Tomorrow sees Town host Bournemouth, and I've got a really good feeling about it. This is with no disrespect intended to Bournemouth, or their supporters, but I sense a good win tomorrow. The improved performances of the last two games, plus the possible return of Chris Brandon, give me real cause for optimism, and I can see us winning 3 or 4-nil. I can't imagine anything but a victory tomorrow I'm that confident, I can't wait to go!!

Town News:

Chris Brandon - "...I'm Ready To Go..."


****

A Message To All Visitors

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More reaction to Tuesdays match:

Jacko - "...we should've won..."

Gary Taylor-Fletcher thinks so too.....

GT-F "...we should've won..." part 2

Tranmere Rovers 2-2 Huddersfield Town

I know its a draw, but it feels like a victory to me. If someone had offered me 4 points from the last 2 away games before we played I would have bitten their hand off! This is an excellent result. Although at half-time it wasn't looking quite like that........

Town started with the same formation as Saturday - 4-1-4-1 - but the players seemed to be half-asleep, the commontator on the radio was saying "...its not the formation that's not working, its the players, they are just not playing...". And despite a bright start by Town (a few early corners), we were soon one behind when Zola scored with a header. We were being totally and utterly outplayed - a shambles it sounded like. After 1/2 an hour we were two behind when Chris Greenacre (has a habit of scoring against Town) scored after a great assist fron Chris Shuker (who played for Barnsley against us in the play-offs). And then Tranmere had a goal disallowed for offside right on half-time, it was all going horribly wrong.

Whatever Jacko and JD said (or shouted) at the lads at half time seemed to do the trick however, and with a slight change of formation (T Clarke off and Pav on) to 4-4-2, we clicked into gear. We played like I know we can, we were a like a different outfit, and we got our reward when Boothy prodded home his first goal of the season after the Tranmere keeper fumbled. I had a feeling we were going to pull it back, I could tell by what the radio commontator was saying, that Tranmere looked weary, were tiring, and soon the equaliser came with an excellent shot by Fletch (7 goals for the season).

With there being nearly 15 minutes still left I harboured hopes of Town scoring a winner, but it wasn't to be. A precious point, one we may be thankful for later in the season. Tranmere had only conceded one at home all season before last night, so you can't blame me for being absolutely delighted at this result.

Roll on Saturday, with a similar performance maybe its Bournemouth who will get "...a hiding..."!!

Jacko on Tranmere v Huddersfield (written)

Jacko on Tranmere v Huddersfield (audio)

Not sure I will get time tomorrow to post anything so I will put my thoughts down now. I can't recall the last time we won at Tranmere so I'm not over confident, but if we play like Saturday (same formation?) we must stand a good chance. I'm going to say 1-0 or 2-1 to Town. And if we can win next Saturday as well our season will be up and running at last. COME ON TOWN!!!

***

I see the doom and gloom mongerers are still out in force on the Examiner messageboard. Ok, I know one swallow doesn't make a summer (as the saying goes), but a win is a win and we must get behind Jacko and the lads to make sure we can get something from tomorrow night.

Swansea City 1-2 Huddersfield Town

Nice to have some good news on here for a change!! Although when I saw the team Jacko was putting out I was horrified - 5-4-1!!!!! Good grief, I thought, this is going to be nil-nil - Boothy on his own up front, what is he thinking!!!! But surprisingly, it worked....

It wasn't actually 5-4-1, more 4-1-4-1 if you see what I mean, with Tom Clarke playing in front of the back 4. Andy Holdsworth was back, as was Martin McIntosh (Nathen Clarke is injured and he dropped Pav).

Fletch scored twice in the second half (2 quality moves as well, saw them on the tv this morning), to send me delirious at work!! When (ex-Town) Leon Knight scored 10 minutes from the end I had a bit of a nervous time, but thankfully we held firm. I said we had to win away at some point didn't I. Hopefully we can carry this positivity through to Tuesday when we are away at Tranmere, and get something there as well.

COME ON TOWN!!!

Theres only about 4 or 5 points seperating us in 17th and teams in the playoffs, the table is that tight - maybe we are starting to turn the corner - hope so!

Jacko on Swansea v Huddersfield (written)

Jacko on Swansea v Huddersfield Audio

A side issue is worrying me. Does anyone else listen to TalkSport on a Sunday evening. They run a phone poll entitled "...The Sunday Night Sack Race...", where aggrieved football supporters ring up to nominate their Manager for the boot. Now Jacko has never featured I hasten to add, but it may only be a matter of time. What bothers me more is that these polls are a fairly accurate guide to what happens next - take last Sunday's result for instance.


