So, after the unfortunate two defeats in a row, The Hatters have turned it around gaining 10 points from the last available 12. Before that run began, I'm sure that most sane Luton fans would have taken that, but because the two dropped points were at Ebbsfleet, the doom mongers are still bitching. The team bounced back from the defeat at home to Cambridge with a 5-1 humbling of a weakened Barrow side and then won at Kidderminster, who were there or thereabouts at the top end of the table at the time, and a draw would have been a good result. A victory was a great result. At Ebbsfleet, I felt that the team selection and tactics were not the best they could have been, but then, those tactics brought us a two goal lead, so maybe they were not too far wide of the mark. In opting to try to defend that lead, however, rather than push on to rub it in, they were caught out by a decent strike and then one of the luckiest goals you will see. It was unfortunate, yes, but not enough to provoke some of the fans comments, and whatever you think of individual players, there is never an excuse to single them out and abuse or boo them. Gary Sweet, in his programme notes for Gateshead, may have chosen an unusual medium to convey his point, but he was spot on with the content. For God's sake put an end to that sort of behaviour, it will never be productive and more probably will be counter productive. We want all players giving their all and not letting their heads drop and being afraid to try anything in case it goes wrong and they get more of the same treatment. I would have been happy with four points from Kidderminster and Ebbsfleet both away from home and although it was 'the wrong way round' that is what we achieved.
Once again the lads bounced back from the disappointment at Ebbsfleet, against early runaway leaders, Gateshead, who had already been awarded the title by many Luton fans a couple of weeks ago when they were top, giving them a lesson in football and thrashing them 5-1. Now that was a disappointing result for some of the message board moaners! It also showed Jon Shaw what he was missing!
Can I just point out that Luton are equal third in the table with York City, equal top goalscorers in the division with York City, and have, after Wrexham, the equal second best goal difference in the division, with York City, and York City is one of the teams that the 'agenda people' having been creaming their jeans over? All this with virtually an entire back four out for most of the season with injury? Now some of these players have come back in, probably a little earlier than they should have due to lack of match fitness, we are starting to show a bit more flair and killer instinct. Supporting the team through thick and thin is not being a happy clapper, it is being a true supporter. If anyone has a beef about something, then there are channels to address their issues. Booing players and the manager is an inappropriate way to get a point across.
Now onto self congratulation. In an earlier blog when Aaron O'Connor was getting 'the Carden treatment' from a conclave of alleged Luton fans, I said that he was a much better player than he had shown in the first few games he played for us, and that he would come good and show the boo boys what he could do. I rest that particular case! Similarly, I said something akin to that about Curtis Osano, and he is beginning to show signs of proving my point there too. However, I was unsure about the virtue of signing Jamie Hand and he has made his case with a sterling performance on Saturday and I am very pleased to have been proven wrong in doubting him. However, I would never have abused him verbally nor booed him had he struggled to make an impact.
Another little point to be aired is regarding the signing today of Tommy Wright on a three month contract. The ink is not yet dry on the contract and straight away, the usual suspects are slating him. I don't know a great deal about Tommy, but he has signed for us and will be wearing the hallowed shirt, so here's a radical proposal. How about we give him at least ten minutes on the field before we decide if he is any good? Not two months ago 2020 were being castigated because we had made no signings, then when we do they get slated before they kick a ball in anger.However, he looks a big lad and I would suggest that he can handle himself on the field and will certainly give some defenders something to think about. Let us hope in doing that he can make some telling assists and score a few goals. Fair play to the manager and 2020, they have covered the bases and although it leaves us with an unwieldy squad of around 28 to 30 players, they have acted positively when they have needed to. Let us see how the other contenders deal with losing a few players through illness, injury and suspensions.
Wrexham, our visitors on Tuesday evening, are currently top of the pile and will remain so regardless of the results of tomorrow's matches, but it would be great to carry on from Saturday, halt their progress and put pressure on them at the top.
Go get 'em boys! And let us get right behind them, however the match pans out.
Monday 17 October 2011
Tuesday 4 October 2011
Five star Hatters bounce back
Well! I didn't see that happening, especially after five minutes into the game. However, it just goes to show what can be achieved, even with a depleted team, when players are generally played in their strongest positions. Saturday's line up was balanced, something which cannot be said for the previous three games.
The general consensus after the recent dip in results was that too many players were being accommodated rather than played in their preferred positions and the change away from that certainly conjured a far more promising performance. To be honest, the manager should not have needed to be told that but let us hope he has now learned the lesson.
Let us look at the facts. Amari Morgan-Smith is the leading goalscorer and should therefore play up front, not out wide. That is not rocket science. When fit and available, Stuart Fleetwood should be up there alongside him. They will score goals, enough to allow for the defensive frailties shown with so many defenders injured.
In midfield, there has to be a mix of skills; a holding player, two out and out wingers and a playmaker. In defence a right sided full back, a left sided full back and two central defenders. 4-4-2, it is the Luton way! That line up provides balance and the ability to defend and attack. Putting too many eggs in some baskets and none in others leads to an imbalanced team and a lack of skills in some areas and too many in others.
