It is Sunday morning, and I am about to put the cat among the pigeons, and I am not sure how it is going to be received.
But hey, is there anything wrong when it comes to courting controversy?
When Nathan Jones upped sticks and left Luton to join Stoke City, he was not, among the Luton supporters, the most popular of people.
Some saw his move as a betrayal to the cause.
However, his time at Stoke did not go as smoothly as he expected it to and with the Hatters being underwhelmed by the managerial skills of Graeme Jones, history conspired to allow a second coming for the Welshman.
The fact that the world was in the middle of a pandemic and spectators were forbidden from entering grounds, allowed Nathan’s return to happen without any verbal responses from those that felt betrayed.
Fortune conspired to give Jones the ideal start to his second period with the club, staving off the threat of relegation, albeit with a last day win against Blackburn and then, last season, steering Luton to a very respectable 12th position in the Championship.
This summer, Nathan set about a major revamp of the club, bringing in 8 new signings and such was the excitement levels among the support, talk of reaching the play-offs was prevalent.
But then came the awful news that Nathan’s sidekick, and Luton legend, Mick Harford, was fighting prostate cancer.
Mick bade farewell before the trip to take on Barnsley and the team responded with a fine 1-0 win, but since then, without his right-hand man, Nathan has seen the team go on a run of results that reads:
LDDDD
Yesterday, he watched his team throwaway a 3-0 half-time lead to draw 3-3 against a Swansea City side who had only scored 4 league goals all season.
Naturally, the support are a little miffed and already there is an element of negativity surrounding Nathan appearing on social media:
You have to question the management strategy of this game? There was none and the players absolutely clueless on how to play out a win.
— Paul Stokes (@paulstokesyorks) September 18, 2021
Jones got it wrong again
— Luton Town Football Shirts 🎩 (@LTFCShirts) September 18, 2021
And it also seems that the support are not to endeared with his post-match interviews, as the following illustrate:
NJ with the excuses. Never owns up when it’s clearly his fault for throwing away a 3 goal lead 🤦🏻♂️ #COYH
— Stevo (@_stephencook_) September 18, 2021
Shocking management from Jones second half. He needs to hold his hands up and take the blame
— cameronwoodman4 (@smokedogcam) September 18, 2021
And on the same theme, there is also a contribution from a Stoke City fan, who mused:
Stoke fan here. Just read this out of curiosity. He says the exact same things he used to come out with whenever we lost under him (90% of the time). Never takes accountability for his own shortcomings.
— Dan. (@MiaSanStoke) September 19, 2021
All of which begs me to ask the question:
Does Mick Harford contribute to the way the side performs far more than anybody anticipated or realised?
If so, how is Nathan going to fare with the continued absence of his right-hand man?
Last week saw the first managerial casualty of the Championship season with Nottingham Forest axing Chris Hughton, now I am not saying Nathan should be axed, but if things do not improve quickly and relegation fears start to surface, could the improbable happen?
Please feel free to have your say on the subject matter in comment facility beneath this article.
COYH’s
AFC Bournemouth v Luton Town?
AFC Bournemouth to Win!
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A Draw!
Previous article by Mad Hatter
Luton Support Are Not A Happy Bunch
I don’t think nj is in any danger of the sack. But you are only reiterating something I brought up three or four weeks ago. An as that stoke fan said he always has an excuse for not my fault. This week its 2 hard away games with long travel. Its the same for every team!!! So that’s no excuse. When players aren’t doing their jobs on the pitch it’s his responsibility to fix it. Trying to defend 3 goal lead by dropping deep is a no for any sensible coach. Also what is Paul Hart doing? Supposed to be nj mentor I haven’t seen much of that. Mick combined 3 jobs an was at the training ground every day. Is Hart I have to question that. Chis Cohen coaching not doing very well is he if players can’t last 90 mins.
all good points Chris and yes I did take inspiration from something you mentioned a couple of weeks ago 🙂 I was just waiting for the opportunity to fill it all out.
Hi MH love your wright ups you have got it spot on. The players NJ has brought in are squard players not as good
As the ones that have left. Mick is Luton Town .NJ done the same at Stoke cannot see us finishing higher than last season so are we going backwards? I hope I have got it wrong.
squad players being the apt phrase there!
