New Owner. New Philosophy?

[St Dogs Terrier]

I don’t post often but am a long-time lurker. I wanted to have a good old discussion that might actually (hopefully) allow some positivity - goodness knows we need some just now. 

When we (eventually) get a new owner what type of club/footballing philosophy do you want to see?

• Carry on as we are with MF or trying to pick another young hungry coach who may (or may not) turn into the next DW/CC. Picking up youngsters/cast offs from other clubs who may (or may not) have a bright future and be sellable for some decent money in the near’ish future. Run the risks that brings?
  
• Bring in an older wiser, experienced head, along with some journeymen players who can cement our position in the league (or gain promotion from a lower league if necessary). In the Warnock/Pulis type mould. – Not suggesting either by the way.
  
• Find a foreign or UK based manager with some relative success (albeit perhaps at low league level) and buy in to their philosophy totally – supporting them in the market as much as possible.
• Push the boat out and go all out to get back to the Premiership in the next 2/3 seasons and earn the necessary (£xxx) – whatever the consequences. Bringing in a “Named” manager and some Premier League experienced players.
• Something else?
  

Of course, there must be some financial stability in all of this, and I don’t for one minute think we will get a bottomless pit of money with a new owner. Just trying to see people’s views and get away from the blame game on current ownership that a lot of threads disappear into.

Lets look forward 😊

[htfcterry]

Jan 7, 2023 22:22:52 GMT 1 St Dogs Terrier said:

I don’t post often but am a long-time lurker. I wanted to have a good old discussion that might actually (hopefully) allow some positivity - goodness knows we need some just now. 

When we (eventually) get a new owner what type of club/footballing philosophy do you want to see?

• Carry on as we are with MF or trying to pick another young hungry coach who may (or may not) turn into the next DW/CC. Picking up youngsters/cast offs from other clubs who may (or may not) have a bright future and be sellable for some decent money in the near’ish future. Run the risks that brings?
  
• Bring in an older wiser, experienced head, along with some journeymen players who can cement our position in the league (or gain promotion from a lower league if necessary). In the Warnock/Pulis type mould. – Not suggesting either by the way.
  
• Find a foreign or UK based manager with some relative success (albeit perhaps at low league level) and buy in to their philosophy totally – supporting them in the market as much as possible.
• Push the boat out and go all out to get back to the Premiership in the next 2/3 seasons and earn the necessary (£xxx) – whatever the consequences. Bringing in a “Named” manager and some Premier League experienced players.
• Something else?
  

Of course, there must be some financial stability in all of this, and I don’t for one minute think we will get a bottomless pit of money with a new owner. Just trying to see people’s views and get away from the blame game on current ownership that a lot of threads disappear into.

Lets look forward 😊

Good post. It is something I have thought for a while and partly the reason I refuse to go to games atm. We need a new philosophy one that can unite club and fans as one. I think your third point, a young-ish foreign or UK manager with some proven success would be a step forward in the right direction. Acquiring the stadium, improving training and youth facilities would be equally important. We need to find a way of attracting good players to want to play for Huddersfield at a young age. First and foremost though, we need togetherness. Board, management, players & fans. We’ve missed having a clear identity since 2018 - having an identity brought us our most successful years in recent history.

[Yuta be a terrier]

Great Post. We definitely need a change in mentality at the club. The underdog tag line has done us no favours at all. Obviously it depends on the wealth of the owners but to me we should be looking at clubs like Brentford or Burnley for a long term project. Invest well in the management team and scouting structure and build from there. I think we all accept that if players do well they will leave but we never reinvest to the next level. Brentford went from Hogan > Watkins > Toney over 4 years. Each one costing a bit more than the previous but making a big profit in the process. The whole EFL was after Toney when he left Posh and he cost 10m but what is he worth now?(off field issue aside). Counter that with Peterborough who sell players for 5-10m on a regular basis like Town but never properly reinvest it. Eventually you run out of players worth 5-10m and you get relegated. That's what's happening to us now.
Hopefully we see some long term planning and ambition with the new owners because its been sadly lacking in recent years.

I would also add that it's really hard to look forwards when you are sliding backwards off a cliff edge.....

[softboy]

I’m not sure the Burnley model is for us. New owners who put little money in and bought the club using the clubs own money and borrowing at high interest rates secured on club assets. I suppose though if we do get new owners who put very little of there money in then at least we won’t be in the position we are now where we need to potentially having to pay someone back which appears to be holding things up.

