Huddersfield Town digest: Transfers, injuries and season opener
Huddersfield Town digest: Transfers, injuries and season opener
The new League One campaign is upon us, starting with Saturday teatime's trip to Peterborough United
What’s been said
“You always want more time to prep and plan, but ultimately we’re really excited to get going now and the real works starts now.
“I think’s pre-season’s been pretty good in terms of getting the group together. We’d still like a couple more bodies in the building, but you never get everything you want for the start [of the season] and we’ve still got three weeks to go [in the transfer window]. But I’ve been really happy with the application of the staff and the players, and them being open to a new voice and new ideas.
“There’s been no nasty surprises. Some of the surprises have been good There was a lot of noise about the squad when I first came in, so you’re always a little bit wary, but you take people as you find them as far as I’m concerned, and everyone has been great from above, and the staff and the players, and the fans as well. I’m well aware we’ve not won a game yet of any note but it’s been really pleasing and appreciated some I’ve come in.
”There’s been a bit of soul-searching from everyone. There’s outside influences, outside noise…ultimately most of the group were in a team that got relegated, so it’s how do you want to react? Do you want to blame everyone else, or do you want to take a little bit of ownership of it? What went wrong, why did it go wrong, and how do you correct it?
“Part of my job is to fact-find, almost, and get to the bottom of it. This is the honeymoon period because you’ve not had to pick a team and we’ve not lost a game, so we’re fully aware we’re in that period. That’s when you’ve got to stress to the players that if you think [the way we do things] is right in the first week of pre-season, you think it’s right - but just because you’ve not been picked or you’ve lost the first game, it can’t all of a sudden become about you and your agenda.
“You’ll achieve nothing as an individual in this game. There’s 11 on the pitch and they’re the important ones on a Saturday, [but] during the week, everyone is just as important as each other. The moment players start making it about them or an issue between me and you or a player against a player, nothing good comes of it, and ultimately that reflected in the relegation last year. I was just trying to knit that together and get to the bottom of it.”
— Michael Duff, on getting the squad moving in the same direction, at Thursday afternoon’s press conference.
“Ten out of the last 12 years has been all about survival, survival, survival - don’t get beat, don’t get beat, don’t get beat. We need to shift the whole mentality of the football club.
“Now we need to take the responsibility, put our shoulders back — without an arrogance — and say ‘alright, if that’s expected of us, we have to deliver’.
“I’m not a big one for high fives when you win one game of football. The big celebrations are for the end of the season.”
— Michael Duff
“If you asked me the first of next month if I wanted one more, I’d say yeah, and we could have every player we wanted in the building…you always want one more.
“We are a couple short but there’s still three weeks. There’s people going to realising they’re not in the team, whether it’s at our club or other clubs, and things start moving quickly now.
“A lot of the Premier League big boys are coming back from their two weeks off after the Euros, so they have a lot of younger Premier players with them on their tours, and then there’s a fallout from that.
“We need a couple more but we’ve known that a long time. It’s not been through a lack of effort but it’s making sure we get the right ones as well.”
— Michael Duff, on Town’s position in the transfer market
“It’s been really really good. We’ve had a strong training camp in Austria, we’ve put the work in on the training ground here, so it’s been a very successful time for us and we’ve needed it, because the club’s been and down, and there’s been things behind the scenes that haven’t had the proper structure, but now we’ve had six or seven weeks of getting the …
“These six or seven weeks have come in really handed for the squad,the manager, the players, and everyone involved. It hasn’t been easy but we’ve put the hard yards in and hopefully it’s going to pay off.”
… “It’s like the club’s come alive again, if I’m being honest.”
… “It does feel a lot different. The new manager’s come in and made it clear what he wants and the standards that he’s set - ‘everyone come on board, and if you’re not on board you won’t be involved and you won’t be part of the squad’. The lads have all bought into it and we’re all in the same direction.”
— Jonathan Hogg, on the club’s summer training regimen and changes behind the scenes, when
Coming up next
The League One campaign kicks off with a trip to old third-tier rivals Peterborough United.
Now in their fourth spell under Darren Ferguson, the Posh finished fourth in League One last season, clinching a play-off spot. They lost in the semi-finals to eventual winners Oxford United.
Typically for a Ferguson side, Peterborough tend to be attack-minded and high-scoring. Their 89 goal tally last season was the best attacking record in the division. However, it came at the cost of the second-worst defensive record in the top half (61 goals conceded).
Peterborough spread their threat across the attack. Wingers Ephron Mason-Clark and Kwame Poku netted 25 goals between them last season, while strikers Ricky-Jade Jones and Jonson Clarke-Harris shared 19 (they love a double-barrel at Peterborough). Attacking midfielder Joel Randall chipped in with another ten. Last season’s provider-in-chief from left wing-back Harrison Burrows (15 assists) departed for Sheffield United this summer, though.
There are a few familiar faces in the Peterborough squad. Town academy products Nicholas Bilokapic, Romoney Crichlow and Donay O'Brien-Brady (see) all ply their trade at London Road, as does former Town loanee Jed Steer.
Huddersfield Town injuries and absences
Ollie Turton missed the last few summer friendlies with a slight hamstring issue, but has been in training for the past two weeks and is fit and available for selection on Saturday.
