Chris Wilder returned to his beloved Sheffield United in December 2023 in a bid to try and keep the Blades in the Premier League, but the damage had already been done by that point.
This summer marks his first summer back at the club and this current window is quite similar to what Wilder had to deal with before his debut campaign at United way back in 2016/17. The first couple of months in his dream job he faced a major rebuilding project with the club coming off of a massively disappointing season. Fast-forward to present day and it’s exactly the same.
Last season it was very difficult to judge Wilder and his coaching staff due to them coming into a difficult situation, but eyes will be on Wilder’s Blades at the start of this upcoming campaign, and the manager will be eager to steer this ship around – much like he did in his first stint at the club.
Chris Wilder on his return to Sheffield United ahead of Championship opener
Ahead of United’s opening kick-off against Preston North End on Friday night, Chris Wilder spoke extensively to BBC Radio Sheffield. One of the subjects the interview touched on was how much better, if at all, Wilder has gotten since the last time he managed the Blades.
Wilder responded:
“Better, miles better for the experience. You know, I’m hungry, I’m enthusiastic, I’m more knowledgeable than I was when I was [here previously] when I was in that period [between 2016 and 2020], I’m more experienced. I’ve dealt with more situations.
“I know there’s a lot of talking, a lot of hype about young coaches and this, that and the other, about how they are coming into football, which I understand, always thought there was, I once was a young coach as well. But it’s like anything else, more experience you have, the more situations you’re put in, and sometimes difficult situations that you have, the more if you’re willing to learn which I am, if I’m willing to improve which I have done, there’s no reason why, from a personal point of view, and from my coaching groups point of view, that we’re as good as we can be, and still want to improve as well, and I still feel that 100%.”
One of the biggest talking points this pre-season has been the new look to Sheffield United and how they want to play. In his previous tenure with the Blades, Wilder was primarily known for a wing-back system which included overlapping wide centre-back’s. But we’ve not seen that across the friendlies.
Instead, we have seen United set up in a high-pressing 4-2-3-1 shape, something entirely new to Unitedites.
In the interview, one of the topics of discussion was Wilder being proactive, and he spoke a little bit about the new way he wants his Sheffield United team to play.
Wilder stated:
“I think we’ve been extremely proactive in everything we’ve done since 2016 right the way through. And I would say even my sort of experience with Middlesbrough and Watford: they were both experiences away from Sheffield United, especially the Watford experience, as you could imagine, working in a different environment, working with foreign players, working with two sporting directors, you know, working in an environment which was extremely difficult. And I think that was proved as well by the amount of managers that were before me and possibly will come after me as well. But it was an experience that I wanted to take and feel, and I did.
“But I think we’ve always been proactive in terms of what we’ve done in terms of changing the formation, changing the team, going for it. There are times where you have to sit in there, you know, you have to play the cards and the hand that you dealt with. And I think that was possibly the case last season in terms of the players that were available to us, but blank canvas this year.
“I think you’ve seen from the early signs in terms of how we’re going about our business, a little bit more patient. We want to play a different way. We’ve coached always, as we’ve talked about different formations, whether Al’s [Alan Knill] coached different formations or me previously, and we’ve been successful with that. And the early signs are that we’re on the right track. I think the supporters, even watching us early on in the pre-season, have enjoyed our early efforts and the early ideas. It’s about working, working in progress, and it’s about putting those things together more regularly, with more training sessions, more work on the grass at the training ground.
“And obviously, improving the squad as we go along, whether the young boys coming into the group, which has happened this season, or, I’m sure, which the owners totally understand, bringing in other players to strengthen the group and the players that we’ve already got.”
Blades to welcome new right-back
Before United begin their Championship season their morale may be lifted with a new addition to the squad. Recent reports are claiming promising Chelsea defender Alfie Gilchrist is set for a medical, amid a loan move, and will soon be announced as the latest Sheffield United acquisition.
The Blades have been attempting to get a new right-back over the line since selling Jayden Bogle to Leeds United. It appeared they would get their man last week with Wolverhampton Wanderers right-back Ki-Jana Hoever set to sign on a season-long loan, but an injury issue put a stop to the deal.
