Yet as this rendition of the Premier League season reaches its‘ business end’ there was still a lot to be desired from the American, who has not really shown many signs of change in what has become another season on a course for relegation if things don’t change, and quickly at that.
This season has largely been a case of margins for the West Yorkshire outfit, sometimes those margins have been small, sometimes large. The only constant though is that Leeds have been on the wrong end of them more times than not.
Whilst only a week on from the closing of the January transfer window, the feelings between fans and Marsch hit an all-time low with supporters chanting for the American’s departure in the stands of the City Ground on Sunday afternoon.
This was not just a feeling held by those in the stands in Nottingham though, there has been distaste at Elland Road too. However, social media is where the real noise is to be heard, during and after the game this weekend ‘Yank Lampard’ was trending on Twitter, pulling similarities between the American and former Everton, Chelsea, and Derby manager Frank Lampard, who has been a disliked figure in West Yorkshire for some time.
The aforementioned summer and January investments haven’t been cheap, whilst the outgoings of Phillips and Raphinha reportedly brought in close to £95 million, the Whites also spent around £100 million with two of the Whites’ biggest investments, Brendan Aaronson and Luis Sinisterra failing to make the impressions once imagined they would.
Partner this then with the January coups of Georginio Rutter, Maximilian Wöber, and the loan signing of Weston McKennie, and for around £140 million over two windows, there isn’t a lot to show for that, currently at least.
Now that isn’t to say those players won’t come good in the slightest, all three bring something into the Leeds squad which has been lacking, Rutter brings another attacking option, which with Patrick Bamford’s inconsistency has been much needed, McKennie brings midfield depth and Wöber gives Leeds a progressive option in defence, who has the ability to help build from the back.
The bases are there to build on and around 100 percent, but the question that remained to be asked was, do Leeds United Marsch On Together with this promising team, or do they progress to someone new?
With owner Andrea Radrizzani confirming that the club may be sold in the near future and the expected party to take those shares being the American investment group the 49ers Enterprises, do they stick with an American and try to build the club’s reputation and supporter base in the States?
Yet, doing that was always going to be a major risk. Marsch didn’t seem to be winning back favour at Elland Road and hadn’t for some time. With games against other relegation rivals Everton and Southampton on the horizon, the side was desperate for new ideas, to keep them in the division.
With the news breaking on Monday afternoon that the club had parted with the American, the club now have a difficult process ahead of them that has to be calculated but quickly calculated.
The managerial market right now is a tough one to operate in, with few free agents available who would be the right fit for the club and the task at hand.
The elephant in the room is obviously Marcelo Bielsa, and whilst for some fans of this club this may be the one as such, the ship is believed to have sailed and the move makes little sense, Bielsa doesn’t take on a project mid-way through a season, as proved with Everton recently.
However, his former disciple might just be tempted to. Re-enter Carlos Corberán, the Spaniard is well known in West Yorkshire for his prior spell in the dugout at Elland Road as Bielsa’s assistant and then for his time at Huddersfield Town between 2020-2022, where he took the club to the Championship Play-Off Final in May of last year.
However, there may be complications with this, the 39-year-old was touted around to be a potential candidate for the Everton job too alongside his former mentor, yet the Merseyside club brought in Dyche.
Corberán’s West Brom side are flying and as such the coach is gaining many plaudits for the work he is doing as an upcoming and exciting young coach who has real potential to be the next something in management.
Corberán’s football is highly fluid and able to transition between systems and shapes depending on the opposition and how the game is being played, in attacks the Spaniard almost exclusively builds from the back and looks to create issues for teams with overlapping full-backs and then penetrate space.
Defensively though his sides are resolute, yet still fluid. Wide men can revert into more defensive roles to soak up pressure, or solely to follow the ball as the opposition progresses down their side.
When he took over the Midlands side they said at the bottom of the league, below his former side Huddersfield, now though the Baggies sit 6th in the division winning 10 of the 13 games under his rein.
Emerging as the bookies’ favourite early on is understandable, for many the Spaniard was deemed to be the successor to Bielsa on El Loco’s departure before his move across West Yorkshire, and with knowledge of the club and arguably still a connection to the club, it would make sense for Corberán to be the new face of a young side, which together could grow into an exciting young team, under an arguably more exciting young manager.
With the reported financial issues that face West Brom too, if the Whites were to make an offer to Corberán to return to the club, it would be hard to see him turn it down, however well his current club may be doing with him at the helm.
The next option is Ange Postecoglou, the Celtic boss is no stranger to rumours of a managerial switch across the border, although none of the previous have come to fruition. Formerly linked with the Chelsea, Brighton, Everton, and Wolves jobs the Australian has a growing reputation and it is clear to see why.
So far this season the Aussie has taken the Hoops to nine points clear at the top of the Scottish Premiership, drawing once and losing once in their 25 games played this season, partner this with Champions League Qualification and you can quickly understand the reasonings behind clubs eyeing up the man at the Helm of the Scottish giants.
The Bhoys are usually dominant in the SPL, however under Ange they have become an entirely new force scoring 78 goals in the league this season, an outlandish number that gives a good idea of the dominance his side holds over the league, it’s worth noticing too that they too have only conceded 18 goals, just furthering this idea of dominance.
His sides often operate in a 4-3-3, utilising a high line with wide attackers to then push fullbacks or midfielders into the half-spaces offering exciting and energetic football on the front foot, to keep the idea of playing on the front foot, the former Australian National Team manager has revitalised his defensive structure since his time in charge of The Kangaroos, now preferring his team to press aggressively as opposed to the lower block he used to qualify his home country for the 2014 World Cup.
Again, though this presents the issue of having to present a manager away from a current job and with Celtic showing no sign of slowing down this may prove to be a more difficult task than his potential fellow candidate.
The final and most audacious candidate the Whites may look to though is Mauricio Pochettino, there is no doubt that this would prove to be an extremely difficult and unlikely proposition, yet there may be a chance.
