and it's simply a case of both of them wanting to run the club in this way. If it's cost us our manager (as I say I think there's more to it) then that's just stupidity.
As for expecting our legends to carry on performing, clearly Wilder didn't think they would and why he kept buying youngsters for the future. What he didn't count on was a collapse of form meaning those young players wouldn't have time to gradually bed in.


Maybe they do, maybe they don't. If he signs with another club and makes it clear from the outset that he doesn't want one and they again try and force one on him, knowing what happened here, then they are stupid as well and he will probably walk again, having got another team promoted to the PL he won't have a problem getting another job. On the other hand if he accepts a situation from the very start, then that's up to him - if it is the only reason he's walked, yes that's odd, but even then a DoF role can be different from club to club and we may also be talking about personalities here.

Brilliant post!

 

[Bladepicker]

McBurnie - who thought it was a dreadful signing when it was rumoured/announced? He probably wasn't the first choice, either, but do you really think the board thought it was an awful decision but let Wilder do it anyway?
Mousset actually proved his worth last season - very quickly forgotten when it suits.
Brewster has shown some real class but has arrived in a completely dysfunctional team as a young lad. He needs leaders to propel him forward yet we think he should have solved the goal drought all on his lonesome. This was not a bad signing and as Wilder pointed out, the board and everyone involved signed him, again it wasn't a lone decision.
Freeman, Osborn and the rest, even C Robinson, you are really talking peanuts for a PL team. I find it hard to believe that Wilder wanted these players instead of more expensive alternatives. Blaming him for these signings is bizarre.
Rammers wasn't 18m, he may have 18m value when you take everything into account, but it's about cash available and cash flow, and to be honest he's proved a good keeper in front of a dreadful defence.
And then of course you've missed off any of his signings that were good or value for money.

So I'll say again, I don't see how a DoF would have been any better with the same funds and the same restraints. But let's dispell the myth that wanting a DoF is anything to do with his signings this season. The current owner and board have wanted one long before these signings and - having provided only limited resources for signings - have apparently used those same signings to force the issue. So it's a complete red herring that these signings are why the board wanted change and it's time people stopped seeing a DoF as a solve-all that will rid ourselves of duff signings once and for all.

Mousset was good for about 2 months. I'm not buying that that makes him a success at the price we paid.

The others have not been a success and the peanuts at this level argument doesn not mean they weren't awful signings. Perhaps if we had tapped into foreign markets where you get more value for money we would have done better?

I agree having a director of football wouldn't guarantee better signings but they could hardly have dome any worse. The fact is the board did not trust Wilder with any more funds and given the recruitment over the last 18 months, however you try to spin it, thats not a wholly unreasonable decision without basis in reality.

 

[Blade-on-Tyne]

Excellent post.

Chris Wilder said a couple of years ago he was 'no-ones patsy'.

Most of us applauded that. We thought he wouldn't be taken advantage of could be interpreted as he would be looking out for all of us.

Well now I hope he's been true to himself and not been taken advantage of by the owners.

He's added hundreds of millions to the club over the past 4 years. The prince should have looked at his ROI and realise he will never come across a better asset.

The owners have always had their agenda. They've bided their time for this to happen.

If the owners really wanted him out - either by direct sacking, constructive dismissal or just encouraging Wilder to throw the towel in - without first having lined up or at least sounded out a credible replacement - then they really are incompetent and the future for the club looks bleak. The last thing we need is seat of the pants management.

 

[Cyprus Blade]

I have no idea what went off and who said/did what. Everything is conjecture except that no-one (PA or CW) is bigger than the club and the important thing is, and always will be, Sheffield United Football Club. CW has gone - thank you, good luck etc but he has gone and he leaves us in a perilous position with the risk of us doing a Sunderland on current performances. Avoiding that is THE important thing. Might seem ungrateful/disrespectful or whatever. But it is the thing I am bothered about and rows and friction in the club and the fanbase is only likely to make that risk greater and the atmosphere toxic.

 

[FranTheBlade]

Clearly, it’s a sacking. If he had walked, he wouldn’t be getting paid £7million. The man has had one bad season at a time when there were no fans during a pandemic. This is only going to go one way people. Historically, we are hard to manage and have just tossed away a special manager.

