Today Huddersfield Town will take on Millwall at The Den and while it’s never a pleasant place to try and get a result, Darren Moore is likely to feel that the hostility from the Millwall fans is nothing compared to the hostility he is getting from all other directions at the moment. In this article, I’m going to take a look at all the different ways Huddersfield Town’s manager is currently being put under pressure.
Kevin Nagle and his itchy tweeting finger
Kevin Nagle took to Twitter (I can’t bring myself to call it X) to address the concerns of fans following our defeat to PNE in midweek. While the performance and result on Tuesday were obviously sub-par, the tone of Kevin’s tweet was probably more damning than Moore deserved given it was the team’s first defeat in five games and we’re still coming back from a pretty horrendous injury crisis.
While Nagle did not single Darren Moore out for specific criticism in his tweet about the problems at the club, it’s impossible for the comments about there not being much to support in terms of results and entertainment are a direct criticism of the manager’s job performance.
The threat of coming to Huddersfield in January to ask tough questions feels like a bit of an ultimatum too – basically that Moore has until Nagle arrives in West Yorkshire to turn things around or he’s going to have some explaining to do. Maybe I’m reading too much into this tweet, but if I was in Moore’s position, I’d infer from the message that the next four games are pivotal.
I think the most obvious threat that heads might roll in January is towards the end of the tweet where he talks about not being interested in blame but in finding problems and solving them. It’s quite hard to unwrap the meaning to this bit, but I’d guess it means he doesn’t want to dwell on things but instead just fix the issues and move forward. So despite being a recent arrival at the club, who is dealing with problems that have been in place since long before he arrived, it may be that he’s deemed to be the main issue that needs to be resolved.
My personal opinion about Kevin Nagle’s tweet, and similar previous social media updates, is that they are probably a bad idea. As the club’s owner it’s worth acknowledging that it is basically his train set to play with how he wishes, so if he wants to do things a certain way that is his prerogative, but I’m not sure of the wisdom of making public statements that are so critical of your own employees. It must be terrible for the players and coaches’ morale and looks like you’re more interested in winning over the fans than backing the team.
The last time there was a similar tweet that was critical of the manager, it coincided with the beginning of the end with Neil Warnock (and may have been a factor in Warnock’s departure, depending on your opinion on what went on behind the scenes). While it was never officially recognised as a factor in Neil Warnock’s exit, Kevin Nagle’s negative tweet about Neil Warnock sparked a snide swipeback from The Gaffer at the end of a press conference about broken promises with contracts last summer. The official story is that Warnock’s sacking and Moore’s appointment wasn’t related to these exchanges, a cynical mind might connect the dots between these events and wonder about the timeline.
The press joining the pile on
One of the chief criticisms of Darren Moore’s reign as Huddersfield Town manager so far has been that he’s dull in press conferences. And as someone who tends to watch both the pre and post match pressers, it’s hard to argue with this assessment. While Moore is always friendly and polite, he does like to fall back on tired managerial cliches and does his best to say as little as possible in his responses.
Media training is part of the coaching badges that aspiring managers go on and a key part of that training will surely be how to dodge a tricky question and not say anything too controversial. After all, it’s not Moore’s job to make exciting newspaper copy, that’s the journalist’s role. However, he does take this to a fairly extreme position and at times can almost put the room to sleep with his tendency to fall back on the sort of sayings we’ve all heard a thousand times before – (even giving Mark Fotheringham’s old chesnut about not getting too high when we win or too low when we lose an outing).
But this week’s Millwall prematch press conference was actually quite interesting in the scheme of things. Rather than the usual kind of questions, the journalists all went for the jugular with Moore, choosing to focus on Kevin Nagle’s critical tweet of him and grilling Town’s manager about the potential pressure he might be feeling.
While Moore tried to bat away these questions with some baffling waffle about how he saw the message as a positive, his general demeanor told a different story. While he was saying the right things, his body language and tone showed he was pretty fed up with question after question focussing on how hard things were for him, how he’s facing questions about his job performance from the club’s owner and how his players let him down in the last match. He looked a bit like a puppy that had been kicked.
The press obviously are not to blame for putting these questions to Moore. The statement from Nagle was in the public domain so they would not be doing their job if they didn’t get the manager’s response to it. However, I think this is the first time I’ve seen Moore look to be really under the cosh and perhaps understanding that his job is under threat and he needs to start getting some results to turn things around and that might lead to him returning to those pleasant soft-ball questions in his prematch press conferences.
