Chris Wilder has responded to recent claims from pundits that his Sheffield United team have been “sussed”.
Micah Richards said on Match Of The Day 2 on Sunday that other sides in the Premier League have “worked them out”.
Danny Murphy was alongside Richards and agreed with his fellow pundit. Murphy added that “teams are ready for Sheffield United”.
It’s not something that Wilder agrees with.
“You can talk about systems and getting sussed. I think that’s easy to say,” the 53-year-old said in his pre-match press conference, as quoted by Yorkshire Live.
“It brings a smile to my face when people and pundits talk about systems without coming up with why we have been sussed and what are the reasons why we have been found out.
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“I don’t believe it’s true. My opinion on the system is that it is OK. Just the players have to play better in the system.”
Is Sheffield United boss or the pundits right?
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Wilder is used to this criticism from the so-called experts in football. Ahead of their first season in the top fight in 12 years in 2019/20, Adrian Durham said on his talkSPORT show that the Blades were “not even taking the Premier League seriously”.
Wilder subsequently pinned these comments on the changing room wall as motivation. Shortly after the last campaign began, Garth Crooks described United as “basic”.
Danny Mills also received a backlash from some United fans after his “glamorous” comments.
Wilder went onto guide the South Yorkshire team to ninth – their highest finish since 1992. They also had the fourth best defensive record in the entire division.
However, that doesn’t disguise the fact that their start to 2020/21 has been poor. After five league games they have a solitary point and have scored just two goals.
This hasn’t been helped by injuries to key players. Jack O’Connell is set to miss the entire campaign after having a knee operation. Lys Mousset is yet to play this term due to a foot injury.
Despite being in 19th and being the lowest scorers in the league, only two teams have actually conceded fewer than them this season.
In truth, the Blades are yet to be truly outplayed in any game – so perhaps it’s best to continue trusting Wilder and his tactics.
After all, it has produced two promotions and a top ten Premier League finish in the past four years.
