Progress on the field ?

[fredcarno]

After reflecting on the game last night and recent performances I've come to the conclusion that basically we haven't progressed at all on the field since Jackson was sacked IMO.
We've still got a defence that is prone to caving in at any point, still trying to find out if players like Tom Clarke are actually good enough and what position to play them in, still relying on Boothy as our best attacking option.
The thing that makes it harder to bear is the investment that has been provided to improve the squad yet with a few exceptions we look no better and in some areas decidedly worse. IMO we are on course for a worse finish than last season so for all those blind optimists who are expecting us to walk the league next season this is Huddersfield town we are talking about and one thing they can do is consitently let you down Just hope LC and co are the men to break this cycle ! Because one thing I'm sick of is all the if, buts, maybes and excuses. However you look at it and whoever you blame from Turnip, Davy, Watson,The players, LC, Steve Black, Terry the Terrier or Paul Ogden we should have done better this season.


Never mind next season we'll piss the league !!!!

[AndySk]

I thought we weren't saying 'next year we'll do it' Miles
Every sodding year we say it. I still think with 2 good strikers we'll see a big turn around though. We've got plenty of players who are good enough to do something in this division

[Nickhudds.UTT]

Imo we are going in the right direction, im proud of whats happening at our great club. Some people have slightly high expectations of a young manager whos only been at Town for a few months.
There are many positives and in a way the pressure is off until next season due to our indifferent results..... I fully expect us to soon be in the Championship and develop even further !

[Deleted]

The thing we had under Jacko was a goalscorer, first Stead then Abbott. When Abbott lost form the wheels came off and we've yet to succesfully replace him. Hopefully Clark will finally manage to do it in the summer.

[fredcarno]

It was a poor attempt at sarcasm scal !!

Never mind at least it's saved me 50 quid not going to tranmere. Mind you I might still go !!!! A win on saturday and we could still make the playoffs (another attempt at sarcasm!)

[HuddsTerrier]

Okay here's where we're progressing.

Until sacking Ternent we were averaging about one point per game - relegation form.

We canned ST after about 15 games. I think we had some like 18 points (helped by a fortunate win over Crewe!)

Since then we've got 32 points from 21 games (about 1 and a half points a game).

If we got 1 and a half points a game for 46 games we'd have 69 points. There or thereabouts for play off form which is not bad considering the horrific back luck we've had since LC took over, wonder strikes (Oldham (h), Colchester (h)), dodgy offside goals (Millwall (h)), freak own goals (Stockport (a)), bad decisions by officials, i.e. did the ball cross the line last night (MK Dons (a)) and so on ... it will balance out though.

Off the field there's been progress, we have arguably the best backroom outside the Premiership, this has raised our profile no end and meant we can sign players like Pilkington (could you imagine us getting him 12 months since, even with money in the bank!) Suddenly signing a player like Kevin Phillips seems possible and not just wishful thinking

There's also signs of the root and branch changes LC talked about when he signed up in December, already you can see signs of good relationships being formed with lower league sides, from Unibond Premier (Wakefield), to Blue Square North (Gateshead) to Blue Square Premier (Woking). There's a structure coming together which will massively help us develop our academy players (something we've failed to do), irrespective of there present development we'll have a "relationship" with a club suitable for them which will help them play meaningful games, grow in confidence and in general improve them as footballers!

Scouting seems to be moving forward as well, when was the last time we signed a player from outside the British Isles Yet in two months we've trialled lads from Germany and Turkey, the net is suddenly being cast much further

We've signed one of the hottest striking prospects outside the Football League

We've produced, blooded and retained the best keeper outside the Championship (que Floyds re Glennon remark )

And best of all at times we play some bloody good football to watch, not hit and hope but measured pass and move. Roberts goal against Hereford was one of the best team goals I've ever seen!

Rome wasn't built in a day, but after three months we've come along way. Next season is about 6 months off, imagine where we'll be then!

