SOCCER

What Will Danny Williams Bring to Huddersfield Town?

Douglas Smith  —  @DFresh39 Jul 6th, 2017
The nonstop motor of USMNT midfielder Danny Williams will be a welcome addition for promoted Huddersfield Town, who have been very active this summer.

The last time Huddersfield Town saw Danny Williams, he was full of emotion after his Reading team lost in the promotion playoff to the Terriers. Now the USMNT midfielder will be playing for Huddersfield as he makes his first appearance in the Premier League.

Williams is one of eight signings that the promoted side has made, but he may have the biggest engine of them all.

Williams was praised for his play in the promotion playoff as the only Reading player to really make a mark. He tied for the most appearances in a Reading shirt last season with 39. His passing percentage was over 86%, and he was fouled nearly twice a game while playing in the center of the midfield.



Williams earned a lot of fans on the day of the promotion playoff, as he was in tears after the match. It was clear that he put everything into his performance that night. The emotional side of the game can connect players and fans just as much as the effort on the field. His total effort on the pitch and the glimpses into his personality that have been seen on a big stage should make Williams a fan favorite.

Of Huddersfield's new acquisitions, Williams may be the only household name for American fans. Aaron Mooy joined the team permanently for a record fee just days before Williams made the move. On loan last year from Manchester City, Mooy was one of the biggest stars for Huddersfield in their promotion campaign. Attacking midfielder Tom Ince may be a player that some fans recognize from his brief stints with Crystal Palace and Hull City in the Premier League.

Huddersfield have also signed 6'3" forward Laurent Depoitre from Porto. Reading won 62% of aerial duels in the promotion playoff finale, so Depoitre's size is much needed. He is not the tallest acquisition for Huddersfield, as they have signed 6'5" keeper Jonas Lossl on loan with playoff hero Danny Ward returning to Liverpool.

Williams' engine will help a team that gave up the fewest shots per game in the Championship last season. However, Huddersfield have put most of their effort into bulking up an attack that struggled to score at times last year. No one expects Huddersfield to stay up next year, but the management is putting in an effort to be competitive and challenge other lower half teams.