Those Who Think We Are Safe Are Living In Cloud-Cuckoo Land - Notes for Huddersfield Monday, 7th Apr 2014 16:16 by HarryFromBath HarryfromBath assesses the mood in the opposition camp ahead of Tuesday's game by delving into their forums. "In a parallel universe somewhere, I know there is a Huddersfield Town that plays fast attractive football. I know because I saw them at Reading last week. Today I saw the other Huddersfield Town. The crap one, that plays at 80 percent, that can't pass and is half-arsed." "We dominated the game but failed to take any chances and lost to a late sucker punch. It's getting very tiresome", "I cannot believe what I have just sat through", "That could be a big blow. I thought we had turned the corner with a couple of draws at Reading and at home to Middlesbrough." The Terriers lost to a solitary late goal at home to Bolton on Saturday, and will come into Tuesday's game on the back of a seven-game winless run. "We won't play a worse team than Bolton. They really were there for the taking today. I'm quite worried now. I think I might go and lie down for a bit." We're Not Safe Yet"The gap is closing. Where are we going to pick up points or even score? By 9.50 pm on Tuesday we could well be right in it. Look at the games we have to play and you can see that we have a right task on our hands." "As for those saying we can't be drawn into a relegation battle, we could be involved in last day drama yet if we do not get more points on the board." Town are 10 points clear of the relegation zone, but near neighbours Barnsley have a game in hand and they are taking nothing for granted. "This is going to be like last year all over again. We are in absolute freefall with difficult games to come", "We look like the ‘too good to go down' team, but we are in a slide. How often do you see a team get into a losing rut and find themselves incapable of arresting it?" Mark Robins"It's rubbish at the moment but I am keeping the faith. We just need to get through this season. Keep with it and next season will be better. It doesn't feel like it but the underlying signs are good", "It's tough because we are not scoring and we are making individual mistakes. Keep the faith." "I'm happy to stick with Robins. I agree with his philosophy", "Getting rid of Robins would put us back by six months. It's a fine line between success and failure. We should keep faith and see what replacements he brings in over the summer. Nobody said it was going to be a smooth easy ride." Supporters are divided on whether their manager can bring success with his patient brand of football. The majority for now are backing him, but there is a real sense of frustration with a lack of progress. "I'm bored of watching rubbish performances. The man is short of ideas." "I'm frustrated and am starting to question Robins's decision-making and motivational skills, which have contributed to our downfall in the second half of the season", "I want more penetrative passing play. Pass and move forwards into space with a playmaker linking up with the striker." Huddersfield play a 3-5-2 formation built around a short passing game. Injuries to Wales international centre-back Joel Lynch and former Norwich striker James Vaughan have seen them shift to a 4-2-3-1 system, a change which has strengthened the defence but left the Terriers light up front. Passing to No Purpose"I don't want to spend another season watching paint dry like I have this season. It's not entertaining. I don't go to games to watch us pass the ball endlessly across the backline and lose", "Possession on a line 15 yards from our penalty box with umpteen short passes does not count." "We have become so pedestrian in our approach. It's easy to have plenty of possession in your own half. Getting forward is the problem. We are so predictable to play against, with nobody getting behind the opposition defence." "I don't think we have the ability with the current squad to play the kind of football that Robins and the club want to play", "It is time for this passing game to be put on the shelf until the off season now. We need points, and I'm not bothered if we play awful football to get them." Defence"Never go sideways or backwards if you can go forward. It needs branding on their foreheads. We opted to take a deep throw against Bolton instead of playing the ball forward. We lost possession going sideways and conceded the corner from which they scored." Alex Smithies"I can't think of a better permanent keeper Town have had in the 35 years I've been going", "My only criticism would be his speed of thought, as he can miss opportunities to get us on the attack by taking too long to release the ball, but he's a fine keeper at this level."
