Having assessed the two automatically promoted sides – Championship winners Newcastle United and runners-up Brighton and Hove Albion – we now turn our attentions to play-off victors Huddersfield Town.
It’s fair to say that David Wagner’s side surpassed all expectations last term after finishing in nineteenth position in 2015/16.
Ending fifth in the division after 46 matches, Huddersfield clinched a Wembley showdown against Reading by scraping past Sheffield Wednesday 4-3 on spot-kicks after their two-legged play-off semi-final finished level at 1-1.
The final was goalless after 120 minutes, but the Terriers held their nerve to again prevail 4-3 on penalties and return to the top flight for the first time since 1972.
The Statistics
| P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | P | CS | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 46 | 25 | 6 | 15 | 56 | 58 | -2 | 81 | 12 |
| Home | 23 | 15 | 2 | 6 | 34 | 26 | +8 | 47 | 6 |
| Away | 23 | 10 | 4 | 9 | 22 | 32 | -10 | 34 | 6 |
CS = Clean sheets
As the numbers suggest, Wagner’s men struggled for a cutting edge in the final third and found the net just 56 times in 46 matches. That tally was bettered by 13 other Championship sides and lagged some way behind promoted pair Newcastle (85) and Brighton (74).
Although they were ranked third in the division in terms of possession (55.7%), Huddersfield failed to make the most of their dominance – 22 of their 25 wins were clinched by a single-goal margin.
The Terriers netted 34 times in front of their own supporters, but tallied just 22 on the road. In fact, they scored more than one goal in just five of their 23 away matches.
As the season unfolded and rotation increased, Wagner’s charges toiled in front of goal – they scored just once in their final five fixtures, courtesy of an own goal from Sheffield Wednesday defender Tom Lees in the second-leg of that semi-final play-off.
Breaking down the data further, Huddersfield sat seventh for total attempts over the season (624) but, in terms of shots per goal, an average of 11.1 was ranked just nineteenth in the Championship.
Essentially, that means Wagner’s side converted only 8.9% of their opportunities in 2016/17. Put into perspective, only three Premier League outfits, including relegated duo Middlesbrough (7.7%) and Sunderland (7.5), along with Southampton (also 7.5%) were less clinical.
Looking at the home/away defensive numbers, there’s little difference in goals against (26 to 32), although it’s worth noting that nine of those home goals were shipped in their final three league fixtures at John Smith’s Stadium.
From a Fantasy perspective, a meagre tally of 12 clean sheets, and just six at home is an obvious concern – all the more so when you consider that Brighton totalled 21, including 12 in front of their own supporters.
What’s all the more frustrating for Wagner is that his side conceded just 9.5 shots per match – the fewest among Championship outfits.
Indeed, a total of 437 efforts against equates to one every 9.4 minutes – only Man City (10.7) bettered that average in last season’s Premier League.
But, conversely, it took fewer shots (7.5) to score against the Yorkshire outfit than any other club in the Championship in 2016/17.
Compared with their fellow promoted clubs, Newcastle conceded a goal from every 11.1 shots faced, with Brighton (13.1) the most resilient of the three.
Ultimately, then, those problems at both ends of the pitch mean that the Terriers are the first side promoted to the Premier League to have conceded more goals than they scored.
The Manager
Wagner made his debut for Eintracht Frankfurt in 1990 before spending a largely uneventful career playing as a forward in the German first and second divisions.
He eventually retired in 2005, having also turned out for the likes of Mainz O5 and Schalke 04 and winning the UEFA Cup with the latter in 1996-97. The son of an American father, Wagner featured for the US national team on eight occasions.
Wagner started his coaching career with the Under 17s at 1899 Hoffenheim and was then appointed as manager of Borussia Dortmund II in 2011.
After four years in the job, winning 57 and drawing 47 of 164 matches in charge, he was handed a first senior managerial role by Huddersfield in November 2015, with the club sitting in eighteenth position.
He immediately introduced double training sessions and proved he merited more than just the “Best man at Jurgen Klopp’s wedding” tag by steering the Yorkshire outfit to safety.
When it comes to tactics, Wagner – like his good friend Klopp – is a keen advocate of Dortmund’s “gegenpressing” approach, with his high-energy team pushing high up the pitch to win back possession quickly.
