MDF Luton Town v PNE 13/08/22

[Wimbo]

Well following a possibly overachieving season, it was always going to be a difficult act to follow but I reckon it’s a minimum of 6 games into the season or as JS used to say, 10 games in until we get a good feel for how things may progress particularly if a team is going to struggle in a season.

Sitting in the stand it was uncomfortably hot for the passive spectator clutching their water bottles. So, just imagine what it was like for 22 athletes on a pitch playing in that heat. Yes, it was the same for both sides but had we scored the first goal then I am sure Preston would have found it hard to mount sustained pressure to grab an equaliser.

You have to give credit to Preston in the way they set up to counter our style and our plan B or is it A, was not helped by injuries picked up by players capable of playing wide and fast; Cornick injured in training and Pereira from Tuesday & oh yes, lets not forget it would have been good to have had Fred Onyedinma & Alfie Doughty available. Our only real wide fast options were the two wing backs; after being superb at Burnley Bell had a poor game and Bree rather mixed and looked to me to be suffering from the heat more than most. So, surprise surprise that left the middle where our efforts were mostly gobbled up by a well-organized Preston defence. We did get through a few times in the second half and maybe Adebayo cutting in from the left could have put one away and Woodrow maybe could have put that “Bradd Potts” like chance away.

Thinking of how we stand at the moment, our defence is pretty sound; maybe NJ will bring in another CB to cover the undoubted injury crisis that we will face at some time. I guess having Cornick, Onyedinma, Doughty, Pelly injured is more of a flesh wound than a crisis but I reckon they would have made a significant difference yesterday; the first three with their wide wing pace and Pelly with his midfield physicality.

In midfield yesterday I felt that Clarke & Campbell did some very good work as did Freeman yet the skilful Freeman is so left-footed that a defender knows once out wide right there will only be one option for Freeman. I reckon Thorpe looked promising when he came on but I would for sure send him out on loan to hopefully a club where he can get 20 or more games this season. The downside with yesterday's midfield is that whilst Campbell is a superb terrier, the others lack a touch of physicality maybe.

In attack, I agree that Morris did not help himself with that clumsy first touch and to my mind he is the type of player who will benefit from balls being knocked into open areas to chase rather than passes to his feet in the middle of the park: maybe the missing wide players would supply that service. Turning to Adebayo, I thought some of his touches yesterday were very good such as the way he brought the long ball down and turned; no worries there for me. What I do maybe have doubts about is that is the combination of Adebayo & Morris the ideal starting combination as they each battle for that middle ground; just not convinced although later on in the game I could see that working.

So, on to Bristol & the home to Sheffield United; I would settle for 2 points or maybe 3; fingers crossed.

[shatter2]

Very sound summary Bill. It will take a while for the new signings to come good. I remember people saying that Campbell was not the answer when he started last season and Naismith took some time to settle in.
I mentioned to a couple of people yesterday the JS saying "wait till we've got ten matches under our belt".
I'm not sure that this season will be as good as or better than last seasons brilliant effort,my only worry is that we have a Barnsley type slump. Mid table for me and consolidation.
And don't forget NJ teams nearly always fight back after a defeat and get a result in the next match.

[lutonloyal]

On reflection, after hearing some sad news in the Bobbers Club pre match I was on a bit of a downer and felt we never ever really got going in the heat. Strange how we can go from playing SO well at Burnley (especially 1st half) to yesterday. I am more than a bit concerned that we do not look like we are going to score many goals at this present moment.

It's early days and lets be honest nearly a year ago we lost 5-0 at home to Birmingham. However, yesterday was my 599th LTFC defeat seen - I fear my 600th might be coming very soon, perhaps as early as Tues night at Bristol City? - where I've never seen us win btw!

Yesterday's sad news was being told of an ex work colleague at GPR Print in Hitchin, who recently passed away aged 73 with a sudden heart attack. Nick Dear from Letchworth also used to drink in the Bobbers Club pre match like myself and had an astounding LTFC attendance record. I used to think my record of not missing a single home Hatters game for over 15 years from Apr 1974 - May 1989 was pretty impressive - but compared to Nick it paled into insignificance!

Nick missed Luton 3 Barrow 0 Div 3 in Aug 1969 (as did I because we were on family holidays) ...............he would then go on to not miss a single league home match for over FORTY Years until we were in the Conference. I can't remember which Conference game he missed or when it was, but that is some record I cannot see anyone matching - even Les Miller who runs the Bobbers Travel!

Rest easy Nick

[clappers]

I am coming to the conclusion that I don't understand some of the rules anymore. Yesterday (also with Ashley Barnes at Burnley) a Preston player was standing many yards nearer our goal than any of our players at the time Preston launched a long goal kick. Whilst in flight the Preston forward runs towards the ball to contest it with our defenders who lose control of the ball. Why is that not off-side? Surely, at least, he is interfering with play?

[bms]

Sorry for your loss Loyal

Having come so close to the magic money tree last season, we are going to continue to depend on astute signings and talent discovery to hold our own in this league. I think our board would have managed a Premiership windfall very well but that’s hopefully for another day. We’ll see some targeted players go to other clubs because of wages and we just have to live with that.

[8two]

Aug 14, 2022 12:12:54 GMT bms said:

Sorry for your loss Loyal

Having come so close to the magic money tree last season, we are going to continue to depend on astute signings and talent discovery to hold our own in this league. I think our board would have managed a Premiership windfall very well but that’s hopefully for another day. We’ll see some targeted players go to other clubs because of wages and we just have to live with that.

Unlike Meat Loaf let's hope there is a Coupe Deville (US spelling ) at the bottom of a crackerjack box. And if Nathan can get 2 out of 3 then it ain't bad.