There have been a few criticisms of the 24-year-old youth product. "His shot stopping is superb, but he's poor at commanding his area. His long kicking isn't brilliant and most importantly his decision making isn't the best." His shorter range passing fits in well with the team's playing style. "Smithies is head and shoulders in terms of distribution above any keeper I have seen play for us. The other week he was spreading play like a sweeper", "I certainly don't think goalkeeper is a problem position for us." With Joel Lynch absent with a groin injury, things have been more problematic at the heart of the Terriers back four. "With Lynch injured, our best centre-back is Gerrard. After that, we're struggling." "I love Peter Clarke's passion for the club, but it does seem to be clear that he's on borrowed time", "He always gets his head in where some players won't", "I like his battling, never-say-die qualities, but he's had umpteen partners who have all looked better when he wasn't playing." The 32-year-old former Southend defender "is so often out of position that he panics all around him", "Clarke makes all players around him nervous", "He's got his limitations, but he adds experience and a physical presence." Huddersfield have their own Tommy Smith, a 21-year-old former Manchester City youth product. "I prefer Smith at centre-back rather than at right-back (where he has played in a 4-4-2). He's done very well, but his cutting in all the time has become frustrating", "He's a fantastic prospect", "The find of the season." Former Falkirk defender and one-time Town target Murray Wallace "has to be the most awkward moving, ungainly footballer I have ever seen. It's as if he's not in control of his limbs", "I panic when he has the ball, and I have noticed that his team-mates have the same wariness." The 21-year-old has been relentlessly criticised. "If Wallace is a professional footballer, there's hope for us all. It's like he has bananas for feet", "If he's got time to control the ball, he's capable of making a decent pass, but it's panic level red if he's under any pressure whatsoever." Anthony Gerrard"Gerrard is the best of a bad bunch", "He's performed consistently well at the heart of the back three", "He's been our best defender, making super tackles, and winning so much in the air", He can be quick to blame other people when he is caught out with his lack of pace."
The 28-year-old ex-Cardiff man is regularly criticised for his "cluelessness on the ball", "His weakness is an insistence to put his foot on the ball and stop the momentum at the back. His passing also isn't the greatest", "His thinking time from boot to ball is an eternity", "His accuracy is not an issue, but his speed is." Central Midfield"The squad is not up to it, especially in the central midfield area", "If the ball comes to our midfield, we have absolutely no anticipation whatsoever. It's like we're daydreaming and have little positional awareness", "We pass the ball across the middle of the park with little end product." Former Southampton player "Oscar Gobern is neat, tidy, keeps the ball well and has a good range of passing", "I worry about his lack of fitness. Every time he pushed forward against Middlesbrough, it looked like it would take him five minutes to get back over the halfway line."
"Gobern is too defensive. He only goes sideways and back", "It doesn't look like he'll step up and be the all-action midfielder we desperately need." The 23-year-old is one of a number of central midfielders accused of "insipid play". Former Watford midfielder Jonathan Hogg is viewed no more favourably. "He's very, very ordinary", "He needs to be the holding midfielder", "He has an engine. His fitness levels are superb, but he isn't a footballer." The 25-year-old is a "bang average player", "Watford saw us coming a mile off." "Against Blackpool, he did no work whatsoever. He couldn't pass, he shirked tackles and gave the ball away. It's as though Hogg is as fit as a fiddle and did great on the bleep test. Perhaps we should similarly offer Mo Farah a contract. He was hopeless, and I have not seen him have one good game for us." Northern Ireland international Oliver Norwood "can go for me. His passing and movement are generally poor and he's not pulling the strings in midfield."
The 22-year-old "keeps giving the ball, away, playing it backwards and disappearing in games", "He can be afraid to put as tackle in." "Norwood's pass to set up Hammill's goal against Middlesbrough the other night was world class. Then he went on to have a stinker for the rest of the match", "He attempts first time flick-ons without looking, and longer passes which overshoot or get cut out." "Norwood and Clayton are well capable of defence splitting passes from much higher up the pitch. They just fail to be that far up in the first place most of the time, or they do the ‘turn around and around until you disappear up your own backside' dance and take too long." Adam Clayton"Our midfield is shockingly poor. Adam Clayton has to do the lot by himself", "He's carrying the midfield on his own. I think he does an amazing job under the circumstances", "To be effective, he needs to be 15 yards further up the field."
