Striker is Taylor-made to make it somewhere

Some journeys require several winding roads to be taken before reaching the destination.It might feel like you’re always destined to get to the end goal – but it can still take a while to get there.Some people find their way from A to B really quickly while others hit traffic or diversions before they can end up where they want to.It may be a motoring-based analogy, but certainly rings true when it comes to the case of talented young footballer Joe Taylor.His road to the professional game and being a huge success at a club for a lengthy time has led him to its latest destination, League One Huddersfield Town.Taylor’s career has never really stalled despite stopping at several junctions, although it will forever remain puzzling how he didn’t get more game time at King’s Lynn Town.It was a goal-laden spell on loan at lower-level Wroxham that convinced Peterborough United to snap up the hitman. They know a decent young striker when they see one and Taylor certainly falls into that category. He showed plenty of potential with the Posh but it was still a surprise to many when he swapped London Road for Luton Town.Yet he didn’t park himself there for long with prolific loan spells at Colchester United and Lincoln City encouraging Huddersfield to take him north this month.Taylor knows where the net is, has all sorts of raw potential and will flourish somewhere. Perhaps it’ll be in the third tier where he netted six times in five outings during March and won Sky Bet League One’s Player and Young Player of the Month for March 2024. Another goal was added to his tally at that level on Saturday when he bagged on his first outing during a 2-2 draw at Blackpool.It was interesting to hear from Taylor who, speaking to HTTV, said: “Obviously it’s very nice to grab a goal on debut. “I’m saying that like I’ve done that before, I’ve never done it before.“Given it took me a while last time I was in this league, it’s nice to score in the first game. “When you don’t play as much football, I think the main thing is you lose fitness and that match sharpness, but I think in and around the box, that’s something that will stick with you always.“I was just thankful I was in the right place at the right time, it was a good first touch, and thankfully it just hit the target.”The Terriers are in the play-off picture right now and it should be a fascinating end to the season in a division that includes Wrexham, Birmingham and Bolton.Plenty of eyes from West Norfolk will be on Taylor who will now be looking to accelerate his career without needing to make another trip to do so.A few months ago our Q&A spotlight was on West Norfolk Rugby Club Ladies. Emma-Jane Watson, the team’s skipper, spoke glowingly about the side – hardly a surprise given their form during the early stages of the season.But that hasn’t slowed, in the slightest, and it’s been a case of new year but same old West since 2025 arrived.The phenomenal outfit maintained their 100 per cent record at the weekend when they thumped Lakenham Union 59-12.And they go into a little mini break with a seven-point lead over Colchester Iceni, who do have a game in hand. West beat them in a crunch top-of-the-table clash but welcome them to Gatehouse Lane on February 23 for a mouthwatering showdown between the standout teams in Women’s NC 2 Midlands (East).The club’s centenary year is gathering pace on all senior fronts but it’s starting to look like nobody will be able to stop the ladies as they run in try after try – and win after win – in the most impressive fashion.A trip to Crusaders on February 9 will allow them to shake off any cobwebs ahead of the game against Iceni who will be looking for revenge after getting turned over on their own turf by West.An unbeaten season is hard enough to achieve but can you imagine if West went through the whole campaign with a 100% record? It would be one of the finest sporting achievements from a team in the district given the clubs they’re coming up against.Here’s hoping their sensational form continues in the coming months.I’ve stuck many a dictaphone in a manager’s face and asked for their reaction to a game of football.I still find it fascinating to see how different bosses approach that part of their job – some can rival a politician for the spin on their answers while others just tell it as it is – or so you think. There’s often a hidden meaning behind everything that’s stated publicly; and it’s usually very different from what is said behind closed doors.That’s why more than a few eyebrows were raised on Sunday when Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim suggested his team are the worst in the club’s history.It’s probably not far from the truth but it’s unusual to see a manager throw his players under the bus like that.In today’s game, it’s a surefire way to get a dressing room to turn against you but Amorim probably doesn’t care. This squad has got plenty of managers the sack and he knows he’ll be the next one if he doesn’t act now. Were the comments a desperate attempt to evoke some sort of response? Were they delivered to keep the fans on side and feel sympathy for his plight? Or were those headline-grabbing sentences uttered as a direct message to the club’s board?The Portuguese head coach has made it clear – he will continue playing his way and to expect more pain.The players he has inherited cannot seem to make the system work so now he’s laying down the gauntlet to the power-brokers that convinced him to move to England and try and turn the fallen giant around.Get me some players who can play my way or this miserable run of results will continue.