Latest news with #RubenSelles
BBC News
10 hours ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Will Blades live long and prosper?
It's Sheffield United, Jim, but not as we know red and white half of the Steel City is set for a fascinating 43 days between now and kick-off in the new Championship the Blades face Bristol City at Bramall Lane on 9 August, a new chapter – heralded by the club's American owners – will begin in now the dust is beginning to settle on a seismic change for which tremors will undoubtedly be felt for weeks, months and years to been a busy and dramatic six months since COH Sports acquired Sheffield United. Chris Wilder was quickly given a new three-and-a-half-year contract. United claimed a club record 92 points but missed out on automatic promotion in the final few games. They then lost the Championship play-off final having led with 15 minutes to go before Wilder eventually departed by mutual consent, being replaced by Spaniard Ruben decision has split the Blades fanbase, with social media exposing extreme opinions on both sides of the argument for and against fan and former player Wilder will always be a legendary figure at Bramall Lane. He achieved this status in his first spell when he took the club from League One obscurity to ninth in the Premier League, but he deserves more credit than he has received for his second spell, including last summer's rebuild in the wake of relegation from the top-flight, with a significant turnaround of players, and the protracted takeover which continued until late Wembley in May he stood on the brink of achieving something no other manager in the club's history had achieved: three promotions. It will always sting that he came so close for Wilder, his players and the club's a significant number of Blades fans took issue with performances last season and the club's style of play, while questioning the success of recruitment in January and the near £450,000 in fines paid over player and staff motivated the decision to act, the Blades board has acted, and in doing so, they have thrown their full weight behind former Hull City and Reading boss claim that he "can employ innovative recruitment and analytic strategies" is key - relating to the owners' eagerness to use data and artificial intelligence to "recruit the best and brightest talent", which is central to the intrigue about how the Blades squad will take shape under Selles, who says he will have the final say on many existing players will be able to deliver the intensity that the Spaniard demands? Will some Wilder regulars find themselves sidelined? Will data-driven arrivals be in the majority or minority, as opposed to "seen it, done it" Championship players?United's new board is seeking "sustainable success" and says "the road ahead may require patience", but having come so close to a Premier League return last season, patience may be in short supply if the Blades aren't in the mix for automatic promotion from an early a brave new enterprise at Bramall Lane, with Selles tasked to boldly go and establish the Blades as a regular top-flight club.
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Club REIGNITE interest in Liverpool forward
Sheffield United want Koumas The 19-year-old spent the campaign at Stoke City, playing under three different managers during a difficult spell for the club. The Welshman managed 49 appearances for the Potters in all - scoring six goals and adding three assists. Advertisement But the forward's future is very much up for discussion with a new report in the Daily Mail now suggesting that Sheffield United have moved into the frame for his signature. In an item concerning the Blades' interest in Owen Beck, it's been revealed that Koumas is also wanted. Koumas previously of interest to Sheffield United United finished third in the Championship last season, missing out on promotion after losing in the playoff final to Sunderland. The club have just announced Ruben Selles as their new manager, replacing Chris Wilder. Koumas was previously linked with Sheffield United in Wilder's days - with the manager's long-term assistant Alan Knill possessing insider knowledge on both Koumas and fellow Welshman Beck. He was on the staff of Rob Page in the Wales national team - and having worked with both players he recommended them to Wilder. Page, of course, is now Liverpool's under-21 manager, having made a surprise decision to join earlier this week.
BBC News
2 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
First-team coach Lester departs Sheff Utd
First-team coach Jack Lester is to leave Sheffield United after a mutual agreement was agreed between him and the striker Lester returned to Bramall Lane in 2019 to head up the club's was then appointed to first-team coach two years later under Paul Heckingbottom and maintained that role with Chris Wilder, who was dismissed last as Lester leaves, it has been confirmed that Matt Duke and Micky Collins, other members of Wilder's backroom team will work with new head coach Ruben Selles.
BBC News
2 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Selles pledges to field 'intense' Blades side
New Sheffield United boss Ruben Selles has given a flavour of how he wants his Blades side to his first interview with BBC Radio Sheffield, the new man in the Bramall Lane dugout pledged to play "intense and front-footed" football and stick to his attacking said: "We are very proactive, we are not waiting for things to happen, we want to be creating situations, we want to be aggressive, we want to be front-footed and vertical in our attack. Those are the principles – we want to prepare a team that is very intense."We want to find the opposition box as quick as we can, that will not mean we want to kick it long, we want to find a spare player or have this breaking lines mentality. "When we lose the ball we need to recover it as quick as possible to continue attacking."Selles, who says he is a passionate boss, aims to foster a culture of trust with his players and maintain high standards. He added: "I trust the players a lot but I am very firm in my principles and in the way I want them to do things on the pitch. "We create the idea and they need to go and play the idea."Click here for Ruben Selles full interview with BBC Radio Sheffield's Rob Staton via BBC Sounds.
BBC News
19-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
'A visit to the roulette wheel'
Ruben Selles has been installed as Sheffield United head coach in place of Chris Wilder. Here's what you've had to say about Selles' appointment:Neil: Probably a big mistake. Selles is utterly unproven. He may the the next Jose Mourinho, but also might be the next David Weir. He may not make it to Christmas. Or he may lead us into the Champions League. For data-driven owners, this is seems one hell of a visit to the roulette Sheffield United have consistently appointed failed managers who have then failed at Bramall Lane too, since the day Dave Bassett left the club - and nothing will change under the new manager and Wilder was able to rebuild the team and keep them competitive. If Wilder was being replaced by a manager with a good pedigree then it would make sense. However, Selles doesn't fit into that category in any way. I hope I'm wrong but this could be a big That's a big gamble. Chris has been great and deserved another crack at the Premier League. Win percentage above 40% everywhere he's been. Phenomenal. Big-game results let him down. Selles' win percentage - never above 40% anywhere he's been. We've heard they are going for data-driven recruitment. It would seem not. I don't understand this roll of the It's a big gamble, but football is all about moving forward. I hope the analytical approach favoured by the owners will not lose sight of traditional Underwhelmed by the appointment of Selles - his CV suggests possibility but also tactical rigidity and lack of attacking strategies - if we're not off to a flying start, things could turn A club like United need to fully embrace the modern methods being utilised successfully by other medium-sized clubs. Brighton, Brentford and Bournemouth are the poster boys for this approach but Liverpool and Spurs have had success using analytics and there will have been others. It stings to let such a talismanic manager leave, to be replaced by a (so far) less successful coach, but if this truly is the dawn of a new era then it will be worth it. We'll Given the new recruitment system uses AI and statistical analysis the switch from Wilder to Selles, based on past performance and achievement, is a massive step in the wrong direction. Trust in the new owners and the board is seriously in doubt for It is a shocking decision on a basic football level. Replacing one of the most successful managers the club has ever had - a dodgy VAR call and a last-minute wonder goal from nowhere away from another promotion by the way! - with a guy who's biggest achievement so far is sixth in League One or just nine wins with Hull and barely staying up. However, more worrying is the corporate tone of the statements from the club which imply they want a yes man to dictate ideas to and that they do not respect or appreciate the unique bond that Wilder has with this club and the fans. Unfortunately the Blades will end up in the mid table of the Championship again for the next few years now as a result. Makes me not want to bother watching Totally the wrong move, Wilder is a Blade through and through. He shouldn't have been sacked but then to bring in an also-ran in his place is diabolical. We should have at least brought in someone who has a proven track record of getting teams promoted.
