Huddersfield Town lost again last night to extend their 2021 winless run to nine games. Despite taking an early lead Town capitulated and Middlesbrough deserved to win despite a late fightback from Town, led by substitutes Rowe and Phillips.
A good start
Town flew out of the blocks and completely dominated Middlesbrough in the opening exchanges. We repeatedly carved them open with intense and fluent passing and moving in the final third. Pritchard, Holmes and Bacuna interchanged and popped up all over the places making it hard for them to track the threat. O’Brien bombed down the sides and found space to exploit.
The end of this period of dominance came when Mbenza scored a lovely free kick. It seemed like going ahead destroyed our confidence and energy which gave Middlesbrough a chance to get into the game.
The fact we’ve had periods of very nice football at the start of both of our last two games suggests there’s an issue with converting a good start into a good overall performance. Shortly after the goal a stat popped up to say we’d had over 80% possession up to that point. That’s not realistically possible for the full game but the complete change around in our fortunes after scoring was as confusing as it was annoying.
The capitulation
Middlesbrough deserve some credit for recovering from their shaky start and establishing themselves in the game. We let them do it though. Rather than taking the lead building our confidence it felt like it made us more nervous because we had something to lose at that point.
I’ve seen far worse Town teams than the current crop but I don’t think I’ve seen one as mentally weak as this one. The team relegated from the Premier League would start well but heads would drop if they went behind NOT when we went ahead (not that we went ahead often in that second Premier League season). I can’t pinpoint an individual to point the finger at but the team as a group seem so fragile and it’s tricky to know how to fix it.
Getting some of our injured players back might help but there was enough experience and character on the pitch for Town to have managed better and put up a more spirited fight against Middlesbrough when they became dominant midway through the first half.
Losing Mbenza to injury seemed to be a key part of the game getting away from us but it shouldn’t have been. We took off a winger and brought on a defensive midfielder. That should have made us more solid but it just meant we couldn’t get out of our own half.
Carlos tries to change the narrative
Taking Pritchard off and replacing him with Aaron Rowe at half time fixed some of the key problems Town had. Firstly it meant O’Brien could be moved from left back where he was dire (both goals could be blamed upon him) and into central midfield where he brought a bit more presence and workrate. Rowe playing down the left was probably our best player in the second half, so it looks like good management to have made this switch but it also makes you wonder why we persevered with the failed experiment of O’Brien at left back when Rowe seems so clearly better suited to the role.
While this single change didn’t turn around our fortunes, it did at least make us more competitive and gave us a shape that was less liable to let Middlesbrough brush us aside.
I’ve been critical of Corberán’s unwillingness to make changes in games when things aren’t working but last night he was reacting to what was happening and his choices mostly paid off and improved our chances.
The tide properly changed in Town’s favour when Phillips came on and we looked to attack more. Having two strikers up top gave us more to aim for and the ball stuck more when we played it upfield.
Matty Daly was the only sub from last night which didn’t change things much but Vallejo, Rowe and Phillips all came on as part of tactical switches that seemed like our head coach understood the issues we needed to resolve. Vallejo came on because we looked too lightweight, Rowe because we needed O’Brien in the middle and pace out wide, Phillips to give us more threat in the box. While these changes may seem obvious, too often we’ve seen Town play the same way regardless of the fact its not working.
Young guns
Last night was the first game in a long time that our subs made a noticeable impact on the game, with Phillips and Rowe being the best Town players on the pitch in the second half.
Neither were capable of making a decisive contribution that would avoid defeat but Phillips’ turn and shot in the box beat the keeper and clipped the inside of the post, so he literally couldn’t have got closer to scoring. Rowe wasn’t always perfect but his direct running and persistence was refreshing to see and caused lots of problems.
I’m keen to see more from this pair but it’s worth remembering that they’ve both had chances already this season and failed to impress, so it’s not fair to pin our hopes on them saving our season, no matter how desperate fans are to have something (anything!) to offer hope in the middle of this terrible run we are on.
