As the season is winding down, so is our popular ‘A View From The Enemy’ series. This weekend we take on Huddersfield Town, so that means a catch-up with hugely popular Terrier Blog.
Although already relegated this term, Town were amongst the best feel-good stories just a year or so ago. Under David Wagner’s guidance, they actually took three points off Manchester United in this fixture, although it’s fair to say their fans aren’t as confident this time around…
Jordan @ Old Trafford Faithful: David Wagner pulled off the impossible in this fixture last season, how are you feeling about new manager Jan Siewert? Do you have high hopes for the weekend?
John @ Terrier Blog: I don’t think I’m alone in feeling like this, but I have absolutely no confidence in Jan Siewert at this point. There wasn’t really anywhere to go for Siewert when he took over, we were already doomed, but we’ve just got worse and worse.
Prior to his arrival we were on the worst run of form in our entire history and now we’re looking back at that time fondly! After losing 5-0 to Liverpool last weekend and playing terribly, Siewert angered the fans by declaring his ‘pride’ at the performance.
Am I confident ahead of the weekend? No.
Jordan @ OTF: I have to ask, how much does relegation hurt? Do you think you’ll be able to bounce back immediately?
John @ TB: I wouldn’t say it hurts exactly, at this point in time I’m apathetic rather than disappointed. Financially it’s impossible for teams like ours to compete in this league. Your ‘noisy neighbours’ have a net spend of half a billion in the past 5 seasons so with that in mind, what’s left for teams like Huddersfield?
I doubt we’ll be bouncing back anytime soon either. Siewert has a mammoth task ahead of him in the summer as there are perhaps a dozen players that need to leave the club to benefit both parties. I’m predicting a season of mid-table mediocrity next year, perhaps a relegation battle if Siewert remains in charge for any real amount of time.
Jordan @ OTF: What do you make of the decision to sack Jose Mourinho?
John @ TB: I’ll be honest, I dislike Jose Mourinho as I think many football fans do but I think he shouldered too much of the blame for what’s happened at Old Trafford recently. Objectively if you look at the players he had at his disposal, he was doing a decent job.
Being Manchester United and being Jose Mourinho will only get you so far, especially when you have Phil Jones, Chris Smalling and Ashley Young in your back-four.
Jordan @ OTF: How do you think Ole Solskjaer will get on? Will he see out next season as manager?
Now that the honeymoon period is over the rest of the footballing world seems to be finally understanding that there are big problems at United. Solskjaer’s job at United next season is similar to Siewert’s at Huddersfield.
Both managers need to make big changes in the playing staff and how they both do that will determine their success and longevity. I’d hazard a guess that Solskjaer won’t be United manager at the end of next season.
I can’t see the United hierarchy bucking the trend of the past 5 years and astutely backing their manager in the transfer window. Solskjaer will take the blame for poor recruitment as Mourinho, Van Gaal and Moyes did before him.
Jordan @ OTF: Siewert or Solskjaer for Huddersfield? Who would you choose? (I think there’s a genuine debate that the former has a better pedigree…)
John @ TB: I suspect they’ll have a lot in common very soon, both will have been relegated from the Premier League and subsequently sacked in the Championship after a poor start. That being said I think I’d take anyone over Siewert at the moment so I’d welcome Solskjaer with open arms!
Jordan @ OTF: If you could sign one player from United for Huddersfield, who would you choose?
John @ TB: Realistically we could sign any player from United and they would improve our squad. If I had to choose one player I’d go for Romelu Lukaku, he may not be the best striker in the Premier League but he would improve our squad enormously.
Huddersfield are currently third in the Golden Boot running with just 20 goals all season, less than Mane and Salah…
Jordan @ OTF: On the flip, if United were to sign one player from Town, who would you suggest?
John @ TB: Aaron Mooy. The Australian midfielder is by far our best player and has been inexplicably sidelined by Jan Siewert in recent months. Mooy undoubtedly has the talent to play for a top 10 Premier League club and I expect him to be one of the first to leave in the summer.
Jordan @ OTF: Score prediction for the weekend?
John @ TB: 4-0 to United. As a team, we like to have a lot of possession in safe areas whilst playing a high-line. United may be low on confidence but your counter-attacking ability will absolutely destroy us at the weekend.
There have been mooted rumours of a pitch invasion when United take the lead at the weekend though so fingers-crossed, the game gets abandoned and we don’t have to sit through the demolition job!
Jordan @ OTF: Crikey, sounds like it could be fun… We’ll go for 4-0 too… Thanks John!
Please, go check out Terrier Blog and send John and the team some love. You can also follow their Twitter account here.
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