Let's talk about the Huddersfield Town League game

[selby]

  Just seven days after our slightly surprising cup win we have a game next Tuesday evening against the same club but no doubt both sides making quite a few changes team wise.
  With Gaz pointing out that Pearson and Grehan are faster than our first choice pair of Byrne and McGrath, and considering how Huddersfield continually ran straight at our defenders it should make for an interesting evening if their first choice team employ the same tactics and are more successful in front of goal.
  Can we repeat the win in the cup, to do so we are going to have to play well in this game, and if we can win it will be a big step forward. A repeat of  the form shown at Wycombe could well result in another heavy loss against a team that disappointed in their last game a 2-2 draw at  home to Blackpool.
  With Alfie May and Lynden Gooch possibly in their squad we have old connections who will want to do well on their return in an experienced squad that are fifth in the division, and in line for the play offs but a position that is unsatisfactory to the owners who have just changed managers, which from the outside is a bit reactionary with a position in the League we would be ecstatic with.
  Points in this game therefore are very important to both teams for differing reasons and the result last Tuesday of little importance to the result of this game.
  Before the draw result against Blackpool they had beaten Peterborough, Luton, and Bradford before coming unstuck surprisingly at Burton, so will want to get back on track and winning ways and with our game at Rotherham to follow we need to come up trumps against two local sides for league points and bragging rights and get the Wycombe game out of our heads.
   All the usual questions, who plays in this game? what tactics are we likely to employ? can we get a result, lots to discuss and chew over, please have your say.
 

[GazLaz]

  Just seven days after our slightly surprising cup win we have a game next Tuesday evening against the same club but no doubt both sides making quite a few changes team wise.
  With Gaz pointing out that Pearson and Grehan are faster than our first choice pair of Byrne and McGrath, and considering how Huddersfield continually ran straight at our defenders it should make for an interesting evening if their first choice team employ the same tactics and are more successful in front of goal.
  Can we repeat the win in the cup, to do so we are going to have to play well in this game, and if we can win it will be a big step forward. A repeat of  the form shown at Wycombe could well result in another heavy loss against a team that disappointed in their last game a 2-2 draw at  home to Blackpool.
  With Alfie May and Lynden Gooch possibly in their squad we have old connections who will want to do well on their return in an experienced squad that are fifth in the division, and in line for the play offs but a position that is unsatisfactory to the owners who have just changed managers, which from the outside is a bit reactionary with a position in the League we would be ecstatic with.
  Points in this game therefore are very important to both teams for differing reasons and the result last Tuesday of little importance to the result of this game.
  Before the draw result against Blackpool they had beaten Peterborough, Luton, and Bradford before coming unstuck surprisingly at Burton, so will want to get back on track and winning ways and with our game at Rotherham to follow we need to come up trumps against two local sides for league points and bragging rights and get the Wycombe game out of our heads.
   All the usual questions, who plays in this game? what tactics are we likely to employ? can we get a result, lots to discuss and chew over, please have your say.
 

 Being a good defender isn't just about pace is it, especially in the third division. There have been plenty of good center halves that cant run.

Our run in looks a pretty difficult one. Huddersfield, Luton, Cardiff, Lincoln, Bolton, Peterborough, Reading- all in decent form. Long trips to Exeter and Plymouth. Local derbies at Barnsley and Rotherham, both away.  Port Vale and the cup game against Stockport to be shoehorned in.

This place is going to see some ups and downs between now and May!

[selby]

It doesn't help when there is an all round lack of it though Gaz. Or that we try and play a high line.
  That's why teams play long against us especially down our left, getting us peddling backwards knowing if they are on the shoulder they have a chance or of picking the headed second ball up on the front foot in our half.

[Ldr]

Think Alfie May still suspended mate

[selby]

 I will take that as a positive for us.

[BessieBlue]

Think Alfie May still suspended mate

It doesn't help when there is an all round lack of it though Gaz. Or that we try and play a high line.
  That's why teams play long against us especially down our left, getting us peddling backwards knowing if they are on the shoulder they have a chance or of picking the headed second ball up on the front foot in our half.

Pace isn't everything for a defender - there  other more important qualities. Pace can certainly help but its one aspect amongst others!

[moses]

Think Alfie May still suspended mate

It doesn't help when there is an all round lack of it though Gaz. Or that we try and play a high line.
  That's why teams play long against us especially down our left, getting us peddling backwards knowing if they are on the shoulder they have a chance or of picking the headed second ball up on the front foot in our half.

Pace isn't everything for a defender - there  other more important qualities. Pace can certainly help but its one aspect amongst others!

It can make the difference though. Am not sure Olowu has the other defensive attributes of heading, marking or reading the game and he is playing at a top end League one team.

