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Michal Helik Signs!

02/09/22

Huddersfield Town yesterday announced their 10th signing of the summer transfer window. Michal Helik signs on a 3+1 year deal from Barnsley, the Polish International defender arrives for an undisclosed, but estimated 7 figure fee. Helik was subject to transfer speculation at the start of the transfer window, with Barnsley rejecting a £1.2 million bid from Lech Poznan in Helik’s native Poland.

What type of player is he?

A right-footed, 6ft3 centre-back who is a threat from set pieces. Helik will add much-needed height to Town's backline after the departure of Naby Sarr and Levi Colwill. With Pearson out injured, Town are only left with Boyle and Lees as defenders over 6ft. Town's biggest strength last season in my view was their use of set pieces, both offensively and defensively. No team scored more non-penalty set pieces than Town last year - 21, while only Forest, Blackburn and Fulham conceded less than the 9 Town conceded. So Helik is going to be a threat in both boxes.

He was Barnsley's player of the season in 2020-21. A combative, no-nonsense type of defender, who comes in off the back of two seasons at this level already, and with an eye for goal as well, Michal scored 7 goals in 89 appearances for Barnsley.

Should we be getting excited?

The simple answer is yes, an experienced Championship centre half who at only 26 is only going to get better. He may have been in a Barnsley side that went from being play-off semi-finalists to rock bottom of the Championship in the space of 12 months, but Helik along with his centre-back partner Mads Anderson, were two of the only players who could keep their head's up. Michal picked up an ankle injury with 8 games remaining last season, with The Tykes failing to win any of their remaining 8 games without their Polish International. It was a bitter blow to Barnsley's survival hopes, as Helik contributed to a bit of a renaissance with Barnsley winning 4 of their previous 9 before the injury.

With Helik in the side, Barnsley conceded 1.42 goals per game in the Championship, without him, it was 2.38. Barnsley conceded 4 goals, on four separate occasions in all competitions last season, Helik only was in the squad on one of those occasions, which was away at Fulham. So without Helik, Barnsley were conceding 4 goals, in one of every three games!

The best way of describing Helik to people who may not be too aware of him: he was the same player to Barnsley that Lewis O'Brien was to Huddersfield Town.

Comparison with Lees

The 7-time Polish International completed the 5th most aerial duals of any defender in the division last year (209/299). For comparison within the Town squad, Tom Lees was 9th with 179/257, while Lees played 300 more minutes. Again if you compare him against Tom Lees, Helik completed 0.4 more clearances per game, while attempting double the number of tackles than Lees (2 vs 1), however, Lees was dribbled past 2.5x less. Helik completed 2.5 interceptions per game, compared with Lees' 1.1. Lees however on the ball in considerably better, with an 84.3% pass accuracy to Helik's 68.4%. Tom Lees' performance' at the start of this season is what I think most people expected when the former Wednesday man was signed last season. Helik is 5 years junior to Tom and while Town's number 32 was fantastic last season, the injury to Pearson while the loss of Levi Colwill back to Chelsea via Brighton is a huge disruption to the back line dynamics. Helik coming in is a top Championship defender and one who arguably walks into any Championship side. You would be right to argue that Barnsley had a lot more defending to do than Town last season. Although in my view, as seen by Barnsley conceding on average of 1 more goal per game without Helik in the side, it should prove his quality.

Tactical setup with Helik in the Team

Danny Schofield has wanted Town to play with a back four, which was clear with his first three team selections, before his move to a back three or five - however you want to look at it. Helik has experience playing both with Barnsley and I think this gives Town a lot of flexibility. One of the criticism's that has been raised on social media, including by myself is how poor Ruffels has been at left wing-back. If Town were to go to a back four, Nakayama would move to left back and then have Helik paired with Lees or fellow new signing Luke Mbete. So the signing of Helik would also help Town's stuggles on the left-hand side.

In my opinion, Town are still better suited in a back 5, and I think Nakayama's impact in a back three is greater than it would be in a back four. It is just whether Town and more importantly Schofield continues to trust Ruffels after the former Oxford man took over from the indestructible Harry Toffolo. If Town has anything left in the budget that was hugely dented by Helik, I think they really need to target a left wing back, if not look to give Ben Jackson a run of games.

The Verdict

It is hard to not be happy with a signing like Helik. A polish international, who will desperately be hoping to go to the World Cup in Qatar later this year. He missed the Nations League games at the back end of last season due to injury, so he knows he will have to be at his best to have a chance of getting back into the Polish squad. Even though Barnsley was so poor last season, they were even worse without him in the side. The Tykes conceded nearly a goal per game more when Helik wasn't in the team. I for one am very excited to see how he performs for Town. On paper, a superb signing.