[shadylane]

Yes, it's the same temperature for both sides, but if one's game plan is to sit in and the other side concedes the first time a cross is delivered, we all know who's going to suffer in the heat more.

Like versus Birmingham, I thought we started with intent, winning the ball in the Preston half but we seem to need an early goal or our game (floaty crosses yesterday) becomes easy to deal with.

I can understand the need to replace Naismith's passing ability (Lansbury at CB v Newport, Clark deep in midfield yesterday) but considering our current lack of attacking threat, I wonder if the need to protect the clean sheet is more important - Osho to anchor midfield? I suspect once Freeman has a quiet game (I've been pleasantly surprised with him so far) he'll go the way of Moncur, rarely to be picked again. Then we'll see Clark closer to the strikers.

Considering his championship experience, I thought Woodrow was nailed on to start the season. At least play him upfront against Newport and see what occurs. Get him in the starting lineup, Jonesy, as a foil for Adebayo, Morris from the bench.

I'd persevere with Thorpe. I thought there was more overlap with Bree down the right once Thorpe was introduced, which can be developed.

From the relative cool of the Enclosure, it was bloody hot when leaving the ground. No complaints from me about our work rate in such heat, but the quality in our attacking play is well short at the moment.

[bernardshakey]

Liz we could have done with Harry or Fred going up the wing like a bat out of hell.

[8two]

Aug 14, 2022 13:33:34 GMT bernardshakey said:

Liz we could have done with Harry or Fred going up the wing like a bat out of hell.

if a few more 'Jokers' join in bernard, we could keep these links going for pages

[bernardshakey]

The way Amari played yesterday he was a deadringer for Paul Carden.

[flathatter]

Aug 14, 2022 13:33:34 GMT bernardshakey said:

Liz we could have done with Harry or Fred going up the wing like a bat out of hell.

You took the words right out of my mouth 🤪 Oh wait a minute, not appropriate 😁

[bernardshakey]

There's a few on here including me saying heaven can wait.

[shatter2]

One thing I've noticed on here is if we lose the MDF comments increase. Let's hope for many less comments on Tuesday/Wednesday!😉😁

[proudhattersince74]

Four games into the new season and every team (including Newport reserves) has identified our left flank as our weakest and target it. Additionally, they seem to continually test Bell. Okay Doughty was supposed to be our LWB for this season but Bell was mentioned as our LCB in a back three - sorry but Bell has momentary lapses and, at this level, they can be costly, as was his ball watching vs PNE. I read a previous comment that Bell's defensive capabilities were 'adequate' - I beg to differ! Whilst Doughty is crocked, Bell is probably the best LB or left sided defender we have as Potts isn't a Championship standard LB - Bell is not much better.

Chatting to a mate this morning, he said the same as me: Naismith displayed some defensive frailties now and then but he had the ability to bring the ball forward from the back line and often passed it through midfield ... instead of relying on long, high inaccurate balls aimed in the general direction of Eli or Morris, none of which were won by either of those two, no matter how many times we tried it.

PNE's physical advantage in midfield (height, weight, strength, pace) meant that we had little/nothing to offer in moving the ball between departments and created nothing for the front runners. Worryingly, I cannot see much different in upcoming matches when you look at the make up of their respective midfield departments. We patently miss Pelly's physicality and box-to-box coverage.

I keep hearing NJ saying, "small margins" but we don't, thus far, appear to have the upper hand when it comes to winning 50-50 tackles/headers, pick up loose balls in important areas, run with the ball at pace and make the right decisions to create breakaways. Last season, we built a momentum and belief that now appears to have been more reliant upon Naismith than was obvious at the time. I sincerely hope that I'm wrong with that assertion and hope that the weather changes so that our all running, pressing game isn't diminished because the players are knackered playing in dessert temperatures!

Speaking of which, PNE reminded me of Pompey in L2 - they seemed to take it in turns to pressurise us. Instead of expecting Eli or Morris to chase the ball all across the PNE back line whilst our midfield and defence are setting themselves into a shape for what's about to happen, PNE's players made (sprinting, not jogging) bursts from midfield towards our defenders and gave them no time to dwell, certainly no time to look for progressive passes. But they did it quite cleverly in that whoever did that chasing could then have an active recovery whilst the next player did the next chasing.

COYH.

Oh and WTF are the delays about in exiting the Main Stand into KR. Bottle neck in baking conditions caused by stewards who were even more incompetent about their jobs than the referee was at his job. As soon as you cleared the exit gate, there was no crowd whatsoever around the bar/clubshop/ticket office zone so it was entirely the fault of the stewards. Someone mentioned it was a safety issue not letting KR enders walk through the main stand to exit at Maple Road. Safety issue? Exactly how many fans have been hurt or injured doing just that in the last 20-30 years? Hope the club will be reviewing this as it even happened with just 3700 attending the Newport match.

[8two]

Aug 14, 2022 15:34:06 GMT proudhattersince74 said:

Oh and WTF are the delays about in exiting the Main Stand into KR. Bottle neck in baking conditions caused by stewards who were even more incompetent about their jobs than the referee was at his job. As soon as you cleared the exit gate, there was no crowd whatsoever around the bar/clubshop/ticket office zone so it was entirely the fault of the stewards. Someone mentioned it was a safety issue not letting KR enders walk through the main stand to exit at Maple Road. Safety issue? Exactly how many fans have been hurt or injured doing just that in the last 20-30 years? Hope the club will be reviewing this as it even happened with just 3700 attending the Newport match.

yes proud, with a narrow corridor of fans coming in the opposite direction against Birmingham it flowed a lot better than it did yesterday. Hopefully they'll kick yesterday's arrangements into touch.