r00fie1
Well-known member
Long detailed read.
[Edited]
This article was originally written immediately after Wilder`s departure from Bramall Lane.
The full length text includes an opinion on the issues with some of the players in the relegation season, which can be accessed via the link below if so desired.
Its interesting that the author describes Wilder`s Coaching and Management as a "strength" but says he could be better helped with recruitment *[See Kieran Scott!!] "Perfect fit"?
www.performanceanalysisuk.co.uk
At Sheffield United FC Wilder gained national attention for his decision to play overlapping centre-backs during the successful 2019-20 premier league season. This was implemented by playing a favored 5-3-2 formation. Within the Back 5 a single centre-back would sit and play the 'sweeper' position while the other 2 centre-backs would push up to create overloads on the wing to help attacking phases. This tactic helped occupy opposition forwards as instead of targeting the sweeper they would offer have to come back and mark the centre backs to prevent their team becoming overwhelmed and over congested with Sheffield United players in their own half. With the centre backs pushing up Sheffield United's wing backs came inside more and work with the midfield 3 to fashion chances for the two forwards, as opposed to just using this overload of players to just cross more. This tactic allowed Sheffield United to attack as a unit , compensating for a lack of individual brilliance within the team ( in terms of a player capable of scoring 10-15 goals single handedly). The tactic also occupied the opposition and kept them busy to the point that Sheffield United became very difficult to hit on the counter attack, and overall became a very awkward and uncomfortable Side to play against.
Other features of Wilder's favoured 3-5-2 at Sheffiled United include the forwards in the system ( often Mcgoldrick) being able to link up well and press from the front out of possession. At times in the defensive transition 2 midfielders may be required to drop back and aid the sweeper to create a back 3 or 4. Offensively midfielders always have the option to switch the play due to the overload created by centre-backs pushing up, while the creative midfielder ( John Fleck) is responsible for attempting to break the lines and feed the 2 forwards more conventionally.
Sheffield United's overlapping centre back tactic
[Variation on a theme]
themastermindsite.com
Wilder's Strengths as a Manager
If you look at Wilder's time at Sheffield United as a whole he will have left a legacy, unsurprisingly popular with the fans after delivering 2 emphatic promotions to an outfit who had long been overdue a return to at least the championship let alone the Premier League. As a result it seems only fair to start with Wilder's Strengths as a manager.
Firstly Wilder is remarkable at getting the best out of his players. Particularly at Northampton he took a cash-strapped relegation candidate side to champions on 99 points all within a season. Throughout his time at Sheffield United he overachieved, he took a team of perennial underachieves to being comfortably the best team in league one again all within a season. Then he established the team as an established championship side despite the team being mostly made up of league one players. Following promotion he then led virtually the same crop of players to a top half finish in the premier league. Wilder consistently overachieves, this regularity of success shows his strengths as a coach at getting the absolute upmost from the resources he has.
Predictably in his seasons gaining promotion Wilder's sides scored a decent amount of goals, but this certainly isn't what you associate Wilder with as a manager. His sides are , not really accounting for this season, very well drilled defensively and tough to score against as a result. Sheffiled United conceded 39 in 2019/20, less than Spurs, Chelsea, and Arsenal. In the 2018/19 championship campaign only Middlesbrough could match Sheffield United's 41 goals conceded. Sheffield United have typically been stubborn to play against under Wilder but they were still well balanced in the championship scoring 78 with the join best defence and in League One scoring an impressive 92 while maintaining the second best defensive record in league one. Going back to his Northampton days his side were the second highest top scorers and were tied 4th for having the best defensive record. Discarding the anomaly of this season, Wilder's teams have always been well balanced and drilled. As Wilder has managed in Leagues of ascending quality maybe inevitably the number of goals scored has decreased but defensively solidity has practically been ever present.
Wilder's Weaknesses as a manager
As briefly eluded to before, some of Wilder's shortcomings must be taken with a pinch of salt. This season it's fair to say he's been a victim of his own success when it comes to the downturn of results as his players, in terms of quality, were never realistically going to be able to keep overachieving as much as they were in the Premier League. This has also been coupled with aforementioned impacts of covid and injury issues, which clearly Wilder can't do too much to prevent. Despite this Wilder does have one glaring shortcoming in management so far which is fairly well documented-his recruitment.
Allegedly the main reason for Wilder's departure from his boyhood club was due to his disagreements over the way the club is run. It is believed Sheffiled United may have wanted to bring in a director of football which Wilder was against as he wanted to have full control of transfers. On one hand you can argue that this is fair enough , after all the squads Wilder has developed across his career has led to 4 promotions, however in recent times his recruitment has been undoubtedly poor.
If Wilder is to manage in the Premier League again in the near future he must either work hard to change his recruitment strategy, or accept that others may be better placed in taking control of transfers when his strengths are much more apparent to be in the coaching side of management.
[Edited]
This article was originally written immediately after Wilder`s departure from Bramall Lane.
The full length text includes an opinion on the issues with some of the players in the relegation season, which can be accessed via the link below if so desired.
