So the loan window has closed and saw late loan deals out of the club for Will Antwi (Grimsby) and Charlie Henry (Aldershot). I can see the logic in both of those deals for Luton. Charlie needs to play games and if he can get that in the Football League then it can only be a benefit. As far as Will is concerned, he didn't do a bad job when he was playing during our spell of the long defensive injury list, but the arrival of Kovacs has left him unlikely to get a game here now and if Janos stays beyond January, and Will does OK at Grimsby, the move may well be made permanent.
I made a statement last week after the Northampton victory about Adam Watkins, that I felt he was ready for regular starts. I made this comment after seeing him make a big difference to the play in a few games, and certainly in an air of euphoria after he had scored the winner over the Cobblers, but after checking some match notes, I noticed that he has always starred coming on as a substitute whereas when he has started he has struggled to get into the game early on, and has not played as well overall. I began to wonder whether perhaps Brabs has got it right with him, and that he gets the best out of the player as a substitute. If so there has to be a reason and I believe I have found it.
A source close to the player revealed that Adam suffers from nerves before a game and it takes him a while to shake them off when he starts but when he is on the bench he doesn't know when or even if he will be used and so has no time to think about it and therefore just gets on with it. That would answer a lot of questions including why Brabs has said in the past that he wants to bring him along slowly. Well there you go - what do I know? I guess that's why Brabs gets the big bucks and I am looking for a job!
Friday, 25 November 2011
Friday, 18 November 2011
What An Enormous Squad?
There seems to be a lot of complaints among fans that we have too big a squad. Is there no pleasing some fans? During the close season there were rumblings that we hadn’t made any signings, the squad was too small and were going to get left behind. Now we have too many? Now we have the biggest squad in the league and the highest wage bill? In my opinion Gary Brabin has done a pretty decent job on the building of a squad and I don’t believe for a minute that his building has finished. Firstly, we have had incredibly bad luck with injuries and we could have stuck with the squad we had and try to weather the injury crisis, but instead Brabin was allowed to bring in replacements. He only brought in players who he felt would improve us overall, or who he wanted to have a look at on short term contracts. This has meant that some of the players brought in after the season began have been superseded in the pecking order. Players like Will Antwi and Dean Beckwith, first choice when injuries were rife in that defence, now cannot get a look in with Pilks back and Kovacs staying on. Perhaps some of these players will go along the same route as Collin Samuel and be released, or perhaps they will get their contracts extended to the end of the season. Who knows at this stage?
Even with all the changes in personnel, the budget this season is lower than at any time in our non-league history. The transfer dealings have been very canny and despite rumours to the contrary, players still want to play for Luton Town
Our squad, after the deregistration of Freddie Murray but after the signing of Taylor and Brunt, including the development players but not the Youth players, and including loan players in, but not out is: 29 of which 7 are forwards. Using similar criteria there would seem to be at least 5 clubs with a larger squad than ours. Whilst I acknowledge that things such as squad size are constantly fluid, and it is virtually impossible to be 100% correct, the following League table, give or take the odd one here and there is not far out. The brackets are players listed as forwards.
Fleetwood 33 (7)
Hayes 28 (8)
Wrexham 26 (6)
Forest Green 25 (5)
Alfreton 25 (5)
Barrow 24 (5)
Ebbsfleet 24 (5)
Last year, I’m given to understand that Crawley Town
In the overall scheme of things, then, it would appear that we are not particularly over-endowed with players or indeed forwards compared to everyone else.
Some Hatters fans will never be happy whatever happens relating to the club, but let us not criticise management based on conjecture and made up facts put about by some individuals to suit an agenda. There is too much negativity among the fans, much of it deliberately fuelled on websites by people with ulterior motives and I’m convinced it rubs off on everyone associated with the running of the club and worse than that, the players.
Tuesday, 15 November 2011
A right kick in the Cobblers'...!
Victory over our Football League visitors Northampton Town put us in the hat for the second round on Saturday. We now know that Cheltenham Town will be the visitors, and we should be ready to give them a game at Kenilworth Road.
