Sheffield United

The decision to replace Chris Wilder with Hull City boss Ruben Selles in June came under some hard scrutiny from fans.

Fast forward three months and Sheffield United are back under Wilder's control after a poor start from Selles sees them without a single point and at the bottom of the Championship, making those the fears of those who opposed the change a reality.

But is the ownership's decision to switch back to Wilder worth recognition?

We asked you for your thoughts and this is what you had to say:

Shropshire Blade: There is no-one better for the job ahead this season. The owners/board deserve credit for making this U-turn but how many millions of wasted cost has been spent on cancelling Wilder's then Selles' contracts then re-hiring Wilder? Ridiculous!

Peter: What a damaging farce the change of managers has been. Decisions made by people who seem to know little about a football team. Today's statement from the club includes "we are confident Wilder is the right man to restore... ". So why wasn't he the right man a few months ago?

The team has been torn apart and even the top players look dejected and lost.

Hopefully Wilder can restore the team ethic and bring out the best in each player, before we lose any more players in January. Here's hoping for a more positive season.

John: Owners are normally away from reality, perhaps they were a few months ago but now they've seen the light of day and it's not been that bright.

Adam: Panic and poor decisions from owners. Sacking Wilder in the first place was a knee-jerk reaction, clearly didn't have a replacement in mind. Poor Selles was well out of his depth, throw in some last minute panic signings which brought nothing to the table not helping his cause. Now they've gone crawling back to Wilder to clean up the mess. The new US owners off to a flying start. Surprised Wilder agreed to return - if he wasn't a Blade and was sacked by the club twice, he would have told them where to go.

David: Fair play to the board. After the debacle of a summer, I really thought they had come in to wreck our club but it is amazing to see the owners of a football club admit they got it wrong. To go back to Chris Wilder cap in hand and ask him to return takes a level of humility which is unprecedented in this day and age. This gives me confidence the owners are here for the right reasons and with the best interests of the club at heart. Yes, they got it wrong. Yes, they angered the fans. But they did the right thing and this should not be taken lightly.

Rob: So the original decision was madness, even if motivated by a decent premise (to bring United long-term success in a new style). But at least the board had the sense to recognise the new plan wasn't working and correct it before it was too late for this season. The irony is that apart from reinstating Hamer and Campbell, Wilder's 11 on Saturday probably won't vary much from Selles' (misguided) Ipswich selection, but the formation will - and hopefully the result!

Selwyn: Doesn't it make the board look foolish sacking a fellow in a June only to bring him back in September?

Image source, Getty Images

Former Sheffield United defender Chris Basham may have said he's not surprised to see Chris Wilder back in charge of the Blades but some of you would have liked a different face in the dugout.

We asked for your thoughts and here is what some of you had to say about Wilder's reappointment:

Liam: Shouldn't have been sacked in the first place, but good of the board to admit they'd made a mistake and try to rectify it. Would have liked to have seen Dyche at least considered given his Premiership experience, but eh well, at least you can't say being a Blade is boring. Wilder's army we are again.

Dutch: I'm a massive fan of Chris Wilder fan for everything he's done for the club. But we need a succession plan as we can't keep defaulting back to him.

Dean: Terrible mistake, we've turned into a joke club that apparently only one person in the world can manage. People have short memories, Bramall Lane was like a morgue toward the end of last season. Boring sideways and backwards football. Oh dear.

Chris: It's getting to the point that Sheffield United should just either stay with Wilder for a big spell or they sack him, find a new manager, and if they don't work out get a plan C. Not just get a new manager, they don't work out and go back to Wilder.

Brian: Backward step. Back to boring football.

Tom: Getting rid of Wilder at the start of the season was for me was the right one but ONLY if we got someone decent in charge and we didn't. I think this is the board saying "we messed up, we are righting a massive wrong". Still not my first choice but rather have Wilder over an AI manager from the Kazakhstani league or someone no one has ever heard of.

Ian: Don't like his style of play and no plan B but will get them playing for the badge.

James: For all the talk of United's 90 points last year, those who saw the games will know it was a hard watch and no plan B. The signings made at the end of the window were less AI than Chris Wilder suggesting his return had been on the cards for a while. He'll keep us up this year - of course he will - but the law of diminishing returns says that another go at the Prem is a long way off.

