SAFE.. AND NOT SORRY
No regrets.. fearless Blades rattle the Prem elite’ Emery: Wilder leading the English revolution
Arsenal to
win 2-1 UNAI EMER EMERY reckons Sheffield United boss Chris Wilde Wilder epitomises the new rise of the elite English manager.
Yorkshir Yorkshireman Wilder is one of eight Premier League coaches born and bred on th these shores. It indicates a sign significant shift in the trend of our le leading clubs always choosing f foreigners in the hot-seat.
Emery’s Arsenal predecessor, Arsene Wenger often claimed the billionaire owners from abroad were to blame for the dearth of Englishmen in topflight dugouts.
Yet, looking at the Premier League table at the start of the weekend, the Frenchman’s view appeared well out of date. Add Leicester’s Northern Irish manager Brendan Rodgers into the equation... and four of the top seven had Brits at the helm.
All of which proves, according to Emery, the likes of Wilder are leading a revolution when it comes to our home coaches cutting it once again at the highest level.
On the eve of Arsenal’s trip to Bramall Lane, the Spaniard (left) declared: “Chris is
UNAI
EMERY is backing
Arsenal starlet Eddie
Nketiah to be a hit on loan with
Leeds. The England Under-21 forward showed more evidence of his potential last week by blitzing a hat-trick for Aidy Boothroyd’s young Lions in a 5-1 romp over Austria. But despite a return of four goals in nine appearances at Elland Road this term, Nketiah, 20, has started
only one league game for the Championship club. The Gunners chief is unconcerned, however, saying: “Eddie is going to play more – because he is going to
deserve it.” 42.His career as United manager is amazing. He is the latest to show there are some very good coaches in England with strong reputations.
Quality
“There are a lot of young English coaches with this big ability. The quality of your English coach is great.”
Having had two spells with Sheffield United as a journeyman right-back, former BRIAN DEANE is backing the Blades’ ‘no fear’ policy to propel them to Premier League safety.
The former Sheffield United favourite has been impressed by the club’s start to life in the top flight.
And Deane believes they are capable of giving Arsenal a fright at Bramall Lane tomorrow night – having run Liverpool close at the end of September.
All with a squad that remains largely unchanged from the one that stormed the Championship under boss Chris Wilder last season.
“They are playing the kind of football that they were playing last season,” said Deane, who made over 200 appearances for the Yorkshire side.
“They seem to have coped well with the step up.
“They are very comfortable with the way that they play, but other teams struggle to come to terms with them.
“They are very much a reflection of the manager – he trusts the players and the p players trust him.
“I think he has done the right thing by not spending excessively.
“Look at what happened to Fulham last season. They spent huge amounts – then lost the value of the p players by getting relegated.
Refreshing
“Sheffield United have nothing t to lose by taking the game to A Arsenal.
“Look at the game against Liverpool – they should have had a draw, even Jurgen Klopp said so.
“They just need to play the game, they’ve got nothing to fear.
“It’s refreshing to see a side get promoted and not then focus just on putting 10 men behind the ball. They are actually having a go.”
An away win against Everton and a point at Stamford Bridge against Chelsea has sharpened the Blades’ belief that they can do far more than simply make up the numbers.
The hostile atmosphere generated at Sheffield United’s home ground will be a major factor according to Deane. He said: “It’s a tight ground and the fans will have a huge role to play.
“It’s a great atmosphere when you’re at Bramall Lane when it’s full – and it will be full all year.
“The gap between the top clubs and the rest in the Premier League is much bigger now than it was when I first played in it.
“But it’s still only 11 men against 11 men. If I had my time again, I wouldn’t fear anyone.
“However intimidated you’re feeling, you get out there and get at those players.
“Then you’re a match for anyone in this league.”
Northampton and Oxford boss Wilder was appointed manager in May 2016.
In just three seasons he has taken his beloved Blades from the bottom of League One into the Premier League’s Promised Land. And if Wilder’s men have enjoyed an excellent start to their first campaign in the big time for 12 years, Emery believes it could have been even better.
“They beat Crystal Palace, a point behind us. They lost against Leicester but deserved more. They lost against Southampton but it was an equal match. And against Liverpool, they lost 1-0, but played very well.
“They’re in the Premier League after losing that place in 2007. They’re coming back with big motivation. They have a big atmosphere in their stadium.”