Huddersfield Town suffered a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Swansea City. The problems from previous games persisted, we lacked quality in the final third and made silly mistakes at the back.
Here are my player ratings for the game. It was hard to pick out a good performance, as every player was somewhat under par.
Jonas Lössl – 4 out of 10
Made a great save when Abraham got a shot away from a tight angle. Completely undid that good work with a sloppy pass that led to the opening goal.
His distribution can be excellent but he needs to be more careful and only pass short when players are available. A few more performances like this and Rob Green may be given a chance.
Scott Malone – 6 out of 10
Some positive runs down the wing, but his crossing was poor when in good positions. He was also lucky to avoid conceding a penalty after missing a tackle on Kyle Naughton in the box.
Christopher Schindler – 7 out of 10
He had a couple of mistimed tackles in the first half, including the one that led to his booking. He recovered and made some good tackles but he wasn’t at his imperious best.
Zanka – 6 out of 10
Didn’t do a lot wrong but not an exceptional performance either. Had to be careful after a silly booking in the first half.
Tommy Smith – 6 out of 10
Like Malone, he squandered a few good crossing opportunities with poor quality balls. He just doesn’t seem to be able to cause defences the same kind of problems as he did last season. The step up to Premier League level means he has to work harder to get time on the ball.
Jonathan Hogg – 6 out of 10
A bit unlucky to be subbed at half-time to make way for Mooy. He didn’t do much wrong, besides a silly booking late in the first half.
Embed from Getty Images
Philip Billing – 6 out of 10
Not involved enough and didn’t dictate the play when playing alongside Hogg. This was a chance for him to be our main playmaker and he didn’t take it.
His injury looked innocuous at the time but it’s a concern that he left the field on a stretcher. David Wagner confirmed it was a twisted ankle in his post-match press conference. He’ll have a scan in the next few days to determine the severity of the injury.
Rajiv van La Para – 5 out of 10
Wasted several corners by overhitting them and missing everyone, did the same with his crosses too. He got involved in the game and carried the ball up the field but that’s not enough.
There was one deflected shot which nearly crept in, but otherwise, he didn’t produce enough.
Embed from Getty Images
Tom Ince – 6 out of 10
Blazed over from close range when the score was 0-0. If he’d have scored then the game would have gone in a different direction and who knows what might have happened.
Also did well to break at speed in the first half and could have earned a penalty and a red card on another day when he was sythed down. I’m still not convinced he’s right for the number 10 position, I’d prefer to see him play out wide.
Embed from Getty Images
Elias Kachunga – 7 out of 10
Quiet start but grew into the game. Was probably the most positive and dangerous looking of our attackers, even if it didn’t produce much.
Like Smith, the step up from the Championship is meaning he’s not getting the same amount of time on the ball but he’s looking dangerous with his energetic running.
Laurent Depoitre – 6 out of 10
Feeding off scraps all game. He ran his socks off, but Alan Lee used to do that too. The distance between him and the attacking three behind him was too great, so he couldn’t do much but chase shadows.
Substitutes
Aaron Mooy – 7 out of 10
He looked jaded, misplaced passes and didn’t have his head in the game. Even with these negatives, it wasn’t a bad performance. He got on the ball, tried to make things happen, and was the main reason the whole team played better in the second half.
Even an underperforming Aaron Mooy is better than the alternatives we have. Not a problem when the Ozzie is fit and fresh, but others need to step up when he’s not around.
Danny Williams – 6 out of 10
Good to see the American back in action. He was busy in the middle of the park and we looked more solid when he replaced the injured Phil Billing.
Chris Löwe – N/A
Came on to replace Malone due to the ex-Fulham man suffering cramp. Was positive and tried to get things going but didn’t make the most of promising positions.
TerrierSpirit, Van La Parra’s crosses miss all of his team-mates in the area all the time. His corners whenever he takes them are not much better either. Never have rate him, never will. His shooting is terrible to look at. I won’t miss him when he is on his way out of the club as his non-existent crossing and corner skills will have become a thing of the past, whenever that may be of course. Answer me on a postcard if anyone knows what Wagner sees in the talentless winger.
I wouldn’t drop Lössl because I see him as the no. 1 for the entirty of the season. He was so amazing before Spurs and it’s just been two bad displays of late. I’d say he’s been one of the more consistent players but, yeah, the mistakes from him in the last two outings have to disappear from his play. We can’t forget Coleman is at the club too along with Green.
WHEN WILL WE HAVE OUR NEXT WIN MAN – SERIOUSLY? Barren runs are part of the game but, TerrierSpirit, the Newcastle win feels likes ages ago and we aren’t into double figures as far as points are concerned. Momentum suffers more than you can imagine in the top flight with a run that stretches on and on. I can’t picture us picking up a point in the next two and, even if they’re against the powerhouses in Man Utd and Liverpool, they would be another two games without victory. The look of the table can suffer too. You can be at the entrance to the trap door sooner than you think with a continuous winless run.
I think we’ll get something out of either Man United or Liverpool to be honest. Yesterday was poor but we’ll bounce back.
You’re living in a world of positivity TerrierSpirit, but I’m one of the fans not expecting anything dramatic from the next two and I foresee thrashings I’m afraid.
With the defence conceding goals for fun, the Man Utd and Liverpool defences will be rubbing their hands with glee. Who wouldn’t look forward to playing against a back four playing such pedestrian defending? I condemn messing about with the ball at the back. The league is unforgiving if you are caught out, so just kick the damn ball up the field man. We are not in the Championship anymore!
RVLP should be sold in January – you in agreement TerrierSpirit? He’s had enough chances. He can’t produce and he’s in out of his depth. He couldn’t even produce what we ask of him in the Championship!
His crosses and corners would even team-mates in the penalty league at Sunday league level. He likes to think he’s Messi when he dribbles!
team-mates in the penalty area*
His crosses and corners would even miss*
He can’t produce and he’s out*
the Man Utd and Liverpool attacks*
DO OUR KEEPING COACHES TEACH THEM TO DRIBBLE ABOUT IN THE AREA, sURELY THEY SHOULD BE CLEARING THE BALL UPFIELD AND OUT OF DANGER.
They teach them to play it out to feet rather than hoofing it up field. It helps us build attacks and retain possession but causes problems if you do it badly. Lössl is a great keeper but plays in a way that means his mistakes cost us.
Agreed Cyril, never mind kicking the ball around at the back like you know what you are doing. It’s risky stuff.