Wilder - Get Rid Now, or After Last Game

[Pintor75]

In my opinion he's in the last chance saloon , saying next year will be different and needing to clear the squad out will test whether he's still got it or not, we all want the club to succeed, that's obvious, but the pressures on now, no more excuses about Selles etc it'll be his squad and his tactics, let's hope he gets it right

 

[Tazzy]

For me we part ways now .Don't want 3 months down the line saying this is not the new managers team .Lets cut ties now and the new guy bring in his team one that's not linked to the same player every season till he retires

 

[Balham]

this is the table since selles left Wilder returned. now im shocked that we were 9th & only 7pts behind Middlesbrough who were going for promotion on the final day

so there must be something that many of us are missing. because to "finish" 9th with a team that pre oxford away was statistically doomed to relegation. cant defend, some dire players, barely turned up for the final month, can only play for 1 half & we never know which one. i would ranked us 16th/17th

so in that im positive that if we can do this with that squad. what can we do with team that wilder is happy with

View attachment 236729

As ever under Wilder, we're very strong against the teams below us and not very good against those above us. Fine when we're top 3-4, a problem when we're midtable and trying to get into the top 6. It wasn't dropped points against West Brom or Charlton which torpedoed the season, it was the fact that we lost 12 of 16 (9 of 13 under Wilder) against the sides which finished in the top 8.

 

[ForgeBlade]

I really think it's shit that the fanbase, at least that part of it represented on here, now seemingly has to be broken down to "Wilder haters" and "pro Wilder." Surely there should be more nuance to it than that?

He did amazing things in his first spell here. The promotions and the first PL season were beyond incredible. The subsequent relegation was appalling, but probably inevitable given the resources a club like ours has. Last season was a freak year. 90 points (we did deserve the -2, that's the rules) would get top 2 in a lot of seasons, and we were a (sketchy) VAR decision away from success at Wembley. He deserves huge credit for all of that.

On the flip side, the latter 3rd of this season has been pretty shoddy. We've lost a lot of points from winning positions, and some of the football has been turgid at best. When a manager takes (deserved) credit for the good times, he also has to take the flack when times are less good.

But the shit-slinging that goes on in every discussion about him is no good for the club or the fans. Questioning if we should look elsewhere and make a fresh start does not make you "anti-Blade" or worse "a pig." Neither does thinking Wilder will come good again make you "a Wilder sheep."

Both arguments have their merits, and their downsides.

To avoid being fully a fence-sitter, personally I think the club should be actively exploring other options. I don't know who, but I feel a change may be for the best ahead of an important season. If we can keep enough of the current squad, and make a couple of additions, then I don't think a top-6 push is out of reach. That said, if there is nobody better available, then I'll get behind CW come August and hope he can rediscover his mojo.

 

[Aston max]

Honestly I think it's "new broom " time, we need change from top to bottom. I realise that could mean a couple of seasons of mid table mediocrity.
Dore needs completing ASAP, a good experienced DOF ( who can oversee dore as well)
And I don’t hate Wilder because he'll always have a place in my top 5 managers but I think it's over .

 

[SB_90]

In my opinion he's in the last chance saloon , saying next year will be different and needing to clear the squad out will test whether he's still got it or not, we all want the club to succeed, that's obvious, but the pressures on now, no more excuses about Selles etc it'll be his squad and his tactics, let's hope he gets it right

i agree on that i think its sink or swim

As ever under Wilder, we're very strong against the teams below us and not very good against those above us. Fine when we're top 3-4, a problem when we're midtable and trying to get into the top 6. It wasn't dropped points against West Brom or Charlton which torpedoed the season, it was the fact that we lost 12 of 16 (9 of 13 under Wilder) against the sides which finished in the top 8.