OK, the match against Northampton was not exactly inspiring in the first half, but at least we had the laughable Andy D'Urso in the middle doing what he does best - screwing Luton Town, and that gave us something to focus on while the ball was to-ing and fro-ing, as both sides struggled to maintain possession. At least the Cobblers played the game and were not throwing themselves on the floor and time wasting.
The second half was much more entertaining and with a little more composure at the sharp end and a little more support from D'Urso I think we would have put the game to bed much more easily and could have won it 3 or 4 - nil. That of course is notwithstanding Northampton's inability to convert at least 2 golden opportunities to have scored themselves.
I don't want to harp on about referees every week, and as an ex-referee myself, I can often see a referee's thinking when decisions are contentious. In these cases the decision-making is purely a matter of opinion. These are the kind of decisions that balance out over a season, but it is total ineptitude, or lack of bottle, or an apparent shall we say 'lack of sympathy' for a particular club, which makes me seethe. I think Mr Davies against Fleetwood Town definitely fell in the first and second category whereas the likes of Mr D'Urso and Mr Kettle are concerned, it happens time and again, so let us say, ' the jury is out!'
I am beginning to wonder if referees have got fed up of awarding penalty kicks which we then fail to convert so have decided not to bother 'wasting' those big decisions on us! Hmmmmm?
So finally Luton overcame the lack of 'rub of the green', and stormed the Cobblers' goal and although the Hatters deserved victory, it was beginning to look like we would not get the important goal. Enter Adam Supersub Watkins. He came on and immediately changed the course of the match. He was very soon involved and looked yet again a real prospect. He latched on to a loose ball on the edge of the area and buried it in the bottom corner and it was a right kick in the Cobblers'.......confidence. The lad is a very useful player with skill strength and pace, but he has the gift that you cannot teach, train or develop... the knack. Even when he finds himself in a position that is not necessarily a logical one for involvement, the ball finds him and he scores out of seemingly nothing. That is a very good attribute to have and many a player has made a top flight career out of 'the knack'. Adam happens to have the knack and the other attributes mentioned earlier, so let us hope he can go through the leagues with us, and not outgrow us and have to move on up the ladder alone. I'm beginning to get a little thin on patience with Gary Brabin regarding Adam. I know there is a danger of burn-out for very young players if they are over played and lack physique, and it takes a while for many teenage players to develop that physical strength, but Adam is now 20 years old and has the physical and mental strength to be involved more often than he is. To quote a man who knew a 'little bit' about the game, Sir Matthew Busby, "If they are good enough - they are old enough", I think it's time to say that Adam is now both!
So we are drawn at home against Cheltenham Town, currently third in League two and fresh from dumping League one Tranmere Rovers out of the Cup. They will come here full of expectation and will be a very difficult team to beat, but we will give them a game and another shock result is not impossible.
OK, the match against Northampton was not exactly inspiring in the first half, but at least we had the laughable Andy D'Urso in the middle doing what he does best - screwing Luton Town, and that gave us something to focus on while the ball was to-ing and fro-ing, as both sides struggled to maintain possession. At least the Cobblers played the game and were not throwing themselves on the floor and time wasting.
The second half was much more entertaining and with a little more composure at the sharp end and a little more support from D'Urso I think we would have put the game to bed much more easily and could have won it 3 or 4 - nil. That of course is notwithstanding Northampton's inability to convert at least 2 golden opportunities to have scored themselves.
I don't want to harp on about referees every week, and as an ex-referee myself, I can often see a referee's thinking when decisions are contentious. In these cases the decision-making is purely a matter of opinion. These are the kind of decisions that balance out over a season, but it is total ineptitude, or lack of bottle, or an apparent shall we say 'lack of sympathy' for a particular club, which makes me seethe. I think Mr Davies against Fleetwood Town definitely fell in the first and second category whereas the likes of Mr D'Urso and Mr Kettle are concerned, it happens time and again, so let us say, ' the jury is out!'
I am beginning to wonder if referees have got fed up of awarding penalty kicks which we then fail to convert so have decided not to bother 'wasting' those big decisions on us! Hmmmmm?
