Huddersfield Town were humiliated by Norwich last night in a 7-0 drubbing which was every bit as bad for Town as the scoreline suggests.
The heaviest defeat Town have suffered since the infamous 10-1 game against Man City was painful to watch. In a season of ups and downs this performance revealed just how far away from the required standard Town currently are.
While I’m sure most fans won’t want to spend too much time thinking about last night’s sustained and complete annihilation of Town’s defence, here are a few of my thoughts on the game.
Credit to Norwich
Even through my blue and white tinted specs it was impossible to ignore that Norwich played excellently. As much as we allowed them the space, they exploited it ruthlessly with their dynamic movement and quality all over the pitch. It would have been a joy to watch if it wasn’t my team being comprehensively dismantled.
Norwich looked nervy and disjointed in their opening day game against Town when they narrowly edged the game 1-0. Last night they looked like a team ready for the Premier League and if they keep the bulk of their squad together I’d expect them to be capable of staying up next season.
It hurts to see a relegated team do such a good job of coming down and making an immediate return to the top flight when our own recent relegation did so much damage to the team rather than giving us a springboard.
A white flag selection?
It’s easy to be wise after the event but I was concerned we would be on the receiving end of a drubbing when I saw the lineup. Those fears were compounded when Schofield was withdrawn due to sickness and Pereira stepped in (I wonder if just watching Norwich’s players warm up was enough to make him sick with nerves?)
Town made 5 changes to the team that drew with Brentford last weekend, so you could argue that Carlos “did a Bournemouth” and picked a team he knew was likely to lose in order to rest his better players for our next game against Rotherham.
Three of the five changes were allegedly injury related, with Vallejo, Pipa and Schofield not being fit enough (though don’t be surprised if all three make miraculous recoveries by Saturday). Sanogo and Campbell were the other two to leave the starting eleven in favour of Ward and Mbenza.
Given Campbell’s age and Sanogo’s lack of competitive football before he came to Town it made sense in a way to rest them but the issue was that their replacements were awful. Danny Ward looked lost up front and my only memory of anything positive he contributed was the shot straight at the keeper he had when a loose ball fell to him at a corner.
This season was always going to need a squad-based approach due to the congestion of fixtures and this was another game that revealed the lack of depth. Carlos has just about managed to field something like a Championship-level starting team for most games but the two games where he’s tried to rotate have led to embarrassment and apologies to the fans.
A lack of character
I generally feel that fans overstate the importance of desire and commitment shown from players. Quality is, in my opinion, more important than grit and effort. However, last night showed how vital character is to a team and what happens when you don’t have it. Despite there being plenty of experienced players on the pitch, we looked resigned to defeat within minutes of the kickoff and even keeping the scoreline respectable looked out of reach when Norwich carved us open with almost every attack in the early stages.
While Norwich were in fine form and scored some wonderful goals, they only managed this because we didn’t stop them. We sat off when we should have been tight, players went forward when they should have stayed back, we looked like a team of strangers that had all been given different tactics to follow.
Poor organisation aside, I think the bigger issue was that the experienced voices on the pitch weren’t organising the younger ones and we continued to do the wrong things despite the fact they obviously weren’t working.
The coaching team can take some blame for the car-crash nature of the first half. While it’s hard to know what to change when literally nothing is working well, sticking with the same system when you’re getting hammered is daft.
What was the game plan?
I’m not sure I could say what our plan was against Norwich last night. “Play dead and hope they’re gentle with us” was what it looked like but in all honesty, we were so awful it was impossible to gauge what the actual intention was behind the suicidal football we played.
It didn’t look like we were trying to sit deep and contain them because we left so many gaps. It might be that we hoped to match them in footballing terms and just completely failed to get out of our own half never mind trouble their keeper.
Until the changes at half time we looked like the opponents of the Harlem Globetrotters, mere stooges there to make the opposition look even better than they already are. Some fight and spirit was on show (in limited pockets) during the second half and Norwich soundly beat us during that period rather than mauled us but that’s not saying much when they were already so far ahead.
Throwing the kids under the bus
I question the wisdom of throwing on so many youngsters from the bench in the second half. None of the team that started the game deserved to be rested after their shocking performances and anyone who plays in this kind of game is tainted by it.
While it’s good to increase the number of minutes young players get on the pitch for the first team, doing it during a game where we’re being walloped by the best team in the Championship seems almost cruel. Confidence is fragile early in a footballer’s career and the subs last night will surely have not benefited much from playing a part in the worst result we’ve had in a generation.
The obvious truth is that the subs weren’t made to try and turn the game around because the game was already gone. We were just resting first teamers to keep them fresh for Saturday at the expense of the youth we effectively three to the lions.