View attachment 236743

that is the problem i do have with wilder, arguably the only 1 i believe that in the last 2 years its 2 wins out of 15 v promoted teams

 

[Balham]

that is the problem i do have with wilder, arguably the only 1 i believe that in the last 2 years its 2 wins out of 15 v promoted teams

We've got a reasonable home record (W7 D1 L4) but amazingly in 5 seasons under Wilder we've never won away at a promoted side (D2 L9)

 

[IdLiketoRogerMoore]

Post Souttar's injury last season, United were a good, not great Championship team (42 points from 23 games, scored 31, conceded 23), and that is with Anel and Souza who despite their foibles, were 2 excellent athletes. It also included JRS, Choudhury and BBD, and even Brewster who were all good athletes when fit. I think there's a very strong argument that the heart of that 24/25 team - Cooper, Souttar, Anel, Souza, Hamer, Campbell will all have either left or dropped off to the point they need replacing now.

Wilder inherited a side in a mess mentally in September 2025 and took 10 games to start making a real difference. If we take the last 23 matches of this season, 34 points, scored 35, conceded 30.

That's 76 points and a +13 goal difference. I think that is a much fairer reflection of the standard of the squad and team than the "92 points" campaign pushes.

My biggest concern is that despite having 4 transfer windows now since coming back for his 2nd and 3rd spells, we are yet to sign a plus athlete on a permanent basis, and our loans have mostly been an absolute disaster (BBD 1, Choudhury and Bindon are probably the exceptions). Cannon is a great example of the sort of player the Championship has left behind. Not quick, not strong, almost helpless in open play and United invested a huge fee in him.

I worry that the Championship is clearly a league dominated by athleticism, and Wilder doesn't really value it. There's a lot of talk around "AI signings" but none of them play, other than Soumare who is in fact the sort of athlete the Championship is full of. In January, where there was a chance to look to replace the traits that Anel, Souza and even Souttar showed we signed 2 CM's who can't run and a right back slower than the one we currently start.

I understand that people have confidence in Wilder and I think he provides a base level of competence well above the likes of Selles obviously. But I'm not sure where the evidence he can build another top 2 challenger comes from?

It's a generalisation, but the modern Championship and PL are setup in such a way that XI 6ft 4in decathletes who can kick with both feet but are technically inferior to XI technically strong players - would be more likely to be successful.

As the league is getting more athletic month on month, we're still bringing in players like Riedeweld, Rothwell and Bamford, whilst relying on O'Hare/Hamer to be able to survive in this climate.

I'm with you, when Soumare played well, he did things that no other midfielder we have could do. Compare contrast to the golden child Arblaster. Conscious of being in a minority of one, but based on the last 6 months, Soumare looks to have a much higher ceiling than Wilders son in law based on his athelticslism and physical attributes (cue more abuse from the Arblaster fan boys).

Wilders track record of identifying this is poor. The irony is, the first season in the PL we were faster, fitter, more in your face than the rest of the division, but since then we've gotten progressively worse.

Unless there's a diametric shift in transfer policy this Summer away from aged players who can't regularly complete 90 mins (at least once a week) then I'm afraid Wilders goose is cooked at this level....

 

[KMC-1889]

View attachment 236760

We've got a reasonable home record (W7 D1 L4) but amazingly in 5 seasons under Wilder we've never won away at a promoted side (D2 L9)

This is the main reason I think we need to move on. He was the same at Boro as well. That underdog tag he had in his early career has completely deserted him and we’re a team of flat track bullies. When we come up against better coached or more competent players he doesn’t have any answers, and consistently hasn’t for a number of seasons.

 

[Mario1889]

For me this is very much last chance saloon for Wilder now.

I get the whole issues we had at the start of the season with transfers and the Selles debacle but he had more then enough time to get things right and 13th in the league simply isn’t good enough for Sheffield United.

We still have enough good players to mount a serious playoff challenge next season (especially with the change of format to the playoffs), if we don’t hit the ground running next year I’d be looking to change things before another season is wasted.

 

[Kona]

I really think it's shit that the fanbase, at least that part of it represented on here, now seemingly has to be broken down to "Wilder haters" and "pro Wilder." Surely there should be more nuance to it than that?

He did amazing things in his first spell here. The promotions and the first PL season were beyond incredible. The subsequent relegation was appalling, but probably inevitable given the resources a club like ours has. Last season was a freak year. 90 points (we did deserve the -2, that's the rules) would get top 2 in a lot of seasons, and we were a (sketchy) VAR decision away from success at Wembley. He deserves huge credit for all of that.

