Huddersfield Town continued their rollercoaster season last week, following their impressive victory over Manchester United with a humbling defeat at the hands of Liverpool. The three nil defeat served as a reminder that we aren’t going to have it all our own way in the Premier League.
David Wagner copied Mourinho’s example and tried to park the bus against the scousers. The tactic worked in the first half, as we managed to stifle Liverpool and limit their chances to a penalty that Lössl saved. The wheels came off the proverbial bus in the second half when Liverpool upped their attacking tempo and scored three goals against a fairly limp looking Town team.
Huddersfield Town v West Brom – Match details
Kick-off: 3pm Saturday 2 November 2017 – Another three o’clock kickoff. While it means less TV money for the club, I’ve been pleased to see that the majority of our games so far this season are taking place at the proper time for football.
Tickets: Another sellout, though against a less glamorous side, I suspect some season ticket holders may not actually be present. Particularly those that bought a ticket just for the glamour ties. It’ll be more interesting to look at the number of empty seats rather than the official attendance. Hopefully, it’ll be almost full, but I suspect we’ll see more gaps than we did against Manchester United.
Referee: Roger East. His last match involving Town was the home defeat to Newcastle in the Championship last season.
Predicted lineup
The midfield is an unknown quantity for this game. Playing three deeper lying midfielders with no number 10 worked very well against Man United but less well against Liverpool. As we’re playing a team outside the top four, I’d expect us to revert to the usual 4-2-3-1 system, but that creates problems.
Firstly we have three deep-lying midfielders for two available spots in Hogg, Mooy and Williams. Then there’s the opposite problem of not having enough quality options for number 10. For whatever reason Wagner isn’t picking Sabiri to start, Ince isn’t a natural in that position, and Mooy contributes more to the game when played further back.
My suspicion is that Ince will be given another chance, as it means all three wingers can play in the system. While I’d prefer Sabiri to be given a run, I can understand why Wagner would want to avoid putting too much pressure on a relatively untested player.
While Smith made a costly error at Anfield for the first goal, I suspect the back four and keeper will remain unchanged. And Depoitre will continue up front after picking up the player of the month award for October and Mounié still not quite back to full match fitness.
Pre-match comments
David Wagner reflected on the experience his side have gathered so far in the Premier League and how the positive atmosphere inside the John Smiths’ Stadium has helped performances.
Wagner also confirmed that he expects West Brom to set up defensively and we’ll be likely to have more possession than against Man United and Liverpool. That doesn’t mean it’ll be easy, but it will present a different challenge to Town.
Opposition info: West Brom
West Bromwich Albion currently sit in fifteenth position, two places below and two points behind Town. They haven’t won in the league since 19 August, losing four and drawing four during their current run.
Their form may be a bit misleading though, as they gave Manchester City one of their toughest games of the season last weekend and were a bit unlucky to lose 3-2. They looked a potent threat on the counter and to only concede three against City is, bizarrely, a fairly decent defensive job compared to how City’s other games have gone this season.
Man to watch: Jay Rodriguez
Signed from Southampton for around £12m in the summer, Rodriguez is currently the Baggies top scorer with three goals. He can play on the wing or behind the striker, but he’s mostly been playing higher up the field as an out and out striker.
He’s skilfull and can create moments of quality out of nowhere. His likely strike partner, Solomon Rondon, plays more like a wrecking ball and it will be Rodriguez that’s expected to drop off and create the link between midfield and attack.
West Bromwich Albion v Huddersfield Town history
Town have met West Brom 69 times prior to this weekend’s game, with Town winning 27, losing 25 and drawing the rest. So it’s tight, but historically Town have the edge. The first meeting came in December 1910 and Town lost 2-0.
The most recent meeting was an FA Cup tie in 2010, which the Baggies won 2-0, with Graeme Dorrans and Chris Wood getting the goals that day. I’d recommend following this link to see the lineup we had that day. Our starting 11 was pretty good, with Pilks and Roberts on the wings, Novak and Rhodes up front, and Peter and Nathan Clarke at the back. It was a classic Lee Clark team.
I was surprised to see how long ago it was that we last played West Brom in the league: April 2001. Andy Booth and Delroy Facey led the line for Town in that game, which gives you an idea of just how long ago it was.
Terrier Spirit prediction: 2-0 to Town
We’ve had two consecutive games against top six teams, one providing a famous victory and the other a defeat. While West Brom are an established and hard-working Premier League side, it’s going to be a different challenge for Town and it’ll be interesting to see how we adjust.
I think it’ll be a hard-fought game and chances are likely to be limited. The test will be whether we can finish any openings that come our way and if we can keep things tight at the back ourselves.
Given we’re likely to have more possession this game and the fact that we’ll be up against a side that’s tough to break down, we really need Aaron Mooy to be at his best. Other teams have targeted him this season and closed him down. If he can win his battles and get on the ball in positions where he can hurt the opposition he could be the difference. If he has a poor game then there’s little chance of Town getting much from the game.
As is the case in most football games, the first goal will be crucial. If Town can get it then West Brom won’t be able to sit back and absorb pressure, they’ll have to come forward and attack more. This will create more space on the pitch and give Town chance to get another. That’s the reason I’m predicted 2-0.
Realistic prediction TerrierSpirit as West Brom are poor away from the West Midlands, but surprisingly worse. I pray you have hit the nail right on the head as it’s my birthday 🎂 🎁 game this game and I am 23 next week. Three points would be good as one of the presents and, because we are in our comfort zone of the John Smith’s and not on our dreaded travels, another reason to be optimistic.
worse than us*
What is your opinion on the visiting WBA player James McClean choosing to not wear the red poppy to remember the fallen troops TerrierSpirit? I don’t do politics. McClean, though, does have his reasons for his personal choice to not wear a poppy and having read them and processed them, I feel in my personal judgement his reasons are understandable. It’s a decision bound to draw criticism, people want to see others remember and respect the troops. He’ll receive a barrage of boos from the fans who don’t back his views and decision, and this will only fire him up.
I especially don’t understand the techical subjects in politics because of my autism, nor do I trust politicians. They’re full of fake promises (in my view!). It’s hard to understand politics for a lot of folk because the debates are technical. Anyway, McClean has done this for years and he’s always received the criticism for the choice to not wear a poppy. Keeping him quiet on the pitch is the more important thing
Your prediction about McClean came true. I didn’t boo him because I think wearing a poppy is a choice not an obligation. At the same time I think McClean likes to court controversy, so he’ll have been pleased about how it all played out.
I think he is the type that likes to wind people up. His desire to be a controversial figure thrives off his haters. It’s because of something that happened where he was born many decades ago (as a guess, our soilders bombed Derry but I don’t do the subject of politics) why he chooses to not wear the poppy.
Happy birthday Chris. Have a good day!
Thanks, it’s this Thursday 📆 .
Yeah TerrierSpirit, there are gaps in the seating as you’ve said for some games. These Season Card Holders who, quite frankly don’t deserve to own a seat because they just turn up for the arrival of the big guns to the JSS, are glory hunters and they’re more worthy fans who missed out on a Season Card. Anyway TerrierSpirit, enjoy home 🏠 conforts and there’s further reason to be hopeful because Tony Pulis has lost the fans at West Brom to be honest. After the win later today (hope I don’t jinx it 😉), let’s get the tools out of the toolbox and fix that away form on the south coast 🌊 🏖 , albeit in two weeks’ time after ANOTHER international break. BOOOO!