Just when it seemed like Huddersfield Town’s Premier League losing streak was going to run on forever, we pulled off a fabulous performance with a resounding victory against Bournemouth. Here are some of the things that stood out from the game.
Wagner unleashed the dogs
Obviously, we desperately needed points to get us out of the relegation zone, but the manner of the victory was more important than the result. This wasn’t a “low block”, backs to the wall performance. We played the attacking football that got us promoted to the Premier League in the first place and it worked a treat.
The change in approach was obvious on Sunday, compared to the defensive systems we’ve used against Liverpool and Manchester United recently. We also showed more desire, creativity, and commitment than in the games against Stoke, Leicester and West Ham that also formed part of our losing run.
I hope that this game marks a turning point in Town’s approach to the Premier League, and we play a high-tempo pressing game from now on. We might get the odd beating along the way, but I’d rather watch us fail at trying to play our kind of football than succeed by switching to turgid defensive tactics.
The fans finally sing Mounié’s name
One of the key differences in the game against Bournemouth was Steve Mounie’s performance. He ran his socks off, caused problems for the opposition with his dribbling and converted the opportunities that came his way.
It was wonderful to hear Mounié’s name sang out from the crowds. Such a contrast to the Stoke away game, where our “fans” san Depoitre’s song whenever Mounié was perceived to do something wrong.
While Mounié’s performance at Stoke was bad, it was clearly not helping that fans were singing the praises of a player that wasn’t on the pitch at the time. The reverse could be said of the Bournemouth game, where the crowd’s support pushed him on and inspired him to work harder for the team.
Now is the chance for him to build on this performance and score the goals that will keep us in the Premier League.
Momentum change
Things were looking pretty grim for Town last weekend when our defeat against Manchester United meant we slipped into the bottom three for the first time. Pointless in 2018, many fans were writing off Town’s chances of survival.
While this win only gives us three points, the performance, coupled with the cup win over Birmingham, might be a turning point in this season. I have complete faith that Town will stay up if they can consistently play to the standard they reached against Bournemouth.
There were games during our losing streak where it was hard to pick out a player that played well, on Sunday it was hard to find one that wasn’t excellent. Momentum is vital in football, so I hope we’re finding form at the most important run of games in our season.
Hoggy for England!
Before David Wagner’s arrival, I remember having discussions with other Town fans about whether Jonathan Hogg was good enough for a Town team that was aspiring for Championship survival. Two years on and I think he deserves a call-up to the England senior squad.
Hogg might not be the most eye-catching player around, but his fitness, attitude and work-rate are as good or better than any other Englishman I’ve seen in the Premier League this season. He could provide the steel in central midfield that allows the more creative players licence to roam forward and attack.
Jordan Henderson, Jake Livermore, and Eric Dier all play a similar role for the national team. I’m not saying Hogg’s better or worse than them. Actually, I will say he’s better than Livermore. But my point is, that his performances for Town this season deserve at least a runout in a friendly to see how he looks alongside the squad.
I suspect Gareth Southgate was at the game on Sunday to watch Callum Wilson but he can’t have missed how commanding Hogg was in the middle of the park. Hopefully, he’ll bear this in mind when he’s picking his next squad.
Penalty hoo-ha
Last season Rajiv van La Parra took a penalty against Reading at home which he missed. He took the penalty despite not being the designated penalty taker and receiving very clear instructions to not take it by the other players on the pitch.
So it felt like history repeating itself in the closing moments of the game last weekend when he picked up the ball and refused to give it to anyone else. In scenes more familiar to a playground kickabout than the Premier League, VLP refused to give the ball to any of the several teammates that tried to prise it away from him. Luckily he scored the penalty but it was an unseemly moment in the match.
Instagram posts from the players after the match revealed the pecking order for penalties was Mooy, then Ince, then Pritchard so there was no legitimate claim from van La Parra to take it. Mounié was believed to be on a hattrick at the time (before his second was changed to an own goal), so he really should have been allowed to take it.
Given how much the manager and players talk about togetherness and team spirit, this was a moment that showed that when it comes down to it, some people will always go for glory themselves over helping a teammate. Saying that, if I was on a five grand goal bonus I’d probably have tried to take the penalty myself.
Dangly Willy-iams
I’d like to be the kind of Town blogger that was too classy to comment on Danny William’s wardrobe malfunction on BT Sports, but sadly I’m not. The German-American seemed to get confused between his shorts and underpants when rearranging himself and exposed his “bits and pieces” to the world.
I’ll not share the video or pictures here in case more sensitive Town fans are reading but it was quite a sight! Some people, presumably Leeds fans, have responded with outrage and disgust but most have seen it as a funny moment in a game that produced a fantastic result for Town.
If nothing else, this incident has solved the debate about which of Town’s players is longest in the shower after the match!
Good read as usual! Come on Terriers
Excellent. Thanks.