So finally Luton overcame the lack of 'rub of the green', and stormed the Cobblers' goal and although the Hatters deserved victory, it was beginning to look like we would not get the important goal. Enter Adam Supersub Watkins. He came on and immediately changed the course of the match. He was very soon involved and looked yet again a real prospect. He latched on to a loose ball on the edge of the area and buried it in the bottom corner and it was a right kick in the Cobblers'.......confidence. The lad is a very useful player with skill strength and pace, but he has the gift that you cannot teach, train or develop... the knack. Even when he finds himself in a position that is not necessarily a logical one for involvement, the ball finds him and he scores out of seemingly nothing. That is a very good attribute to have and many a player has made a top flight career out of 'the knack'. Adam happens to have the knack and the other attributes mentioned earlier, so let us hope he can go through the leagues with us, and not outgrow us and have to move on up the ladder alone. I'm beginning to get a little thin on patience with Gary Brabin regarding Adam. I know there is a danger of burn-out for very young players if they are over played and lack physique, and it takes a while for many teenage players to develop that physical strength, but Adam is now 20 years old and has the physical and mental strength to be involved more often than he is. To quote a man who knew a 'little bit' about the game, Sir Matthew Busby, "If they are good enough - they are old enough", I think it's time to say that Adam is now both!
So we are drawn at home against Cheltenham Town, currently third in League two and fresh from dumping League one Tranmere Rovers out of the Cup. They will come here full of expectation and will be a very difficult team to beat, but we will give them a game and another shock result is not impossible.
Wednesday, 9 November 2011
Oh my, what a referee.......
Before commenting on the performances of the two teams I have to say that Saturday's refereeing performance was one of the worst I have seen since Andy D'Urso! Mr Davies seemed unwilling or unable to make any major decisions and in the first half in particular was very close to losing control of the match altogether. Major wrong or non decisions were instrumental in the way the match developed and had the correct decisions been made the outcome might have been so different.
I was amazed at the end when Curtis Osano was named man of the match because although he had a lot of possession and was involved a great deal in the match, he created very little and defended poorly. Having strode forward and lost possession or made poor attempts to cross the ball, he did get back very quickly proving he has the fitness and the 'engine' but when tracking back was constantly too far infield and left either Brodie or Vardy unmarked out wide and therefore found himself being bypassed by some accurate passing by Fleetwood Town, notably for the first goal.
The match began with Luton taking the game to their visitors but it was clear early on that the very big players of the Cod Army were not going to give Luton space and were very quick to press anyone in possession of the ball. That said, for 20 minutes Fleetwood looked all at sea in defence and with a little more luck Luton might have had a couple of goals and possibly two penalty kicks, one for a foul on O'Connor and another for a blatant handball in the area. O'Connor made it easy for the referee to fail to give a penalty in the 7th minute, when he jinked into the box and played the ball beyond a hesitant defender who stuck out a leg tripping him. The boy was too honest and tried to stay on his feet and the chance was lost whereas had he gone down, the decision was an easy one, it had to have been a penalty kick.
Diminutive left back Brown was having a nightmare and it was very disappointing when he went off injured, because he was a liability, and Willmott, O'Connor and Fleetwood had already shown that he was there for the taking, and his replacement looked a whole lot more composed.
In the 9th minute the dangerous Vardy was sent through got a toe to the ball as Pilkington made his challenge sending the striker up in the air after the ball had long gone for a definite yellow card which duly came.
Then in the 11th minute a tackle on AMS just inside the Fleetwood half, in front of the Bobbers stand, was more GBH than tackle and not only was it a foul but a stonewall yellow and borderline red card offence, but Mr Davies waved play on. Immediately from this outrageous decision, Vardy was out wide left and Osano, who was tracking back on a line towards the left hand goal post instead of going to the right back channel, saw a superb pass from Clancy go sailing by him to Vardy, who was clear, and raced in towards goal. Tyler will know in retrospect that he would have been better staying between his posts but he was exposed and ran out leaving the in-form striker the easiest of opportunities to chip it past him into the empty net. It was more than they deserved but it would never have happened in the referee had done his job over the earlier foul. Up to that point all the good football had come from the Hatters and the disappointment of conceding the first goal was palpable.