Going back to Bielsa’s appointment given the Argentine’s reputation across the world, it would seem unlikely he would come to West Yorkshire but the club sold the project to him and as they say, the rest is history.
Therefore, as tricky as it may be, there may be a chance that they can replicate this with another disciple of their former manager. Leeds offers the chance to be an incredible project for any manager, with significant funds likely to be available if the club is taken over in the summer any potential manager could have their fair share of market usage.
Looking back at his time at Southampton, he took over mid-way through the season and revolutionised the club’s playing style and in doing so turned the club’s season round and left any doubts of relegation in the past.
His CV since then speaks for itself, and as such is always in the frame whenever a manager’s post becomes available in the Premier League, with him being the favourite for the Aston Villa job a few months ago until Julen Lopetegui took the reins.
As with the other potential candidates, the Argentine is known for his pressing football which seems to be a vital factor in Leeds’ managerial search as seen with Bielsa and Marsch, a style in which Pochettino excels.
Whilst the Whites likely won’t come to a decision soon, it is vital that their next manager is in place before their game against Everton so they have the best chance to implement any stylistic tweaks before what will go down as a must-win game for the club if their rebuild is to be in the Premier League.
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Wednesday afternoon for Huddersfield fans was encouragingly positive and had an optimistic feel about the upcoming season, especially when you partner this with rumours spreading about the potential return of Aaron Mooy to the club following his release from Shanghai SIPG.
A sharp contrast to Thursday, and in less than 24 hours, all of the positivity from Wednesday was seemingly gone. Whispers emerged and escalated in the early hours of Corberán’s decision, with many expecting, hoping for it to be a cruel joke. However, just before noon, the news was confirmed of the Spaniard’s departure from the club.
What followed was almost anarchy, with fingers pointed at almost everyone at the club, trying to find reasons as to why. Why off the back of the past season had Carlos Corberán decided that he didn’t want to continue at the club? Was it due to a lack of backing? Was it to do with player sales?
These questions still remain about what happened behind the scenes, with the closest answer being that the 39-year-old felt he was unable to replicate the club’s successes from last season, as told by Leigh Bromby in an interview with BBC West Yorkshire.
It’s not unfair to suggest that arguably the Spaniard was the club’s most prized asset, however, can it also be asked if he actually was?
Yes, last season at the club was magical, a club that once again believed in itself, its players, and its manager. Whilst Corberán is very much the focal point of the management team, Danny Schofield, Narcís Pèlach and Jorge Alcarón also have large parts to play in the success, and given that half of that team now take up the manager and assistant manager roles so to speak, can this same model be continued?
This is not a statement to say, Huddersfield Town will or will not be better off without Corberán and Alcarón. But rather one to say, they could have done much, much worse.
The consistent attention from the club has been targeted at continuity, and it makes sense as to why this is.
Phil Hodgkinson two years ago sacked the Cowley brothers, to bring attractive football to the John Smith’s Stadium. Which in turn saw the appointment of, the now-former coach, Carlos Corberán. Since then, the club has found its philosophy once again. Returned to its former state, a heart of a community, and the community has regained its belief and love in that heart, that recently had disappeared.
Whilst the departure of Corberán has potentially taken a hit on this heart, you’ve got to look at the wider picture. It has taken 24 months to overhaul the feel of the club, appointing a new coach means potentially risking overturning all of that, which could take a pre-season in the best-case scenario, or could take two years if the past is to repeat itself.
Football is about risks and searching for a new manager at this time just isn’t a risk worth taking, or even calculating. There would be several factors to consider, before even starting a search.
The players in the squad, would they suit a new system? Wage demands of a new manager, could the club afford? Compensation if a manager is currently in work is another thing to be considered. Furthermore, would they want a reshuffle of the backroom staff? Just to name a few of the things in the picture.
Looking at the current climate of managers available, there is really only Sean Dyche that comes to mind. On the other hand, there have been rumours of Liam Manning of MK Dons and Ryan Lowe of Preston potentially being on the club’s radar, however, these wouldn’t make sense to bring to the club.
Which in turn makes the current appointment even more understandable than it was potentially before.
To actually focus on the appointment of Schofield, which was touched on in the original article of Carlos’ departure but fully announced by the club on Friday morning.
Danny Schofield re-joined the club as a coach in January of 2020, a name already known to fans due to his prior time at the club between 1998 and 2008. Having been a part of the team at Leeds United prior to joining the side, it made sense that the Englishman would be promoted to a new role upon arrival of the Spaniard to the club, given their past role alongside each other.
The 42-year-old has a great track record coaching with the club already and has played a pivotal part in the upsurge of the amount of B-Team players graduating into the first team, with the likes of Sorba Thomas, Aaron Rowe, and Jon Russell recently making strides into the first team picture or actually fully establishing themselves within the sides’ matchday squads.
To further this, with the club’s current approach to the market, focusing on cheap talent that can be developed, Schofield can play an integral part in this given his prior role at the club was focused on developing younger talent to a first-team level, there will be many similar aspects with established professionals already too, to bring them to a competitive level.
How Schofield operates his side is very similar to how the Spaniard did with the first team. Looking for fluid transitions from defence to attack whilst having versatility in his team in order to change the game as it progresses.
As a result, it means that the club will not have to have a major overhaul of players to suit a new system given the familiarity and confidence that Schofield and the club currently have in it.
Looking at the move to the first team for the Englishman too, before Corberán’s appointment, Schofield was the more advanced coach, so it can be suggested that potentially the club are in a better place now than it may have been when the Bielsa disciple took the reins 24 months ago.
In addition, it was revealed that the new head coach had turned down an offer from a European club in the top league of their respective footballing pyramid, furthering the reasoning as to why the club sees him as a perfect replacement.
In fact, it is likely that should Carlos have departed later this season to another club, it was probably likely that Schofield would be the successor. Those plans have obviously been fast-tracked, but there were perhaps talks after Schofield was offered a job abroad that he would be in the hot seat should Carlos depart in the near future.
