22/23 Squad building - The Right Backs
(Image: HTAFC)
Matt Shaw, Founder.
Twitter: @TTCMatt
Well, I did say during the intro that I was likely to be so tardy with this article that players would come and go before I finish it and alas my pal Pipa has left for pastures new. Ok, he wasn’t really my pal, I once met him in Leeds to get him to sign a few posters and did an interview on the podcast with him but I’m not sure that he’d recognise me if he fell off of his jet ski at my feet (podcast episode in-jokes ahoy), but I’m still classing him as a ‘pal’, so there! So, what does Pipa’s transfer mean for the right back slot and how does this effect the balance of the squad? Well… In my uneducated opinion it effects it quite a bit. Ollie Turton as surprisingly wonderful as he was last season has a specific skillset which doesn’t really lend itself to playing wing-back. Pipa on the other hand was your archetypal wing-back, adventurous, speedy, good stamina if a little erratic (ok maybe quite erratic) but could seamlessly fit into several right sided slots without any performance degradation. So, is there a hole that needs filling? Well maybe not. As I mentioned on the first page, Carlos likes footballers who are flexible and adaptable and Town do have a number of players who can play on the right flank dependent on which system he chooses to pick. There is a problem potentially in that currently there isn’t a proven player who can adapt seamlessly in game from defensive right back to attacking wing back like there is on the left with both Toffolo and Ruffels but Carlos does have options game by game, so let’s explore them.
In over two years of ‘Carlosball’ Town’s right backs have predominantly played a supporting role to a winger. Both Pipa and Turton have provided underlaps and deep support to either Sorba Thomas, Danel Sinani or Isaac Mbenza in 2020/21. Pipa and Juninho Bacuna in his brief forays being the more adventurous would end up in central areas behind the striker trying to influence play, whereas Turton tended to offer the safer option of a pass backwards for Sorba or Sinani and a deep crossing option. As wingbacks on the right though the onus has been to attack the outside which Sorba Thomas excelled at during his early run of form last season. Defensively in a 4 is where Turton came into his own last season. Whereas the ex-Blackpool man may not have been Town’s best 1-on-1 defender, his covering of others was exemplary and he formed a key part of a defensive rear-guard that was so difficult to breach. Next season if Town are wanting to shift to a more attacking shape in the latter parts of a game you may see a substitution of the right back or Turton switch to a right centre back to allow a more attack minded player take his place on the flank, but there is a wild card which I will chat about below.
The systems of Carlos Corberan
Town have a bit of a disparity in experience between Turton and Spencer without much in between in terms of out and out fullback, this raises a slight concern if Turton was to get injured for a length of time.
OUTS
Pipa - Olympiacos.
Ok let’s have a look at our options.
Ollie Turton
Age: 29
Contract: Expiring 2023.
Verdict: Start the season.
If there was an award for the most improved player then Ollie Turton would have walked it last season proving that last summer the ‘Ginger Cafu’ was a fine snaffle. As we’ve discussed higher up, Turton’s strengths lay in defence and not especially going forward, but when you put Sorba Thomas in front of him this allows Thomas to do this thing with a dependable stopper covering. Turton offers plenty of flexibility to Carlos by being able to play on the right of a back 3, at right back in a 4 and at wing-back albeit less effective than the aforementioned positions. It is likely that Turton will start the season as the man in possession of the shirt at right back but there will be challengers and alternatives in different tactical shapes.
Brodie Spencer
Age: 18
Contract: Expiring 2024
Verdict: Pre season scrutiny.
The academy player of the year is quite the prospect. The first ever Huddersfield Town player to make his first international bow prior to making his first team debut, the Ulsterman is a real wildcard going in to this season. Spencer offers the versatility that Carlos craves. He has pace, strength and never stops looking to get involved. He has played full-back, wing-back and right centre back in a 3 over the last 12 months and fits neatly into several systems and tactical plans. He sounds perfect, right? Could be, but without any first team experience but for Northern Ireland, Brodie Spencer is still a bit of an unknown quantity. Town will assess the 18-year-old over pre-season and if he fares well then Turton has a job on to keep the shirt.
