Wilder - Get Rid Now, or After Last Game

[Danetheblade]

Also.. a bit of an answer from ChatGPT.


I’d asked: “is a director of football method superior to a traditional manager method?


Short answer: often yes in the modern game—but not universally. The “director of football” model isn’t automatically superior; it’s just better suited to how football operates today.


Let’s break it down properly.





The two models (simplified)


Traditional “manager-led” model

• Manager controls tactics and transfers
• Examples: Alex Ferguson at Manchester United F.C., Arsène Wenger at Arsenal F.C.
• Power is concentrated in one person

Director of football model

• Director handles recruitment, long-term strategy
• Coach focuses mainly on training and matches
• Examples: Brighton & Hove Albion F.C., Brentford F.C.

Why the director-of-football model often works better now


1. Continuity when managers leave


Modern football churn is brutal—managers get sacked constantly.

• With a sporting director, the club identity survives the coach
• That’s why Brighton could move from Graham Potter to Roberto De Zerbi smoothly

In the old model, a manager leaving could mean starting from scratch





2. Smarter recruitment


Recruitment today involves:

• data analytics
• global scouting networks
• contract strategy

That’s a full-time job on its own. Clubs like Brentford and Brighton separate it out, which tends to produce:

• better value signings
• clearer squad planning

3. Less emotional decision-making


Managers:

• want players who help them right now
  Directors:
• think in 3–5 year cycles

That tension can actually improve decisions—if managed well.





Where it can go wrong


1. Power struggles


If roles aren’t clear:

• coach vs director conflicts
• mismatched signings

This has happened at clubs like Chelsea F.C. in certain periods.





2. Poor appointments


A bad sporting director can quietly damage a club for years:

• bad contracts
• wrong player profiles
• no clear philosophy

And unlike managers, they’re often less visible—so problems linger longer.





3. Not ideal for elite “super-manager” setups


Some managers are so influential that the old model still works:

• Ferguson, Wenger, even modern figures like Pep Guardiola (though he still works within a structure at Manchester City F.C.)

If you truly have a once-in-a-generation manager, giving them control can still succeed.





So… which is better?


A more honest answer:

• For most clubs today:
  Director of football model = more stable, scalable, and sustainable
• For exceptional cases:
  A dominant manager can outperform the system

Bottom line


The game has become too complex for one person to control everything effectively. That’s why the director-of-football model is now the norm—especially for clubs trying to outperform their budgets.


But it’s not magic.
It only works if:

• the structure is clear
• recruitment is aligned with coaching
• and the people involved are actually good at their jobs

 

[The Fox]

After a bit of contemplation after today ...fuck it.

I'd rather take a risk than continue like this.

Its time to call an end to the CW chapter.

Glory never came from playing it safe.

Move on .

 

[Carlton Blade]

We saw during our best form, that we could have got promoted from the league this season. What happened to that form?! It didn't just fade, it was worse than that.

We have multiple better players than almost every other team in the league. There are excuses available but I'm not sure they should be needed.

Performances and metrics were low standard enough last season that CW lost his job. I have sympathy with the circumstances, but I'm not sure I've still got the patience.

I don't imagine CW will build a new squad that will evolve and compete over a 3-5 year period - that's why I'd prefer he gracefully steps away now (with a big, positive send off final home game) and we employ a management structure DoF etc + Head Coach which can roll with the punches for years to come, future planning at all times.

We almodt exclusively beat the bad teams, that's what happened to our form

 

[Rudders]

For Wilder to succeed he needs Jamie Hoyland and the rest of our recruitment team to have a world class transfer window. Recent evidence suggests they have a copy of FM2020 and don’t bother watching or analysing players. The chances of success are very limited I reckon.

 

[KMC-1889]

there are a great many Blades supporting Wilder and wanting him to continue as manager, but they're not on this thread,

hopefully that’s because they’ve all been sectioned so they can get the specialist care they need.

 

[YES Blade]

I take your point, but let me ask you how many pro-Wilder posters you think want to come on this thread and risk abuse from the pack of anti-Wilders on the thread. Anyone coming on this thread to stick up for CW is not so much fighting a losing battle, as clearing up the remaining UXBs from a war that finished eons ago.