[Barmby Rover]

The league game will be a completely different kettle of fish, Huddersfield will have much stronger side to put out, but then again Rovers will also be a stronger team. I will take a draw now, but I suspect (and seriously hope I am wrong) that Huddersfield will win a close game.

[ncRover]

Think Alfie May still suspended mate

It doesn't help when there is an all round lack of it though Gaz. Or that we try and play a high line.
  That's why teams play long against us especially down our left, getting us peddling backwards knowing if they are on the shoulder they have a chance or of picking the headed second ball up on the front foot in our half.

Pace isn't everything for a defender - there  other more important qualities. Pace can certainly help but its one aspect amongst others!

It can make the difference though. Am not sure Olowu has the other defensive attributes of heading, marking or reading the game and he is playing at a top end League one team.

Olowu won a greater % of his aerial duels than McGrath last season. I think people often have a bias to perceive a ‘tougher looking’ defender to be better in the air.

[moses]

Think Alfie May still suspended mate

It doesn't help when there is an all round lack of it though Gaz. Or that we try and play a high line.
  That's why teams play long against us especially down our left, getting us peddling backwards knowing if they are on the shoulder they have a chance or of picking the headed second ball up on the front foot in our half.

Pace isn't everything for a defender - there  other more important qualities. Pace can certainly help but its one aspect amongst others!

It can make the difference though. Am not sure Olowu has the other defensive attributes of heading, marking or reading the game and he is playing at a top end League one team.

Olowu won a greater % of his aerial duels than McGrath last season. I think people often have a bias to perceive a ‘tougher looking’ defender to be better in the air.

Maybe it was Olowu's tendency to head it up in the air (ten bob head) that makes me think that .

[selby]

  Olowu got on crosses though,

[selby]

This game looks like another cross roads game as with it being so tight around us points wise it is possible for us to catch others if results go our way or slip back into the relegation places.
  Combine that with another game against a local rival down in the relegation fight at Rotherham on Saturday and a lot is riding on the next few days as to how the rest of the season might go.
  We desperately need something from both games, basically if we can't win don't lose situations especially at Rotherham, and getting a result v Huddersfield would set us up and send us to Rotherham in a better place.
  Huddersfield will be smarting from an 85th headed winner for Stevenage by Carl Piergianni who won the MOM for the game despite only playing as a substitute about 15 minutes which might be some sort of record, and will still be smarting somewhat over our penalty shoot out win there earlier in the week.
  This game will be a very different affair team personnel wise for both teams both fielding what they think will be their strongest side, and we can't depend on our keeper to keep us in this game as he did in the cup.
  If we play on the front foot we are decent, and need to play as much of the game in their half of the field as possible.
  Hopefully our players are up for the two games, a lot looks to be on these games as to how we can look forward.

[dickos1]

We just need to keep performing the way we have been this year. Bolton are probably the most in form team in the discussion along with Lincoln and we absolutely battered them, should have comfortably beat them on the balance of chances created and control of the game.
Since the turn of the year our form display off form, don’t need to worry about anyone else jus need to get the 20 points we need tomato up as soon as possible and then see where we can get to

[Metalmicky]

I note that their midfielder Marcus McGuane was injured in their game yesterday... He signed in mid 2025 and then got injured - only came back in Jan and had impressed for them recently.  Now looks to be out for a period.

[donnyguy]

Didn’t have a shot on target against Stevenage let’s hope lightening does strike twice.

[Fal]

They've got a host of injures and Alfie May is suspended, coupled with the fact that this is their 4th game in 10 days aswell we should be going all out to get the win here. Would set us up nicely for Rotherham.

3-1 Donny

[selby]

  I will go along with that Fal hopefully, but we have that tendency of getting teams in poor form back on track we need to ditch.

[Chris Black come back]

Their away record in the league isn't particularly good. Indeed, not much better than our record. One notable point is that they concede a lot away from home. They've managed only 2 clean sheets away from home in the league and these were in August and latterly September. Again, pretty much the same terrible away defensive record as us in terms of the high number of goals conceded away. Their last 5 away league game record has been won 1 (courtesy of 89th minute winner at Peterborough), drawn 1 and lost 3. No idea about outcome but you would imagine this isn't going to be 0-0.

[Rupee92ONLY]

Some of the best football we’ve played this season was the first 45 at their place (league). We ran out of steam and they shifted a few things for the 2nd half. Replicate that first 45 on Tuesday and we will win. We won’t be so wasteful this time I don’t think. It’ll be Molyneux, Lee, or Adelakun the chances fall to, not Sbarra 

Mind you I thought Ajayi looked some prospect when he came on.

[Barmby Rover]

Nice to see the optimism on here, I hope you're all right!

