Chris Wilder is back where he belongs - but Sheff Utd are still going down
After months of despair, Sheffield United fans finally had something to smile about on Tuesday.
Chris Wilder, arguably the club's greatest modern-day manager, returned to Bramall Lane to replace the sacked Paul Heckingbottom - two-and-a-half years after his glorious spell in charge came to an end. And when I say glorious, I mean it.
The boyhood Blade picked up a team in the depths of League One and guided them to the Premier League. He brought the likes of John Fleck, David McGoldrick and Ollie Norwood to Bramall Lane, made legends out of Billy Sharp and Chris Basham, and gave fans some memorable days out after six years in the third tier.
Those supporters will never forget Basham's winner at Elland Road in March 2019 or that famous Sunday afternoon in September 2017 when Mark Duffy's stunner silenced Hillsborough. Yet the joy of seeing Wilder back where he belongs will be short-lived.
United are sat at the bottom of the Premier League with just one win to their name. Wilder has inherited a squad that was stronger when they achieved promotion last season, something Heckingbottom noted after their humiliating 5-0 loss at Burnley on Saturday.
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"I wanted to keep the group together but we couldn't," said Heckingbottom. "We couldn't because of the last few years and the financial implications. If we'd tied them down (on longer contracts) then we probably wouldn't have sold those players."
Heckingbottom was referring to United's failure to keep hold of Iliman Ndiaye and Sander Berge, who were sold to Marseille and Burnley (their relegation rivals!) respectively in the summer. Both players had entered the final 12 months of their contracts.
Wilder brought the good times back to Bramall Lane during his first spell in charge of the Blades (Getty Images)What do you make of Chris Wilder's return to Sheffield United? Let us know in the comments below!
Heckingbottom was also forced to watch Tommy Doyle, their loan star from the promotion-winning campaign, complete a permanent switch to Wolves. What made those transfers even more agonising was the fact they happened on the eve of the season.
United responded by luring Gustavo Hamer from Coventry and Cameron Archer from Aston Villa, two players who impressed in the Championship last season (Archer was on loan at Middlesbrough). Yet the damage had been done. Heckingbottom's detailed plan for the Premier League was carelessly torn to shreds... and he shouldn't be blamed.
The man responsible is their Saudi owner Prince Abdullah. He wants to sell the club and gave Heckingbottom barely any money to spend on transfers during the summer. As Heckingbottom protested on Saturday, "We've been making financial decisions rather than football decisions." Wilder can expect more of the same on his return to the club.
United have been dreadful this season (Getty Images)It's difficult to see how he will find Premier League players in January on a limited budget - or whether he will even change their failing tactics. Wilder played a 3-5-2 formation during his first spell in charge, the same formation that led to Heckingbottom's exit.
Fans want to see a team that's hard to beat after some appalling results. The 8-0 defeat to Newcastle at Bramall Lane - the biggest home league defeat in the club's history - will take some forgetting, as will the recent 3-1 loss to relegation rivals Bournemouth.
A short-term change of style, perhaps to something more direct and ugly, is what's required. But will that happen? It's hard to judge.
Supporters are worried that Wilder's return will change little, if anything, at S2. It's great to see him managing his beloved team again, but United will need a miracle to avoid relegation this season. They may even need one just to avoid breaking Derby's 11-point record.
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