New beginnings and familiar frailties as Huddersfield host Forest

Huddersfield Town welcome Nottingham Forest to the John Smith’s Stadium on Friday night in search of their first win of the new season under Carlos Corberan.

An exciting appointment, the Spanish coach will be looking to claim his first scalp against Sabri Lamouchi’s punch-drunk men.

Following a 3-0 defeat away to Brentford last weekend, Huddersfield supporters will already be concerned that not a lot has changed at the Yorkshire club over the summer period.

With the shortened preseason programme, Corberan is yet to put his to stamp on the team as familiar themes continued into the new campaign, with Town struggling to create chances and score goals.

Corberan is looking to play a more expansive style of football at the club and this will take time to develop but supporters will be a little disappointed with their start.

“Every game gives us the opportunity to grow as a team. In the league you know every game is the opportunity to add points and we know that for the fans every win helps people and you’re helping people feel happy and feel confident in the team.” – Carlos Corberan.

Whilst performances have not been poor, the Terriers have lost their opening competitive games and are understandably yet to gel as a collective. New arrivals Carel Eiting and Naby Sarr may both be in line to make their debuts against Forest and bring some much-needed appetite to the table. Eiting, a season-long loan from Ajax, looks to possess real quality with his left foot and provide Corberan’s team with more emphasis on the ball from midfield.

Image: Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images Sport

Centre-back Sarr, who joined and then immediately quarantined for 14 days has faced a rather strange introduction to English football, largely spending it in holed up in a hotel room. Sarr has since returned to training but with only a couple of sessions under his belt, the Forest game may have come too quickly for him to return.

For a club that invested heavily during their time in the Premier League, there is no question that Huddersfield have plenty of talent within their squad. Following a disappointing return on the level of their investment, Corberan’s more offensive style of play may yet bring out the best of certain players that struggled in the past 18 months.

Alex Pritchard’s form remains a mystery to a degree; a top Championship performer on his day, Pritchard’s confidence has been badly affected during his time in Yorkshire. His instincts have been curtailed whereas once, he was a player who could produce clever and decisive moments in games. Despite all of his ability, confidence is a huge factor for any sportsman and Pritchard is desperate for a break to get himself up and running in the new season. 

Speaking of confidence, Adama Diakhaby is another player that has struggled to adapt to English football. After failing to make an impact during his first year at Huddersfield, the French winger moved on loan to Nottingham Forest in January, to help their promotion push. Once more Diakhaby struggled and although there were glimpses of the player that he can be, utilising his lightning pace, he only 14 appearances which were mainly off of the substitutes bench under Sabri Lamouchi. Diakhaby may well have a point to prove to Forest on Friday night, that they wrong in not pursuing his transfer over the summer.

The visit of a conservative Nottingham Forest side should allow Huddersfield the opportunity to express themselves and get the ball moving further up the pitch. Forest have had a tendency to feel their way into games and there is an opportunity for Town to start on the front foot and take advantage. This could be the game for Pritchard and debutant Eiting to shine for Corberan’s men.

If belief is lacking at Huddersfield, Sabri Lamouchi’s Nottingham Forest have started their season in a similar fashion. With no goals scored in two hundred and seventy minutes of competitive football, deficiencies that cost them so dearly last time around are still barriers that need to be overcome.

Combined with a soft underbelly in defence, both weaknesses were evident once more last weekend in Forest’s 2-0 defeat to Cardiff City. Conceding two sloppy goals and failing to score once again, Forest will be hoping to build on their improved second-half showing. 

“We can’t avoid these two bad results and the mistakes we have made, but it’s a new season. We have signed different players with different profiles and there are new faces and new energies in the dressing room.” – Sabri Lamouchi.

The loss of Matty Cash to Aston Villa and the departure of captain Ben Watson, has inevitably added to the need for reinforcements. Despite Lamouchi being under pressure to register his first points on the board, the Frenchman has been heavily backed this summer to remedy those deficiencies. 

Cyrus Christie has joined on a season-long loan from Fulham to slot in at right-back and provide quality when getting further up the pitch. It is expected that Christie will be drafted in for his debut at Huddersfield having signed too late to start against Cardiff last weekend. 

Harry Arter, who played alongside Christie in Fulham’s promotion-winning campaign has joined Forest this week from Bournemouth on a three-year deal. 30-year-old Arter will want to join a coveted list of Irishman that have had successful spells at The City Ground in years gone by. Arter’s experience, aggression, and quality on the ball should make him a sound investment and a key member of Lamouchi’s first XI, a more than adequate replacement for Watson in the heart of the midfield.

Forest have been crying out for a midfielder to move the ball forwards in recent games and Arter fits that bill perfectly. With his game know-how, he should add a vital ingredient to a Forest side that has lacked leadership in the opening games.

Image: Nottingham Forest FC

Lastly, Scott McKenna has joined the club this week from Aberdeen in a rumoured £3m deal which could rise to £5m with add-ons. Forest had shown strong interest in capturing McKenna this season and with defensive frailties rearing their ugly head, the 23-year-old Scotsman will add greater physical presence and aerial capability in the heart of their defence.

With Lamouchi still after one more addition, a winger to back up the injury-plagued Joe Lolley, Forest almost have everything in place from a personnel perspective. The Forest boss will be mindful to get their season moving sooner rather than later. With a host of new additions, he will hope that they can hit the ground running, starting at The John Smith’s on Friday night.

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