We do not have wingers or full backs who are capable of doing both the roles of a right sided wing back apart from perhaps Keith Keane, although he is losing a bit of pace nowadays. On the left, Jake Howells, who has both the skills and the engine to cope with the task and Curtis Osano who has the pace going forward but doesn't get back quickly enough can be wing backs or out and out full backs. Freddie can do this when fit as well. Dance cannot defend, Ed cannot cross. Even when fit, Gleeson isn't the best crosser either. Willmott can't defend either, so why try to play the wing back formation down both flanks, when we don't have the right players fit to operate it, and it leaves us vulnerable to the counter attack?
So let's look at the options.
AMS and Fleetwood up front with Crow as back up and to be fresh legs.
Willmott and Dance on the wings.
Central midfield: Hand has proven to be a good defensive midfielder and so is Keith Keane, so one or the other for that role, (not both sacrificing a playmaker), and Lawless, Watson, Jake and Kissock to vie for the attacking midfield/playmaker role.
O'Connor can also play up front, down the right wing or behind the front two if tactical change is needed.
Gleeson when fit for right back, with Ed and Keane as other contenders. Jake, Osano and Freddie Murray and Blackett, when fit, to vie for left back.
When they are all fit and available we have Kovacs, Pilks, Antwi, Beckwith and Blackett for the two central defence positions with Keane more than capable of covering as he showed on Saturday.
Collin Samuel needs match fitness and we don't really know much about his strengths yet and similarly Charlie Henry other than he is a winger.
Between the sticks: We have arguably the best two goalkeepers in the division so that position isn't really an issue.
So now that I have cleared up where they should all be utilised, all Mr Brabin has to do is judge which are the fittest and in form and pick them. Simples!
This is a very strong squad when all are available and there is still room for James Constable to come in! ;-)
Next up Kiddy away. Let's go there and take the game to them and look to score some goals rather than sit back just trying not to be beaten. It's a tough game with the Harriers in form at the moment and with home advantage, but we have to get ourselves on a roll now. A victory there would certainly make a statement to the other teams at the top.
The general consensus after the recent dip in results was that too many players were being accommodated rather than played in their preferred positions and the change away from that certainly conjured a far more promising performance. To be honest, the manager should not have needed to be told that but let us hope he has now learned the lesson.
Let us look at the facts. Amari Morgan-Smith is the leading goalscorer and should therefore play up front, not out wide. That is not rocket science. When fit and available, Stuart Fleetwood should be up there alongside him. They will score goals, enough to allow for the defensive frailties shown with so many defenders injured.
In midfield, there has to be a mix of skills; a holding player, two out and out wingers and a playmaker. In defence a right sided full back, a left sided full back and two central defenders. 4-4-2, it is the Luton way! That line up provides balance and the ability to defend and attack. Putting too many eggs in some baskets and none in others leads to an imbalanced team and a lack of skills in some areas and too many in others.
We do not have wingers or full backs who are capable of doing both the roles of a right sided wing back apart from perhaps Keith Keane, although he is losing a bit of pace nowadays. On the left, Jake Howells, who has both the skills and the engine to cope with the task and Curtis Osano who has the pace going forward but doesn't get back quickly enough can be wing backs or out and out full backs. Freddie can do this when fit as well. Dance cannot defend, Ed cannot cross. Even when fit, Gleeson isn't the best crosser either. Willmott can't defend either, so why try to play the wing back formation down both flanks, when we don't have the right players fit to operate it, and it leaves us vulnerable to the counter attack?
So let's look at the options.
AMS and Fleetwood up front with Crow as back up and to be fresh legs.
Willmott and Dance on the wings.
Central midfield: Hand has proven to be a good defensive midfielder and so is Keith Keane, so one or the other for that role, (not both sacrificing a playmaker), and Lawless, Watson, Jake and Kissock to vie for the attacking midfield/playmaker role.
O'Connor can also play up front, down the right wing or behind the front two if tactical change is needed.
Gleeson when fit for right back, with Ed and Keane as other contenders. Jake, Osano and Freddie Murray and Blackett, when fit, to vie for left back.
When they are all fit and available we have Kovacs, Pilks, Antwi, Beckwith and Blackett for the two central defence positions with Keane more than capable of covering as he showed on Saturday.
Collin Samuel needs match fitness and we don't really know much about his strengths yet and similarly Charlie Henry other than he is a winger.
Between the sticks: We have arguably the best two goalkeepers in the division so that position isn't really an issue.
So now that I have cleared up where they should all be utilised, all Mr Brabin has to do is judge which are the fittest and in form and pick them. Simples!
This is a very strong squad when all are available and there is still room for James Constable to come in! ;-)
Next up Kiddy away. Let's go there and take the game to them and look to score some goals rather than sit back just trying not to be beaten. It's a tough game with the Harriers in form at the moment and with home advantage, but we have to get ourselves on a roll now. A victory there would certainly make a statement to the other teams at the top.
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