Jamie Carragher showers praise on Chris Wilder and feels he is being patronised

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Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher believes the tone of the praise towards Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder is ‘patronising’.

In the Telegraph, Carragher wondered why Wilder is not being treated in the same way as Eddie Howe and his Bournemouth side – who they face this weekend – when the Cherries first broke into the top flight with an expansive style.

He wrote: “I’m looking forward to seeing how Wilder’s coaching career develops. The last thing I want to do is go down the tired route of complaining English managers are misjudged on stereotypes and false perceptions. The way certain coaches are typecast is more complex than that. We attach labels based on more than nationality.

“It is worth comparing the broad view of Wilder to Bournemouth’s Howe. Howe is seen as more sophisticated, possessing purer footballing beliefs, for a club such as Tottenham, or even England. Do we feel the same way about Wilder? There is a patronising tone about the praise heaped upon him. Is it because he is not deemed ‘fashionable?”

TBR’s View – Carragher is absolutely spot on about Wilder

It was tricky to trim the quotes from Carragher about Wilder down because there are paragraphs upon paragraphs where he absolutely nails it about the Blades boss.

‘English managers’ are often grouped together by those complaining about a lack of opportunities, as if Wilder, Graham Potter, Sam Allardyce and Sean Dyche are all easily comparable.

Carragher is right to say that Bournemouth were revered more for their attacking play than Sheffield United are, with workmanlike qualities highlighted more when talking about the side from Bramall Lane.

Perception is a strange thing in football and Carragher raises a few reasons why Wilder may not be getting the respect he deserves, but it’s tricky to put a finger on exactly why.

If the upshot of that for Sheffield United is that interest in Wilder’s services is at a minimum then that should please Blades fans no end.