The fans are increasingly unhappy
I spoke last week that the mood on social media has been pretty negative lately about Darren Moore but the atmosphere in the stadium was barely any better on Tuesday and that won’t have passed him by. The resounding boos at full time will have been a punch in the guts and the snarky comments from the self-appointed wits in the Riverside stand that have taken to barracking mid-game will also be ringing in his ears (“Don’t listen to him Diarra, he doesn’t know what he’s talking about” being the one that drew the biggest laugh on Tuesday night when Moore was trying to give instructions to Brahima Diarra).
From the club’s perspective, I think the anger is something they can cope with because angry fans still obviously care and can be won back around if results improve. They’ll be more worried about apathy, which seems to be setting in among the fanbase at the moment. While the official attendances being reported are still in the teens of thousands and seem respectable, these are the “tickets sold” numbers, not the bottoms on seats that generate the noise and provide the actual support for the team. The eyeball test suggests the real attendance lately has been a mere fraction of the one reported, with huge swathes of empty seats where season ticket holders would normally be present. The poor fare on display lately and no obvious signs of improvement have clearly led many fans to vote with their feet and stay away. The ambitions to grow the club’s revenue will be hard to fulfill with dwindling real attendances too, as fans staying away from the stadium won’t be spending money in the concessionary stalls, fan zones or club shops.
While Darren Moore carries a reputation of being one of the more pleasant men in football, Town fans have yet to take to him fully because he’s not yet delivered the results on the pitch. It’s been a bumpy start and I think that past experiences with managers that have started poorly and failed to turn it around will make it hard for many fans to give Moore much more time. Which means the notoriously toxic atmosphere at The Den may be added to by the Town fans if Darren Moore can’t draw a performance out of his team this afternoon.
The league table is not doing Moore any favours any more
For quite a long time the horrendous form of the three teams below Town in the table has been a sort of Get-Out-Of-Jail-Free card and masked some of our problems. Sadly, QPR and Sheffield Wedneday have started to get their acts together a bit (Rotherham are still mostly rubbish for now, but could come too under new manager Leam Richardson, who they appointed this week).
Over the last six games, QPR are seventh in the Championship form table with three wins and two draws. Wednesday are fourteenth with a couple of wins and a draw. So the fact that Town have been grinding away at about a point a game, mostly through draws, means we’re now in danger of being caught by the teams below us and could slip into the relegation zone.
While the more positive way of looking at things is to look up the table and see how close we are to quite a few other struggling teams, it’s hard to get too excited when progress up the table requires points on the board. Lately we have seemed to actively avoid taking the initiative in games and have lacked the depth to sustain a competitive effort in games over ninety minutes (though, in fairness, this is not Darren Moore’s fault and was obvious at the start of the season when we failed to sufficiently invest in the squad).
While Town remain outside of the relegation zone it’s possible to feel like things are relatively OK. As soon as we fall below the dotted line the mood changes and everything intensifies. For the record, if we lose or draw today then we will go into the relegation zone if QPR win away at Sheffield Wednesday. We avoided that fate on Wedensday night when QPR failed to beat Plymouth but I don’t want to spend every matchday depending on the teams below us dropping points to avoid dropping into the relegation zone. It’s time Town took the initiative and started climbing the table themselves.
Does Darren Moore still have the dressing room?
One of the most tired cliches you hear about in football is the rumour that a struggling manager has “lost the dressing room” and it’s usual for the manager to be sacked shortly after you hear this rumour. If you no longer command the respect of the players and they don’t want to put in a shift for you then you’re toast.
While Tuesday was a really bad performance from Town, I’m not sure I’d say the problem was that the players weren’t doing what the manager wanted. It wasn’t a lack of effort. It was a lack of basic skill and the tactics seemed weird at times but there were no signs of the players downing tools and not respecting their manager.
Things can change quickly in football though and an undermining message from the club’s owner on social media won’t have helped, so it will be interesting to watch the body language of the players and coaches today. Moore seems to have built decent bonds with the players and I think they’ve bought into what he wants, even if it’s hardly inspiring stuff at the moment. I don’t think he’s lost the dressing room yet but who knows? if performances like Tuesday become the norm then my opinion might change.
With all this pressure on Darren Moore – is it time for him to leave?
There’s probably a whole other article to write about whether Darren Moore should go or not but my instinct is that he needs longer. I’m never a fan of sacking managers if it can be avoided and I think Town have been rattling through them at far too great a rate recently. I’ve some concerns about Darren Moore, in terms of tactics and approach, but I’d like to see him given a bit longer.
There are mitigating circumstances that mean you can explain away some of the poor results that have happened so far. The squad Town have this season is paper thin, the quality isn’t there, the injuries have been rotten lately and Moore hasn’t been given time to build the team he wants yet. But even accounting for all of that, two wins from fourteen games is a poor return from the resources he has had available and the way we have been playing has been difficult to watch for most of those games.
