Watford v Huddersfield. Rewind to the 19th of December 2020, less that a month ago, and a Foster error and a Capoue own goal gave us another lackluster away performance that resulted in a loss. Deeney was also involved in something as he was dropped to the bench before the game. That was Ivic's last game and after it we sat in 5th, 20 games played and 34 points on the board. Muñoz has come in, got a win against Norwich, a loss to Swansea away and his men put in a good performance against Man Utd in the F.A. Cup despite being knocked out of the competition. Now, we are back to 6th place, 22 games in and sitting on 37 points. Bar Millwall, we have played every team once if I have read NZ´s wonderful stats correctly. So, if we really want to maintain a promotion push, the home form has to continue and we must do better away. Goals seem to be the issue and I think Muñoz won't get any more additions to his strike force in this window. So, he has to get a better tune out of the strikers in the second half of the season. His self-proclaimed attacking style should yield more that Ivic's defensive setup. The next run of games, on paper, are nice for him after his baptism of relative fire. Those, COVID permitting, are; Huddersfiled (h) Barnsley (h), Stoke (a), Millwall (a), QPR (h) that run up to the end of January. Most likely, after those games we will have a much clearer picture of what this team can do under the new manager. Can we push for promotion in the second half of the season? We are ten points off top, six off second and hanging in the play offs by a measly point. A glut of wins, as Cleverley stated, over the next five games would go a long way to help if we are to be serious contendors or just play off hopefuls. Team news to follow: ENJOY THE GAME ¡¡COYH COYH COYH!!
Injury news: Chalobah okay after Manchester United injury, Perica could be back this week, Kabasele and Success 2/3 weeks away
I think this game is a key test, especially as we can compare and contrast to the recent performance under Ivic. If we have any hope of getting into the conversation for automatic promotion, these are the sort of games you have to win, but we also need it to build our confidence and kick-start a winning run. If we lose or draw without offering much fight or quality, I think it confirms we're just among a whole host of mid-table teams scrabbling around to scrape into the playoffs.
Huddersfield manager's injury report - it seems they will be missing a few... They also have an unspecified number of players being Covid tested - so it maybe mean a debut for their recent signing from Borehamwood, Sorba Thomas.
Carel Eiting has had surgery on his knee and his rehab will be done at Ajax - Huddersfield are in talks with Ajax about ending the loan agreement. Unfortunately he has had recurrent injuries and hardly has any cartilage left - his hopes of ever playing first team football again at Ajax are minimal. Sad news for a player who was in a Champions League Semi only 2 years ago.
Huddersfield away has become my favourite trip, as mentioned on that match thread. Huddersfield at home was the first match my late Dad took me to (a neighbour took to my first proper home match in the 71-72 season) winning 2-0 as a somewhat rudderless ship a few seasons later, pre GT. My father, whom I didn't meet until I was in my mid 20s, was a long time STH and his last game, alas, was that 1-4 drubbing at the end of the 2013/14 season. We had a memorial service for him at the ground prior to a match the following season -I organised 14 tix for that match- and some of his ashes were in the Rookery End goal for the game and interred beneath the SEJ after. The fixture? The 4-2 comeback win the following season against... Huddersfield Town. Always a poignant fixture, remarkable coincidences.
Rights have been sold abroad, so unless you live in a country that didn't buy them, hard luck. North or South Korea or Luxembourg are fine, but France not.
The Huddersfield fans are predicting us to win big... Makes me think we're even less likely to get 3 points! Swansea had an inexperienced defence too.