[themanfromatlantis]

Jan 8, 2023 9:06:38 GMT 1 softboy said:

I’m not sure the Burnley model is for us. New owners who put little money in and bought the club using the clubs own money and borrowing at high interest rates secured on club assets. I suppose though if we do get new owners who put very little of there money in then at least we won’t be in the position we are now where we need to potentially having to pay someone back which appears to be holding things up.

What assets do the club own? We’re not in sole ownership of the stadium for instance.

I agree with you on the Burnley point though. It seems like a risky model to me, at least in the long term.

I’d just like us to be as honest a club as we can be. The Championship is a great division to be in, and yo-yoing between here and League 1 is probably about right for a club like Town. If you take out all the big city clubs in the North, we’re probably one of the biggest clubs beyond those.

The sooner that Town are weaned off the PL drug the better. It incites behaviour that’s not sustainable for many clubs. It would also help English football, if the ‘big six’ (or however many ‘qualify’) would bugger off and form the ESL. Money is killing football for real football supporters.

[Yuta be a terrier]

Jan 8, 2023 9:06:38 GMT 1 softboy said:

I’m not sure the Burnley model is for us. New owners who put little money in and bought the club using the clubs own money and borrowing at high interest rates secured on club assets. I suppose though if we do get new owners who put very little of there money in then at least we won’t be in the position we are now where we need to potentially having to pay someone back which appears to be holding things up.

But if you look at how Burnley have built over the last 10 years since their first relegation then that's the sort of plan we should have been working towards. Even this summer they have managed a full reset on their current model and look to be heading back to the PL playing brilliant football. Probably with a modest net spend.

[detox]

I thought we were following the Brentford model...we scrapped our academy to model ours on the Brentford model, but from what I have seen very few of the lads coming through this are good enough..there are some exceptions (which somebody will remind me of), maybe the expectation is out of 20 lads if we can get 4 that make it at 1st team level is considered a good return ? I'm not sure what Brentford thought was a successful ratio but looking at them now you can only applaud them for the success they've had from a club that is smaller than us..

[jb1]

Jan 8, 2023 11:05:57 GMT 1 detox said:

I thought we were following the Brentford model...we scrapped our academy to model ours on the Brentford model, but from what I have seen very few of the lads coming through this are good enough..there are some exceptions (which somebody will remind me of), maybe the expectation is out of 20 lads if we can get 4 that make it at 1st team level is considered a good return ? I'm not sure what Brentford thought was a successful ratio but looking at them now you can only applaud them for the success they've had from a club that is smaller than us..

Brentford’s owner, Matthew Benham, and his background in analytics and gambling are the reasons for their success. He has done an amazing job and has put incredibly intelligent people in place who think the same way as him. As the OP said Hogan - Toney via Watkins (and Maupay) shows a willingness to gamble on players at the most important position. I think being in London has helped attract other players as well and gives their system a slight advantage over us. The main difference though is in talent across the organisation. They are committed to it, we never have been.

[midlander]

Don't forget though that a massive reason in the scaling down the Academy was to focus on developing older teens, by giving them a bespoke set of game experiences against a wide variety of opposition across the continent. Plying their trade against elite level youth programmes was a noble idea. Unfortunately, like the rest of the organisation, that has slipped into another area where corners are cut and what was promised has fallen flat. B team getting beaten 3-1 by elite level Accrington on Friday for example.
Recruitment for B team has also been massively focused on 'cage' footballers - ones who lack a footballing academy background but have raw ability. To develop these players, you need an elite coaching set up. Again something we don't have at any level. Sorry, that this goes against the ethos of the original post, but a massive part of what any new ethos needs, is a huge refocus on the youth set-up and where we want it to be.

[midge]

Jan 8, 2023 12:23:50 GMT 1 midlander said:

Don't forget though that a massive reason in the scaling down the Academy was to focus on developing older teens, by giving them a bespoke set of game experiences against a wide variety of opposition across the continent. Plying their trade against elite level youth programmes was a noble idea. Unfortunately, like the rest of the organisation, that has slipped into another area where corners are cut and what was promised has fallen flat. B team getting beaten 3-1 by elite level Accrington on Friday for example.
Recruitment for B team has also been massively focused on 'cage' footballers - ones who lack a footballing academy background but have raw ability. To develop these players, you need an elite coaching set up. Again something we don't have at any level. Sorry, that this goes against the ethos of the original post, but a massive part of what any new ethos needs, is a huge refocus on the youth set-up and where we want it to be.

