Huddersfield Town v Southend United - MATCH REPORT

[TomTheTerrier]

It was Grand National day as Town took on Southend at the Galpharm, looking for a third win on the bounce after two impressive away victories at Hereford and Bristol. Unfortunately, it turned out that donkeys, not horses, were at the races on a changeable Saturday afternoon in Huddersfield, with both sets of fans effectively picking non-runners. Rumours suggest that the officials were found to be lame, and later shot.

Lee Clark named a team with one change from Tuesday night’s victory in Somerset, with Michael Flynn dropped to the bench, Collins back in the centre partnering Goodwin, and Ainsworth returning to the right flank. Liverpool loanee Martin Kelly made his home debut at left-back in place of the injured Robbie Williams. Flavour of the month (and rightly so, we have to cling onto something) Anthony Pilkington sat just behind Danny Cadamarteri, as Town operated in a 4411 formation, the lack of striking options again patently obvious. Southend, with 8 wins from their last 10, lined up in what was effectively a 424 formation, as their centre-backs laced up their hoofing boots, and the beautiful game hung its head and wept.

Though the referee couldn’t co-ordinate his foot to the ball in the pre-match warm up, he managed to co-ordinate his whistle to his lips, and the game kicked off. Almost immediately Town’s captain Nathan Clarke was involved in a painful looking clash of heads with Southend’s equally blonde bombshell Lee Barnard, and he was forced off to get stitched up, returning from the tunnel minutes later in his very own tribute to Terry Butcher. It was Town’s loanee defender Kelly who created the first real chance of the game, collecting the ball confidently from Butler, before striding forward and playing a delightful through ball to Cadamarteri down the left side, however there was nobody in the box and the ball ended up comfortably in the hands of the Southend keeper. Cadamarteri continued to look bright, minutes later retaining possession brilliantly in the centre of the park and feeding the onrushing Collins, who tripped haplessly over the ball sending it out of play.

Southend had clearly been studying the intricate football systems of Brazil 1970 and Ajax 1995, as they merrily sat back and seemed content in kicking the ball as high and as far as possible away from their own goal mouth, in the general direction of some pretty quick blokes up front. This allowed town a good share of the early possession, working the ball well around the centre of the pitch, but all too often fluffing the final touch or the final pass, with Ainsworth and Roberts the culprits far too often. Town’s inability to maintain pressure began to show as a relatively dull first half came to a close, with Southend creating 2 or 3 half chances just before the whistle, the clearest being a Barnard volley that was sent just over Smithies’ bar from the edge of the Town area. It was a pretty dour first 45 minutes; surely things couldn’t get any worse after half time?

Before that spectacle, we were allowed to delight in the magnificence and ingenuity of Town’s marketing department, as four Huddersfield Town deckchairs were carried onto the pitch by the Care in the Community staff. In all seriousness now, why on earth do Huddersfield Town deckchairs even exist? Who sat down in a meeting and said ‘everyone listen in, this one’s gold’? Coming soon, Huddersfield Town’s lean mean goal reducing striker machine! Just pop your striker inside, turn it on, and watch as the goalscoring ability drains out of him into the handy tray provided. 50% of all proceeds go to Harrogate Town. I stepped down from my soapbox just in time to see a young lad from Battyeford dink a lovely shot into one of the chairs and win himself a football. Sign him up.

The sides emerged unchanged for the second half, and possibly one of the worst footballing spectacles I’ve ever witnessed carried on in vain. Town created the first early chance after a fantastic spin and shot from Pilkington on the corner of the box, forcing a corner. With the ball whipped in, Butler rose highest, virtually unchallenged, but could only direct his header straight at the Southend keeper. All game Town had looked susceptible to Southend’s pace up top, which they were exploiting to full effect by not bothering to go through their midfield, and this occasion was no exception. Mildenhall in the Shrimpers goal launched the ball high up field with only Butler left on the heels of the pacey Robinson. Every game Smithies seems to make one poor decision, and again, we saw no exception, as the young stopper flew out of his goal and attempted to put the ball into the stand, but instead lashed at thin air leaving Robinson with the seemingly easy task of getting the ball past the backtracking Tom Clarke and into the Town goal. Luckily, though blessed with speed, it became apparent that Robinson was blessed with little else, and he dawdled on the ball before hopelessly dragging it wide of the post, much to the delight of the Town faithful. Take a bow son.

