Chris Wilder throws down Sheffield United challenge with summer plans on line ahead of key period
Chris Wilder throws down Sheffield United challenge with summer plans on line ahead of key period
An untimely mini-slump in form has left Sheffield United as rank outsiders for a play-off spot - but manager Chris Wilder will not tolerate any of his players thinking of the beach until the very last kick of a ball this season. The Blades face Wrexham at the weekend in what, at one point, looked like it could be a tantalising top-six tussle.
But taking just two points from the possible nine on offer from their last three has left United some way off the Welshmen, and they fell even further behind after Wrexham played 10th-placed Watford at Vicarage Road last night.
Wilder, though, has already spoken of his desire to see his side go right until the end, insisting that his players will always have something to play for even if their play-off hopes do get mathematically extinguished.
There are a number of United players who are out of contract in the summer, including experienced players such as Tom Davies and Danny Ings, and some who are approaching a key summer in which they will enter the final 12 months of their current deals.
Others may well be playing for their next moves, with Wilder keeping half an eye on the future and who he thinks possess the attitde and ability to be a part of the next chapter of the United journey as they look to banish the memory of this season.
“It won’t be done over one or two games, it’ll be done over a period of time,” said Wilder of his ongoing assessment. “But there’s always an opportunity to impress, and to grab that opportunity with both hands.
“There's always an opportunity to let that opportunity go as well. I'm in the here and now, and I want to win every game. We expect a little bit more from this group at the moment. But I have got one eye on next season, of course, and who takes us on that journey.”
Chris Wilder throws down Sheffield United challenge with summer plans on line ahead of key period
There are also individual stories running through this United side ahead of a huge World Cup summer. Goalkeeper Adam Davies has been named in the Wales squad for their play-off games later this month, alongside Rhys Norrington-Davies who is on loan at QPR, while Chieo Ogbene is hoping to help the Republic of Ireland reach this summer’s finals too.
Defender Tyler Bindon’s New Zealand have already qualified for the tournament, as have Tahith Chong’s Curacao. Sydie Peck will look to continue his own development with the England U21s over the international break while two United players are also in the Irish provisional squad for their World Cup qualifier semi-final against the Czech Republic next Thursday.
"I'm demanding a big finish and onto the next game to see if we can go and win it,” Wilder added. “There's something in it for everyone. For Tyler in the New Zealand national squad, for Chieo in the upcoming games. For Chongy, and Sydie playing in the 21s.
"A couple of the boys have been called up for the Republic of Ireland provisional squad as well. Davo’s obviously got that commitment with Wales in the international break as well. There's an opportunity there for the summer.
"Players will be wanting to finish the season on a high, players that are out of contract wanting the big finish, and there’s a manager and a coaching staff that have got that desire to win every game that we take part of. We have the responsibility of producing that and when we do, we enjoy it. And when we don't, it hurts.”