James: Wilder back in the chair and talk of Prince Abdullah being asked to re-invest - might as well bring back Dave Bassett, Billy Whitehurst and the ghost of Derek Dooley. Wednesday were supposed to be Sheffield's banter club this season… SUFC: "hold my beer".

Image source, Getty Images

After just three months in the job and a winless start to the Championship season, Ruben Selles has been displaced as Sheffield United boss by the man he took over from, Chris Wilder.

We asked for your thoughts and it's clear many of you felt Selles' time was up.

Michael: The phrase 'be careful what you wish for' applies to all the haters of Wilder. What you got was Selles! Like Jokanovic and Adkins before, he didn't understand the club or the supporters. Welcome back Chris and not before time!

Geoff: When Chris was sacked, despite the 92 points and being minutes away from the Premier League (thanks VAR), I thought, 'That's a very brave call by the board - they must have someone big lined up'. To take such a gamble with the fans, I expected a Steve Cooper or a Michael Carrick. Then Ruben Selles was announced and it was obvious what was going to happen. I was 'Selles out' from the first game but never thought it would end up like this. We've got our club back. In Chris we trust. Am actually looking forward to Saturday now…

Neil: After the heartbreak of missing out on lucrative bonuses and a CV boasting 'Premier League footballer', the players needed to hit the ground running this season. A couple of tweaks and no obvious 'Leeds or Burnley type quality' this year and the players would have been well up to 'go again' for Wilder. It was a crazy decision to think Selles could have improved on last season's points haul and after the opening day 4-1 home drubbing by Bristol City, those supporters who 'knew better' were well within their rights to start counting down to a new manager... or an old one returning home!

Peter: Really happy at his appointment. I think despite play-off heartbreak, Wilder should have stayed in the job. Watching a 5-0 loss to Ipswich was the last of the little straws holding Ruben Selles' job together. Left Hull City and was interim for Southampton. Always a dodgy appointment. Wilder will bring fighting spirit back to the Blades so let's crack on.

Barry: It was harsh to sack Wilder after last season. I was willing to go with Selles but clearly with what we've seen in the games so far, he had to go. Wilder has his failings but he lives and breathes SUFC. He will get the team running through walls for him and I'm sure good times will come, but we may need to be patient and give him time.

Mark: It was a tough ask for anyone to improve on a season that provided 92 points and a Wednesday double. Selles, an apprentice when compared with Wilder's CV, had to be an instant success - he wasn't. Last season, the Blades just ran out of steam with Leeds and Burnley having that extra bit of class. Personally, I was 50/50 on promotion, seeing some of the best players and football clubs in the world at Bramall Lane live, against a backdrop of being beaten comprehensively week in, week out. The gulf between the Premier and Championship is getting wider, I will take 92 points, a Wednesday double and stay in the Championship any season.

Image source, Getty Images

So, Chris Wilder returns to the helm for Sheffield United after being dismissed just three months ago.

We asked you for your thoughts and some of you were thrilled to see a club legend back in the managerial seat for a third spell:

Jonkey: Wilder returning will be like waking up from a bad dream. The decision to sack him was utter madness. He would have fired the team up to go again this season. That job is even harder now but if anyone can do it, he can.

Al: Wilder is to Sheffield United as Alex Ferguson was to Manchester United. We simply cannot (and should not) move past him without the right plan in place. That's why it always falls apart without him - because there is no bigger plan and until there is, he should have a home at Bramall Lane. Welcome back gaffer!

Gary: Great! Chris Wilder should never have been fired three months ago and United wouldn't be in the mess we are at the moment.

I guess it's also necessary to say 'well done' to the board for realising it was a massive error. Hopefully their decision at this point in the season can enable the Blades to prosper.

Credit to Chris for keeping a positive relationship with the board after what must have been a tough time, particularly after the disappointment of losing the play-off final at the death.

Alan: Chris Wilder is like a stick of Blackpool rock, he has Sheffield United written all the way through him from head to toe. He is probably the best manager United have ever had, matching up to the great John Harris. He has my support, 100%.

Brian: Chris Wilder is a die-hard Blade, he must have been absolutely gutted when the new AI bot didn't select him for the 2025-26 season... I guess we've moved on to a new algorithm and his stats now fit - something that all true Blades knew all along! Welcome back Chris.

