MY BREAK IN THE NETHERLANDS WAS READY TO BE BROKEN QUICKLY IF WE NEEDED TO POUNCE
DAVID WAGNER has offered support for West Ham United boss Slaven Bilic but insists Huddersfield Town are focused on only one thing at the London Stadium.
Wagner’s Terriers have seven points from three matches and have yet to concede a goal as they take on a West Ham team anchored at the foot of the table with 10 goals conceded and not a point to their name.
The Town head coach believes his side must remain single-minded, however, in exactly the same way which brought wins against Crystal Palace and Newcastle United and the entertaining draw against Southampton.
Asked if he felt criticism of Bilic was unfair, because they have had to play three away games due to the World Athletics Championships in their home ground, the Town boss answered simply: “I agree.”
And he continued: “I think it’s totally correct (to say the criticism is unfair) because he gets back to play three difficult away games, and in one they got a red card very early (the 3-2 defeat at Southampton).
“They have come out of pre-season into three away games, but now is the time for him to correct it and I wish him all the best after the game on Monday.”
So is it a good time to be playing West Ham?
“I have no idea if it’s a good time and, to be fair, it doesn’t bother me what is going on at West Ham because it is nothing we can influence,” he said.
“We have to make ourselves independent of the circumstances and make sure we do the details right. For this, we have to concentrate only on ourselves and our performance.” DAVID WAGNER has compiled a dossier of players to watch before the next transfer window.
The Huddersfield Town head coach _ voted Premier League Manager of the Month for August – revealed that while the deadline has now passed, his work on aiming to strengthen his Premier League squad is far from over.
Wagner, preparing for the next top-flight assignment at West Ham United, did take a break before the window closed, but he was ready to pounce should the right opportunity have occurred and admitted their were phone calls made.
Wagner said: “I did have a rest (at the start of the international break), absolutely.
“We were lucky that we did our business before deadline day so I was very relaxed in that week.
“I was in the Netherlands at the beach, but also near Amsterdam airport so I would have been able to fly over if something had happened. Not too far away.
“There were phone calls and, of course, I had my eyes and ears on the market.
“But if you are not active and not feeling the pressure, it is more that you recognise what happens rather than thinking, ‘Okay, come on.’
“It wasn’t something in the line that excited me or financially what was possible.
“I recognised some names, but nothing that I thought would really help us or will be able to do.”
So will he return for any of those ‘names’ come January?
“At least we now have some further names on the radar, that we can now follow and get our heads around,” said the boss.
“We can see how they play in the season and see what they do.”
Wagner is keen to keep his staff and players focused on each game in turn, but he does admit life has changed for him professionally since Town got promoted, with all the spotlight on the Premier League.
“I have not been surprised in terms of everything that is analysed and so many pundits who have opinions, obviously very often different opinions. That is the life of a pundit,” he said.
“But I was surprised how unbelievably strong this product, the Premier league, is produced around the whole world.
“The media work is extraordinary, much more than it was before. Not only in this country but America and around the world. Australia, Asia... I could easily fill the whole day with only media work with the requests that come in for me and the players.
“That was surprising for me. I was aware it is a worldwide product.”
So does he listen to the pundits