Reading Could Fare Well Under Wilder 1.0

11 June 2023
By Hob Nob Anyone?

Chris Wilder, who recently left Watford after a short stint in charge, is the man tipped to take over as Reading manager ahead of their League One campaign. And the last time he was in the division, he got the club he supports, Sheffield United, promoted with a record 100 points. There’s a chance he can repeat the feat with Reading, but that’s if he reverts back to Wilder 1.0.

Chris Wilder, 55, is a manager who made his name by working his way up the divisions with plenty of success along the way. And when he got the job at Bramall Lane, he had the blueprint for success, one which he immediately put into action. The Sheffield United fan brought players in on frees and at low cost, managing to get the very best out of them, which led to promotion from the third tier to the Premier League in just several seasons.

It's this Wilder, not the one who has since endured difficult spells in his final season with the Blades, Middlesbrough and then Watford, who can get the Royals back to where they want to be. Bookmakers and fans alike have high hopes for Reading next year as a result. According to Entain's new sportsbook, PartySports, the industry is keen to encourage and bring to the fore more football other than the English Premier League. Entain is one of the major entities in gambling worldwide, with huge visibility through brands, including PartyCasino, which has been a force to reckon with in recent years.

Reading undoubtedly go into the new League One season as one of the favourites to gain promotion, and rightly so, even though they have lost players due to the expiry of their contracts or the end of their loan deals. But this creates spaces in the squad for the Royals and, more importantly, Wilder to do business, with the latter capable of weaving some real magic in the free, low-cost and loan markets—a chance for Wilder 1.0 to come to the fore again.

Often, a club wants to bring in a new manager to get them where they want to be. And hiring Wilder would undoubtedly be another case of this. But it's also a chance for the Sheffielder to get his managerial career back on track, and disappointments ensued following Sheffield United's first campaign back in the Premier League, where they'd finished ninth.

The Royals need Wilder, the Wilder who brought success to Sheffield United, among others, Wilder 1.0, as he needs them. And it’s this mutual need that could help both achieve what they set out to achieve. Both will be determined to enjoy a successful campaign which sees Reading back in the Championship for the 2024/25 season. Plus, you never know; if the Royals do get the deal over the line, Wilder could repeat the work he did at Bramall Lane, where it was two promotions in three years?

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