Carlos takes the blame, could it cost his job?
In fairness to Carlos Corberán, he came out and took sole responsibility for the result after the game. I’m sure behind closed doors he will have shared the blame among his players too but publicly he carried the can for this awful performance. I think this is the classy thing to do but there’s a limit to how many times you can take personal responsibility for an awful game without it eventually costing you your job.
Had this result come a month ago when we were dropping down the league and looking bereft of ideas then I think it might have been the final nail in the coffin for him regardless of the new contract he signed on Christmas Eve. Given we’ve recently had a mini-revival and gone unbeaten for the previous five games, I think Carlos is safe for now.
The only caveat I’d add is that there is now even more pressure on the Rotherham game because of last night’s result. If we win then the pain of getting battered at Norwich can be written off as collateral damage but if we lose that game too it will have many fans sharpening their knives.
The long term impact?
Can we brush this game off and carry on with our season as though it didn’t happen? We did bounce back from the bad result against Bournemouth earlier this season but that game fundamentally changed how Carlos used his squad, relying on fewer players and potentially contributing to the injuries we’ve picked up by overworking the core group.
It’s hard to know what the implications of this game could be. Maybe Carlos will abandon three at the back now or give up any attempt to play attacking football and instead pivot into setting up teams like he’s the Spanish Tony Pulis. I can imagine he’ll adapt to try avoid ever experiencing such an excruciating game as last night’s.
It’s easy to say we should just put this game behind us and concentrate on picking up the few results we need to guarantee our safety. In reality it can be hard to play such mental gymnastics and the memory of this game will lurk in the minds of all involved for a long time.
What to expect against Rotherham
It’s vital we see a reaction to this game against Rotherham at the weekend. It seems obvious that we’ll see most of the players that missed out last night return to the squad. The tactics must surely be different too and we’ll set up for a war rather than an exhibition game.
The stakes are huge for this game. A win puts us almost safe. A defeat means we’re properly back in the relegation fight. A draw doesn’t resolve anything either way.
Despite how awful last night’s game was, I’m still willing to believe we can turn it around at the weekend. While I’d never advocate for playing a weakened team in any league fixture (or weakening it further by subbing out experienced players for kids) the strategy will at least pay off if we beat Rotherham. If we don’t then it’s likely to get pretty ugly.
I think you’re spot on with your assessment and wise to omit names.
It was as you say a joy to watch!! Norwich was absolutely brilliant in their manoeuvres and game plan, most of the moves they tried bore fruit. They won all the second balls and all the ricochets as is usually the case when a side is so dominant. Town were robbed of possession and gave the ball regularly.
There is little to be gained by singling out individuals for blame, the whole team were culpable. The hope is, as you imply, that some good will come of it; namely a reaction on the field for the few remaining games and the reaction off it by the powers that be. I would hold them more responsible than anyone: they hire and fire; they hold the purse strings, simply put they don’t know what they are doing or are badly advised; this has been clear since the summer following the first season in the Premiership. The fans have been given generous Season Card prices compared with many other clubs but have been short-changed in all other areas, consequently the value of the Season Card diminishes.
Always enjoy reading your well written articles – even in defeat. (apart from the chinos one)
Rotherham just lost at home to Wycombe 0 – 3.
We lost away to Norwich 7 – 0.
Predict a Town win 4 – 1 😉
I felt embarrassed to call myself a Huddersfield Town fan last night. Sadly I’m old enough to have been at Manchester City back in 1988, and whilst there has been some pretty poor performances since then, I’m struggling to remember one as bad as last night.
Town should take the hit and get rid of the likes of Bacuna and Ward. Two less effective players I have yet to witness and when you compare ‘say’ with Cantwell and Pukki, you realise just how far our wonderful club has dropped since that great day back in 2017. We’ve had some poor players over the years, but I am numb to the core as to why (and who) we re-signed Danny Ward. It’s embarrassing to think that he struts around thinking he’s a championship centre forward.
I have ranted before but the buck really stops with Hodgkinson. Clearly the Cowleys told him last seasons squad were not good enough, so instead of heeding that advice he chose to replace them with Corberan. A cheaper and less opinionated option to the Cowleys and one that would adhere to Hodgkinsons mantra than have a clear view of how to develop an already inferior squad.
Last night we saw Corberan as a tactically naive coach being completely outwitted by someone far superior. But in Corberan’s defence you cannot make something if you are bereft of the major ingredients. Omelette without any eggs comes to mind.
The blame lies totally at Hodgkinsons door. He has set out ‘his vision’ of how he is to take Huddersfield Town forward – a vision that only he and his Merry band of yes men behind him have bought into.