Christophe: Chris is not only a Blade but a good manager and the stats prove this. Is he perfect? No. Is any manager? No. But he loves his club and the humility he has shown in coming back speaks volumes. I never expect anything as a Blade, we should only expect what Chris expects - hard work and honesty. Chris has matured over the 10 years we have had him. He's gone from being slightly obnoxious in interviews to philosophical and relaxed. He has grown, I hope us Blades can too. Up the Blades!

Steve: We need to re-energise the camp and bring back belief in the method and the confidence we can regroup and win games. Chris Wilder is the man to do that. As long as we understand there is no magic bullet then I'm sure he will turn things around.

Martin: Wilder has the club in his DNA. Has done a good job with limited resources so deserves praise and recognition for this. Perhaps with more support and ambition from from its owners, SU could have been a regular in the Premiership.

Richard: With Chris back the helm, we have a chance to turn a corner and see where he can take us. However, are his staff coming with him? I know Jack Lester has gone to Brentford but who else is back at the Lane?

Former Sheffield United defender Chris Basham isn't surprised Chris Wilder has been re-appointed as manager for a third time having previously led the club to promotion from both League One and the Championship.

Sheffield United sacked manager Ruben Selles on Sunday following a 5-0 defeat at Ipswich Town which capped a run of six losses and left the club bottom of the Championship and out of the League Cup.

Wilder was hired just a day after Selles' departure.

"I'm surprised how quick it's happened but I'm not surprised on Chris Wilder coming back in as manager," Basham told BBC Radio Sheffield.

"I think he understands the club more than anybody. They've had to act and they've acted in the right way."

Wilder has returned to the Blades for his third spell as manager having previously taken them to the Premier League and recording a ninth-place finish in the top tier during his first spell. Last season, he led the club to the Championship play-off final before the culmination of his second spell.

Despite a poor run of form to begin the season, Sheffield United sit nine points from the play-off spots, providing Wilder with the opportunity to turn their season around.

"[Promotion] will be [Wilder's] target. I don't think it would be anything but that. He'll definitely be pushing for play-offs," Basham said.

Basham played at Sheffield United during Wilder's first and second spells and believes his managerial style could make the difference for a promotion push.

"He's hands-on, he tells us how it is. I think he's truthful and I think that's what a lot of the lads need at the moment."

Wilder's first match in charge is against Charlton Athletic at Bramall Lane on Saturday (15:00 BST).

Listen to the full interview with Chris Basham and more Sheffield United on Sounds

Image source, Rex Features

Well, Blades fans, here we are again... your new manager is Chris WIlder, just as it was in 2016 and 2023.

Third time's a charm, as they say, but there were plenty of high points in the previous two spells... it just ended in rather a damp squib.

Were you 'Wilder out' after the Championship play-off final defeat by Sunderland in May? Have you changed your mind after seeing how green (or not) the grass was under Ruben Selles?

Are you happy with the news? What would count as success this season after a period of absolute chaos at Bramall Lane?

Is there any chance of a promotion push after a start to a season like this, or would merely staying in the Championship be enough for you, given the upheaval?

Let us know your thoughts here and we'll publish a selection of the best ones right here.

Get all the reaction to the departure of Ruben Selles from Sheffield United with BBC Radio Sheffield's Rob Staton and Adam Oxley.

Selles was sacked by the club on Sunday after their 5-0 defeat by Ipswich Town on Friday meant the Blades have lost all six games of the season so far.

Watch or listen to the Football Heaven Sheffield United special here.

Image source, Getty Images

Sheffield United boss Ruben Selles says he is not thinking about his future after a 5-0 thrashing at Ipswich consigned his side to a fifth successive defeat to start their Championship campaign.

The Spaniard has lost all six games he has taken charge of since being appointed to replace Chris Wilder in the summer.

"It doesn't matter what I believe (about my future) but I will keep working until the last moment," he said.

"I have to take the pain and analyse what we want for the next game to try to beat the next opponent."

The Blades have eight days to recover before hosting Charlton on Saturday, 20 September (15:00 BST).

"In the first half we saw the team we want to be – we put them under pressure and won some balls," added Selles.

