Newcastle United make the 200-mile round trip to Huddersfield Town’s Kirklees Stadium tomorrow in what will be the Magpies’ second of three away trips in the space of a week.
The game has great significance with Huddersfield looking to close the gap on the automatic promotion spots, while Newcastle could move 11 points clear of third place with a win.
Rafa Benitez will be hoping for a better performance from his side than he witnessed in the reverse fixture, when the Magpies were beaten 2-1 at St James’ Park.
Ahead of the highly anticipated fixture, I caught up with confident Huddersfield Town fan James Hart to get his insight on the game from the opposition’s perspective.
Huddersfield have impressed almost everyone with not only their league position but the beautiful football being played. Is it all down to the work of David Wagner as the media suggest or is there more to your success?
David Wagner has certainly been the face of all the changes at the club, we’ve even officially branded it the “Wagner Revolution”, but the truth is there’s lots more going on behind the scenes.
This has all come from a desire from our excellent Chairman, Dean Hoyle, for a “step change” in how we did things. We’ve introduced £180 season tickets to attract fans, and then replaced our chief executive with someone more in-line with this “fans-first” mindset. We’ve changed our training complex inside out, and hired a wealth of new health, fitness and analysis staff. Meanwhile, our Director of Football, Stuart Webber, has played a huge part; our new signings have almost all proved to be fantastic Championship players, but at bargain prices, meanwhile it was rumoured to be Webber who found David Wagner in the first place.
Contrary to popular belief, we were in contact with Wagner way before Liverpool started talking to his mate Klopp! However, saying that, none of this investment would’ve taken place if Wagner wasn’t such a great manager and such a huge success. Under previous “merry-go-round” managers, you always got the feeling that funds were there for investment, but that the chairman was not convinced there was a project worth piling our limited budget into.
Huddersfield made nine changes ahead of their game vs Manchester City – fielding a significantly weaker line-up. Did you agree with Wagner’s decision to prioritise the chance to cut the gap on the automatic promotion spots over the cup?
I was at the City replay, and whilst seeing us get pumped 5-1 wasn’t that fun, I think 99% of fans fully support the decision to prioritise the league in such a big way. This season is potentially the only chance we’ll ever get at the big time, we’d never forgive ourselves if injuries or lack of fitness resulted in a drop of form.
That being said, our so-called “reserves” have played every cup game so far, and it’s been useful for them to get valuable game time, so that if they are needed for the league, they are fresh and ready to go.
Newcastle have had a few standout players this season. Which player(s) do you fear as a fan coming up against us?
If Dwight Gayle plays, he will obviously be a player we’re worried about; remember him scoring against us in his Peterborough days, and he’s really pushed on from there.
Defending set pieces have been a weakness of ours, so combined with his all-round quality, Jonjo Shelvey is a fear.
Finally, to complete my obvious choices, Matt Ritchie is one of those rare Championship players who can combine pace and dribbling ability with genuine end product.
It worries me how much quality you have all over the pitch!
If you could take just one Newcastle player at Huddersfield, who would it be and why?
For the reasons above, Matt Ritchie. One of the main gripes Town fans have with Rajiv van la Parra, one of our star wingers, is that whilst he’s great on the ball, he very rarely comes up with a goal or assist too. Ritchie appears to have it all. I would’ve chosen Shelvey, but we currently have the best midfielder in the league in Aaron Mooy, so he’d have to settle for the bench!
Lastly, score prediction.
I wouldn’t be a Town fan without predicting a Town win. 2-1 to Huddersfield.