As this tactical analysis article shows, Huddersfield line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation that morphs into 2-4-3-1 in possession and 4-1-4-1 without the ball. When attacking, the wingers tend to tuck inside, allowing space for the full-backs to raid forward and offer support from deep.
Voted last year’s Championship Manager of the Year, Wagner elaborates:
“The main part of the style here is exactly what we had in Dortmund. We have had to adapt some things to the English environment. For example, referees here do not blow their whistles as much, so there are fewer breaks in the game and players get more tired around 70 minutes. Maybe sometimes we have to keep the ball more rather than go for another goal even if you might then concede an equaliser. The important thing is to find the right balance between intensity and recovery and everybody knows I have no problem with rotation.”
The Promoted Squad
A summer overhaul brought in 13 new faces and Wagner cited a four-day trip to a remote Swedish island without electricity as a vital team-bonding exercise.
The Terriers’ boss relied on a small core of regulars, with just 10 players handed more than 20 starts over the 49 fixtures – it’s testament to Wagner’s abilities that six of those 10 were among the summer recruitment drive.
It’s also worth noting that Wagner increased his rotation in the last few weeks of the season in preparation for the play-offs, while he also managed his regulars’ minutes by making numerous alterations for cup matches.
With a budget of just £12m to play with, Wagner successfully raided the loan market for Liverpool keeper Danny Ward and Manchester City midfielder Aaron Mooy, and both were mainstays in his first XI. Similarly, Chelsea’s Izzy Brown was a regular starter in the second half of the campaign.
All three have since returned to their parent clubs, but the lure of regular top-flight minutes could help Wagner to turn their heads once again.
Danny Ward – (45 starts)
Arriving on loan from Liverpool, the stopper played a crucial part in his side’s promotion bid, particularly during the play-offs.
As suggested by the defensive data above, though, Ward struggled to keep out the opposition and only made a save every 44.2 minutes last season – behind fellow promoted keepers David Stockdale (36.2) and Karl Darlow (41.9) and almost half Tom Heaton’s 22.6 for Burnley on his way to topping the FPL keeper standings.
A price of 4.5 looks on the cards for Wagner’s number one – whoever that may be – yet there look to be better options elsewhere in their rearguard.
Deputy to Ward last term, Joel Coleman claimed three clean sheets in four FA Cup appearances, including a goalless draw at home to Man City. At just 21, a lack of top-flight experience suggests that he may be no more than back-up once again, however.
Tommy Smith (43 starts, 2 sub apps. 4 goals, 10 assists)
One of only two Huddersfield players to be named in the Championship Team of the Year, the Terriers’ captain offers a real forward-thinking option from the back.
Wagner’s penchant for raiding full-backs allowed Smith to bag four goals and 10 assists from his role on the right of the back-four, with a total of 53 key passes more than any defender in the Championship.
That reputation could possibly earn him a starting price of 5.0 but if he’s listed at 4.5, Smith could emerge as a popular cut-price pick.
Reports on Tuesday eased fears over the foot injury sustained during the Championship play-off final, with Smith expected to be fully fit in time for pre-season training.
Christopher Schindler (46 starts, 1 sub app. 2 goals, 2 assists)
He arrived from German outfit 1860 Munich as the club’s record signing at a cost of £1.8m last summer.
A commanding presence at the back, Schindler won 4.4 headers per appearance in 2016/17 – more than twice his central defensive partner, Michael Hefele (2.1). Yet in spite of that aerial ability, he managed just 14 attempts over his 47 outings, scoring twice.
The German is also Huddersfield’s stand-out candidate for clearances, blocks and interceptions (CBI), averaging 9.68 to Hefele’s 13.87, and should benefit when they claim a clean sheet. He’s also less likely to incur the referee’s wrath – a total of four yellows is half the number posted by fellow defenders Smith, Hefele and Chris Lowe.
Michael Hefele (31 starts, 9 sub apps. 3 goals)
The centre-half was snapped up last July on a free transfer from Dynamo Dresden, where he found the net 10 times in 69 appearances.
Indeed, that eye for goal meant that Hefele was occasionally moved up front when his side were chasing matches late on – as a result, a total of 28 efforts on goal is more than double Schindler’s 13.
He was even utilised as a stand-in striker against Rochdale in the FA Cup and emerged from the bench to score twice.
After initially struggling to cement a regular role, Hefele started 27 of the final 33 league/play-off fixtures as the preferred partner to Schindler.
