Nice! Admittedly, I've only seen Holmes three times in short stints but I have no problem saying this kid is exciting and one to watch. He's an instant bolt of electricity. It's like he's been shot out of a canon. However, it's not useless energy --- it's strategic. He knows exactly which holes to attack and when to do it. He looks fearless and relentless. Plus, I noticed ALWAYS has his head up.
Huddersfield manager Mark Robins after the game "it was a game of two halves, Duane Holmes had a big impact" Robins told SkySports post game
I think it's awesome that he's been at the club since the age of 7 and has worked his way all the way up to the first team. I would love to see HTFC gain promotion in the next few years...heck Duane could be their captain by the age of 22 with a 15 year tenure at the club.
More impressive than being at the club since age 7 is the fact he was deemed "not good enough" on more than one occasion by a former youth coach / director at the club. This wasn't as a 14 0r 15 yr. old. It was as recent as being with their U-18's. IIRC, he seriously considered his options but decided to just knuckle down and defy the odds against him. A truly remarkable story that's buried somewhere in this thread. I haven't read very many interviews with Holmes but in the few that I have, the kid has this infectious, humble attitude and takes nothing for granted. He comes across very mature. It must be true as evident by his manager's quotes.
@ZachTheFiveTwo 3h Who wins in a foot race: healthy @JoshuaGatt v. @JoeGyau36 v. @DuaneHolmes ? Some serious quickness in #usmnt prospects @JoeGyau36 27m @ZachTheFiveTwo @JoshuaGatt @DuaneHolmes ME!!!! @DuaneHolmes 4m @JoeGyau36 @ZachTheFiveTwo @JoshuaGatt one day we will have to race
What a cheeky little touch by Holmes. Simply brilliant. The vision, idea, and touch were first class. Not a shabby finish either. This is what I've seen of Holmes. Huddersfield don't quite have another player like him. You can see why they are high on him and how his style can be influential off the pine. It's definitely a breath of fresh air.
I mean...it was a good little flick into the box but vision, idea, and touch being first class is a bit much. I dont want to overrate this guy too much...
A big concern right now at Huddersfield is to downplay the expectations of Duane Holmes Here is an article from today's Yorkshire post Paterson urges caution over Holmes expectations Here is a must read passage
This was the manager a certain US prospect needed when he was a teenager. Also (and only tangentially related) , Sup?!?!
We now know Greg Seltzer is yet another journalist who reads Bigsoccer because he posted this exact screenshot on his blog. Also, Duane played the final 13 minutes in HTFC's thrashing of Yeovil Town.
While I wouldn't want his personal life to mimic MJ's, if Sup? is half - hell, a third - as good at soccer as Jackson was as a performer, we have a hell of player on our hands. Just as pretty, too!
Game seen on Fox Sports 2. Duane subbed on in the 57th minute of Huddersfield's 3rd Round FA Cup match vs. non-league Grimsby Town, a huge, come-from-behind 3-2 win. Grimsby scored mere minutes after Holmes entereded, going ahead 2-1. While Holmes wasn't all that great today -- a few unforced errors and some indecision on the attacking end -- he certainly played a part. Down 2-1 in the 85th minute, Duane unleashed a thunderous shot from the top of the 18 which forced a save that was hit into the pathway of a Huddersfield player to easily finish --tieing the match at 2. A cruel, unlucky, freakish own goal in the 90th minute gave HTFC the win and passage into the next round of the FA Cup. Holmes was deployed more centrally today and was tasked with a playmaking role. Like I alluded to, Holmes was a little off today but certainly played role in the dramatic come-from-behind win for HTFC. The announcers, several times, mentioned his American roots and how HTFC were very high on his potential.
I saw the game and I concur. Holmes is a little play-maker that wants to score, he is quick as a rabbit, he has good speed but is not a blazing one, his view of the field and running of the play is very good. His decision making sometime fails him because he is so focus on the attack. His Achilles heel is his lack of defense, you can tell that is something that he doesn't like to do, he trots to his defensive position even when the play is in his side. He is a promising little player that can one day help our national team, as long as his shortcomings are addressed.
He's certainly fun to watch. The kid beams with energy --- not of the headless chicken variety, mind you. He finds holes and just attacks them. He's tough to defend when he's coming at you and definitely has defenders on their heels. Right now, his decision making is more risk than absolute reward. Well, actually that's not a good way to phrase it. I think it's better stated: Holmes' indecision (masked as inexperience) leads to some plays / passes that are a little risky but thus far he's such an unknown those plays/passes can pay off. I pickup that he kind of recognizes this. As he gets games under his belt, his decision making will seem a little less risky, rushed, and more precise and potentially head-turning. Holmes' talent is pretty evident. I like what HTFC is doing with him -- slowly bringing him on with a slight bit of caution and reserve. It will be fun to see HTFC eventually say, "have it, kid. Show 'em whatcha got."