Taking a step back and looking at the entire situation, yes, it is less than ideal that Corberán has left, and yes, it is a major risk to appoint Schofield. However, there is already a connection there with the fanbase due to his prior stint at the club.
As head coach, this connection will grow exponentially, likely to levels more than there ever were with Carlos, who only really connected with the fanbase on a major level towards the end of the season.
The turnover period so to speak will be minimal if there even is one at all. Given the fact that the former Town winger was already prominent at the training ground, it isn’t as if players will be unfamiliar with him as a coach, given that he has likely played parts in sessions with the first-team squad.
This leads to the final point, could Huddersfield have found better? Potentially, yes. But could Huddersfield have done worse? Definitely. Schofield, like any appointment, is a risk. It’s one worth taking though, an exciting and respected coach, who knows the club and the fanbase and who was deemed to be ready by another club this summer.
For a club that has taken a lot of managerial risks in their return to the second division, Schofield might just be the bravest so far, but long-term it could be another stroke of genius from the higher-ups at the club.
And Whilst they might not reach the same heights as they did in the campaign just gone, their identity will be the same. With that same Terrier Spirit that helped so much last season likely being the philosophy and motive for seasons to come, they might be back sooner than imagined upon the announcement of Corberán’s departure.
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Starting the list off with the only permanent signing that features on this list is Luke Jephcott. Last year the Welshman had a host of clubs looking at him after an impressive season in League One with Plymouth Argyle, scoring 16 times.
The 22-year-old’s name was thrown into the picture for the Terriers too last year, with some suggesting that the club was interested in him, although this was denied by the Huddersfield Examiner.
On face value, it makes sense for Huddersfield to try to tempt the Argyle man away from Home Park. Whilst Danny Ward has had an incredible rise back to form this season scoring 15 times, he isn’t getting any younger at 31 years old. Partner this with an ever-aging Jordan Rhodes, and there is that need for a young, hungry striker to become the new spearhead of the Huddersfield attack.
With 10 goals and a further four assists, Jephcott could just be the man to take that role and take Huddersfield’s attacking output to another level. If learning from Rhodes and Ward too, it can only help take the young striker to a new level.
Without a doubt, the most exciting name on this list. James McAtee has been so highly spoken of by fans of the Citizens, and Premier League 2 enjoyers alike. With a swarm of Premier League and Championship clubs vying for the winger’s signature, the Terriers have a task on their hands.
Rumours of the switch reached their peak almost a week and a half ago now, and have seemingly gone a bit quiet now, after sources said that the youngster would be given permission to speak to Carlos Corberán upon finishing his England U-21 international duty.
Huddersfield are needing a player like McAtee. Someone versatile to fit a number of systems that the Terriers switch between, and with the ability to play wide or through the middle, the possibilities are endless.
Pair this with the technical ability that the City EDS graduate possesses, and you very quickly have a very, very dangerous weapon in your armoury. With 25 contributions in 23 games in the PL2, it only furthers the reasoning as to why the club should rightly look at finalising the deal.
There is little that needs to be said about Cameron Archer and the Championship. An exceptional spell in the lily-white colours of Preston North End, rose eyebrows for many of the clubs in the Championship if not even some of the Premier League clubs too.
It’s already been said in this article, but Huddersfield could use another striker. Archer has that quality and talent already there, with a raw aspect to his game to score goals that you would struggle to find in others.
With seven goals in 20 appearances for the Lilywhites, if given a full season, this tally would likely only increase to a potential 15-goal season for the striker. If not more, something which has been a rarity for Huddersfield fans to see, in recent years.
Again, Huddersfield would have to fight off suitors for the player, but if given the assurances, that he quite rightly would deserve, of being the starting striker for the club. It can only serve as a motivator to change from claret and blue to blue and white. If only for just a season.
This one is a tricky one, after spending the second half of the season with the Terriers following his spell in Russia. Anjorin never really pushed on and seemed early on like there was a small chance of him playing a major part in the plans at the club for a multitude of reasons.
Coming to the club off the back of a long-term injury and seemingly struggling to find fitness, it never really seemed like it was the right time for the winger to shine. Yet, everyone around the club could tell there was a player there, somewhere.
With only one contribution in his spell at the club, it leaves a lot to be desired, but combine this with the lack of minutes that he had. You can’t expect too much at all. That being said though, he showed qualities of a direct and confident player that could and would go at teams, which barring Sorba Thomas the side lacked.
It again would be a risk to bring him back to the club, and how his spell went, would be dependent on his fitness and sharpness levels. Something that must improve, if he were to see another spell in West Yorkshire or even the Championship alone.
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The club has seen recent success with younger talents in midfield following O’Brien since the relegation into the Championship and recently, Russell’s emergence into the first team.
It is expected that Huddersfield will follow this same route in further transfers, rather than potentially targeting slightly older players as they have in defensive regions.
It is fairly likely that O’Brien will depart the John Smith’s Stadium this window, with Crystal Palace and Southampton reportedly interested in the youngster, and with the transfer window far from its climax, anything is still possible.
If the 23-year-old does end up departing the club this window, it is vital that the club invest in the midfield. Given how pivotal the player has been to the side in recent years. In the unlikely case that the club manages to keep their star man, midfield reinforcements would still be welcomed.
The 25-year-old has been linked away from Plymouth Argyle for a while now and following his recent refusal to sign a new contract with the club, has been put up for sale, with the risk of losing the player for free in 12 months.
The midfielder’s profile is arguably very similar to O’Brien’s, a tenacious midfielder with great ball-winning abilities, a brilliant engine, and one that will run for 90 minutes if asked to.
Looking at the heat maps of the Guinea-Bissau international, they too are almost identical to that of Huddersfield’s academy graduate, albeit on the right side of the pitch instead of the left. Partner this too with his existing ability to contribute goals and assists, and there is the mould of a similar player there.
