Norwich City: Wagner on selections and substitutions
In recent matches, the head coach’s choices and substitutions for Huddersfield Town have been a subject of criticism. Despite their recent poor form, manager David Wagner has made minimal changes to the starting XI, only making two alterations in the last two defeats against Leeds and Middlesbrough. Wagner acknowledges that the selection process and the tactical approach are important factors to consider when deciding on the team’s lineup. He, along with his coaching staff, carefully evaluate each player’s confidence, susceptibility to outside pressure, and fatigue levels before making decisions for the upcoming game against Sunderland.
Wagner recognizes the significance of the upcoming match against Sunderland, describing it as a great occasion at a remarkable stadium. He acknowledges that Sunderland is a strong team with fluid playing style and ambitions to compete for the play-offs, just like Huddersfield. Although both teams are currently not in their best form in terms of results, Wagner emphasizes the importance of investing everything to turn things around in this vital game. He also notes that Sunderland is not particularly strong in defending set pieces, but overall, they present a tough challenge.
One decision made by Wagner that received criticism was his substitution of Adam Idah during the Middlesbrough match. Huddersfield was trailing at the time, and Wagner decided to replace Idah with Hwang Ui-Jo, hoping for a fresh injection of energy. This move prompted controversy, as Idah seemed disappointed and immediately left the field. Despite the criticism, Wagner defends his decision, stating that Idah’s energy levels were not as high as in the first half and that he wanted to bring in new energy to the team. He believes that their recent substitutes such as Borja, Fari, and Placheta brought some positive impact, even though they were unable to turn the game around.
In summary, Huddersfield Town’s head coach David Wagner has faced scrutiny for his team selections and substitutions in recent matches. Despite the team’s poor form, Wagner has made minimal changes to the starting XI and carefully considers various factors before making decisions. He acknowledges the importance of the upcoming match against Sunderland and emphasizes the need to invest everything to reverse their current trend. Wagner’s decision to substitute Adam Idah in a recent match received criticism, but he defends his choice by stating the need for more energy in the team. Overall, he aims to make the right decisions and lead Huddersfield to better results.