Huddersfield boss David Wagner parted with the club on the 14th of January after what has been reported (via the BBC) to be a long discussion with the club. The Terriers’ boss has had to see his side struggle this season, thanks to multiple injuries and sides on a warpath. This has led to Huddersfield being less than 10 points away from the bottom of the relegation scrap.
The 47-year-old will always be remembered by Huddersfield fans, as he played a crucial role in the Terriers’ getting out of the Championship and reaching the Premier League. The German did it again last season, as they came out relatively unscathed and survived the top flight.
Now while there are a few realistic possibilities to replace Wagner, Huddersfield need to make the right choice from what seems like a never-ending catalogue of managerial candidates.
He will forever be remembered for his horrendous spell at Manchester United, but that shouldn’t take away anything from his managerial skills. At his best, Moyes managed to lead Everton to multiple top ten finishes, which includes a top-four finish in his second season. This combined with his attractive style of play and ability to get the best out of young stars makes him a great choice.
However, what could prove to be a roadblock is the fact that Moyes has struggled since leaving Old Trafford. Spells at Real Sociedad, Sunderland and even West Ham have all showed the former Toffees’ boss struggling to hit the same heights he did once before. For Huddersfield, they could take a chance and appoint the 55-year-old Scottish manager, but they need to survive the Premier League first.
Norwich City lost James Maddison, Josh Murphy and Marley Watkins over the summer window and last summer, they saw Alex Pritchard, Jacob Murphy and Jonathan Howson leave. That’s six key players leaving over the course of two windows and yet despite all that, they sit in 3rd place in the Championship, four points behind leaders Leeds United.
All this in part is thanks to manager Daniel Farke, who has shown exactly what he can do with a minuscule among of resources. Thanks to a series of debt issues, the club cannot spend too much money which may be an issue for most managers, but not Farke.
While Huddersfield Town will have a lot more to offer the 42-year-old, comparisons between him and David Wagner could make the transition easier. However, that combined with Farke’s managerial skills and his attractive style of football could see him potentially doing well in the Premier League.
When it comes to a list of the top managers to help any side survive Premier League relegation, there are few people in the world better at it the Sam Allardyce. As a manager who’s managed a lot of relegation-threatened sides, Allardyce has never been relegated, as spells at Blackburn, Sunderland, Crystal Palace, West Ham and Bolton all showed his ability.
While he is not a long term option for any side, as his spell at Everton showed, the 64-year-old would be perfect to help the Terriers survive this season. Next season is another matter, and at the moment Huddersfield Town need to concentrate on remaining in the Premier League, if not for prestige, then at least the money they’ll get from the television and various other financial deals.
In the end, if it’s relegation Huddersfield Town and their board are afraid of, then appointing Sam Allardyce is the only guaranteed way to save them.