For what it is worth, if Huddersfield’s answer to Ron Weasley is to depart, Camará should be one of the names, right at the top of the list, if the midfield magician stays though, the Guinean could bring another level to the side’s midfield. With him only just about to reach his ‘footballing prime’ age it is a very smart signing if the club were to have a look.
Since 2014 Huddersfield have not signed any other out and out holding midfielders that have been able to challenge for Jonathan Hogg’s spot since his arrival, with his 34th birthday on this horizon, it is time for the club to look for someone to slowly take the reigns, that the Middlesbrough born midfielder has held for nearly the past decade.
Therefore, signing one sooner rather than later makes sense, if only to adjust them to the club. Last summer the club had what was said to be a ‘significant bid’ rejected for Kasumu from MK Dons, so after another season of League One exposure, and playing at a high level, only just missing out on play-off promotion, it makes sense for the club to have another go.
With The Dons often utilising a double pivot ahead of a back 3/5, the question opens as to how effective Kasumu could be in a three-midfielder system, with him likely being at the base. However, with the Terriers also playing a similar system at times last season utilising a double pivot, there would be the knowledge that Kasumu could play his part in this system too.
Kasumu hasn’t featured in as many games this season too, which could mean that the player may look to get away from Stadium MK this summer. With the club and Carlos Corberán already being a fan of the player, it’s another deal that again makes sense.
One straight from the rumour mill is Ben Wiles, who has seemingly been linked with half of the Championship following last season’s antics with Rotherham.
In the chances that O’Brien was to stay, it isn’t unreasonable to say that Wiles could be the perfect compliment to him. Saying that, it wouldn’t be unfair to say that the Millers’ man would be a pivotal piece of a great midfield in the Championship, with or without Lewis O’Brien.
The 23-year-old shone in League one last season showing himself as a player with the capabilities to play a plethora of different roles if he were to be brought into the club. Whether that be a more box-to-box option, similar to what the Terriers utilise in O’Brien or a more attack-minded midfielder.
Only time could tell if the Terriers could tempt him away from the New York Stadium, and from other clubs in the league. With it being believed that it would take a figure of at least £2 million to be in with a chance for the midfielder, it could deter the club, unless their prized asset were to depart.
If Zian Flemming were to be brought in, it would likely have to be a loan-to-buy scenario in the best case and after a great season in the Eredivisie with Fortuna Sittard, the Terriers will have a battle on their hands to land the player.
With links to Nottingham Forest earlier in the year, there is the chance that they will go after the playmaker again in the Summer given their success in promotion, with the Dutchman too being in attendance of the Play-off final last month too, it is entirely possible that either club had contacted the player.
With 14 contributions in 27 this season from midfield and attack this season, it would be a major signing, and with the club not activating the buy clause in loanee Danel Sinani’s loan contract, it could potentially be on the cards.
It would be tough to suggest a summer signings list without a Chelsea loanee would be tough, there are three that could see a switch this summer to The John Smith’s Stadium from Cobham, two midfielders and a forward, who will be included in the final rendition of this article series.
The first midfielder is Harvey Vale, behind Levi Colwill, the 18-year-old is arguably at the peak of upcoming hopes in the Cobham ranks, the only potential concern is whether he would be able to slot a bit deeper than he has been played at for the Blues, with most of his minutes coming in more advanced midfield roles, or on the wing. Questions could be raised as to whether he is the right man for the role, it would be a major risk, but one that could be worth taking.
The second is Charlie Webster, who has been deemed the Cobham Kovacic. An exceptionally flattering compliment to someone who has only played 60 games in his career. That being said, having just turned 18 in January, these numbers are exceptional.
It would, without a doubt, be a major risk considering these factors. Which could deter the club, leaving the question open to whether he would be ready for the level of loan that Huddersfield Town needs?
With Premier League loans being so valuable, could these resources be used elsewhere? On face value, yes. However, football is about risks, calculated risks at that, and could this just be a gem that the Terriers take the chance on?
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That being said though with the departures of Levi Colwill (end of loan period) and Naby Sarr (end of contract) the side is now lacking slightly in terms of left-sided center-halves at the least.
Whilst Romney Crichlow is an option and has impressed in the past, notably against Nottingham Forest in his Championship debut. The youngster hasn’t really shone on loan at Plymouth Argyle in the second half of the season, meaning he likely isn’t ready for the step up, yet.
Earlier this month, the club announced the re-signing of Will Boyle, who was initially on this list as a player who could/would come to the club, and on the First of July, the 26-year-old will join the club following the ending of his contract at Cheltenham.
The former Terrier offers the physical presence that the side are after, standing at 6”3, he will likely be joining Tom Lees (6”0) and Matty Pearson (6”2) who have been staples of the Huddersfield backline this season just gone.
Whilst Boyle’s passing statistics may not be as glamourous as Levi Colwill’s, he mirrors the profile of Pearson an awful lot, someone who too had early doubts if he would be able to fit into a Carlos Corberán system who look to play out from the back, however, has since become a mainstay in the squad.
On a free transfer, it is very shrewd business from the Terriers and shows positive signs for the rest of the window, if signings are more like this one.
Enzo Ebosse
Whilst the signing of Boyle provides potentially a starter, the club has also reportedly shown interest in Enzo Ebosse from Angers in France.
The Cameroonian international has mainly played on the left of a back three for Le SCO, and it would be a signing that makes sense for the club. With experience against some of the trickiest wingers in the world, whilst playing in one of Europe’s top leagues, it would certainly be an ambitious, statement signing for the Terriers.
On the ball Ebosse is comfortable too and would seemingly be comfortable playing in the Corberán system, averaging 32.5 accurate passes per game (85%) and 2.3 accurate long balls per game too, he would very much fit the mould of who the club should be looking at.
Whether the club can see off other suitors is yet to be seen, however, the West Yorkshire outlet offers an attractive move following their highly impressive season.
