Actually, I want him as our next coach.*** Win the FA Cup or not - hell, win the EPL and the CL - Mourinho-ball isn't the United way. It's all about him and his complexes and resentments, not even about the result, and never about the performance. Actually, I want Klopp, but there's no way that's going to happen, and I doubt Wagner is much less in ability, though a lot less in terms of compensation.
In the meantime, results elsewhere have, yet again, gone 'Udders way. Stoke drew 1-1 at West Ham, after conceding an injury-time equalizer. Their game in hand has now been played, and they're 7 points behind Wagner's men with a goal difference that's six worse. If Southampton don't win their game in hand this weekend (away at Leicester FWIW), it's over bar the maths. I swear, it's as if the soccer Gods have decided 'Udders are staying up, and are stepping in to nobble everyone else.
Latest press reports suggest the German head coach will be given a new deal to ward off interest from other clubs https://www.examiner.co.uk/sport/football/news/huddersfield-town-set-offer-david-14542778 Also will get a £1.3m bonus if they stay in the top flight.
More like a new deal that's designed to significantly deter interest from bigger clubs. but is chump change for the CL/CL-challenging teams. And make no mistake, those are the clubs he'll be getting approaches from if next season's performances are anything like what has been produced this time round.
In league news, Southampton drew their game in hand and are now six points behind the Terriers with a better goal difference, and with four games left. To catch Huddersfield they have to win two of their last four games and hope Wagner's men lose all four games. The Saints haven't won two out of four games since early Spetember
with Stoke's 1-1 draw the bottom to last team has now 29 pts with 35 games played compared to Huddersfield's 35 pts with 34 games played. Means that Stoke have 3 games left to try to survive, seems more and unlikely for them. the other threat remaining is Southampton who are also at 29 but still have 4 games to go.
Huddersfield's David Wagner, who used to work with Klopp @BVB, has refused to rule himself out of the running to take over at Chelsea.“I want to achieve Premier League safety first, then talk to the owner and maybe look at what options are still there,” he told Kicker. pic.twitter.com/toik87tNyv— DW Sports (@dw_sports) April 26, 2018
with their loss to Everton and Southampton 2-1 win today. Huddersfield are back in the danger zone. Huddersfield's last 3 games. vs Man City vs Chelsea vs Arsenal Southampton's last 3 games vs Everton vs Swansea vs Man City only thing that separates them is 3 pts although Southampton have a superior GD. So if tied they would be ahead. And those 3 will be very tough games for Huddersfield. the team in between the 2, Swansea also plays easier games and could factor who ends up where. Playing Bournemouth, Southampton, and Stoke City.
True, but there are some complicating factors. Yesterday was a derby for Southampton (Bournemouth is 25 miles up the road) and you'd expect even a side that's accepted relegation to have raised their game significantly, but next up is Everton away, and with Big Sam angling for a contract extension you can expect Everton to be going at it full bore, followed by a six-pointer against Swansea, in Wales. To take it to the last day of the season, and a home game against the Champions-elect, they need at least three points from those two games and for 'Udders to lose their next two games. For Huddersfield, it's a fair bit clearer. City and Chelsea are away games, while Arsenal is at home, and although you'd expect City to win comfortably, Chelsea are a shadow of the team that won the title last season and the coach is leaving with a distinct "don't let the door hit you on the way out" melody in the air. A point in that game is not inconceivable. Most interestingly, the Arsenal game is at home, against a team which has yet to earn a single away point this season, are out of the CL again, whose coach is leaving after a decade of under-achievement, and may yet have a Europa League final three days later. A home win there is a reasonable bet. They can go down, but Wagner's men have their destiny in their own hands.
Yeah, but you'd have also expected their opponents to have raised their game too, as opposed to some of the future teams they'll play. Also Chelsea and City away are going to be terribly difficult. Both will want to give their home fans a show and Chelsea are battling for a CL spot and that will be Arsene Wengers last ever game for his club. I'd say Stoke and WBA are favorites to go down, but Huddersfield are faves to go down with them at this point. Just seems like momentum has swung Southampton's way, and Swans could just stay up.
DATM, the Udders fan forum has a poll out right now on their chances of staying up. over 60% of their fans believe they will go down. Looking gloomy. I think they need and least one point in the next 3 and some favorable results with Swans and Soton to have a good shot at it.
with Swansea's 1-0 loss and Southampton 1-1 draw they switch places. Now Southampton is safe while Swansea is in the relegation zone. Given this turn of event and that they play each other next and with Swansea's last game being vs Man City. Best case scenario for Huddersfield could be Southamption beating Swansea.
0-0 at 80 minutes, with City dominating possession and territory but with a distinct lack of urgency and therefore penetration. Huddersfield are able to get men around the ball whenever there is real momentum, but their clearances are to no one in particular, just buying time to regroup for the next attack. Normally that's asking for trouble, but City will be awarded the trophy at full time, whatever the result, and the World Cup is in a few weeks. Why bust your town halls and risk an injury? They'll probably get away with it. Edit: And they did get way with it. They're 3 points ahead of Swansea and only 3 goals worse off in goal difference. Looking good.
man... Manchester City really, really, really don't like championship parties.... QPR, United, now Huddersfield lol...
Huge match today with Swans vs Saints. A draw is best. I think a Swans win would be next best as they have a easier run in with only sad little Stoke left to play. EDIT: Actually i think a draw keeps West Brom alive. Soooooo IDK.
OK.. David Wagner's men will be hoping for a winner at the Liberty Stadium this evening. If the game doesn't end in a draw, then that winning team and Huddersfield would both need just one point to be safe - Huddersfield face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday and play Arsenal at home on Sunday. Their job becomes slightly harder with a draw tonight. They'd then need two points to guarantee survival - or hope both Swansea and Southampton don't win their final games So I guess a Swans win is best hope ATM.
Southampton won today and West Brom have been relegated, so basically 3 teams fighting to see who ends up in the last relegation spot. With that win, all Huddfersfield need is 1 pts from the remaining 2 games to guarantee safety. If not then they need Stoke to save them with either a win or draw vs Swansea.
Not quite what I was hoping for. Maybe stoke does them a favor. But I can also see them getting 1 more point.
Swansea are tied with Huddersfield as the worst team in terms of goals for, with both scoring only 27 goals this season. That's good news for Huddersfield on top of that Swansea have not won a game since March 3, where they beat West Ham, every other game after was either a draw or loss. Always thought before the season that the biggest issue for Huddersfield was their lack of attack and that they risk relegation if they didn't improve that. Looks like if they make it, it will be by a very small margin. Wagner really needs to spend on better players in the Summer, having confidence in the same attacking players might not be good enough next season.