Contrary to the impression given by this thread, there are a great many Blades supporting Wilder and wanting him to continue as manager, but they're not on this thread, or probably even on the Blades sections of the forum, very much at the moment, because they know the anti-Wilders' minds are made up, and that if they try and argue in his favour, they just get abuse or ridicule.

It doesn't mean that there aren't a great many of us still supporting Wilder - there are, it's just that a lot of us have realised that trying to defend him on threads like this is casting pearls before swine, so we've decided to spend our time with people who do appreciate Wilder, not waste time on the ones who don't.

The amount of fans still in the ground until the final whistle or even for the “lap of appreciation” doesn’t suggest there is a great amount of support for Wilder.

It seems the support he does have is for us to give him 10 games or until Christmas. It really isn’t a good place for us to be in.

 

[Keen Blade]

For the first time in 38 years I’ve walked out at 2-0, zero desire to watch that shit when sunshine and beer is available.

Well I must say Vitamin D and good ale is a winning combination , unlike ....

 

[Keen Blade]

Any manager that repeatedly picks Tahith Chong and McGuinness needs to be sacked.

Well , the one who bought them was sacked , so it seems fair enough to sack the one who's daft enough to play em

 

[Keen Blade]

Conceding 6 goals against Preston North End in a season should be a sackable offence in my opinion.

Preston average 1.12 goals per game this season and have scored 10 less than us overall, despite how shit we’ve been. We’ve conceded 3 goals against them twice.

They’ve also scored 3 goals twice against the pigs, and once against Stoke. Hecky is widely criticised by them for playing boring football and not scoring enough goals.

You don’t let Preston score 3 goals against you twice in a season unless you are a joke of a team.

Of course one mustn't forget they have a tall strong mobile CF and we have ....

 

[Keen Blade]

Well if Hecky is an extension of Wilder the appendage has learnt well. His team were sharper, more organised and seemed to snuff out United quite easily. United looked laboured and lacking in ideas. I presume our players are better than PNE’s are, so what’s the ingredient that creates a better end product ? A fairer result might have been 4-4 as they missed two sitters and United missed a bucket load

During the match Hecky and McAll seemed actively involved whilst Knill just leaned on the dugout and Wilder just kept holding his hands wide in apparent bewilderment at what was unfolding in front of him

You do realise that Knilly is a hologram

 

[Houston_Blade]

His interview today is everything that I don’t like about Wilder.

“The bit in the middle was good”
“Poor in both boxes”
“Nothing in the game tactically”
“We went til the end”
“The shirt feels heavy at the moment”

For me he’s got the summer and until Christmas to show that this season is a result of the AI shite and subsequent terrible signings last summer, that he can still pull a rabbit out of a hat and make us half decent and competitive next season.

The excuses of a poor pre-season disappear after the summer, then he can only blame poor signings made the summer just gone.

If we miraculously manage to jettison some of that dross, he’s got very little excuse left and can be judged on the results at that point.

 

[S64 Blade]

Losing the second most games in the division only to Wednesday isn’t good enough, despite the poor start under Selles.

This team isn’t amazing but it’s not one that should be losing that many games in a season.

 

[SouthStandGBlock]

There's a litmus test for me with Wilder.

If he extends or renews Shackleton's contract this summer, then he's lost the plot and has to go.

Shackleton is the epitomy of Wilders reign. A project. A player with an injury record, whose continued that here. When he has played, it's hard to see what he's good at. Too small, not quick enough, not strong enough and physically weak. Wilder keeps signing them, as "Projects".

We can't afford his vanity projects

Let's see what he does with Shackleton - it'll tell us a lot about CW and his intentions

 

[Edgar Allan Poo]

The amount of fans still in the ground until the final whistle or even for the “lap of appreciation” doesn’t suggest there is a great amount of support for Wilder.

It seems the support he does have is for us to give him 10 games or until Christmas. It really isn’t a good place for us to be in.

This is a telling reflection. Our last home game was an anti climax, sections booed at half time again (something I loathe to hear), the players farewell lap muted and to very few remaining supporters.

