Huddersfield Town are currently on course to have their best season in almost half a century.
When David Wagner was appointed Huddersfield Town manager back in November 2015, there was little more than a quiet optimism around the John Smith’s Stadium. Whilst the former United States international arrived from Borussia Dortmund with some pedigree, he had never been the head coach of a first team before, and there is no shortage of untested managers who have endured a hard time in England’s second tier.
After an unspectacular debut season in the Championship, Wagner enjoyed an extraordinary start to the 2016-17 season. Eleven games into the season, Wagner’s men were top, with many – especially those teams in and around them – waiting for the club to fall away.
Whilst they are no longer the league’s leaders, the Terriers are still very much in the promotion picture, and following victory over fellow promotion hopefuls and Yorkshire rivals Leeds United, they currently sit fourth in the table, with a game in hand over Reading, the only team between themselves and the top two Newcastle and Brighton.
Huddersfield Town manager David Wagner
Talking exclusively to HITC Sport, former Huddersfield Town marksman Kevin Stonehouse praised the work David Wagner has done in West Yorkshire, as well as giving his views on how the season is likely to pan out for arguably the surprise package in this season’s promotion race.
“He [David Wagner] has done a terrific job. The players are playing for him and whenever I’ve watched them they look good going forward and strong at the back. I saw them against Leeds and I thought they looked impressive, Wagner seems to have brought in a fresh, more European philosophy.”
Read also: Why Huddersfield Town are genuine Championship promotion contenders
Stonehouse spent just two years at Leeds Road between 1982 and 1984, scoring 4 goals in 22 outings, having joined the Terriers from Blackburn Rovers for £30,000, where he had a more impressive goals to game ratio.
Stonehouse believes Wagner has brought a European philosophy to Huddersfield
Born in the north east of England, Stonehouse has since returned to the region, working as a scout for Huddersfield’s divisional rivals Newcastle United. The 57-year-old watches players aged 21 and under in an attempt to identify young talents, and believes reserve teams playing senior teams is beneficial to the development of young players.
With regards to Huddersfield Town’s promotion hopes, Stonehouse think they’re a good bet for the play-off’s, but cannot see past Newcastle and Brighton for the two automatic spots.
The retired forward told us, “I think they’ll make the play-off’s. Newcastle and Brighton should get the automatic places. Brighton’s recent last minute equaliser suggests they’ve got that extra belief which is crucial.”
Stonehouse is backing Newcastle and Brighton for promotion to the Premier League
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