Often Partisan

GAMEDAY: Huddersfield at Home

Can Gary Rowett get the home win that Blues fans are desperately missing? David Wagner’s Terriers are the latest team to come to St Andrew’s looking for points.

Huddersfield

Huddersfield come into the game in 22nd place and on a poor run of form, having lost five of their last six games. They’ve scored one goal in their last three outings and haven’t kept a clean sheet since beating MK Dons 2-0 in October.

Wagner will be missing keeper Joe Murphy, midfielder Philip Billing, defender Joel Lynch and striker Ishmael Miller due to injury but welcome back Harry Bunn after suspension.

Blues

The chief questions for Blues are if changes will be made in defence; Neal Eardley could come in at right back while Shane Lowry is a possibility at left back. With Clayton Donaldson missing still through injury and James Vaughan ineligible it means Rowett could be forced to use defender Greg Halford in a makeshift striker role as cover for Nicolai Brock-Madsen.  The Dane has looked impressive in training this week and will be hoping to open his Blues account today as the focal point of attack.

If Blues are to kickstart a run of good form this is the kind of match that they need to win. Huddersfield are in poor form, at the bottom of the table and the challenge will be once again for the team to be able to open up a non-attacking side, to create and put away chances.

Ref

Stephen Martin takes charge of this game. He’s been in the middle for 16 games so far this season, issuing 44 cautions and sending off three players. His last Blues game was the 4-1 defeat away to Sheffield Wednesday last March where he booked two players including Jonathan Spector.

Suspension Watch

4 Yellow Cards: David Davis, Maikel Kieftenbeld, Jonathan Grounds, and Paul Caddis
3 Yellow Cards: Stephen Gleeson and David Cotterill
2 Yellow Cards: Jon Toral
1 Yellow Card: Tomasz Kuszczak, Michael Morrison, Paul Robinson, Clayton Donaldson, Jonathan Spector, Andy Shinnie and Demarai Gray.

The cutoff date for 5 yellow cards to attract a suspension is November 30, 2015
The cutoff date for 10 yellow cards to attract a suspension is April 9, 2016

Pre Match

Often Partisan is working in partnership with Bordesley Labour Club this season. They are based ten minutes away from St Andrew’s on Whitmore Road in Small Heath and have welcomed Blues fans over a number of years on match days.

Hot drinks are now available while a pint of Carling and a pie is still only £4. Live sky sports and wifi, Now taking new members and renewing memberships.

December entertainment: Saturday 19th December we welcome back the one love band with DJ Errol B tickets £5. DJ Wynkladon live every Saturday in the lounge from 8; OAP party Friday 11th; The One Love band 19th; Bingo bonanza 24th; Karaoke disco 26th free entry; Forest Arden Xmas party 27th all welcome; Fancy dress 31st with music from the 70’s 80’s 90’s – free entry kids welcome.

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43 Responses to “GAMEDAY: Huddersfield at Home”

  • Richard Granfield says:

    Much has been spoken about playing “Plan B” at home.
    My Plan B would be to have only one instead of two holding players in midfield and play a
    4-1-4-1 formation.
    Therefore my team would be:-
    Kuszczak
    Caddis, Morrison, Lowry, Grounds,
    Kieftenbeld
    Gray, Brown, Toral, Solomon Otabor,
    Brock-Madsen.
    A team with plenty of goal threat. What do others think?

    • Mitchell says:

      I just don’t feel confident at all about this game. Away then yes-but home no. I would play Toral as striker alongside Gray and Maghoma. Leave Brock on the bench with option of Plan B with him and Halford in a barnstorming two. Forget the height of Huddersfield defence- they are not clever and I think Gray,Toral and Maghoma can do the damage in the first half.

  • zxcv says:

    This is a Caddis type game and Eardley has not played enough game time to start he needs to come on off the bench for two or three 20 min stints first imo. I also think Grounds gets into a mess against good wingers so should be ok today, lets face it if he gets stuffed again today then he really has to go, Caddis has had a bit of a bad spell but again today he can be more than useful as I think we will be all out attack and that suits Caddis style. I certainly wouldn`t make to many changes but would maybe play Halford in place of Spector who could come on if we needed to move Halford up top. I would start with Solomon Otabor, left wing and just enjoy watching him destroy their full back while Dimi would be given a free role between midfield and right wing and tracking back when Caddis has gone on one of his forages. Time to experiment just a little me thinks with Toral and Brock up top Davis back in midfield as well.