Our home support these days has high expectations due to the club's successes in recent years, the concern naturally is that this may take longer than one window to put right.

This isn't like the previous season following the play off final where we needed reinforcements, I think we all realise a much bigger overhaul is needed.

Only time will tell if he can do it.

 

[Edgar Allan Poo]

You do realise that Knilly is a hologram

Please state the nature of this transfer emergency.....

 

[UTB Blade]

Pig like behaviour? Wanting what they feel would be best for United? Give your head a wobble. Pathetic.

Oh, right, so they're not behaving like pigs then, they're just insane. Good to know.

• Quick reminder of how insanity is often defined:




• Quick reminder of what happened the last time the club got rid of Wilder:



If anyone thinks a repeat of the utter fiasco that culminated in that shocking League table I've posted above, is "best for United", they genuinely are insane.

And I'm the one that needs to give my head a wobble...

 

[PrestwichBlade]

Why do the Wilder-ites always point to the absolute worst case scenarios/examples as a reason not to change? And never have an actual suggestion for what happens when Wilder does eventually leave, whatever that reason might be. They must realise at some point that is going to happen? It just seems to be, let's hope Wilder can rekindle something from several years ago and kick that can down the road a bit longer.

 

[Millhousesblade1889]

Last season was a struggle to watch most of the time but we were getting results.

This season has been nothing short of a disgrace. Any other manager that didn't have a cliq like wilder would been getting their marching orders at end of the season.

We'll continue to go backwards, and possibly downwards, whilst ever he remains in charge

100% they would, the owners seemingly need him more than he needs them at the moment though.

 

[unitedbhoy]

With only 5/6 games gone his remit should have been more than just keep us safe. Yes I get a few games to steady the side but after that he should have at least been looking at top half, play offs at least and easy possibility of autos even from that position based on 92

Correct mate.

The wilder cult will preach that his job was to keep us up. But read the owners statement when he was reappointed- they said promotion push.

He’s failed their target

 

[SBSP]

Oh, right, so they're not behaving like pigs then, they're just insane. Good to know.

• Quick reminder of how insanity is often defined:

View attachment 235855


• Quick reminder of what happened the last time the club got rid of Wilder:

View attachment 235857

If anyone thinks a repeat of the utter fiasco that culminated in that shocking League table I've posted above, is "best for United", they genuinely are insane.

And I'm the one that needs to give my head a wobble...

View attachment 235859

So in your opinion Wilder is the only person who should manage us?

Not only next season, but forever.

Because he was replaced and it failed, once.

 

[Iffy Onuora's Shiny Head]

There's a litmus test for me with Wilder.

If he extends or renews Shackleton's contract this summer, then he's lost the plot and has to go.

Shackleton is the epitomy of Wilders reign. A project. A player with an injury record, whose continued that here. When he has played, it's hard to see what he's good at. Too small, not quick enough, not strong enough and physically weak. Wilder keeps signing them, as "Projects".

We can't afford his vanity projects

Let's see what he does with Shackleton - it'll tell us a lot about CW and his intentions

Or if he brings back Robinson or Mcburnie.

This will prove to me he has ran out of ideas and shouldn't be near our club

 

[Iffy Onuora's Shiny Head]

I find it bonkers that people use the "look what happened last summer" as a reason not to consider making a change.

A terrible decision doesnt mean the reason for making the decision was necessarily wrong.

Our poor form under wilder can be traced back to February 2025 since we lost 3-1 at home to Leeds.

 

[vas borbokis]

With only 5/6 games gone his remit should have been more than just keep us safe. Yes I get a few games to steady the side but after that he should have at least been looking at top half, play offs at least and easy possibility of autos even from that position based on 92

He got to 92 with his squad picks, not the bunch of no hopers we signed last summer. Can't make a silk purse out of a sows ear, not can you polish turds, as some like to think.

 

[crucialkneeligaman]

Wilder should be sacked on his post match interview alone. " Won' t be like that next season 100% guaranteed " What a ridiculous thing to come out with, sounded like the proverbial drowning man. What' s his plan ?, the return of Flecky, Norwood, Egan etc. Some of his signings this season hardly fill you with confidence and next season we will have less money. I was one of Wilders biggest fans, but, sorry Chris, you are a busted flush.