[TeamDevil HTAFC]

Mar 11, 2009 15:03:48 GMT 1 HuddsTerrier said:

Okay here's where we're progressing.

Until sacking Ternent we were averaging about one point per game - relegation form.

We canned ST after about 15 games. I think we had some like 18 points (helped by a fortunate win over Crewe!)

Since then we've got 32 points from 21 games (about 1 and a half points a game).

If we got 1 and a half points a game for 46 games we'd have 69 points. There or thereabouts for play off form which is not bad considering the horrific back luck we've had since LC took over, wonder strikes (Oldham (h), Colchester (h)), dodgy offside goals (Millwall (h)), freak own goals (Stockport (a)), bad decisions by officials, i.e. did the ball cross the line last night (MK Dons (a)) and so on ... it will balance out though.

Off the field there's been progress, we have arguably the best backroom outside the Premiership, this has raised our profile no end and meant we can sign players like Pilkington (could you imagine us getting him 12 months since, even with money in the bank!) Suddenly signing a player like Kevin Phillips seems possible and not just wishful thinking

There's also signs of the root and branch changes LC talked about when he signed up in December, already you can see signs of good relationships being formed with lower league sides, from Unibond Premier (Wakefield), to Blue Square North (Gateshead) to Blue Square Premier (Woking). There's a structure coming together which will massively help us develop our academy players (something we've failed to do), irrespective of there present development we'll have a "relationship" with a club suitable for them which will help them play meaningful games, grow in confidence and in general improve them as footballers!

Scouting seems to be moving forward as well, when was the last time we signed a player from outside the British Isles Yet in two months we've trialled lads from Germany and Turkey, the net is suddenly being cast much further

We've signed one of the hottest striking prospects outside the Football League

We've produced, blooded and retained the best keeper outside the Championship (que Floyds re Glennon remark )

And best of all at times we play some bloody good football to watch, not hit and hope but measured pass and move. Roberts goal against Hereford was one of the best team goals I've ever seen!

Rome wasn't built in a day, but after three months we've come along way. Next season is about 6 months off, imagine where we'll be then!

Well done fella.....that's the spirit!
Summer is going to be exciting - the terms 'flush, recruit & rebuild' are a certainty..........

[fredcarno]

It's just after almost 25 year of false dawns, ifs, bu's and maybes. You start to become a bit pessamistic. I'm not denying off the field we are really coming together. But while I wasn't a fan of Ternent at all and was glad to see him go people seem quick to turn statistic round to suit their own argument. ie we get a late winner against Crewe at home under Ternent and it's spawny,how many late winners did we score with GM and GM in charge? I suppose the late goals against Stockport, Colchester and Millwall were all desperately unlucky whereas under Ternent would have been criminal defending and tactical suicide.
You're spot on Rome wasn't built in a day I'm just not convinced we've progressed anywhere near as much as you say. But me being the pessamist I really hope it's you that's right and not me.

[timrankhan]

We are suspect at the back, but not because we are poor as a unit more due to simply switching off. We need three strikers, although two if Novak is going to be used, we could do with him having a few games at the end of the season.
At times we look like the best side in the division, but at others we look woefully inept.
FIngers crossed that we spend on two quality forwards and a right back!

[janeo]

Mar 11, 2009 15:03:48 GMT 1 HuddsTerrier said:

Okay here's where we're progressing.

Until sacking Ternent we were averaging about one point per game - relegation form.

We canned ST after about 15 games. I think we had some like 18 points (helped by a fortunate win over Crewe!)

Since then we've got 32 points from 21 games (about 1 and a half points a game).

If we got 1 and a half points a game for 46 games we'd have 69 points. There or thereabouts for play off form which is not bad considering the horrific back luck we've had since LC took over, wonder strikes (Oldham (h), Colchester (h)), dodgy offside goals (Millwall (h)), freak own goals (Stockport (a)), bad decisions by officials, i.e. did the ball cross the line last night (MK Dons (a)) and so on ... it will balance out though.