Hello MH Chris Winter points are sound. What does Hart contribute never see him having a go at Jones when things are going wrong. If he is the specialist defensive coach we have great problems Also something must be wrong with players fitness if you lose players in the warm up?
The injures during warm-ups are intriguing, one loss unlucky, two losses weird, three losses needs investigating!
are the coaches under the spell of Jones and unable to speak out?
That’s something Alan may be able to contribute to?
Seems like the happy clappers are starting to smell the coffee, as i said last week, NJ is clueless, were playing like Wycome, our current form is the stuff of a relegation.
The fact pelly is still starting every week, just sums him up, and as for Sluga, you question the defence coaching? The keeper coaching is a joke, although Sluga is out of his depth 1.5 mil, for the worst keeper in the champonship.
Paul if all you have to say is negative things about luton. Why don’t you find another team to support. The only thing you supported was the worst player luton ever signed. A total waste of space. Even pompey fans are now realising he is s***e
if you have players not fit,you would expect tiredness to creep in.i have given up with ruddock in the team,he makes me cringe,he just dos’ent do enough tackling,he just stands in front of opponents,then runs away,no tackle,no marking.if you guys rate him in the team,tell me why.lets get the defence sorted and kick on from then.i was hoping for the big score yesterday,but am sure its coming soon.COYH.
Your all right about pelly, right about rea, bree done a nice pass 4 a goal yesterday but if he was playing at the Kenny in the 60s in January he would come of cleaner than he went out, put some milage in,I won’t knock sluga, he s not the problem, nor the defence, potts no way, now build around the rest of the team,
like I said Chris, you’re a happy clapper,
As a home and away season ticket holder, missed 3 games in the last 9 years, I think I have a right to put my opinion. I say what I see, and what I’m seeing In my opinion is not good, in fact at times abysmal.
I am as passionate as any supporter, and want to see Luton progress, but with NJ fogging of the supporters with constant bullsh-t, and his inept team selections and tactics, I’m questioning his ability to compete at this level.
The first half yesterday was a breath of fresh air, then he managed F-ck it up, and to make it even worse, brings on Rea.
NJ is tactically inept, Pelly, and Sluga are Div 1 players at best.
THAT MY OPINION, and that’s what this site is for, if you don’t like other people’s opinions on here, then why don’t you find another Forum where everything in your world is wonderful.
An if you bothered to read my posts an others we have praised an critisised in equal measure. We’ve said pelly doesn’t deserve a place. Critised nj for his tactics an other things so you can’t say we are happy clappers. 9 yrs makes you a whippersnapper many like me go back to the 60s an have seen it all before. Respect to you for finally putting together a post that’s got some content to it. An not a two line whine. I’ve missed 10 games since the 60s so carry on you will be catching up with Alan an me in a few yrs. An that is not a dig at you just that we are older. Please just give reasons for your dissatisfaction an not we play like Wycombe. So it gives us a debating point. That’s all I ask.
Paul another thing. Again this is not a dig at you the first 2 comments on this post. Make it clear that mhs article is based on the post I put on here a month ago questioning njs management without mick besides him.
I do not have the depth of knowledge some of you guys have, I have only supported Luton since the 1950’s, but Hylton & Mpanzu seem to be out of their class as most entries in the Match text are that they have committed a foul, rather than made a creative contribution.. a very young tennis player has just created history, Peter Kioso makes one mistake against Birmingham and in the next few days has left on loan, where he has already started to show qualities such as scoring goals already. These guys need to be the chance to get the experience at this level. All of the players everywhere have limitations but they need to be given the chance. If NJ says come here and we will look after you and improve you, and several weeks later they still are waiting for a chance the enthusiasm of the player must be reduced, Sorry but I am losing faith with the management but will support the Hatters for ever and only ever want them to beat-everyone
COYH
Chris ,I have read and welcolmed your comments on here for a long time. However, I think you are being a tad harsh on comments posted by Paul.Like you, I have been afflicted with following this club since 1965. Yesterday, I was probably the most angry I have ever been in that time- nearly caused divorced proceedings. Having calmed down – a little – I have watched NJ’s short post-match summing up.Again ,anger returns. It’s never his fault -is it ? Trots out the same excuse of two away matches in the same week.So probably the players think “Ok he’s not going to blame us for chucking it away -it’s all that travelling.” Christ, I well remember playing 3 matches in 4 days over Easter etc. 3-0 up and cruising before the break -and then absolutely nothing. There was no need to take Berry off -he’s been doing great. Who’s idea was it to sit back second half ? And why, oh why, cannot Cornick at least hit the target from less than 12 yards? 2 points absolutely thrown away ,and if the game had lasted another few minutes I’m sure it would have been worse .Quite agree ,what the hell does Hart do ? Comments a bit harsh on Sluga, but agreed he wasn’t great yesterday but I don’t think his heart is really in Bedfordshire- or even this country.Have never been a fan of the L:ittle Welshman right from day one.Groaned when he came back and still groaning now.Had it easy since then due to covid and no fans,but one thing is certain-come May we will rue those points thrown away.