I don’t necessarily think the Academy has veered away from the original programme you describe with the variety of games/experience.

Not every team they will play will be ‘elite’ nor is that the idea anyway?

The Accrington game I believe was in the Central League Cup which is mainly used to give some of the lesser experienced academy players game time and in teams ‘like Accrington’ that will generally see them pitted against many older, more physical lower league Pros.

In terms of judging progress, a fairer comparison would be the Premier League Cup, where the competition is ‘more prestigious’ cat one and 2 academies. In this competition the B team will tend to play their more experienced players and have progressed by winning their groups (by some margin) in the last 2 seasons.

[Sparrow]

Jan 8, 2023 12:23:50 GMT 1 midlander said:

Don't forget though that a massive reason in the scaling down the Academy was to focus on developing older teens, by giving them a bespoke set of game experiences against a wide variety of opposition across the continent. Plying their trade against elite level youth programmes was a noble idea. Unfortunately, like the rest of the organisation, that has slipped into another area where corners are cut and what was promised has fallen flat. B team getting beaten 3-1 by elite level Accrington on Friday for example.
Recruitment for B team has also been massively focused on 'cage' footballers - ones who lack a footballing academy background but have raw ability. To develop these players, you need an elite coaching set up. Again something we don't have at any level. Sorry, that this goes against the ethos of the original post, but a massive part of what any new ethos needs, is a huge refocus on the youth set-up and where we want it to be.

Some really good points here.

As most will know, I was/am in favour of the Academy restructure, however, I don’t think it’s quite worked/working as planned.

There was supposed to be a games programme that saw us playing games against European opposition and going on European Tours. This happened initially, but Covid put a hold to that. I think lack of funds and penny pinching have stopped it from restarting. It’s a pitty we’ve not got it going again.

Nevertheless the B team model is still working. It’s producing the likes of Camara and Diarra who have looked really good at times. Plus Bilokapic & Spencer. It’s also helped us bed in the likes of Thomas and Russell and gives game time to returning injured first team players. Plus in the last match, we had a very very talented 17 year old playing in midfield against lads in their 20 (that’s how Diarra started as well), that’s experience he most probably wouldn’t have got in the old model.

However, I do think by not having the younger age groups we are missing out on some really good local talent, who would have a connection to the club . Not the lads that get snapped up by Man City or United or Liverpool etc. But ones like Danny Cadematery’s youngest lad. Currently in Sheffield Wednesdays Academy U13s and a really quality player. His brother is in the U18s and on a professional contract with them. It’s these players we are missing out on.

So I agree that new owners probably need to take a good long look at the Academy set up.

Also Brentford are going back to the old model of having a full Academy from U9. And by the 2024/25 season all Premier League clubs will have to be at least Category 3 which means having teams from U9s upwards. So if we have any ambitions at all, we will have to go back to having a full Academy intake

trainingground.guru/articles/premier-league-clubs-must-be-at-least-category-three-by-2024-25

Over and above that, I’d just like the club to think, talk and act a bit bigger. Ditch the little old Huddersfield tag

[midlander]

Jan 8, 2023 13:00:35 GMT 1 midge said:

Jan 8, 2023 12:23:50 GMT 1 midlander said:

Don't forget though that a massive reason in the scaling down the Academy was to focus on developing older teens, by giving them a bespoke set of game experiences against a wide variety of opposition across the continent. Plying their trade against elite level youth programmes was a noble idea. Unfortunately, like the rest of the organisation, that has slipped into another area where corners are cut and what was promised has fallen flat. B team getting beaten 3-1 by elite level Accrington on Friday for example.
Recruitment for B team has also been massively focused on 'cage' footballers - ones who lack a footballing academy background but have raw ability. To develop these players, you need an elite coaching set up. Again something we don't have at any level. Sorry, that this goes against the ethos of the original post, but a massive part of what any new ethos needs, is a huge refocus on the youth set-up and where we want it to be.

I don’t necessarily think the Academy has veered away from the original programme you describe with the variety of games/experience.