Taylor Harwood Bellis
Another target that the club should potentially look at is Taylor Harwood Bellis, whilst this is potentially slightly unrealistic given the strong links the player has to Burnley due to the likely incoming of Vincent Kompany as the club’s manager, it may not be too out of the question.
The 20-year-old spent the first half of last season with the Belgian manager at Anderlecht before being sent to Stoke for the remainder of the campaign by the Citizens.
Playing on the left of defence almost exclusively for the Potters, it is another signing which makes sense for the club. With 41 games of Championship experience, a full season on loan with the Terriers could potentially be the final step before the promising talent gets a Premier League loan, or potentially a permanent move away from the Etihad.
Jesse Debrah
The side has too been linked with the former Millwall academy man, Jesse Debrah too in recent days/weeks.
Whilst Huddersfield have given chances to players from the National League after them joining the club, notably Sorba Thomas and Josh Koroma. Though, it isn’t likely that the 21-year-old will get the chance immediately, with a host of right-footed central defenders available.
The fee would likely be minimal, and with the rumours seemingly having some truth behind them, it wouldn’t be unsurprising if the player made the switch from Halifax Town this window, before potentially seeing a loan spell to League 2 or even back to the National League.
Another position in defence that the club may need to look at is right wing-back, with Oliver Turton and Pipa currently the preferred options at the club. However, the Spaniard, Pipa could potentially be on the move this summer which means the club may be inclined to look for replacements early on.
Ethan Laird
Ethan Laird would offer a great replacement for the club on loan. Having spent last season between Swansea City and then the latter parts of the season with eventually promoted Bournemouth.
Looking at the wing-back’s heat maps this season, the Manchester United talent is not afraid of progressing into the opposition half, and whilst only contributing three times last season, if given the trust to potentially be the starting wing-back by Corberán it could see that figure increase, given how pivotal Toffolo has been on the other flank for the side this season.
Whilst still only 20-years-old, Laird is highly rated and if given a full season of experience at the same club, it could see his ability fully on show which potentially hasn’t been seen too much thus far.
That being said though when given the chance, he has shown that there is talent there, and under Carlos Corberán, these elements of his game could only be unleashed and honed more.
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Prior to the kick-off of the season, the past 48 months for the West Yorkshire outlet haven’t been one of promise. A tale of injuries, poor incomings, necessary outgoings, and a general attempt to steady a ship that was very quickly sinking was the aim.
A club, which upon relegation to the Championship never seemed to pose a threat of being around the promotion picture had seemingly sunk back to its former state, back to relegation battles, and the fairy-tale feel of the Town seemingly sunk back to the depths of the imaginations of those in West Yorkshire.
This season on paper could’ve been another like that. The summer transfer window saw nine new faces into the club, with the return of Jordan Rhodes bringing that number to ten.
The transfer business was often overlooked, but in hindsight could potentially be one of the best Championship transfer windows where no transfer fees have been exchanged, for an incoming permanent signing.
Whilst the club did secure the loan signings of Levi Colwill, Daniel Sinani and the later recalled Mipo Odubeko, the club’s outgoing expenditure was marginal.
It is pivotal to mention that the club approached the window as a rebuild, with nine players also leaving the club, most notably including Juninho Bacuna, Isaac Mbenza, and former club captain Christopher Schindler.
With many expecting a season similar to the past two gone, one of relegation worries, frustration, and disappointment, to say there were little to no expectations on this squad is probably more than fair.
Would this set of players have excelled with the hope of success from the off? Who knows, that being said though they certainly thrived and gelled from the off. The side obviously had its highs and lows, notably the thrashing to Fulham at home and also the rough patch from the end of October to the end of November.
The highs though, have to be said were much higher and much greater than anyone expected, outside of the club and likely inside the club too.
The Terriers went on a 17-game unbeaten streak, before finishing the season on a nine-game unbeaten run, both of which being solely in the league, featuring results such as a 2-0 victory over Middlesbrough at the Riverside and a 2-1 away victory against league Champions Fulham.
The culmination of the season ended in heartbreak for Huddersfield though, a 1-0 defeat against Nottingham Forest at Wembley, which saw the Reds reach the top-flight for the first time this millennium.
The game was not free of controversy with the Terriers arguably denied two penalties, a debate which has not ceased at the time of writing. As of Thursday morning, the club has sent a claim to the PGMOL for an explanation as to why VAR wasn’t consulted, the outcome of which is still up in the air.
At full-time, you could fully see on the pitch what the result meant to the fans, and in the stands, you could see what it meant to the players. Heartbreak at the final hurdle, but it has to be said that it is unlikely that this squad will capitulate as a result.
There will likely be outgoings this summer, with Lewis O’Brien being linked with a move away from HD1 for what feels like the nth successive window in a row.
Yet it has to be said that the side arguably has one of the best foundations to build upon next season, regardless of departures or not.
If the club can keep hold of players such as Lee Nicholls, Sorba Thomas, and Harry Toffolo to name a few, then the foundations are quite strong, with arguably the club needing between five to ten incoming signings, between the loan and permanent markets, something not entirely out of the question.
To further this following the reports regarding Phil Hodgkinson’s financial troubles earlier this season, it is entirely likely that that was the reason why the summer investment was so low.
Thus, implying that there is potential that if the rumoured transferring of the club back to Dean Hoyle this summer goes through smoothly, there may be more investment in the transfer window.
Carlos Corberán has excelled at improving his squad’s ability since his arrival at the club, this is likely due to his prior role with the youth squads at Leeds United. The likes of Josh Koroma and Thomas grew astronomically in confidence and ability, albeit Koroma was unable to hit the same height he may have last season.
Therefore, it isn’t out of the question to state that whatever budget the Spaniard has this season whether that is mainly free transfers or indeed one where money is spent on permanent signings, Corberán can and will improve those players, as he has shown he can in the past few seasons.
The Championship next season is certainly posing to be a difficult division, however, coming off the back of the best second half of the season across any side in the division, losing only twice in 23 games.