Nevertheless, Southend’s launch it and leg it tactics were creating some chances, and Robinson had a chance to atone seconds later when a cross was whipped in from the right, but he could only mirror Smithies and swipe at thin air, again drawing cheers from the Town fans. Despairingly, the biggest cheers of the match were reserved for Southend errors, and the biggest chants for Southend fans being ejected, Town were creating nothing for the fans to cheer, but at the same time the air of frustration around the ground seemed to drain the players of confidence. A poor looking Ainsworth was replaced by Booth on 60 minutes, as Town looked to match Southend at the hit it and hope game. It really was turgid stuff, and things went from bad to worse for the Terriers as Tom Clarke was penalised for being in possession of arms in the penalty area. A powerful Franck Moussa cross struck the full-back’s arm as he held it tight into his side, and the referee pointed to the spot. Barnard despatched the penalty and the entire team ran to celebrate in front of their fans. For about 5 minutes.

What followed can only be described as farcical time wasting play from Southend, as they dragged out every single set-piece and dead-ball situation for as long as was physically possible. It was like watching a game of statues; every time the referee had them in view they did their best to look busy, but as soon as his back was turned they all froze. Lee Barnard was even caught trying to wind the referee’s watch forwards, while Anthony Grant was booked for faking his own death in the middle of the pitch. The referee struggled to keep control, and while some of the most blatant timewasting was punished, much of it was allowed to carry on unabated. It just added to the frustration of the fans, who were looking for some spark or stroke of luck to get Town an equaliser. Half-chances came and went, with Butler, Cadamarteri and Booth coming agonisingly close, but as has so often been the case this season, it was not to be for Huddersfield Town, and what should have been a depressing 0-0 draw turned in to an infuriating 1-0 defeat. Those who turned up expecting horses were left watching donkeys, and feeling like asses.

Player Ratings:

Smithies – 7 – His handling was confident, and he made a great reflex save from close range in the 2nd half, but almost cost us a goal charging off his line.

Kelly – 8 – Great performance from the loanee, who was easily MOTM in my opinion. Showed great composure on the ball and a willingness to get forward alongside his obvious defensive capabilities.

T. Clarke – 6 – Had another below-par game at right back, struggling with his distribution and looking slow at times. Is clearly only a short-term solution. Unlucky with the penalty.

N. Clarke – 7- Took a blow early in the game but showed no signs of it affecting him. Distribution poor at times but miles better than Butler.

Butler – 6 – Defensively he wasn’t too bad, and he made a number of important challenges but his passing was abysmal.

Roberts – 6 – Had another quiet game, although did liven up somewhat in the second half with some nice touches, and gave the ball away less than he has done recently. Still not his old self.

Goodwin – 6 – Poor decision making led to a few wasted chances, when he took on ridiculous shots instead of playing the simple pass.

Collins – 7 – Didn’t have a bad game and saw a fair amount of the ball in the centre of the park. Would have looked better if those around him were performing.

Ainsworth – 6 – A poor performance from a winger clearly lacking in confidence. His first touch is shocking at times. I think he'd do better with Kelly behind him - Someone with quality distribution would be able to bring out his strengths.

Pilkington – 7 – His quietest game in a Town shirt, but he didn’t have much to work with. Still looked dangerous in flashes.

Cadamarteri – 8 – As per usual, he worked hard all game and defied his height by winning a fair share of headers. Was unlucky not to get a goal. Definitely deserves a new contract.

Subs –

Boothy – 7 – Kept getting absolutely clattered from behind when going up for headers, and consequently shirked out of a few, but held possession well.

Flynn – 6 – Was lucky not to be sent off for a second bookable offence behind the referees back. Put in a lot of effort, but with little product.

Overall – A terrible match that shows just how much work needs to be done before next season for us to put in a serious challenge.

Any comments, thoughts, etc, please go ahead

You've had that first paragraph ready to go all week, haven't you?

['Uddersfield]

How is a rating of 6 "poor"? Above average isn't it?

[Carl Hughes]

cadamarteri 8 are you serious!!

[TomTheTerrier]

Apr 4, 2009 19:52:06 GMT 1 'Uddersfield said:

How is a rating of 6 "poor"? Above average isn't it?

I base my ratings on Footy Manager, where 7 is the average, so if I give a 6 in my eyes it means I see the player as having had a a below-par game. 5 generally means I think they've had a shocker, and anything below that is Jevons territory.

I gave Cads an 8 because I thought he worked hard up front with little supply. He also managed I think 3 attempts on goal, more than anyone else. It's just my impression everyone is welcome to disagree

[boothyfearssatan]

Very well written - made me chuckle. Have a gold star.

[wigster]

Cadamarteri an 8 True, he had his second shot of the season on target but why does that give him an 8. Rational judgement seems to be suspended when "Cads" is around - he rarely actually creates anything and the sooner he moves to Dundee - the latest rumour - for his 8th or 9th club - the better.
Wonder why he's had so many clubs ?
Wonder why he's only fit when his contracts up ?