"We need two Adam Claytons." The 25-year-old former Leeds man "is undoubtedly our first choice midfielder, but his lack of fitness and athleticism means that we struggle to find a suitable partner in central midfield", "This can be fixed if he improves his cardio in the summer." "As good as Clayton is, he lacks the athleticism, strength and discipline to play in a two-man midfield", "He's not mobile enough to track back and can't tackle for toffee. He gives the defence no protection", "He plays a holding role because the players we have to do that job have failed in it." Wide Midfield"We have decent wingers. Take the shackles off and let them play a bit." Many fans believe that their wide players could offer a far greater threat is the team could unlock itself from its patient passing system. "Sean Scannell is the ultimate luxury player. We're always hoping he'll produce some brilliance but it comes too rarely. His last cameo at home was pathetic and I won't be sorry to see him go", "I would prefer anyone else on the pitch to him. He's a lazy uninterested player", "He's been a big mistake." Supporters have unequivocal in their condemnation of the 23-year-old former Crystal Palace player. "Scannell could have made a difference against Bolton", "but he most likely wouldn't as he has proven time and again", "He's finished at the club and I for one won't be sorry to see him go." Former Dundee United man Paul Dixon has played at left-back or left wing-back. The 27-year-old "has been immense all season. When he gets forward he is effective as usual", "He can get caught flat-footed and switch off", "He has a tendency to drift off and lack urgency tracking back." Adam Hammill"I wish that Adam wasn't the only player to run with the ball", "He's one of our most creative players", "He can be inconsistent, but he's passionate about the club, and is a very good player to have in the side", "If he can add finishing to his game, he can play at a higher level."
The 26-year-old former Wolverhampton Wanderers right-winger "is great in our opponents' half. In our half, he is not so good. My advice is to make sure you cover for him, but give him plenty of the ball in the opponents' half." "When he's missing, we are missing a massive part of our attacking threat. He may not score enough, but he beats players and panics defences", "He's a quality player. He doesn't always deliver but is almost unplayable on his day. It looks like he is genuinely bothered." Danny Ward"Danny can play in a number of roles. He has a plenty of natural ability, a fantastic shot on him and he is very good in the air", "He's been an integral part of the team this season and is the only attacking player capable of winning a header."
Although he is a natural left-winger, the 23-year-old former Bolton player has been partnered with Nahki Wells when the Terriers play with two strikers. "He drives me nuts, but he has pulled some great goals out of his locker. He has performance well despite being asked to play out of position." "Despite his glaring misses, he's contributing to the team and always has a chance of sticking one in from 25 yards", "We have three decent strikers out on loan, and Danny ends up missing three great chances with no striker on the bench." Strikers"Possession and passing football mean nothing without an end product. We need goals", "Too many times we have only had one player in the box during attacks, with all of the midfield dawdling 30 yards away from the goal. It's getting quite frustrating to watch." "It's noticeable how few players we have in the box when we have opportunities", "Another striker with Wells and we will get the results we deserve from the chances we create", "We have no striking options on the bench." Nahki Wells"Thank God we signed Nahki when we did", "He's looking better game by game", "The kid has got it. I'm most impressed with how he has stood up and been counted when we have been in a slump", "He's always busy, chasing and harrying and trying hard even when the goals aren't flowing."
"We have a 5ft 7in striker playing up front on his own with no service", "If we want to get the best out of Nahki, he needs a good strike partner", "With Vaughan out, we need someone who is good enough to start games, link up with Nahki and score goals." The 23-year-old joined from Bradford in January, and is being compared to another ex-Huddersfield player. "He's a class act, not as good as Jordan Rhodes, but he's the best finisher I've seen here. He's not a footballer, but a goalscorer", "He more mobile, two-footed, and as brave as they come." Terriers' Views on ITFC and the Game"We have lost all momentum. Ipswich on Tuesday will be difficult to get anything from and then we might be right back in the thick of it", "We really do need to win on Tuesday, otherwise we will be in the mix." The wide consensus is that it is a must-win game. "Ipswich's away form is not that good, only two wins in 2014 on the road", "You're clutching at straws", "I know, I was trying to put a positive spin on it, but it really would come as no surprise to see them make it three for 2014." "It will be interesting to see in the flesh what McCarthy has made of Ipswich. He didn't turn it round overnight but steadily got them to be a team that was much harder to beat and then began to address the lack of goals. They still don't score a shedful but he's got them in the top 10." Something else was picked up on. "I've always thought that Ipswich were one of the ‘good guys' in the league, but that sneaky surcharge is well out of order", "Bloody hell, that's pushing it!" "That is wrong, to be honest. It should be like ours, where you're given the option and there's no automatic opt-in." WebsitesThe best Huddersfield forum is Down At The Mac .
Photo: Action Images Please report offensive, libellous or inappropriate posts by using the links provided.
You need to login in order to post your comments |
   Blogs 295 bloggersIpswich Town Polls[ Vote here ] |
By continuing to use the site, you agree to our use of cookies and to abide by our Terms and Conditions.We in turn value your personal details in accordance with our Privacy Policy.
Oscar Gobern 
Oliver Norwood 
