Football Season Guide

Huddersfield were really excited back in May when they achieved a slightly unexpected promotion to the top flight and despite the serious difficulties predicted for them this season the Terriers are preparing to fight hard for their elite status. The team’s German coach, David Wagner, built a nice style of football last season and this term Huddersfield will continue to rely on quick one-touch passing as well as solid counter-pressing in the middle of the park. However, the only way for Huddersfield to survive will be to improve their attack as they were one of the lowest scoring sides in the Championship last season. This is yet to be addressed properly despite the signing of two new strikers in the summer. Both Steve Mounie and Lauren Depoitre are centre forwards that can be effective in certain games, but both of them lack Premier League experience, or any decent run in any of the other top leagues. After impressing last season while on loan both Aaron Mooy and Elias Kachunga made their moves permanent, while the signing of Tom Ince is seen as an interesting one as the young winger has been shining brightly in the lower divisions for several years. However, just like the strikers that were signed, none of these three players have Premier League experience. Kasey Palmer is a very similar player that will be trying his best to impress his parent club, Chelsea, this season as his loan spell with Huddersfield is expected to give him lots of playing time. All this means that in order for Huddersfield to stand a chance of surviving they must be really solid defensively and at the back. A lot will depend on how influential their most solid player, Michael Hefele, will be. He is not just the rock of the back four, the Terriers favour 4-2-3-1 formation, but is also known for possession and a serious aerial presence at the other end of the pitch. Realistically, only if the German has an outstanding season, Huddersfield will stand a chance of staying up. The newly signed centre-back Mathias Zanka could become a regular quickly because of his Champions League experience.