Not every team they will play will be ‘elite’ nor is that the idea anyway?

The Accrington game I believe was in the Central League Cup which is mainly used to give some of the lesser experienced academy players game time and in teams ‘like Accrington’ that will generally see them pitted against many older, more physical lower league Pros.

In terms of judging progress, a fairer comparison would be the Premier League Cup, where the competition is ‘more prestigious’ cat one and 2 academies. In this competition the B team will tend to play their more experienced players and have progressed by winning their groups (by some margin) in the last 2 seasons.

All fair points Midge and you have far more knowledge of the set up than I through your lad. I just don't feel that the current set up is as bespoke as was originally planned. I understand Jon's point of COVID and then finances meaning that playing continental opposition is less frequent, but we don't 'seem' to send any teams to continental mini tournaments even, let alone individual games and whilst my quip about Accrington was just isolated, other than the PL Cup, how often do we play against higher quality and varied opposition. Rangers is the only team that comes to mind off the top of my head. It just 'feels' and appears that the model we were sold when scrapping the Academy (and I understood all the reasons for it) are far removed from what we currently see now.

[midge]

Jan 8, 2023 13:24:23 GMT 1 Sparrow said:

Jan 8, 2023 12:23:50 GMT 1 midlander said:

Don't forget though that a massive reason in the scaling down the Academy was to focus on developing older teens, by giving them a bespoke set of game experiences against a wide variety of opposition across the continent. Plying their trade against elite level youth programmes was a noble idea. Unfortunately, like the rest of the organisation, that has slipped into another area where corners are cut and what was promised has fallen flat. B team getting beaten 3-1 by elite level Accrington on Friday for example.
Recruitment for B team has also been massively focused on 'cage' footballers - ones who lack a footballing academy background but have raw ability. To develop these players, you need an elite coaching set up. Again something we don't have at any level. Sorry, that this goes against the ethos of the original post, but a massive part of what any new ethos needs, is a huge refocus on the youth set-up and where we want it to be.

Some really good points here.

As most will know, I was/am in favour of the Academy restructure, however, I don’t think it’s quite worked/working as planned.

There was supposed to be a games programme that saw us playing games against European opposition and going on European Tours. This happened initially, but Covid put a hold to that. I think lack of funds and penny pinching have stopped it from restarting. It’s a pitty we’ve not got it going again.

Nevertheless the B team model is still working. It’s producing the likes of Camara and Diarra who have looked really good at times. Plus Bilokapic & Spencer. It’s also helped us bed in the likes of Thomas and Russell and gives game time to returning injured first team players. Plus in the last match, we had a very very talented 17 year old playing in midfield against lads in their 20 (that’s how Diarra started as well), that’s experience he most probably wouldn’t have got in the old model.

However, I do think by not having the younger age groups we are missing out on some really good local talent, who would have a connection to the club . Not the lads that get snapped up by Man City or United or Liverpool etc. But ones like Danny Cadematery’s youngest lad. Currently in Sheffield Wednesdays Academy U13s and a really quality player. His brother is in the U18s and on a professional contract with them. It’s these players we are missing out on.

So I agree that new owners probably need to take a good long look at the Academy set up.

Also Brentford are going back to the old model of having a full Academy from U9. And by the 2024/25 season all Premier League clubs will have to be at least Category 3 which means having teams from U9s upwards. So if we have any ambitions at all, we will have to go back to having a full Academy intake

trainingground.guru/articles/premier-league-clubs-must-be-at-least-category-three-by-2024-25

Over and above that, I’d just like the club to think, talk and act a bit bigger. Ditch the little old Huddersfield tag

Will be interesting to see what happens mate as the new structure was driven by Hoyle.

He was on record many times resenting the money used to fund the academy v the output.

Still relatively early days with the new programme but not possible to have both 🤷🏼

[Orinoco]

How times have changed, remember the days of the Town boys?!!

[Tinpot]

Short of something spectacular happening I expect Fotheringham will still be here when Hoyle leaves. Regardless of which division we're in when that happens.

What happens after that will depend upon a number of things that look difficult to predict.

Has MF shown enough to suggest he can take the club forward (or at least slow down the decline)? What is the mood around the ground? What is the (realistic) expectation for the club? And also, who else is available?

[Sparrow]

Jan 8, 2023 15:17:20 GMT 1 Orinoco said:

How times have changed, remember the days of the Town boys?!!

