Royally shafted in the play-off final by Jon Moss, and now plummeting down the Championship, it’s been a tough few months for our visitors this Saturday Huddersfield Town, according to our regular contributor Brady Frost from the Takes That Chance Podcast.

Huddersfield got absolutely shafted in that play off final, and took it in a lot better grace than I would have done. Still stings?

Yeah it really stings, but time has helped. The worst thing was I had made peace with the result and then came out of the ground and saw the penalty decisions later and it was just gutting. Would we have scored those penalties if they were given? We’ll never know but the frustrating thing is it feels like the final has an asterisk on it because of that. I will say though, it was a terrible game, we didn’t turn up, I don’t think Forest did really either and it felt like it was heading to penalties. Also, I’ve never seen a group of fans so happy to rub the result in my face rather than celebrate but we would have been battered every week in the Premier League so that’s some consolation.

Bit of a nightmare start for you guys, what have you made of it so far?

It’s been disappointing. The play-off final has absolutely killed us in some ways and meant we had to rebuild. Since losing to Nottingham Forest, their owner, Evangelos Marinakis has signed two of our best players in Harry Toffolo and Lewis O’Brien, signed our starting right back Pipa for his other team, Olympiacos and our manager Carlos Corberan left the club three weeks before the season started and is now manager of the Greek side.

Former player and Town favourite Danny Schofield (who was an assistant to Carlos) has been given the job permanently and we’ve lost five in seven league games. We’ve lost quality players and replaced them with squad players or young players with potential and hopefully, it’s a teething process, but I’m concerned about whether he’s the right fit.

Huddersfield’s league games so far…
Huddersfield 0-1 Burnley Maatsen 18
Birmingham 2-1 Huddersfield Hogan 5, Placheta 45 — Ward 61
Huddersfield 3-1 Stoke Nakayama 44, Ward 70, Rhodes 86 — Baker 56
Norwich 2-1 Huddersfield Sargent 6, Sinani 16 — Jones 81
Huddersfield 2-2 West Brom Anjorin 11, 30 — Wallace 37, 57
Bristol City 2-0 Huddersfield Wells 35, Semenyo 80
Huddersfield 0-1 Blackpool Corbeanu 38

Any signs of improvement/reasons for optimism?

The stats seem to suggest we’re moving in the right direction in terms of chances created and conceding fewer opportunities but it’s a low bar, unfortunately. In terms of optimism, some of the signings have been impressive in short bursts so far.

Jack Rudoni, who Huddersfield signed from AFC Wimbledon looks like a gem, positive on the ball and could develop into a great player. Tino Anjorin, who rejoined on loan from Chelsea has that ability to be a difference maker on his day and Danny Ward and Jordan Rhodes have shown if they’re provided with good chances, they can score, it’s just not happening enough.

What's the score with the new manager? Fans sticking with, or alternatives being mentioned?

I feel for Schofield, I really do. This is difficult for any coach to take over unexpectedly three weeks before the season starts but I’m concerned about his inexperience. He’s been playing players out of position and experienced players who were responsible for our good run last season seem uncharacteristically poor. I don’t know if he’s the right person for the club at this time and I think something needs to change quickly in regards to results before this is too irretrievable. With the majority of fans, there appears to be a lot of apathy as it feels he’s been thrown into a situation that he’s not ready for.

No alternatives have been mentioned because it’s difficult to see who we would get in based on the current structure. Carlos Corberan left because from reports, he felt that was the furthest he could take the team and wanted to be backed further. There was a link to MK Dons manager Liam Manning briefly when Corberan left but it was quickly quashed, if they do make a change, it feels similar to the job Danny Cowley was tasked with after our relegation from the Premier League, solid man management to lift the team. Personally, I wouldn’t mind Paul Warne from Rotherham but whether he’d be interested is another question.

How did the summer transfer window go?