  • KC says:

    Richard, really like the look of your team as long as we play through them and not boot the ball through the striker. However cannot see G.R. making so many changes.Time for Grounds to play the position better and B-M to convince he was worth buying.

  • StaffsBlue says:

    I drew up my team yesterday and think Gleeson should be deployed further forward. His defensive capabilities are poor, but, he’s probably the best passer in the team. I think he’d be better employed providing passes for a front three. I’d be surprised if he dropped Grounds. I’d try 4-2-1-3.

    Kuszczak

    Caddis Morrison Spector Grounds

    Kieftenbeld Davis

    Gleeson

    Gray Brock-Madsen Maghoma

    If we lose this one, it could start a drop down the table, so a win is important. The only thing that worries me, is that we have a penchant for ending other team’s barren spells. It’s hard to predict us at the moment, we could win by four, or lose by one. I’m keeping my fingers crossed for a 2-1 win.

  • Toby jackson says:

    I think today is another potential Charlton. I don’t think our back 4 are good enough to keep a clean sheet even against Huddersfield. Personally I would drop gray and start otabor and drop caddis and grounds for eardley and lowry.Alot of changes but I think defence wise both our full backs just aren’t good enough and gray just flatters to deceive far too often and contributes very little lately.

  • StaffsBlue says:

    I heard a commentator the other day say something like Huddersfield have only scored with one header all season, so, combined with the winds, we could see a game played solely on the ground today. Although, Halford’s long throws could cause chaos. :)

  • zxcv says:

    correct me if I am wrong but I can`t remember us starting with all four of, Kieftenbeld, Davis, Toral, Gleeson, .Add Brick and Eardley quite a few changes that’s why I think its a 442.

  • Texas Pete says:

    GR should not be playing Halford up front. He has only been here a week and that would not be saying much about any of our forwards. Besides that we got a new forward who made a good appearance against Brighton. Bring him on in the second half. Changes should be tactics to improve home performance in terms of breaking down their defence. It is time though to add height and strength to the defence so if anything bring in lowry or perhaps Halford there.

  • Stevio11 says:

    Seems everyone is picking up easy points at st andys again, wonder when Rowett will learn that the home team dictats the play,not the away team, reminds me OF LC again at home

  • Bluey says:

    This downturn in form was always going to happen and i`ve never understood the mindless optimism of some fans talking of the play-offs. We are simply nowhere near good enough. It`s going to be a tough season from here on in.The bottom line is whilst this joke of a so-called takeover drags on and with precious little investment going towards the playing staff we will continue to tread water at best.

  • Mitchell says:

    Our little dream of success appears in tatters now. Losing to Forest and Wolves ok- but now Rotherham,Charlton and now Huddersfield really does bring the Lee Clark memories flooding back. I only hope our away successes have not been flukes as I really urge GR to concentrate on the ugly side of winning and get 44 points asap.

  • StaffsBlue says:

    Wrong team selection. Wrong system. Wrong substitutions. Sorry Mr Rowett, but you got it all wrong today.. lord knows what you’ve all been working on all week.

    Spector at centre back isn’t working, Grounds at left back isn’t working. Expecting Gray to replace Cotterill isn’t working. And if you have to play a rookie up front, at least give him experienced support. Toral and Gray don’t even come close.

    Stop playing favourites and use some of the players chomping at the bit for a chance. Halford, Lowry and Vaughan have to come in next game. We need to get tight again. If we lose to Middlesborough and results go against us.. we could fall as low as 12th next week. It’s nowhere near as bad as it was under the previous manager, but it needs sorting, quickly.

    • ChrisG says:

      Couldn’t agree with you more staffs, I don’t like being pessimistic & critisizing GR, but it just seems like he’s lost the plot at the moment, I don’t understand why he keeps leaving Maghoma out & playing Gray cos Dimmi has been poor of late,

      • StaffsBlue says:

        Chris, I’ve given Mr Rowett 100% support since he’s been at the club and will continue to do so whilst he’s here. That doesn’t mean I can’t call him out when I think he’s cocked up. Yesterday was a balls up from start to finish. Time to go back to square one and start doing the things we’re good at again… and playing players in their best positions. They could use the cancelled day off to do some shooting practice for a start.

