23/24 Squad building - The Centre Backs
(Image: HTAFC)
And for Town’s sake, each mistake
Ah, you forgave
And soon both of us learned to trust
Not run away, it was no time to play
We build it up and build it up and build it up
And now we’re solid
Solid as a rock
That's what The Town are
That's what we've got, oh
Matt Shaw, Founder.
Twitter: @TTCMatt
SOLID, SOLID AS A ROCK! Absolute banger that. The songs have returned to the articles.
It only feels like yesterday when we sat and watched Richard Stearman attempt to cruyff turn his way past the Millwall attack, Richard Keogh defending on half way to then have to turn and chase attackers with the speed and precision of an octogenarian (sorry Grandma) and Tommy Elphick trying to shoulder the ball back to his keeper from 35 yards (it barely went 10). Those were the days my friend. We had it good in 21/22 though! Pearson, Lees and Levi Colwill were solid and uncompromising, and it’s no surprise to any Town fan to see Colwill go on and push his way into the Premier League limelight and win accolades with England u21’s, we were quite spoilt. Roll forward one season and Town lose the services of Colwill but replace with another centre back on loan from a Champions League club. Luke Mbete. Cue the return of the good old days! You win some, you lose some. Mbete aside, Town were still relatively good at the back last season after a ropy start. Michal Helik’s signature turned out to be an inspiration and after a rocky start, Tom Lees returned to his reliable old self. Helik’s stats stood up to any defender in the division, I mean, check them out!
Tom Lees wasn’t a million miles away from Helik and Matty Pearson came on strong in the last 10 games, as well scooping the Blue & White Player of The Year Award (bit strong I thought).
Pearson came on strong at the end of last season.
So, Matt. ‘ow come we conceded so many goals last season if we’re so good at the back?
One thing to bear in mind despite my effusion of the backline is that Town were still the sixth most porous side in the division with five of those clubs finishing below us including the bottom three. According to stats site FBRef, seven goals were the result of player errors and only one of those was a centre back (Helik v Coventry). When looking at the data it looks like Town’s defensive frailties stem from fullback and midfield. Another contributing factor was injury. Matty Pearson was unfit for the best part of a year, Helik spent the early part of the season recovering from injury and Tom Lees has picked up a knock this pre-season, so the worry is whether the backup to the defensive trio is capable enough to fill in.
The systems of Carlos Corberan Neil Warnock
Town have a lovely mesh of experience in Tom Lees mixed with Pearson and Helik in their prime years and Rarmani Edmonds-Green entering that zone too. Will Boyle’s departure (I did the graph before he left and cba changing it) has opened a debate as to whether Town need to strengthen in this area but let’s take a look below…
OUTS
Romoney Crichlow - Released.
Michael Parker - Released.
Joseph Johnson - Released.
Luke Mbete - Returned to parent club.
Will Boyle - Undisclosed, Wrexham.
No surprises with the retained list, and a good move for Will Boyle who I’m sure all Town fans would wish the best of luck to. He’s a top lad who always gave 100% whenever he played.
INS
Ok let’s have a look at our options.
Tom Lees
Age: 32
Contract: Expiring 2025
Verdict: Carry on!
Lees was excellent in the 21/22 season and after a difficult start to 22/23 he struck up a strong partnership with Michal Helik which was the backbone of our crazy last ten game run that helped guide us to safety. At 32, Lees still has plenty in the tank and should he stay fit, then I don’t see any reason to deviate from the defence that finished last season. Carry on!
Matty Pearson
Age: 29
Contract: Expiring 2024
Verdict: New contract discussions.
Matty Pearson proved to be some miss at the end of 21/22 and throughout most of 22/23. Mark Fotheringham was desperate to get Pearson back out onto the field and arguably put him out too soon. However, once Pearson found his sharpness, he was an incredible force at the back end of last season. Should Pearson’s injury worries be behind him, it might be wise to start contract negotiations as he has 12 months remaining, and surely has far more than that to give. Sign him up!
Michal Helik
Age: 27
Contract: Expiring 2025 (1 year club option)
Verdict: Star defender.
What a signing Michal Helik turned out to be. Helik used the fuel from missing the World Cup to channel that into a series of solid performances in the new year and even came back stronger after one blip against Coventry. Statistically one of the best centre backs in The Championship last season he fully deserved Town’s Player of The Year gong come May. Going forward, I imagine Helik will continue to be the cornerstone of Town’s defence with the only question being who partners him in a back four?
Rarmani Edmonds-Green
Age: 24
Contract: Expiring 2024 (1 year option)
Verdict: Must work his way into the starting XI more.