Its interesting that the author describes Wilder`s Coaching and Management as a "strength" but says he could be better helped with recruitment *[See Kieran Scott!!] "Perfect fit"?
Where Next For Chris Wilder? A summary of his approach to management.
On March the 12th 2021, Chris Wilder departed Sheffield United allegedly due to ongoing tension and dispute with the clubs board. After 5 largely successful years he departs with his side seemingly being taken as far as they were capable of going particularly following the clubs past 2-3 years...
www.performanceanalysisuk.co.uk
At Sheffield United FC Wilder gained national attention for his decision to play overlapping centre-backs during the successful 2019-20 premier league season. This was implemented by playing a favored 5-3-2 formation. Within the Back 5 a single centre-back would sit and play the 'sweeper' position while the other 2 centre-backs would push up to create overloads on the wing to help attacking phases. This tactic helped occupy opposition forwards as instead of targeting the sweeper they would offer have to come back and mark the centre backs to prevent their team becoming overwhelmed and over congested with Sheffield United players in their own half. With the centre backs pushing up Sheffield United's wing backs came inside more and work with the midfield 3 to fashion chances for the two forwards, as opposed to just using this overload of players to just cross more. This tactic allowed Sheffield United to attack as a unit , compensating for a lack of individual brilliance within the team ( in terms of a player capable of scoring 10-15 goals single handedly). The tactic also occupied the opposition and kept them busy to the point that Sheffield United became very difficult to hit on the counter attack, and overall became a very awkward and uncomfortable Side to play against.
Other features of Wilder's favoured 3-5-2 at Sheffiled United include the forwards in the system ( often Mcgoldrick) being able to link up well and press from the front out of possession. At times in the defensive transition 2 midfielders may be required to drop back and aid the sweeper to create a back 3 or 4. Offensively midfielders always have the option to switch the play due to the overload created by centre-backs pushing up, while the creative midfielder ( John Fleck) is responsible for attempting to break the lines and feed the 2 forwards more conventionally.
Sheffield United's overlapping centre back tactic
[Variation on a theme]
Chris Wilder – Sheffield United – Tactical Analysis (2019-20 Edition)
Sheffield United have been the surprise package not only in the Premier League in 2019-20, but arguably anywhere in Europe’s top five leagues. The recently promoted side went from 2nd place f…
themastermindsite.com
Wilder's Strengths as a Manager
If you look at Wilder's time at Sheffield United as a whole he will have left a legacy, unsurprisingly popular with the fans after delivering 2 emphatic promotions to an outfit who had long been overdue a return to at least the championship let alone the Premier League. As a result it seems only fair to start with Wilder's Strengths as a manager.
Firstly Wilder is remarkable at getting the best out of his players. Particularly at Northampton he took a cash-strapped relegation candidate side to champions on 99 points all within a season. Throughout his time at Sheffield United he overachieved, he took a team of perennial underachieves to being comfortably the best team in league one again all within a season. Then he established the team as an established championship side despite the team being mostly made up of league one players. Following promotion he then led virtually the same crop of players to a top half finish in the premier league. Wilder consistently overachieves, this regularity of success shows his strengths as a coach at getting the absolute upmost from the resources he has.
Predictably in his seasons gaining promotion Wilder's sides scored a decent amount of goals, but this certainly isn't what you associate Wilder with as a manager. His sides are , not really accounting for this season, very well drilled defensively and tough to score against as a result. Sheffiled United conceded 39 in 2019/20, less than Spurs, Chelsea, and Arsenal. In the 2018/19 championship campaign only Middlesbrough could match Sheffield United's 41 goals conceded. Sheffield United have typically been stubborn to play against under Wilder but they were still well balanced in the championship scoring 78 with the join best defence and in League One scoring an impressive 92 while maintaining the second best defensive record in league one. Going back to his Northampton days his side were the second highest top scorers and were tied 4th for having the best defensive record. Discarding the anomaly of this season, Wilder's teams have always been well balanced and drilled. As Wilder has managed in Leagues of ascending quality maybe inevitably the number of goals scored has decreased but defensively solidity has practically been ever present.
Wilder's Weaknesses as a manager
As briefly eluded to before, some of Wilder's shortcomings must be taken with a pinch of salt. This season it's fair to say he's been a victim of his own success when it comes to the downturn of results as his players, in terms of quality, were never realistically going to be able to keep overachieving as much as they were in the Premier League. This has also been coupled with aforementioned impacts of covid and injury issues, which clearly Wilder can't do too much to prevent. Despite this Wilder does have one glaring shortcoming in management so far which is fairly well documented-his recruitment.
Allegedly the main reason for Wilder's departure from his boyhood club was due to his disagreements over the way the club is run. It is believed Sheffiled United may have wanted to bring in a director of football which Wilder was against as he wanted to have full control of transfers. On one hand you can argue that this is fair enough , after all the squads Wilder has developed across his career has led to 4 promotions, however in recent times his recruitment has been undoubtedly poor.
If Wilder is to manage in the Premier League again in the near future he must either work hard to change his recruitment strategy, or accept that others may be better placed in taking control of transfers when his strengths are much more apparent to be in the coaching side of management.
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