Huddersfield Town fan Marco Jackson has shared with us his views on what needs changing with the playing staff at Huddersfield Town this summer.
The areas are divided into areas of the team:- So enjoy the read and please share your opinions in the bottom comments section.
Goalkeeping.
Ian Bennett has been a revelation over the last couple of years, but I don`t expect him to be the long term answer as first choice keeper – I would think either next season or the season after would be his last. Alex Smithies, meanwhile, hasn`t shown enough since he got back into the team to be attracting the vultures of bigger clubs – though a good season 2012/13 would only see that happening again. Personally, I`ve always been jealous of Reading`s goalkeeping academy – they`ve produced Federici, Hamer and Andersen in recent years – and Town could do worse than seeing if the latter of those three would be willing to join permanently should Alex move on. Otherwise, I`d say there`s no massive need to replace either keeper until they decide to leave the club; and would Allinson or Thomas be ready then?
Full Backs.
This seems to be the area that causes the most debate in the team. Gary Naysmith is the possibly the best defensive full-back, but his value to the team is not added to going forward in a way that both Calum Woods and Jack Hunt`s is. Personally, seeing as Woods can play either right or left and Arfield can deputise at right back, I would be looking to move Naysmith on, and either look for another left-sided full back cheap over the summer, or use Liam Ridehalgh, if he has impressed enough during his loan spells – it worked for Jack Hunt. Tom Clarke is not a full back, no matter what anybody thinks.
Centre-Backs.
Another hive of controversy here. My preferred pairing would have been McCombe and Morrison for the run-in; it`s a position that needs stability and I don`t think Peter Clarke, for all his benefits (I`m no Peter Clarke hater – I see him in a similar role as John Terry, which is more than good enough for League One, but needs a very specific complementary player) could offer that. Given that Nathan Clarke seems to be on the way out, and Tom Clarke is seen as an ‘option` elsewhere on the pitch, we`ll be back to the Clarke, Kay and McCombe conundrum next season. I think we could certainly do with moving Antony Kay on, and getting another permanent signing – someone big, powerful and impactful, and another youthful loan from divisions above brought in early season; of course, Murray Wallace will be joining the club, too, but I think he`ll be very much a ‘one for the future` – perhaps loaned out to a League Two club with a view to stake a claim in January?
Central Midfield.
If I had a million pounds and a million hours, I would come up with another million different midfield partnerships for Town. I think my personal favourites (though admittedly through little evidence this season – I`ve been to three games) would be Damien Johnson, Anton Robinson and Scott Arfield. I make no secret of the fact that I don`t understand, at all, the appeal of Joey Gudjonsson – he always seems to be behind the play to me, and I`ve always seen Tommy Miller as a first reserve for Damien Johnson. Scott Arfield divides opinion, too. I like him. I`d used him on the same side of the field as Jack Hunt, and then he can drop in and cover as Hunt bombs on. Antony Kay is not a midfielder, either – he`s not good enough on the ball. Tom Clarke is a valuable defensive midfielder; but only when used occasionally, his first game back seems to get rave reviews, and then it goes downhill from there. That`s not even mentioning Oscar Gobern (one for the future), Chris Atkinson (needs a chance), Matt Crooks (deserves a run out). Obviously Diego Arismendi will go back. So, then, if I was running it, I`d keep Johnson, Robinson, Arfield, Atkinson and Crooks; I`d look to send Gobern out on loan – he won`t get any better not playing for Town`s second string. I think Town need a player like Arismendi, though, someone who can do something different, a bit of a live-wire (a luxury player, in other words) – it has been suggested that Kallum Higginbotham could fill that role – that remains to be seen. I can`t see him doing it for 46 games.
Out Wide.
It seems to be taken as read that Gary Roberts is moving on. Certainly, it would reduce the wage bill, which is important for the next season, but I would find his one-sidedness difficult to retain. Danny Ward can do either side (though not as well as Pilkington, obviously) but I`m not sure he should be doing. The re-signing of Danny Cadamarteri mystified me at the time, and continues to do so, and I assume the experiment will come to an end in the summer. I will be interested to see what Simon Grayson makes of Kallum Higginbotham – initial signs weren`t good, but I haven`t written him off. Which leaves at least one, and maybe two new wingers needed. Chris Taylor is available from Oldham on a free, and given the new austerity measures, that looks to be a bargain if he can be persuaded to cross the Pennines. Maybe it would be worth a look at Andy Williams, of Yeovil – admittedly, he`s more forward than striker now, but that`s no different to how we thought of Cadamarteri when he came in.