Let’s hope Town do get the results they need against Rotherham and Coventry. If we get beat in those two games then I fear we will be watching League 1 football next season. That’s if we decide to continue to watch them.
I am never embarrassed to be a Town fan, but I was embarrassed for the players last night. They ought to be ashamed.
Think you are unfair to single out Ward and Bacuna for criticism as the whole team was garbage. So the likes of Hogg, O’Brien and Stearman (I pick these three as some people think they walk in water) need to hang their heads in shame too alongside every one of the outfield players. Only the goalkeeper deserves any credit as he did not throw the towel in despite the disgrace in front of him (but I am still hoping the is the last time we ever see him wearing the gloves for Huddersfield).
Yes, it was painfu to watch, but it’s done, move on. And whatever we say about selection and tactics, rememberCarlos didn’t cross the whitewash and can’t be held responsible for the utterly spineless performance.
Who do you blame then
Another good column Terrier, I also thought at 7pm last night that CC had waved the white flag again when his team was announced, yes credit to Norwich an excellent performance but didn’t we let them play, it was so easy we didn’t lay a glove on them, what was the game plan nobody knows even sky sports pundits were trying to work it out throughout the first half & I’m sorry CC has to take full responsibility for that, I appreciate he hasn’t got a strong squad plus injuries but you have to do better than that, yes give the game away for a better squad/team on Saturday for the more important game but that result & performance could be more damaging than he thinks, yes Vallejo, pipa, Schofield, Sonogo & Campbell were all rested to get over knocks/illness but the rest all played with the reserves against the league champions elect they must be distraught & hope thay can all put it behind them pretty quick, just coming out & taking the blame again isn’t good enough as it’s been done too many times already but I think CC’s inexperience is showing again he is still learning on the job and has put all his eggs in one basket for a result on Saturday so I’m hoping it comes off, the signing of a new contract at Christmas is probably keeping him in a job at the moment I’m not saying we should sack him but while he is still learning on the job we are all suffering at times, anything other than a win on Saturday please Town
The Spaniard has to go now as soon as i looked at who was selected i knew we would get Hammered no Guts No Energy not fit to wear the Blue and White Stripes Ward is a Total embarrassment Sarr is a Complete Donkey The Spaniard hid in the Dugout when we were 4-0 Down never moved again he is completely out of his Deph So Do The Right Thing and Resign PH LB you go as well we dont need a Chairman who is Clearly Cooking the books a Transfer Embargo My God you got over 20million Paracute Payment a out 8m for players sold undisclosed fees season card money o. 11000 Season Cards and u said we had lost 5million due to Covid I gor one will not set foot in that Ground Again after 55 years while u are in Charge and i urge other season card Holders to boycot the Club Div 1 is certain Ritherham will be the Final Nail
Rabbits in headlights come to mind. Ok, maybe the idea was to have a strong team for Saturday and nearly all will be forgotten if we win that one.
What I found incredible was the huge gulf in quality between team and individuals. The ONLY positive for me was SorbaThomas. UTT
Derek boycott the club?what good would that do apart from bring it to administration total overreaction despite the fact Norwich were ecxelent . It’s one game whatever may or not happen the club as to survive and no one likes to be heavily beaten but if you cannot acsept it boycotting the club is throwing the toys out of the peak,I understand fans disappointment but let’s not forget we are not down yet
“Tom Ince scores! One of the most important goals of Huddersfield Town’s history!”
How right that was. But for the totally wrong reasons. One of the happiest days for Town fans, but we didn’t know that it was the beginning of the doom.
Compare how Norwich got relegated, kept the best players of their squad, strengthened it, rebuilt, kept their owner and coach, and now fly high in the Championship. Town survived the first PL year, wasted all money on planless shopping that summer, the coach bailed out, the owner bailed out and took his money with him, and the club sunk to the bottom of the Championship.
None of this is CC’s fault. Hardly even PH’s (although he’s guilty of unfounded optimism, of signing a senseless contract, and of lack of investment since taking over). Nor is it fair to blame DH for taking his money and run. But just as he and Wagner deserve all the credit for taking the club to the Premier League, they definitely are among those responsible for the total failure during the summer of 2018, which Town so clearly have failed to recover from.
Maybe we’ll survive this season. Maybe we don’t. Maybe it’s even better if we get relegated and can rebuild in League One and at least “Do a Norwich”, but one level below them. Probably that was Hodgkinson’s plan anyhow when he sacked the Cowleys and brought Corberán in. Or at least he must’ve calculated with relegation being a fairly outcome, so he’ll not sack CC even if we go down – and I don’t think he should either.