[TomTheTerrier]

Apr 4, 2009 20:48:41 GMT 1 wigster said:

Cadamarteri an 8 True, he had his second shot of the season on target but why does that give him an 8. Rational judgement seems to be suspended when "Cads" is around - he rarely actually creates anything and the sooner he moves to Dundee - the latest rumour - for his 8th or 9th club - the better.
Wonder why he's had so many clubs ?
Wonder why he's only fit when his contracts up ?

He's been fit pretty much all season, and he's getting his career back on track. 2 goals in the last 4 games isn't too bad for someone who never creates anything either! In my eyes, with Pilks and an in-form Roberts, he's the biggest threat we have. I do think he's better on the right though. If we had options I think he'd probably be starting there.

[huddersviking]

Re: Huddersfield Town v Southend United - MATCH RE
« Reply #7 Today at 7:52pm »

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Today at 7:48pm, wigster wrote:Cadamarteri an 8 True, he had his second shot of the season on target but why does that give him an 8. Rational judgement seems to be suspended when "Cads" is around - he rarely actually creates anything and the sooner he moves to Dundee - the latest rumour - for his 8th or 9th club - the better.
Wonder why he's had so many clubs ?
Wonder why he's only fit when his contracts up ?




He's been fit pretty much all season, and he's getting his career back on track. 2 goals in the last 4 games isn't too bad for someone who never creates anything either! In my eyes, with Pilks and an in-form Roberts, he's the biggest threat we have. I do think he's better on the right though. If we had options I think he'd probably be starting there.



yeah cads is one fire, whats that now???? 4 goals in 2 years!!

shocked that some town fans want this guy to be playing for us next season, as all i hear is how we need a proven striker, cads goal record is shocking! all i hear is "he looked dangerous" or "was unlucky not to score" 4 goals in 2 years, its not unlucky is a lack of ablity!

[tnk]

I'm more concerned with the 7 you gave to Collins. What did he actually do apart from alot of ball watching??? U must've been watching a different game to me cos from my seat he hardly saw any ball in the centre of the park

[TomTheTerrier]

Bloody hell my ratings are getting some stick this week

Huddersviking, you're shocked that some of our fans want probably our best right winger playing for us next season? He's a step above Ainsworth. Why wouldn't you want Cads on our right wing?

As for the 7 for Collins, I was going to give him a 6 but I remembered him coming into the game a bit more at the end so I put a 7. It's not too scientific, just my general impression I thought Goodwin had a far worse game than Collins today. And usually i'm a Collins detractor!

[huddersviking]

Huddersviking, you're shocked that some of our fans want probably our best right winger playing for us next season? He's a step above Ainsworth. Why wouldn't you want Cads on our right wing?


guessing you have forgot about roberts carrying us threw 1st half of season, and been blinded by the form that pilko has had since joining the club then??? cos to say cads is a better winger than those two players is just a joke!

[huddersviking]

plus aint cads playing up front for us???

i thought we wanted a striker up there, cads 4goals in 2 years, dont think hes going to fire us up next season with that record!

[crustyoldshrimp]

Good report mate and fairly accurate to boot.
I did warn you we were nothing special to watch on the southend thread yesderday. At least the kit is brazil like. Its,s true, we are not that pleasing on the eye but that is a by product of losing our most creative players, gower to swansea & bailey to charlton just before the season began. We had to adapt quick and kick & chase is always likely to bring a few results with a couple of greyhounds in the side. You shouldnt kid yourselves though, the onus is on the home side to play pretty and the away side to snatch a victory. We succeded in our task and in all fairness, i think we were just the better of 2 mediocre sides.

[TomTheTerrier]

Apr 4, 2009 23:29:14 GMT 1 huddersviking said:

Huddersviking, you're shocked that some of our fans want probably our best right winger playing for us next season? He's a step above Ainsworth. Why wouldn't you want Cads on our right wing?


guessing you have forgot about roberts carrying us threw 1st half of season, and been blinded by the form that pilko has had since joining the club then??? cos to say cads is a better winger than those two players is just a joke!

I'm not sure it is, I think Cads has been more consistent than Roberts over the entire season, and I think ability-wise the two are pretty similar. Also, Roberts and Pilks are more left-wingers, the comparison I was trying to make was with Ainsworth. I'd prefer have Cads in the squad simply so we wouldn't be relying entirely on Ainsworth to come good, although saying that, i'd be more than happy to see Cads starting on the right next season.

Yes he is playing up front for us currently, but his best position is clearly out wide, he's only up there because of our shortages and he won't be there next season.

Crustyoldshrimp, thanks for the input I agree with you entirely mate, the onus should have been on us to take the game to you, and whilst we started OK, we dropped off and for the majority of the game were terrible. I thought the draw would have been fairier though because I don't think any team should get 3 points for that kind of display.

