Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder has said he’ll continue speaking his mind after more than expressing his dissatisfaction with the performance against Millwall last weekend.
As United prepare for this Friday’s clash against Bristol City, Wilder told thestar.
‘It`s how I manage. I`m going to say it like it is. There`s been a lot of plaudits going around. If I haven`t enjoyed watching my team, they have to know that. I speak more positively about my team than possibly any manager in this division. I love the attitude of the group, I love the way they drive the game forward, I love the way they go about it. But they also have to see the other side. If players do get carried away, it needs nipping and nipping hard.’
With Bristol City up next, Wilder went on to say that he hoped his words and warnings had been taken on board by anyone who had let a touch of complacency creep in given how the season has gone for us so far in the Championship.
‘I don`t want people thinking all we have to do is turn up and others roll over. That we can play around people rather than go through them first. Ever since I`ve been a manager, you have to compete, you have to win tackles, headers and races to get a result. Then, there`s got to be something on the end of it. If you don`t do enough, you open it up for the opposition.’
He added.
‘If you give an opportunity to the opposing team, to stick it on you, not to win the first ball or get on the second, they get up a head of steam. The character of the team is good and it always has been good. We got back on level terms against Millwall and, second-half, we should have stepped on the gas. But the goals we conceded were crap. The goals were poor. We didn`t do enough when we were on top. They did. We`ll dissect the game but we knew what was happening. I don`t want us to be a spike team but our last performance was a spike performance. We`ve got so much more to do to progress and get better.’
In other news, the Echo are reporting that they understand Southend have now rejected another offer for midfielder Ryan Leonard. United have long been linked with the player and it’s believed three bids were turned down over the summer and we have now gone back in with a further offer of around £700,000 which has also been rejected.
Leonard is out of contract come next summer.
