Huddersfield Town head to Vicarage Road on Saturday to play Watford in the Premier League. Town will hope to get back to winning ways, after a 3-1 defeat to Chelsea in midweek. They’ll also want to break their away-from-home losing streak, which stretches back to the 0-0 draw with Burnley.
Watford haven’t won in four games, so are struggling for form themselves. However, they’re a quality Premier League team with a young, ambitious manager. It will be a tough test for Town but, unlike against Chelsea, if Town play well they have a good chance of getting something.
Predicted tactics against Watford
I think that David Wagner will revert to his usual 4-2-3-1 system against Watford. The “deep block” 4-5-1 system we played against Chelsea was scuppered by individual errors and made it hard for Town to cause the opposition problems when we went forward.
This game presents a conundrum for Wagner though. As we’ve struggled away from home so much that he may try something completely different. Our lack of attacking bite has been an issue in away games, but so has our defensive frailty. Rather than the attacking 4-2-3-1 system or the defensive 4-5-1, it may be that he has something new up his sleeve.
I’ve seen some fans call for Town to play 4-4-2 with two strikers, but I’d be surprised to us start out like this as it would require a fundamental change in the way Town play. Mounie could be played behind Depoitre as a makeshift number ten, but I doubt they’ll both play together as out-and-out strikers.
Who will play for Town against Watford?
Lossl, Zanka and Schindler will all keep their places but the full-back positions may be up for grabs. Lowe had a poor game against Chelsea so Malone may return to the starting lineup. Smith has played two games in a week, so could make way for Hadergjonaj, who looked bright when he came off the bench and assisted Depoitre’s goal.
One of Williams or Hogg will make way to allow for the change in system. I’d guess the selection of Mooy’s midfield partner will mostly rest on whether Hogg has overcome his migraine issue that meant he had to be subbed at halftime against Chelsea. Given the need for Town to become more of an attacking force, it may be better to pick Williams ahead of Hogg.
The attacking players are tricky to pick for this game too. I’d personally like to see Palmer return to the starting XI, but given he’s not made the bench lately I’d expect Ince to return to the number ten role, with van La Parra playing on the left-wing and Kachunga on the opposite side.
Mounié wasn’t great in the Chelsea game, and Depoitre came off the bench to score, so I’d expect the big Belgian to get the nod up front.
Watford player to watch: Troy Deeney
I became aware of Troy Deeney when he scored the winner against Town in a 3-2 victory for Watford in Town’s first season back in the Championship in 2012. He’d been in prison for beating up some students in the middle of Birmingham and had only been released days before the game. He scored from a penalty which was the result of Forestieri going down in the box (a sight Town fans are very familiar with).
Anyway, Deeney has since become a vital part of Watford’s team as both a physical attacking presence and a big personality in the dressing room. In many ways, he’s a bit of a throwback, the big man up top you can lump it up to. He’s proven that he’s more than that over the last few years and Town will have their hands full containing him.
He may not start the game, but even as a substitute, he has the ability to turn a match.
Watford’s manager: Marco Silva
Marco Silva is a currently held up on a pedestal as a Great Young Manager. He and David Wagner represent a new breed of manager in the Premier League, compared the familiar faces on the managerial merry-go-round such as Pulis, Hughes, Allardyce, and Hodgson.
There are a few comparisons that can be made between Wagner and Silva. Both are relatively young, have a footballing philosophy based on bravery and commitment, and like to play good football where they can.
There’s an interesting article in the Guardian a few weeks ago, which suggests the fuss about Marco Silva might be over-stated but for now he’s the hot property in the Premier League. Which from a Town perspective is a good thing, as it takes some of the spotlight away from David Wagner.
Huddersfield Town’s history against Watford
I was surprised to see we’ve only played Watford 26 times in our history. Town have won 12 times against The Hornets, lost nine and drawn five. I thought we’d have played them more.
The first game was played in Division Two in September 1969, which was a one all draw. The most recent a 3-1 win to Town at the John Smith’s Stadium in January 2015, with Nahki Wells, James Vaughan and Joel Lynch scoring.
TerrierSpirit.com prediction: Watford 2-2 Huddersfield Town
I’m hopeful Town will break their away-from-home goal drought against Watford but I can’t see us being able to get the balance right between attack and defence. So I think there’ll be goals at both ends.
Watford are missing a few key players but have shown themselves to be one of the better teams outside the top six this season. Town will hopefully give them a good game, but I’d expect we’ll have to be patient at times and soak up pressure.