Chris Wilder in the ‘here and now’ as he looks to push Sheffield United forward

If there is ever a manager who abhors basking in the glow of any past achievements or resting on one’s laurels, it is Chris Wilder.

The Blades chief emphatically referenced exactly that after a late-season defeat at Leicester City in July when his team went into the game with the sniff of Europe and history in their nostrils.

A meek 2-0 loss prompted savage criticism. Wilder, with a face like thunder, ripped into his side.

Not interested in talk of what the Blades had recently achieved with wins over the likes of Spurs, Wolves and Chelsea, he blasted: “I am a here and now manager.”

Wilder’s grounded mentality and view that you are only as good as your next game or season is something that would have yielded nods of approval from Anfield’s famed ‘Boot Room’ cast.

The father of the Blades manager hails from Merseyside, with his ‘old man’s’ side of the family being Koppites back in the day. Those Reds values ring true.

It was a Liverpool man in Ronnie Moran who summed it up best. After an official presentation of medals on the pitch at the culmination of another successful league season in the club’s halcyon era, Moran collected them before the pre-match warm-up.

After the game, Moran brought a cardboard box into the dressing room and put it on the table. He announced: ‘There you go. If you have earned a medal, take one.’

As putdowns go, it was classic.

Sheffield United finished last term in ninth spot. It was their highest ever finish in the Premier League and equalled their best in the top-flight since 1991-92.

Prior to that, you had to go way back to 1974-75 when the club finished higher in English football.

Runner-up to Jurgen Klopp in the LMA’s Manager of the Year awards last term, Wilder does not just want more. He demands it.

Just as Burnley have stuck around in the big time and ruffled feathers repeatedly and qualified for Europe into the bargain, his justifiable belief will be why cannot the Blades do the same. Realistic and eminently achievable.

Wilder’s squad is blessed by a core of senior professionals in Billy Sharp, John Fleck, Chris Basham and Jack O’Connell who have been with him virtually every step of the way in his remarkable Bramall Lane story.

Players of stature who police the dressing room and training-ground environment and maintain and push standards daily.

It has been supplemented by the valued additions of Enda Stevens and George Baldock and then Oli Norwood, John Egan and David McGoldrick.

All have put their hand up repeatedly and it will come as no surprise if a fair number go onto enjoy successful second careers in football when they call time on their playing days.

Cast a glance at the majority of Wilder’s signings in 2020 and his desire to bring in players in their early twenties to freshen up the squad in key areas and increase the levels of competition has been easy to detect.

Derby duo Jayden Bogle and Max Lowe will push the likes of Baldock and Stevens. Ethan Ampadu offers another central defensive option and Aaron Ramsdale – one of the few redeeming features of a fraught season for Bournemouth – heads back to S2 with a well-earned reputation of being one of English football’s best young goalkeepers.

Hopes are also high that record signing Sander Berge will come into his own after a bedding-in process, while the late-season development of Ben Osborn was an encouraging facet duly noted.

The willingness of Oliver McBurnie in terms of his hard-running and ability to link up play showcased a player who is successfully learning his craft amid exalted company. A player not fazed by marquee opponents.

The addition of a pacy forward – with Rhian Brewster being the name on most people’s lips – would top things off nicely.

Solid home form proved the bedrock of United’s resounding 2019-20. As a newly-promoted side, reaching double figures in terms of league wins was outstanding, with a concession of just 15 home goals bettered only by Manchester City (13).

On the road, a total of just six away losses proved that the Blades were together, disciplined and hard to beat, by and large.

Wilder’s side gave out few free lunches last season with their tactical and technical adeptness, tempo, commitment, honesty and quality being a joy to behold.

This driven group of individuals are new school and old school. Don’t expect them to get carried away. It is not in their best interests anyway.

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Thank you, James Mitchinson. Editor.