Everything will get much easier for Darren Moore if he can win a few games. Starting today at Millwall would be a very good idea. Three points please!
A very good wide ranging and thought provoking article TS, here are the thoughts of one of the fans you mention, based on what I’ve witnessed on the pitch and my personal reaction.
My thoughts after last Saturday’s game have not changed. I have referred to Town’s atrocious passing on far too many occasions. I often resolve to keep count but quickly lose track or I am overcome by nausea. The offerings here were no different.
We have three very good defenders at the back who have very little pace unfortunately coupled with an inability to take care of the ball; how has recruitment allowed this to happen? That weakness is amplified with a centre mid-fielder who seems to be intent on ensuring Town finish second best in recent matches, I thought I detected an improvement as he was presumably instructed to press higher up the pitch giving him less time on the ball. Not only can he not pass but frequently loses the ball in dangerous areas of the pitch. Napoleon and Eisenhower were quoted as saying: I’d rather have a lucky general than a smart general. They win battles.” DM please take note. Eighteen months ago, I despaired at the awarding of our skipper’s two-year contract thus further stymying the club’s development. Is there a more ineffective captain/midfielder in the Championship? What would it have been like recently had we possessed a mobile central mid-fielder, one of the most important positions on the pitch, with a bit of pace who took good care of the ball, could pass accurately, could tackle safely and would not be a walking yellow/red card?
Is it not unsurprising that our possession stats are so poor when we aimlessly lump the ball forward, pass it out of play or simply give the ball away? Warnock-ball at its worst. Writing of whom reminds me that although DM’s public persona is diametrically opposed to NW’s; our current issues are not the result of either’s efforts. Criticism of DM’s dull as ditch water public mutterings should be put on hold until say March, after the hoped for January recruitments.
The highlights for me were Headley and Koroma’s valiant if occasionally flawed efforts as wing -backs, Kasuma’s general play and his assist together with Maxwell’s performance, his kicking is generally better than the outstanding Nicholl’s efforts and also my delayed journey back to London (arrived 0030), who should leave the train at the same time as me but Ramani Edwards-Green on his way to Peckham where he has family and friends. He seemed delighted that I recognised him and that I addressed him has Reg. Although I was itching to ask pertinent questions; weariness thankfully, precluded an interrogation. This has happened to me before when meeting Sean Scannell on the train whilst returning from a 0-5 battering away at Norwich when Murray Wallace was sent off within the first 20 minutes, we did well to survive until half-time, then the roof fell in!
Those were my thoughts after the Bristol game, everything still applies except for the praiseworthy parts. I despair at the incompetence on show. I question my sanity at paying exorbitant rail ticket prices to watch the dross on offer, rescued by some decent fish and chips and the relatively cheap couple of pints of a local brew or two. I foolishly purchased a ticket for my “home“ game at Millwall a sensible person would drop it in the bin before kick-off.
All credit to you. I couldn’t even bring myself to spend £10 to watch on iFollow.
I have nothing positive to say so I’m not going to say anything more.
I doubt you’re alone in not fancying tuning in via iFollow Simon. Which the club might also be aware of and factor into their decision making when it comes to whether to keep the manager or not. It’s unlikely they’ll be able to attract the global fanbase they hope for when even the diehards are switching off.
Thanks for your comment Beck. Can’t disagree with any of this. Being even vaguely critical of Hogg will get you strung up by some fans but I think our reliance on him might cost us at times. Though our failure to replace him means we often look pretty hopeless when he isn’t in the team.
It’s interesting that REG would travel home to Peckham on Saturday before a home game on Tuesday. I suppose Sunday would be a rest day, so he will have travelled back up in time for Monday’s training.
Hope you enjoy the game today and at least you won’t have quite so far to travel back.
If we had a better midfielder rhan Hogg in the club wouldn’t we have noticed by now? I’m all for getting somebody better of course – but I’m not expecting it to happen. Are you?
I think we pretty much have to get a proper Hogg replacement, as he can’t defy the ageing process indefinitely. He’s in good shape and playing a decent number of games for his age but I don’t think we can expect that for that many more seasons. I’d prefer someone similar to Hogg’s profile when he arrived, early twenties, Championship experience, potential to improve and grow with the club and good character. Finding that sort of player again and getting them to come to a club like ours won’t be easy.
As for your earlier question, obviously there isn’t a defensive midfielder within a country mile of Hogg’s ability. REG has been awful when he’s been in that role this season (though had a couple of decent games last season), Kasumu is better in a more dynamic role and all the younger players are too far off to consider. I think Rudoni could be argued to be a better midfielder than Hogg (current Hogg not when he was in his prime) but they play such different roles it’s hard to make a comparison. And like with Kasumu, Rudoni as a defensive midfielder stifles his best qualities.