1st - Kevin Blackwell (Leeds) - sacked on Wednesday

2nd - Stuart Pearce (Manchester City) - lost to Chesterfield in the League Cup and hanging to his job by the skin of his teeth,

3rd - Bryan Robson (West Brom) - sacked on Monday

And you wonder why I express concerns - if we win tomorrow maybe Jacko won't be on the list, but anything less (defeat for instance) and who knows. There must be three managers more unpopular than PJ right now - or is there?

Looking forward to tomorrows game. Unfortunately I will be stuck in work (chewing my fingernails, while trying to settle a few bets) but I will be there in spirit getting behind PJ and the lads.

This fixture away at Swansea was live on Sky last season remember - we were 2 nil down to 2 Lee Trundle efforts before Tosh and David Graham got us a draw we very much deserved as I remember!

Actually, seeing as there is a good chance that Tosh is playing tomorrow maybe he will score - we know he comes forward for corners, he may just get his head onto one again - that would be good!! With any luck Chris Brandon will get a start and maybe our luck is about to change.

Sticking my neck out a bit - I'm going to say 2-0 to Town - we've got to win away at some stage, I'm hoping that will be in Wales!!!

Good news to report for a change!!!

Chris Brandon Returns


I hope he's picked on Saturday because before he picked up his injury he was playing brilliant (yes, I know I'm a fan of his, but he really was). I'm getting rather confident for Saturday with Tosh and Chrissie back. Here's hoping.

For those who didn't hear it on the radio last Saturday, here is the interview Andrew Watson gave to BBC Radio Leeds.

Andrew Watson Interview

Tosh - Back For Saturday???

Town's official website reports that Nathan Clarke has an ankle injury and missed training yesterday and today - I'm not sure thats bad news or not. Hopefully Tosh will start on Saturday.

My latest offering on 606.

Huddersfield Town - A Club In Crisis???

Now, I don't believe for a minute we are actually in crisis, it was just a tag line for everyone to notice. I'm glad that the concensus of opinion is that Jacko to stay, its just that if I say anything supportive of Peter on the Examiner Messageboard I get shot down in flames.

Oh, more news, John McAliskey has gone on loan to Wrexham.

McAliskey Goes To Wrexham

One of the laziest players ever to play for Town. I've always thought that he's only still at the club because Jacko rates him - I am not of that view, and if he had been at any other club he probably would have gone by now. We loaned him to Torquay last season for a while, maybe this spell at Wrexham will do him some good.

Good news - Tosh is back!!! Now, are you listening PJ, apologise to him and pick him to play against Swansea.

Martin McIntosh Returns To Huddersfield

Ken Davy says he is disappointed at the demonstration. If he's not careful there will be 1000 protesters next time, not 100!!!


Davy Dismay At Protest


And the calls for Jacko to go are getting louder and louder on the Examiner messageboard. It upsets me. How many more times do folk want telling - firing Peter will achieve nothing. The new manager will still have the same players and even less money, so what would be the point. We can still turn this season around, I know it. Let Jacko do his job, and lets get behind the lads on Saturday - who knows what'll happen - we have to win away at some point this season, lets hope its on Saturday.

Jacko to stay, but that's just my opinion.

Jacko - We Must All Stick Together


PJ says we must, erm, believe in the faith!!!!!!!!!

Huddersfield Town 2-3 Yeovil Town

One of the worst performances I have seen from Town in years. Possibly the worst perfromance since Jacko came back. if it wasn't for Matt Glennon I could've been talking about a 2-9, or 2-10 defeat - we were garbage. Town could've been behind after 18 seconds (I counted) when Marcus Stewart (yes, that one) went close. Marcus Stewart is one of my most favourite Town players ever, and its always nice (for me anyway) to see him back (wish he still played for Town) - he had an excellent game for Yeovil, made the first and second goal (a suspicion of a foul on Murf on the build up to their second goal imo).

Mark Hudson scored a smashing goal to bring it back to 1-1, and Fletch brought it back to 2-2 with a headed goal but it still wasn't to be as Yeovil scored a third to bring doom and despair around the ground.

There was a lot of discontent amongst the fans, 3 blokes down the front of where I was sitting in the LB lower stood up to hurl abuse at Ken Davy ("...you can stick your f****** rugby club up your ar$e - we want Davy out, we want Davy out...") - the bloke sitting in front of me shouts at Jacko (at the top of his voice) "...oy Jacko - sort this shower out..." - cue Jacko to turn round hands on hips (the bloke next to the bloke in front of me goes "...oh no, here it comes - the stare!!..."), glaring up at where I was!!! I also hear there was a protest after the game as well, but I didn't hang around after the game as I went to catch my train.