[Chris Black come back]

Some of the best football we’ve played this season was the first 45 at their place (league). We ran out of steam and they shifted a few things for the 2nd half. Replicate that first 45 on Tuesday and we will win. We won’t be so wasteful this time I don’t think. It’ll be Molyneux, Lee, or Adelakun the chances fall to, not Sbarra 

Mind you I thought Ajayi looked some prospect when he came on.

37 minutes of game time so far for Bromley.

[drfchound]

Some of the best football we’ve played this season was the first 45 at their place (league). We ran out of steam and they shifted a few things for the 2nd half. Replicate that first 45 on Tuesday and we will win. We won’t be so wasteful this time I don’t think. It’ll be Molyneux, Lee, or Adelakun the chances fall to, not Sbarra 

Mind you I thought Ajayi looked some prospect when he came on.

Our best two chances that day fell to Middleton and Broadbent.

[mushRTID]

Some of the best football we’ve played this season was the first 45 at their place (league). We ran out of steam and they shifted a few things for the 2nd half. Replicate that first 45 on Tuesday and we will win. We won’t be so wasteful this time I don’t think. It’ll be Molyneux, Lee, or Adelakun the chances fall to, not Sbarra 

Mind you I thought Ajayi looked some prospect when he came on.

We were sensational that half.

I recall 2 things;

I think it was Broadbent who was having a hell of a game then he got booked. Someone definitely got booked and it seemed to affect us.

Our wingers were having great games and Grant couldn’t wait to swap them. Those that came off the bench were useless.

I am confident we can win this one.

[Rupee92ONLY]

Some of the best football we’ve played this season was the first 45 at their place (league). We ran out of steam and they shifted a few things for the 2nd half. Replicate that first 45 on Tuesday and we will win. We won’t be so wasteful this time I don’t think. It’ll be Molyneux, Lee, or Adelakun the chances fall to, not Sbarra 

Mind you I thought Ajayi looked some prospect when he came on.

Our best two chances that day fell to Middleton and Broadbent.

Yeah Broadbent should’ve scored. I can’t remember Middleton’s? Sbarra was clean through that, that’s stuck into my brain. We’d have won if we went in in front at HT imo.

[roversdude]

If only Sbarra had longer legs/a bit more pace but have to say it was a brilliant tackle on him

[Rupee92ONLY]

Some of the best football we’ve played this season was the first 45 at their place (league). We ran out of steam and they shifted a few things for the 2nd half. Replicate that first 45 on Tuesday and we will win. We won’t be so wasteful this time I don’t think. It’ll be Molyneux, Lee, or Adelakun the chances fall to, not Sbarra 

Mind you I thought Ajayi looked some prospect when he came on.

We were sensational that half.

I recall 2 things;

I think it was Broadbent who was having a hell of a game then he got booked. Someone definitely got booked and it seemed to affect us.

Our wingers were having great games and Grant couldn’t wait to swap them. Those that came off the bench were useless.

I am confident we can win this one.

Yeah it was Broadbent with the yellow. Had to run half a length across the pitch to make a foul as Molyneux just gave up running. No choice but to take him off and we were done then. Broadbent was our best performing player the weeks around that time.

Remembering back, Ajayi didn’t really do much when he came on but his pace I remember thinking he’d be quality with a run of games.

[Rupee92ONLY]

If only Sbarra had longer legs/a bit more pace but have to say it was a brilliant tackle on him

He neshed it big time.

[selby]

  Earlier games in the season have to be forgotten and will have no bearing on the game tomorrow night.
  The fact is we need to be on it and have players playing somewhere near their ceiling of ability and the few players we have that are division 1 standard on their game.
  Huddersfield are one of the divisions teams that are underachieving and at he moment are not in great form, which gives us an opportunity to get something from the game, but they will be well aware of our weak spots in defence and will look to start quickly and attain a foothold to stretch us and open the game up tactically and they have room to get at our back line at pace.
  Our work rate needs to be at the top of its game, the extra days off should help, and we can look to out work them.
  If we don't win don't lose has got to be our mantra now with every point important.

[GazLaz]

Huddersfield played away Saturday and are obviously away at our place on Tuesday. The extra rest and prep time we have had is a big advantage. Extra time to put together a plan and to practice the details makes a huge difference against a team that's only had a rest day and one preparation day.

The above situation has resulted in us being slight favorites for the game with the bookmakers.

[Donnywolf]

Wow , im surprised we are favourites ( even slight favourites) but lets hope they are right

We could do with jump starts like Boro and Wigan and a decent Ref.

Only 2 defeats ever on my Bday ( maybe Bookies know that as well)

Last game on Bday was Grimsby 1 Rovers 5 what a great game. Actually a start like that for us would be ideal