Still, I hope Town can recover from this, beat Rotherham, stay up, somehow (miraculously!) manage to rebuild during the summer, and come out next season like a Barnsley, pushing for the play-offs when everybody had them as relegation fodder.
Carlos should not go relaxation are not ,it will change nothing
Carlos……Carloser……Carlost
Dont know what all the fuss is about, Carlos did another Bournmouth, as soon as I saw the team I neither watched or listened, he took one for saturday, but of course that one has to be won, of course last night we were playing an excellent premier lg. team. you can never predict Town, but saturday is a totaly different ball game.UTT.
Sack the board the coaching staff sack the has been s there s only hogg i pick to stay Scofield Obrian Schillinger Hogg town player refuse to play the style he wants go and do the right thing [lay the old 4 4 2carlos game fails me we have a corrupt board Town fans are sbort changed again Worthington Glassard Wilson WOOD MGILL
ALL BE TURNING IN GRAVES AT THIS RESULT
the bigger picture is points against Rotherham to either a) stay ahead. or b) go further ahead is what its all about.
we are striving to stay away from the btm 3.
Sorba Thomas was excellent,not out his depth,no lack of skill or confidence,unlucky not to score.
considering his raids,touch on ball,were against Max Aarons,thats a huge compliment,was a joy to see.
sadly his performance was like a lone beacon.
nch were great,first to 2nd balls,triangular passing moves,very purposeful,hard at best of times to defend against.
7 goals does little for confidence,in fact opponents likely to b less cautious against us.
this Rotherham fixture becomes huge,massive,must not lose,but a win from a full strength team,playing as a team,will aleviate all the gloom.
about to discover if players really believe in Carlos.
lady luck,the footballing gods need to b kind sat.
i have faith,like to see Sorba start.
Could be that we start with players that are actually staying next season , or maybe this is the problem. Very interesting to see REG warming the bench when he hasn’t had any particular bad games. But when you get world beaters like Baccuna and Mbenza and their shocking body language we are on a hiding to nowt no matter who we play. Many may already know their town exit already.
I agree Sorba should start on Saturday definitely the only player that matched the Opponents with class and could have scored but for a decent goal keeper save . I felt sorry for the town replacement goalkeeper None of the goals was his fault and never stopped trying to do his best . The situation now needs a strong character from everyone at town let’s wait and see what comes and leave our comments
Until at least after Saturday
Just to put some perspective on what Town are paying out each week in wages to most of the squad The list below shows how much each player is reported as receiving. These are published EFL figures so there are no secrets being given away. The list is slightly out of date as some players have already left or negotiated new contracts and new players have come in but I have left them in the list as a comparison.
NAME AGE PAY PER WEEK £ CONTRACT TO
Ben Hamer 32 8,500 2021
Joel Pereira 24 3,000 2021
Ryan Schofield 20 1,200 2023
Christopher Schindler 30 25,000 2021
Naby Sarr 27 6,500 2022
Richard Stearman 33 12,500 2021
Tommy Elphick 33 17,500 2021
Romoney Crichlow 21 750 2021
Rarmani Edmonds-Green 21 1,200 2022
Harry Toffolo 25 7,500 2022
Jaden Brown 21 2,750 2021
Gonzalo Ávila Gordón(Pipa) 22 6,500 2023
Demeaco Duhaney 22 3,000 2021
Carel Eiting 22 1,100 2021
Alex Vallejo 28 4,200 2021
Juninho Bacuna 23 15,000 2021
Lewis O’Brien 22 5,000 2022
Jonathan Hogg 31 18,500 2021
Alex Pritchard 27 20,000 2021
Matty Daly 19 1,000 2023
Isaac Mbenza 24 15,000 2021
Adama Diakhaby 24 21,500 2021
Danny Ward 28 11,250 2023
Fraizer Campbell 33 12,500 2021
Josh Koroma 22 3,500 2022
Reece Brown 24 8,000 2022
TOTAL PER WEEK……………… ………………………………£232,450
Doubtless if Town perform well and win against Rotherham, most of us will forgive even if we can’t forget (given I live not far from Norwich, nobody around here will let me forget!).
But everything is telling me that Carlos really is not the manager I thought he was. That line-up last night looked like bad news before a ball was even kicked. That is down to Carlos, nobody else.
Those who like a bet might have looked at what the bookies thought of Tuesday’s performance. Prior to the match, most bookies were offering odds of 11/1 of Town being relegated. Factored into those odds would have been a likely defeat at Norwich. After seeing the result and the performance, the odds have shortened to 7/1. That’s an amazing adjustment on the basis that zero points were expected and zero is what we got.