WILDER: BLADES ARE SHARPER...
Squad strength gives boss big boost
THIS time last year Sheffield United were flying high, but ultimately they couldn’t last the pace in the Championship marathon. Manager Chris Wilder is convinced it will be different this season.
The Blades are up there again in the thick of the promotion battle and the canny Wilder, who led them to the League One title in 2016-17, is confident they are now better equipped to go the distance.
The 51-year-old believes he has a stronger squad than a year ago when they were still catching their rivals unawares on their return to the second tier.
“I thought we had 14, 15 players last year,” admitted Wilder after his side’s exciting 3-2 midweek win at plummeting Brentford. “We were moving players into different positions and we had players that were maybe a little bit short of playing at the top end of the Championship.
“We rectified it with the recruitment in the summer and we are a lot stronger. The likes of Martin Cranie not getting in the team and George (Baldock – ill) not travelling and a couple of others, it shows we have a stronger squad and you obviously need it.
“We changed it around today and I think you have to. It would be naïve of us to think we could go with the same team Saturday-Tuesday-Saturday.
Message
“I wanted to change it around (against Brentford) and send a message to the players that I will be prepared to change the team. People have to take it on the chin, accept it and move forward.”
Wilder brought midfielder John Lundstram and striker Conor Washington into his starting line-up against the Bees, leaving big-hitters Mark Duffy and Billy Sharp to take a break on the bench.
He praised their displays, as well as that of striker Leon Clarke, who came off the subs’ bench to net the winner after being teed up by ex-QPR striker Washington.
“Leon pulled up in training on Sunday morning, but wanted to travel with us,” explained Wilder. “He didn’t want to just stay at home and say ‘I’ll get fit for the weekend’. He wanted to give it a go and that’s why he started on the bench.
“I’m delighted for Leon that he scored and made up for Conor Washington – he was a threat all night. John Lundstram came in and played his part. It’s important this group is ready and able to play at any time. The strength of the group is good.”
Wilder wasn’t impressed with his side’s display in the 2-2 draw at Rotherham last weekend – and made the point to his squad in his typical no-nonsense style.
Angry
“I steamed into them on Saturday because it wasn’t a Sheffield United performance,” said the boyhood Blade. “There were a few angry words over the weekend and rightly so, and the players had to get angry with themselves.
“Rotherham have taken us to the wire. We can’t have the mentality of rolling up and saying it’s about us and we’ll play our way and get a result. You’ve got to fight and earn the right.
“I’ve really enjoyed watching my team play over the last 25, 26 months, but I didn’t really enjoy it on Saturday and I wanted to see what my team was going to produce tonight – I think they’ve answered all questions out there with the performance.
“Tonight you’ve seen a proper Sheffield United performance away from home.”
If United are to improve on last season’s tenthplaced finish, the demanding Wilder has urged his troops to be more clinical in front of goal than they were at Brentford.
“We could have been a little bit tidier at the top of the pitch,” he added. “It’s such a tight league that when the big moments come round you have to take them.”