Shortly afterwards, Vardy controlled the ball with his hand then drove the ball against the woodwork resulting in a free kick but then kicked the ball away and was booked. I'm not sure which offence he was booked for but they were both bookable offences but this referee was not about to take it that far. Tackles were now flying in all over the place as the players sensed that the referee's control was, to say the least, tenuous and it looked as though there would be a sending off sooner rather than later, if the referee didn't bottle it, but bottle it he did at least twice.
On 43 minutes, as the temperature of the game was reaching boiling point, Fleetwood put a foot in on Shaun Beeley and was deserving of a yellow card, but the referee blew for a free kick and was not going to book the Hatters striker. However, as the referee moved away, Beeley got up and set about Fleetwood, firstly thrusting his chest against him and then pushing his hand in his face. The experienced former Hereford player merely held his hands away from the action and did not retaliate, which was the correct thing to do. The Assistant Referee flagged and after the referee had consulted him it seemed the only course of action was a red card for Beeley. Incredulously, the referee gave a yellow card to both players, which seemed harsh on Fleetwood and lenient for Beeley, notwithstanding the original challenge.
The look on the referee's face as he came near to the touchline below where I was sitting was very stressed and he blew his cheeks out when yet another tasty foul went in and it looked as though he couldn't wait for the half to end. There was still time in the 5 added minutes for a very rash challenge from Pilkington, but it was on Brodie so eminently forgivable! The referee went over to the two prostrate players and reached towards his pocket and took out his book. The correct decision would have been a second yellow for Pilks and an early bath, but upon seeing blood on Pilkington's face the referee repocketed his book and called Simon Parsell on to the pitch to deal with the injury. Pilks was led down the tunnel probably for stitches and the referee gladly blew for half time. The referee was then delayed in leaving the field having a conversation with a Luton player in the other half of the pitch, so was not handily placed when the tunnel extension began to rock back and forth as the players set about each other inside it. When the referee arrived he stood on the field looking as though he didn't want to see what was happening. God forbid he should have another decision to make. When it had all died down the three officials were escorted from the field and therefore did not have to deal with it.
The second half began with the Town once again attacking well and on 49 minutes the ball was crossed into the Fleetwood penalty area and was bobbling around until a hacked clearance went out to Willmott, who crossed again only for Jackson to attempt unsuccessfully to chest the ball but needed the help of an arm to stop it going past him and with no excuses whatsoever the well positioned referee ignored the offence and sprinted off into the other half. At that point you just knew that it was never going to be your day! It continued to be nip and tuck as the Hatters strove for an equaliser, but in the 66th minute a typical forward's challenge in the penalty area saw AMS get wrong sided, ironically by Jackson, the earlier handball offender in his own box, and as AMS made a challenge the Fleetwood player made sure that the hanging foot of AMS was hooked and he went down like the proverbial sack of effluent. The referee looked as though he was going to wave it away but the Assistant waved his flag violently and across his chest it went and the referee was forced to accept the advice and award a penalty kick.
Milligan netted for a 2-0 lead and regrettably the Town began to resort to desperation tactics and far too many hoofed long balls were delivered with the Fleetwood players now cock-a-hoop and able to deal with that quite easily. It wasn't until the last five minutes that Luton really got it on the ground and tried to play football again. With time all but gone a clipped cross from the left was headed sweetly into the top corner by Kovacs but the referee blew immediately after the restart.
It was not a great performance by the Town but it wasn't as bad as some have suggested. A draw would have been a fair result; but when push came to shove they scored 2 and we didn't. I imagine that the referee must have known what a 'mare he had and if he didn't the assessor will no doubt have pointed it out to him. I just hope he is not allowed near another BSP fixture until he learns to make a decision.
I was amazed at the end when Curtis Osano was named man of the match because although he had a lot of possession and was involved a great deal in the match, he created very little and defended poorly. Having strode forward and lost possession or made poor attempts to cross the ball, he did get back very quickly proving he has the fitness and the 'engine' but when tracking back was constantly too far infield and left either Brodie or Vardy unmarked out wide and therefore found himself being bypassed by some accurate passing by Fleetwood Town, notably for the first goal.
