Jamie Redknapp believes Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder is the “most forward-thinking” manager in England’s top division.
The newly-promoted Premier League outfit snatched a 2-2 draw from the jaws of defeat against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.
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Frank Lampard’s men had raced into a 2-0 half-time lead, both scored by Tammy Abraham, before second half goals from Callum Robinson and Kurt Zouma (own goal) earned them an unlikely but welcome point.
It was the second time since top-flight football returned to Bramall Lane that the Blades rescued a point late on. The first occurrence came in their opening weekend draw at Bournemouth when an 88th minute Billy Sharp effort cancelled out Chris Mepham’s opener.
This result was followed up by a 1-0 victory over Crystal Palace before Leicester City returned home with all three points, with Brendan Rodgers’ side registering a 2-1 victory on matchweek three.
Nonetheless they currently sit 10th heading into the international break and Redknapp feels their manager isn’t getting enough credit. He feels describing Wilder as “old school” is not only unfair but way off the mark.
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“Calling Sheffield United’s Chris Wilder an ‘old-school manager’ is wrong. I’ve heard him tarred with that brush a few times, and I find it disrespectful to him and his team,” he wrote in his Daily Mail column.
“The truth is Wilder is so far ahead with what he is doing, he is actually the most forward-thinking manager we have in the Premier League.
“He is doing something completely different, something we have not seen before. Hands up if you thought this idea of overlapping centre backs would get found out in the top flight?
“Wilder himself knows there were doubters, but it has worked wonders so far. They have continued to overload the flanks, and only Liverpool and Tottenham have produced more crosses than his side. Most importantly, they are picking up points in the process of all this.”
The Blades positive start back in the big time: Five key things to know…
- Sheffield United are playing in their fourth Premier League season and first since 2006/07.
- Chris Wilder’s men began with a 1-1 draw at Bournemouth and have since picked up four points from the next nine available, leaving them in 10th position.
- Most recently they came from two goals down to rescue a point at Chelsea…
- …leading Jamie Redknapp to describe Wilder as the league’s “most forward-thinking” manager.
- Their next five league games are: Southampton (H), Everton (A), Liverpool (H), Watford (A) and Arsenal (H).