It isn’t unlikely that Carlos Corberán’s Terriers could once again be a force to be reckoned with. While the dream of promotion didn’t happen this season. Huddersfield Town fans can be assured that their team, knows what it means.
A team who once again found their Terrier Spirit. A town that once again found its Terrier Spirit. A town that once again believes in, Huddersfield Town. A town, proud of Huddersfield Town.
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After following the Cowley brothers from Sincil Bank in January 2020, Toffolo emerged as a fan favourite. Signed to initially offer competition to young wing-back, Jaden Brown, Toffolo soon got his chance and quickly established himself as a starter for the club.
Since 2020 a lot in West Yorkshire has changed, the Cowley brothers were replaced by Carlos Corberán, and league goals shifted from retaining the club’s championship position to now fighting for promotion through the play-offs. Yet Toffolo has remained a pivotal part of the squad, with no one putting in a consistent challenge to his place.
The critical thing for Corberán when considering his left-back options has to be their ability to rotate between different systems and Toffolo excels in both of the Spaniard’s formational choices.
This season has seen Toffolo play both LB and LWB, the story has been the same in either position. A pivotal cog to Corberán’s system, that has looked dangerous consistently in either role.
A part of this definitely has to come with the relationship he has with Lewis O’Brien, from the outside looking in, the pair seem inseparable at times and on the pitch, it’s very similar, whilst the pair are able, and often do combine when going forward. O’Brien often covers when Toffolo goes on his darting runs, with a seemingly telekinetic relationship.
Before this season the 26-year-old had virtue for attacking runs into advanced areas on the left flanks, if not even coming central at times and acting as a striker. Which has only become a more prominent part of his game this season.
Before this campaign, Toffolo’s highest returning campaign tally was one of eight, albeit seven seasons ago. This season though this has been smashed out of the park. The Englishman has contributed 14 times in 44 games this season, scoring six and assisting eight times, the highest returns of any defender in the Championship this season.
Off the pitch too, Toffolo is a key figure for the club and really exemplifies the club’s role within the community. He has highlighted this in recent months with the wing-back’s relationship with Huddersfield fan Daryl Hopson, who recently lost his battle with cancer. Throughout Daz’s fight, Toffolo often interacted with him, furthering fans’ favouritism.
As a result, Toffolo is sought after by a number of clubs within the Championship with Middlesbrough, Blackburn, Millwall, and Norwich all being interested in securing the services of the full-back.
With his contract expiring at the end of the current season, Championship and even Premier League clubs should be looking at securing the signature of the 26-year-old.
That being said though, the club has the option to extend the contract for a year and will likely activate said option at the conclusion of this season, at the very least if not even offering an improved new contract to one of their most pivotal players.
Toffolo is one of those players that consistently has been chosen, not just because of his ability on the pitch, but because of his understanding of the club, the fans, and more importantly what it means to both. Huddersfield Town will likely never be the club to throw millions of pounds at a player.
It is clear the club took lessons from their Premier League, more specifically the second season and especially the recruitment that happened in that season. Not just the quality of a player on the pitch, but off it. Toffolo was the first post-Premier League era signing for the club (not counting Isaac Mbenza after the activation of his obligatory buy clause.)
Toffolo has seen multiple managers, and multiple new faces come into the club and leave it too. Whilst his position or role may have changed throughout this time, he has never forgotten what the club means to its fans and that is something that is priceless.
Personalities in football, more than ever have to be considered in the transfer market. Huddersfield Town has proven this point this season. A squad of personalities that understand what the club means to the fans and will do what they can to make those fans proud on and off the pitch, in the training ground and in the community.
Harry Stefano Toffolo, defines this. It, therefore, is vital that the Terriers, try to keep him, regardless of what happens on the 29th of May.
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Upon reports that Huddersfield Town were reportedly going to be the club to land the Chelsea youngster on loan, hopes were already high. The Cobham youngster has since proved why those lofty expectations were correct.
The youngster’s accolades before his move to the Terriers were already impressive enough as an England Under-17 international with experience in the Under-19 Chelsea squad in the UEFA Youth League and some Premier League 2 experience with the Chelsea developmental squad.
Colwill impressed in West Yorkshire early on, slotting into the left centre-half slot in Carlos Corberán’s young side yet looking much more experienced than his age would suggest, especially given this is his first taste of senior football.
This season has seen the Terriers’ performances improve astronomically from last year, and Colwill has been at the forefront of this too often being the difference in results for the club, learning from the experienced centre-halves that have played alongside him.
Summer signings Tom Lees and Matty Pearson are the other two starting centre-halves that Colwill has often partnered. With potential doubts as to how the three would fit together, they have proved critics wrong time and time again, with the older of the two additions, Pearson and Lees offering mentorship to Colwill whilst further realising his brilliance.
Whilst Lees and Pearson may not be the first players that come to mind in terms of the modern-day centre-halves as so to speak, Colwill has to be up there. Current times demand defenders to be able to step out of defence with the ball, something that the 19-year-old does consistently, to an excellent standard.
In addition to this, the youngster’s passing range is equally as impressive, with an average of 2.8 accurate long balls per 90 and 0.5 key passes per 90, showing off the ability that the Chelsea loanee possesses to progress the ball through the defence and create attacks, something desired from top-level defenders.
Defensively too, Colwill’s stats are exceptional for his age, with 1.8 tackles per 90, showing maturity beyond his age. Colwill has been involved in 11 of the side’s 18 clean sheets this campaign.
His performances in blue and white have been rewarded with call-ups to the England squads on multiple occasions, with appearances in both the Under-19 and Under-21 European Championship Qualification campaigns.
The future is, without doubt, an exciting one for the England Under-21 defender, who took the place of Marc Guéhi in the Qualifiers following the Crystal Palace youngster’s progression into the England Senior Men’s squad, a route that Colwill looks likely to follow.
