Southampton v Sheffield United - ‘Brutally honest’ but Max Lowe is eager to learn

In this softly-softly era of Premier League egos, the Blades manager’s tough love has been refreshing and last season spectacularly successful, propelling a team expected to be relegated to the brink of European qualification.

This campaign has been harder. Wilder’s men kick off at Southampton at noon tomorrow looking to add to a dismal tally of one point from their opening 11 league games.

Wilder’s “brutal honesty” is something else Max Lowe has had to get used whilst making the step up to one of the most admired leagues in world football. Like most if not all in the Bramall Lane dressing room, he sees it as a help, not a hindrance.

“I’ve worked with a lot of managers in my short career so far, but I feel he’s the most brutally honest,” says the left wing-back, sweating on his place tomorrow not only because he was substituted at half-time in the 2-1 defeat to Leicester City but because Enda Stevens, like Ethan Ampadu and Lys Mousset, is pushing for inclusion after injury. At many clubs, that would have seen him shielded from the media this week.

“You’re dug out when you do something wrong and get praise when you do something right,” continues Lowe. “I thought what he said after the game on Sunday was spot on. We knew that before he had said it. We’re an honest group of lads. We will take on board whatever the gaffer says and move forward.

“It can only benefit you as an individual. You instantly have that honest relationship with him so you believe in what he wants you to do. When he talks, you listen. He’s helped me from day one with the formation and the different role I’m playing.

“The one thing I can take away is how honest he is. It makes it easier for me as a player to believe in what he says.

“Some players may struggle, but the gaffer is very honest about the players he brings in and he’s very open about the type of personalities he wants. If you can’t deal with that, football is a ruthless sport.

“That’s why the gaffer has done so well in his career and we all want to play in his team. It’s a no-brainer to listen to what he says.”

Not that it is all dog eat dog at Bramall Lane at the moment.

The other side of such a candid manager is when Wilder dishes out praise, you know he means it. He has been upbeat in training this week, pointing to how well his team has played at times whilst demanding they finally start making the most of it.

“Going back over the last three games (against West Ham United, West Bromwich Albion and Leicester), we’ve created some great chances and not taken them,” points out Lowe. “We’ve conceded sloppy goals from little errors. Staying positive is the best way to move forward.”

Lowe says there is also a unity of purpose at Shirecliffe, with plenty of team-mates willing to share their experiences with the Premier League novice.

“Sharpy (Billy Sharp), the skipper, is always a positive guy,” he says. “He will always pull me aside at training and say what I can do better, what I’m good at and need to do more of.

“Phil Jagielka knows the club inside and out and will always pull me and the younger defenders aside and tell me what I should have done in certain situations. As a kid I remember watching him on Match of the Day at Everton and having that aura about him, you listen whenever he speaks and try and soak it all in on the training pitch and at half-time when he’ll pull me and tell me what I can do better.

“I spoke to George (Baldock) and Enda about the system and I can’t really get my head around how much freedom you have going forward (as a wing-back). It took me a while to adjust to but I can’t have anyone better to talk to because of how well they’ve done this season and last season in that formation.

“In training they’ll pull me aside. It’s little details of where you should be running into the box, say when George is crossing it, I don’t have to hang at the back post, I can get right in at the penalty spot, there’s different runs you can make.

“It’s good to have those players around you, especially at times like this when you might be low on confidence.”

Wilder says Lowe will be a better player for learning in the tough environment he currently finds himself in.

“Max was one to bring in and develop, to learn his trade,” he says of the summer signing. “If you said to me now did I expect Max to play as many games as he has at this level so early on in his career I would say no but that’s where this football club is at.

“Max is learning on the job and he has to get on with it.

“Every experience is a good experience. He had a difficult afternoon against Leicester, got booked early and it turned out to be a half where it was a bit of a struggle to us all, let alone him, but he’ll come through it.

“He’s a good character, a tough boy, and he wants to learn and improve. He’ll have other opportunities to do that.

“It’s a tough sport, a tough environment. There’s no hiding place in the Premier League and you’ve got to get on with it.

“There’s no downside to being in the Premier League and he’ll be better for that experience, as we all will be. It’s not a nice experience at times but if he wants a comfy life he can go and absolutely cruise it in League One or even the Championship and not get pushed.”

Bramall Lane will never be a comfort zone under Wilder.

Support The Yorkshire Post and become a subscriber today. Your subscription will help us to continue to bring quality news to the people of Yorkshire. In return, you’ll see fewer ads on site, get free access to our app and receive exclusive members-only offers. Click HERE to subscribe.