I’d like to see Phillips given his first league start against Swansea at the weekend to see if he can build on this performance. I wouldn’t use him as a replacement for Campbell though, instead he should play alongside him and the more experienced striker can drop off more and try to feed Phillips in the box.
Rowe seems like the obvious choice at left back for the final game of Toffolo’s suspension at the weekend but Brown may be preferred if he’s sufficiently recovered from his concussion and is deemed a more solid defensive option.
Not good enough
It was a lively end to the game and even before the red card, Town were on top and pushing for a goal. McNair’s red card meant Town became completely dominant once more but this late rally doesn’t paper over the cracks of another shocking performance from Town.
Too many players badly let the team down last night and we look like a team that now accepts defeat too easily. The fact we seem to be able to look both decent and diabolical in the same game of football is completely befuddling. Players that can ping fifty-yard passes onto a colleagues big toe one minute can’t play a simple 5-yarder the next minute. I’d almost prefer it if we were just consistently rubbish as then I could accept our fate. But there’s the makings of a good team at Town but that’s currently only on show for a maximum of 15 minutes a game. The rest of the time we look like certain relegation fodder.
What now?
Knee-jerk, sweeping reactions like “sack the head coach”, “play the kids”, “just gerrit forrad” or “get rid of the board” feel satisfying to say when you’re angry after a game but none of these quick fixes would solve the immediate problem Town face.
Getting rid of Carlos would only work if there is a better replacement available and that’s not the case for the current project. Getting rid of Carlos would only make sense if we also planned on getting rid of the approach of playing possession football with a focus on developing youth. To abandon that new strategy so soon after adopting it is unthinkable to the people in charge and while Carlos has looked less impressive during this recent period than when he first started at Town, he needs supporting through this tricky patch rather than chucking in the bin.
Dropping the senior players and playing our youth went badly wrong against Bournemouth and wasn’t a lot better against Plymouth in the cup. So it might work to rotate the team a bit and try a few youngsters but wholesale changes will only continue our winless run.
I wouldn’t argue against changing the tactics a bit while we’re in this poor patch, particularly to compensate for where we’re weak. Mbenza’s injury, if he doesn’t recover for Saturday, will mean we don’t have a fit senior winger in the squad, so it’s sensible to go for a different shape to counteract this shortage. But I don’t want to see us trying to sit deep and grind out results because we don’t have the players to do that and it would only expose the fragility of our defence even more.
The other quick fix people often suggest is sacking the board but fans have very little ability to influence these matters at the best of times nevermind when they’re not even able to get into the stadium to voice their disapproval. I’m neither a critic or a fan of the current board, I think they’ve got some good ideas that they’re executing fairly poorly. But whatever we think about them it’s not our choice as fans on who gets to run the club.
The unpleasant truth of Town’s situation, from my perspective, is that there isn’t a quick fix besides going back to winning football matches. Thankfully there’s still plenty of time left this season to turn it around but there needs to be a significant change. We’ve gone from being let down by individual errors to collectively falling to pieces for long periods of games. Sorting out these issues with the same coaches, same players and same tactics means change has to come from somewhere else, the most obvious issue to fix is the mentality of this group. Though how you do that between now and Saturday is anyone’s guess. .
I think the only way to get out of our position is to unearth a couple of diamonds for the run in , similar to what happened in the latter stages with Rowe and Phillips. Not saying obviously they are the solution, but they run their socks off and play for the shirt, not what we would call youth players now, so an extended regular run in the side may prove valuable. I hope by now who Carlos trusts and there is a couple in our team who have had their chance, it would now be better for them to study the Rightmove website.
As usual, a thoughtful and fair report on last night’s match.
My thoughts pretty much mirror yours. As I messaged my son during the game after about half-an-hour, how is it possible to be that dominant (88% possession) after 10 mins to being a complete shambles barely able to get a kick of the ball after 30 minutes? As I also messaged him, I’ll stick this until we’re 3-1 down and then I’m turning off, and I added “that won’t be long” so it was strange to find I watched the entire match. And I find myself now reflecting on an enjoyable second half and good to see some fighting spirit.
