Harry Toffolo gives Town fans something to chew on

Graeme Rayner, Feature Writer
Twitter: @b1g_daddy_g

Harry Toffolo today joins Huddersfield on a 2.5 year deal from Lincoln City, for a fee believed to be around £400,000, as predicted by yours truly.

This transfer was one I predicted in my transfer window preview last month, although I was hedging my bets and his inclusion was a bit ob an obvious choice. (see what I said here)

What’s his back story then? What makes him the Cowleys’ “go to” guy?

Didn’t quite cut the mustard at Norwich

Harry is 24, and spent his early footballing years at Norwich in their youth ranks, joining them as a 13 year old, and later joining their academy. He made just two first team appearances in the League Cup, and also played once for the under 23s in the bizarre new format of the EFL trophy.

Instead, as is often the way with promising youngsters at clubs in the top divisions, he had several loan spells - he played 30 times for Swindon town in League 1 (2014/5 season) , 7 games for Rotherham in a one month loan spell to the then Championship club (2015/6), and another 7 for Peterborough in League 1 (believe that, anyone?) the same season. The next season saw him play 22 times in League 1 on loan at Scunthorpe, before his final season as a Norwich player saw him go on loan to Doncaster and play 17 times for the League 1 side before an injury saw his season ling deal terminated in mid-December.

Let’s not mention Millwall

In January 2018, just a month after his loan deal was terminated, he transferred to Millwall on a permanent deal until the end of the same season. He didn’t play a game for them, and I suspect (although there is very little information available) he may have struggled to get fit and break through into first team reckoning.

Danny and Nicky to the rescue

After Harry’s contract at Millwall came to an unspectacular end, he reportedly had several offers from sides in League 1 but was convinced to join Lincoln City, who had just reached the League 2 play offs in their first season back in the Football League. He started in every league game as they were promoted to League 1 as champions, and was only substituted 3 times, missing just 35 minutes. In 46 league games, he scored 3 goals and assisted 7 times, with 9 yellow cards.

This season, in League 1, he’s played every minute of The Imps’ 26 league games, scoring once, assisting twice and being booked thrice. This consistency has to be admired, especially given the fact that he started the season being managed by the Cowley Brothers and has seen this change. He also featured at the JSS as Lincoln beat Town in the League Cup, a game which saw many Town fans hoping for the almost impossible - could we attract Lincoln’s management team to our corner of West Yorkshire?

Harry Toffolo has already played under the Cowley brothers at the JSS this season….

Doing the right thing?

With his contract being up for renewal at the end of the season, and clubs sniffing around, it’s no surprise that the rumoured “gentlemen’s agreement” between the two clubs that Town would not approach Lincoln for any of their players has fallen by the wayside. Put simply, why would we sit idly by and see someone we clearly wanted to sign go to another club? There’s no suggestion that Town have instigated a move out of the blue, and clearly no one has forced Lincoln to accept any offer from us, but there have been some rumblings of the Cowleys perhaps lacking some class here, and I thin that’s unfair.

Toffolo playing for the Engalnd Under 20s in 2015

Why Huddersfield? Why now?

Just like Andy King. he ticks a lot of our boxes, buit for different reasons. Let’s have a quick look at those attributes:

The Cowley connection

Danny and Nicky have made it clear they feel a need for a certain type of player. Clearly, they know this lad better than most - he’s never played more games for any other manager than Danny Cowley in professional football. They will know what they are getting, and it seems like he’s an off the peg option that may well go straight into the starting line up.

Unreliable alternatives

At times this year, Jaden Brown has been superb, but this is his debut season playing first team football with any regularity, and it’s perhaps unfair to expect him to”bring it” twice a week, every week.

Flo Haderjonaj is not a left back, although he has won a few fans round of late with his application and hasn’t really let anyone down when he’s been asked to play out of position.

And finally, Terence Kongolo is “persona non grata”, and is unlikely to ever play for Town again. I for one am sad, but pragmatic about this.

We’ve even seen Lewis O’Brien being asked to play left back against Leeds, but that was never an option for anything other than emergencies.

Town’s buying policy

Without wanting to start a debate about finances, it’s clear we are watching the pennies. Toffolo represents great value - combine all of the qualities we know - he plays almost all of the minutes in the league, fits the Cowley mould etc, plus is seen as Mr Consistent by Lincoln fans, many of whom say he was their best player last season. Add to this his likely highly affordable wages, modest fee and his attitude to life as a footballer (He won Community Player of the Season for Lincoln last year, a reflection of the work he puts in off the pitch)

Conclusion

In summary, this is arguably the most exciting signing this window to date. Town have historically struggled to have a reliable, solid option at left back over the years (often relying on loans) and Chris Lowe’s departure last summer is arguably the one we have felt most keenly (other than Aaron Mooy). Toffolo shows every sign of being a long term solution to a very long term problem.

He’s young, talented, dependable and has good character, and I predict he’ll quickly become a fans’ favourite in Huddersfield.

Welcome to Huddersfield, Harry.

Someone please update this and the caption before publishing!!!