Huddersfield Town go into the game against Wycombe with an injury ravaged squad that leaves them with around 13 senior players to pick for the eleven starting spots. We found out in the prematch press conference that Rolando Aarons has picked up an inevitable hamstring injury and faces a spell on the sidelines. Thank goodness we upgraded our treatment room as part of the Canalside renovations, we’re certainly getting our money’s worth out of it.
Wycombe are tricky opponents in many ways for Town, as beating them would mean very little, given their poor form and lowly league position, but a victory is far from certain given we struggle creatively against defensive teams and tend to be too generous at the back when facing teams that play route-one football.
Here’s who I think we’ll see lineup for Town against Wycombe.
Goalkeeper – Schofield
There are a few people questioning the young stopper’s continued selection but I think, barring injury, he’ll remain between the sticks for the rest of the summer and potentially many seasons more if he fulfills his potential. Keepers tend to come into their prime later than outfield players, so there’s still plenty of time for him to get better but I’m quite happy with what I’ve seen so far. Against Wycombe he’s going to have to be brave when coming for high balls as they’ll look to bully him and he’ll need to be smart when playing the ball out too, not taking silly risks but trying to pick out available players in space to avoid booting it downfield and seeing the ball coming straight back.
Defence: Pipa, Keogh, Sarr, O’Brien
Pipa will most likely play more like an additional midfielder in this game and try to break through the defensive lines from deep when he gets on the ball. He’s not been quite as good as he was earlier in the season lately but it’s still nice to see such a direct and attacking young fullback.
It’s hard to get excited about Keogh’s presence in the team but he’s doing a job for us while we’re short in this position. Rarmani Edmonds-Green, Richard Stearman and (unexpectedly) Tommy Elphick are all getting closer to fitness so Schindler’s injury setback won’t hurt us too badly in this area. I suspect Keogh will make way once any of those other three right-sided centrebacks is available but he’ll do until then.
There would be some logic to resting Sarr for a few games given his recent clanger-a-game habit but Carlos seems to like giving players a chance to play themselves back into form rather than dropping them. I’m not sure dropping our biggest physical presence would be wise when Akinfenwa may start for Wycombe. He’s a limited striker in many ways but the things he does, he does very well and I think a youngster like Romoney Crichlow could get eaten for breakfast by the experienced Wycombe striker. So I’d stick with Sarr in spite of his tendency to occasionally “do a Naby Sarr” purely because we need his strength and aerial ability.
The mystery of how Carlos would cope without Toffolo was resolved in the prematch press conference when it was confirmed Lewis O’Brien would be the makeshift leftback. This feels like a sensible choice, given O’Brien is naturally left footed, is a solid defender and has a good motor on him to get up and down the flank. The challenge will be for him to put in quality crosses when he gets into the final third when overlapping, Toffolo has struggled in this area lately but when we do nail those balls into the box from the fullbacks they often result in goals.
Midfield: Hogg, Bacuna, Holmes
Jonathan Hogg was my Man of the Match against Luton though Best of a Bad Bunch would be a more accurate description, given nobody covered themselves in glory last weekend. He’s likely to come into his own again against Wycombe, as we’ll need him to get stuck into the physical battle and to ease pressure on our fragile defence. One area that I think Hoggy has improved in this season is his distribution, as he’s showing a better eye for picking out a long range pass and an increased ability to pull them off too. He’s not suddenly turned into Xabi Alonso but you can see there has been an effort by him to be more expansive with his distribution, we’ll need to see this against Wycombe to avoid getting stuck in those stale meaningless-possession-at-the-back rutts we often find ourselves in against defensive teams.
Juninho Bacuna showed the good and the bad sides of his game against Luton, pulling off some lovely driving runs forward to get into the box but then ruining the good work by taking on selfish shots rather than playing in teammates. If this game plays out as expected and we are allowed lots of possession against a deep-lying defence, we’ll need him to show some of his game-changing ability to make the break through.
I like the look of Duane Holmes and I think he could be even better played in his preferred position of attacking midfield. He’s tiny, which makes him a bit lightweight but since he left Town he looks stronger on the ball and can use his low centre of gravity to fend off physical challenges. Like Bacuna, we’re going to be looking to him for a bit of creative sparkle, hopefully he can deliver.
Forwards: Mbenza, Campbell, Pritchard
All three of the forward line have question marks about them at the moment. Mbenza is having a good season but reverted back to his old way of playing against Luton, looking unwilling or unable to get stuck in. It must have stung to be hooked at half time and hopefully he’ll want to put in a performance to avoid the same thing happening again.