The match began with Luton taking the game to their visitors but it was clear early on that the very big players of the Cod Army were not going to give Luton space and were very quick to press anyone in possession of the ball. That said, for 20 minutes Fleetwood looked all at sea in defence and with a little more luck Luton might have had a couple of goals and possibly two penalty kicks, one for a foul on O'Connor and another for a blatant handball in the area. O'Connor made it easy for the referee to fail to give a penalty in the 7th minute, when he jinked into the box and played the ball beyond a hesitant defender who stuck out a leg tripping him. The boy was too honest and tried to stay on his feet and the chance was lost whereas had he gone down, the decision was an easy one, it had to have been a penalty kick.
Diminutive left back Brown was having a nightmare and it was very disappointing when he went off injured, because he was a liability, and Willmott, O'Connor and Fleetwood had already shown that he was there for the taking, and his replacement looked a whole lot more composed.
In the 9th minute the dangerous Vardy was sent through got a toe to the ball as Pilkington made his challenge sending the striker up in the air after the ball had long gone for a definite yellow card which duly came.
Then in the 11th minute a tackle on AMS just inside the Fleetwood half, in front of the Bobbers stand, was more GBH than tackle and not only was it a foul but a stonewall yellow and borderline red card offence, but Mr Davies waved play on. Immediately from this outrageous decision, Vardy was out wide left and Osano, who was tracking back on a line towards the left hand goal post instead of going to the right back channel, saw a superb pass from Clancy go sailing by him to Vardy, who was clear, and raced in towards goal. Tyler will know in retrospect that he would have been better staying between his posts but he was exposed and ran out leaving the in-form striker the easiest of opportunities to chip it past him into the empty net. It was more than they deserved but it would never have happened in the referee had done his job over the earlier foul. Up to that point all the good football had come from the Hatters and the disappointment of conceding the first goal was palpable.
Shortly afterwards, Vardy controlled the ball with his hand then drove the ball against the woodwork resulting in a free kick but then kicked the ball away and was booked. I'm not sure which offence he was booked for but they were both bookable offences but this referee was not about to take it that far. Tackles were now flying in all over the place as the players sensed that the referee's control was, to say the least, tenuous and it looked as though there would be a sending off sooner rather than later, if the referee didn't bottle it, but bottle it he did at least twice.
On 43 minutes, as the temperature of the game was reaching boiling point, Fleetwood put a foot in on Shaun Beeley and was deserving of a yellow card, but the referee blew for a free kick and was not going to book the Hatters striker. However, as the referee moved away, Beeley got up and set about Fleetwood, firstly thrusting his chest against him and then pushing his hand in his face. The experienced former Hereford player merely held his hands away from the action and did not retaliate, which was the correct thing to do. The Assistant Referee flagged and after the referee had consulted him it seemed the only course of action was a red card for Beeley. Incredulously, the referee gave a yellow card to both players, which seemed harsh on Fleetwood and lenient for Beeley, notwithstanding the original challenge.
The look on the referee's face as he came near to the touchline below where I was sitting was very stressed and he blew his cheeks out when yet another tasty foul went in and it looked as though he couldn't wait for the half to end. There was still time in the 5 added minutes for a very rash challenge from Pilkington, but it was on Brodie so eminently forgivable! The referee went over to the two prostrate players and reached towards his pocket and took out his book. The correct decision would have been a second yellow for Pilks and an early bath, but upon seeing blood on Pilkington's face the referee repocketed his book and called Simon Parsell on to the pitch to deal with the injury. Pilks was led down the tunnel probably for stitches and the referee gladly blew for half time. The referee was then delayed in leaving the field having a conversation with a Luton player in the other half of the pitch, so was not handily placed when the tunnel extension began to rock back and forth as the players set about each other inside it. When the referee arrived he stood on the field looking as though he didn't want to see what was happening. God forbid he should have another decision to make. When it had all died down the three officials were escorted from the field and therefore did not have to deal with it.
The second half began with the Town once again attacking well and on 49 minutes the ball was crossed into the Fleetwood penalty area and was bobbling around until a hacked clearance went out to Willmott, who crossed again only for Jackson to attempt unsuccessfully to chest the ball but needed the help of an arm to stop it going past him and with no excuses whatsoever the well positioned referee ignored the offence and sprinted off into the other half. At that point you just knew that it was never going to be your day! It continued to be nip and tuck as the Hatters strove for an equaliser, but in the 66th minute a typical forward's challenge in the penalty area saw AMS get wrong sided, ironically by Jackson, the earlier handball offender in his own box, and as AMS made a challenge the Fleetwood player made sure that the hanging foot of AMS was hooked and he went down like the proverbial sack of effluent. The referee looked as though he was going to wave it away but the Assistant waved his flag violently and across his chest it went and the referee was forced to accept the advice and award a penalty kick.