On the flip side, the latter 3rd of this season has been pretty shoddy. We've lost a lot of points from winning positions, and some of the football has been turgid at best. When a manager takes (deserved) credit for the good times, he also has to take the flack when times are less good.

But the shit-slinging that goes on in every discussion about him is no good for the club or the fans. Questioning if we should look elsewhere and make a fresh start does not make you "anti-Blade" or worse "a pig." Neither does thinking Wilder will come good again make you "a Wilder sheep."

Both arguments have their merits, and their downsides.

To avoid being fully a fence-sitter, personally I think the club should be actively exploring other options. I don't know who, but I feel a change may be for the best ahead of an important season. If we can keep enough of the current squad, and make a couple of additions, then I don't think a top-6 push is out of reach. That said, if there is nobody better available, then I'll get behind CW come August and hope he can rediscover his mojo.

This pretty much sums up my stance too.

I really don’t understand the need to be in one camp or the other, as I have said several times on this post and others.

Surely, anyone with intelligence can entertain an idea or opinion and not feel the need to agree with it or polarise the view.

I don’t see myself as a ‘Wilder hater’ or ‘anti-Wilder’, far from it. He’s been great over the years and I once had the pleasure of meeting him. He wasn’t at all like some have described him to be. He was polite, professional and decent bloke and that’s how I view him.

That being said, in my opinion I does feel like good time to change tact. I don’t want change for changes sake, but would be supportive of a clear out of the whole management team (recruitment and fitness), if it meant we could get proper structure and the right manager in.

 

[54yrblade]

I don't hate him. I simply don't rate him. He's had his time and we're being left behind whilst other clubs move forward, without character politics and post code analysis of where a manager is from.

 

[Pintor75]

i agree on that i think its sink or swim



that is the problem i do have with wilder, arguably the only 1 i believe that in the last 2 years its 2 wins out of 15 v promoted teams

I don't hate him. I simply don't rate him. He's had his time and we're being left behind whilst other clubs move forward, without character politics and post code analysis of where a manager is from.

This is my view, the man's a legend for what he did ,but time moves on and so does the world of football. Supporters aren't what they were before,they have more money to spend on football related things, they have TNT & Sky etc and are prepared to pay whatever, some Sheffield football fans are still wanting the same as it's been for years and are reluctant to change because they could be priced out, spectators moaning there is no atmosphere/singing maybe like where I sit several newcomers don't even acknowledge, let alone talk to the people next to them, just sit and watch then go home, they want to be entertained and they are able to afford it, but as it is at the moment even the kids are bored with the tedious style of play, these are the future and if we don't go with it we could lose those youngsters. Wrexham and others have their club in the spotlight due to Ryan Reynolds & co, why can't we get our own celebrity backers or is this too modern ? Whatever it has to move on soon

 

[Davalon]

We've got ourselves into a position now where anything other than a decent start next season will see the pressure mount quickly. And in truth, depending on what he's allowed to do this summer, that might be unfair.

Although everyone is entitled to their opinion, the issue is now that too many are doubling down. I really hope we start pretty well next season, as obvious as that sounds, otherwise I fear the atmosphere will turn amongst the fanbase.

 

[IdLiketoRogerMoore]

We've got ourselves into a position now where anything other than a decent start next season will see the pressure mount quickly. And in truth, depending on what he's allowed to do this summer, that might be unfair.

Although everyone is entitled to their opinion, the issue is now that too many are doubling down. I really hope we start pretty well next season, as obvious as that sounds, otherwise I fear the atmosphere will turn amongst the fanbase.

I'd push back slightly and say depending on how the Summer goes, will determine how much time he gets.

If he brings in 5 or 6 young, exciting, athletic studs (similar to One) and they're a bit raw but we can see the potential, then I think he'll get time.

If he spends the Summer filling the squad with PL drop downs and c30somethings - and we're having to make wholesale changes after 60 mins, then yes, he's fucked...