One definite lesson we’ve learned – O’Brien is not a left back! I’m not even sure he’s a midfielder at times because his passing is so erratic, but combine that with poor tackling and poor positional play and a brain that seems incapable of sensing danger, well it makes full back a no-go position for him.
In my contribution after the weekend’s debacle, I singled out Schofield and Bacuna as 2 players I’d prefer not to see again in a Town shirt, and nothing I saw last night has changed that view. Schofield is all at sea. What in earth was he thinking as I charged out for a cross that he was nowhere close to collecting and it was only an offside flag that saved his blushes? And truth be told, he should have saved the penalty. It wasn’t a great penalty and Schofield went the right way; to let the ball somehow get under his body was not just unlucky.
Bacuna was Bacuna. I’ve said before and I say again, he is not a team player. He plays for himself, tries for the spectacular which rarely comes off, usually ends up in being hustled off the ball or a misplaced pass or a shot wildly off target.
On a positive note, if Rowe can suddenly find out how to use his left foot, preferably by Saturday, he’d be quite a handful at left back. Without a left foot, he’s a bit predictable.
Good to see something of the Phillips that many have been eulogising about. He must surely start on Saturday.
Sarr was terrific in the air at the back. I lost count of his vital headed clearances. Pipa was decent. Vallejo I thought played well. No idea what happened to Pritchard at half time – was he replaced for tactical reasons or was he injured/unwell?
So on we go. Still no wins in 2021. The spiral downwards continues.
Watching Schofield in Goal for Town last nite Gave me nightmares everytime the ball came in our box why we let an experienced Goalkeeper like Hamer go is beyond. Me to get him off wagebill probabley schofield is not ready and Pritchard should never wear a Town shirt again Rowe and Phillips were awesome if we loose Embenza were down Nabby Sarr was once again to blame for Terrible Deffending for there Equaliser CC needs to shuffle his pack and try playing less possesion football we seem to also pass the ball too much in the oponents box instead of having a shot
A good report, but the fact is we need a pair of no nonsense central defenders and a back up left back, O’Brian is diabolical in that position, the number of points dropped after taking the the lead is now a joke, and Bacuna and Prithchard are not worth the shirt, its time to look down and see how near the edge we are , and for someone in the club to wake up get their heads out of cloud cuccoo land, we still have 50 pts to play for, we dont want any more great escape books.for goodness sake Carlos do something.
Good report and balanced comment as usual. I don’t know how you manage to be so even-handed?
Mbenza scored a cracking goal, but as I have noted before he is not brave in thought or deed when confronted with one opponent to beat. The first half was awful, apart from the first nine minutes, just like the Wycombe game every second ball was conceded.
I looked at the bench pre-match and thought …mmmm. The introduction and effect of three of them was a joy. Vallejo is much needed in the team, especially in the back three he’s sensible, calm, sees things, makes space and can pass – a novelty in this team. Phillips is everything that Campbell isn’t, the difference in outcome between him and Campbell is marked. Rowe looked lively, purposeful, although the end product is unconvincing at least he has a go.
Pritchard I’m afraid has to go. Hogg has reverted to being a liability in the last two games. far too slow routinely caught in possession The stupidity of playing O’Brien as a full-back is surely over his dynamism in mid-field is sorely needed even if he can’t pass or shoot reliably. Schofield is a worry with crosses and assertiveness. Bacuna was a a quicker version of Hogg.
Phillips has to play surely. The first half was awful after we scored we were clueless just about everywhere the second half was promising throughout not just after the sending off.
I have, so far visited seventy-two grounds of the top four tiers, a lot more below that too. Next season should offer plenty of new opportunities in League 1!
