Wilder criticism is unfair - there's nobody better

I did the thing you're not supposed to do on Sunday. I went on an internet chat forum to gauge fan opinion.

Forums, as with social media, are often a place to vent and let off steam. You can't judge the thoughts of an entire fan base off a few spicy comments online. However, it is at least worth having a glance to see what's being said sometimes – even if it makes for unpleasant viewing for yours truly and my esteemed colleagues from the world of local journalism.

The reaction to the play-off defeat against Sunderland was not kind to manager Chris Wilder. That's the mild, family friendly description.

It isn't right. It isn't fair. It needs to be challenged. So here goes…

Sheffield United won 92 points this season, a club record. In the last 10 years, that would've been enough to go up automatically eight times.

The Blades equalled a run of away wins this season dating back to the late 1800s.

United started the summer staring at a major rebuild of the squad. They smartly used the sale of players like Will Osula to bring in key additions. Michael Cooper and Harrison Burrows weren't mega-money splashes. They were sensational, astute additions.

Wilder tapped into the club's academy, giving talented young players a chance to become household names.

Players who were figures of a fun the season before, like Vini Souza, became fan favourites under Wilder's leadership.

They had to handle crushing injuries to Harry Souttar and Ollie Arblaster, the latter being replaced by another talented academy prospect in Sydie Peck.

The club also had a lengthy ownership saga going on in the background, creating uncertainty. Then there was the crushing tragedy of George Baldock's death which impacted everyone associated with Sheffield United.

Through all of this, and it would consume many other managers and clubs, United were 15 minutes from the Premier League.

This wasn't a failure. This wasn't an effort worthy of online rants, undermining the manager, claiming he doesn't know what he was doing. What total and utter abject nonsense.

This was one of Wilder's best efforts in a long, successful career. Sunderland, to their credit, and roared on by a fantastic crowd at Wembley, snatched promotion away with two excellent goals. That's football.

Wilder is United's best ever boss. This isn't to undermine the brilliant work of Dave Bassett but the game's changed. Football has never been more challenging or dominated by money. A manager's job is harder than it was 30 years ago. Considerably so, in my opinion.

Even in defeat, Wilder should be praised. There's nobody better to get things going again next season.