Town boys is back up and running this season with U13s. Train at Leeds Road and play at New College

They are looking to expand it through all ages in due course

[Orinoco]

Jan 8, 2023 16:48:58 GMT 1 Sparrow said:

Jan 8, 2023 15:17:20 GMT 1 Orinoco said:

How times have changed, remember the days of the Town boys?!!

Town boys is back up and running this season with U13s. Train at Leeds Road and play at New College

They are looking to expand it through all ages in due course

Great to see!!

[iangreaves]

Jan 8, 2023 16:15:40 GMT 1 Tinpot said:

Short of something spectacular happening I expect Fotheringham will still be here when Hoyle leaves. Regardless of which division we're in when that happens.

What happens after that will depend upon a number of things that look difficult to predict.

Has MF shown enough to suggest he can take the club forward (or at least slow down the decline)? What is the mood around the ground? What is the (realistic) expectation for the club? And also, who else is available?

It's very rare that a new owner doesn't bring in his own manager.

[overtonterrierspirit]

Jan 8, 2023 18:05:15 GMT 1 iangreaves said:

Jan 8, 2023 16:15:40 GMT 1 Tinpot said:

Short of something spectacular happening I expect Fotheringham will still be here when Hoyle leaves. Regardless of which division we're in when that happens.

What happens after that will depend upon a number of things that look difficult to predict.

Has MF shown enough to suggest he can take the club forward (or at least slow down the decline)? What is the mood around the ground? What is the (realistic) expectation for the club? And also, who else is available?

It's very rare that a new owner doesn't bring in his own manager.

If that’s the case.
I hope the owner of Norwich sells up and buys us.

[midge]

Jan 8, 2023 14:38:14 GMT 1 midlander said:

Jan 8, 2023 13:00:35 GMT 1 midge said:

I don’t necessarily think the Academy has veered away from the original programme you describe with the variety of games/experience.

Not every team they will play will be ‘elite’ nor is that the idea anyway?

The Accrington game I believe was in the Central League Cup which is mainly used to give some of the lesser experienced academy players game time and in teams ‘like Accrington’ that will generally see them pitted against many older, more physical lower league Pros.

In terms of judging progress, a fairer comparison would be the Premier League Cup, where the competition is ‘more prestigious’ cat one and 2 academies. In this competition the B team will tend to play their more experienced players and have progressed by winning their groups (by some margin) in the last 2 seasons.

All fair points Midge and you have far more knowledge of the set up than I through your lad. I just don't feel that the current set up is as bespoke as was originally planned. I understand Jon's point of COVID and then finances meaning that playing continental opposition is less frequent, but we don't 'seem' to send any teams to continental mini tournaments even, let alone individual games and whilst my quip about Accrington was just isolated, other than the PL Cup, how often do we play against higher quality and varied opposition. Rangers is the only team that comes to mind off the top of my head. It just 'feels' and appears that the model we were sold when scrapping the Academy (and I understood all the reasons for it) are far removed from what we currently see now.

Yeah, I can only come to the same conclusion as Jon re the ‘foreign’ games. Obviously not possible during covid and not relaunched since then🤷🏼

In terms of what ‘high profile’ games the 19s have played Liverpool (regularly) City and United over the last few years. These games are fine but can be a bit ‘sterile’ and I sometimes think the games against ‘men’s teams’ are of more benefit and the B team have played Stockport, Scunthorpe and a Northern Irish Premier league team just this season.

Not quite sure why the academy is coming under so much scrutiny at the moment altough I guess when a team is where we are, it feels that every area is under the spotlight in terms of people trying to look for answers!

I would say ghat the output/potential output in 4 years(??) is a reasonable improvement on what it was?

[Lovechops]

If you’ve not read it’s a good read about where our academy ranks In relation to cat 1 & 2 clubs
www.examinerlive.co.uk/sport/football/news/huddersfield-town-punching-above-weight-25274977

[midlander]

Jan 8, 2023 19:00:13 GMT 1 midge said:

Jan 8, 2023 14:38:14 GMT 1 midlander said:

All fair points Midge and you have far more knowledge of the set up than I through your lad. I just don't feel that the current set up is as bespoke as was originally planned. I understand Jon's point of COVID and then finances meaning that playing continental opposition is less frequent, but we don't 'seem' to send any teams to continental mini tournaments even, let alone individual games and whilst my quip about Accrington was just isolated, other than the PL Cup, how often do we play against higher quality and varied opposition. Rangers is the only team that comes to mind off the top of my head. It just 'feels' and appears that the model we were sold when scrapping the Academy (and I understood all the reasons for it) are far removed from what we currently see now.