I don't know what it'll take to stop the rot in all honesty, I know Tosh is back next week but whose to say he'll definately play (drop N Clarke please) and Chrissie B and Adman Ahmed are back from injury, so maybe improvement is around the corner. I never dreamed for one minute we'd be displaying relegation form (and thats what it is right now), and I know its maybe still early days but many more perfromances like this and there will be trouble.

I was accosted by three Stockport fans on the train home and they asked me about Luke Beckett - they were flabbergasted when I told him he had been benched, because they said they really rated him when he played for them. They wondered whether it was Pav that was keeping him out of the team - and when I told them that actually it was Boothy that was keeping him out they couldn't believe it!!! I'm not surprised.

Sorry if I'm rambling a bit today, but I've got a lot to get off my chest. I should've guessed today would turn out rubbish when Jacko says in his programme notes "...we are not doing a lot wrong, if we take our chances someone is due a hiding...". I love Jacko to bits, as you all know, but even I get annoyed when he comes out with that. He makes himself look a right numpty at times. And what do you make of this:

Jacko's Post Match comments (written)

When he says the good outweighed the bad, well, words fail me!!! At the end of the day (at the risk of being labelled a Jacko fan and not a Town fan) Peter gets my support no matter what, and as angry as I am at such a shocking performance I still stand by that and always will. We will improve, I know it, this season is not over by a long way.

Jacko on yesterday's game (Audio)


I have already booked off the Saturday for the Bournemouth game in two weeks time (booked it ages ago) so I will be there no matter what, and you won't here me shouting Jackson out neither. Davy out possibly, but not Jacko out.

TOWN 4 EVER

A new 606 thread from me about tomorrows game.


JulieLovesJacko on Huddersfield v Yeovil

Here is the full transcript of Ken Davys programme notes that I touched on briefly after Tuesdays game.


A Message From the Chairman


The honest truth, or a load of bollocks?? I'll let you make up your own minds..............

Lawrence Batley or Riverside Stand (call it what you want) is where I will be sitting on Saturday.

Its pouring down with rain today, I'm in the middle of nowhere in one of our not-very-busy shops ans I'm out of my mind with boredom. Keep looking forward to Saturday and that's about the only thing thats keeping me going at the moment.

Peter Jackson in defiant mood.

Jacko - We Are Improving


Pawel Abbott in similar vein

Pav - Let me at 'em!

Jacko's thoughts on last nights game.

Jacko on Town v Doncaster


I notice on the Examiner messageboard there is still a lot of Jacko out postings. Its not going to happen in the forseeable future, the board have just backed him to the tune of 2 more years and I would hope that he will see it out. Town to be a top 30 club by 2008 may seem a long way away, but I have every confidence in the team I love and given time we will start going the right way I'm certain.

I've been accused of late of being a not being much of a Town fan because I support PJ a lot, that maybe my judgement is blinkered because of that - not true - I care deeply about what goes on on the pitch and will follow Town no matter what happens. Yes, the last thing I wish to see is Jacko fired, but at the end of the day I am a Town fan first and foremost. In the next few weeks we will get Adnan Ahmed, Jon Worthington, Andy Holdsworth and Chris Brandon back - with a full strength midfield we will be the team to beat I just know it.

Huddersfield Town 0-0 Doncaster Rovers

A stale mate but it sounded to me like a much improved performance. At last Pawel Abbot got to start, but, as I predicted, in place of Luke Beckett. Town dominated territorially, but didn't create too many chances - Boothy had a header tipped away and Pav had a good shot saved, Mark Hudson had a few chances - maybe on balance we should've won - it certainly sounded that way to me.

For the first time in recent games Jacko took Boothy off 15 minutes from the end and introduced Luke Beckett. I strongly suspect he will play Boothy and Pav from the start on Saturday.

There were good performances particularly from David Mirfin and Michael Collins, and Nathan Clarke played better than of late.

Well, a point is a point I suppose, I'm disappointed we didn't take all three, but if we play like how we sounded we played tonight I'm confident for Saturday.

******

The commontator on the radio read out Ken Davy's programme notes - our esteemed chairman trying to explain where all the money went! Basically he acknowledged that we made extra money with the Chelsea match and the play-offs, and this, along with releasing a few players, allowed for an increased transfer budget in the close season. It enabled, he added, us to bring in Luke Beckett and Matt Glennon and pay their wages and also increase the wages of the rest of the playing staff. Any extra money, he continued, is being invested in the Acadamy (which he says is the envy of many clubs). He said that him and the board would not overspend and stretch the club finances.

