Once again, just as the 2021/2022 gathers momentum, it comes to a shuddering halt to allow international football to take centre stage.
For us England fans, we have the delight (not) of watching England continue their World Cup qualifying campaign with two colossal games against the mighty Albania (h) and the awe-inspiring San Marino (a), could you really ask for two more inspiring fixtures?
But the break does allow me to bring to the surface a few article I have had on the backburner.
The first, naturally relating to our Hatters, relates to our form, specifically the positives and negatives.
Starting with the negatives, has anyone else noticed that when we concentrate on Championship fixtures, this season, Luton Town have failed to win TWO games on the bounce, with our current record reading as thus:
WLWLDDDDLWDWDWLWL
It is certainly enigmatic!
But, in my opinion, the positives far outweigh the negatives.
Now my view is that, so far, we have had a decent season, on a couple of occasions we have flirted with the play-off places and as we plunge towards the boredom that is the third international break of the season, we sit in 11th place with 24 points, but, more importantly, in touching distance of the last play-off place, 6th, which, coincidentally, our next opponents, Queens Park Rangers currently occupy.
Also, another positive is that after expressing concerns, pre-season, about who would solve the goal scoring problem following the departure of James Collins to Cardiff, both Elijah Adebayo and Harry Cornick have stepped up, scoring 8 and 7 goals (already) this season.
Overall, as we contemplate watching England mix it with two of the big boys of world football, I would say we are sitting pretty, but what are your feelings on how things have gone so far?
Please feel free to have your say in the comment facility beneath this article.
COYH’s
Queens Park Rangers v Luton Town?
QPR to Win!
Luton to Win!
A Draw!
Previous article by Mad Hatter
Morning mh, like you I feel we are on course for a 12th to 9th position as I said before the start of the season. Also I said I was glad to play the biggest teams early that has proved to be right as well. It didn’t damage our confidence leading to really poor results. Sadly as you say we still struggle for consistency. I figured that we could have been 5 pts better off now if we had.
Hi MH the positives are that we have a forward line that can score goals and create many good chances.
We have a defence that is reliable and generally secure apart from the occasional lapse. The negatives are that our midfield is poor lacks imagination and has not settled to any form of consistency. I am sorry but Pelly Ruddock ( although a favourite of Nathan) is nowhere near his best the weighting of his passes is poor to say the least and his lack of pace or desire to win the ball showed when he failed to cut out the cross that led to the Stoke goal. The sooner we can get Berry back the better and have more a more consistent midfield the better. I felt really sorry for Burke who seemed to take the blame and wrath from Nathan for the goal even though Pelly continued into the second after yet another poor performance. Burke has had little game time and needs time to understand his role and positioning. Sort the midfield Nathan and I feel we could finish in the playoffs.
COYH
gotta say I expected improvement in the midfield with the arrival of Campbell and Lansbury, perhaps it is early days yet.
Totally agree, pelly was far to slow and lazy on letting the cross to be put in. Having said that we had a keeper and 3 centre backs to their 1 forward when the cross came in…..
Personally I would like to see a midfield of osho, berry Clarke and lansbury ( if he can stop getting booked so easily). Campbell hasn’t got it for me at the mo, even though he got the sponsor’s man of the match somehow…
Pasting a recent comment I have put up here: “I ask anyone to look at Derbys second goal. Pelly once again allows the space for their #11 to create the opening. It can’t be denied that Pelly gifts space to opposition players allowing them to play around us. It doesn’t help that Pelly makes himself smaller with his strange crouching/turning side ways unto the opposition player and rarely actually puts a foot in. Just look back to the 3-3 draw with Swansea and see their 3rd. Pelly allows the Swansea winger all the time/space in the world to pick out the striker to score. Unfortunately Pelly has his support from those who are unable to accept his short comings at this level and prefer to highlight his obvious talent when going forwards. I for one think away from home and/or against teams that play a passing game Pelly should not start”. Getting to be a bit of a joke now…
My only argument with some on here has been that no player picks himself….also against Hull pelly was benched but berry got injured again. Maybe berry would have got a run in the side from that point….I also said in August that I saw pelly as a squad player not a starter….lansbury and Campbell should both be pushing to start but silly bookings and suspensions are no good to anyone…from what i here berry should be in contention again after this international break….
Hi Alan, glad to see that you didn’t mention favouritism. But I think many on here are wondering why pelly is always picked dispite poor performances. If it’s not favouritsm
I am sure there is frustration growing in the camp when, against the backdrop of poor performances, you see the excessive starts Pelly gets compared to others (Berry as you say or even Campbell). Clark has to start and same for Campbell plus Lansbury. Rea does his job if called on. Thorpe is a class act so should soon push on. Berry works his socks off and has something to offer at this level. All just my opinion of course.
Pelly should have moved to a League 1 contender (like Ipswich, Sunderland or Portsmouth) as that’s his level.
change the left hand side of midfield. feel embarassed for ruddock,but n.j. keeps picking him. when the midfield is sorted,and fred is fit,what a team that should be.hope that burke turns into a good player,he looks the part.how is pereira recovering? COYH.
Chris obviously the coaching staff see something we don’t. As I said no player picks himself. But I do honestly think that the plan was to give berry a run before he got injured.. as for pereira he and Thorpe are both currently working on sharpness. They are fit but not match fit….Burke was tactical not a blemish on him, at 1.0 down 3 centre backs wasn’t the way to go.
Three Centre halves I can live with but add to that two wingbacks that can’t cross a ball and three holding midfielders who between them can’t go past anybody to open the game up or find a defence splitting pass then you are left with two strikers who haven’t got a hope. Turn to your bench and you have another holding midfield player and two strikers who have even less of a chance than Adebayo and Cornick. One last thing take the best centre half off out of the three and that leaves you two left footers giving you about the same options as three holding midfielders.
Burke was playing well but he is still getting back to full fitness. Take either of the other 2 off and Burke pulls up due to muscle strain then nj gets it I’m the neck from supporters fir that.. we needed lansbury on Saturday but I’m afraid at present he is a liability, as was hylts a few seasons ok by getting booked virtually every game he plays. I said earlier a midfield of Osho, lansbury, Clark and berry could make this season a lot easier. But it’s down to fitness and self discipline.
Hi Alan, I’m sure if Berry had stayed fit he would be in the team. An OK pelly may do it in training but he’s not doing it in games is he. like you I said he’s now a squad player but he’s not doing it. I was a big supporter of lansbury before the season started. But as you say his discipline is appalling. Which negates his skill.
Exactly what I’m trying to get across….
So MH it would appear in answer to your original post of consistency, when we win we are play off material but when we lose it is one players fault…..it still doesn’t detract from the fact that, no matter who’s fault or how the cross game in ( Borough goal too) that we had our keeper and 3 centre backs to their 1 forward on or around the six yard box….I’m seeing pelly and a couple of others later today, so I will pass on everyone’s best wishes…lol…
Enjoy your day in the bosom of our fine club 🙂
I’m sure I will…
Whilst we have been discussing players that the hatters could bring in during the transfer window, I watched the ITV4 fa cup match last night and two of Wigan’s players really stood out in positions that Luton need improvement. Firstly their LWB Pearce was really good going forward with good recoverable.
Secondly their CM Lang everything went through him.
Both players would not be out of place in the Championship.
But would Wigan be prepared to sell and at what price?