 

[Hamburg Blade]

Mousset was good for about 2 months. I'm not buying that that makes him a success at the price we paid.

The others have not been a success and the peanuts at this level argument doesn not mean they weren't awful signings. Perhaps if we had tapped into foreign markets where you get more value for money we would have done better?

I agree having a director of football wouldn't guarantee better signings but they could hardly have dome any worse. The fact is the board did not trust Wilder with any more funds and given the recruitment over the last 18 months, however you try to spin it, thats not a wholly unreasonable decision without basis in reality.

Mousset was our best striker last season having played for less time and to a large degree you can say that any of the players who played a part in that season can be credited with its success, 2 months or 6 months. I'm always sceptical at the transfer figures people bandy around, but if he came in for less than 10m then that's not a price to compain about.
The peanuts argument is very valid because it reflects on the funds available and you can't blame someone for not buying quality when you don't give him the funds to do so. Other clubs were snatching our targets from under our noses. That's not down to Chris Wilder. It may not have been in the board's power to do anything else, but that still doesn't mean it's Wilder's fault and it makes it very devious if the board have really used it to bash Wilder with.
I've posted above about the land of milk and honey that is Europe - when we've had a bad season, almost any alternative course of action can be pointed at as a better alternative. Of all the major signings the only one I think has really been dreadful for us is McBurnie, not least because he has played so much; I'm really hopeful he will come good next season - but another Berge and another Mousset instead of McBurnie was never a guarantee of anything better.
I'm not convinced they didn't trust Wilder with any more money, I think they decided that it was a lost cause and accepted relegation in January.

 

[FranTheBlade]

Also, Wilder is a legend and is one of our own. You all know our recent success isn’t typical in our club’s history. If history isn’t your thing, you’ll soon have another manager to compare him to. l feel sorry for the manager who has to follow Wilder. Perhaps, that’s why they be gone for an interim.

 

[Hamburg Blade]

I have no idea what went off and who said/did what. Everything is conjecture except that no-one (PA or CW) is bigger than the club and the important thing is, and always will be, Sheffield United Football Club. CW has gone - thank you, good luck etc but he has gone and he leaves us in a perilous position with the risk of us doing a Sunderland on current performances. Avoiding that is THE important thing. Might seem ungrateful/disrespectful or whatever. But it is the thing I am bothered about and rows and friction in the club and the fanbase is only likely to make that risk greater and the atmosphere toxic.

It's alright saying no one is bigger than the club, but if Wilder got us from League 1 to the Premier League and his departure ultimately means we end up back there because no other manager can do it - God forbid, but if that's the case - is it really true?

 

[WeAreBlades1889]

Well I've reported you for abuse for the opening line of this ill thought riposte. Please don't respond to my posts if you have to go ad hominem.
I don't take offence re criticism of CW, so that's a red herring. Feel free to apologise. How can we have our worst run ever when we're in the Prem? Our worst run ever was in the fourth division. You obviously didn't think that one through. How can terrible signings have gone back years when we finished 9th in the PL? Again think before typing. The rest is just subjective nonsense with no basis is facts and not worthy of my time. Toodle pip!

Come on old fella...I thought your generation were made of sterner stuff than this.
Reporting hate crimes to the thought police is so 2021.
Maybe look for some resilience training during the downtime in the summer.
Toodle pip x

 

[nopigfansintown]

Come on old fella...I thought your generation were made of sterner stuff than this.
Reporting hate crimes to the thought police is so 2021.
Maybe look for some resilience training during the downtime in the summer.
Toodle pip x

If I'm old you must be in your school clothes, which explains a lot. No resilience training needed here; I'll leave that to you keyboard warriors. I'm sure the site owners will love you referring to them as "thought police".
'till nex time sweet cheeks xxx

 

[Bellypork]

United have been a victim of Wilder's success IMO. From the Third to the PL in two years is just too quick a rise, and I'm convinced it would have been even quicker had Coutts not been injured. It doesn't give a club time to prepare and build for the ordeal to come, and unless a club has enormous resources to bring in top quality once promotion to the PL is assured, then it leaves it in a very exposed position.

