Sheffield United chief Chris Wilder warns there will be no hiding place for flops

TUESDAY evening will represent an occasion that Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder is likely to remember for many years to come.
Chris Wilder, manager of Sheffield United, during the Sky Bet EFL League One matchChris Wilder, manager of Sheffield United, during the Sky Bet EFL League One match
Chris Wilder, manager of Sheffield United, during the Sky Bet EFL League One match

His fervent hope will be that it somehow proves the darkness before the dawn as he picks up the pieces of an excruciatingly painful 3-0 home loss to Southend United.

When the 48-year-old became Blades manager in May, he spoke about his side enduring ups and downs over the course of the new season.

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But in his worst nightmares, he could scarcely have imagined the torrid events of the opening quarter of an hour on Tuesday when Southend helped themselves to three goals.

Wilder, typically, did not stray from his technical area at Bramall Lane despite witnessing some pretty painful events unfold.

Just as he faced the music, fronted up and refused to gloss over his side’s deficiencies following the game, so he demands – not just expects – his players not to abrogate their own responsibilities out on the pitch.

It starts again in the unforgiving cauldron of Millwall on Saturday where the need for character is non-negotiable.

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For those that shirk away, the repercussions do not need spelling out. In case anyone is in doubt, Wilder has delivered an emphatic message.

He said: “In my career, I have had things that have not gone well and it is about what your reaction is and you have to battle through it.

“No-one is going to help me, apart from a bit of family who might pick me up a bit. But I have got to lead and look after myself and the players have to look after themselves as well and liven up.

“If they do, they will be part of this fantastic football club and enjoy good times because I am determined that there will be good times here.

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“If they do not, regardless of if I have signed them or not, they will not be with us. That is how it is. There is no hiding place.

“There will be a lot of talking and working out which players are going to take us forward because I am finding out about them all the time and Tuesday was unacceptable.

“The character of the side is not strong and tough enough and I have to influence that or get players in who are going to represent and be the type of footballers that I want here.”

It remains to be seen which personnel Wilder selects for the weekend. One thing is for sure, he has vowed not to shy away from any ‘tough decisions’ following the events of Tuesday with perhaps just Leon Clarke and a couple of others at best being guaranteed to start at the New Den.

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Wilder, whose midweek starting line-up featured six players he has signed, added: “We just had a couple of players out there and I think Leon showed what he was about.

“He chased everything. He ran about, put himself on the line and got himself into goal-scoring positions and I do not think he hid. One or two went under.

“I am finding out about the players all the time and the ones I brought in.

“I have some tough decisions now. I have picked the same side for four games, so I have given people enough opportunity to stake a claim and too many have been up and down for my liking and everyone else’s.

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“I am not here to influence people and win friends. I have never been like that as a manager and it will not start now.”

Seasoned Blades supporters might just recollect how Dave Bassett – the man who Wilder served under as a player at the club – delivered similarly forthright comments during some tough early days at the Lane in the late 80s.

Sometimes, things really do have to get worse before becoming better.