  • Tony says:

    Lolly has us licked inside a minute as has been said thinking of promotion is for the mindless, this side is midtable at best 6th was always a false position..
    Hopefully we may manage 12th, you cant make a silk purse out of a sows ear and the vast majority of our players are poor Scannel was better than all our players put together.
    Cotteril and Morrison are decent even Donaldsons scoring record is not great, the rest apart from the couple of kids can when we get some money.

  • paule says:

    That was the worst performance I’ve witnessed since Clark was at the elm, we made Huddersfield look like a top 6 side our defense was weak & we were second best throughout!! The only positive at the moment is we are still seventh and hopefully won’t play that bad again, As Blues fans we need to be realistic we have a small squad of average Championship Players & a manager who has worked wonders, the sooner we get enough points to keep us in this division the better & hopefully we’ll get new owners in the near future and be able to kick on. kro

  • StaffsBlue says:

    I think that’s the first time Rowett has lost 3 consecutive games as a manager IIRC.

  • Tony says:

    Rowett has done well at this level, however if and when we get promoted I think he would need replacing.

    • swissjonny says:

      That is a very good point.If we had managed promotion this year-which by the way is over-I had fantasised long and hard about who we could get int.GR has ridden his luck-we aint good enough-but with the resources available he has done a good job.We have flattered to deceive.We are mid table. Thats the truth and frankly what more could we have hoped for ? If TTA are serious about supporting the club its now or never.Frankly as an investor we have no proper scouting mechanism,a manager who is a motivator not a tactical genius and a business side who have frankly zero experience in the football department and an extremly opaque CV. Rejoice with mid table.

  • Richard Granfield says:

    Now it’s 6 hours and 27 minutes since Blues scored at home and that was a dodgy penalty.
    Today the players looked as though they didn’t know the new formation or where they should be.
    The worst tactic was to play Davis as the advanced midfielder in the first half and incredibly wide right in the second half until his nightmare ended with the substitution of a proper winger.
    The blame doesn’t lie with the players but the management who didn’t prepare the players sufficiently to cope with the new formation.
    Rowett, Summerfield and Sale need to sort things out or we will find ourselves dropping down the division.

  • KC says:

    In my opinion everyone of these post match comments make very valid points Must say not scoring in 6 out of the last 7 home games is quite remarkable. Beating Fulham 2-5 makes it even more remarkable. At our best we have been a well organised team with players performing above their ability and youngsters fulfilling their potential. It now looks utter shambles. Not good team selection and poor tactics employed today. Yes GR has undoubtedly worked wonders with such little resource. Good to hear him say on WM that he is curtailing their Christmas party period and making them train Monday. He will make mistakes-B-M with our limited resource being one of them, however he fulfils his potential in the future. With such a small squad we cannot afford to buy ” potential “- we need experience. Cannot pick out one player who has put in a decent performance today. Could criticise them all individually but have never understood historiacal praise for Grounds who except for the odd contribution to making things happen in away games is the worst full back since Garry Pendry.

  • Hillfield Blues says:

    Dear oh dear that was terrible.It’s not like it’s the first time that’s happened this season is it?There were just no positives to draw from that at all…again.My young lads first game and he was bored to death!!GRs ideal of having a small squad and loaning out all the strikers is starting to look a bit short sighted.They were just flat from the off and the first touch from most of them was Sunday league at best.Brock-Madsen was willing but clueless and not once did he offer himself for the ball to be passed into his feet and was smaffled by their defence at will.Even GR seemed subdued in the sanctuary of the dugout today.Another one to forget…again.