Up Front.
With the best will in the world, it would be cruel to keep Jordan Rhodes at Huddersfield another season. Like that most beautiful of wild birds that has been tended through its youth, now is the time to open the door to his cage and let him fly to the more glamorous pastures he has most definitely earned the right to explore, while we gaze on, proudly, at the brightness of his feathers, as he soars high above the natural tundra of whichever league he ends up in, only swooping to pick off the flesh off saddened, haunted, goalkeepers and glance back at us happily, knowing we did the right thing at the time, and remembering us fondly. Meanwhile, I suspect Alan Lee will be let out of the back gate without so much as a by-your-leave. Which will leave us in a spot. Novak and Spencer will be the two remaining, but I think they`d be a little similar in role, both the bustly, put themselves about type, but neither the cold-headed killer of goals that Jordan is. Assuming on a large transfer fee coming in, there`s got to be a few players who would be available for the job – Chris Porter? Aaron Wilbraham? Simeon Jackson? I`d like to see someone who has proven themselves, at least to a certain extent, in League One before, and I`d love to see someone quick and exciting (Nathan Tyson?) as well, either as a starting option, or as something different to threaten with.
Thanks to Huddersfield Town fan Marco Jackson for these views, you can follow him on twitter @Marco4J for more Huddersfield Town tweets & opinions.
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Nice article 24,and thanks for the imput Marco… Cant comment on the practicality of the suggestions,because I dont really understand the full implications of the new rullings for next season…!!! I suspect with much fear,and trepidation though,that our top heavy squad will have to be cut to ribbons and decimated beyond all recognition to comply…!!!…???…!!! Maybe another article that covers the the new rules and reg’s would help us us all 24(no pressure there then)…Doesnt have to be one specificaly for the Town site 24,nor does it have to explore every detail…A general draft sent out by vital to all the vital sites would be very helpfull,and I’m sure would be well received by all…
I shall bear that in mind – the rules are seemingly a bit of a minefield! Will see if we can get a simplified version sorted…. Up or Down though its a mass overhaul either way.
There is something systemically wrong at Town – look at the teams we have played in the not too distant past & how they have kicked on – QPR, Hull, Swansea, Soton Fulham, to name a few – we just don’t have whatever “it” is. Another season languishing in Div 3 as it. should be called is too depressing . I still think moving Clark on was the right thing – he was done for me, when I saw the negative team selection at Old Trafford – how could anyone in his right mind not start with Rhodes?! Interesting that Afobe has not had a sniff since he went back?
In recent times the failure to address the back 4 has been the root of our problems – we haven’t been able to keep a clean sheet or hold on to a lead when in control for years. Last matches at Leicester & Norwich (good sides) underline the point – we “won” the first 60 mins without scoring & then threw the games away with suicidal defending. Nothing’s changed. Why was LC given the head to buy so many identical midfielders without getting a couple of central defenders in to make us impregnable at the back.
So the midfield is still a shambles – we let Berret go who was one of the best academy products in years & then bring in inferior players on vastly more money. There have been comments that Kilbane (for all his faults – e.g. gifting Arsenal the cup tie) was a commanding presence in central midfield . I agree. I do think Gudjonnsen showed some of that but too inconsistent. Big failure by Clark to get someone of that ilk; “sicknote” Johnson might have done it if he could have stayed fit.
Widemen: we have a problem – Roberts is in exit mode & has got more & more inconsistent; I thought Ward was a great signing but he hasn’t delivered this season – how many more chips onto the roof of the net must we see.
Strikers – obviously if the rest of the team was up to snuff we had the strikers to deliver; going to be painful whatever at the end of the season. Rhodes gone & surely Lee too – Novak (why has he been played wide out of position recently) is more than OK but as has been said with the Rhodes money we can surely get in some quality.
Grayson so far has been a disappointment – he hasn’t got to grips with the squad & decided on his best 11 & stuck with it. Another tinkerman. Clearly he doesn’t have LC’s passion & his failure to appear after the Bournemouth debacle isn’t good.
It’s 40 years since the good times rolled at Town & the way things are going it will be another 40. Up or not there will be a massive clear out at the end of the season so we will start 2012-13 with basically a blank sheet. Anything could happen!