I’m probably not the biggest critic of Fraizer Campbell, as I admire those non-goalscoring jobs he does for the team on the pitch. But it’s getting hard for all but the biggest Campbell fanboys to defend his recent form. The lack of alternatives means he’ll most likely going to start but I’d chuck Philips on early in the second half if Campbell doesn’t produce (again).
I’m a bit surprised with myself for picking Pritchard to start in this game but he actually did reasonably well when he came off the bench last weekend and Aarons injury means he’s the only remaining senior forward player available. Vallejo could be played instead and the formation jiggled but I don’t think he’s suited to this type of game and playing him and Hogg would be too defensive in a game we really need to win.
Not much to dispute there – the announcements by Corberan, were not what we wanted to hear, sadly, but hopefully not, prophesying a terminal decline.
You’re correct about Hogg, even though I’ve never been his biggest fan, I have been surprised to see how he has responded to the new coaches ideas. I think you could also add purposefulness with the ball, mainly the speed at which he operates with it as an improving factor.
I have a sneaking feeling Corberan might go with three at the back, adding Critchlow, thus allowing Pipa and O’Brien a little more freedom.
Regardless, tomorrow is unlikely to be fun!!!!!
Three at the back might give us a more solid base and a few more big lads for set pieces. However, I’d worry about the creative side of things of we played that way.
The only way I can see it being enjoyable would be of we scored early and then somehow got another not too long after. That seems so ridiculously unlikely that a frustrating afternoon seems inevitable. Even if we win I suspect it will be one we have to grind out and ride our luck.
That is about the best team we can turn out with the resources available and would also be my choice except perhaps for the goalkeeper. I never feel safe with Schofield in goal and I don’t know much about the new man but if he’s any good I would like to see him in the team. If we don’t win this then I think we have a major decision or Hodgkinson has – and that is to sack Carlos ( yes really!!). He may turn out to be a good coach at another club if backed by the management with quality players but that’s never going to happen at Huddersfield. He did reasonably well before his training methods injured half the squad but he has been unable or unwilling to change the way he likes the team to play with the relatively poor quality players left available for selection.
Phil was quick to sack both Siewert and Cowley but it’s a bit different with Carlos and I think he’d be safe in his job even if we went down providing the style of play remains and youngsters are being given a chance. If Carlos was sacked it would reflect more badly on the board than Corberán as they staked their reputation on being able to recreate what Bielsa did at Leeds on a shoestring budget. The result of this was the experiment is still unknown but if we survive and have a good summer transfer window we could be a good side next season (two massive ifs in that sentence!).
I agree that it will turn ugly among fans if we don’t win tomorrow. Even if we win, it won’t do a lot to settle the nerves. We need a good run and a bit more breathing space from the drop.
Carlos will be gone this year. Hopefully sooner than later.
All rather depressing with the words ‘relegation’, ‘must win’, and ‘manager sacking’ all featuring. For once I’m going to keep my powder dry until after the match. I have no gut feeling about this at all. We could find the remaining fit players rise to the occasion and give us something to smile about or we might see evidence that the manager has lost the dressing room.
Thanks for your comments Simon. I don’t think it’s a case of the players not wanting to play the way Carlos wants them too, more that they lack the ability. Hopefully tomorrow will be a turning point for the season.
The problem seems more on recruitment and the writings been on the wall for months and the Chairman and Board have ignored the signs.How could they not spend some of the money from transfers last year to give the coach a fighting chance.All we get is confusion with the last two transfer periods and some of the new players are very poor standard not even div 2 level.
Phil should hang his head in shame how he has dealt with this once proud club and he should be going not the coach,looks like non league to me.
Hi David. There’s a very interesting statement from Phil Hodgkinson on the official website. I’d recommend checking it out as he gives his perspective on a lot of your points.
Interesting to read the statement from the Chairman. The missing piece for me is costing out what relegation would mean to the club. How much more money would the club lose by relegation, not to mention all the knock-on effects like not being able to attract decent players? I have no idea what the further financial loss would be but surely it must be worthwhile to ensure a striker is/was signed to help avoid the drop?
Well I’ve read the “statement” which was basically just a load of Woffle. What a disgrace he is to this great club.
Yes Terrier spirit, I think the side you have picked is as good as it gets unfortunately. The Manchester 10th choice keeper must be shockingly bad, the bloke has only played one game, and is totally frozen out, do you think there has been words ?. As for the chairman and recruitment, as I have said before, long long before this season started we needed 2 strikers, even if Karlan got a bad injury there was no real backup. So the pandemic washes to a certain point , but someone has to be responsible for the lack of goals we get.