Chris Lowe (42 starts, 2 sub apps. 2 goals, 3 assists)
Lowe’s acquisition was yet another canny piece of Bundesliga business by Wagner.
Arriving on a free transfer from Kaiserslautern, the left-back’s output (two goals and three assists) fares poorly when compared to Smith, yet the underlying numbers are more encouraging.
He produced double the number of successful crosses per appearance (1.2 to 0.6) than Smith, and his minutes per key pass were almost identical (74.1 to 71).
It’s also worth noting that Lowe took – and converted – Huddersfield’s last penalty of the league season.
In terms of defensive contribution, he’s far ahead of Smith for both minutes per CBI (18.8 to 31.6) and tackles won (47.2 to 71). If he comes in cheaper than his fellow full-back, Lowe could be a real under-the-radar alternative.
Mark Hudson (17 starts, 5 sub apps)
The club captain started 13 of the opening 15 league fixtures before falling behind Hefele in the pecking order.
At 35 years of age, Hudson – who mustered just seven attempts in 22 appearances – is likely to be no more than a back-up as Wagner brings his own brand of high-energy football to the top-flight.
Aaron Mooy (45 starts, 3 sub apps. 4 goals, 7 assists)
Another key loan acquisition, the Australian arrived from Man City last summer.
Named in the Championship Team of the Year along with Smith, Mooy made more key passes (102) and successful tackles (114) than any team-mate, with his set-piece duties a vital weapon for Wagner’s men.
It seems unlikely that he’ll find a place on Pep Guardiola’s teamsheet next term and a move back to Yorkshire could be the answer for both parties. A fans’ favourite, he was voted Player of the Year.
Mooy could certainly be worth monitoring, particularly if he’s still at City when FPL launches, which could keep him around the 5.0 or even 4.5 mark.
He took two of his side’s four spot-kicks over the league season, scoring one then missing another before Lowe notched the final effort in late April.
Elias Kachunga (44 starts, 1 sub app. 12 goals, 2 assists)
Initially acquired on loan from German side Ingolstadt last summer, the versatile attacker signed up in a permanent deal for £1.1m back in March.
Mainly stationed on the right flank, Kachunga was occasionally used as a centre-forward and ended the season as his side’s top scorer with 12 goals. While an average of 54 minutes per shot is hardly prolific, few of his efforts were speculative – 59 of Kachunga’s 73 efforts arrived inside the box.
His pace and mobility are vital to Wagner’s high-pressing philosophy, while a total of 56 key passes – second only to Mooy – suggests he was a little unfortunate only to finish the season with two assists.
Rajiv van La Parra (39 starts, 4 sub apps. 2 goals, 3 assists)
Snapped up on loan from Wolves in March 2016, the Dutchman sealed a permanent switch over the summer.
A regular on the left flank, Van La Parra’s trickery will torment many a right-back – he made more successful dribbles than any player in last season’s Championship.
But a total of two goals and three assists – identical to left-back Lowe – highlights his lack of an end product. Although he bettered his fellow winger Kachunga for frequency of shots (42.5 minutes to 54), much of the Dutchman’s threat was from range, with just over half of his efforts (39 of 76) fired from inside the box.
He took – and missed – his side’s first spot-kick of the season and consequently tumbled down the pecking order.
Jonathan Hogg (36 starts, 4 sub apps. 1 goal)
A single goal – and 11 attempts on goal – in 40 appearances says everything about Hogg’s Fantasy potential.
Sitting in the double-pivot alongside Mooy, he was second only to the Australian for successful tackles (107 to 114) and made more interceptions (51) than any midfield team-mate. His appeal is likely to be limited as a cheap enabler in games that reward a players’ defensive contribution such as FanDuel.
Kasey Palmer (16 starts, 9 sub apps. 4 goals, 3 assists)
The 20-year-old arrived on loan from Chelsea and started 16 of the opening 30 matches in the central support role, featuring off the bench on nine further occasions.
Palmer contributed four goals and three assists before an Achilles injury sustained in February sidelined him for months. His next appearance was as a sub off the bench in the play-off final against Reading.
Izzy Brown (15 starts, 3 sub apps. 4 goals)
Arriving from Chelsea on loan in the January transfer window, Brown started 15 of the subsequent 24 matches, missing out five times with a knee problem.
