Clinton Morrison: Chris Wilder & Sheffield United are meant to be together
Chris Wilder made a sensational return to Sheffield United this week, and Clinton Morrison has likened his return to two lovers getting back together.
He is backing the Blades to get back to winning ways against Charlton this weekend, and is backing them to beat the sports betting sites odds and compete for promotion again.
Clinton had a chat with Free Bets about Wilder's return, as well as the Champions League and much more.
Wilder Returns
It was probably the most predictable news that Chris Wilder is back at Sheffield United.
Our EFL expert Gab Sutton has said the King is back - is that a fair assessment?!
Yeah it is! It’s like someone who has finished with their ex but they keep going back to each other, and in the end you’re just meant to be together.
You keep leaving, but why? Because she’s the one, so you might as well get married and live happily ever after.
I think that’s what is going to happen at Sheffield United. It is a hard job, the players will be low on confidence but it is his club, his city and he knows it all inside out. He is a fan first and foremost so I think he will turn it around.
They have bought well and got some good players in, I just don’t think Ruben Selles was giving them an opportunity and you’ve already seen the video of Wilder going in, seeing some old faces and getting a few big hugs in.
The job first and foremost is to start climbing the table but I think they will go on a run and kick on.
I think it was the right decision. If there was anyone who was going to come in, get them out of trouble and get confidence back into the players, it is Chris Wilder.
They play Charlton on Saturday. The form books would suggest a struggle, but would you back them to bounce under him right away?
I expect them to be good.
Charlton are doing well and Nathan Jones has them set up well, but Brammall Lane will be bouncing and I think the confidence will come back to the players in a good win.
Resurgent Stoke
Another team you have picked out recently is Stoke. They beat Birmingham last week and are second in the table - are they starting to emerge are serious contenders?
They certainly are. They were always going to be outside contenders for the top six at the start of the season, but they’ve started better than people would have expected.
The only concern would be if they get a few injuries and whether or not the squad is strong enough, but at the moment everyone is fit and healthy and they have a manager who has been around and done it all.
Stoke were going nowhere for a while and then the appointment of Mark Robins gave the club a huge lift. He is an outstanding manager and gives them a great chance of getting the top six.
He is a seriously underrated manager, isn’t he?
I always used to think when jobs became available, why doesn’t Mark Robins ever get talked about? Because the job he did at Coventry was brilliant.
He was always going to do well wherever he went because he’s just a good manager, so credit to him.
I think from here they will finish in the top six this season, as long as they don’t get any major injuries. They will have money to go again in January and bring in some more players.
It’s been a fascinating start to the Championship because a lot of the teams we thought would be up there, they aren’t.
EFL Game of the Week
What is your EFL game of the week for this week? And the two players to watch out for?
That’s an easy one, it is Leicester v Coventry.
Middlesbrough v West Brom is a big game too, but Leicester and Coventry are two teams I predicted would end up in the top six, and the two managers are doing well.
In terms of players to watch, Abdul Fatawu at Leicester is an outstanding player. They missed him in the Premier League - he had a bad injury and missed the whole season, but he looks lively.
Ricardo will be a big player for Leicester this season too.
For Coventry, it’s so important to keep Hadji Wright fit. He will get you goals and he was another who was injured last season.
He and Jack Rudoni are the two who stand out and could make a difference in this game.
I think it will be a hell of a game and two teams who are going to go for it.
Champions League
Have you enjoyed the start to the Champions League this week?
There have been some great games already this week. I was covering Liverpool on TV but saw some of the Chelsea game on Wednesday, and let me tell you; Bayern Munich, wow.
Harry Kane and Michael Olise were sensational. Bayern have a real chance this year.
Are they up there with your favourites this year then?
If those two in particular stay fit then they have a real chance, because they were frightening and caused Chelsea all kinds of problems.
There are a few others though. PSG with the squad they have and Luis Enrique have a fantastic chance, even without Donnarumma.
Real Madrid are a very different side this year under Alonso. Ancelotti didn’t mind giving up possession but Alonso wants to dominate - even when they went down to 10 men against Marseille.
Liverpool and Arsenal as well with the signings they have made. Throw Bayern Munich into the mix as well and that’s quite a few teams in the running.
Barcelona were there or thereabouts last year and have the players to do it.
So Liverpool and Arsenal are the two British teams to look out for?
We can never sleep on Manchester City, because of the success Pep Guardiola has had in this competition, and not a lot of people are talking about them.
You can never rule them out because of the players they have as well as the manager. They might not be everyone’s favourites at the moment, but they have been there, seen it, done it and are starting to get players back fit and in form like Rodri and Phil Foden.
Merseyside Derby
Alexander Isak made his debut on Wednesday, but that made Hugo Ekitike drop to the bench. If you were in his position would you feel a bit disappointed that you’re basically going to be second fiddle now?
Ekitike is very unfortunate. It’s clear that Slot is going to manage Isak’s minutes for now so he should still get a few games, but Isak is clearly going to be the number one striker.
I feel a bit sorry for him to be honest. He started ever so well and then they brought in Isak and he’s going to have to fight for his place.
I think if his agent was doing his job he would have had a conversation with Liverpool about who was going to be the first choice number nine, but Ekitike should still get plenty of gametime.
You can’t turn down Liverpool though, and he’s already made a good impression and got the fans onside, so I think he will be fine.
It’s the first Merseyside Derby of the season on Saturday and it should be a tasty one with Everton in pretty good form and Liverpool not quite fully firing yet?
You do feel like Everton have half a chance.
People say Liverpool haven’t been at their best but they’ve played some big teams and got something out of them, so they’re doing something right.
Salah was brilliant on the right against Atletico, and Wirtz looked like he was finally adapting to life at Liverpool. Isak got an hour into his legs so there are a lot of positives to take for Liverpool, but Everton have been outstanding under David Moyes.
I make Liverpool favourites but there will be a great atmosphere and a lot of good players involved. In N’Diaye and Grealish, Everton have two very real threats from out wide who can cause problems.
EFL Pre-Season Predictions
Gab Sutton is the in-house EFL tipster for Free Bets, and before the season started he had a look at how he thinks the EFL will pan out this year.
