In the fifth of a series of pre-season reports, HarryfromBath looks at how the Terriers have been progressing under coach David Wagner this summer by delving into their forums. A report on Nottingham Forest will be on the site later today with the rest of the teams in the division covered between now and the start of the season.
"I’m really looking forward to getting started in competition now. We have plenty of reason to be positive and potentially have our best season back in the Championship”, "We certainly have a stronger group. We have better players at the club and a more effective team.”
"Huddersfield Town 2016/17 is a massive upgrade on previous seasons. Come and enjoy the fun and excitement.” Terriers are in good spirits after seeing how manager David Wagner has used his first summer window to reshape his squad. "I have never been so excited about a forthcoming season.”
"I am optimistic about the coming season, but not stupidly so. I am realistic about what we can achieve, but the building blocks are slowly but surely being put in place”, "We are certainly a good deal stronger as a squad than last season”, "We are better, but we are not promotion material yet.”
"There is no one player that excites me most. Our manager, well, that’s a different story. He has the potential to be the best we have had in recent times”, "We are certainly pleasing on the eye and I’m sure that will continue this season”, "Our passing, shape and composure on the ball are all better.”
"I have faith in Wagner to get it right. He is switched on, pragmatic and realistic.” Terriers like the high tempo pressing style of play which the 44-year-old former Borussia Dortmund II coach has brought to the club. "We close opponents down and win the ball back quickly, hunting in packs.”
"This season we look more composed and capable of playing a quick passing game. We clearly have more technical ability in midfield and defence”, "I am still of the opinion that we will be more solid at the back and more exciting going forward that we have been in years”, "In Wagner we trust.”
Eleven players have arrived at the John Smith’s Stadium this summer. The two new goalkeepers are 23-year-old Wales international Danny Ward (from Liverpool on a season-long loan) and 20-year-old Jake Coleman who joined on a three-year contract from Oldham.
Wagner has looked to the continent in strengthening his defence. Three centre-backs are 26-year-old Christopher Schindler from TSV 1860 Munich, 20-year-old Slovenia U21 international Jon Stankovic from Borussia Dortmund and 25-year-old former Dynamo Dresden captain Michael Hefele.
Full-back 26-year old Chris Löwe has arrived from Kaiserslautern. Midfield has seen the arrival of one time Borussia Dortmund and Croatia U21 player Ivan Paurevic from Russian side FC Ufa. Nearer home, 21-year-old midfielder Jack Payne has joined the Terriers from Southend.
One player who has impressed in pre-season is midfielder Aaron Mooy, who arrived from Manchester City on loan for the season. The Australian "is brilliant. Even at a high tempo he knows how to pick the right pass every time. He will split defences this season”, "He will be a massive player for us.”
Two strikers have also been signed on season-long loans, 19-year-old Korey Palmer has arrived on from Chelsea and 24-year-old Elias Kachunga has come from Ingolstadt. Some Terriers are nervous that Kachunga may be too similar to Nakhi Wells in style and more attacking variety would help.
The most notable departures are striker James Vaughan (to Birmingham) and defender Joel Lynch (to QPR). Defender Joe Wright has moved to Doncaster and striker Jordan Hiwula has joined Bradford. Midfielder Karim Matmour is with Ingolstadt and front man Ishmael Miller is a free agent.
After four wins against lower league opposition in the form of Guiseley (1-0), Accrington (4-1), Rochdale (2-0) and Oldham (2-0), Huddersfield lost 2-0 at home to Liverpool before heading out on a training camp to Austria where they played out a goalless stalemate with Werder Bremen.
Wagner’s starting XI against Bremen (above) was set out in his favourite 4-2-3-1 formation. He used an entirely different XI after the break (below). One player who did not feature with a knee injury was striker Nakhi Wells and this added to concerns about the lack of numbers and variety up front.
"If only we still had Jordan Rhodes, we would be odds-on for promotion”, "Attacking frailties are still evident. We are every bit as inept as we were last season”, "Our passing is good but we lack an end product against well organised defences. We may struggle because Kashunga is too similar to Wells.”
"This is a tough division. The salaries that some clubs pay are really staggering but we are on firm footings and appear to have strengthened well. I would be delighted with a mid-table finish playing attractive football”, "We are better, but we are not quite promotion material yet.”
Despite their optimism, Terriers aren’t getting carried away with their expectations. "For the last few years we have been treading water towards the bottom end of the table. Our realistic aim should be to be firmly mid-table, no relegation worries and try to break into the top half of the table.”
"We have the recipe for a top-half finish”, "Heart says top six, head says top half, but I would be delighted with either of those”, "It will be an insanely competitive division this season and we still have a lot of players to settle into the club”, "A top six is tough, but I’m starting to believe.”
The busiest Terriers forum is the polite and knowledgeable Down at the Mac.