While it is logical that a lot of clubs see player transfers as a key revenue stream, sometimes a longer term view is what that might be needed.
Huddersfield are one of those clubs who sell their players and make money. Would they have ever though how much money they would have earned had they gained promotion to the Premier League?
The huge TV money and more valuable sponsorship deals mean that Huddersfield would not be thinking about such trivial things and now, so close to a possible promotion, may feel that they should not have allowed certain players to leave. Here are two of them:
Jacob Butterfield
The transfer fee was a healthy one and some may say that has allowed them to bring in several other players. However, Butterfield’s sale to Derby two years ago left a gap in the squad. This season, the gap has been filled brilliantly by Aaron Mooy but he is likely to go back to Manchester City in the summer and this will leave Huddersfield still searching for a strong midfielder.
Butterfield helped Huddersfield make some profit. But unfortunately, it is not possible to play a bag of money on the pitch. The question is, how crucial would his absence look once Mooy leaves? The former Norwich and Middlesbrough man has not quite managed to achieve his Premier League goals and is currently plying his trade in the same division as Huddersfield. With the benefit of hindsight, Butterfield is in no better a position now than when he left the John Smith’s Stadium. However, the Terriers may be crying out for a player of his ability come August.
Conor Coady
Coady may have felt two years ago that going to Wolverhampton Wanderers was a step up for him. If only players showed more patience as well as loyalty, they may realise the grass is not always greener on the other side. Huddersfield are within touching distance of the Promised Land while Wolves languish at 16th place in the Championship. They have looked to be in real danger of dropping to League One. It’s not as if this is unusual, it happens every single season to some club or the other!
At just 24, Coady is on the up; at least theoretically and hence he may have become excited at the prospect of playing for a “bigger” club in a bigger stadium. However, that was very short sighted and for their part, the club should have stayed stronger and should not have let the former Liverpool youngster depart. Imagine Coady and Billing learning their trade together at this club. It would have been a wonderful prospect but it is now not the case.
