Terrier Spirit

Aug42023 by Terrier Spirit4 Comments

Reasons to feel positive about Huddersfield Town this season

Opinion

As has become an annual tradition in this blog, I've divided my season preview article into two, one full of positives and the other negatives. Because there's already enough negativity about Huddersfield Town, I thought it would be best to start with the more upbeat look at the season ahead. The negative one is also available on the blog now though, if you'd prefer to make yourself feel glum! For those that like to live on the sunny side of the street, here are my reasons to feel positive about Huddersfield Town's chances this season. We’ve got Neil Warnock While Neil Warnock is now 74 years old, he described his achievements at Huddersfield Town as his greatest yet in management, so you could argue that he’s just reaching his prime! And while in the past we’ve favoured a strate...

Aug22023 by Terrier Spirit9 Comments

23/24 Championship league position predictions ‐ Leicester up, Huddersfield Town comfortably safe and Leeds to struggle

Opinion

Long time readers of this blog will know that my prediction are iffy at best, so the sheer audacity of making a league table prediction before a ball has been kicked on the new Championship season is really something. However, everyone is making their predictions, so I thought I might as well join in. If nothing else, I quite like setting myself a reminder for May next year to have a look at just how wrong I got it. Though, in May 2024, it’s quite possible there may be a few Leeds, Sheffield Wednesday and QPR fans that also pop up in my notifications to point out just how wrong I got it (unless I’m right of course). I should probably suggest that any stray fans of non-Huddersfield Town teams shouldn’t get too upset or excited by my uninformed opinions, but where’s the fun in that? Inst...

Aug12023 by Terrier Spirit7 Comments

Midfield worries, red card call lacked common sense, Edwards’ long throw, Hudlin’s claim – Notes on Huddersfield Town’s 1-0 win over Heerenveen

Matches

Huddersfield Town finished their preseason schedule with a 1-0 victory of Heerenveen on Saturday afternoon. They faced a stern test in the first half until a red card just before half time saw the visitors from the Netherlands reduced to ten men and Town dominated the second half. It wasn’t as full-blooded as some of Town’s other preseason games, perhaps both teams wanted to preserve themselves for the upcoming season, but it was still relatively entertaining. However, I’m not sure the game served up warranted the time and expense invested by the 300ish Heerenveen fans who enjoyed a weekend in West Yorkshire. They were in fine voice and seemed to enjoy themselve but they must be a bit barmy to have made the trip to England for a meaningless friendly - hats off to them. First h...

Jul252023 by Terrier Spirit3 Comments

8 young Huddersfield Town players that could make a big impact this season

Opinion, Tactics

One of my favourite things about Huddersfield Town’s 4-0 win against Stockport last Saturday was how the team that played from sixty minutes onwards was able to continue dominating the game, despite being mostly made up of academy graduates. Huddersfield Town’s transfer policy this summer suggests that they have confidence in this younger generation too, as it seems like we’ve been comfortable moving on experienced professionals who are mostly backup players when we’ve got youth players capable of providing the same role. For example, Duane Holmes most likely left because Brahima Diarra was deemed as good enough cover for attacking midfield just like Will Boyle could leave as Loick Ayina is not just potentially a better option but will also be on a lower wage too. This summer’...

Jul232023 by Terrier Spirit8 Comments

Glorious goals, captain Sorba, same old problems, Rhodes spite, special teams subs – Notes on the Stockport friendly

Matches

Huddersfield Town traveled to Stockport yesterday for a friendly and came away with a 4-0 victory. While it’s important not to get too carried away with preseason games, particularly when they’re against a team from further down the divisions, there were some positive signs on display alongside the important fitness test for the Terriers. The game was played at a fairly good tempo for a friendly game, I don’t think Neil Warnock would allow any team of his to drop their standards for even a meaningless game like this. While it wasn’t anything like a proper league game, there were some full-blooded tackles and there weren't those horrible lulls you sometimes get in friendlies, where the players almost stand on the ball to get their breath back. Both teams went for it and had a go. And w...

