David Wagner watches his Huddersfield side intently (Photo credit: Huddersfield Examiner)
Last Season
Premier League: 16th
F.A. Cup: Fifth round (lost vs Manchester United)
Carabao Cup: Third round (lost vs Crystal Palace)
Mooy the key in Huddersfield fight against relegation
by Ryan Conway, Northern England Correspondent
David Wagner’s Huddersfield side had been written off at every turn last season. Yet somehow, they managed to find a way to prolong their stay in the Premier League. Operating on a shoe-string budget, the Terriers’ 37 points was enough to keep their heads above water for at least one more season.
Wagner has been able to recruit modestly once more, but with two of the promoted teams – Fulham and Wolves – spending heavily in a bid to retain their top-flight status, Huddersfield’s path to survival may be more treacherous.
Goals were hard to come by last campaign and that theme continued throughout pre-season. The Yorkshire outfit failed to score in four of their nine friendlies and only score more than one goal in three outings. Having only registered 28 goals in 2017/18, joint worst with relegated Swansea, there is a lot of pressure on new striker Adama Diakhaby to hit the ground running. Steve Mounie may have to improve on his return of seven goals in 35 appearances.
Huddersfield’s modus operandi last time out was to remain difficult to break down and pick their moments to go forward. While this garnered the required results, it also led to them failing to score in 23 Premier League games. That level of impotence could see them slide back into the Championship.
Jonas Lossl made his loan move permanent and the goalkeeper turned in several high-quality performances to ensure Huddersfield remained competitive in games in which they were being overrun. The Dane had to pick the ball out of the back of his net 58 times last year, and he’ll want to see that number reduced. Huddersfield may need it to be lower if they are to stave off relegation again.
Another successful campaign will see Wagner’s stock rise further, the American manager could be tempted by a move to a club with looser purse strings and more immediate ambitions than to keep avoid the Championship trapdoor.
Player to watch: Aaron Mooy
Aaron Mooy in action for The Terriers during pre-season. (Photo credit: htafc.com)
The former Manchester City midfielder had a promising first season in the Premier League. Mooy registered four goals and three assists for Wagner last term. Mooy was often the metronome that kept Huddersfield ticking over and settling them when rattled and double up as their engine room, covering ground and making tackles to thwart opposing attacks.
102 tackles, 38 interceptions and 48 clearances all give credence to Mooy’s midfield general role, he achieved all of that while only picking up five yellow cards throughout the season.
The Australian also takes a wicked set-piece, work on the training ground must be done to ensure The Terriers maximise those opportunities – especially if chances are at a premium again this season.
If Mooy builds on last season, then Huddersfield’s biggest problem could be keeping him out of the hands of potential buyers for his services. More goals should be expected of the midfielder, if he can hit the ten-goal mark it will go a long way to consolidating their Premier League status and ease the pressure on potential misfiring forwards.
Players in: Terence Kongolo (Monaco), Adama Diakhaby (Monaco), Ramadan Sobhi (Stoke City), Florent Haderjonaj (FC Ingolstadt), Jonas Lossl (Mainz), Juninho Bacuna (Groningen), Erik Durm (Borussia Dortmund), Ben Hamer (Leicester City). UPDATE: Isaac Mbenza (Montpellier – loan).
Players Out: Tom Ince (Stoke City), Robert Green (Chelsea), Jack Payne (Bradford City – loan), Tareiq Holmes-Dennis (Bristol Rovers), Joel Coleman (Shrewsbury Town – loan), Sean Scannell (Bradford City), Jordy Hiwula (Coventry City), Dean Whitehead (Retired).
Predicted finish: 19th