Yeah, I can only come to the same conclusion as Jon re the ‘foreign’ games. Obviously not possible during covid and not relaunched since then🤷🏼

In terms of what ‘high profile’ games the 19s have played Liverpool (regularly) City and United over the last few years. These games are fine but can be a bit ‘sterile’ and I sometimes think the games against ‘men’s teams’ are of more benefit and the B team have played Stockport, Scunthorpe and a Northern Irish Premier league team just this season.

Not quite sure why the academy is coming under so much scrutiny at the moment altough I guess when a team is where we are, it feels that every area is under the spotlight in terms of people trying to look for answers!

I would say ghat the output/potential output in 4 years(??) is a reasonable improvement on what it was?

Cheers Midge. Think I mentioned it originally as it seems to be another aspect of the club which isn't functioning how it was sold to us when the big overhaul took place. Brexit has meant our initial thoughts on recruitment have had to change. I think recruitment I to the set up was initially very good and we are seeing the fruits of that now. I know a load of work went into bringing Camara across for example. The fact that the first team squad has been massively stripped back in past six months has meant that Academy players have had to fill that void whether they are ready or not. Some will sink and some will swim. Feel that now the Europe route is much more difficult, a new regime ought to look at reintroducing the younger age groups as well as continuing to run a B Team. Guess a lot will depend on who the DoF is and their thoughts as well.

[duncfost01]

I think the best we can hope for is an owner that can get us back to being able to compete at championship level. An owner that unites the club.

The shitshow that the club finds itself in was all avoidable.

Fed-up with losing week in week out. Listening to excuses.

Bromby the first out of the door for me.

[midge]

Jan 8, 2023 19:44:30 GMT 1 midlander said:

Jan 8, 2023 19:00:13 GMT 1 midge said:

Yeah, I can only come to the same conclusion as Jon re the ‘foreign’ games. Obviously not possible during covid and not relaunched since then🤷🏼

In terms of what ‘high profile’ games the 19s have played Liverpool (regularly) City and United over the last few years. These games are fine but can be a bit ‘sterile’ and I sometimes think the games against ‘men’s teams’ are of more benefit and the B team have played Stockport, Scunthorpe and a Northern Irish Premier league team just this season.

Not quite sure why the academy is coming under so much scrutiny at the moment altough I guess when a team is where we are, it feels that every area is under the spotlight in terms of people trying to look for answers!

I would say ghat the output/potential output in 4 years(??) is a reasonable improvement on what it was?

Cheers Midge. Think I mentioned it originally as it seems to be another aspect of the club which isn't functioning how it was sold to us when the big overhaul took place. Brexit has meant our initial thoughts on recruitment have had to change. I think recruitment I to the set up was initially very good and we are seeing the fruits of that now. I know a load of work went into bringing Camara across for example. The fact that the first team squad has been massively stripped back in past six months has meant that Academy players have had to fill that void whether they are ready or not. Some will sink and some will swim. Feel that now the Europe route is much more difficult, a new regime ought to look at reintroducing the younger age groups as well as continuing to run a B Team. Guess a lot will depend on who the DoF is and their thoughts as well.

Like you say, Brexit has scuppered the european route and the likes of Camara, Diarra and Ayina appear to be a thing of the past!

As per my reply earlier, the 9s to 16s model is v costly and DH went on record to say that he was not a fan of the cost v output!

As he is selling, who knows what will happen but my guess would be that they will keep the current model unless forced to change(Brentford have to be a cat 1 or 2 if they stay in the prem) as a lot of work has gone into it and in terms of a project, I guess it is still only really in it’s infancy.

If the decision is made to go back to old model, then there won’t be enough cash to to run a ‘proper’ B team model and it would just ended up as an u21/reserve type team.

As such you probably would not have seen Rowe, Koroma, Thomas, Russell, Critchlow, Edmonds Green, Pat Jones or the 3 french lads🤷🏼. Not all massive sucesses granted but cumulatively with significant 1st team appearances between them.

