EFL pundit questions Chris Wilder's comments on Sheffield United schedule after Carabao Cup exit
Sheffield United were knocked out of the Carabao Cup on Wednesday evening after losing 1-0 to Fleetwood Town.
Former Reading captain and EFL pundit Jobi McAnuff believes Chris Wilder’s criticism of the schedule may have contributed to Sheffield United’s 1-0 defeat to Fleetwood Town in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday evening.
The Blades exited the competition at the third-round stage of the competition at Highbury Stadium after defender Rhys Norrington-Davies headed into his own net 12 minutes into the second half.
United, who face Stoke City in the Championship on Saturday, failed to find a route back into the contest, producing a flat and uninspiring second half that resulted in Wilder accusing some of his players of going “off plan” and accusing some of them of “entitlement and arrogance”. The travelling fans also made their feelings known at full-time.
Despite making seven changes for the clash with the League Two side, Wilder still named a team stacked with Championship talent, handing starts to the likes of Michael Cooper, Japhet Tanganga, Mark McGuinness, Romelle Donovan, Joe Rothwell, Tom Cannon and Tyrese Campbell.
Changes were inevitable on the Fylde Coast after Wilder slammed the scheduling of the football season during his pre-match press conference on Tuesday. The trip to Fleetwood was the Blades’ tenth game in 39 days since the start of the season
Wilder said: "Let's get all of my moans and groans out of the way because I'm going to be positive towards the players when they walk through the door to have a meeting in about 20 minutes' time. The schedule is ridiculous. I think a couple of managers have pointed it out.”
In McAnuff’s opinion, Wilder’s pre-match comments may have contributed to the Blades producing a lacklustre performance the following evening.
"It's easy to come out after that and say the players haven't done enough and maybe that's true," McAnuff told the Football Daily podcast.
"The side is stacked. That is a side that should be, respectfully to Fleetwood Town, able to go and win a game of football no matter how much you've played or not played.
"From the manager's perspective, it's a tough balance to strike. I get it's been busy but you can't let the players smell that because they look for excuses."