Terrier Spirit

Aug272021 by Terrier Spirit14 Comments

Huddersfield Town transfer rumour roundup

Transfers

The transfer window closes next week and usually things would be starting to heat up around now but so far things are relatively quiet for Huddersfield Town. The whole transfer market seems to be moving a lot more slowly this time around, with fewer clubs willing to spend and others not wanting to lose prize assets. Town also managed to do much of their business early in the window, which was the right thing to do but means there’s less to speculate about. Newspapers have column inches to fill regardless of whether transfers are happening or not, so there are still a few rumours knocking around. Here I’ll try to summarise the most likely comings and goings from Huddersfield Town before the window shuts. The tug of love over Lewis O'Brien continues Harry Kane’s failed attempt to o...

Aug242021 by Terrier Spirit7 Comments

Predicted Huddersfield Town XI to take on Everton

Matches

Huddersfield Town play Everton at the John Smith’s Stadium tonight in the second round of the league cup. After winning our first cup game in a very long time against Sheffield Wednesday in a penalty shootout three weeks ago we have been rewarded with the chance to host a Premier League club in our stadium for the first time since relegation. Both teams are likely to rotate their teams considerably tonight, so trying to predict Town’s lineup is a bit like trying to guess the lottery numbers. While it makes sense to rest players that aren’t fully fit, I only hope that the team we put out is one that at least has a chance of competing against Everton’s second string - which could include the likes of James Rodriguez. Here’s how I think we’ll line up. Goalkeeper: Lee Nic...

Aug232021 by Terrier Spirit6 Comments

Limbs, super subs, soaking up pressure, concerns, optimism and formation switches – Notes on Huddersfield Town’s last-gasp victory over Sheffield United

Matches

Huddersfield Town bounced back from their 5-1 thumping against Fulham by winning two games in a week and completely reversing the narrative. The win against Preston was one of the ugliest I've seen while following Town but Saturday's 2-1 victory over Sheffield United felt less the result of luck and more the reward for sticking to a game plan and frustrating an out of sorts but talented opponent. While it would be nice to watch Town play beautiful, flowing football, watching them grind out narrow victories has its own appeal and it felt like a role reversal to see the Blades dominate possession but struggle to break down our defensive unit. Here are a few of my thoughts on the game now there's been time to let the dust settle. The atmosphere in the away end I...

Aug222021 by Terrier Spirit5 Comments

“Sensational” – Player ratings for Huddersfield Town’s last gasp 2-1 win over Sheffield United

Matches

What a weird game football can be. Last Saturday I couldn’t have felt lower about Town’s prospects but yesterday afternoon I was going bonkers behind the goal at Bramhall Lane as we secured our second win of the week with an injury-time winner. Suddenly things don’t seem nearly as bleak, even if both our wins came from negative tactics, luck and opponents that couldn’t finish chances. In some ways it feels even better to win when most neutrals would say we didn’t deserve it. Player ratings are tricky for this kind of game. While the football Town played was poor for at least 70 minutes of the game, they did seem to be executing a game plan that mostly worked. We were solid at the back and kept our shape well for long periods but didn’t offer nearly enough going forward until Carl...

Aug212021 by Terrier Spirit1 Comment

Predicted Huddersfield Town XI to take on Sheffield United

Matches

Town travel to South Yorkshire today to take on Sheffield United at Bramall Lane. It’s possibly the best time to be facing the former Premier League side as they have yet to score in their last three games and on Wednesday night they were thumped by West Brom. This is Huddersfield Town though, so it’s never quite that easy. We will have to overcome our own demons before we can even think about exploiting the weaknesses of another team. I’ve already written about how Tuesday’s 1-0 victory over Preston has done little to settle my concerns about Town. However, the result should have given the players a little confidence boost and if nothing else, takes the pressure off the need to accumulate points for a little while. Here’s how I think Town will line up this afternoon: ...

Aug192021 by Terrier Spirit8 Comments

A Huddersfield Town fan’s view on Juninho Bacuna’s move to Glasgow Rangers

Transfers

Juninho Bacuna has left Huddersfield Town to join Rangers. The Curacao international has been on the sidelines at Huddersfield Town since it emerged the club wanted to move him on and he has had to train with the academy rather than with the first team. I have a feeling he’ll do well at Rangers and it could be one of those transfers that we later regret. On the other hand, Bacuna has been frustrating to watch at times, so reasons I’ll delve into later. Here’s my view on Bacuna’s move to Rangers in more detail: What is Juninho Bacuna good at? Bacuna, or Bacca as he is often called, is an attack-minded central midfielder that is capable of covering a variety of other positions. He's one of those players that can produce a moment of magic in a boring game and ma...

Aug192021 by Terrier Spirit21 Comments

An awful way to win, no obvious gameplan, touchline antics, a few positives and a look ahead – notes on the PNE win

Matches

This writeup of Town’s win against Preston North End is a bit on the late side. I’ve been busy since the game but I’ve also held back from writing about the game because I’m still not sure how I feel about it. Before the match I’d said getting three points would be good regardless of how we played, even though an improved performance was the ideal. But it doesn’t feel like a victory and I’m almost as glum about Town’s prospects as I was before the game. I keep telling myself that it’s too early in the season to know what’s in store for Town. The psychotically optimistic part of my brain is also desperate to cling to the fact that goal difference (already among the worst in the league) is the only thing keeping us out of the playoff spots in the embryonic league table. But I’m sti...

Aug172021 by Terrier Spirit8 Comments

Predicted Huddersfield Town XI to take on PNE

Matches

Thankfully Town fans don’t have to spend too long feeling sorry for themselves after Saturday’s humbling at the hands of Fulham as they look to bounce back against Preston at the John Smith’s Stadium tonight. Preston have their own problems to deal with, after losing their first two games, so both sides will be desperate to get back to winning ways. The fact that neither side has had a good start to the season so far could make this game resemble two half-blind pigeons squabbling over a cigarette butt, with lots of determination on show but little skill. While Town’s players and coaching staff will be desperate to turn in a performance and a result after Saturday, Preston won’t be pushovers and it could be a war of attrition. Thankfully Carlos has a few players returning...

Aug152021 by Terrier Spirit26 Comments

Goodwill squandered, Fulham too good, Carlos in trouble and Schofield out of confidence – Notes on Town’s drubbing by Fulham

Matches

Wow! I was so excited about going back to the stadium that I didn't think I was all that bothered about the result. Yet Town still managed to throw away all that goodwill that was available by turning in one of those performances like we saw at Norwich, Bournemouth and Blackburn last season. We'd been encouraged to believe that the new signings we've brought in this season would mean we didn't meekly surrender to opponents any more. Yet it happened again yesterday and will most likely continue to happen this season unless something significantly changes. Here are a few of my thoughts on the game and what it means for Town. A glorious day was quickly spoiled Regardless of the results, it did feel very good to be back inside the stadium again. As much as the game was painful ...

Aug142021 by Terrier Spirit4 Comments

Predicted Huddersfield Town lineup to face Fulham

Matches

Fans will return to the John Smith’s Stadium today for the first time since the start of the pandemic. I’m ridiculously excited about the prospect of being back under those lovely bendy arches later today and it almost feels like what happens on the pitch will be secondary to the experience of physically attending a game. This novelty factor may work to Town’s advantage as the goodwill created by being back in the stadium will be needed as they face one of the best teams (on paper at least) in the league. Recently relegated Fulham come to Town with a squad that isn’t much weaker than the one they had in the Premier League and they are likely to be competing at the top end of the table this season. Town are still missing players through covid isolation and injury, so it may be a t...