Yes good peace again, CC was out coached again in the first half playing right into warnocks hands who played 5-2-3 attacking the spaces behind our full backs & sending multiple crosses into our box, in the second half to be fair CC changed his style & matched him, Vallejo stayed at the back as a definite 3, Hogg could move forward a tad O’Brien box to box & 2 up front we went head to head & I thought it worked, the young ones aren’t a quick fix but use them wisely and give them a chance instead of 5mins now & again or throw them all in against good teams & say there’s your chance, has proved what they can offer, I think Sarr & bacuna both need time sat on the bench but with our rising injury list doesn’t look likely but let’s hope we can carry a bit of the second half into Saturday
Excellent summary, as usual. If I may add to a couple of points you make though. You are correct in saying this is the first time Town’s substitutes have made an impact on the game however, this is also the first time Corberan has made substitutes this early in a game (at least admittedly enforced) and, as a result of having half a game and 35 minutes respectively, instead of the usual maximum 10 minutes, Rowe and Phillips were able to get up to speed and have a major influence on the game, almost turning it around. It is also the first time Corberan has trusted his youngsters instead of wheeling out the usual ‘experienced’ substitutes who then contribute little or nothing. Going forward both Rowe and Phillips have earned the right to start ahead of some of the more experienced players, with Rowe being given a chance on the left (or right) wing when Toffolo returns and Phillips playing up front. I believe Schofield is a good keeper but, at the moment, his confidence looks shot (possibly because of some of the passes the defenders in front of him make?) and I feel he would benefit from a spell in the B team to regain this. Obviously playing Leutwiler rather than Pereira instead.
Good balanced article. As soon as Borough pressed we let them keep coming at us until they scored. It’s cringe worthy, head in your hands footie.
When will Bacuna stop losing the ball and manage to string a sensible pass together. Sarr taking a free kick just outside the box with limited time remaining, why?
Do the defence talk to each other and when they play out from the back sometimes it’s horrible to watch. Opposition teams have us weighed up now. If Corby wants us to play like Bielsa then don’t sit back and invite the pressure. Leeds never stop pressing.
Town need a decent scouting set up. Leigh Bromley was the u 23 academy coach. Is he experienced enough to be a Director of football? Other clubs around us seem to manage.
I don’t know but I can’t remember the last time I watched a Town match in a relaxed manor thinking ‘yea we’re gonna win this’.
Comon Town let’s start at least drawing a match then think about winning.
His name is actually Bromby and no he isn’t experienced enough.
I agree Philips should start maybe alongside Fraser Campbell could work , scohfield may be eventually will be a decent goalkeeper but he seems nervous at times and that’s not good for a goalkeeper needs to build his confidence. Have we got a better replacement I ask myself . The amount of injuries is alarming
Schindler and Stearman was first reported to be fit by the end of February now Schindler not going to play for Town again is injurious are that bad , Stearman is only fit enough for 10 to 15 minutes . Edmonds-Green we were told out for a couple of games now we are told er er er er nothing . We have literally throw games away and we all know should not be in this position. I seriously can’t see us being a championship side next season, but I desperately hope so
Christopher Schindler will always be a legend at Town for his promotion year exploits but his recent absence from the Town team seems to have been the largest factor in the downward spiral since then. He was injured 7th December 2020 when Town beat QPR. Since then Town have played 14 matches without Schindler and managed to win just 2. It shows what a big influence he has had in the success of the team and whilst other players have done fairly well in his place, none have had the ability or stature to replace his calm authority on and off the pitch. Hopefully he will return to full fitness very soon and it goes without saying that whatever his wages are he should be retained in the summer because of his importance to the club.
It’s very obvious that Corberan is too inexperienced to be in charge of a Championship team. Coupled to that he appears to have a negligible input on players joining the club. Contrast that with the Cowleys who picked the players they wanted and think of the loans of Smith-Rowe, Lossl, Willock etc that they were able to make happen. They had really good contacts with a lot of the top sides in England and were able to arrange things which are impossible now. Corberan has hardly any general or man management skills and his contacts within the game seem to be zero. For instance, where are all the ex-Leeds players he was supposed to bring to the club? Hodgkinson should pull the plug now and give someone else half a chance of rescuing the club before the matches run out and it is too late.