Before writing match threads I'll often look at the town whose team we're playing & write about famous people from there or something big that happened in history.
So here's that segment about 'uddersfield.
Huddersfield doesn't have a cathedral so it's just the 11th largest town in the UK.
But in the football world they have been giants, being the first team to win the League 3 years in a row (23/24, 24/25, 25/26). Funnily enough our only win in our first nine meetings was in the midst of their title run.
Overall we've beaten them 10 times, lost 22 and drawn 7. Of those 39 games 37 were over 45 years ago & we haven't met them at all this millennium with out last meetings coming in 1997 in the League Cup when we lost 1-0 at their ground before winning the return 3-0.
16,137 souls were at Upton Park that evening to see John Hartson grab a hatrick in a team that consisted of Miklosko, Breacker, Pearce, Unsworth, Ferdinand, Berkovic, Impey, Lampard, Lomas & Dowie.
We then went on to beat Aston Villa in the cup 2 weeks later, also 3-0, with Hartson getting a brace & Lampard the other.
The following month, on November 19th, we beat Walsall 4-1. This time Lamps got the hatrick & Hartson the other.
We then lost 2-1 against Arsenal in the Quarter Final with Samassi Abou getting our goal.
We also had a good run in the FA Cup that season beating Emley, Citeh & Blackburn before losing to Arsenal (in the QFs again) on penalties after two 1-1 draws.
Huddersfield have got off to a blinder this season, winning the opener at Crystal Palace 3-0, before beating Newcastle at home then drawing with Southampton (also at home) last time out, to leave them on 7 points with no goals conceded as opposed to our ten let in.
So far they've reminded me of Blackpool who, after gaining promotion to the Premier League for the first time in ages, started off well before fading & eventually being relegated.
I feel that Huddersfield will soon start finding their level & I think that will start on Monday 11th September when they come to the Olympic Stadium.
Whilst we have started shit & looked really shit last time out against Newcastle I think that West Ham are about to start a decent run with five games at home over September & October.
We might even go into this game with no major injuries That's right, while he may not be match fit Andy Carroll could well be in the matchday squad (unlikely but possible). We'll also have Lanzini & Obiang two weeks fitter & Reid back.
I think (I could be wrong) that the only player missing will be Arnautovic.
Bilic will have many options to choose from & many formations to ponder but whichever one he goes with I think we'll have too much for Huddersfield & will run out comfortable winners 3-1.
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