Wycombe (A) Preview
Brady Frost, Feature Writer
Twitter: @brady0894
Source for image above: HTAFC
After Saturday’s frustrating match against Stoke, Huddersfield face another tricky away trip to Wycombe. George from The Wycombe Way tells us more about what we can expect from The Chairboys.
What would you rather have an entertaining 4-3 loss like Stoke or a dire 2-0 to Luton like last season? Trick question, you never want Huddersfield to lose.
There is a way to lose though and when the dust settles on the defeat at the Bet365 Stadium, it’s not the scoreline that will be frustrating but the errors and general defensive mix-ups that will still sting.
It’s rare that you score three goals and still lose but that’s just the kind of team Town are this season, a lot better going forward but still woeful defensively. Stearman put in another irritating display but in fairness, none of the defending on show was worth shouting about and it was a debut to forget for goalkeeper Joel Pereira.
The good news for Town fans is that if they score three goals against Wycombe, there’s a good chance they’ll win. Gareth Ainsworth’s side have only scored six goals this season and the only time they scored more than one goal in a match was their 2-1 win against Birmingham.
The Chairboys are proving a tricky side though, after losing their first seven games, they’ve picked up credible draws against Watford and Brentford. To find out what kind of side The Terriers will face at Adams Park, we spoke to George from fan podcast The Wycombe Way.
Could new signing Álex Vallejo play some part in this game? Photo source: HTAFC
After a nightmare start for Wycombe, results have picked up recently. What are you expecting from the game on Tuesday against Huddersfield?
I’m hoping we can carry our recent form into Tuesday night’s game. One defeat in five games is fair form for any newly promoted side, especially off the back of seven defeats, where heads could so easily have dropped.
I suppose it has been a mixed bag of results for Huddersfield early on, you’re one of the teams I tipped to struggle this season and even at this stage in the season, we need to see Tuesday night as an opportunity for points. However, that definitely works both ways, although Wycombe will be that side for opponents more often than not. Wycombe will need the points more than most this season, and Tuesday could provide an opportunity to claim some.
What are your general expectations for the season now that we’re a quarter of the way through?
The expectation for myself is still survival, and I’m sure that feeling is mutual across the fan base. Sure, it hasn’t been the opening quarter we all would’ve hoped for, and after those first seven games, it seemed like the season may well be full of doom and gloom. The rocky start hasn’t shaken the squad and hasn’t distracted me from seeing the talent we have in the ranks. It’s a close-knit group we have here, and I believe over the course of a 46 game season we have enough to stay a Championship side next season and hopefully then beyond.
Wycombe have had two promotion in quick succession and are a team that seems to continue to defy expectations. What do you think should be the long-term aim for this team and squad going forward?
The promotion from League Two in 17/18 was more than anyone expected, so to be a Championship side just two years later seems surreal still. We didn’t allow ourselves to get carried away this summer, no throwing money at signings to try and stay up, that’s never been the way forward here. It’s all about building for the future since the Couhig’s came in just over a year ago that’s been the game plan.
On paper we now have a squad that *should* we go down this season, and will be able to bounce back. We’re able to hand out multi-year contracts now for a change which of course is a big boost for us. We’ve built the foundations to become a Championship side or top League One side for a number of years now.
Manager Gareth Ainsworth has done a remarkable job says George from The Wycombe Way. Photo source: Wycombe
From the outside perspective, manager Gareth Ainsworth has done a remarkable job. Can you tell us a little bit more about how Wycombe fans feel about him and why he’s been so good?
It’s all about the story, not just the success, but the obstacles we’ve had in getting to where we are now. He took over as caretaker boss in 2012, with the club gasping for air near the foot of League Two. There’s a strong belief now that if we had gone down that year, we may well have faced liquidation as a result of debts that were in the club.
