Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder is no stranger to adversity

WHEN asked how he is coping with Sheffield United’s tough start to the season, Chris Wilder instantly quipped: ‘I just drink more’.
Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder. Picture: PASheffield United manager Chris Wilder. Picture: PA
Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder. Picture: PA

As someone who has proved sharp with his one-liners during his eventful time at Bramall Lane, the devout hope of the Blades chief is that his players can prove similarly quick off the mark in turning around their fraught opening to the campaign – starting at Chelsea on Saturday night.

But equally Wilder will be mindful that his side are not exactly drinking in the equivalent of the last-chance saloon either, despite the narrative at the start of a season which has seen United fail to win in seven Premier League matches and pick up a solitary point from 21 available.

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Since comprehensively beating Chelsea 3-0 on July 11, Wilder’s side have lost nine of their last 10 top-flight fixtures.

The 53-year-old is aware of the numbers and the club’s current predicament. But he has been in far worse strife and situations.

Like his time at Halifax Town when he arrived at a club who had no training ground, kit or pre-season friendlies arranged. A dog show once prevented his players from training.

Or when he and his players were not getting paid at another old club in Northampton Town.

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Wilder went onto famously take the Shaymen to within 10 minutes of a return to league football in 2006. His Northampton side, after major off-the-field travails, were promoted to League One in 2015-16.

It provides perspective as he prepares to pit his wits against one of English football’s most decorated-ever players in Chelsea manager Frank Lampard. At least Wilder only has the league table to worry about these days.

Wilder, who revealed his hopes that John Fleck and Lys Mousset could be available for selection after the forthcoming international break, said: “I have not had a stellar career. Frank has had a fabulous career and won everything and played for his country and captained Chelsea. He went to Derby and got in the play-off final and took the Chelsea job.

“My career is a little bit different to Frank. He deserves an enormous amount of credit. Mine has been a different path and I have had quite a few down-days and times.

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“But you come through it by experience and belief in what you are doing is the right thing and looking back and reflecting on what I have done.

“I have had players before who have been shot (mentally) and you look at it and think we are in desperate trouble. But we don’t here.

“A lot of our players haven’t had Frank Lampard careers. Possibly Jags (Phil Jagielka) is the only one. We only have a sprinkling of Premier League experience and that just shows you what the group is about.

“You have experiences and there is not a downside to any experience in the game.”

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For those who followed Wilder’s career intently or on the periphery, the view will be that feeling sorry for himself is just not in the equation.

It is not for his players either with the majority having strived so hard to get to where they are after largely journeyman careers.

Among their number is one who is likely to head for pastures new at some point in John Lundstram, who will not be signing a new contract at Bramall Lane with talks having broken down over fresh terms. His contract expires next June.

Just as Wilder is secure in the knowledge that Lundstram’s commitment will remain total until he leaves, he also bridles at talk that it represents a potential distraction for his squad.

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He commented: “John’s contract situation has got nothing to do with the other players.

“I think sometimes you boys (journalists) look into it too deeply. How is he? How are they? He’s a professional footballer, on decent money. We want to give him a little bit more. He doesn’t want to take that little bit more and something else (club) might be there.

“Stop being soft with them. Footballers are big boys and get on with it.

“They are losing some games of football, go out and do well at your job.

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“Stick together and show that great team spirit you are all about and I am seeing it right up and right the way through. They are really good and tight.

“They will have their individual chats between players and whatever. I am not in their bubble of ‘what has he said.’ Have a bit of balls, pick yourself up and show what you are about when the sun is not shining.

“One of the things that has been a little bit disappointing is that no-one really, apart from Sander (Berge) and a couple of others is really going: ‘I am playing at the top of my game and it is impossible to leave me out’.

“There’s players as you can imagine in this period who are scratching about for a bit of form.”

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Wilder’s words are something akin to an ‘over to you’ message.

Only those in the red and white of Sheffield United can ultimately change the situation on the pitch and not the manager.

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