Town need to get creative in the summer
FOR Danny Cowley it is a tough situation at the moment.
With the Championship gearing up for action for the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic ground it to a halt in March, attention has started to turn back to the action on the pitch.
For the Huddersfield Town manager, the coming weeks will be pivotal with the Terriers’ Championship status by no means assured for the 2020/21 campaign with them sitting 18th and just two points above the drop zone.
The positive impact of Cowley since arriving at the John Smith’s Stadium in September from Lincoln City has meant Town should go into the remaining nine games with confidence that they can see the job through.
Stepping away from what might happen should they be relegated and the wholesale changes that would bring, if we look towards Town maintaining their Championship status then there will still need to be some key issues addressed.
The fifth leakiest defence in the league and the sixth lowest scorers show Town have issues at both ends of the pitch.
But with Richard Stearman, Chris Schindler and Harry Toffolo in the defensive ranks now, there quality in that area of the pitch.
One of the main issues this season has been the lack of creativity from midfield.
Lewis O’Brien has been in excellent form this season and Emile Smith Rowe’s arrival on loan brought about that much-needed
is link man, but Town will need to address their creativity next season from the get-go.
Karlan Grant has been linked with a big-money move away from Town after his impressive season, and the Terriers have become overly reliant on him to produce.
Sixteen goals in 35 Championship appearances have made him Town’s talisman.
But as well as goals scored, Grant has also had to lay on his fair share, his four assists are only eclipsed by Juninho Bacuna’s five at Town, their link-up seeing Bacuna provide four assists for Grant himself.
Town sit 11th in terms of possession in the Championship with 50.4 per cent and have the eighth best pass completion rate with 75.6 pc. But with the fourth lowest amount of shots per game at 10.7 their
Town should go into the remaining nine games with confidence they can see the job
through