Just over eight years later and we’re lining up week in week out in the second tier for the first time ever. With limited resources, what he’s achieved in his time is nothing short of a miracle. The promotion up to League One looked like a fairytale at the time, we had one of the lowest budgets in League Two that season, a running theme in years gone by. Having stayed up in League One by what ultimately wasn’t too many points, last seasons promotion seemed a million miles away.
There were whispers amongst fans that last season was going to be a cheerful one, but no one would have seriously tipped up for a playoff place. The decision to award Wycombe a playoff place will be debated for a long time, but the performances in those games in July showed that we deserved our promotion. It can be hard to find legends and heroes in modern-day football, but Ainsworth is definitely both of those.
Which player from your current squad do you think will be one to watch this season?
I’m going to cheat and name two. Scott Kashket is an obvious name. He had a 25-odd goal season back in 2016/17, followed by a number of injury-hit seasons and a gambling ban. He’s been an important player for us when called upon, and now with a run of games finally under his belt, he looks to be finding his best form again.
One to watch would be Anis Mehmeti, the type of player we haven’t seen at Wycombe for a while. A real exciting attacking midfielder with a willingness to run at defenders and take players on. An ex-Norwich youth player who has represented Albania at U19 level. It’s an exciting opportunity for Anis to test himself in the Championship.
Striker Adebayo Akinfenwa is well known and made a big difference to the team in the Championship this season. How do Wycombe fans feel towards him? His journey in the game is remarkable and surely a big inspiration for anyone wanting to make it in football.
Funnily enough, I’ve just finished reading his autobiography and would thoroughly recommend it to anyone interested. His story is an interesting one, by the sounds of it he could’ve made it higher in the game. There’s a real strong message of ‘do it your own way’ and don’t let anyone else define you, as a footballer on it, and just off it in general. It’s fair to say he somewhat defied the odds to make it in the professional game, always told he was too big to play football, he’s taken that under his belt and used it to motivate him, and at 38 he’s still going, playing Championship football for the first time in his career.
He’s been with us now since the 16/17 season and has played a huge part in each and every season. He’s a cult hero everywhere he’s ever been, but I feel like at Wycombe he might just have left the biggest mark on the club and its fans.
Adebayo Akinfenwa has played a huge part in each and every season since joining Wycombe, according to George. Photo source: Wycombe
Is there anything Huddersfield need to be on the lookout for in this game?
When you put Adebayo Akinfenwa & Scott Kashket in the same equation, that’s usually where most of Wycombe’s good fortunes come from. Bayo often takes two defenders out of the game on his own through those aerial duels, which gives Kashket space and time to move and work his magic.
What are Wycombe’s weaknesses, is there anything Huddersfield can take advantage of?
Joe Jacobson’s pace (or lack of) appears to be our main concern this season, for all JJ’s excellent capabilities, his pace can often let him down a touch. He struggled with the speed of play in League One last season at times, and the Championship is a completely different ballpark. Jacobson’s defensive awareness makes up for that though and is a key component of a defence that is constantly growing in confidence.
What are your expectations for Huddersfield Town this season?
Before the season kicked off, I was expecting them to struggle, with my predictions having them drop down to League One in May. Now I’m not so sure, there’s a lot of quality in the Town squad, a good mid-table Championship side. They’ve found it difficult to gain any momentum since their Premier League relegation, and are yet to justify the sacking of the Cowley Brothers. Karlan Grant was obviously a big loss this summer, but I’m sure they’ll be fine, even comfortable in mid-table.
What’s your score prediction for the game?
I’m notoriously naff at score predictions, I’m hoping that Wycombe continue their good form, and I’m also hoping for another win. 1-2 Wycombe for me.
How do you think Huddersfield will get on against Wycombe? Let us know in the comments!
Our Predictions:
Brady: 2-1 win for Huddersfield.
Kosi: 2-0 win for Huddersfield.
Matt: 1-1.
Neil: 1-1.
Pozza: 1-1.
Scoring system: A correct score wins three points, a correct result wins a point.