 

[Lane Ender]

Or if he brings back Robinson or Mcburnie.

This will prove to me he has ran out of ideas and shouldn't be near our club

How much proof do we need

 

[Carlton Blade]

It isn't a Bigger Blade thing, but yes, I did choose the phrase on purpose because I genuinely believe that the happiest people on the planet, should we get rid of Wilder, will be w*sdayites, which tells me everything I need to know about how disastrous a move getting rid of Wilder would be.

They were the happiest people the last time we got rid of Wilder, and with good reason - remember at the time we sacked Selles we were actually beneath them, which is shocking considering the state they've been in, on and off the pitch, all season. So, yes, I think wanting to get rid of Wilder is pig-like behaviour, for that reason, and I'm not going to say otherwise.

People support United, want United to succeed. They mostly don't care who the manager is. They have opinions on if it's working

Calling people who don't believe Wilder is the right manager Pigs, or saying they display 'pig-like behaviour' is another reason some people are sick of this era. It's like a cult at times, "you're only a proper Blade if you support Wilder". Both extremes of the argument are boring.

Get over yourself. The vast majority of us only care about United, not the shitty soap opera that comes with Wilder now.

 

[Lane Ender]

Wilder should be sacked on his post match interview alone. " Won' t be like that next season 100% guaranteed " What a ridiculous thing to come out with, sounded like the proverbial drowning man. What' s his plan ?, the return of Flecky, Norwood, Egan etc. Some of his signings this season hardly fill you with confidence and next season we will have less money. I was one of Wilders biggest fans, but, sorry Chris, you are a busted flush.

He’s.surviving purely on the 2016/20 era how much credit can a manager have!

 

[Brian Deane]

Out done by Hecky twice. When their second went in and the cameras went to the dug outs, Wilder n Knilly were waving and pointing the arms/fingers.
Hecky stood, the arms folded with a smirk on his face.

 

[The Crab]

I find it bonkers that people use the "look what happened last summer" as a reason not to consider making a change.

A terrible decision doesnt mean the reason for making the decision was necessarily wrong.

Our poor form under wilder can be traced back to February 2025 since we lost 3-1 at home to Leeds.

There’s no reasoning with them, so I’m not going to, it’s not worth my time and what little energy I have.

They’re happy with how things are, others think things could be better.

It’s possible to be grateful he kept us up, but think change is for the best. Not just the manager but how the club does things.

I’m tired of how we do things if I’m honest. Something is happening to me that I thought would never happen.

I’m falling out of love

 

[ekke287]

I didn’t bother going or even following it yesterday. I spent the day sat in the sun with my family in a country park, and was blessed with no phone signal so couldn’t even check the result.

When I got home and found out, I simply shrugged my shoulders and went on with my day. That’s where I am now, complete disinterest and apathy.

If you saw my post midweek following Blackburn, I was fuming. Football isn’t worth losing sleep over anymore.

However one thing I will add here that’s often overlooked is the “people management” aspect of being in charge. I can speak from experience that it’s extremely hard to manage or motivate people if for whatever reasons they’re underperforming.

CW used to be someone who was great at doing that, now his attitude off the pitch is obviously leaking down to the players. “Lead by example” is a perfect summary of this situation.

The problem we have is that players respond differently to management styles. CW isn’t getting the basics from them, so we’re in a catch 22 situation:

1) CW can’t motivate the players to perform even at a basic level
2) If he manages to get them up to speed, he doesn’t know how to use them or have a tactical plan to win games.

So it’s rinse and repeat. We shows signs of life before capitulation, or we never show up until it’s far too late.

The right thing to do for CW is to shoulder some responsibility for the failure, admit it’s not working and walk away. However I feel he’s in a position where he’s seen the grass isn’t greener anywhere else, so will stick around until he’s fired. We now also know our owners are terrified of making the wrong decision, so we’re stuck in this loop of apathy, disappointment and lack of noticeable progression.