Sadly just a skeleton thread for this one as I’ve been kept busy with annoying real life distractions such as boozy Sunday lunches and paid employment. This is yet another of those ‘6 pointers’ that now seem to be coming around far too often as we get towards the business end of the season. This weeks visitors to the CCS are Luton who for reasons beyond my comprehension have just never got going this season and now face the ignominy of back to back relegations, a feat I can last recall Sunderland achieving after going into the new championship season full of hope and as one of the favourites to bounce straight back. Who Are You? They are Luton Town, a team that should have been aiming for promotion but have somehow construed to stuff it up massively… It could be a very long way back for them if they do go down. The parted ways with the manager who got them unexpectedly promoted and relegated (Rob Edwards) back in January, with Matt Bloomfield taking over a couple of weeks later after leaving Wycombe to take the hotseat. In 10 games since he took over he has managed just that 1 win, giving him a 10% win rate. Last Time Out & Form Last time out saw the Hatters take all 3 points in a drab game that isn’t going to feature in anyone’s top 10 games. The game was decided in the 57th minute after a header from Jacob Brown after an assist by ex-Bluebird loanee Alfie Doughty. The Bluebirds edged the stats in the game but this was a really poor advert for Championship football (perhaps an indicator of what was to come for both sides??) Form wise Luton are one of the few sides that are not only below us but also in worse form too. They’ve picked up just 1 win in their last 6 and scored just 2 goals in that period too. That solitary win came against then fellow strugglers Pompey at Kenilworth Road (can’t really call Pompey strugglers at the moment). In, Out Or No Sign Of Them About With much gnashing of teeth and heated debate abound on the boards I’ll leave this as an open topic for us to discuss as to who we think SHOULD start! Brizzle's Starting 11 Horvath Ng Fish Goutas Bagan Mannsverk Chambers O’Dowda Salech Rambo Alves The Odds Home 13/10 Draw 23/10 Away 2/1 Match Day Melody As this is another of those ‘must win’ games then after we DO win it, we need to be looking upwards. Blooooooooooooooooooooooooobirds!!!
Excellent job BB. I'm totally happy with your starting 11 although expect Riza to put O'Dowda at full back with Robbo up front with Salech. Tough on Bagan, Davies and Ashford.
Ashford and Davies would do some damage in the last 20 mins. Riza would probably stack the back line and clog up the centre of the park though.
Good morning all. Fantastic read to start my day (I had an early night). Thanks as always Brizzle. I mean no disrespect to the Hatters but we have to win this with ease. Let's lay down a marker, get the fans motivated and boost the confidence within the squad. No taking the foot off the throttle or tinkering just for the sake of it. Just ten games to go so no need to be saving legs (unless we have a five goal lead with 20 minutes to go). Strongest team, first time, every time til the end of the season. A really key game tonight. Let's go Bloooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooobirds
As you get older Robbie the night pees occur regardless of diuretic substances taken. I sometimes think I walk more in the dark (I was going to say the wee small hours ) than in the day.
Please a back 4 with defenders in their positions. No the pedestrian 2 of Chambers/Mannsverk Pace up front.
Statistics may mean nothing but Luton have lost 14 of their last 15 away games, picking up a solitary point.
Stunning games from Chambers and Mannsverk tonight. Ramsey to start instead of Colwill and boss the game at No. 10. Pace and service to to the middle to be provided by Zak and Ashford - can they both play at the same time?
Nope. Not sure how they line up either. Ramsey, Robertson and Colwill in the same side? Cardiff City XI: Horvath; Ng, Goutas, Fish, O'Dowda; Chambers, Ramsey, Robertson; Colwill, Salech, Alves. Subs: Turner, Daland, Bagan, Mannsverk, Willock, Meite, Ashford, Davies, Robinson.
I think he's just lost the plot. Bagan axed! No Ashford. He's broken up Mannsverk/Chambers but left in the one who can't pass.
Not sure which helps us more, Meite on our bench or Bowler on theirs. As for our line up, maybe Riza, like me, didn't know who to play at 10. His solution is a novel one. Play all of them. Big mick had 5 CBs, Riza has three 10s.
Bit harsh Hilts. Chambers has played some really good through balls and got forward to get shots etc away whilst playing in his midfield role... My guess is Rambo will sit a bit deeper, Robertson in the 10 and sadly Colwill out wide... I would expect some rotation and fluidity though...
Based on your comments, which I agree with, swap Ashford for Colwill and we could cause them some problems. You could argue Mannsverk for Chambers and Bagan for Fish, but they would have lesser impact than Ashford for Colwill. For the last 3 games we've now looked imbalanced in the front 4. Wide and pacy on one side, narrow and lacking pace on the other.