Mark Fotheringham takes charge of his first Huddersfield Town game this afternoon, away at Reading. The Royals were widely tipped for relegation at the start of this season by many (including this blog) but a fine start to the season sees them sat third in the table and they represent a tough first challenge for Fotheringham (I keep wanting to shorten his name to Fozzy bear but I suspect he’s too serious for nicknames).
In advance of this afternoon’s action, I’m going to take a look at some of the main talking points to watch out for in the game…
Predicted lineup
Fotheringham said he had a clean bill of health heading into this game but the club’s training video they released a few days ago didn’t show Jonathan Hogg training, so I suspect he’s still either injured or at best only just back in training so I’d be surprised if he was available. Then again, some head coaches are a lot less willing to listen to the advice from physios and he may choose to play players that are carrying little knocks, we’ll have to see.
Regardless, I don’t think there will be massive changes in this game. While Fotheringham will want to put his stamp on things soon, I think for the first game he will most likely not change things much from the team that won against Cardiff. Camara would be the most likely to make way, given he’s a youngster that was making his first start but he was the man of the match so surely deserves to keep his place.
The only change I would make would be to drop Anjorin and restore Sorba Thomas to the starting lineup. I don’t think Anjorin is a bad player but he’s very hot and cold, so in an away game where we might not see a lot of the ball he might be a bit of a luxury. Whereas Sorba’s pace is handy to have as an option when we have the chance to hit them on the break. It also leaves Tino as an option to bring off the bench when their legs are tiring.
Goalkeeper: Nicholls
Defence: Turton, Lees, Helik, Nakayama
Midfield: Camara, Kasumu
Attackers: Thomas, Rudoni, Holmes
Striker: Rhodes
What kind of football does Mark Fotheringham want to play?
There were a few journalists who asked Fotheringham what style of football he would be playing with Town and he wasn’t all that clear with his answers. He said he liked attacking football and getting as many forward players on the pitch as possible but he also liked to build that on a solid base, Then he mentioned how he liked to draw his influences from all over the world of football.
He also didn’t commit to one particular formation, so it sounds like he’s more keen to adjust the shape of the team to the opposition and be flexible, which worked well for Carlos last season.
Rather than listening to his answers in a press conference, it will be far more revealing to watch what actually happens on the pitch. I’ve seen so many managers talk about how they’re committed to free-flowing attacking football but as soon as they get a goal up they start subbing their wingers for defensive midfielders.
Will some fringe players get a fresh start under the new head coach?
A new head coach means a fresh start for players that might feel like they didn’t get a fair chance under the old regime. I’m thinking mostly of players like Brahima Diarra, Connor Mahoney, Aaron Rowe, Will Boyle, Ben Jackson and other B Team players that might be close to getting called into the first team.
I always think that the coaches have a better view on these things than fans, so they most likely make the right choice when leaving out players but it could be that some players weren’t getting a fair chance. For example, Aaron Rowe got his debut back in our Premier League days and despite some decent performances and unlucky injuries he’s still not played many first games all these years later. Could he get a chance under this new head coach?
How will Fotheringham behave on the touchline?
After Danny Schofield’s fairly passive presence on the touchline, it was nice to see Narcis Pelach have a more engaged role when he stood in as caretaker. It will be interesting to see how Fotheringham behaves on the touchline today as he gives the impression that he’s not the shy and retiring type!
Things feel to have been a bit too relaxed around the Huddersfield Town camp this season under the old regime, so it’s right that the new guy has come in and been prepared to give his players a rocket if they don’t do what they’re supposed to. In an ideal world the players would motivate themselves and do what they’re supposed to without the threat of being screamed at if they don’t but we don’t live in an ideal world, so instead of nice guys like Danny Schofield being able to succeed we instead live in a world where angry people thrive.
Will ex-players return to haunt Town?
Like so many of Town’s opponents in the Championship, Reading have some players that used to play for Town that may well lineup against us today. Tom Ince and Naby Sarr are both Reading players now and could lineup against us this afternoon. Ince has played every game for them this season and has been one of their best players. Naby Sarr won’t be playing this afternoon as he’s injured, so at least we’ll be spared him getting his revenge against us until the reverse fixture.
Tom Ince will be a player we have to watch carefully though. When he played for us in the Premier League he was always close to being a major threat for us but it never quite came off for him. Back down to his natural level in the Championship, he’s much more dangerous and will take some watching.
From a brief video I saw The new manager putting the players through their paces in training.The tempo was high and snappy and very robust.It strikes me that he will not take any nonsense from anyone.This is just what we need.He says he does not have to convince anyone regarding his talent and has the premiership firmly In his sights.He comes across as quite ruthless but quite humble at the same time.He is a family man and already I feel as if I know more about him in three days than an entire two seasons
With Carlos.At least we can understand what he says.
The players seemed to have no problem understanding Carlos. Which is the main thing.
Like you, I don’t expect to see big changes in the starting line-up.
Of the names you list who might get a fresh start, I find it bewildering how or why some of these players are still at the club. Take Diarra for example; he’s been proclaimed as a prodigious talent for a few years now. On the brief sightings of him (mainly pre-season), I’ve liked what I’ve seen; but then doesn’t even get a place on the bench. Ben Jackson is another one who is ‘talked up’ but doesn’t then seem to progress. Aaron Rowe you mention; he’s 22 now so he’s not a kid; and did get a taste of first team football but now seems quite content languishing in the B team. I can only think that there’s an attitude problem with some of these players and maybe someone like the new boss will awaken them from their slumbers. If Town had had a performing First XI, fair enough, I could see why it would be difficult to break through; but that’s not been the case. It’s a mystery to me.
Of all the tactics (like playing 3 or 4 at the back), the one I’ll be interested in is does ‘Fozzy’ like playing with inverted wingers? I have an intense dislike of inverted wingers unless the player is at least capable of crossing the ball with his weaker foot. The game hasn’t changed that much; the pullback from the byline remains the most dangerous ball to defend, so if you can’t get to the byline because your wide men are incapable of crossing the ball, you have severely limited your attacking options.
I’m hoping Fozzy will surprise us all today with his line-up. Maybe he’ll adopt the not unsuccessful 2-3-5 formation adopted by Birkby County Junior School in 1964?! 😊