Under-17s Coach discusses Academy’s performance week
- George Danaher reflects on Cup win over Harrogate
- U17s Coach previews Tuesday’s game against FC Halifax Town
- Danaher explains importance of performance games
Huddersfield Town’s Under-17 Coach George Danaher is delighted with his side’s approach to the Academy’s ‘winning week’.
Last week saw the Academy take three out of three wins, with the B Team, Under-19s, and Under-17s all winning their respective matches.
Danaher was quick to comment on how pleasing that is for the Club.
“It’s been a really good week.
“The emphasis was on winning all three Academy matches, plus for the First Team to win both of theirs, it’s just been excellent.
“It’s been a perfect week at the Club really.”
Town’s Under-17 Coach went on to explain why performance games are so important for his side.
“It’s important for the younger players to feel the demand of what it’s like at the top level.
“We put a lot of emphasis on the players improving and their development, but for these games and types of week we want to put pressure on the players to go out and perform.
“The competitions that we’re in provide the players with that pressure, but also the staff create an environment where the players feel under a lot of pressure.”
Whilst there was plenty to pleased with in their 4-2 win over Harrogate Town, Danaher says it’s the players passing that impressed him most.
“We passed forward really well.
“We created loads of opportunities.
“We could have done better in front of goal, but it was really exciting because it’s probably one of the best games I’ve seen of us creating so many chances and always wanting to attack when we were on the ball.
“What we do really well in the Academy is keep the ball, but at times we probably don’t go forward as much as we should do.
“Against Harrogate the forward passing and the detail of which we passed to – in terms of playing in front of people and playing to peoples back foot to go forward – was really exciting.
“I think that’s what put us in such strong positions in the attacking third.”
The Under-17s are back in action on Tuesday 24 August 2021, when they welcome FC Halifax Town to Canalside.
“It’s a great game in terms of a development game to go and practise what we’ve been doing.
“We’re now onto the build phase on playing on the pitch, so working on successfully playing out from the goalkeeper.
“It’s a game where we can really practise that and a game where the players will be able to express themselves and try and take what we do in training into a real situation.”
You can keep up-to-date with all things Huddersfield Town Academy via their official Twitter account; @htafcacademy.
