Huddersfield Town: October 2009

Welcome my friends and warm greetings from Canada. Yes it’s 22C  in Toronto. Hurray!!

Anyway, onto the latest update….

Having won the final game of the previous month over League leaders Walsall I was surprised to learn that my time at Huddersfield could be almost up according to press reports. My Brazilian player Sandrinho also requested to have a team meeting as the squad was concerned at the current position in the league.

So the first game of the month was a crucial one in terms of my job against Colchester. We took the lead inside the first 15 minutes when Gasmi as the provider down the right flank cut inside to play a through ball to Baxter who then instead of shooting squared the ball to Simpson and it was 1-0. Colchester however threw everything at us following the goal and we spent the remainder of the half defending our lead. The second period was much the same and we couldn’t break free of our own half and to make matters worse defender Krystian Pearce was sent off for a very rash and cynical looking challenge. With us down to ten men Colchester’s persistence finally paid off and they scored two in the last ten minutes resulting in another defeat for us. I was now fearing the worse.

Following the game there was speculation that I would be taking over the vacant position at Watford which came as a big shock to me considering my current record. Having refused to comment on the subject seemed to stave off the executioners so I was still in charge for the JPT clash against Morecambe.

Despite having 69% of the possession and thirteen shots we somehow could not find the back of the net and this game went to penalty kicks which we just about won by three goals to two and so we are through to the Northern quarter finals where we face Oldham and I still have a job!

Next up was a League game at home to Exeter and what a back and forth encounter it would be. Lee Novak put us ahead after 18 minutes with a lovely strike off a Gary Roberts cross from the left flank. Exeter headed in the equalizer 5 minutes later from a set piece before Robbie Simpson headed us into the lead once more this time from a Gasmi cross on the opposite flank. Our Polish defender Marcin Kikut then proceeded to have a nightmare second half beaten twice in the space of three minutes that both lead to goals and Exeter were up 3-2 by the hour. With full time looming there was a glimmer of hope when Exeter’s Matt Taylor was sent off and we took full advantage and piled on the pressure scoring two goals in injury time to take a 4-3 lead. When it seemed we had won the game Kikut again was beaten by Exeter’s Agard who was carrying an injury and he slammed home the ball from just outside the box for a dramatic equalizer.

The following game was a trip to The Valley to face Charlton Athletic. Lee Novak seemed to have put us ahead in the opening minutes after a goal mouth scramble but his effort was ruled offside. Charlton’s first attempt on goal ended in a goal thanks again to poor marking and then goalkeeper Elliot Parrish fumbled the ball into his own net to give the home side a 2-0 lead at half time. Charlton pressed for a third and got it 10 minutes after the interval and we didn’t provide any worries for their defenders and so they easily ran out 3-0 winners.

Following the defeat in London I was under pressure again!

Our final game of the month was at home to Orient and it was a must win situation. As in most of our games this season we had the greater possession but it took some time to make the breakthrough which came just before halftime from Gasmi who is in terrific form and seems to exceed on the right side of midfield.  Jordan Rhodes who returned to the team after scoring the winning goal in the Under 20’s World Cup Final against Brazil added a second to our tally in the second half with a neatly place shot from a through ball off Yuocef Sekour. Orient did get a consolation goal but we got a valuable three points.

Under 20’s World Cup Bracket

Current League Table

November Fixtures

** Note an FA Cup fixture did not generate on this screenshot between the two Oldham games.

So that’s it, another month over but will I make it to the New Year as manager of Huddersfield?

Thanks for reading.