Carlos Corberán looks to drive his Huddersfield Town side into promotion contention as they take on Birmingham City

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Since the start of the season, Huddersfield Town fans have been treated to an almost new team, and one highly reminiscent of their promotion season in 2017.

Since the turn of the past season, a lot has gone right at Huddersfield Town. Yes, there have been wrongs, but it finally seems like the Terriers are stabling the ship and aiming high. The season got off to a very positive note with the incomings in the summer, and whilst questioned at times, the club is reaping its rewards.

Town invested smartly and a large majority of their signings came through the free market. Tom Lees and Matty Pearson headline this list as two of Town’s most consistent performers often partnered with Chelsea loanee, Levi Colwill, to create quite a formidable defensive line.

In addition to this, add the retention of many of their key assets such as Harry Toffolo, Josh Koroma and most notably Lewis O’Brien who for large parts of the summer was rumoured to be leaving the Yorkshire side for their local rivals, Leeds United.

Since then, O’Brien has signed a new contract that sees him at the club until 2024, and with the prior names being rumoured to be starting contract talks with the club soon, it looks more futures could be secured in the coming months.

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However, looking at a more current picture, a lot of credit has to go to Carlos Corberán. Through his tenure at the Terriers, he has often come under criticism for his, at times, tactical naivety.

This season more often than not though, the Spaniard has got it right, creating a clear and concise identity within his side, which was promised upon his arrival by chairman Phil Hodgkinson.

“He believes in a high energy, high intensity, attacking style of play.”

Once again, Town are reaping the rewards. Doubts were justified last season with the Yorkshire outlet’s second relegation battle in as many seasons but this campaign everything seems different.

If you watched the side during the Premier League promotion campaign and then in the first and even second season back in the Championship, you can tell the difference. The identity that aligned the club had gone and the side looked more like individuals than a squad.

This season though, players will run through walls for one another and the work that has been done behind the scenes is evident which has resulted in the union on the pitch that has brought results this season.

Speaking about the side tactically though, there has been a very clear shift from a 4-3-3 to a now favoured 3-5-2. Fans of the side wouldn’t be unused to this though, with the formation making appearances last season. However, this season the side look calmer and in control of games compared to the ultimately underwhelming effects of the three-back last season.

On the ball, the side looks dangerous. Sorba Thomas is now a name and a player getting the credit he deserves. With seven assists this season, more than any other in the Championship, the Welshman has been instrumental to the successes of his team this season, a large contributor to his assists have been set-pieces.

Notably, in the past few seasons, Town’s set-piece routines have been sub-par, but with Danel Sinani and the aforementioned Thomas partnered with three towering centre-halves, the side looks threatening from every dead ball.

With the side sitting seventh in the league, their next test comes against Birmingham City. The Blues sit 19th following a poor start to the season and will be looking to get their first win away from home since August 21st.

Lee Bowyer confirmed that Maxime Colin would miss the clash in his press conference, whilst confirming that Ivan Sanchez would not be returning for the game at The John Smith’s Stadium.

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The Terriers, on the other hand, come into the game in high confidence, following a return of seven points from their last three games.

In Corberán’s pre-match press conference, he explained how he expects to have the same players available from the Hull City game, a welcomed piece of information for fans of the side after the good performance against the Tigers.

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