“Who the bloody hell’s REG!?” It didn’t take Neil Warnock too long to work out who Rarmani Edmonds-Green was. A Swiss Army knife of a defender, REG appeared at centre back, right back, central midfield and right wing back for Town last season. REG’s versatility and positive attitude has endeared himself to Neil Warnock but it’s now time for the Londoner to try break the starting XI with more regularity. I can see REG playing at potentially right back and at no6 when the season gets under way or on the right-hand side of a back 3, either way, next season feels very now or never.
Loick Ayina
Age: 20
Contract: Expiring 2024
Verdict: New contract.
“I have been lucky enough to see Ronaldo, Messi, and Lewandowski in the flesh but none of them compared to what I saw from Loick Ayina, incredible! When you're relieved Will Boyle is coming on as sub it says it all!” It’s fair to say that our podcaster Richard Kosmala was a little flabbergasted with Ayina’s first start for Huddersfield Town. Several mistimed tackles, a yellow card, and an early substitution to stop him from being sent off all wrapped up within thirty-eight manic minutes constituted a very entertaining debut. It would have been easy for Ayina to slink back into the comfort of the B Team but instead he went out on loan to struggling Dundee Utd in the SPL and excelled. The Frenchman made 13 appearances and was very well thought of at Tannadice. With this additional experience Ayina could be a one to watch for this coming season.
Town, recently burnt by the Etienne Camara contract situation also need to be on the ball for Loick Ayina. If he kicks on as expected, then Town need to tie down what could be a very promising centre back.
Mustapha Olagunju
Age: 21
Contract: Expiring 2024
Verdict: Loan
Mustapha Olagunju hasn’t played first team football for over 2 years due to a serious knee injury picked up in July 2021. The injury sidelined the promising centre back for 20 months and he has only been able to get in a handful of B Team minutes towards the end of the season. Prior to injury, Olagunju had spent time on loan with Port Vale in League 2 where he played six times but only for a total of 131 minutes. The club may want to look at getting him back towards that level but will also want to monitor his knee in the interim period.
David Adewoju
Age: 19
Contract: Expiring 2024
Verdict: Loan
David Adewoju’s development gathered pace last season with his first loan out where he played 5 times for Bradford Park Avenue. This season Town will more than likely keep him around the B Team for a while but look to get more minutes for him away from the club at a higher level.
Versatility
As I mentioned above, the depth below the main three centre backs is questionable. Neil Warnock likes to either play with a back 3 or 4 and with Rarmani Edmonds-Green often utilised as a no6 (twice so far in pre-season), this could present challenges during the season should we suffer a similar injury spell like last season. However, Town do have versatility which can fill temporary holes with Jonathan Hogg playing well during 21/22 as a spare centre back in a three, Yuta Nakayama capable of playing in the middle and Ollie Turton has also showed that he is comfortable being a covering defender in a back 3. This of course is in addition to Loick Ayina potentially pushing into the side.
Centre Back’s Verdict
With money alleging to be tight down at the John Smith’s Stadium, centre back is not really an area of deep, immediate concern. On the contrary, the middle of Town’s defence is one of our strongest areas but during the season eyes and ears may start to turn towards successors for Tom Lees and/or Matty Pearson depending on performances and contract resolutions. A mild concern I have is that if centre backs become injured then Town may start to weaken the fullback area to plug gaps in the middle of defence with Yuta Nakayama and Rarmani Edmonds-Green prime candidates to move from other positions. This could potentially destabilise two positions rather than cover for one, but this also depends on the wildcard that is Loick Ayina and how much progress he makes.
Transfer options
If Town were flush with cash and had a lot of space on the wage bill, I would be recommending either 19 year old Charlie Hughes from Wigan or 20 year old Ronnie Edwards from Peterborough as a signing to make now to bed in over the course of the next 12/24 months to eventually replace Tom Lees and/or Matty Pearson. However, this season focus is at the top end of the pitch, so such luxuries as signing a young up and coming player to park on the bench are likely beyond us for now. If Town’s budget allowed, then Axel Tuanzebe who is out of contract presents an interesting option and one that would probably usurp an existing centre back if fit. Tuanzebe had a loan spell at Stoke in 22/23 after spending a significant period at the start of the season out injured, but the main obstacle is likely to be wages with the former England u21 man having spent much of his career so far with Man Utd and Aston Villa.
Loan options
A talented young player on loan would be difficult to obtain as we could not promise first team minutes unless they were exceptional due to the solidity of Helik, Lees and Pearson. Clubs would likely to be unwilling to part with a player to just be cover for Huddersfield Town unless either we paid handsomely for the privilege (which as I mentioned earlier is probably not likely to happen this summer), or it was a loan with a view to a permanent deal and I don’t think this is an area we need to do that in for now. Although! Should Town want a flexible defender then Nathan Ferguson of Crystal Palace is a highly rated England u20 international who has yet to make a mark at Crystal Palace (partly due to injury) so may be open for another short spell in The Championship.
