Lessons Huddersfield Town must learn from back-to-back defeats

The Terriers were found wanting on the ball against Cardiff and off the ball in the second half against West Brom

On the ball case study: Cardiff City

We pointed out in our five conclusions on the Cardiff game that the in-possession back three of Matty Pearson, Michal Helik and Tom Lees repeatedly found themselves on the ball around the halfway line, only to end up looking confused as to where the ball needed to go next.

What we should have added was that it was not really their fault: the lack of passing options for them in midfield was criminal at times.

Town had set up in what amounted to a lopsided 3-3-1-3/3-4-1-2 on the ball, with Brodie Spencer pushing out of the back four to get up the left. 

Town’s approximate shape on the ball in the first half vs Cardiff

With Jonathan Hogg suspended, that left David Kasumu and Ben Wiles as the players primarily responsible for receiving the ball from the back line – but time and again they went into hiding.

There was a distinct lack of movement from both players to get themselves onto passes, with Wiles particularly egregious: on occasion he could be found either walking aimlessly around the centre circle with his back to the ball, or drifting out to the right wing where he couldn’t be found.