Down... but NOT OUT
BLADES BOSS WILDER BOWLED OVER BY MESSAGE FROM HIS IDOL BOYCOTT
CHRIS WILDER admitted that he had been completely bowled over by a good luck card from Sir Geoffrey Boycott.
Now the Sheffield United manager is calling for the same dogged resilience that the legendary Yorkshire and England opening batsman displayed when the going got tough in the Test match arena.
The Blades are anchored to the foot of the Premier League table with just one point from 13 games – and there are a few bouncers whistling around Wilder’s ears.
In true Boycott style he refuses to flinch as Sheffield United attempt to break their duck at Brighton today and get a win on the scoreboard.
A keen cricket fan Wilder proudly proclaimed: “What about this then? I got a fabulous best wishes, good luck card from Sir Geoffrey Boycott. How good is that by the way?
“It arrived last week. Michael Vaughan is my pal and I managed to get Sir Geoffrey’s address and chuck him a letter back. It’s the light-hearted ones like that which really lift you.”
A popular figure amongst his peers there’s been no shortage of goodwill towards the lifelong Blade who faces an onerous task to extend his home town club’s stay amongst the elite.
Wilder added: “I’ve had a call off Sam Allardyce, I’ve had calls off other people.
“It’s great. It’s a cut-throat business but I think people recognise it’s tough as well.
“A lot of people have been through the process themselves and have had difficult times and difficult runs in their career.
“Obviously I’m going through that myself now.
“I had a call off Sean Dyche. I had a call off him two or three weeks ago when the start they had wasn’t the one he wanted, but I still get a call from him.
“There are some really genuine people in the game. Three points are on offer every game and only one team that can win them and obviously we’re not winning at the moment.
“I try to be what I am – a tight Yorkshireman! But how good is that from Sir Geoffrey Boycott?”
Wilder has been around the managerial block and has witnessed many struggles before, including former club Halifax going into liquidation and, at Northampton, his players not being paid.
“Yes all crises are relative but this is the biggest one because it’s the next one in front of you,” Wilder said.
“I’ve gained experience and confidence from coming through tough periods. Everyone has to come through tough periods. I don’t think anybody has it straightforward.
“You take confidence in what you have done previously and you try and attack the next challenge. I’m up for this next challenge as much as I have ever been for any challenge that has ever been put in front of me.
“I have the choice not to stay in it. We all have that choice whether you’re a player or a manager.
“You can say, ‘It’s not for me I want to go and do something different’ – but it IS for me and I don’t want to do anything different.”
He believes his players are also up for the fight which was shown in giving Manchester United a fright in Thursday night’s 3-2 defeat.
Wilder stressed: “I don’t think you have to motivate players for the Premier League.
“They have to motivate themselves, which obviously they have done to get where they are in the game.
“They are not world- class footballers who we’ve just chucked together and have absolutely cruised through two divisions and landed themselves in the Premier League.”
Sir Geoffrey would approve.