[Lord Snooty]

Huddersfield Town v Manchester City
The Premier League
Sunday January 20th - 13:30 ko
at the John Smith's Stadium

Huddersfield Town welcome the current Premier League champions, Manchester City to the John Smith's Stadium on Sunday afternoon for the first match following the departure of David Wagner, the man who made all our dreams come true.
It's sure to be a hugely emotional occasion as us fans get a chance to pay our tribute to not just a great manager, but a great bloke. Wagner transformed this club from a Championship club treading water, to .......... a Championship club punching well above it's weight in a league way above their means, playing against teams full of the world's best players, whose finances dwarf our own. The fact that we're struggling now is not his fault. Well it is in a way, for over achieving in the first place. Whatever he does next, wherever he goes, David Wagner will always be a Huddersfield Town legend.

So who's in charge now? Well for this match it's going to be Mark Hudson, our former captain and now u23s coach.  He started his playing career with Fulham, before moving to Oldham on loan, Crystal Palace, Charlton Athletic and then on to Cardiff City, where he captained them to three unsuccessful Play Off campaigns. He did lead them to promotion eventually though in 2013 by winning the Championship. The first match of that campaign being our first match since winning promotion to the Championship, and he scored the only goal of the game, in injury time.
A couple of seasons later he would join us and skipper the Wagner Revolution side all the way to Wembley and that famous win over Reading, although he was on the bench that day, he still got to lift the trophy.
So which managers has he played for and what influences on his coaching has he picked up? Well he played for one of the names in the frame to succeed Wagner at Fulham, Chris Coleman. Iain Dowie, Peter Taylor and Neil Warnock at Palace. Phil Parkinson at Charlton. Dave Jones, Malky Mackay and super caretaker Ole Gunnar Solskjær at Cardiff. Plenty of differing styles for him to be influenced by there, but most importantly, Chris Powell. Oh and David Wagner.

A brief history of Manchester City: Founded in 1880 by members of St Mark's Church in Gorton, as a means to stop local gangs beating the crap out of each other. They had a few mergers and name changes in the next few years and built up a rivalry with another Manchester based club called Newton Heath. They went on to become Manchester United and in 1894 the team that had morphed into Ardwick AFC by now, renamed themselves as Manchester City.

Ardwick had been founder members of the Football League's 2nd division a couple of year's earlier and in 1899 the newly named City won it to gain promotion to the First Division. They won the FA Cup for the first time in 1904, beating Bolton Wanderers 1-0 at Crystal Palace.
In 1923 they moved from their Hyde Road ground to a new one in Moss Side, with a capacity of 80,000, Maine Road. They reached the 1926 Cup Final, got relegated in 1927, but got promoted straight back again.

The 1930s started as a good decade for City, reaching two Cup Finals, winning it in 1934 and then in 1937 they won the League title for the first time. Strangely though they were relegated the following season and won promotion back in the first season after the 2nd World War.

In 1956 they won the Cup again, beating Birmingham City 3-1, the game being remembered for goalkeeper Bert Trautmann playing on despite having broken his neck in a heavy challenge.

Broken neck? It's ok, I'll play on!

Back down again in the early 60s for a couple of seasons, but they came back under the management team of Joe Mercer and Malcolm Allison who guided them to promotion and then to their 2nd League title in 1967/68.This was turning out to be a golden era for City as they won the Cup again in 1969, the European Cup Winners Cup and the League Cup twice.

Not much on the honours board in the next couple of decades. They were founder members of the new Premier League in 1992. They moved from Maine Road to the city's Commonwealth Stadium in 2003, known now as the Etihad. The club were just treading water, not very financially sound, until in 2008 they were bought out by the Abu Dhabi United Group, which transformed them immediately into the millionaire moneybags club they now are.

They won the FA Cup in 2011, the League Cup in 2014, 2016 and last year when they beat Arsenal 3-0. And they won the Premier League in 2012, 2014 and of course last year, famously collecting the trophy after failing to beat us at home.

Head to Head



City lead in the overall head to head with 27 wins to Town's 22, with 30 draws.

One of those draws was a couple of seasons ago in the FA Cup when our brave boys earned a creditable 0-0 draw against high flying, big spending Manchester City. And we almost won it, with Philip Billing unluckily having a goal disallowed.
We would've won the replay too if the ref had blown for full time after 10 minutes. Ex City junior Harry Bunn gave the Terriers a deserved lead. But some pathetic hounding of the referee by City's under performing superstars pressured him into giving them every decision going and we ended up departing the competition.

