BFTG Huddersfield

[gdroyal]

Well that was a waste of a 1 and a half hour journey from uni to Huddersfield, I just have to feel for the other members of the 187 who travelled from Berkshire and are still a couple of hours from home. Going to the game I was confident that we would be able to build on Saturday's win. However, this confidence disappeared somewhat when I saw the team. I thought that 2-3 changes would be made, maybe four, but to make 6, with Pog and Williams not even on the bench baffled me. Looking at the team he selected, it was difficult to guess what Clarke was going to do. However, I don't think anyone would have guessed that Guthrie would be played as a left-winger, yes Guthrie as a left winger, and McCleary behind the striker. I have to wonder whether Clarke would have made these changes if the game was at the Madejski - I'd have like to have seen a home crowd reaction to Guthrie on the left wing. . All three goals were poor one to concede, the first an unmarked header and the other two poor errors by Federici. Lastly, what a poor ground the John Smith's Stadium is, you are so far away from the pitch that you can barely work out what is going on down the other end.

Player Ratings

Federici - 4 - Messed up on both the 2nd and 3rd goals. Should have either held or pushed the shot away from goal for the second, rather than straight into the middle of the goal. The 3rd he came storming out for a ball he was never going to get allowing Miller to simply lob him.
Kelly - 5 - Cautioned going forward although seemed fairly solid at the back, made a good clearance towards the end of the game to stop a 4th goal
Pearce - 4 - Messed up with a backpass right at the end of the first half from which Wells hit the post - passes often going astray
Hector - 4 - Same as above in relation to passing. I have always got the impression from Hector that he is going to make a mistake when he gets the ball - something that should improve with age. Gave away the foul for the first goal.
Obita - 4 - Anonomous going forwards although fairly solid defensively. Looked dangerous from set pieces.
Norwood - 5 - His passing was not up to his usual standard, but almost scored with a fantastic chip from the halfway line. Corners are poor.
Akpan - 5 - Worked very hard and some tidy pieces of skill but his passing is not up to it. Forced good save out of Smithies from a header in the 1st half.
Guthrie - 2 - Put out on the left wing by Clarke and did absolutely nothing. He didn't look interested. Obviously coming back from injury but this definitely isn't a long term position for him. Looks like a player who knows his time is up at the club.
McCleary - 5 - Showed good pace and he could maybe be an option to play behind the striker in the future
Taylor - 6 - This guy tries his hardest for the club. However, his ability is probably not quite good enough. Forced a couple of good saves out of Smithies and probably had a good claim for a penalty as he was tripped in the box, stayed on his feet before losing the ball and going down in pain.
Yakubu - 3 - just trotted around occasionally showing a couple of pieces of nice skill that shows how good he can be. He doesn't work as hard as Pog and on the few occasions I saw him, I don't see him ever replacing Pog as the target man.

Subs
Mackie - 5 - Task made difficult for him as he was asked to play right back when Kelly came off
Blackman - 4 - Game summed him up - went close with a long-range effort but when the ball fell to him 5 yards out it just bounced off his shin and away from goal.
Robson-Kanu - Had little time to impact the game.

[biff]

good write up. sorry you had to witness that.

[Will95]

Home at last, first half had some decent moves ruined by awful final passes, the second half was atrocious, there's really nothing else to say on this one, fair play to any of the others who travelled all the way up there tonight.

[Ascotroyal83]

Just back.The first half wasnt too bad but no idea what Clarke told the side at half time because the second half was shocking.Could have been more were it not for the fact Huddersfield eased up after the third.Federici at fault for the second.

Another cracking Tuesday night game to look forward to next week.

[Royalwaster]

Ever since Federici was muted as POTS he's started making mistakes ..... has made a lot of important saves this season, but how many errors is that now in the last 5-6 games?

[Snowball]

I cannot understand this team... how can they be this inconsistent?

Look at Wolves. Us beating them is their only defeat in 12-13 games

How can we beat Norwich twice, Ipswich twice, take 4 points of Wolves, 4 off Boro and then blow things so badly?

Is it a mental thing, something behind the scenes? Dressing-room aggro?

[el_presidente]

I cannot understand this team... how can they be this inconsistent?

Look at Wolves. Us beating them is their only defeat in 12-13 games

How can we beat Norwich twice, Ipswich twice, take 4 points of Wolves, 4 off Boro and then blow things so badly?

Is it a mental thing, something behind the scenes? Dressing-room aggro?

The reasons seem fairly obvious, Clarke dropped 3 of our most in form players (Pog, Robson-Kanu, WIlliams) and also Cox who has been working very hard recently admitedly without end product. One of the concerns I have with Clarke is his propensity to make changes to a winning team, it disrupts the rhythm of the side and must play havoc with player's confidence. I doubt Mackie is too chuffed after scoring the winner on Saturday then dropped to the bench.

[chippc]

Why didn't Clarke set the team up with 5 in midfield. McCleary, Akpan, Taylor, Norwood and Blackman with the Yak up front. Taylor could have played just behind the Yak. Much better balance than Guthrie on the left and McCleary up front with the Yak. Agree that we needed to rest players but the formation was too much change.