[huddersviking]

roberts - 10 goals, 10 assists!

cads, eeerrrmmmmm 2 goals and maybe 3 assists!

roberts single handed carrying us threw games in 1st half of season, cads spent most of season in treatment!

cads will go end of season..... pilko on one wing, roberts on other and a propa striker up front.... i would kep cads to come off bench, but would have him in starting 11!

[TomTheTerrier]

Apr 4, 2009 23:43:19 GMT 1 huddersviking said:

roberts - 10 goals, 10 assists!

cads, eeerrrmmmmm 2 goals and maybe 3 assists!

roberts single handed carrying us threw games in 1st half of season, cads spent most of season in treatment!

cads will go end of season..... pilko on one wing, roberts on other and a propa striker up front.... i would kep cads to come off bench, but would have him in starting 11!

Nobody can argue that Roberts first half of the season was brilliant, I thought he was our best player by a country mile, but his second half just hasn't lived up to that, which is why I think Cads has been more consistent; I can't remember a bad game from him. As for always being on the treatment table, he's featured in 32 games for us so far this season...

I do think if Cads goes then it's a mistake. We clearly can't rely on Ainsworth, and Pilks and Roberts aren't going to be fit every game.

[huddersviking]

ehhhh

your not making sense fella! you have was saying cads is are best right winger, but have allso said that roberts was are best winger aswell!!!!

32games and 2 goals, that is a shocking record! yes i know hes been playing on wing alot of time, but that is still a poor goal scoring record for a a attacking player!
ainsworth has not settled in team yet, he played well for herford! pilko and roberts will start are towns best two wingers (roberts is not the player he was, but if he had carried on playing at his level then he wouldt be playing at this level)... cads is on a too big of a wage to be sitting on the bench,,,, we need to balance the books!

[TomTheTerrier]

Apr 4, 2009 23:54:43 GMT 1 huddersviking said:

ehhhh

your not making sense fella! you have was saying cads is are best right winger, but have allso said that roberts was are best winger aswell!!!!

32games and 2 goals, that is a shocking record! yes i know hes been playing on wing alot of time, but that is still a poor goal scoring record for a a attacking player!
ainsworth has not settled in team yet, he played well for herford! pilko and roberts will start are towns best two wingers (roberts is not the player he was, but if he had carried on playing at his level then he wouldt be playing at this level)... cads is on a too big of a wage to be sitting on the bench,,,, we need to balance the books!

But you don't know what wage Cads is on (it won't be near the highest) and he isn't sat on the bench? Who's to say he'll be sat on the bench next season? I can't really see a reason why anyone would pick Ainsworth ahead of Cads down the right at the minute. As you say, Pilkington and Roberts will likely be the first choices, but i'd still prefer to have Cads coming off the bench to Lionel.

[huddersviking]

hiya
no i dont know what wage cads is on, but im guessing hes on a big one as he was ritchies BIG SIGNING if you remember?
Lionel is still only a young lad, with so much pace,,,,, he just needs time to settle into the squad and learn what his own strengths are. One thing that annoys me about cads is (i know you could say the say about ainsworth, but hes still learning) is theres hardly ever a end product.. he works hard, but he does not score enough!

[TerrierArmy]

Tom I see you've been to the Mel Smooth school of giving players marks out of ten!

Only Kelly, Nathan and Smithies deserved anything above 5!

[TomTheTerrier]

Apr 5, 2009 16:07:37 GMT 1 TerrierArmy said:

Tom I see you've been to the Mel Smooth school of giving players marks out of ten!

Only Kelly, Nathan and Smithies deserved anything above 5!

I do it like Football manager damnit!

7 is average, not 5!

7 means they generally did ok, but nothing special, 8 means pretty good, 6 means below par!

Nah Tom - on Football Manager - 6 is average, hence players START with a 6.

7 is quite good. 8 is very good. 9 is excellent. 10 is perfect.

Just as ... 5 is below average ... 4 is poor ... 3 is very poor ... 2 is diabolical ... 1 is Lukas Jutkiewicz.

[TomTheTerrier]

Apr 5, 2009 20:01:12 GMT 1 @andyhudd said:

Nah Tom - on Football Manager - 6 is average, hence players START with a 6.

7 is quite good. 8 is very good. 9 is excellent. 10 is perfect.

Just as ... 5 is below average ... 4 is poor ... 3 is very poor ... 2 is diabolical ... 1 is Lukas Jutkiewicz.

That's FM09, i'm more into 07 and 08

No, I haven't got FM09. I'm talking FM08 Thomas.

FM has evolved, but I haven't taken to it! :O

[htFC]

cads was o.k give him a pas as u play plz

[TomTheTerrier]

Apr 6, 2009 10:41:54 GMT 1 htFC said:

cads was o.k give him a pas as u play plz

I don't understand this?

Are you telling the other players to pass to him?