And another thing while on the High Horse -the Injuries excuse. After the international break the Little Man said we were injury free. Now it seems we have a crisis -Why ? Has to be poor training then. And to lose players in the so -called warm up three matches running suggests that somebody is getting things seriously wrong. And as for him letting Kioso go out on loan and then bleating that he had to play Osho in that position yesterday because there was no-one else is beyond comprehension.
Chris, respect to you for being a long term supporter, I normally make a short post during or directly after a game when on my way home, and often stay over on long haul away games, so I don’t tend to make long posts.
it’s just a way at the time to get the frustration out, the games at Blackburn and Bristol, I felt more than ever had shown up our lack of ability with the players selected, hoofing long balls bypassing our midfield just reminded me of Wycombe. When you travel up to games like and spend hours on the road with expectation that we would give it a go and get something out of these games only to see that NJ has put a spanner it the works with his poor decision making, having to chase games because we give beatable teams a goal or two advantage its very disappointing.
especially when he then come out with all the bull afterword’s.
I’m not even blaming the players, they can only play to their abilities, but some are not up to this level.
so while Nj keeps picking his favourites and making constant bad decisions, nothing’s going to change, it’s very worrying.
And when someone attacks me for making posts that they don’t agree with, I will always defend myself and counter attack. Maybe NJ should take a leaf out my book.
Paul, thanks for clearing that up you can see that I comment at away games as well. So in front of everyone I give you a heartfelt apology for the sarcastic comments I’ve made. An let’s be clear I also have been saying pelly should not be in the team since his first game of the season not good enough now. Sluga personally I find this more difficult as shea has just as many faults an I can’t separate them. An as for isted is he ready for the championship I don’t know an would’nt risk him in our position. Nj here again as I posted a month ago without mick at his side he’s completely lost it. Which I feel proves mick has been really the main influence of the team. Thanks for your time. Do you agree with my points and good to see passion from the younger set
Hi Chris, apology not needed, but thanks anyway,
As you know I’m not a fan of Sluga, I can’t say I have seen any improvement in him since day one, but as you pointed out we don’t really have any competition for him, I did think Shea was a better all round keeper and had done us proud before Sluga turned up, but was instantly replaced as number one, unfairly in my opinion. He only now gets the odd cameo appearance.
I don’t know if that was the agreement, but I’m sure it would have affected him, but to his credit he doesn’t seem to have moaned much about the situation, but when you pay 1.5 Million I guess someone has to try and justify it was good business.
As for Mick, I couldn’t agree more, I think the players have a lot of respect for him, and as you said, he is the main influence. Hurry back Mick LTFC NEEDS YOU!
Paul as you know 1 man an 1 man only is responsible for nj returning. An he is mick who appears to have great faith in nj. An nj appears to now have the owners on board as well so we have to face the fact that nothing us supporters say or do is going to remove him. So sadly for now we will just have to suck it up. Secondly the championship is the hardest league in the world. So although you may disagree we need to change for now an play dirty football for the moment. By this I mean most clubs in this league that are 10th downward who don’t have the money to compete at the top have big rugged old style defences. Well versed in this league. An a big rugged centre forward. Who batters defenders an pulls them around for a half. Sadly for the moment this is our way to go for now. The new stadium I feel will be behind schedule now after the last 2yrs an changes in usage will mean less income for the club. I remember the 60s an the promises of a new stadium I’m still waiting lol. Also until we have an u23 development squad able to play. The council have stopped the new pitch. An you won’t remember the wonderful scouting team we used to have an the number of young players we produced from Scotland Wales an around Britain. So I feel patience is going to be required for now an stagnation for another 5 yrs is facing us.
Chris Read my post on luton 3 Swansea 3 section….