[Big Foot]

I cannot understand this team... how can they be this inconsistent?

Look at Wolves. Us beating them is their only defeat in 12-13 games

How can we beat Norwich twice, Ipswich twice, take 4 points of Wolves, 4 off Boro and then blow things so badly?

Is it a mental thing, something behind the scenes? Dressing-room aggro?

The reasons seem fairly obvious, Clarke dropped 3 of our most in form players (Pog, Robson-Kanu, WIlliams) and also Cox who has been working very hard recently admitedly without end product. One of the concerns I have with Clarke is his propensity to make changes to a winning team, it disrupts the rhythm of the side and must play havoc with player's confidence. I doubt Mackie is too chuffed after scoring the winner on Saturday then dropped to the bench.

Deservedly dropped after his dreadful goal celebration #InClarkeWeTrust

[Wycombe Royal]

Six changes and a chance to see some of the players who haven't been playing recently and chance for those whose contracts are expiring to see if they are worth a new one, and on this showing probably not. I'm not going to moan at Clarke for experimenting last night as we have played Saturday - Tuesday for a few weeks now and will be doing so for a further two weeks. He needs to protect some of the players and give others a chance - how else is he going to assess everyone in competitive matches?

The cup game is more important to us now than the league and he needs to make sure everyone is 100% ready for that game. That includes making sure the regulars aren't tired and also the fringe players are match fit and ready if needed.

I am really not bothered we lost last night, the remainder of this season is about the cup and preparing for next season. In 11 days time it may only be about preparing for next season.

[GH Royal]

Six changes and a chance to see some of the players who haven't been playing recently and chance for those whose contracts are expiring to see if they are worth a new one, and on this showing probably not. I'm not going to moan at Clarke for experimenting last night as we have played Saturday - Tuesday for a few weeks now and will be doing so for a further two weeks. He needs to protect some of the players and give others a chance - how else is he going to assess everyone in competitive matches?

The cup game is more important to us now than the league and he needs to make sure everyone is 100% ready for that game. That includes making sure the regulars aren't tired and also the fringe players are match fit and ready if needed.

I am really not bothered we lost last night, the remainder of this season is about the cup and preparing for next season. In 11 days time it may only be about preparing for next season.

Good post.

[old woman]

I don't mind him experimenting with the odd player but 6, 2 of whom haven't played for weeks is stupid especially playing in that formation.
Not sure I blame Feds for 2nd goal. The midfield vanished, you could have driven a truck through the middle of the pitch.
And what a strange ground. Bloody freezing and an open air concourse....

All in all a waste of £22 and 9 hours.

[PieEater]

But with that selection he's already indicated he'll throw the game next week at Bolton. I think he's been pretty stupid in the way he's rotated the squad - making wholesale changes never has good results. If you're going to rest players and rotate the squad do that 3 at a time over a number of games.

I might not bother attending Saturday until I see his team selection.

[Jano]

Not defending him, but Guthrie did actually play as a left winger earlier in his career, if you can call it that. Sounds like an absolute shambles and if the squad really are so unfit that so many of them aren't capable of playing 2 games in a week, we really are in trouble.

[melonhead]

Ever since Federici was muted as POTS he's started making mistakes ..... has made a lot of important saves this season, but how many errors is that now in the last 5-6 games?

aaaarrrggghhhh

[Stuka]

So Feds no longer the first choice keeper now?

[melonhead]

I cannot understand this team... how can they be this inconsistent?

Look at Wolves. Us beating them is their only defeat in 12-13 games

How can we beat Norwich twice, Ipswich twice, take 4 points of Wolves, 4 off Boro and then blow things so badly?

Is it a mental thing, something behind the scenes? Dressing-room aggro?

good teams come at us, giving us space to exploit
poorer teams tend to sit back, and then we are clueless.

and then occasionally the manager makes 6 random changes to a winning side

[Maguire]

if the squad really are so unfit that so many of them aren't capable of playing 2 games in a week, we really are in trouble.

Disagree here.

2 games a week for the better part of two months in a crazy schedule even for elite athletes and it's guaranteed to take it out of them. It's not just going for a jog, it's all the twisting and turning, repeated contact and accumulated niggles you pick up when you play so often.

Anyone who plays in all those games would be shattered by the end.

[winchester_royal]

if the squad really are so unfit that so many of them aren't capable of playing 2 games in a week, we really are in trouble.

Disagree here.

2 games a week for the better part of two months in a crazy schedule even for elite athletes and it's guaranteed to take it out of them. It's not just going for a jog, it's all the twisting and turning, repeated contact and accumulated niggles you pick up when you play so often.

Anyone who plays in all those games would be shattered by the end.

Exactly, and it's not just our squad that struggles. Even the very best teams have to rotate their squad to deal with European schedules.

[East Grinstead Royal]

Ever since Federici was muted as POTS he's started making mistakes ..... has made a lot of important saves this season, but how many errors is that now in the last 5-6 games?

aaaarrrggghhhh

My reaction as well, but he probably just means that Feds has been a bit quiet lately.