I'm still not sure the sums add up, but there you go.

Important match tonight. We MUST get something from both these two home matches, or its going to be a long season - I'm not making any predictions whatsoever because they seem to keep coming back to haunt me, lets just hope for a great performance and lets get behind the lads 100%. I'm looking forward to this, and will be listening in on the radio.

Good news - I have been given Saturday off (and I never even requested it). I have had 2 phonecalls from suspicious colleagues about me only seeming to be working 1 Saturday in 2 at the moment - I told them the truth that I didn't ask to be off this Saturday, but if anyone thinks I will waste it by stopping at home when Town are playing you must be joking - I will be there!!

Hopefully these two home matches we have got this week will be a turning point. I we can take 6 points out 6 (I hope so) we will be right back in the thick of things. Its our away form thats the problem (although we were unlucky not to take a point last Saturday), and if this can be sorted we can be challengers again.

If the roumers are correct Pav will be starting on Tuesday (watch him bench Beckett), hope this is right.

I've not heard whether there are to be any protests at the ground tomorrow night, there was talk of it - but I always say, if you don't like it vote with your feet and don't go!!!!!

Cheltenham Town 2-1 Huddersfield Town

I should've known that my day was only going to get worse somehow........

Mind you, it sounds as if we didn't play too bad - and had the ball fell to anyone else and not Mark Hudson near the end we would have got a point!!!! I notice Boothy got 90 minutes again - think Jacko is taking the mickey really. He praised Pav in his after match interview, might he finally start a game again on Tuesday - I hope so.

Cheltenham scored a goal in either half, and Pav got us a goal back near the end. I can't remember when we last lost 2 games on the trot, and I can't see us losing three (I shouldn't say these things), so lets hope for better things on Tuesday night against Doncaster.

One last post before I really must get some work done (the things you can get away with when you're on your own) thought I would display the above. Its my old sig from the now defunct Real Fans site. I thought I'd lost it when the site shut down, but now it comes under the FootballFansForum instead, and my old account, including sig, is there - just when I thought it had gone forever, nice one!!!!

Well, after feeling full of beans my day has started to fall apart - my cashier is sick, so I'm stuck on my own all day - charming - its the St Leger and Vale are at home. My Area Manager is trying to drum up a replacement, but I'm not holding my hopes up.

Oh yes, and this.......

Chrissie B Still Injured


Hope all this is not an omen.

I've ended up in a change of venue today, hence the internet access. I'm in Burslem (a stones throw from Port Vale's ground actually), and thats a lucky omen because Town have never lost when I've worked in this shop on a Saturday previously (hope this doesn't come back to haunt me later.....). I know that Andy Holdsworth definately isn't playing today because he has shingles - nasty business that, hope he gets well soon.

Had 'That's The Way' on repeat in the car this morning, so I'm full of positivity - come on lads, don't let me down. Lets be having 3 points (boy, could we do with them). All this Jacko being linked with the Doncaster job in the past few days (of course he isn't going there) wasn't doing me any good, so a win will improve matters!!!

Oh, yes, I hear a roumer I might have bagged yet another Saturday off (one I haven't asked for neither), so I may be at next weekends match against Yeovil - watch this space!!!!

I'm going to put my thoughts ahead of this Saturday's match against Cheltenham now, because I'm fairly sure its the last chance I will get (stuck in a shop with no internet access for two days after today, my computer on a go slow at the moment).

Last Saturday was so disappointing. (Laugh @ me count = 5 x Crewe fans, 1 x Leeds fan (not sure what was worse) 1 x Man U fan (my hubby unsurprisingly) and 1 x Stoke fan (my stepson) - Its ok, I can take it) A better performance is needed, and I have a feeling that's what will happen. I'm sure that Jacko and Taff will have had them in for extra training this week, and hopefully this will do the trick. We are due an away win (and a clean sheet), and I'm full of confidence that we will get three points, and re-start our season!

Fingers crossed Pav will be playing from the start (I'll bet he doesn't, stubborn old Jacko **groan***) and I'm hoping that Chris Brandon is fit also.

A prediction - 2-0 or 2-1 win for Town.

Was talking with my sister last night. I asked her if Luke had enjoyed himself on Saturday - she said ".... if I hear one more thing about Saturday I'll scream - he's never stopped going on about it, and insists on watching the match over and over again even though Huddersfield lost, he's already wanting to know when your taking him again - you've created a monster!!! Whats this 'oo 2 be a terrier' nonsense he keeps singing as well!!!..."

