‘Heavy shirt...’ Chris Wilder makes pointed Sheffield United admission as negative fans make feelings clear
The Sheffield United boss has urged Unitedites to back his players while admitting criticism is inevitable and acknowledging the impact of a section of supporters who may want to make the shirt “as heavy as possible”.
Chris Wilder has been in football long enough to know that criticism is an inevitable part of the job - but the Sheffield United manager has reminded Unitedites what effect their positive support can have as he looks to make the shirt as “light” as possible.
The Blades’ start to the season has attracted some negativity despite one defeat in eight games so far, with United two points off leaders West Ham in the early Championship table despite an underwhelming summer in the transfer market.
Wilder’s stance is that his side will only get better as the season goes on, while a section of Unitedites have been critical that their performances have not clicked completely so far.
And speaking ahead of Sunday’s clash with Wolves, which will represent the biggest test of United’s season to date, Wilder said: “You're never going to always get 100 per cent of that support, but don't underestimate what that gives to a player when they feel the backing and the support.
“I don't know how these players don't deserve that, especially after six games, really, from a certain element. We have to set that support off at times, and at times it's the supporters that set it off. So as always, it's about our actions and we're not immune to criticism. Myself and the players.
“The criticism was there after our last home performance [against Norwich] and justifiably so because we didn't do enough. So you always want that backing, just the feel of it. And for 10 years, 90% of the time, we've had that.
“We feel we've deserved that for those times, those periods of what we've achieved. And you have to deal with it when it isn't there. So we have to do as well as we possibly can, play as well as we possibly can, and I believe we will grow this season.
“It might be a step back now and again, but I think we'll grow and we'll improve and we'll be better individually. We'll connect more as a team and be a little bit smoother in everything we do and create more chances.
“At the moment, we've come from being this team that keeps clean sheets, then all of a sudden to shipping in three against Norwich, two against, shipping in seven and three, and then we're trying to adjust it a little bit.
“I played at football clubs when the shirt's really heavy. When Steve Bruce had Newcastle, it always felt that you were watching a team with an unbelievably heavy shirt. And then you see it under Eddie when there's a change and things happen.
“I'm not saying that's connected in terms of what happens, but it's just the feeling inside of a ground. It's up to us to try and change that round a little bit with playing well. We're going into game on Sunday, wanting to play well.
“I want us to play well. I want us to be compact. I want us to be disciplined. I want the team to be good out of possession. We want them to be good in possession. So we're all after that performance, and I'm sure it will come.
“And hopefully we'll be better with everything that we do on Sunday, because we'll need to be to turn over a team that, as everybody understands, are big favourites to go back up.”
It’s worth adding for context that a lot of Unitedites also seem to understand where the Blades are at this stage of their journey, after selling their three most creative players in the summer window and replacing them with frees and loans.
“We get judged on winning games of football, and I've been honest in my approach,” Wilder added. “There's work to be done. And there's reasons why there's work to be done. I'm seeing it with my own eyes as well.
“I can see it's improving. I see the attitude of the players, which is absolutely first class. I see them giving everything for each other and for the football club, which is priceless.
“That won't happen at every club in this division. There's work to be done. There's work to be done by me and the coaches. I think I'd like to think I've got a tiny bit of credit in the bank. But we're in this world of social media.
“My favourite one is, it's not a chat at half five waiting for the Green ‘Un in the pub any more. So that's how it is. There are a lot of theorists. There are a lot of experts. Alot of ex-pros, a lot of opinions.
“There are a lot of bluffers as well in the game. So it's the world that we live in and we have to deal with it. I have to be focused on what I need to do. We're nowhere near the finish line. There's a lot of work to go into the players. A lot of decisions to be made.
“We're working it out on the job. I don't think I'm the only manager in the division that's trying to work it out. There are a few in better positions than me at the moment.
“And there are a few in a lot worse positions at the moment. What I've got is what I wanted at the start of the season or what I wanted off the back of last season. All those players want to play for the football club.
“I didn't have that last year. I worked that one out pretty quickly. I had to deal with it last season. And this year, the players have got my 100 per cent backing. Are they all playing to the top of their ability? No. Have they got that in them to get to there? Yeah.
“And we will get better. It might be a little bit inconsistent at the moment. I understand that. I'm not watching it and seeing a free-flowing team. But I don't think anybody is at this particular moment. And that's where I'm at with it.
“So I always try and make the shirt as light as possible. If there's a certain element of our supporters that want to make it as heavy as possible, I can't really do anything about that. Apart from put the team out there and maybe change... but is it my job to change their attitude?
“I always think that maybe if I did whatever I needed to do and the players were playing at absolutely the top of their ability and form, I still think there will be a certain element out there.
“So I think it's something you have to accept and get on with. In football, I'm listening to talks about it this morning and somebody's telling Pep Guardiola how he should have done it, this, that and the other. So I'm like, really?
“But I accept and understand that it's a game of opinions. And everybody will have that at this particular moment. My sole focus is for us to pick up points getting up to Stoke, and then let's see where we can take that from there.”