"The first goal comes from an interception 70 yards from our goal. The second goal changed the game and I think we fell apart."

It is only the second time in their history Sheffield United have lost their opening five games of a league season.

Both Ipswich Town and Sheffield United will be looking for their first win of the season when they meet on Friday (20:00 BST), with the Blades so far failing to pick up a single point and sitting bottom of the Championship table.

The Tractor Boys clinched a 116th minute equaliser last time out against Derby County and despite not winning any games, they have scored four goals.

• Ipswich Town are winless in their last four league games against Sheffield United (D2 L2) since doing the double over the Blades in 2010-11.

• Sheffield United have drawn on five of their last seven league visits to Ipswich Town (W1 L1), with their only win in that time coming on the final day of the 2009-10 season when they won 3-0.

• Ipswich are without a win in their last 12 league games (D5 L7); last enduring a longer winless run in October 2009 of 14 games.

• Sheffield United are the only side still without a point in the Championship so far this season, losing their first four games. Only once have they lost their opening five league games of a Football League season, doing so in the second tier in 1995-96.

• Sheffield United (3.0) and Ipswich (2.6) have the highest expected goals totals from set pieces in the Championship this season.

New Sheffield United signing Mark McGuinness said he is going to use his experience from his relegation battle with Luton Town to help the Blades overcome a poor start to the season.

United reached the Championship play-off finals in May, but have lost their first four league games to leave them bottom of the table.

It is a position McGuinness is familiar with, having joined from the Hatters after they were relegated to League One at the end of last season, despite the club having won promotion to the Premier League two years prior.

"It only takes one little turn and we are hoping to make that turn on Friday evening [against Ipswich Town]," McGuinness told BBC Radio Sheffield.

"Part of my learning from last year is that the Championship is a dog fight. It's not always pretty and it doesn't always go your way.

"It's something I've learnt, and it's something that I'm going to bring to the boys and make sure what I learnt from last year doesn't happen again."

Listen to the full interview with McGuinness and more Sheffield United content on BBC Sounds.

Sheffield United midfielder Ollie Arblaster has suffered another injury setback that will delay his return by up to two months, Blades boss Ruben Selles has confirmed.

The 21-year-old sustained an anterior cruciate ligament injury in November 2024 and has not played a competitive match since.

"There has been some set back some weeks ago where it has delayed his moment to join the team at least for another month-and-a-half, two months," Selles told BBC Radio Sheffield.

"With those ACL injuries, there's always something more. The first thing we need to address is that he's back training with the team but healthy, then probably we need to test him in some under-21 games and then he will be able to come back.

"Hopefully it will be earlier than Christmas but I don't want to speculate. It was supposed to be in August, then September and now it's November."

However, midfielder Tom Davies is set to make a full return to training next week and could be available for selection for the following match against Charlton on 20 September.

Before then, the Blades face Ipswich Town on Friday (20:00 BST) in a bid to pick up their first points of the new Championship season.

Listen to the full press conference with Selles and more Sheffield United content on BBC Sounds.

Boston United have signed Sheffield United midfielder Owen Hampson on an initial month's loan deal.

The 20-year-old, who was at Dunfermline Athletic on loan last season, was registered ahead of the match against Solihull Moors.

Sheffield United boss Ruben Selles can have no excuses for not picking up results after their transfer business, according to BBC EFL pundit Jobi McAnuff.

The Blades have lost all five games in league and cup under Selles since he took over in the summer and are bottom of the Championship.

Alex Matos, Ben Mee, Mark McGuinness, Chiedozie Ogebene, Japhet Tanganga, Danny Ings and Tahith Chong have arrived at Bramall Lane in the final fortnight of the transfer window.

"It's been a mess of a summer - starting with the sacking of Chris Wilder," said former Reading and Watford midfielder McAnuff on the BBC's EFL podcast 72+.

"From what I've seen I've not been impressed with Ruben Selles in the way he's set the team up - he's not getting the best out of the group yet.

"He maybe wasn't given the tools he needed to put a team together that can go and get results which gives him a little bit of an out but he should be doing better with the squad he has at his disposal.

"But he certainly has no excuses with what he's brought in now."

Sheffield United return to Championship action with a trip to Ipswich on Friday, 12 September (20:00).