Milligan netted for a 2-0 lead and regrettably the Town began to resort to desperation tactics and far too many hoofed long balls were delivered with the Fleetwood players now cock-a-hoop and able to deal with that quite easily. It wasn't until the last five minutes that Luton really got it on the ground and tried to play football again. With time all but gone a clipped cross from the left was headed sweetly into the top corner by Kovacs but the referee blew immediately after the restart.
It was not a great performance by the Town but it wasn't as bad as some have suggested. A draw would have been a fair result; but when push came to shove they scored 2 and we didn't. I imagine that the referee must have known what a 'mare he had and if he didn't the assessor will no doubt have pointed it out to him. I just hope he is not allowed near another BSP fixture until he learns to make a decision.
Monday, 17 October 2011
Progress report
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.
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.
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.
Thursday, 29 September 2011
Bad week at the office
Well, my confidence in the team's ability seems to have been temporarily misplaced and our reign at the top of the table was very fleeting. Two bad results have seen us plummet to 9th in the league table. While it's not exactly terminal, it is not ideal and has played into the hands of the suicidal and those with an agenda once again to peddle their negativity on the fan sites. While other teams are getting on a roll we are apparently on a potentially downward spiral which must be halted quickly with a victory at home to Barrow on Saturday.
Firstly, I was unimpressed by the tactics at York City and I agree with some of the naysayers that Gary Brabin has a tendency to be negative away from home persisting with this 5-4-1/4-3-3 formation which leads to the isolation of the lone striker when the service from the 'wingbacks' is not at its best. The Luton way is 4-4-2 and not only usually brings success but is also more entertaining to watch. 4-3-3 is entertaining enough when all is going well, but this season it has not brought rewards leading to too many draws and on Saturday leading to being picked off by a lively York City. The defeat at home to Cambridge was disappointing on many levels. To start with the first half was good apart from the end result, but the second half was inept and while a draw was the least we deserved, on the overall 90 minutes, we did not show enough quality in the final third to deserve victory. I felt that the manager allowed the team to stagnate and made poor choices about the timing and nature of the substitutions.
Robbie Willmott played well in the first half and had a couple of the numerous chances made been taken we would not be involved with nit-picking the performance as we would probably have gone on to win comfortably. It reminded me of the three home defeats against Rushden, Kettering and Stevenage a couple of years ago. It seemed the longer it went on the confidence of the players drained and they ran out of ideas and were vulnerable to a sucker punch which eventually came. There never seems to be a plan B when things are not happening for us. So far, Aaron O'Connor has not made a significant difference when coming on as substitute, whereas Adam Watkins and JP Kissock have. I think O'Connor needs games to get some form back, and possibly not in the first team, he is a much better player than he has shown so far. Also, he should never be used as an impact substitute, it's simply not his style. I would have liked to see Watkins on at the start but at least at half time, and if we are going to concede silly goals then we have got to score more ourselves and two games without scoring is already two games too many. Stuart Fleetwood should not have to be coming back into midfield to get the ball, he should be allowed to roam free in the opponents' penalty area and sniff out half chances along with having the ball put in dangerous areas for him to head in. He will score if he gets the service, and provide lay-offs for a striking partner as long as there is one in the side! Perhaps out leading goalscorer AMS? Just a thought!
This season has so far been a disastrous one in terms of injury and suspension, but we have probably got the best squad in the league to deal with that and other teams will struggle if and when they run into such problems. Alex Lawless was suspended for Tuesday's game but may be out longer because he punched a wall and broke his hand at York. Well that is a great help to our plight! Also it has been well documented that half a dozen players are injured who would be in the squad were they fit. Well they are not and those coming in have got to do better. We need to get on our own roll and put together another undefeated run preferably with a run of victories to stay in touch and put pressure on those above. It is too early to predict what is going to happen by Christmas but I am still confident that we will be there or thereabouts by then and that we will push on to win the title even if we have to bring in reinforcements. I'd just like to see Mr Brabin get them playing a more attacking style of play home and away. There are no teams in this league that we could not beat; as I have said before they should be afraid of us, not the other way around. Players must be played in their best positions not merely accommodated. We have enough wingers not to play AMS out there and enough utility players not to need two defensive midfielders, one of those should have been sacrificed for young Watkins or Kissock.
