23/24 Squad building - The Right Backs
(Image: HTAFC)
Matt Shaw, Founder.
Twitter: @TTCMatt
Well, here’s a little insight into how slowly I write these articles. Since I started and finished the goalkeeper’s section, The Nagle has landed and delivered his first press conference, Neil Warnock went on the hunt for the source of the original Negroni in Italy and returned, Mark Cartwright was appointed Sporting Director and Josh Koroma signed a new deal. I’ve no idea how Chicken knocks several out a day… Then does the articles on top to boot. Masturbation jokes, YOU KNEW WHAT YOU SIGNED UP FOR WHEN YOU CLICKED THE LINK!
How many players played right back/right wing back last season? You don’t know do you, neither did I and it’s surprising! Ollie Turton, Kane Kesler-Hayden, Matt Lowton, Brodie Spencer, Sorba Thomas, Matty Pearson, Ben Jackson (briefly), Connor Mahoney, David Kasumu, Rarmani Edmonds-Green makes 10. On one hand it’s great to have flexibility in the squad but on the other that sort of wild inconsistency in team selection makes it hard to create momentum and cohesion on the field. Indeed, it was the inclusion of Matty Pearson at right back or right sided centre back for the final 9 games which assisted with making Town more solid and providing the base from which Town’s late run was so successful. Town conceded 7 goals in 8 games with Pearson at right back in that run and 55 in 36 without him filling the right flank. Matty Pearson might not be the man for the role going forward but he was certainly the man last season and deserved the plaudits that came his way, even if I thought the shouts of Player of The Season were a little bit mad in all honesty.
Town’s revolving right back door was of course due to Ollie Turton’s ongoing injury problems. Town sold Spanish right back Pipa last summer and decided to go with youth product Brodie Spencer as the backup option to Turton. Early season games showed that stepping into the breach might have been a little too early for the Northern Ireland international hence the mad scramble of inconsistency across the season when Turton was injured. Turton isn’t expected back until September/October and pre-injury his form didn’t match his career best season of 2021/22, so Town have a decision to make here. Stick or twist?
The systems of Carlos Corberan Neil Warnock
Similar to last season, Town still have a large disparity in experience between Turton and Spencer without much in between in terms of an out and out fullback. This then raises concerns if Turton is to have further complications with injury or loss of form. I’ll discuss Town’s other options later, but for the purpose of this graph I have only chosen Town’s natural right backs. The systems Neil Warnock uses also indicates that Town’s first choice right back will either need to be able to tuck in to form a back 3 or push up to wing back on occasion.
OUTS
Matt Lowton - returned to parent club
Kaine Kesler-Hayden - returned to parent club.
Ok let’s have a look at our options.
Ollie Turton
Age: 30
Contract: Expiring 2025 with 1 year option.
Verdict: Out injured. Replacement required.
Ok, look. It’s no secret that I’ve always been a touch bemused by the love for “The Ginger Cafu”. Turton has his strengths in his ability to cover and his adaptability is a useful tool for the Neil Warnock arsenal as his versatility offers several solutions. However, this versatility doesn’t really offer a solution to Town’s right wingback role as Turton’s natural defensive instincts don’t always lend themselves to be the most enterprising option, but he can do a job. The main area of concern with Turton is injury. He missed 56% of last season and only completed 90 mins on 10 occasions. Turton is currently out with a cruciate ligament injury approximately until September/October and then there is a recovery and getting back to fitness period. Town need to be able to cover Turton sufficiently this season to avoid the mess of last season.
Brodie Spencer
Age: 19
Contract: Expiring 2024.
Verdict: Pre season scrutiny and new long term contract.
If you’d told me 12 months ago that Brodie Spencer would in the forthcoming season, make his first team bow for Town but only play on 5 occasions, completing 90 minutes three times, I’d have been slightly disappointed as my hopes were high for the boy from Cliftonville. Looking back with the gift of hindsight, Town and I perhaps got it slightly wrong and Spencer should really have gone out on loan to bridge the gap between the B Team and First XI. With Ollie Turton injured, all eyes will turn to Town’s trip to Cornwall to see how Spencer gets on under the watchful gaze of Neil Warnock and Ronnie Jepson. Last season’s form indicates that Spencer would benefit hugely from a loan to the division below, but you can’t rule out Neil Warnock inspiring the Northern Ireland International to make the jump to the first XI this term. Whether Spencer makes the breakthrough or not this season, Huddersfield Sporting Director Mark Cartwright needs to move quickly to arrange a new long-term deal for one of Town’s top prospects.
Neo Eccleston
Age: 19
Contract: Expiring 2024 (1 year option).
Verdict: B Team minutes.
Ex Chelsea youth player Neo Eccleston has quietly impressed coaching staff down at The MOHPC (Canalside). Eccleston is likely to continue his development within Town’s B team with a loan to non-league in the offing around Christmas should he perform to the level expected. How far can he go? We’ll have a better idea in 12 months’ time.
Right Back’s Verdict
Versatility
As mentioned earlier in this article, as well as recognized right backs Turton and Spencer, Town can call on others to ‘fill in’ if needs be. Matty Pearson, Rarmani Edmonds-Green, Loick Ayina and Aaron Rowe are players that have played right back for Town before at varying levels with Rowe and Edmonds-Green also playing wingback and Sorba Thomas has also played here for club and country.