Jul182023 by Terrier Spirit18 Comments

TRANSFER TALK: Etienne Camara shouldn’t have left Huddersfield Town so soon

Transfers

Etienne Camara’s departure from Huddersfield Town has now been officially confirmed by Town, four days after Udinese tweeted out pictures of the player signing for them. Seemingly there was a delay with the paperwork and the Italian club jumped the gun.Regardless, the French Under 20 international has left West Yorkshire for Italy for an undisclosed fee which is rumoured to be between £1.5m and £2.2m which will most likely also include a clause that will secure Town a percentage of any future transfer fee if he is sold for a profit. While the terms being suggested don’t seem ridiculous for a player that hasn’t played a great deal and that was entering into the final year of his contract with no intention of renewing, I still feel like this deal doesn’t represent great value for H...

Jul12023 by Terrier Spirit2 Comments

Huddersfield Town are one of only four Championship teams to have not yet returned for preseason training

Opinion

It’s got to that really boring part of the time in between seasons, where last season seems like a distant memory but the new season seems far away too. One of the signs that it’s not too long until the new season returns is when the players come back for preseason training. I’ve noticed on social media that many other clubs seem to be back in training but so far Huddersfield Town’s squad are still on their holidays. I then thought that someone should find out which Championship teams have returned and which ones haven’t. And, because once an idea like that occurs to me, I find it hard to let go, I decided that person should be me. So I’ve gone through all of the 24 Championship teams' social media feeds and found out which ones are back in training and when they returned. Here’s what ...

Jun142023 by Terrier Spirit6 Comments

Two sackings, one new arrival and another steps back – Things are hotting up at Huddersfield Town

News

While we’re still waiting for the big news of official confirmation of Kevin Nagle’s takeover of Huddersfield Town being officially approved and the announcement of the widely reported rumour of Neil Warnock’s (latest) return - there is at least some news to report from Huddersfield Town. The club have appointed Jake Edwards as the new CEO of the club and at the same time, David Baldwin has stepped back from Managing Director to a more advisory role. Edwards hasn’t hung around, as in his first full day in the job he sacked Leigh Bromby, the head of football operations, and Mark Clements, the goalkeeping coach. Here are my thoughts on these latest comings and goings at Town. Jake Edwards appointed as CEO - an impressive appointment I’m not the type of person to start dancing i...

Jun52023 by Terrier Spirit8 Comments

12 reasons the 22/23 season went badly wrong for Huddersfield Town

Opinion

In an old job I used to work on big cross-departmental projects and at the end of them we’d have these “lessons learned” meetings, where (in theory) we’d all get together and discuss what we could do better next time. In reality, these meetings were massive finger pointing exercises, where everybody came along to blame the other department for making a massive mess of the project and it would usually descend into bitter name calling. So, in the spirit of those “lessons learned” meetings, I’m going to write an article about all the things that went wrong for Huddersfield Town last season. Or are we still calling it this season? I’m not sure when one ends and the other starts, but I’m talking about the 22/23 season we’ve just experienced, where Danny Schofield and Mark Fotheringham stee...

May302023 by Terrier Spirit8 Comments

Kevin Nagle’s to-do list after his Huddersfield Town takeover is confirmed

Opinion

It seems like we may be fairly close to Kevin Nagle’s takeover of Huddersfield Town being completed. It feels a bit like waiting for the Vatican to appoint a new Pope, as we patiently wait outside the EFL gates for white smoke to come out of their chimney. Kevin Nagle tweeted on Sunday night about the takeover, replying to an impatient fan that “We have moved as fast as possible. Waiting for the final sign off. No issues.” So it sounds like things might be near the final hurdle. With that in mind, I thought I’d do a write up of all the things Kevin Nagle is going to have on his plate once the takeover goes through. He’s going to be a busy man! Or at least his team will be. Set out his vision for the club I think the most important thing we all want to k...