Huddersfield Season Preview - Can Terriers defy the odds for third season running?

Having reached the Premier League against all odds and then exceeded expectations for the second season running to beat the drop, David Wagner’s modus operandi is to establish Huddersfield as a top-flight side. The German is having to attempt that on a modest budget, however, and has gone down the route of signing young players that will be eager to prove a point. While most fans hope for progression, if the Terriers could repeat last season’s finish it would be seen as another big success.

One to Watch - Philip Billing

Many Huddersfield supporters would have expected to see more of Billing last season but the youngster only started eight of 16 league appearances as Aaron Mooy and Jonathan Hogg earned Wagner’s faith. That same pairing is likely to start the season but the 22-year-old should be more involved and has seen plenty of action in pre-season to suggest that that may be the case. The young Dane would add some height to the Terriers in the middle of the park and is capable of stepping up to the role of either one of his senior teammates.

Best Signing - Adama Diakhaby

The French forward is one of said prospects that will be hoping to show that he is capable of playing week-in, week-out at this level and his ability to play across the line of attack should certainly play in his favour. The 22-year-old has only started 13 top-flight matches in his career, so his price tag represents a gamble, but having had a direct hand in a goal every 199 minutes in Ligue 1 in total (six goals, three assists), he certainly has potential. He’ll likely line up from the left but will face competition out wide from fellow youngsters Ramadan Sobhi and Abdelhamid Sabiri.

✍️Welcome to #htafc, Adama Diakhaby! (SE) pic.twitter.com/MP8RTn5tsI

— Huddersfield Town (@htafcdotcom) July 20, 2018

Area of Weakness

Going forwards, Huddersfield don’t really have a great deal of invention, which is perhaps why Wagner seems to have signed players that can be a weapon on the counter attack. Alex Pritchard will hope to settle into life at the John Smith’s Stadium in the number ten role and try to have more of an influence but he has yet to impress in the top tier and beyond the 25-year-old the squad is lacking guile.

Prediction / Best Bet

The transfer window has been understated and somewhat risky from the Terriers perspective, and if none of their new young signings can make a significant impact they could be in real trouble. The spirit is there, of that there is no question, but that can only take you so far and while a price of 2.25 with Unibet on Huddersfield to be relegated isn’t high, there’s still enough value in it following an underwhelming summer.