Looking at what the future could hold for the defender has to start with Huddersfield Town’s remaining games in the Championship campaign, in the case that Huddersfield are successful in their play-off push and reach the promised land of the Premier League as they did in the 2016/2017 campaign, it is possible that Colwill could return to the Terriers as they would try to fight relegation.
It is unlikely, even if the side goes up, they would be able to secure the services of the 19-year-old after Leicester City failed to get the starlet on loan in January due to a clause in the loan contract. The Foxes will likely attempt to reach a deal with Chelsea in the summer.
Crystal Palace are a potential suitor for the 19-year-old and could seek a deal to bring him to Selhurst Park to potentially partner Guéhi. With Chelsea having a healthy relationship with the Eagles, after the highly successful loan spell of Conor Gallagher, there is a chance that a deal could be agreed to send Colwill on loan to South London.
With the potential that the deal is endorsed to the youngster by his former Cobham teammates, it only strengthens the possibility of a move occurring, with Fulham said to be interested too after the club sealed a return to the Premier League.
However, what could be more likely to happen is that Colwill is kept at Chelsea and slowly ‘drip-fed’ as such into the first team. There is no doubt that Chelsea are facing issues regarding their defensive line, with Antonio Rüdiger and Andreas Christensen likely to depart from the club in the summer at the end of their respective deals.
With Tuchel reportedly interested in how the youngster competes in the 2022/2023 pre-season campaign, it is not off the table that Colwill could play at Stamford Bridge next season, especially with Tuchel’s current choice left-sided centre-half set to depart from the Bridge.
Given the youngster has already proved himself to beat expectations, it would not surprise those who have watched him this campaign that Colwill could end up amongst the Chelsea ranks as early as next season.
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The midweek defeat against Liverpool served as a reminder that the side are not fully there just yet though. However, that being said Arsenal cannot be too displeased at the progress they have made this season.
The defeat was the first time Arsenal had lost since the 1st of January in the league, after the side put together their fifth successive win against Leicester, the first time the side have accomplished this since the 2018/2019 season, showing that the Arteta rebuild is well on the way.
To partner this, Saturday’s victory away from home against Aston Villa meant the side had won five successive away fixtures for the first time since the 2014/2015 campaign.
Arsenal in recent years have rarely been considered as a side who could and more importantly, would compete in both Europe and in the Premier League, but things are starting to change at the Emirates.
Arteta’s squad is the youngest in the league, meaning that Arteta and his young Gooners can only develop as time goes on, but there is still great room for improvement in this Arsenal squad that could take them from European contenders to potential contenders for the league.
As Pep Guardiola’s understudy at Manchester City, it is no doubt that Arteta has learnt from one of the very best in the modern game and yet still is implementing his own bits of tactical input.
Arteta’s system operates mainly in a 4-2-3-1 formation, so the improvements suggested will be regarding players to upgrade in these roles as opposed to suggesting a switch to a different formation.
In recent years, Arsenal have struggled defensively and there is no doubt about this, however, this year Arteta’s defensive line has had an excellent campaign. Summer signings Benjamin White, Takehiro Tomiyasu, and Aaron Ramsdale have excelled so for the Gooners who currently have the fifth-best defensive record in the league behind Wolves, Liverpool, Chelsea, and then Manchester City.
That being said Tomiyasu has recently been less present. The Japanese international has suffered a series of injuries that have kept him out of the side since the defeat to Manchester City, whilst he was on the bench against Brentford, he didn’t make an appearance.
Arteta spoke before the loss to Liverpool, saying:
“He needs to be consistently training for a period [so] that we can minimise the risk of having another recurring injury”
With the former Genoa man also not receiving a call-up to the national team, it requires his position in the team to be thought about. Whilst Cedric offers good backup, to be a title-contending side the club needs to invest in another right back.
Who better to provide that cover and to challenge Tomiyasu for the starting spot than Noussair Mazraoui?
With the 24-year-old Moroccan stating earlier in the season that the chances of staying at his current club are “maybe 5%” Arsenal can be hopeful of picking up the Ajax man when his contract ends at the end of the current season.
Whilst Barcelona are also said to be interested in the right-back, Arsenal can feel confident in their chances if the youngster is given assurances over playing time and ambitions to potentially play at the top level with Arsenal.
Mazraoui offers a good balance of youth and experience if he were to sign for the Gooners. At just 24 he already has over 90 appearances for Ajax with a further 37 appearances in the Champions League.
This season especially though the Moroccan has excelled, with 31 appearances across all club competitions, the right-back has scored five times, assisting four times too, showing that his attacking outlet can be an asset to the Gunners.
It is no doubt that Granit Xhaka has been an excellent servant to the Gooners over the past six years, however, his time at the club has been filled with controversy and criticisms. Under Arteta though, the Swiss international has had the chance to prove himself and reintegrate himself into the side. However, if Arsenal are to challenge the league’s elite he needs to be improved upon.
There are two players who Arsenal should be looking at as a partner for Thomas Partey, those being Ryan Gravenberch or Nico Barella.
Gravenberch has been linked with a move away from the Johan Cruyff Arena for the 12 months now, with Manchester United, Manchester City, Liverpool, and a host of European elites all shortlisting the 19-year-old.
The Ajax starlet currently has 18 months left on his contract and has vowed to not leave the club after his contract expires, only fuelling rumours that he will leave Amsterdam in the summer.
With a price tag in the region of £15 million to £25 million, it is difficult not to see why the elites are not going for a player that will likely be a focal point of their side for years to come.
However, with Bayern Munich said to be front runners for the Dutchman, it is difficult to see Arsenal getting a look in.
This leads on to Nico Barella, who is in no way a downgrade on Gravenberch.
Barella offers almost the ideal complimentary style to Thomas Partey and gives the Ghanaian more defensive reliance allowing Barella to offer the creative threat that has made the Inter man so sought after.
Statistically, the Italian’s numbers are amongst the best for midfielders, reaching the 90th percentile in key attacking factors. Such as the 3.53 shot-creating actions per 90, or the 0.33 non-penalty goal or assist per 90 stat.
