Lifelong Sheffield Wednesday fan Gary Megson had good things to say about the Sheffield United boss.
Former Sheffield Wednesday boss Gary Megson
Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder has drawn praise from the most unlikely of sources – ex-Sheffield Wednesday player and boss Gary Megson.
It’s fair to say the lifelong Owls fan isn’t the most popular man in the red half of the Steel City, having engaged in countless battles with the side from Bramall Lane down the years.
But even Megson, whose final game in charge of Wednesday was a 1-0 win against the Blades in 2012, cannot overlook Wilder’s achievements since landing the role with his boyhood team last summer.
The 48-year-old recently led United back to the Championship after six years away, having amassed 100 points and collected the League One title en route.
Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder
Having said that, it wasn’t all plain sailing, with Wilder’s side bottom of the division after the season’s first four games.
Discussing Antonio Conte’s tactical tweak early in Chelsea’s Premier League title-winning campaign, Megson told this week’s The Ref Show: “Chris Wilder did exactly the same thing down at the Lane. They were poor, started off really badly. [The fans were like] oh, here we go again – they like having a good moan down there.
Sheffield United’s Bramall Lane ground
“[He] went to three at the back and suddenly everything picks up. He picked up on pushing the fact he was Sheffield United through and through, banging the chest, doing all this stuff… local lad – I don’t know where he’s got that from! But it worked and I thought it was really good management, and he needs to keep it going again.”
Wednesday and United will face off for the first time since Megson’s swansong during the coming campaign, after the Owls were beaten in the Championship play-offs.
How do you think Sheffield United will fare in 2017-18?
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