Luton Vs Yeovil

[That Fat Centre Half]

Not a thread for this yet so I thought id start one up.

Both teams have had decent starts to the season so both sets of fans will be going in to this one with pre season optimism very much intact, especially after midweek wins against teams from higher leagues.

Will be interesting to see how we cope with this one as the game will probably have a different dynamic to the Argyle & Villa games, with the onus probably on us to make things happen, as I am assuming Yeovil will look to sit back and force us to make things happen as most away teams tend to. Id like to see us start a bit better and play on the front foot from the off, we've been a little slow to get going is probably the only criticism you could level at us over the past 2 games. Important we don't get frustrated though.

Jones said he will be looking to use the squad again so at a guess that might mean Smith comes into midfield for Lee as he hasn't got a start yet. Despite his performance in midweek you would have thought Potts would come back in to replace Justin also, other than that, I wouldn't particularly want to change too much

Also be good to see Alex Lawless back, a player I really liked and a good pro, hope he gets a good reception.

 

[Judge Dredd]

You'd think it's likely to be a different test as you say so I'm looking forward to seeing how we go about it.

Personally hope that Smith stays on the bench. I would guess that Cuthbert will start again (I assume he was rested more than dropped on Wednesday as he didn't have a proper pre-season). Tough call between Rea and Lee, Lee's superior passing might help us dictate the tempo a bit better and Rea has played 90 minutes in both games so far so maybe he'll get the nod. Also wouldn't be surprised to see Cook start ahead of any of Pelly, McGeehan or Gray - the former two have both put in tremendous shifts over the last week whilst Gray didn't have a full pre-season. Although that said, I'm really excited by the Pelly/Gray/McGeehan combo so I'd love to see all of them carry on. Potts vs Justin is a really tough call, Potts did well against Plymouth after a tricky opening 20 mins but Justin was excellent. Him cramping up after an hour though might suggest he isn't quite ready for two tough games in four days just yet.

Hopefully the crowd stick with it if we are frustrated for long periods of the game, a not insignificant chunk of our home support just doesn't seem to understand the idea behind possession-based football (even on Wednesday there were audible groans when we passed backwards a few times).

Got to be looking to get Hylton roughing Lacey up as much as possible, if he's still anything like he was when he was with us Hylton would be his worst nightmare to play against.

And yeah, hopefully Lawless gets a rousing reception.

Some absolute beauties in there!! What a guy

 

[Vanni]

Hold on, Lawless was scoring goals as far back as 1985? I say!



As for the game, I was planning on including a Luton win in my little acca, but I'm not too sure right now. Yeovil look to have strengthened this season so it wouldn't surprise me were they to take a point. And the odds aren't too tempting either for what I anticipate to be a very close match.

 

[Judge Dredd]

It felt like our stay in the Conference lasted about that long to be fair!

 

[GloverGing]

Looking forward to this one, it's always interesting coming up against a manager who's a former player.

We are coming off the back of two 2-0 wins and confidence is high, but Luton will be the biggest challenge so far. It should be largely the same team that played in both games, dependent on the fitness of Shephard and Smith.

---------------------Krysiak------------------
Shephard ---Lacey---Smith---Dickson
-------------------Lawless-------------------
---------Dolan-------------Dawson---------
Hedges---------------------------------Khan
----------------------Eaves--------------------

Thought Luton looked a bit shaky at the back against Villa so we have a chance if we can get the ball out to the wide men quickly or get some dangerous set pieces. Lawless will be crucial as I don't think we can afford to let Luton control the game for long periods of time and he's been impressive at breaking up play and keeping creative players quiet.

Would happily take a repeat of the 1-1 from last season.

 

[BelizeHatter]

Agree we need a measured approach from the terraces but we all know how that can pan out - one of our greatest assets of passion is also our Achilles heel at times. Tougher game than many will think. If Lawless doesn't get 100% ovation I'd be upset. He really turned it around in his time with us from great signing to unpopular underacheiver to Player of the season material to unlucky to get off loaded.

 

[djs]

I actually saw Yeovil at Walsall on Tues night. They looked decent enough, but I didn't think that they had too much of a threat up front. Eaves isn't much of a player, but will make sure that our defenders earn their pay, he didn't give the Walsall defence a moments peace and did win a lot in the air. They were quite quick on the break. I've read a lot about Khan but I didn't think that he was involved too much.
Lacey spent the evening heading away aimless punts, Lawless sat in front of the defence and dominated - too classy for that level. Played a 4-1-4-1 system.
Having said all of that, Walsall were poor, very poor.
I'd hope to pick up the three points, but I don't expect it to be easy. (

I hope that this doesn't come back to bite me somewhere.)

 

[codaplenty]

Have Luton fans come down to earth yet after beating 7 times FA Cup winners Villa ? Maybe an 'after the the lords mayor show' eh 1-1

 

[djs]

Oh come on, even Paul Merson reckons that we will p1ss this tinpot league, and who can possibly argue with an intellect like what he's got?

 

[Judge Dredd]

Have Luton fans come down to earth yet after beating 7 times FA Cup winners Villa ? Maybe an 'after the the lords mayor show' eh 1-1

Villa have only won once at the Kenny since both clubs were formed. I'd have been devastated if we had lost to their worst ever team!

 

[Kenneth E End]

Villa have only won once at the Kenny since both clubs were formed. I'd have been devastated if we had lost to their worst ever team!

Overall record v Villa is now W19 L15. What shock?!

