Huddersfield v Brentford

[MagpieBee]

An interesting one to start the season, we smashed them 5-1 in the last game of last season, so they'll be looking for immediate revenge.

Looking at our squad, I don't think we can say anything but it is weaker than we had last year. We've unfortunately continued to sell players, and very few of the permanent replacements have done very well at all.

One plus point is hopefully we'll be able to get full seasons out of Hogan, Macleod and Bjelland, three top quality players who instantly improve the spine of the team.

For me, I'd love to see a big strong DM brought in to win the ball back and feed it to Woods (missed Diagouraga massively in that respect) and we still desperately need a winger / striker, possibly two. Ollie Watkins was linked but has started playing for Exeter again in friendlies, our other targets in Roofe and Canos both got too expensive.

Pretty sure our line up on day 1 will be very familiar. Bjelland's picked up another knock so he won't be risked unless he improves a lot in the next 2 weeks. Think we'll go like this:

Bentley
Colin - Dean - Barbet - Elder
Yennaris - Woods
Sawyers - Kerschbaummer - Macleod
Hogan
​

Only three new signings in there, and all strictly worse than the people they replaced (Bidwell, Button, Judge / Canos)


I can see this game being a very nervy draw, both sides still trying to find their feet and not really gelling yet. Hudders missing the pace of Wells up front is a big bonus for us (saw he doesn't look very fit at the moment, hope it continues!)

 

[AnkleBiter]

We're at home

 

[MagpieBee]

We're at home

Good point! Ooops! Fixed.

 

[Nook Terrier]

Very difficult start to the season for us in Brentford at home, Newcastle away and Villa away.

3 points a must but a very big ask.

We're so much more defensively sound than the last time we played, although I worry Hudson will start.

I'd take the Wells comments lightly, Kachunga has looked a better version of Wells, stronger and faster so hopefully will fill his boots!

My team would be..

Ward
Smith Schindler Hefele Löwe
Hogg Mooy
Lolley Payne VLP
Kachunga

Bench - Coleman, Stankovic, Scannell Whitehead, Paurevic, Palmer, Wells

Can't see Billing being risked and Bunn is injured..

 

[AnkleBiter]

How many Brentford coming up? We've finally announced season tickets sales of over 15k, so could be pushing 18k for this one.

Quite glad this is our first game, what better way to see how far we've progressed since May. Don't like to go off pre season but we have looked good.

 

[MagpieBee]

Not sure to be honest. I'm still on the fence for this one, not sure whether to make the trip or not given I did it just a couple of months ago...

 

[toshj]

How many Brentford coming up? We've finally announced season tickets sales of over 15k, so could be pushing 18k for this one.

Quite glad this is our first game, what better way to see how far we've progressed since May. Don't like to go off pre season but we have looked good.

I'm going. Have had uvularitis all week, throat covered in pus, fever, etc. Been hammering the meds and might be in a position to jump on the train cone tomorrow morning.

This is normally a family affair - my girlfriend's family are all Town fans - but looks like just me and the old man for this one.

Not as worried as Magpie Bee over our squad. It could obviously be better but we're so severely limited financially that I'm satisfied with the progress we've been making over the last few seasons. Everything needs to be put into perspective a little bit.

 

[MagpieBee]

I'm going. Have had uvularitis all week, throat covered in pus, fever, etc. Been hammering the meds and might be in a position to jump on the train cone tomorrow morning.

This is normally a family affair - my girlfriend's family are all Town fans - but looks like just me and the old man for this one.

Not as worried as Magpie Bee over our squad. It could obviously be better but we're so severely limited financially that I'm satisfied with the progress we've been making over the last few seasons. Everything needs to be put into perspective a little bit.

I totally agree, given the need to bring in money from sales to keep the club going, we've been doing incredibly well. I have no doubt we'll be fine and should stay up, but every year the squad looks a little weaker, and especially so when compared to 2 years ago. Going to be much tougher even to repeat the feats of last year.

 

[toshj]

I totally agree, given the need to bring in money from sales to keep the club going, we've been doing incredibly well. I have no doubt we'll be fine and should stay up, but every year the squad looks a little weaker, and especially so when compared to 2 years ago. Going to be much tougher even to repeat the feats of last year.