 

[FranTheBlade]

United have been a victim of Wilder's success IMO. From the Third to the PL in two years is just too quick a rise, and I'm convinced it would have been even quicker had Coutts not been injured. It doesn't give a club time to prepare and build for the ordeal to come, and unless a club has enormous resources to bring in top quality once promotion to the PL is assured, then it leaves it in a very exposed position.

I agree. We all long to get in the PL, but it’s a curse if you’re not ready. I’m not sure we will ever be ready. We just don’t have the resources. With that in mind, you need a man who manage on a tight budget.

 

[Bladeulike]

Up in his car in Glasgow! Again where is they coming from? He hasn’t been to Celtic or even spoken to them yet you throw that in. It’s shot like this people have issues with it’s all made up yet you would sooner believe this than anything anyone has put. Like I said listen all the interviews Bettis, Heckingbottom Billy etc. Read the local journos columns on it. It’s all there you just have to look hard enough to know what’s going off.
It doesn’t matter though because your version of events is truth like him going up to Glasgow in his car. Wait 6/12 months and see what happens then revisit this and see if you feel the same.

The Glasgow comment was tongue in cheek (hence the ‘...allegedly’ ) but I’m thinking maybe dry humour isn’t in abundance at the moment. I don’t purport to have cornered the market on truth and I’m not claiming that I have (in spite of a couple of people on here trying to manoeuvre me into that position). Yes I am speculating - it’s a bloody fans’ forum not a confessional booth

If you are setting yourself up as the protector of the truth, however, I can only assume that your comments :

“There are some snidey bastards at the club feeding falsehoods to the press and it’s complete bollocks. It’s now a PR exercise to taint Chris Wilder and make out it wasn’t us guv it was all him. It is being done in a subtle way through the media

...it’s all there read between the lines. The owners will now orchestrate a PR exercise and part of that is to turn the fans against the previous manager.”

Are in fact, cast iron truths and not you simply speculating? For those of us who have not fully learned the mystic art of reading the empty spaces between lines all we can do is marvel at the real truth laid bare. Or maybe you are just venting as well?

By all means have the last word if you wish and then let’s leave it.

 

[WeAreBlades1889]

If I'm old you must be in your school clothes, which explains a lot. No resilience training needed here; I'll leave that to you keyboard warriors. I'm sure the site owners will love you referring to them as "thought police".
'till nex time sweet

If I'm old you must be in your school clothes, which explains a lot. No resilience training needed here; I'll leave that to you keyboard warriors. I'm sure the site owners will love you referring to them as "thought police".
'till nex time sweet cheeks xxx

Sorry for hurting your feelings, flower.

 

[nopigfansintown]

Sorry for hurting your feelings, flower.

You've got the wrong man honey pie xxxx.

 

[Sean Thornton]

Wow! The "bollocks" wasn't aimed at you personally; it was aimed at your diatribe which was basically a set of falsehoods masquerading as an opinion. I'll take the word "bollocks" back and replace it with "fabrications" if it makes you feel better? I don't know you and will never resort to personal insults online, and am a bit annoyed that you've tried to twist a vigorous refutation of your incoherent narrative as personal insults or abuse. I was merely pointing out the irony of your post, which was dropping with it. The so called "targeted polarising" is all in your head as far as I'm I'm concerned. It's be interesting for you to back that up with some facts or maybe apologise if you can't; you know, like I did earlier in this riposte? Nice deflections though...

The more cynical would take that as “l don’t abuse people you thick lying **** “

 

[nopigfansintown]

The more cynical would take that as “l don’t abuse people you thick lying **** “

Life's too short to be cynical. I'd direct you to his posts and ask....on second thoughts, I wouldn't.

 

[flashinblade1889]

Normally I don't take any notice of newbies who've just signed up to troll, but your post was so mind-numbingly stupid it was such a tap in I couldn't resist.

Yep HB yet another newbie “Stirring the Shit”

 

[CarlMcBlade]

I really hope Wilder ends up at Celtic. It would be tragic to see him in the opposition technical are next season.