With 6.1 progressive carries per 90 and 5.58 progressive passes, the Italian could be the player to get the best out of Arsenal’s young frontline by providing creativity beyond the front third.
It is no doubt that Arsenal are without a goalscoring striker. Alexandre Lacazette this season has shown glimpses of his days at Lyon this season and with an output of four goals and seven assists he is not having the worst season in the world. That being said Arteta needs to bring in a goalscorer if his side are to challenge at the top.
There are two names that would make sense for the Gooners’ young project, those being Jonathan David and Alexander Isak.
The most likely to be on the move is Isak, with the Swede having been linked heavily to Arsenal over the January window. The past two seasons have been the ‘breakout seasons’ for the youngster. Following his arrival in San Sebastian, Isak has been at the forefront of the club’s European push.
With nine goals in his first season at the club, followed up by 17 the season after Isak was heavily linked away from Sociedad, this season has seen a drop in his numbers, with the striker only scoring four this campaign in 24.
With the 22-year-old’s dribbling abilities too, it makes him that bit more dangerous, and he could see his best days potentially under Arteta at the Emirates.
However, with the goalscoring numbers dropping it may lead Arteta and the Gooners to look instead to Jonathan David, who is only building on two incredible seasons and is looking likely to improve his goal tally from last season.
After his move from Genk to Lille, the Canadian adjusted instantly and played a pivotal role alongside Burak Yilmaz as Lille claimed the Ligue 1 trophy.
This showed that the striker is able to adapt and adjust his game easily when fitting into different settings as he did when he left Genk for France and could likely do again if he left Lille for London.
In 2021, the Canadian has played 64 times, scoring 34 and contributing six assists across the national team and club competitions, which only expands the demand for the striker, and with the Canadians potentially set to qualify for the World Cup, the demand may only rise.
Arsenal’s hopes of a top-four finish this season could just be the spark that relights their chances of getting high-level players back to the Emirates and could be the start of a long-term push towards challenging for a title.
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Over the past week, the media have swarmed onto rumours of discontent within the Manchester United dressing room, with several questioning the captaincy future of Harry Maguire with the potential that Cristiano Ronaldo might take the armband.
The rumours then trickled into the press room when Ralf Rangnick was asked about the possible shift in captaincy.
“I must say this is absolutely nonsense […] Harry [Maguire] is our captain and will stay our captain until the end of the season and there is nothing else to add on to that”
With the Red Devils’ game against Leeds United only days away, headlines were filled with these rumours instead of focusing on what is arguably the club’s biggest rivalry, when behind the scene, players were fully focused on what would be a massive game for the club.
The first half of the game was what would be expected on paper, a top-four team seemingly dominating against a relegation-threatened opponent with United even scoring their first set-piece after 139 attempts. Who was the scorer of the goal? The feature of the rumours, Harry Maguire.
Another major talking point from the first half is the Ronaldo chance. Many have claimed in recent weeks that the reason for the 37-year-old’s goal drought this season has been a lack of creativity from other players, but the chance showed it seems to be much more than that. This has now started to lead to questions being asked about where the side go from here to find goals.
The 10 minutes that followed from half-time showed why questions are continually asked of Rangnick’s men. In a seemingly very comfortable lead, United suddenly found themselves pegged back by two goals in the space of 24 seconds.
The first was a result of a misread cross turned shot from Rodrigo which realistically David de Gea has to do better with. The second though, showed exactly why United have struggled this season.
Bruno Fernandes found himself under pressure from Adam Forshaw who won the ball back well, and at this point, United seemed to switch off with little to no marking in the box upon Dan James’ entry into the area which resulted in Raphinha slotting home albeit under some pressure from Luke Shaw.
Now whilst it was a well-worked goal by the Whites, by no means does that mean that Rangnick’s men should have been in the position to concede. With little to no options for Fernandes and a knowledge of the intense press a Marcelo Bielsa team utilises, there should have been at least some preparation for a dispossession, yet there was not.
This has been the case all too much for United this season and it is rare that there is a game where at least one goal is not spoken about where the side defensively, could and more importantly should do better.
The Red Devils eventually regained their two-goal lead late on in the game through well-worked goals from Fred and Anthony Elanga, which leads to two conclusions on the game and shows what United must do going from here.
It is no secret that defensively United need improvements, and in the long run, a partnership of Raphael Varane and Maguire could be a defensive stronghold, though it may be a case of changing formation that really excels Rangnick’s side to another level.
Sunday showed that whilst in parts the 4-3-3 could be a success for the Red Devils, Shaw and Aaron Wan-Bissaka at times could be liabilities in the system, more so Wan-Bissaka than his left-sided counterpart.
The 24-year-old excelled defensively in his time at Crystal Palace and has shown glimpses of this too during his spell in Manchester with it clearly being his most important asset and Sunday highlighted this further. When out of possession, the right-back could often be seen jogging back, even when Leeds were in attack on his side and with the Whites’ goals both coming from his side, questions have to be asked.
This opens the question of a potential switch to a three or a five-back formation. Rangnick has been open to the idea of using this system during his time at RB Leipzig so a possible change to this would not be out of the question and would potentially put Wan-Bissaka in a more comfortable, defensively reliant role than the one he is usually in now.
The other conclusion focuses on the other end of the pitch. With Ronaldo’s goal drought and the growing popularity of Elanga, it would not come as a surprise if the young Swede is given more of a chance in the upcoming weeks with a longer run of games starting in the squad.
The next month sees the side face the likes of Manchester City, Liverpool, fellow top-four contenders Spurs and two Champions League fixtures against Atletico Madrid, meaning it is more than fair to say that this month’s outcomes will decide the fate of this squad for the rest of the season.
United’s stars will have to start showing up more consistently if they are to continue to fight to earn back their reputation as a major side that threatens for trophies in both England and Europe.
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