Off the field there's been progress, we have arguably the best backroom outside the Premiership, this has raised our profile no end and meant we can sign players like Pilkington (could you imagine us getting him 12 months since, even with money in the bank!) Suddenly signing a player like Kevin Phillips seems possible and not just wishful thinking

There's also signs of the root and branch changes LC talked about when he signed up in December, already you can see signs of good relationships being formed with lower league sides, from Unibond Premier (Wakefield), to Blue Square North (Gateshead) to Blue Square Premier (Woking). There's a structure coming together which will massively help us develop our academy players (something we've failed to do), irrespective of there present development we'll have a "relationship" with a club suitable for them which will help them play meaningful games, grow in confidence and in general improve them as footballers!

Scouting seems to be moving forward as well, when was the last time we signed a player from outside the British Isles Yet in two months we've trialled lads from Germany and Turkey, the net is suddenly being cast much further

We've signed one of the hottest striking prospects outside the Football League

We've produced, blooded and retained the best keeper outside the Championship (que Floyds re Glennon remark )

And best of all at times we play some bloody good football to watch, not hit and hope but measured pass and move. Roberts goal against Hereford was one of the best team goals I've ever seen!

Rome wasn't built in a day, but after three months we've come along way. Next season is about 6 months off, imagine where we'll be then!

Best post I've seen in ages that, have a positive

ps not that it helps much!!

[Deleted]

Mar 11, 2009 15:03:48 GMT 1 HuddsTerrier said:

Okay here's where we're progressing.

Until sacking Ternent we were averaging about one point per game - relegation form.

We canned ST after about 15 games. I think we had some like 18 points (helped by a fortunate win over Crewe!)

Since then we've got 32 points from 21 games (about 1 and a half points a game).

If we got 1 and a half points a game for 46 games we'd have 69 points. There or thereabouts for play off form which is not bad considering the horrific back luck we've had since LC took over, wonder strikes (Oldham (h), Colchester (h)), dodgy offside goals (Millwall (h)), freak own goals (Stockport (a)), bad decisions by officials, i.e. did the ball cross the line last night (MK Dons (a)) and so on ... it will balance out though.

Off the field there's been progress, we have arguably the best backroom outside the Premiership, this has raised our profile no end and meant we can sign players like Pilkington (could you imagine us getting him 12 months since, even with money in the bank!) Suddenly signing a player like Kevin Phillips seems possible and not just wishful thinking

There's also signs of the root and branch changes LC talked about when he signed up in December, already you can see signs of good relationships being formed with lower league sides, from Unibond Premier (Wakefield), to Blue Square North (Gateshead) to Blue Square Premier (Woking). There's a structure coming together which will massively help us develop our academy players (something we've failed to do), irrespective of there present development we'll have a "relationship" with a club suitable for them which will help them play meaningful games, grow in confidence and in general improve them as footballers!

Scouting seems to be moving forward as well, when was the last time we signed a player from outside the British Isles Yet in two months we've trialled lads from Germany and Turkey, the net is suddenly being cast much further

We've signed one of the hottest striking prospects outside the Football League

We've produced, blooded and retained the best keeper outside the Championship (que Floyds re Glennon remark )

And best of all at times we play some bloody good football to watch, not hit and hope but measured pass and move. Roberts goal against Hereford was one of the best team goals I've ever seen!

Rome wasn't built in a day, but after three months we've come along way. Next season is about 6 months off, imagine where we'll be then!

Good post HT

[AndySk]

Mar 11, 2009 14:43:35 GMT 1 fredcarno said:

It was a poor attempt at sarcasm scal !!

Never mind at least it's saved me 50 quid not going to tranmere. Mind you I might still go !!!! A win on saturday and we could still make the playoffs (another attempt at sarcasm!)