[rockwall]

Personally given our position I would be looking at 1 or 2 older experienced heads in the Lowton mould on short term deals until the end of the season.

As soon as the whistle goes on the final day, we get straight to work on the next season.

If that is getting a new man in, get it done ASAP.
Assess the squad (which should be done regardless) and then do what we need to that sticks with our model.

I am still undecided on MF, I do feel his words get twisted very easily. But it is clear he has passion. He wants to succeed. He is just making some silly errors in selections or subs.

[Ginger Ogre]

I think we need to be Huddersfield Town, and not a half arsed copy of another club.

For me, being Huddersfield Town is being a hardworking team that shows spirit and fight regardless of abilities. A squad with a good amount of players that have come through the club academy system and understand what the club is about.

Style of play would ideally run through from the youngest academy team right through for the first team. That way when players break through they understand the style and can slot in, something which I feel is already in process but stops at first team level.

I say the above about stopping because we chop and change first team managers so often its hard to implement it properly. When MF came in I said he needs to stay for 5 years just to get some continuity. Whether that be the case I very much doubt now given how he is getting on.

Off the field we should continue our good work in the community. Keep helping those that need it and attracting fans of a young age through more of the initiatives we already have (schools promotions, links with grassroots clubs etc) and try build the fan base that way. We appear to have lost a load of fans this season so building up the numbers is vital for success.

We need to bring in more money. I liked the local sponsorship but ultimately it doesn't bring in enough cash. We need a good commercial person to maximise the income via sponsorship to make up the short fall from crowds. We need something down at the stadium to bring fans down from Town and the local pubs and food places. We need fans to have a better match day experience and spend money at the stadium rather than elsewhere.

If I were taking over I'd try strip everything back. Forget the gimmicks, forget looking at what others do and trying to implement them with half the budget, it doesn't work and they fail because we don't commit properly. Start with one area, make it work then move to the next thing that needs sorting.

There is loads of stuff we can improve on, but we need the right people in the right places to make it happen.

[shawsie]

Jan 8, 2023 20:46:56 GMT 1 Ginger Ogre said:

I think we need to be Huddersfield Town, and not a half arsed copy of another club.

For me, being Huddersfield Town is being a hardworking team that shows spirit and fight regardless of abilities. A squad with a good amount of players that have come through the club academy system and understand what the club is about.

Style of play would ideally run through from the youngest academy team right through for the first team. That way when players break through they understand the style and can slot in, something which I feel is already in process but stops at first team level.

I say the above about stopping because we chop and change first team managers so often its hard to implement it properly. When MF came in I said he needs to stay for 5 years just to get some continuity. Whether that be the case I very much doubt now given how he is getting on.

Off the field we should continue our good work in the community. Keep helping those that need it and attracting fans of a young age through more of the initiatives we already have (schools promotions, links with grassroots clubs etc) and try build the fan base that way. We appear to have lost a load of fans this season so building up the numbers is vital for success.

We need to bring in more money. I liked the local sponsorship but ultimately it doesn't bring in enough cash. We need a good commercial person to maximise the income via sponsorship to make up the short fall from crowds. We need something down at the stadium to bring fans down from Town and the local pubs and food places. We need fans to have a better match day experience and spend money at the stadium rather than elsewhere.

If I were taking over I'd try strip everything back. Forget the gimmicks, forget looking at what others do and trying to implement them with half the budget, it doesn't work and they fail because we don't commit properly. Start with one area, make it work then move to the next thing that needs sorting.

There is loads of stuff we can improve on, but we need the right people in the right places to make it happen.

Spot on pozza.
Stop the "working class club" cliched crap and get on with re-engaging with the public and business.
Since wagner and jarvis left the communication has worsened and theres been a disconnect.
The fans never took to phil for a variety of reasons and DHs decision making is rightly being questioned.
We as supporters may have to swallow financial pain on this - weve had cheap tickets and this may need to change - but it cant until new owners sell a better proposition than the current ownership.
Hopefully 2023 will see more positivity.

[3Pipe]

Jan 8, 2023 23:32:18 GMT 1 shawsie said:

Hopefully 2023 will see more positivity.

I doubt it.

[ambryboy]

Jan 8, 2023 23:32:18 GMT 1 shawsie said:

Jan 8, 2023 20:46:56 GMT 1 Ginger Ogre said:

I think we need to be Huddersfield Town, and not a half arsed copy of another club.