Stationed in the central support role, he fired an effort every 40.7 minutes on his way to scoring four times, though he struggled to offer much of a creative outlet, averaging 71.2 minutes per key pass by comparison.
Jack Payne (10 starts, 14 sub apps. 2 goals, 2 assists)
Player of the Year for Southend in 2015/16, the attacking midfielder was acquired on a three-year contract last summer.
As the season unfolded, though, Payne drifted out of the picture and started just one of the final 11 fixtures – an indication, perhaps, of where he lies in Wagner’s plans for the season ahead.
Philip Billing (13 starts, 11 sub apps. 2 goals)
Billing failed to feature until the seventeenth match of the season. Standing six foot six, the Dane offers a physical presence in the centre of the park but his style is perhaps at odds with Wagner’s high-pressing approach.
He missed the end of the season with a knee injury but, like Smith, is expected to recover to gain a full pre-season ahead of the top-flight return.
Dean Whitehead (10 starts, 6 sub apps)
The veteran was mainly used as back-up last year and started on just 10 occasions.
Granted, he’s one of the few Huddersfield players to boast plenty of Premier League experience through stints with Sunderland and Stoke City, yet the 35-year-old Whitehead looks likely to settle for no more than a squad role next time out. Four goals in the last nine seasons says it all.
Nahki Wells (34 starts, 12 sub apps. 10 goals, 2 assists)
The Bermudan was subject to rotation towards the end of the regular season and started just one of the final five league fixtures before being reinstalled to the first XI for all three play-off matches.
Despite starting on 34 occasions, Wells found the net just 10 times as Wagner’s preferred lone striker. Firing an effort every 32 minutes, he scored with just 10 of his 106 shots on goal – a 9.4% conversion rate suggests that the Terriers’ manager will be looking for reinforcements up front over the summer.
Collin Quaner (9 starts, 10 sub apps. 2 goals)
Snapped up from German Second Division outfit Union Berlin in the January transfer window.
Quaner’s main impact was to steal pitch-time from Wells as Wagner rotated up front – he started nine of the 20 league matches he was available for and appeared 10 more times off the bench.
Like Wells, though, he failed to find a cutting edge and scored just two goals from 17 attempts.
The Potential Targets
Wagner’s achievements have understandably led to rumoured interested from a number of suitors, but the German has ended the speculation by pledging his future to Huddersfield.
With new director of football David Moss arriving from Celtic, yet another busy summer is anticipated.
The Terriers’ boss has been quick to admit he is keen to return for both Ward and Mooy. When asked about the former, he conceded:
“I think I have a lot of calls to do. This is maybe why I don’t want to get my head around it because I know how much work is ahead of me. There are a few phone calls and I will speak with Jurgen [Klopp] for sure, not only about Danny but about everything that happens.”
And on Mooy..
“Aaron was an outstanding player for us and I have said this before – Aaron is the heart of our game. You don’t often find a player who is so comfortable on the ball and has such a great fighting attitude. He is one of the outstanding players we have had during the season and we are very happy that he was with us. I would like to have Aaron Mooy – I would like to have all my players with me next season. What is possible, we will see.”
Meanwhile, Brown has also confirmed that he is not ruling out going back to the Yorkshire club next term and the potential return of the trio could solve a major headache for Wagner.
The Klopp connection has ensured that Wagner has been linked with a number of Liverpool players – aside from Ward, wingers Ryan Kent and Sheyi Ojo, along with defender Joe Gomez and frontman Danny Ings are believed to be on his radar.
Huddersfield are reported admirers of Anderlecht’s Kara Mbodj. The versatile Senegal international would offer Wagner an option at both centre-half and in the double-pivot, perhaps at the expense of Hogg should Mooy return.
The lack of a proven goalscorer also needs addressing – as the numbers show, only two Huddersfield players managed double figures.
The Terriers have been quickly installed as favourites to sign Leeds United’s Chris Wood, the top scorer in last season’s Championship with 27 goals.
A move for West Ham’s Ashley Fletcher has also been mooted – Wagner reportedly tried to sign the youngster both last summer and during the winter window.
Crystal Palace’s Fraizer Campbell is another looking for more pitch-time and he has been linked with a switch to his hometown club.
* Thanks to Radio Yorkshire’s Andy Lawson, a lifelong Huddersfield fan, for his input on this article.
