Former Huddersfield Town goalkeeper turned Radio Leeds pundit Matt Glennon has given his thoughts on Town’s January transfer window business and gives his views on what the future holds for the Terriers in their bid to stay in the Sky Bet Championship.
Glennon, 44, pulls no punches when talking about Sorba Thomas’ loan to Blackburn and the forward’s recent comments and insists something needs to change – and quick – if Town want to be playing at this level next season.
The Terriers currently sit third bottom of the division and are three points adrift of safety. They face QPR on Saturday who haven’t won a game in their last seven fixtures.
On the club’s precarious position Glennon said: “Since coming back from the World Cup break Town have been sluggish. Personally I don’t think there has been enough improvement.
“Fotheringham has come in and said he wants attacking football and to see plenty of goals but then tries to play it safe tactically. I just don’t think they are offering enough going forward and we need goals to win matches.
“I think overall there hasn’t been enough improvement and it’s been rather timid since the return.”
It is quite clear from glancing at fans’ views on social media that boss Fotheringham’s days at Town could be numbered if the team’s form isn’t turned around and fast.
On how long he thinks the Scot has left, Glennon said: “I am struggling, to be honest. For me, he doesn’t make the right tactical choices in games.
“Take the Coventry game, he made like for like subs when we were 2-0 down. The first half was an adequate performance but the second half was terrible. Yet he came out after the game saying it was a superb performance. I’m afraid he was watching a different game to me.
“No one wants to see people lose their jobs, he’s obviously very passionate about doing well at the club, which is great. However, he and his staff need to start getting results on the pitch.
“We know what happens when managers don’t win games and that’s the nature of football. Yes, when he came in he had lots of injuries, it was a new place for him to get used to.
“However, he now has a near full squad to pick from including new players. He’s got used to things here now so there are no excuses and we are going into a number of games where he has to win.
“The fixtures after this next four just get harder and harder. He needs to start coming up with answers because the club needs to stay in the Championship.”
On the January transfer window and the ins and outs at the club Glennon thinks the Terriers have done good business. He said: “I think the Czech keeper Tomas Vaclik is a great signing. He is very experienced and played at a good level.
“Anthony Knockaert is a good player to bring in, again experienced and can change a game. You might not get 90 minutes from him but you get that bit of quality.
“The only thing missing is I’d liked to have seen a goalscoring midfielder come in, someone who gets forward. David Kasumu, Jonny Hogg and Scott High are all not goalscorers. However, overall we have got experienced players in through the door, injured players – bar Lee Nicholls – are back so there can be no excuses now.”
On the goalkeeping situation specifically, Glennon added: “Vaclik comes in as number one and Jordan Smith will be number two. Nicholas Bilokapic, whilst has done well, he needs to go out on loan again and get more minutes.
“I’ve been in his position at 19, and although he might be fuming at the situation, a young goalkeeper is not what Town need right now. They need experience and quality and that’s what they’ve gone for.”
One player who left the club on loan is Sorba Thomas, swapping a relegation battle for a promotion chase with Blackburn Rovers.
On his arrival at Ewood Park, Thomas had some choice words to say, insisting that, after coming back from the World Cup with Wales, he believes he should be playing for a team at the top of the division and fighting for the play-offs. Glennon believes the Welshman’s comments are misguided at best.
He said: “I don’t like his comments and that’s why he’s not here, because you need everyone pulling in the same direction and to fight against relegation.
“He obviously didn’t want to do that, he talks about wanting to play at the top of the division. Well, his form doesn’t show that for Huddersfield Town, his setpieces haven’t been good enough and his temperament was clearly not right.
“So whilst he can enjoy his little conversations with his agent, we need people at the club who are prepared to fight and give everything they have on Saturdays and Tuesdays. You can’t have players just turning up when they want to in a relegation battle.”
On whether he believes Thomas will pull on a blue and white shirt again, he added: “Who knows? He has three years left on his deal, there’s always a way back.
“If he comes back and fights for his shirt then great, everything should be forgiven. I just don’t think he’s well informed with the comments he is making and can be easily led by questions he’s asked. He’d have to do a lot of work to come back and get the fans back on side.”
Town owner Dean Hoyle has put the club up for sale but all has gone quiet on that front and Glennon said the reason for that seems simple.
“I think if we were mid-table Dean would have sold it by now, he wants out and wants to get away for the good of his health. However, I think the reason we haven’t heard anything is simply because people are waiting to see what league we will be in.”
Finally, does Glennon think Town will stay up? “It’s in the balance. I hope so, but I really don’t know whether we will or not.”
