Sheffield United faces turmoil as Chris Wilder returns after Rubén Sellés’s swift dismissal, marking a dramatic strategy shift. Earlier, Sheffield Wednesday fans had been facing existential threats under owner Dejphon Chansiri, but things took a turn when Sheffield United also started facing problems.
The Championship season harbored grim predictions for one Steel City team. Most Sheffield Wednesday fans, facing their club's existential threat under owner Dejphon Chansiri, braced for relegation. A glimmer of perverse joy emerged as their bitter rivals, Sheffield United, languished just below them. But, the Sheffield United hierarchy, after last season’s Wembley playoff final loss to a late Sunderland winner, embarked on a new direction by ending Chris Wilder’s second spell in charge, although the direction “downwards into League One” wasn't intentional, it became their reality, losing their first five games by an aggregate score of 12-1.
Scott Parker's comments about his Burnley players reaching unseen places resonated with Sheffield United fans who endured a seven-hour trip to Portman Road, witnessing a 5-0 defeat. This shellacking led to the firing of Rubén Sellés, Wilder’s replacement, after just 88 days. The club's owners, COH Sports, had lauded Sellés's understanding of “the power of potential,” but their optimism crashed against the rocks of reality. Sellés's attributes of integrating academy talent, innovative recruitment, exciting football, and dynamic adaptation were meant to underpin Sheffield United's next chapter. Now, the club is in the midst of a drastic volte-face.
Chris Wilder, recently dismissed in May, is now being tasked with writing a new chapter for Sheffield United. After being dismissed less than three months ago, Wilder has made a sensational return to Bramall Lane. It remains to be seen how the 57-year-old, famously critical of “do-gooders” and “lefties,” will handle the club’s attempts at artificial intelligence and data-led recruitment. At the very least, he may start playing established stars such as Callum O’Hare and Gus Hamer in their proper positions.
Khéphren Thuram said after the goal, Marcus said ‘well done’, with the eyes of a brother, but he wasn’t laughing. He teases me about headers, and so does Dad, so I’m happy” – Khéphren Thuram enjoyed scoring in Juventus’s madcap 4-3 win over Inter – especially so given that he got one over his big brother, who was also on the scoresheet. Nicky Bandini has the lowdown on a sensational Derby d’Italia here.
Marcus has a word with his little brother. Photograph: Giuseppe Bellini/Getty Images
Noble Francis wrote “I pay no attention whatsoever to Scottish fitba, except when Scottish clubs go out of Bigger Cup, and it’s already September, so that’s long gone. However, I couldn’t help but notice that Rangers are nine points off Celtic and only two places off the bottom of the table after five games, which was puzzling until I remembered that Russell Martin was managing them. And also that fans of top-of-the-table Celtic are, and I quote, ‘mutinous’”
Todd Van Allen said “Like Chad Thomas (Friday’s Football Daily letters), I also love the verb play that Football Daily does. Sadly, I very seldom get to see my favourite verb used these days, because Alex Ferguson doesn’t make the headlines as often, and typically isn’t angry as much. Gone are the days that he ‘purpled’ on a weekly basis. Nostalgia always gets you”.
Max Rushden is joined by Barry Glendenning, Lars Sivertsen and Jonathan Wilson as the Football Weekly pod squad chew over the Premier League’s return after the international break.
- This is an extract from our daily football email … Football Daily. To get the full version, just visit this page and follow the instructions.