My only concern is – How long before Duane Holmes gets the inevitable hamstring injury?
Until the economic outcome of the pandemic can be predicted with greater certainty, no businessman is likely to pump money into a football club at this level. As for the team performance, they have shown they are capable of playing to the required standard in this division over and over again – there is nothing wrong with the manager that I can see since he cannot generally be held responsible for the individual errors that have cost us quite a few points in recent games. Just my opinion of course.
It seems there is a growing contingent of fans suggsting that Carlos is not the man for the job, and I have to admit to being one of them. Winning, losing or drawing against Wycombe will not change my view on that. So to the team selection – Schofield is certainly not performing as well as he did when Hamer was still at the club, but we appear to have no viable alternative so he has to keep the shirt. I like the idea of three at the back with Chrichlow being selected alongside (the unremarkanle) Keogh and (the stuttering) Sarr and with Pipa/O’Brien overlapping. Additionally I would like Vallejo in the middle of the park with Holmes having a more advanced role and Pritchard missing out – the latter certainly performed better against Luton, but we need physical presence in games and neither Holmes or Pritchard give that, so one of them has to miss out. Crikey what a mess. So lets do Schofield, Pipa, Keogh, Crichlow, Sarr and O’Brien at the back. Bacuna, Hogg and Vallejo in the middle with Mbenza and Holmes creating for the scapegoat that is Campbell. As for “where has all the money gone” – go figure. With negligble income then I think the answer is obvious – it is contributing to the day to day running costs of a Championship (for now???) football club – I cannot believe that anyone needed the PH statement to clarify this point as even a blind man could see it.
I’m quite pleased with my predicted line up even though it had 12 players starting. Good to see Stearman making the bench.
Stuart Pearce picked 12 players in his first selection as Forest caretaker manager until his wife pointed out his error, so you’re in good company. Vallejo coming in makes sense as he’s shown he can spread play well with his passing and stretch the opposition. No matter how doom and gloom things are, I always start to get optimistic just before the kickoff. Let’s hope its well founded today.
In response to my own team selection – I have picked a starting 12!!! Oh well, you never know, it could work. Oops
Carlos has to go!!! Self destruction with defeat from the jaws of victory. Totally gutless and spineless. We are fast becoming a laughing stock. The final 40 minutes of the game was a shambles. There were so many positives in the first half but also a good few negatives and it was no surprise when Wycombe scored on the stroke of half time. But what happened in the second half was a total collapse. I’m not having a go at Pritchard because he is what he is but at a time when we were out muscled all over the pitch Carlos the Clown brings on the smallest player he could find!!! Absolute disgrace and the sooner he goes the better.
That was indeed REALLY REALLY bad! Even in the first half and leading 1-0 and then 2-0, Town were second best all over the pitch. You are right, Ian, Town were totally outmuscled. There seemed to be no plan at all as to how to combat the physical pressing game. For anyone who didn’t see the game, don’t be fooled by the fact that Town scored 2 goals; the reality was that Town were at least 3 goals worse than Wycombe which says it all.
I’m not sure where to start on individual performances there were so many bad ones. I’m going to single out 2 players that I really would prefer not to see in a Town shirt again. No, not Campbell albeit he offered next to nothing leading the line. No, not Holmes who had a particularly poor first half; he’s learned the trick of not being able to find a man from 5 metres. No, not Mbenza who clearly doesn’t understand the offside rule thus breaking up so many attacks. These are my 2 – Schofield and Bacuna.
Schofield inspires absolutely no confidence. From never coming for crosses, he’s now decided to come chasing out for balls that he’s little chance of reaching. His distribution frightens the life out of me. He might be only 21, but he’s not talent waiting to blossom.
Bacuna, oh Bacuna! Many of us have said it many times before but when it gets a bit physical in midfield, he simply goes missing. On the rare occasions that he gets on the ball, his decision making is poor and his passing is poor. He is not a team player. He likes the tricks & flicks but they are a waste of time when you’re in the middle of a relegation battle.
It’s not working, Carlos, and I’m struggling now to be optimistic that it will ever work with this set of players. I’m sorry to say this but I do think he might need to step aside in order to change something. We can’t change the players; we’ve got what we’ve got. So I think it’s going to have to be the manager. Without changing something, Town will just keep on losing.