Bojan Radulovic did not go to Austria due to a knock, but played in a behind-closed-doors friendly last week, scoring a 28-minute hat-trick. Unfortunately, he then had to go off with a groin injury that is now set to keep him out for around six weeks.
Radinio Balker fractured his ankle in the pre-season game against Harrogate and is not forecast to be available until the new year.
Predicted Huddersfield Town line-up to face Peterborough
The first game of the season is always the hardest to predict. As we’ve discussed before, we feel confident with our goalkeeper and wing-back selections but significantly less so elsewhere.
Talking purely in hunches, we imagine the centre-back spots come down to Spencer and Michal Helik, plus one of Matty Pearson or Tom Lees — we’ve gone with Lees on the strength of Duff trying that trio out in the final friendly.
In midfield, it again feels like four or five players competing for three places. The defensive midfield role is a choice between Jonathan Hogg, Herbie Kane or David Kasumu, and the other two places are there for Kane, Antony Evans or Ben Wiles. Against weaker opposition we might have gone with Kane at number 6 to get Wiles in at 8, but away to Peterborough is a tough assignment, so we’re going to stick with Hogg and reluctantly leave out Wiles.
Rhys Healey and Josh Koroma have looked a good pairing up top this summer, so they get our nod over Danny Ward and Kian Harratt.
4-4-2: Lee Nicholls; Tom Lees, Michal Helik, Brodie Spencer; Lasse Sorensen, Antony Evans, Jonathan Hogg, Herbie Kane, Mickel Miller; Rhys Healey, Josh Koroma.
Substitutes: Chris Maxwell, Matty Pearson, Ollie Turton, Jaheim Headley, Tom Iorpenda, David Kasumu, Ben Wiles, Kian Harratt, Danny Ward
Huddersfield Town Women
Town Women start their season with a highly anticipated local derby away to Leeds United on Sunday, 18th August.
We Are Terriers will provide full coverage of Town Women throughout the season, with Arthur Difford as our dedicated women’s reporter. Matchday coverage will mirror what we give the men: player ratings free to all readers, with more detailed reporting available to our paying backers.
Arthur has spoken to skipper Beth Stanfield, vice-captain Bethany Ibbotson, manager Glen Preston and chairman David Mallin for an excellent season preview piece — check that out!
Brodie Spencer contract extension triggered
Town announced on Wednesday that they had taken up the option to extend Brodie Spencer’s contract by a further year, tying him to the club until 2026.
The Northern Ireland international’s deal would otherwise have expired at the end of the 2024/25 campaign. 20-year-old Spencer’s impressive form after returning from a loan spell at Motherwell last season prompted the club to trigger their option early.
South Stand murals unveiled
Friend of We Are Terriers Peter O’Toole has produced a new series of murals in the home section of the South Stand.
Pete said: “It’s a bit of history, and something a bit freer. We’ve got some modern legends and a few timeless ones; a bit of the Cowshed Loyal intertwined.
“It’s nice to be able to cover the whole area; it really gives a different dynamic when you come in (to the South Stand). It’s like a fresh start.”
Head of supporter experience Robyn Kennerdale added: “We’ve looked to improve every area of the John Smith’s stadium for fans ahead of the new season and we’re delighted with the outcome of the South Stand in particular!
“Peter’s style immediately felt like a natural fit to make this part of the Stadium — which was previously very dark and unwelcoming — feel like a home that Huddersfield Town fans can be proud of."
“He’s done a fantastic job of blending so many different aspects of the club in his design, with the pinnacle being the tribute to Jordan Sinnott.
“The improvements in all areas of the stadium continue at pace, and we’re excited for everyone to see all the changes at our home league opener against Stevenage on 17 August.”
The mural includes depictions of Jonathan Hogg, Christopher Schindler, Aaron Mooy, Andy Booth, Frank Worthington, Ray Wilson and Clem Stephenson, as well as the Cowshed Loyal and plenty more — including a special tribute to academy graduate Jordan Sinnott.
Our lovely backers can hear more about the improvements to the stadium from Town COO David Threlfall-Sykes on the latest edition of the We Are Terriers podcast.
Deadlines to be aware of
Boring but important public service announcement for those who need it:
If you want to renew your parking space for the John Smith’s Stadium for the new season, you have until close of play at the ticket office on Friday to get it done.
The deadline for buying season cards is 3pm on Saturday 24th August.
Tuesday’s evening’s EFL Cup clash against Morecambe will be all ticket — cash turnstiles will not be available on the day. Fans are advised to buy tickets online in advance where possible. Full details here.
Our schedule
We’ll have player ratings available for all readers on the whistle from London Road on Saturday evening.
Paying backers will then get an initial reaction piece to the game, with five conclusions to follow on Sunday morning.
This week’s podcast will also be out on Sunday, which — as it stands and subject to change — will be our aim throughout this season.
Donate to Wander 2 Wanderers
While I’ve got you, I just want to ask if you have two minutes and a few quid to spare for a very good cause. I’ll be taking part in the second day of Wander 2 Wanderers in September, walking the final ten miles to the away game against Bolton Wanderers to raise money for Forget Me Not Children’s Hospice.
You can make a donation here - any amount gratefully received.
Even better, if you’re interested in signing up for the walk, details on how to sign up for the walk are here. Thanks!