If you asked me at the start of our first Championship season, I'd have said mid to low table for us. It was an OK squad full of lower league players (Gray, Hogan, Moses, etc.), loanees (Pritchard, Toral), relatively new players (Judge, Tarkowski), errors (Proschwitz) and one unknown (Jota).

We ended up having an amazing season, but that squad on paper - with almost zero championship experience throughout the side - was average. It's easy to say it was a great squad in hindsight but I think that hindsight creates an unrealistic appreciation of the talent within a squad - last year looked a great summer transfer window when in fact it was pretty shit, and we spent all season dealing with the mess.

This season our squad isn't as glamorous, nor have we had any marquee signings, but we're in such a better place as a squad.

Imo Bidwell wasn't a brilliant left back - slow, lacked creativity, hit his development peak. Button was great but we've got a potentially better keeper. Those are the only players permanently on our books that we've lost, yet we've gained three strong looking full time players, bought in an exciting left back on loan and have 2-3 coming back from injuries which have seen them not play for us.

Compare now to 12 months ago and I'm a much happier Brentford fan - a bit of money in the bank, an organised squad and exciting players. Can't wait! (We'll now get hammered tomorrow )

 

[SF_]

Fancy Brentford here, going on my three away team treble with North End and Charlton.

 

[toshj]

If you asked me at the start of our first Championship season, I'd have said mid to low table for us. It was an OK squad full of lower league players (Gray, Hogan, Moses, etc.), loanees (Pritchard, Toral), relatively new players (Judge, Tarkowski), errors (Proschwitz) and one unknown (Jota).

We ended up having an amazing season, but that squad on paper - with almost zero championship experience throughout the side - was average. It's easy to say it was a great squad in hindsight but I think that hindsight creates an unrealistic appreciation of the talent within a squad - last year looked a great summer transfer window when in fact it was pretty shit, and we spent all season dealing with the mess.

This season our squad isn't as glamorous, nor have we had any marquee signings, but we're in such a better place as a squad.

Imo Bidwell wasn't a brilliant left back - slow, lacked creativity, hit his development peak. Button was great but we've got a potentially better keeper. Those are the only players permanently on our books that we've lost, yet we've gained three strong looking full time players, bought in an exciting left back on loan and have 2-3 coming back from injuries which have seen them not play for us.

Compare now to 12 months ago and I'm a much happier Brentford fan - a bit of money in the bank, an organised squad and exciting players. Can't wait! (We'll now get hammered tomorrow )

I take all of this back. I'm an idiot. I don't deserve a football opinion.

/knee jerk.

 

[AnkleBiter]

Really enjoyed that, we were as good as I could've hoped for at this stage and massively deserved to win. Think that was our biggest league home turnout since the Barnsley relegation decider, great atmosphere. Just the small matter of Newcastle and Villa away next...!

 

[Nook Terrier]

Absolute class win against a still decent Brentford side who turned us over 5-1 not too long ago in our last game..

What a massive change, quality.

Kachunga and Palmer both class, Payne with a fantastic debut - couldn't of asked for a better start.

Hogan worth a mention for Brentford - will score 20+ this season. Few naughty tactics though from Brentford..

 

[markwwfc1992]

Fancy Brentford here, going on my three away team treble with North End and Charlton.

That treble turned out well

 

[toshj]

Few naughty tactics though from Brentford..

Really? I thought we were so nice to you lot. You guys were tough in the challenge and really giving us a tough time, whereas whenever you had the ball we stood off and let you have it. I thought we were really rather weak in the naughtiness stakes yesterday.

 

[AnkleBiter]

I think he was referring to the free kick when 3 of your players were getting right in Ward's face when he was trying to organise his wall. Literally penning him in. Bizarre and whilst not against the rules in the run up to the set piece, very unsporting, and embarrassingly ineffective.

 

[Nook Terrier]

I think he was referring to the free kick when 3 of your players were getting right in Ward's face when he was trying to organise his wall. Literally penning him in. Bizarre and whilst not against the rules in the run up to the set piece, very unsporting, and embarrassingly ineffective.

Spot on, aswell as howling Ward when they equalised.