I think we’ve signed well. Bringing in Michal Helik from Barnsley, who was one of the best centre backs in the division when Barnsley had an unlikely playoff journey is good business. Luke Mbete, a young defender has joined on loan from Manchester City, who we’re hoping could be the replacement for Levi Colwill. Jack Rudoni and Tino Anjorin as mentioned have looked exciting in fits and starts but the concern is we’ve not replaced Harry Toffolo or Lewis O’Brien. Huddersfield are never going to be the club to shell out on players and get direct replacements but we’ve been playing Josh Ruffels in Toffolo’s absence and unfortunately, he doesn’t seem to be at the level currently. David Kasumu, another new signing from MK Dons seems like the closest replacement for O’Brien but has already picked up an injury and has a record of being on the treatment table.

Ins >>> Jack Rudoni, 21, CM, Wimbledon, £850k >>> Tyreece Simpson, 20, ST, Ipswich, £522k >>> David Kasumu, 22, CM, MK Dons, Undisclosed >>> Michal Helik, 26, CB, Barnsley, Undisclosed >>> Yuta Nakayama, 25, CB, Zwolle, Free >>> Connor Mahoney, 25, RW, Millwall, Free >>> Will Boyle, 26, CB, Cheltenham, Free >>> Tino Anjorin, 20, AM, Chelsea, Loan >>> Luke Mbete, 18, CB, Man City, Loan >>> Kaine Kesler-Hayden, 19, RB, Villa, Loan >>>

Outs >>> Lewis O’Brien, 23, AM, Forest, £8.46mm >>> Harry Toffolo, 26, LB, Forest, £2.16m >>> Pipa, 24, RB, Olympiakos, £900k >>> Reece Brown, 26, CM, Forest Green, Free >>> Romoney Crichlow, 23, CB, Bradford, Loan >>> Matty Daly, 21, AM, Harrogate, Loan >>> Carel Eiting, 24, DM, Volendam (Holland), Free >>> Naby Sarr, 28, CB, Reading, Free >>> Jamal Blackman, 28, GK, Exeter, Free >>> Fraizer Campbell, 34, CF, Released >>> Alex Vallejo, 30, DM, Katokopias (Cyprus), Free >>> Josh Koroma, 23, CF, Pompey, Loan >>> Scot High, 21, CM, Rotherham, Loan >>> Rarmani Edmonds-Green, 23, CB, Wigan, Loan >>> Ryan Schofield, 22, GK, Hibs, Loan >>> Rolando Aarons, 26, LW, Motherwell, Loan >>> Matty Dale, 21, AM, Harrogate, Loan >>> Kieran Phillips, 22, AM, Morecambe, Loan >>> Danny Grant, 22, RW, Harrogate, Loan

Stand out players and weak links so far?

Lee Nicholls has continued his incredible level, as mentioned Jack Rudoni and Tino Anjorin have shown flashes too and young winger Pat Jones has caught the eye. Weak links, Tom Lees, one of the best players last year looks a shadow of his former self currently but I think that’s because he’s lost his defensive partners and I’d expect him to bounce back. Josh Ruffels, unfortunately, hasn’t started well and our left side is prone to attacks. the loss of O’Brien means we’re weak in midfield while we work out how to fill the gap he’s left and I think Ilias Chair might have fun there again.

Revised expectations for the season?

Five defeats in seven games is relegation form, simple as that and this squad is better than that. Of course, it’s early days but there needs to be a change very quickly in regards to results. At the start of the season, I had predicted comfortably mid-table but it’s looking like the lower end of the division. It’s dependent on Danny Schofield and whether he can turn things around or whether a change is needed in the dugout. I’m not confident based on what I’ve seen so far, hopefully, I’m not as downbeat when we speak again in February.

Links >>> Official website >>> Ground Guide >>> Down at the Mac — Forum >>> And he Takes That Chance — Podcast

The Twitter @brady0894, @takesthatchance, @loftforwords

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TacticalR added 19:01 - Sep 9 Thanks to Brady. Huddersfield have had quite a knock-back, and on top of everything Marinakis is pinching players and the manager. In recent years we have struggled against stalwart northern Championship sides like Huddersfield, but even the stalwarts can have bad seasons. I see Josh Koroma has gone out on loan - he always seemed to give us problems.
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