 

[Kenneth E End]

Fancy our chances again today - we've had 2 incredibly difficult games already this week, so I'd expect a couple of leggy players; Nathan Jones will manage the squad accordingly. When looking at the fixture list this time last week, this starts a series of games where we should be looking to maximise our points total.

Good to see Lawless back, if he gets subbed he gets a standing ovation. Alex Lacey never really fulfilled his potential and was rightly released a couple of years ago. I'd expect physical Hylton to make him toil a little bit today.

 

[Kenneth E End]

The good thing about this year's squad is that, unlike in any season since we got promoted, the team almost picks itself. Probable line up today...

Subs: King, Justin, Rea, Banton, Vassell, Cook, McQuoid

 

[Judge Dredd]

Slightly disappointing but Yeovil well worthy of a point. We did some good things in the first half and maybe should have had another goal. Second half we looked really tired, Marriott especially clearly knackered and we struggled a bit.

Played some nice football out from the back but we really need to improve our crossing, O'Donnell goal aside was very poor in the final third.

Still plenty to be positive about and if we can win on Tuesday and it will be a very good start.

 

[Kenneth E End]

we've had 2 incredibly difficult games already this week, so I'd expect a couple of leggy players

Was more than a couple - Yeovil having the advantage of an extra day resting whilst we were piling into Aston Villa.

We could've easily lost today and showed good character to get a point. Yeovil looked a decent side; definitely having a better group than last season. Certainly physical; they have a couple of huge players in their size.

Stephen O'Donnell's goal today... just wow.

 

[Hatter86]

Yea echo those sentiments. Pelly and McGeehan were immense against Villa but were clearly knackered today. Should have been 2 or 3 up by half time and it cost us really. Didn't offer much of a threat second half and the goal was coming. Yeovil deserved their point.

Man of the match for me was Glen Rea. Really like him in the middle of the park breaking things up and can play a bit too. And O'Donnells goal was an absolute screamer.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

We looked pretty tired today, especially second half a number looked a bit out of it. First half we really should have scored another, Hylton, Marriott and Pelly (thought for all the world that was going in!) all had presentable chances and didnt take them.

Second half we struggled a little bit to deal with Yeovils front man (Campbell I think his name was) and when the goal went in I dont think we could have any complaints really. Think Marriott may be a touch disappointed he hasnt got on the scoresheet, got on to a couple of Hylton flicks that I think he will be a bit disappointed to have not put away one of them.

Potts and Rea for me the stand out players today, O'Donnells goal was a blockbuster, if only he could cross a ball though!

 

[Kenneth E End]

O'Donnells goal was a blockbuster, if only he could cross a ball though!

A bit harsh because the cross he put in last week virtually setup our first goal v Plymouth!

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Dont think its that harsh. Think Ill take the body of work over a season and a bit rather than one cross he has put in!

 

[Kenneth E End]

One more thing - the officiating today was diabolical, for both sides. Countless times he stopped the play demanding a throw or free kick be taken 10mm further back. He was weak in what was quite an easy game to officiate - yes it was physical, but no real needle between the two sides. We had this ref a few seasons ago and he sent the wrong player off before correcting it.

There was one decision in the first half in the corner by the Yeovil fans that was as clear obstruction as you could imagine - turns a blind eye to it, yet seconds later, a nudge gets adjudged to be a foul. No consistency. In the second half, there was a corner signalled by the linesman, who was literally a matter of feet away - he overruled it, despite being about 15-20 yards away.

 

[GloverGing]

Just got back, pretty much agree with whats already been put. Luton definitely had the better in the first half, and capped it off with a stunning goal. We lost our heads a bit after Lacey came off injured as about half the team had to shift position, and we were lucky that Luton didn't capitilise on it.

Second half was much improved and we were well worth the goal when it came, Tahvon Campbell and Bevis Mugabi stand out players for me. Overall a decent point away at a team I fully expect to be challenging for promotion.

 

[Hatter86]

As an aside, the minutes applause for Brett was brilliantly observed by the Yeovil fans. So respect for that.

 

[AmbiguousBon]

Got to be looking to get Hylton roughing Lacey up as much as possible, if he's still anything like he was when he was with us Hylton would be his worst nightmare to play against.

Well he certainly did that...

That was the most I've enjoyed a League 2 game in a long time, I think we've had more shots already this season than the whole of last year. I don't think many teams will come away from Kenilworth Road with anything (Luton looked very impressive first half), so that should give us confidence that we can match anyone in the league. I'm still worried about our lack of depth in the squad though - so much of our season is going to depend on if the first choice players can stay fit.

Very early days I know, but the optimism and good feeling around the club this year is worlds away from the situation of the last couple of years and I really think we could mount a play-off challenge this season.

 

[djs]

I certainly enjoyed the game, very entertaining to watch, and from both sides point of view there was a lot to be positive about.

However, I don't buy into this 'tiredness after Wed' excuse. To me, the issue was the diamond midfield system, with only one of the four being defensively minded. Yeovil clearly exploited this in the second half and overrun us in midfield. I kept expecting us to bring on an extra midfielder for a forward. I'm sure that other teams will realise that most of our midfielders prefer going forward, and aren't the best when asked to defend - I couldn't believe how much room Yeovil's wide player had when he crossed to Eaves, and how slow Gray was to even try to close him down.

PS
John Still would have a fit if he had sees the way we try to play football this season. Thank goodness that his hoofball has gone from our club.