We also lost to them in the FA Cup in 1987/88. It was one of 5 games we played against them that season. The first was a narrow City victory at Maine Road. Then we met in the Cup and almost got revenge. Duncan Shearer scored twice, only for City to get a very late equaliser to take it to a replay. That ended 0-0 and so we played what turned out to be our last ever 2nd replay before they were scrapped in favour of penalty shoot outs. We lost that though, but did eventually beat them when they returned once more to Leeds Road for the league match in April and got beat by Carl Madrick scoring the only goal of his 8 match Town career.

There have been other Town victories against City in recent history, they weren't always bankrolled by the mega rich. Though they now are one of football's biggest club's, in 1998/99 they were actually a division below us. They came straight up in their League 1 season, beating Gillingham on penalties in the Play Off Final and when we went to Maine Road in the next season under the management of ex Man Utd star Steve Bruce, we absolutely battered them and the 1-0 scoreline flattered them we were that much more better. Chris Beech scored the goal, a brilliant header from the edge of the area.
The season before, we helped relegate them by winning at Maine Road, with Rob Edwards scoring what is generally accepted as one of the finest goals in the club's history. Have a look at this.

In our two season stint in the First Division in the early 1970s we drew twice, lost once at theirs but beat them 1-0 at Leeds Road in April 1971 with a goal from Trevor Cherry. Earlier that season we drew at Maine Road 1-1 on Boxing Day with City's captain Tony Book sticking the ball in his own net for our goal.

Mixed fortunes in our modern era of Premier League football. Christopher Schindler gave us a deserved lead in the home match just before half time, only for it to go down as a Nicolas Otamendi own goal. Wound up by going behind, City came out for the 2nd half all guns blazing determined to cheat their way back in, and Raheem Sterling dived his way into the area to win a penalty, which was put away by Sergio Aguero. And then the cheating little twat Sterling scored a spawny winner late on to give City the points.
Just a point of order here, following the rumpus down at Chelsea involving Sterling. I know it's not ok to call him a "black c***", I'm not daft. But is it still ok to shout abuse at him for cheating? Or is he so precious now that that's off limits as well? Just asking for a friend!  

The away match I've touched on already, which was a creditable 0-0 draw, which set us up nicely for an even more creditable draw down at Stamford Bridge a few days later.

This season however, despite us scoring the goal of the game through Jon Gorenc-Stankovic, City managed 6, to beat us 6-1. Their scorers, that man Aguero got 3, Gabriel Jesus and David Silva one each and a Terence Kongolo own goal.

So what's happening at the Etihad Stadium?  Still managed by Pep Guardiola, the former manager of European giants Barcelona and Bayern Munich. As a player he was a defensive midfielder, considered amongst the best of his generation and a part of the European Cup winning team at Barcelona under the management of Johan Cruyff. He was capped 47 times for Spain.
After taking the Barcelona B team job, he then succeeded Frank Rijkaard as coach of the first team, going on to win the Champions League twice and La Liga three times. He finished at Barcelona and took a year off before taking on the job at Bayern Munich where he went on to win the Bundesliga three times. Then in 2016 he was tempted away to join Man City and last year won the Premier League.

Josep "Pep" Guardiola Sala

Club Connections: Well there are two players in our squad who have both been at Man City, neither of them actually getting a game though. They are of course club captain, Tommy Smith and Australia international midfielder Aaron Mooy. Smith came to us in 2012 when the club who's Academy he joined at the age of 11, released him. Mooy came to England as a boy to join Bolton Wanderers' Academy before moving north to play for St Mirren in 2010. He stayed there for two seasons, the second of which was cut short by a back injury, and then at the end of the season he moved back home to Aus. Manchester City signed him from Melbourne City in 2016 and immediately loaned him out to us, since when he has become Terriers legend. Unfortunately, he'll still be out injured for this match but can't be far from a glorious relegation saving return.  

Mooy at St Mirren, he did have hair!

Further back through the mists of time of course, there was Denis Law. His British record transfer fee from us to City in 1960 of £55,000 paid for a new set of floodlights at Leeds Road. He was only 20 years old then and four years earlier, he became our youngest ever first team player (at that time) at the age of 16.
He of course, went on to become one of world football's greatest ever players. He played for both of the Manchester clubs and famously came back to City after 11 years at United and scored the goal that relegated them in 1974. He is Scotland's record goalscorer and also holds the record for most goals scored in a season for United.
His career total of goals ended on 333, the first 19 of them were scored in the bright blue and white of Huddersfield Town.