 

[Brynner]

Wilder Mk1 initially a great success that went downhill after covid and the 2nd Premier season. Loved the 3-5-2 system with attacking wing backs and RCB/LCB. Think the fall out was due to 5 reasons really. 1) Premier clubs sussed us out to a point. 2) Covid and loss of atmosphere. 3) JOC injury and failure to replace. 4) General ageing and diminishing form of Norwood, Bash, Egan, Stevens and Fleck from Premier levels. 5) Wasted money on poor signings.
Wilder Mk2 built a solid defence, less flair but looked on course for promotion. Never replaced Souttar (JOC Mk2), wasted money on Cannon (Brewster Mk2) and then tactically lost it in the final throes of the season, bearing in mind everything that could go wrong did go wrong in the play off final.
Wilder Mk3 initially recovered the almighty cock up of COH. Wasn't against trying another manager/coach, but the way they went about appointing Selles, catastrophic recruitment, lack of foresight and any cohesive plan was unforgivable. The season then wavered between good and bad, some good acquisitions some not good, general lack of bottle and the usual poor fitness levels.
Moving on for next season, I'm assuming Wilder will still be at the helm. 50/50 on this, but if so would like some clear evidence of a future plan for all development at all levels of the club. Preferably losing Knilly, Allen and Hoyland at least, Prestridge?? with new blood on that score bringing in. Player recruitment dependent on the formation, (not averse to a 3-5-2 return given the players still here) with a mix of a strong spine with experience, physicality and leadership, together with youth, flair and pace. Who that entails will be dependent on finance available, who stays or goes etc.
Have renewed my season ticket for the 58th year on the trot, but gave up many moons ago of seeing any real and serious success. What will be will be, all I can genuinely hope for is exciting and attacking football, whether I get that will be in the lap of the Gods.
UTB .

 

[UTB Blade]

Wrexham and others have their club in the spotlight due to Ryan Reynolds & co, why can't we get our own celebrity backers or is this too modern ? Whatever it has to move on soon.

Celebrity backers for football clubs isn't a modern thing, and it doesn't have to turn a club into the circus that is Wrexham's current incarnation - Elton John first became owner of Watford in 1976, and has had 2 ownership spells with them, neither of which turned Watford into a gaudy spectacle, and both of which were seemingly beneficial to the club. Here is an AI overview of his ownership of, and involvement with Watford:



And unless my memory is playing tricks on me, we've had at least one celebrity on our board in the past - I'm sure Sean Bean was on our board at some point, and maybe Joe Elliott, too, although I might be mistaken about that? I'm sure someone will know.

 

[BangorBlade]

Wilder needs to be given a chance until at least Christmas, but what he needs to do is sort out his backroom staff 'cause imo they've been part of the problem this season

 

[PeterNdlovu081]

I'd push back slightly and say depending on how the Summer goes, will determine how much time he gets.

If he brings in 5 or 6 young, exciting, athletic studs (similar to One) and they're a bit raw but we can see the potential, then I think he'll get time.

If he spends the Summer filling the squad with PL drop downs and c30somethings - and we're having to make wholesale changes after 60 mins, then yes, he's fucked...

Ryan Oné is 19 years old.

If Wilder brings in another six 19 year olds and tries to play them in the first team he'll be sacked before the end of September.

 

[Davalon]

I'd push back slightly and say depending on how the Summer goes, will determine how much time he gets.

If he brings in 5 or 6 young, exciting, athletic studs (similar to One) and they're a bit raw but we can see the potential, then I think he'll get time.

If he spends the Summer filling the squad with PL drop downs and c30somethings - and we're having to make wholesale changes after 60 mins, then yes, he's fucked...

Don't disagree with that in principle if it's a balanced recruitment and he's clearly limited in funds

 

[IdLiketoRogerMoore]

Ryan Oné is 19 years old.

If Wilder brings in another six 19 year olds and tries to play them in the first team he'll be sacked before the end of September.

I couldn't disagree more. If he brought in six exciting physical specimen of 19 year olds, I'd give him much more benefit of the doubt than I would if he continues with the profile a la Riedeweld, Rothwell, Bamford - and that includes Souttar, Philips and R'Kyle.