I'm quite a proud Auntie right now!!!!!

Some more Town news.......

Tosh To Come Back / Jacko Remains Defiant


I'm glad Martin McIntosh is returning in a week or two after his loan spell, and hopefully he will be straight back into the side (he should be).

And it's good to hear Jacko sounding so defiant - a clear message to the dissenters - we can't buy players, we have a good squad (his words I hasten to add not necessary mine), so we shouldn't panic just yet!

Pawel Abbott - Lets hope he starts on Saturday (are you listening Jacko)!

Chris Brandon - fingers crossed he'll be back for Saturday!!

Gary Taylor-Fletcher states the obvious.

GTF - We Are Not Good Enough


The more I think about last Saturday, the more depressed I'm getting. I'm just trying to focus on this Saturday, and hopefully an improved performance.

Been quite a lot of sniping on the Examiner messageboard of late, a lot of it about the players (Nathan Clarke in particular), and also a lot of it about Jacko. It really winds me up every time we lose and the 'Sack Jacko' brigade get on their high horses. I'll support PJ whatever, been too long a supporter to change, so don't expect me to say we need a change at the top sometime soon.

I think even those who think Jacko should be fired know full well he won't be - they just added 2 years to his contract, we couldn't possibly afford to pay that in full even if the worst came to the worst - and who the hell in their right mind would want to manage Town anyway? We've got no money and a Chairman who prefers Rugby!!!! I am one of these who firmly believe that we the fans should see where our hard- earned is going!!! We have 9000 season ticket holders, and a few thousand (like me) who pay on the gate. We got a load of money for playing Chelsea and for reaching the play-offs where has it all gone - surely it wasn't all spent on Luke Beckett!!!

Phew, glad i got that off my chest!!! No more ranting I assure you, lets just get behind Jacko and the lads and hope for 3 points against Cheltenham.

Jacko's thoughts on yesterdays game.


Jacko on Crewe v Huddersfield


Its a bit depressing when he says that there's no money to buy players or even bring any in on loan. I suppose he's only repeating what Mr Davy and the board have told him.

I have to say that Town's 'Official' website has hit a new complete and utter low. Its 5-30, the match finished over 3 hours ago and nothing has been updated since Jacko was summoned by the FA, which was Wednesday. Its a shambles.

Crewe Alexandra 2-0 Huddersfield Town

A result as miserable as the weather - driving rain, swirling winds, absolutely atrocious conditions, how could anyone be expected to play properly!!!

Crewe were probably just about worthy of their win (their latest teenage 'star' Nicky Maynard scored one in either half), we created little or nothing - GTF and Boothy both blasted over the bar and Luke Beckett toe-poked one wide second half. Overall we were fairly average, I've never seen Fletch play so poorly and Hudson was woeful yet again (why didn't we try to get a decent midfielder before the transfer window shut). I thought that Nathan Clarke and David Mirfin had competent games at the back.

And Jacko must stop playing Boothy for a full 90 minutes - he's a shadow of the player he was, and that was cruelly exposed today - Crewe's centre half is even older than him, but had the beating of him time and again. It was embarressing to see. Jacko's loyality to Boothy is unfailing, and highly commendable, and it wouldn't surprise me to see him start next Saturday no matter how loud we complain. But maybe Jacko must see now that he has to start with Pav and Beckett next Saturday.

Its not panic stations for me just yet - had this game had been played yesterday when the weather was lovely we may have won, who knows. Hopefully we can bounce back with an all round better performance against Cheltenham next Saturday and our season can be off and running again.

Well, after how lovely the weather was yesterday I had high hopes of striding down Gresty Road, sun beating down, Town shirt proudly on display - well, what do you know - its pouring down. If you didn't live here you might presume its always raining in these parts - seems that way sometimes.

Going to pick little Luke up in a bit, here's hoping to a good performance in front of the Sky cameras, and - hopefully - 3 points.

Town to win 2-0.

One day to go, I'm excited!! My hubby tells me that 2 blokes he knows from the club are stewards in the away end at Crewe's ground and he's bribed them a pint of lager each to throw me and Luke out tomorrow (a joke obviously (I hope)) - 1 and a 1/2 evictions as he put it!

As for the game, I reckon we should be beating teams like this. Crewe lost quite a few players after they were relegated in the summer, and although they are coming off the back of a decent win last Sunday (4-1 away at Brighton) we should still have too much for them.

I did have that bet on Boothy to score first as well (£2 @ 7-1), think it will be 2-nil to Town.