Your normally the optimistic one of us Miles. Having a bad day?

You've changed your mind about going to Tranmere more times than I change my undies! You must've changed your mind 5 times during the Millwall game. You'll end up going mate.

Anyway there's always next season ;D

[knockkneedchicken]

25 years of false dawns!!

40 in my case. But in all those 40 years I've never been as optimistic for the SUSTAINED long term future of town as I am now. The reason for this optimism is that we've got a Town fan in charge who's been through the same sh!t we have had to endure.

He has appointed (imo) one of the brightest, ambitious young English managers who just happens to see the game the same way I do because every time he speaks after a match I agree with what he says. Lee's a very astute young man who is perfectly aware what the problems are at HTFC. All he needs is time to provide solutions to these problems.

Will everyone please be so good as to give him that time!

[huddersfc]

We have progressed slightly on the pitch, but the big progression is Hoyle, a town fan who is willing to put a sensible amount of money into the club without jeopardising its long term future. For me, all the positivity that I am getting is coming from the board rather than looking on the pitch, but im sure sooner rather than later this will transfer down onto the field. If we can get rid of a fair few players then we can do a bit of wheeling and dealing in the summer, maybe spend a bit on 1 striker and get another on a free (Graham) by offering a bit more of the freed up wages, then we have Novak backing them up. The striker situation is so important but we desperately need cover at the back too, this can't be ignored in the summer because although a lot of people will disagree but I think Lucketti is a liability, he can command but is too slow and I don't see him as a player who will get us into the championship.
Although I have been critical of some of the decisions he has made, Clark knows what he has to do, and I think he knows how to turn it round. Maybe some of the dissapointment aimed at Clark is because we have wasted another season, a season with so so much promise and obviously thats not his fault but you can't come back from a game and moan at Ternent.
I have said before that I like Clark, I like his passion on the touchline, I like his ambition, but obviously he has still a lot to learn tactically but it will come, but if it doesn't I know that Hoyle will make the right decision at the right time to benefit Huddersfield Town, it will come right eventually, thank god for Dean Hoyle

[HuddsTerrier]

Mar 11, 2009 16:37:38 GMT 1 janeo said:

Best post I've seen in ages that, have a positive

ps not that it helps much!!

Oh no worries about the karma, asked for it from TA.

Basically there's a poster who likes to trawl back through the pages soley to neg my karma, i.e. I went skiing last weekend so didn't post for 4/5 days came back and had lost about 15 points, go figure

Suppose it takes all types to make up a world though

Anyway, asked to be set to minus a trillion because frankly what's the point, but I guess c.8 million is as far back as proboards will go

[covpete]

Lets be realistic about what we can achieve in a small amount of time. I think Clarke has at least got us playing good football, even if we are not getting the right results at the moment, we have to give him 2-3 years to build a good squad/team and go from there. But as always the boo boys are already starting, these are usually people who know f*** all about football and expect instant success. Put it this way would you rather have Hoyle and Clarke or Davy and Ternent, think about it !!!!

[kosi]

Mar 11, 2009 15:38:20 GMT 1 fredcarno said:

It's just after almost 25 year of false dawns, ifs, bu's and maybes. You start to become a bit pessamistic. I'm not denying off the field we are really coming together. But while I wasn't a fan of Ternent at all and was glad to see him go people seem quick to turn statistic round to suit their own argument. ie we get a late winner against Crewe at home under Ternent and it's spawny,how many late winners did we score with GM and GM in charge? I suppose the late goals against Stockport, Colchester and Millwall were all desperately unlucky whereas under Ternent would have been criminal defending and tactical suicide.
You're spot on Rome wasn't built in a day I'm just not convinced we've progressed anywhere near as much as you say. But me being the pessamist I really hope it's you that's right and not me.

great post fred and i started a similar thread last night getting some stick for it too saying similar things. i think you've covered what i wanted to say in a better way!