Midfielder discusses life at HTAFC under David Wagner
- Jonathan Hogg speaks ahead of Bolton Wanderers
- Midfielder on life at HTAFC under David Wagner
- Hoggy praises changes Head Coach has made
Town midfielder Jonathan Hogg says Head Coach David Wagner has given the Terriers ‘a good identity’ on the pitch with his brand of ‘full throttle’ football.
‘Hoggy’ has returned from injury to put in two impressive performances over the festive period and told htafc.com that Wagner has transformed the team since the start of November.
“There have been massive changes to the schedule, training and the way we play – absolutely everything to be fair. It’s all only for the positive for the Club and I think the way we’ve performed on the pitch has shown everyone that the changes are starting to work.
“Obviously we’ve got the same players, but I think we’re better organised and we have a good identity now because of the formation and style he wants us to play. I don’t think we had that seven weeks ago. People now know we want to get the ball down and pass it from the back.
“Since the Head Coach has come in, he’s given us confidence. Training is high tempo and I think we’re a lot fitter as a team, as before we were dying in the last 15 minutes and conceding too many goals.
“He’s definitely brought a buzz around the place. We’re playing pure football and the lads love it; that’s what we want to do. You don’t want to be running after the ball; you want to keep it and make them run after you.”
Hogg has taken over the deep lying central midfield role in the injury absence of Dean Whitehead and explained what changes he has had to make to his game to adapt.
“I think it suits me. I’m playing more of a sitting role at the minute, so he wants me to read the game a bit more and stop attacks. The way he wants me to play is totally different to how I normally do, going from box to box. I can run all day, but he wants me to do less running and to control the game.
“Staying in the middle of the pitch makes my job a bit easier, but it requires discipline; I can’t chase things and leave that area of the pitch open. I feel a lot fresher because I’m doing less running, so when the chance is there to go and win the ball I feel quicker and more powerful because I’ve got more energy.
“When the centre halves split, the holding midfielder has to give them support and almost play like a centre back. I can also enjoy the ball a bit more; he wants us to build the play from the back and I start that.”
Hogg will be looking to play his part again when the Terriers take on Bolton Wanderers at the Macron Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
He concluded: “We’re all going into Saturday confident, just like we did at QPR on Monday.
“Bolton may be bottom of the league but I don’t think it will be an easy game. However, if we can perform the way we have been we can take the game to them.”