Another excellent report and, I’m sorry to say, true.
Thanks Terry!
As I live in Spain I can only watch on ifollow so I don’t get the atmosphere, or lack of it in the stadium. The only thing I can say about Nagle at the moment is combined with the efforts of Hoyle ,the club were saved from administration (again). As yet he hasn’t invested in a squad that was obviously thin last year ,and still is. We have been crying out for a striker, two midfielders and a mobile center back for ages now. Look how Colwill improved our back line, or ESR in midfield. I doubt we’ll get those type of players on loan again with the rest of the team not able to keep or pass the ball. Please don’t encourage playing out from the back, it’s not done quickly enough and nearly always gets passed back to the goalie who hoofs it upfield anyway. My thoughts are if Nagle is going to invest next month then Moore will probably stay, if not then he’ll panic and get a different gaffer in to try and get a tune out of this squad. Worrying times !
While I’ve been critical of Nagle’s tweeting in this article, I actually think he’s been really positive for the club so far. I don’t think there’s any reason to doubt the explanation given for the investment levels being limited because of the league’s rules, so I expect we’ll see more money put into the club down the line as he’s promised.
January is going to be a huge month and while it’s notoriously difficult to recruit, I also don’t feel like we can get away with a other poor transfer window. If we get our business wrong I think we’ll be fighting relegation again and won’t have Neil Warnock to get us out of a hole like we did last season (and he may even be working against us for a relegation rival).
Most of what KN speaks of are the very same reasons I gave up buying my season card. Entertainment value was zero. A manager playing the same style and format of football expecting a different result, madness, not Moore. Being stuck in the car park for 20 minutes whilst pondering the debacle I had just witnessed, week after week. Fans like to see their team win, but above all else they want to be entertained, thrilled and if the opposition wins due to be being better than Town, so be it.
I’ve always shied away from the official car parks for that reason, I’d prefer a longer walk and easier drive but I appreciate not everyone has the luxury of being able to do that if they’re not as mobile.
As for entertainment value and thrills, they are currently in short supply. But then again, things were worse last season until Warnocm arrived but I loved his spell in charge. The style of play wasn’t nice but the commitment and results were enough to make it enjoyable and it brought the fun back. It feels like we’ve slipped back to the mood we had in the Schofield / Fotheringham days of last season.
Anyone know what Rudoni’s situation is ? Press don’t ask for updates and we could do with him back pronto.
I think I saw he put “Back soon” on his personal Instagram the other day, so he’s on the mend but I’ve not heard a timescale. I’d guess not before Christmas but maybe early in the New Year but that’s pure speculation.
Ignore my earlier comment. He’s starting today!
What is all this Word Press business in aid of T S ?
Hi Peter, WordPress is the name of the platform I use for the website. But it should be all behind the scenes, so if you’re seeing something about it, then something might have gone wrong. I can’t see any issues with the site from my end but I’ll keep checking. What kind of WordPress business are you seeing?
We’ve five matches before KN is due to arrive on January 4th. It’s really important that we pick enough points up to stay clear of the bottom three. If we don’t, I can’t see us doing another great escape, whatever they decide to do and the time it takes to settle everything down, it’s all going to be too late !
Personally, Steve. I think the season will be a struggle as we haven’t enough quality to keep the team halfway up the division. Some players, this is my own opinion, are too slow and others are just not Championship material. What has the squad lacked for many seasons, a goalscorer? Remember when Boothy returned and he played up front on his own? If he didn’t score in the short time he was on the pitch, then we wouldn’t score, as there was no one else who would/could score. Goals win games, therefore if we have no one who scores regularly, or who is likely to score, we are doomed to fail.
Nagle has owned the club just over 5 months and in that time has spouted all sorts of PR with absolutely no positive contribution whatever. In fact as the situation is now, his management selection and his decision to sack the only successful manager and coaches that we have had for some time, has gone a long way to destroying the club in this league, the fanbase support and the clubs future. The changes needed before he came in were extensive. They are now bordering on the impossible as everyone from the CEO down to the manager need changing. Due to his complete lack of knowledge of English Championship football, he has had to rely on basically an incompetent set of (expensive) management who have to be held accountable.
This comment is made just before the Millwall game and it appears that the likes of Rudoni and Nicholls are now back so injuries can’t be blamed if we lose and continue to play as in recent matches. So we will see what happens (or has happened!). Another dismal loss will surely put the last nail in Moores coffin for starters.
Had to sign in to Word Press before I could comment on your as always excellent post.