I think the call by some for the manager to be sacked is ridiculous at this stage of the season especially when he has not had his full squad to choose from, and he has to be given time, but the pressure will no doubt be there for him and I hope it doesn't produce even more negative 'trying not to lose' tactics. Come on Gary let's go out to win, home or away, because strange though it may seem, the side effect from winning games is that you do not lose either!
Firstly, I was unimpressed by the tactics at York City and I agree with some of the naysayers that Gary Brabin has a tendency to be negative away from home persisting with this 5-4-1/4-3-3 formation which leads to the isolation of the lone striker when the service from the 'wingbacks' is not at its best. The Luton way is 4-4-2 and not only usually brings success but is also more entertaining to watch. 4-3-3 is entertaining enough when all is going well, but this season it has not brought rewards leading to too many draws and on Saturday leading to being picked off by a lively York City. The defeat at home to Cambridge was disappointing on many levels. To start with the first half was good apart from the end result, but the second half was inept and while a draw was the least we deserved, on the overall 90 minutes, we did not show enough quality in the final third to deserve victory. I felt that the manager allowed the team to stagnate and made poor choices about the timing and nature of the substitutions.
Robbie Willmott played well in the first half and had a couple of the numerous chances made been taken we would not be involved with nit-picking the performance as we would probably have gone on to win comfortably. It reminded me of the three home defeats against Rushden, Kettering and Stevenage a couple of years ago. It seemed the longer it went on the confidence of the players drained and they ran out of ideas and were vulnerable to a sucker punch which eventually came. There never seems to be a plan B when things are not happening for us. So far, Aaron O'Connor has not made a significant difference when coming on as substitute, whereas Adam Watkins and JP Kissock have. I think O'Connor needs games to get some form back, and possibly not in the first team, he is a much better player than he has shown so far. Also, he should never be used as an impact substitute, it's simply not his style. I would have liked to see Watkins on at the start but at least at half time, and if we are going to concede silly goals then we have got to score more ourselves and two games without scoring is already two games too many. Stuart Fleetwood should not have to be coming back into midfield to get the ball, he should be allowed to roam free in the opponents' penalty area and sniff out half chances along with having the ball put in dangerous areas for him to head in. He will score if he gets the service, and provide lay-offs for a striking partner as long as there is one in the side! Perhaps out leading goalscorer AMS? Just a thought!
This season has so far been a disastrous one in terms of injury and suspension, but we have probably got the best squad in the league to deal with that and other teams will struggle if and when they run into such problems. Alex Lawless was suspended for Tuesday's game but may be out longer because he punched a wall and broke his hand at York. Well that is a great help to our plight! Also it has been well documented that half a dozen players are injured who would be in the squad were they fit. Well they are not and those coming in have got to do better. We need to get on our own roll and put together another undefeated run preferably with a run of victories to stay in touch and put pressure on those above. It is too early to predict what is going to happen by Christmas but I am still confident that we will be there or thereabouts by then and that we will push on to win the title even if we have to bring in reinforcements. I'd just like to see Mr Brabin get them playing a more attacking style of play home and away. There are no teams in this league that we could not beat; as I have said before they should be afraid of us, not the other way around. Players must be played in their best positions not merely accommodated. We have enough wingers not to play AMS out there and enough utility players not to need two defensive midfielders, one of those should have been sacrificed for young Watkins or Kissock.
I think the call by some for the manager to be sacked is ridiculous at this stage of the season especially when he has not had his full squad to choose from, and he has to be given time, but the pressure will no doubt be there for him and I hope it doesn't produce even more negative 'trying not to lose' tactics. Come on Gary let's go out to win, home or away, because strange though it may seem, the side effect from winning games is that you do not lose either!
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