Ahead of tonight's game against Huddersfield we spoke to our friend at The Yorkshire Post, Stuart Rayner, and we asked him about all things Terriers.
Jack Rudoni, who we were supposed to have been interested in, was your most expensive signing over the summer coming from AFC Wimbledon. How has he fared in his first season in the Championship?
Partly out of financial necessity, partly because they believe it's the way to go, Huddersfield have tried to repeat what they did last season in trying to focus on low-cost players from the lower divisions and loans. It's fair to say it's been a mixed bag this season, but Rudoni is certainly another one to chalk down as a success for the scouts. He's a versatile player who has given the side something extra, especially from central midfield. He needs his numbers - no goals, one assist - to reflect that a bit more but it should come, and coach Mark Fotheringham spoke before this game about how much he likes Rudoni's "balanced" attitude whether starting or on the bench.
Nottingham Forest raided you guys for two players over the summer, signing both Harry Toffolo and Lewis O’Brien. How big a miss are they?
Huge. O'Brien was a Premier League-quality driving force from the middle of the park and Toffolo a very under-rated (just not by Forest's scouts it seems) attacking left-back. What with Olympiacos nicking right-back Pipa and coach Carlos Corberan, Evangelos Marinakis - who owns both clubs - would be well advised to give Huddersfield a wide berth for the next decade or so.
Mark Fotheringham was appointed head coach at the end of September, how has he been since he took charge?
It's fair to say it hasn't been love at first sight from the Terriers fans. Like a lot of managerial appointments these days, the Scot has a lot of top coaching pedigree, but in his case no managerial one. Huddersfield were lured in by the fact he assisted Felix Magath when he worked in the Bundesliga which, let's face it, is where most of the top managers come from these days.
But Fotheringham inherited big problems - not just losing O'Brien, Toffolo and Pipa, but big injuries to mainstays like Matty Pearson, Jonathan Hogg (both yet to play for him) and now Ollie Turton, plus Tino Anjorin's glandular fever. With the confidence of last season completely swept away under Danny Schofield's nine matches as "permanent" head coach it's been a slow and not all that entertaining process but they got off the bottom of the Championship with victory at the weekend. (Yes, they're back at the bottom now but with a few games in hand.)
How does Fotheringham have Huddersfield play/set up?
Corberan was very much from the Graham Potter school of 'why have one formation when you can have 26' and whilst Fotheringham is not that extreme, he does like to tinker a bit. He likes two up top - the only problem being the squad only has two out-and-out centre-forwards (except Tyreece Simpson who has been injured since before they signed him) and both Danny Ward and Jordan Rhodes are in their 30s - but whether it's a three, a four and a one, or a four a two and a three behind varies.
On the back of coming so close to the Premier League last season you currently sit bottom, where do you think you’ll finish this season?
The big worry is there was a team from not all that far away in Barnsley who unexpectedly reached the play-offs in 2020-21, then finished bottom the next season. Fans are not entirely convinced by Fotheringham yet and faith in the Director of Football, Leigh Bromby, who got so much deserved praise for his signings (and choice of coach) last season, has taken a bit of a battering. On top of that they have an owner who is papering over losses of £10m a year but is looking to sell the club due to his poor health, so although there is talk of a January transfer window "refresh" some will be dubious about whether that is the saving grace it should be.
This squad has enough good players left over from last season to stay up, and that is now the only target this season. Unfortunately, you could say that about quite a few of the clubs down there, so it could be a squeaky-bum season at best.
When we arrive at Huddersfield, where is best for an away fan to grab a pre-match pint?
I've seen the Yorkshire Rose recommended and when I was last in The Head of Steam at the train station, it was a good pub.
What sort of reception do you expect Alex Pritchard to receive?
It never really happened for Pritchard at Town. The talent we have seen in a Sunderland shirt was always there but the body rarely played ball and three goals in 54 league starts is not what they paid for. I'm not sure he deserves to be booed but he's a former player who didn't leave a hero, so there's every chance he might be.
Jack Clarke misses the game, having received too many yellow cards. Are you relieved to not be seeing him?
It's an ex-Leeds player Huddersfield fans won't get to boo but all things considered they will be pleased not to see him, I expect.
Where do you think we will be at the end of the season?
With Tony Mowbray in charge I think you'll finish mid-table, which I think is a good return for the first season back in the Championship. It's a big old gap between it and League One as the number of yo-yo clubs in recent years shows.
How do you think the game will play out? Score? Scorers?
Fotheringham's big thing at the moment is clean sheets and even last season, Huddersfield were more of a threat at set-pieces than in open play. With Ross Stewart and Lynden Gooch missing too I am not bracing myself for a goalfest. I'll predict a 0-0 in the hope my record of usually being wrong keeps up.
