N20 Blade
The clock strikes thirteen
IMO the current United team is an example of this and there are benefits. Critically, there are no outstanding performers likely to be snapped up by higher league clubs during the course of the season. Good business from Wilder getting rid of Adams (bad egg anyway) and Calvert Lewin early doors as well, to avoid disruption at a later stage. By comparison, think back to the Deane/Agana years when we won back to back promotions. That would never happen today because of the massive sums of money in both the PL and Championship. Come January, we would never have been able to refuse a ludicrously big money offer from a club fighting relegation from the PL (e.g. SAFC) or chasing promotion to it (e.g AVFC). Thank goodness the money madness hadn't started when Bassett was taking us up; or our history could have been so different. Football is a team sport and Wilder's recruitment and management personifies this approach. We must be cautious but so good to feel hopeful again.