    • swissjonny says:

      Thats a big problem.I have the same issue with my lad.I live abroad but every time I bring my lad over to see the Blues we look clueless,the atmosphere is crap and frankly If I was not a die hard he would rather watch paint dry.The world has changed since we were kids in my day it was a case of when not if you would assume the faith but now the youngsters have so much more choice.Do I really want to push the kid into my bad habits.At least now the Bromsgrove Moriniho crap may have died down and talk of GR rocketing off into another football galaxy may have been extinguished.So GR you are a great motivator,probably a very decent bloke but mate feet on the ground,fight your corner and act now if you really believe we can go up this season.As they tell you in rehab the definition of insanity is making the same decision over and over again and expecting a different outcome.DIther ye not GR -take the risks we are all behind you.Panos well talked-now start walking it mate.

  • bluenose blue says:

    How Gray keeps his place i’ll never know, he must be one of GR’s favourites. He should be dropped for a couple of games, it might be the kick up the backside he needs. Then we might see the form he showed last season. Last season he was worth 5 Mil on his current form you would be lucky to get 50 Thou for him

    • ChrisG says:

      You’d have to pull his head out of his backside before you kicked it. I think all this talk of transfers has distracted him

    • StaffsBlue says:

      I have never rated Gray since he came into the team, I just can’t see what everyone else seems to see. He has potential yes, but we’ve been saying that for the last 2 years. His crossing is abysmal, his shooting as bad, his decision making never gets any better. A step over and a cut inside is useless unless there’s an end product. I’m afraid his age doesn’t wash anymore, he has a year and a half experience now.

  • Shirley Blue says:

    We need Donaldson and Cotterill back for Xmas and three decent signings in January and maybe we can go on another good run. After today it’s hard to see where the next point is coming from.

    • StaffsBlue says:

      Absolutely spot on. Any signings in January will, I feel, define our season. Pick the right ones, and we still have a chance of finishing in the play-offs,.. pick the wrong ones and we can expect no better than mid-table. It’s a case of hanging on and picking up points where and when we can until then.

  • Mattblue says:

    My reflections on the game

    Positives:

    The referee was very poor. On another day, we could have had a lot more clear cut chances; for example, Huddersfield’s Goalie picked up a back pass and we lost out on direct free kicks/penalty appeals.

    Toral. He continues to show an ability to take on players 1 on 1, a nice touch, strength and composure. When BM was taken off, he played as a striker and created a good shot for himself. For me, he was the best Blues player on the pitch.

    Negatives:

    Defence. The goal came early in the game and the back line was too far forward. Spector tried to race back but didn’t have the legs for it. It was an easy goal for their winger to set up after only 30 seconds. Grounds was terrible. He made one good tackle but missed headers, misplaced passes and generally had another very bad game. Surprised Caddis was on the bench as LB is our real problem in defence.

    I like BM’s work rate but his first touch and composure is not going to produce the goals we need. If Vaughan can’t start, Toral looks like he’s worth playing as a striker. Gray looks disinterested and Viv Solomon looked hungry when he came on; he created some good half chances.

    Still maintaining the faith and will support every player in every game

  • KC says:

    Go back to Richard Granfield’s team selection (9.24am ).Vaughan up front instead of B-M. Somebody-anybody rather than Grounds and that team is worth a go at home. Never liked Thomas but in hindsight a mistake to let him go.

  • Mitchell says:

    Our manager has done well so far. Problems lie with his own belief that a small squad is best for him. Sadly it is not best if you get injuries- which always happens. He has always needed an older head around him just to prevent the very situation we are now in.I find it sad that he cannot find a way out now and worry that he will rapidly become an average manager who couldn’t quite find the remedy when things went downhill. Home defeats a plenty tell you the true story with no tactical craft to halt the slide-Charlton,Rotherham and Huddersfield in particular clarify the case for a better tactician that GR and Summerfield.

  • StaffsBlue says:

    I think Rowett has done a great job since he came in, but he does seem to be a ‘little bit’ rigid in his beliefs. That may have been ok for League 2, but in the Champs, you need to be a little more flexible.

    Sometimes, we have the look of a team just itching to break out and play. Instead, they follow orders and stick to this rigid system, which, when we go a goal down, isn’t good enough to get us back into it. That’s been proved on numerous occasions now.

    Sort out the defence, get some ‘though-shalt-not-pass’ steel into midfield and let the players with talent off the leash.

  • Tony says:

    This is a period of consolidation, we just need to stay in the division and hope something can get sorted by next year. Promotion was never a possibility this season I think even the most optimistic realize that now.


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