Another Town legend of more recent years, Mark Lillis played for both. A boyhood City fan, he came to us and made his professional debut under Mick Buxton in 1978 in midfield. He later became a centre back and then remarkably became a striker. Not just any old striker, but a bloody good one, bagging 56 goals in his time with us. He even had a go in goal when Andy Rankin got injured during a Cup match against Shrewsbury Town.
He signed for City in 1985 and despite spending just one season there, he managed to score a hat trick* at Wembley (* his 3rd goal was later given as an own goal). This was in the short lived Full Members Cup and despite his heroics, City lost the match 4-5 to Chelsea.

In the mid 90s, we had a big hearted, bad tempered centre back called Andy Morrison. He was your old style hard man and seemed to be suspended or injured for most of his time. I remember him almost scoring with a header from the half way line, but after two seasons he was sold to City, who were then in the 3rd division.
He's fondly remembered by their fans and was voted in a recent poll as their 3rd best ever captain. He of course, captained them to promotion from the 3rd division, via a famous Play Off victory over the mighty Gillingham.

Recent form: Town are 20th in the Premier League with 11 points. City are 2nd with 53 points.



Last 6 matches:

Town 1-3 Southampton (Billing)
Man Utd 3-1 Town (Zanka)
Fulham 1-0 Town
Town 1-2 Burnley (Mounie)
Bristol City 1-0 Town (FA Cup)
Cardiff 0-0 Town



Leicester 2-1 City (Bernardo Silva)
Southampton 1-3 City (Silva, Ward-Prowse og, Agüero)
City 2-1 Liverpool (Agüero, Sané)
City 7-0 Rotherham (FA Cup) (Sterling, Foden, Ajayi og, Gabriel Jesus, Mahrez, Otamendi, Sané)
City 9-0 Burton Albion (EFL Cup) (De Bruyne, Gabriel Jesus 4, Zinchenko, Foden, Walker, Mahrez)
City 3-0 Wolves (Gabriel Jesus 2, 1 pen, Coady og)

Gulp!  

COME ON, LADS. LET'S DO IT FOR DAVID.




LEGEND!

[Amelia Chaffinch]

That was very emotional. I hope we do put on a good show.

[jjamez]

I can see there being a few changes in what I pressume will be huddys one and only game in charge this time

[Lord Snooty]

I can see there being a few changes in what I pressume will be huddys one and only game in charge this time

I was thinking that. Are there any surprise names from the u23s who could be sat on the bench?

[theo_luddite]

6 Rob Edwards style goals from Town on Sunday will sink these pretenders to the crown. Unfortunately, they are more likely to score them than we are. Football's a funny ol' game Saint, said Greavesy, but it ain't that funny when Town play this season. So the bollox about the new manager announcement was total bollox apparently, allegedly or otherwise?

If we concede far fewer than Burton I'll be happy and I'm still going to Chelski, cos I like a Saturday afternoon's darn the big smoak, er Smoke.

[Lord Snooty]

Andre Marriner is reffing this match. Can't remember how bad this fella has been to us, so can't be all that bad.  

---

Just seen that he was the ref at the Etihad this season. Can't remember him sending anybody off.

[jjamez]

Dont think the thread has had the attention it deserves snotos, which in a way is understandable considering the week that the club has had.

We know that we are going to lose, its a case of how badly. We could be 11? Points adrift after sunday, the new man fingers crossed not karanka will have a free shot at the season, its a write off, we literally can go and attack whoever wherever.

Now will hudson go in like this or will he be defensive, I've not seen much of his edt side at all, I'm inclined to think kongolo and smith will both start. Against brizzle demarco duhany? Travelled with the squad and I know critchlow-noble and Edmonds- green both train with the first team most weeks so dont be surprised to see them in and around, but not starting.

Has buhler left, the club have been very quiet about him, although skybet have him back in as favourite, but that means nothing.

Am I worried about hudson doing the job? Nah everyone starts somewhere and lets face it you've got to be blindingly good in the lower leagues to be picked up in the top leagues, owners like the tried and tested route. Mostly.

He cant do it anyway due to rules.

I hope he does view it as a big opportunity though, he's against one of the greatest managers, if I was hudson I'd be inviting him for a drink just to talk about everything pick his brain. Just ask if he'd be willing to talk football with you and I'm fairly certain he'd give you the chance to talk with him at some point

[Lord Snooty]

Just seen City have scored 99 goals in all comps this season. We've scored 13.

[theo_luddite]

We can still nil them (for the first minute? well, 15 seconds maybe). Palace stuck 3 past them and they score almost as often as we do. Look on the bright side. Have a go, what's the worst that can happen?





oh.....right

[theo_luddite]

Well I wasn't expecting that line up