Aaron Rowe
Age: 21
Contract: Expiring 2024
Verdict: Pre season scrutiny
Aaron Rowe is not a right back and I will die on that hill! Then pray tell Matt, why the deuce is he on this list? Well… Aaron Rowe fits into the old, you guessed it… ‘Carlos’s Blue and White, Swiss Army’. Rowe has played both fullback and wingback slots on a number of occasions for the B team and of course played at right back for the first team in a fated trip to Bournemouth in 2020. In truth, I think Rowe’s strengths lay higher up the field but he does have the skillset to play wing back if called upon and his flexibility could see a recall to more first team duty this season. However, it is important that Rowe impresses during pre-season else he may find himself further down the pecking order and maybe a loan could be beneficial.
Rarmani Edmonds-Green
Age: 23
Contract: Expiring 2024 (1 year option)
Verdict: Push for a start, but in the middle.
Matt, why is Rarmani here? He’s a centre back! Yeah, he is and one that needs to push on and try and oust Matty Pearson from that RCB slot this season. Although, if Town ever find themselves in a pinch, then ‘REG’ has the capabilities to play as a defensive right back in a 4. Again, it’s the adaptability of players like Edmonds-Green that could see him deployed in several different ways by a head coach who is always looking to alter his shape to keep the opposition guessing. Expect Rarmani to play a part this season and if the requirement is there he will slot ably in at right back.
Sorba Thomas
Age: 23
Contract: Expiring 2026
Verdict: Use in an advanced role.
When covid struck down Harry Toffolo and Josh Ruffels at the start of last season Sorba Thomas was presented with a chance at wing back and he duly obliged in taking it. Sorba was more of an Adam Hammill under Mark Robins type wing back than a Darren Edmondson type (thankfully!) but he rose to the challenge and become one of the most creative players in the division. By November Sorba was clear of anyone else in the division for key passes and assists. As the season wore on, it become obvious that there were weaknesses in behind him defensively and that Sorba was better deployed in an advanced role higher up the pitch. Sorba’s display away at West Brom in March will be remembered for the disgraceful penalty decision that he was on the disappointing end of, but prior to that he had lit up The Hawthorns with a dazzling display as a no10, employed just behind Danny Ward. The Welsh international can still perform at wing back to a grand standard and over the course of the season he may find himself having to but for me I would like to see him deployed higher.
Right Back’s Verdict
Whilst as previously mentioned Town may not have the ideal right sided experienced ‘Swiss army’ candidate, it is important for me to recognise that with Town’s low wage bill, probable lack of financial muscle and focus in other weak areas that right back may not be seen as a key area for first team signings. As such I suspect that Town will experiment more down the right than they will the left due to the smorgasbord of different options and strengths available. If we’re setting up in a back 4 then Ollie Turton will be firm favourite to start the season at right back but the shirt really opens up if Town decide to go with a back 3 or make in game attacking changes.
The really interesting option is Brodie Spencer who did well overall in his 3 caps for Northern Ireland but as Matt Glennon said on our end of season podcast review re goalkeepers; “give players 6 games to see where they are when the adrenaline rubs off”. The same theory needs to be applied to Spencer before any decisions are made with additions to the squad. If Spencer does well as I expect he will then Town may look to recruit for the B team to fill the gap left behind, although there have been positive signs from 18-year-old Neo Eccleston who I have included on the right backs scatter diagram above. Should Spencer prove to be short of experience for the season then the transfer window is open until the 1st of September and 8 games will have elapsed. We should know by then whether Spencer has made his marks (sorry!). If not, then there is a faint possibility of a loan but Town may soldier on regardless with budget allocated into other areas.
Possible B Team signings:
Dermi Lusala - The 19-year-old has just been released by Tottenham after playing ten PL2 games last season. Lusala also has England youth caps and had been training with the Spurs first team.
Kwaku Oduroh - Oduroh has not had his contract renewed at Man City and is on the lookout for a new club after a trial at Tottenham failed to make a move materialise. Oduroh is 19 and capable of slotting into defensive midfield if necessary.
Sean Wilson - Another 19-year-old, Wilson has recently found himself without a club after 12 years at Liverpool and had recently been trialling at Sunderland. A versatile player who can play across the defensive line.
