Terrier Spirit

Jun122018 by Terrier Spirit5 Comments

Ramadan Sobhi – Who is he, and how will he fit in at Huddersfield Town?

Transfers

Huddersfield Town have completed the signing of Ramadan Sobhi from Stoke City for an undisclosed fee, rumoured to be £5.7m. The Egyptian international winger has been linked with Town for weeks now, so it isn't a huge surprise that he’s committed his future to the Terriers. The deal won’t complete until the end of the World Cup, which means Stoke can trouser the FIFA compensation money for him and Town can (presumably) pull the plug on the deal if he picks up a nasty injury. Who is Ramadan Sobhi? Despite looking a good deal older, Sobhi is just 21 years old and is relatively inexperienced. He started his career playing for El Ahly Cairo in the Egyptian Premier League, where he earned the reputation of being one of the hottest talents in the country. Stoke snapped him up a coupl...

Jun112018 by Terrier Spirit2 Comments

Some thoughts on Town’s amazing signing of Terrence Kongolo

Transfers

Huddersfield Town have signed Terrence Kongolo from Monaco for an undisclosed fee, rumoured to be in the region of £17m. The Dutch international joins Town on a permanent basis after an influential loan spell in the second half of last season, where he quickly became a fans’ favourite. Here are a few of my thoughts on the transfer... The difference last season It’s not a coincidence that Town conceded far fewer goals when Kongolo was involved. The left back position had become a source of concern for Town, with Löwe’s form being wobbly and Malone looking erratic. While left back isn’t Kongolo’s preferred position, he adapted to it well and we looked a lot more solid when he came in. Don’t believe me? Check out this stat: Goals conceded per game without Kongolo: 1.63 Goa...

May132018 by Terrier Spirit3 Comments

Five thoughts about Huddersfield Town’s 1-0 defeat to Arsenal

Matches, Opinion

Huddersfield Town were defeated 1-0 by Arsenal in the last game of the season, and the last game of Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal career. It was a game that could have gone differently if Town had taken their chances. But the performance was good and it provided proof that Town have potential to play well against top teams without parking the bus. Here are a few of my thoughts after the game... Formation change: 3-5-2 Town played most of the game in a 3-5-2 system, with Ince playing a deeper and more central role than normal, and Pritchard playing mostly as a striker. The wingbacks played very aggressively, which meant Town played high up the field and pressed Arsenal when they tried to build up from the back. The new system worked well, and was a departure from the negative tactics ...

May72018 by Terrier SpiritNo Comments

4 thoughts about Town’s incredible 0-0 draw with Manchester City

Matches

Huddersfield Town drew 0-0 with Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium, becoming the only team in the Premier League this season to stop them from scoring at home. It was a disciplined and resolute performance from Town, which saw them soak up endless pressure while restricting City to very few clear cut chances. Here are a few of my thoughts... The Berlin Wall worked I’m delighted that we’ve managed to pick up a point against top-six opposition again, as we’ve turned in some fairly limp performances against the top sides. In previous games we’ve looked too shaky at the back when we’ve set up to frustrate the opposition, but it worked a treat against City. The tactics had a big part to play in the result, as Town’s low block meant we sat very deep in our own half and didn’t both...

Apr152018 by Terrier Spirit4 Comments

5 thoughts about Huddersfield Town’s incredible 1-0 win over Watford

Matches, Opinion

Wow! Town managed to pull off an unlikely 1-0 victory in a tight game against Watford that was decided by an exceptional moment in injury time. Tom Ince slotted home from close range after Zanka produced a wonderful square pass with the outside of his boot. Here are a few of my thoughts about the match... Not a classic game, but a good performance from Town Before Ince popped up with the winner the game seemed destined to for a 0-0 draw. Town put in a spirited performance but we had the same old problem of struggling to convert decent football into clear chances. Watford looked low on confidence and our pressing game forced them into making poor mistakes when attacking Town in the final third. We seemed the more aggressive and positive of the two teams but we didn’t manage a sh...

Apr132018 by Terrier SpiritNo Comments

Watford scouting report – What can Town expect on Saturday?

Matches

Huddersfield Town take on Watford at the John Smith’s Stadium on Saturday in a game that could be crucial for Town’s fight for Premier League survival. Here’s some information about Town’s opposition, "The Hornets". Watford’s season so far Watford were one of this season’s surprise packages in the early stages. They picked up some good results and played nice football, with new signing Richarlison scoring and assisting on a regular basis, and then-manager Marco Silva being hailed as the next big thing. While Watford have spent most of the season in the top half, their recent dip in form has seen them drop to twelfth place. Marco Silva is long gone, and Richarlison hasn't hit the heights he achieved earlier in the season. They’ve not won in their last four games, so will be look...

Apr112018 by Terrier Spirit2 Comments

Is the Watford match a “must-win game” for Huddersfield Town?

Opinion

In December last year our home game against Brighton was classed as a “must-win” match by some. This was despite the fact we were less than half-way through the season and Town were comfortably outside the relegation zone at the time. Since that game fans and pundits have regularly debated whether games are “must win” or not. In my eyes, this weekend’s game against Watford is the first game that could potentially be classed as a game Town have to win. There’s still arguments against using such hyperbolic language, but I thought it was having a quick look at whether it is a must-win game or not. Why Saturday’s game could be classed as “must-win” Huddersfield Town have five games left this season, after the Watford match we play Everton, Manchester City, Chelsea, and Arsenal. When t...

Apr102018 by Terrier Spirit1 Comment

Does xG explain why Huddersfield Town haven’t scored many goals this season?

Tactics

A regular criticism of Huddersfield Town under David Wagner is that we don’t score enough goals. Getting promoted with a negative goal difference last season shows how we’ve managed to turn the goals we score into results. We’ve also managed to stay clear of the relegation zone for most of this season so far despite having the second worst goal difference in the Premier League. In this article I’m going to take a look at some stats that might explain why Town score so few goals using the xG (expected goals) stats from the understat website. Is it the players? The tactics? Bad luck? Read on to find out. I’d like to apologise up front to anyone that’s not into football stats. I understand the arguments against getting lost in the numbers and how you can’t easily break a fluid game like...

Apr82018 by Terrier SpiritNo Comments

5 thoughts about Town’s draw with Brighton

Matches

Huddersfield Town came away from the south coast with a point after drawing 1-1 with Brighton. It could have been a victory for the Terriers after Brighton had a man sent off around the 75-minute mark. But Brighton missed some big chances so it could have been a defeat. Here are a few of my thoughts on the game. A much better performance from Town Last week’s defeat against Newcastle was disappointing because of the way Town played more than the result. We sat deep and invited the opposition onto us. Against Brighton Town were back to their aggressive pressing football and it made a difference. Town played more like the home team, dominating the game with 59% possession and notching up over 500 passes in the game. There were a lot more chances in the game too. We managed to get...

Apr72018 by Terrier Spirit1 Comment

Predictions for the Brighton away game: Tactics, starting XI, and score

Matches

Huddersfield Town head into the business end of the season now, with just six games remaining. We’re hovering perilously over the relegation zone in 16th place, with three of our last games against top-six opposition there’s pressure on Town to start picking up points. Today's game against Brighton is a chance to do just that. Brighton aren’t clear of trouble yet either, a win for Town will see them draw level with the Seagulls on 34 points for the season. They have a similarly tricky run in as Town, so will also be eager to get a result today. Tactics Town should play against the Seagulls I can understand why David Wagner tried to play a defensive system against Newcastle last weekend, and we’d be celebrating his tactical acumen if we’d have been able to score a couple of breakaw...