If nothing changes, nothing changes

 

[PeterNdlovu081]

I couldn't disagree more. If he brought in six exciting physical specimen of 19 year olds, I'd give him much more benefit of the doubt than I would if he continues with the profile a la Riedeweld, Rothwell, Bamford - and that includes Souttar, Philips and R'Kyle.

If nothing changes, nothing changes

The two groups of players you mentioned are at opposite ends of the spectrum, we don't want either to be honest.

All squads have a mix of ages but we should ideally be targeting players in their mid 20s who have some experience but are still hungry to improve.

Enda Stevens and George Baldock would be two perfect examples from Wilder's back catalogue.

 

[Upton_Blade]

The two groups of players you mentioned are at opposite ends of the spectrum, we don't want either to be honest.

All squads have a mix of ages but we should ideally be targeting players in their mid 20s who have some experience but are still hungry to improve.

Enda Stevens and George Baldock would be two perfect examples from Wilder's back catalogue.

Agree with all of that. Especially the last part but unfortunately the man who IMHO played a huge part of our success recruitment wise in Wilder's 1 spell isn't there anymore.

 

[54yrblade]

This is my view, the man's a legend for what he did ,but time moves on and so does the world of football. Supporters aren't what they were before,they have more money to spend on football related things, they have TNT & Sky etc and are prepared to pay whatever, some Sheffield football fans are still wanting the same as it's been for years and are reluctant to change because they could be priced out, spectators moaning there is no atmosphere/singing maybe like where I sit several newcomers don't even acknowledge, let alone talk to the people next to them, just sit and watch then go home, they want to be entertained and they are able to afford it, but as it is at the moment even the kids are bored with the tedious style of play, these are the future and if we don't go with it we could lose those youngsters. Wrexham and others have their club in the spotlight due to Ryan Reynolds & co, why can't we get our own celebrity backers or is this too modern ? Whatever it has to move on soon

Excellent post!

The simple answer is being a supporter and 'one of our own' means accepting medicocrity and having an over inflated sense of what our 'culture' is as it was over used as a 'narrative'. Many would rather be bang average, or below, with CW as boss than be able to move on. Grab them beers to complete the comfort blanket session.

Outside the city, there's a very different view of what's going on. I've said it before, but we are a twice recent PL team from THE home of football and all we can appear to attract is those that have minimal, at best, football knowledge or interest and that leaves them open to being overridden by others. Dozy and Mauriss should never have got as close as the Parkway. never mind through the doors here, but it seems that was okay. That was the level we were playing at off and on the pitch. It's shameful.

And if you question it, you're an S6 fan.

 

[ancientblade]

I don't hate him. I simply don't rate him. He's had his time and we're being left behind whilst other clubs move forward, without character politics and post code analysis of where a manager is from.

i feel exactly the same the right decision was made last summer but the wrong decision employing selles we should have gone for carrick imo however im sure wilder will be given one last crack at it and im sort of ok with that but i do feel hes got 3 months max to get us in a challenging position or hes gone big big summer transfer window coming up for chris

 

[Tarqs]

It's a generalisation, but the modern Championship and PL are setup in such a way that XI 6ft 4in decathletes who can kick with both feet but are technically inferior to XI technically strong players - would be more likely to be successful.

As the league is getting more athletic month on month, we're still bringing in players like Riedeweld, Rothwell and Bamford, whilst relying on O'Hare/Hamer to be able to survive in this climate.

I'm with you, when Soumare played well, he did things that no other midfielder we have could do. Compare contrast to the golden child Arblaster. Conscious of being in a minority of one, but based on the last 6 months, Soumare looks to have a much higher ceiling than Wilders son in law based on his athelticslism and physical attributes (cue more abuse from the Arblaster fan boys).

Wilders track record of identifying this is poor. The irony is, the first season in the PL we were faster, fitter, more in your face than the rest of the division, but since then we've gotten progressively worse.

Unless there's a diametric shift in transfer policy this Summer away from aged players who can't regularly complete 90 mins (at least once a week) then I'm afraid Wilders goose is cooked at this level....

You aren't in the minority wrt Soumare.