All I will say is, lateness makes my tits itch!
Some notes from Wilder's presser:
Wilder was all-business. A very straight press conference in terms of tone. He had his "it's on" aura. Looked like it was a couple of mins before kick-off.
Injuries & Absences:
- How's Vini Souza? "We have our fair share of injuries, like all clubs do, some will play, there's some that will miss out". When pressed further he just confirmed Vini hasn't been ruled out
- Campbell and Cannon are "both available" for Sunday
- "I'm not going to go through everyone. We'll give them the most time we can to get them ready"
Looking back on the Bristol City game
- "Disappointed but quickly move on"
- "We're on 79 points, but we're disappointed we're not on 81 points. But we are in a fabulous position"
Looking ahead to the derby:
- He complemented their development under DR, and their current form
- "Their home record has been not that good, but that goes out of the window on Sunday afternoon. It'll be a competitive, emotional game. Very rarely have I seen a free flowing game between the two sides"
- "We have an opportunity to do a double over them"
- "They'll want to get a home win, gain a valuable 3 points, as they'll want to sneak into the playoffs, thought they'll have to win like 7 out of the last 9"
- "I want us to give our best performance on Sunday afternoon. We've handled pressure all the way through [the season]. We're a team that's come out of the premier league"
- On getting the players to understand the significance of the derby, "we did a little presentation before the home game. You saw, they get it. They're all in. They've been all in all season. They've shown they're proper Sheffield United players"
- "This is the city we live in. Football is the number 1 sport. It's on everyone's agenda"
- On the atmosphere, "It's going to be on edge. When they equalised [in the 2-4] it was one of the most deafening noises I've heard at a football ground. It soon quietened down"
- "I want the double as the Sheffield United manager"
- "If we get the upper hand, get in front, it'll be a heavy shirt for their players to wear [with the home crowd getting on their back]"
- "The game is won on the pitch [not the dugout]. Who handles the pressure the best, who delivers the game plan, who handles the discipline. [Our] players, no matter where they've been, they've played in big games (going on to list plenty). They wouldn't be at the level they are if they haven't. I trust if we turn up [and perform] on Sunday afternoon, it'll be enough to win a difficult game"
- Regarding the lesser experienced players like Peck, Cooper and Burrows, "I have no reason to doubt them", then talking about what the team have achieved this season.
- On Shea Charles saying he could never have signed for us. Laughing, he said "I beg to differ, we had a chat with Southampton. I respect his decision"
- "The preparation is good, we're committed and fully zoned in"
- "I don't enjoy any games until it's done and been successful. Even at 3-0 with 5 minutes to go, you're focussed on the clean sheet"
- "We are gonna have to do a lot right to win"
- Some managers get players revved up for a derby and some treat it as just another game. Where does he sit on this? "What do you think?!" going on to say, "you do have to show discipline and calmness, but you have to show passion [that can get the win]"
General:
- Some nice praise for Sydie Peck, his development this season, his call up to England, and how well he's done with the competition that is in "the middle of the park" at United.
- Regarding the international break, "we have some boys going away, there'll be a few boys need rest to recover as they're playing with knocks. There's some boys that won't play this weekend that we will need to work with so they're ready for Coventry"
Interviewers: Andy Giddings, Danny Hall, and one other person I didn't recognise the voice of