For me, being Huddersfield Town is being a hardworking team that shows spirit and fight regardless of abilities. A squad with a good amount of players that have come through the club academy system and understand what the club is about.

Style of play would ideally run through from the youngest academy team right through for the first team. That way when players break through they understand the style and can slot in, something which I feel is already in process but stops at first team level.

I say the above about stopping because we chop and change first team managers so often its hard to implement it properly. When MF came in I said he needs to stay for 5 years just to get some continuity. Whether that be the case I very much doubt now given how he is getting on.

Off the field we should continue our good work in the community. Keep helping those that need it and attracting fans of a young age through more of the initiatives we already have (schools promotions, links with grassroots clubs etc) and try build the fan base that way. We appear to have lost a load of fans this season so building up the numbers is vital for success.

We need to bring in more money. I liked the local sponsorship but ultimately it doesn't bring in enough cash. We need a good commercial person to maximise the income via sponsorship to make up the short fall from crowds. We need something down at the stadium to bring fans down from Town and the local pubs and food places. We need fans to have a better match day experience and spend money at the stadium rather than elsewhere.

If I were taking over I'd try strip everything back. Forget the gimmicks, forget looking at what others do and trying to implement them with half the budget, it doesn't work and they fail because we don't commit properly. Start with one area, make it work then move to the next thing that needs sorting.

There is loads of stuff we can improve on, but we need the right people in the right places to make it happen.

Spot on pozza.
Stop the "working class club" cliched crap and get on with re-engaging with the public and business.
Since wagner and jarvis left the communication has worsened and theres been a disconnect.
The fans never took to phil for a variety of reasons and DHs decision making is rightly being questioned.
We as supporters may have to swallow financial pain on this - weve had cheap tickets and this may need to change - but it cant until new owners sell a better proposition than the current ownership.
Hopefully 2023 will see more positivity.

Spot on Shawsie, it is really cringeworthy.

[Sio]

Jan 8, 2023 23:32:18 GMT 1 shawsie said:

Jan 8, 2023 20:46:56 GMT 1 Ginger Ogre said:

I think we need to be Huddersfield Town, and not a half arsed copy of another club.

For me, being Huddersfield Town is being a hardworking team that shows spirit and fight regardless of abilities. A squad with a good amount of players that have come through the club academy system and understand what the club is about.

Style of play would ideally run through from the youngest academy team right through for the first team. That way when players break through they understand the style and can slot in, something which I feel is already in process but stops at first team level.

I say the above about stopping because we chop and change first team managers so often its hard to implement it properly. When MF came in I said he needs to stay for 5 years just to get some continuity. Whether that be the case I very much doubt now given how he is getting on.

Off the field we should continue our good work in the community. Keep helping those that need it and attracting fans of a young age through more of the initiatives we already have (schools promotions, links with grassroots clubs etc) and try build the fan base that way. We appear to have lost a load of fans this season so building up the numbers is vital for success.

We need to bring in more money. I liked the local sponsorship but ultimately it doesn't bring in enough cash. We need a good commercial person to maximise the income via sponsorship to make up the short fall from crowds. We need something down at the stadium to bring fans down from Town and the local pubs and food places. We need fans to have a better match day experience and spend money at the stadium rather than elsewhere.

If I were taking over I'd try strip everything back. Forget the gimmicks, forget looking at what others do and trying to implement them with half the budget, it doesn't work and they fail because we don't commit properly. Start with one area, make it work then move to the next thing that needs sorting.

There is loads of stuff we can improve on, but we need the right people in the right places to make it happen.

Spot on pozza.
Stop the "working class club" cliched crap and get on with re-engaging with the public and business.
Since wagner and jarvis left the communication has worsened and theres been a disconnect.
The fans never took to phil for a variety of reasons and DHs decision making is rightly being questioned.
We as supporters may have to swallow financial pain on this - weve had cheap tickets and this may need to change - but it cant until new owners sell a better proposition than the current ownership.
Hopefully 2023 will see more positivity.

'Working Class Club' was without a doubt a Jarvis introduction, though.

Yes he was great at chatting with fans, and an absolutely lovely bloke, but he was full of base-level marketing gimmicks and another example of us being amateur when it came to capitalising on our time in the Prem.