Final Say
Huddersfield Town need a new right back. It’s as simple as that. With Turton out injured until potentially September/October and then likely to need significant recovery period, it leaves a glaring hole at the back. Brodie Spencer has a chance to stake a claim, but even if he does Town are still short of first team ready players should he fall foul of this year-long spate of ailments that the club has suffered from (seriously the injuries over the last 12 months have been mental). Town were able to muddle through last season at right back by rotating players around but should they want to make genuine progress up the league, solidifying the defence and creating consistency in this area is key.
Suggestions:
Town boss Neil Warnock has suggested several times this summer that money is tight so I’ve been looking towards the free and loan markets. There’s no such thing as a “free” player of course and loans also carry fees and costs but this seems like the most likely route Town will travel.
Loans
Conor Bradley, 19, Liverpool:
Bradley was an outstanding outlet for Bolton Wanderers last season and was thought of as one of the best players in League 1 last season, scooping The Trotters player of the season award. If Bradley was to be made available for another loan by Liverpool, then you would expect this to be at the end of the transfer window. It is thought that Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp will use pre-season to assess the Northern Ireland international and Premier League appearances may not be too far away should be excel. Should he not then Town would surely be one of several suitors for his signature and probably at the rear end of that queue if we’re honest with ourselves.
Cody Drameh, 21, Leeds:
Boooo Chesty’s etc etc. Yeah I know, but I’ve been a little bit of a fan of Drameh’s since his loan at Cardiff City last year. Drameh is capable of playing both right back and right wing back and was an important cog at the end of last season for Luton Town in their promotion to the Premier League, offering pace and athleticism down the right flank. With 12 months left on his contract, now might be a good time to jostle for pole position for a player rumoured to be unhappy down the road.
Bali Mumba, 21, Norwich:
Mumba spent last season on loan at Plymouth Argyle playing 41 times for the League 1 champions and was rewarded with a slot in the League 1 team of the season. Mumba is more prominent at wing back than full back, but his rapid pace creates opportunities for others to play in the free space and he outputs good numbers himself. 10 assists and 6 goals in his first full season is good going. Norwich manager David Wagner would surely look favourably on a phone call from his old club, so how about we shake hands? Well... The problem here is Max Aarons. The England u21 international is out of contract at Norwich, if he signs then Mumba could be available, if he leaves as rumoured then Mumba sounds like the ideal replacement. This is another situation that is unlikely to be resolved imminently.
Brooke Norton-Cuffy, 19, Arsenal:
Norton-Cuffy spent last season in The Championship with the first half at Rotherham Utd and the second at Coventry City. With physical prowess belying his 19 years, Norton-Cuffy is a powerful wing back with great pace that stretches the most miserly of defences. News of his availability would likely spark a Championship scramble and he’d be a pretty good fit for a Neil Warnock side too.
Frees
Ola Aina, 26, formerly of Torino:
Let’s start with the budget buster, the one who’s wages we likely can’t afford - good scouting, Matt. Aina has just left Torino after 4 seasons and over 100 Serie A appearances. Prior to that, the Chelsea academy product made over 30 Premier League appearances for Fulham and 46 Championship games for Hull. Aina has missed half of the last two seasons with muscular injuries so there are potential red flags to what would be a high earner, but a fully fit Ola Aina would surely be picked up by a top Championship side or bottom end Premier League club.
Sam Byram, 29, formerly of Norwich City:
Sam Byram has had a very stop, start career since leaving Leeds back in 2016. At Leeds, Byram spent 18 months under the tutelage of a certain Neil Warnock and excelled. Warnock knows the strengths of Byram who found himself used as a backup player at both West Ham and Norwich after leaving West Yorkshire. Being back-up to England u21 fullback Max Aarons is certainly no disgrace or surprise and Byram could be a very clever free transfer if Neil Warnock could get his form back to something like it was the last time he played in this fine county.
Regan Poole, 25, formerly of Lincoln City:
Poole has had many scouts crowding the press box at Sincil Bank over the last two years after delivering a string of consistent, solid and versatile displays. These displays have led the Manchester United academy product to win numerous accolades including the 21/22 player of the season and 22/23 supporter’s player of the year. Poole has made 131 appearances for Lincoln, playing in both full back positions, centre back, right wing back and in midfield, showing tenacity, aggression and defensive organisation. All things you would associate with a Neil Warnock player. Town though would have to fight off Sheffield Wednesday and QPR who are apparently strong front runners for his signature. EDIT: Snooze you lose, Matt1 He’s signed for Portsmouth - which is a surprise considering he seems Championship ready.
Steven Sessegnon, 23, formerly of Fulham:
Now for the budget option: Steven Sessegnon had struggled to leave the shadow of his twin brother Ryan in recent years, but a couple of loans to League 1 have seen the right sided player improve. Sessegnon spent last season on loan at Charlton where only 5 other defenders in the league blocked more crosses than him. Whilst his contributions were quite light, Sessegnon’s defensive improvements and versatility down the flank may be attractive. The deal would also likely to be easy to do considering the agency that Sessegnon is represented by.
