Left home in Sussex yesterday at 9:15am and eventually got back at about 12:30am Sunday morning (with a stop off on the way home for dinner with family in Milton Keynes). A long day! THE GAME Firstly, it was another new stadium for me, and I really liked it. Nice to see a stadium with a bit of character rather than the soul-less bowls you see these days, and a good welcome from all staff at the stadium. I was certainly pleased with the team that started, bar Faurlin who missed out through injury apparently. But Suk-Young came in for Traore, and Austin for Zamora. Good in my opinion. We started well as we normally do, and carved out a few decent chances. Huddersfield were certainly no mugs though (I knew they wouldnt be) and were well drilled and organised with a bit of flair. I do rate James Vaughan their striker. After our bright start we gradually let them back in the game and they did see a good deal of possession in the middle of the first half and we were really chasing shadows, but working hard. It seemed a few were scared to put a tackle in and we did miss Faurlin. Granero picked up an early booking so he was treading carefully from then on in. Poor defending from Suk-Young and Granero allowed the ball to be played into an on-running Huddersfield player who Barton missed, who then chipped the ball into an unmarked Vaughan. At the time I thought Hill had lost him, but it is clear on replays that Onuoha made a stupid run out to leave him on his own. Nevertheless, just like last week we got back on terms quickly. A Suk-Young chip (it was a hit and hope type of chip) fell to Hoilett who reacted quickly to steer it home to quieten the home fans who had only burst into life after their goal. Second half saw us pile on the pressure and our finishing was pretty poor tbh. We had a number of decent chances, or possible openings where the final ball was poor. Austin did well to head onto the bar. However they did still get chances, and when they brought on Sean Scannell he caused us no end of problems and could have nicked it at the end. All in all a decent point seeing as we were not at our best for sure. THE RATINGS GREEN - 7 - not a huge amount to do but claimed crosses well and was left with no chance for the goal. SUK-YOUNG - 6.5 - defensively did ok, bar the goal. Had a tough time marking their winger (Hammil I think). Seemed scared to get forwards much and put in a tackle. Not sure on him tbh, think we may need a better LB really. HILL - 6 - struggled tbh. made a couple of glaring errors which should have been punished really. Looks a bit off the pace tbh which is a shame. Also made one last week v Sheff Wed. Attempted some silly passes and under hit a few. ONUOHA - 8 - bar the error for their goal did well and was probably one of two players who stood out the most for us. Made driving runs from the defence and was composed. SIMPSON - 7 - defended well and was solid overall. Knows what position to get into and is quick to track back. Also got forward well and put in a few decent crosses. HOILETT - 8 - the other stand out player, although I wont give either the MOTM as I cant choose! Central to all our attacks and its clear he will be a key player for us. When he fires we will be ok, when he doesnt we currently have no other options. Had a few decent chances and made several. GRANERO - 5.5 - not impressed again tbh. Pondering on the ball which meant he lost possession a few times. Pushed off the ball to easily, and it seems not the right sort of player for a Championship battle really. HENRY - 6.5 - average really. did get pushed off the ball a few times but was composed overall and linked play well. BARTON - 7.5 - not as good as last week but a number of good crosses and corners and battled hard as always. Clearly a cut above the other players at times with his intelligent play. JOHNSON 7.5 - worked hard and made some intelligent runs. Caused them problems all day and linked well down the right flank. His link play with Austin needs work though as a few times they both passed into space when there was no run. AUSTIN - 7 - worked hard and battled for all the chances. Had to work hard to create anything and had two great chances. One he mis kicked either the ball or grass, and the other the header onto the bar. SUBS: SWP - 6 - injected pace but final ball lacking as always. not really intelligent when required though - was through 1 on 1 and shot straight at the keeper when a ball on the floor, or a chip over, or a square ball into the unmarked Austin would have led to a decent chance. JENAS - N/A - not on for very long. THE FINAL WORD As I said a decent point I think. But on the balance of play a game we really should have won. Had so many chances to score but poor decision making. Saying that I do think a creative midfielder is a must, as is more attacking options on the bench - we had nothing yesterday to turn to on the bench which shows we are thin in that area. However we are working as a team, are well organised and hard to break down and creating the chances. You could see we were a good team yesterday, but didnt get the luck at times. Also a word about the ref - awful at times. Town players constantly falling over to con the ref into getting free kicks and he obliged every time. Also when we had a corner Barton placed the ball on the outside of the quarter marking and the ref ran over to check, but it was fine so he allowed us to take the corner. The 2nd time the same thing happened, but he asked Barton to move the ball so he raised it, and put it down in the same spot, the ref then said thats ok. Very poor!
Thanks Judo. Always look forward to your reports and your assessment of the players. Respect for travelling to away games particularly as unglamorous as Huddersfield.
Thanks Judo. From the tv, their goal looked preventable and it's a pity SWP didn't have more luck with his long range shot. Respect for going all that way. As ever the key is our home record so next week will be interesting.
Can't believe you gave Lenny and yun the same marks, I thought yun did very well, got forward a lot and even laid on the goal with his wrong foot while Lenny couldn't pass wind.
Cheers for that Judo. I didn't see any of the game due to work. I'm pleased to hear that we're looking more like a team that seems to want it a bit more. Hopefully we'll have a good season when they get going and start to click.
Cheers Judo. From what I saw on the stream and highlights, it looked like very poor defending for their goal. Barton actively ran away from their player, but there was no clue as to whether he thought he might intercept a pass, close down the ball or just had a brain storm, and then we appeared to be a defender short in the box. Can you shed any light on that? What are your impressions of dear old Clint Hill so far? He will fight on for ever, but do you think this maybe a season too far?
I thought clint did ok but he's not the fastest player on the pitch. He makes up for that with his general awareness but I'd like to see Dunne in to compare The Korean lad looks promising. More experience needed and I think he'll come good. A little uncertain going forward but I thought he did ok. My big gripe was that we were very static no speed on the break and it tended to go through the middle rather than the wings. There was no width. Bloke behind me bemoaned why we didn't keep rouledge
Its not unfair, he signed both SWP and Barton which started the whole mercenaries thing and a split squad. Wed have been better off signing no one than those 2.
It is looking that way to be honest. I really like the bloke, a real rock in our team for three seasons, and gives absolutely everything, but he has made three glaring errors in two games which as yet havent been punished. However he did deal very well with that tall Sheff Wed striker the other day so perhaps it is literally just that - a few mistakes. I would love it if he was in our team all season, but at the moment there is that question mark over him tbh.
Cheers Judo, as someone who doesn't get to many games the insight and reports from guys like yourself is very much appreciated
