Most people caught wind of Chris Wilder last season as his Sheffield United side soared to an automatic promotion place in the Championship, despite having primarily the same group of players from their time in League One. Over the summer, there were increased levels of investment to prepare for Premier League life, but by most top-flight team’s standards, it was still incredibly modest. But one of the more astute signings Wilder did make was bringing in Lys Mousset from A.F.C Bournemouth for under £10m.
The French U21 international’s former side have a manager who for a long time was considered one of the best Englishmen in the game, Eddie Howe. But based on performances this season it appears Wilder has not only taken one of Howe’s failed transfers and made him tick, but also his title as the most overperforming English manager in the Premier League.
Under Howe, Mousset found the back of the net on a meagre three occasions across three Premier League seasons. The centre forward’s strike rate was so weak that he averaged a goal every 19 games, but under Wilder this season he has rediscovered the form that led to him being capped eight times at U21 level for France. In 18 Premier League appearances this season Mousset has found the back of the net five times for Sheffield United, earning them nine Premier League points. The turnaround has been cataclysmic in the striker’s level of performance, as his strike rate has dropped to scoring every 3.6 Premier League matches.
Furthermore, Wilder has even managed to improve Mousset’s all-round game so vastly his assist output has shot up stratospherically. Prior to joining the Blades, he had never set up a teammate for a goal in three Premier League campaigns. Nine games into his time at Bramall Lane Mousset delivered a hattrick of assists in a 3-0 win over Burnley. Sean Dyche was yet another English manager who simply could not live with Wilder’s tactical intelligence.
The only English boss to face the Blades in the Premier League and leave with all three points this season is Steve Bruce, even with the disparity in wealth Frank Lampard could only manage a draw. But the arrival of Mousset and his immediate upturn in attacking output, along with results against other English coaches provide an inference that there is no British boss out there better than Wilder right now.
