Match Day Thread Luton Town FC v Sunderland AFC– Tuesday 16th May 2023 - KO 20:00

Fully fit, the squad is pretty well stacked in truth.

Remains that we need at least 2 forwards in, but we have 2 for each position elsewhere.

The injuries have done us, but they have also advanced players so long term we may benefit from it in a bizarre quirk.

 

The downside would be if they have extensively scouted / researched and come up with the perfect man for the job, who they believe can see us promoted and push in to top half Prem in the next three seasons, and he's available now. If we wait for some bad results to sack TM, he might not be.

Waiting for it all to go wrong and then taking the best option who happens to be available is how you end up with desperation appointments like Phil Parkinson. It's quite exciting the club are being more proactive and getting the man they want, when they want him (if the rumours are true).

It's risky, and personally I'd like TM to stay. But I trust Speakman and KLD if they think they've identified the man to push us on.

 

Not bothered either way if TM goes. Didn’t want him anyway but I’ll admit he’s done very well in the circumstances.

The priority is sorting out the Stewart situation IMMEDIATELY, ie sign the contract or sell, then move on.

Let’s stop this pi$$ing about!!

Bart

 

I had more hope of us getting promoted than Stewart signing a new deal. It’s gone on too long now like, think that ship has sailed based on nothing other than time.

 

You are talking to Monty’s brother mate.

 

Agree but let’s sort it out NOW!!

Stop the dilly dallying!!

Bart

 

Agree but let’s sort it out NOW!!

Stop the dilly dallying!!

Bart

 

Good post.

We're clearly using Southamptons black box data. Yes it has finally bitten them on the arse now, but for many years they knew the next 2 managers they wanted, players etc. All data driven. I'm sure Brighton are doing something similar now too.

 

It's not looking good is it. Still hopeful it gets sorted out but wouldn't be shocked to see him go.

 

It's bitten Southampton on the arse now only because of changes in ownership changing how they want things to go.

 

From what I understand TM knew it was an end of season gig.
If Speakman gets his way he is gone.

 

Or for the assault on Amad

 

I'm not sure you know haha

 

Didn't someone else say it was nothing to do with Speakman and KLD had decided he didn't like him? No idea how reliable any of this is, mind

 

Until Stewarts recovery is fully assessed it would be risky giving him a hefty contract. Equally so for any club interested in him. I feel nowt will happen until near transfer deadline day. Everyone will know where they stand then.

 

Deep down i must have seen this coming, as to why i wasnt fussed over the game. I actually went to bed not knowing the result. Strange how we get these feelings before hand.

 

It came from Bill Bradshaw.

 

This is true. However it worked for roughly 8 years for them.

 

The first game where for me it looked like the injuries caught up with us, namely at CB and CF.

Their first corner goes in, another somewhat fortuitious bounce and Osho stabs it home. Same old problem, out of position lads filling in and unable to win the first header against a team full of giants. Before that I felt we'd actually negotiated those first 10 or so minutes quite well, we were calm and dealt with what we had to.

We were very nearly almost immediately level, its a very good header from Ekwah well saved and then the attempted cross from the rebound is swatted away by the Lutons defenders wrist off the post via the goalkeeper. Its clearly a very good shout for a penalty but nowt given. I feel we fell foul of a PL refs over-reliance on VAR stepping in to do his job for him - unfortunately we didn't have that to help him.

That goal ramped up the Luton shelling and our lads in the trenches were clearly rattled. They pressed, harried and harrassed us and it genuinely felt like their was hardly space to breathe. Now its not Gelhardt or any of the other forward lads' faults but we just didn't have a proper out ball, nobody to withstand the size and strength of the Luton press to hold the ball up or no one with the natural athleticism or instinct to run in behind (keen observers here will recognise I mean Ross Stewart...). Lockyer was right up Joffys arse at every opportunity and any time we got any smidgeon of space we were then duly cut down by some pretty agcricultural challenges, we saw the same at the SoL (the Morris stamp on Dan Neil a prime example, ****-head.). For whatever reason they seem to get away with what PL era Stoke did as apparently 'thats just how they play', not pretty to watch by any means but last night it was very effective. If indeed they do go up, lets see if they get away with it against the big boys where a wrongly timed fart is enough to send a player sprawling. I doubt VAR would be their friend either, but I'll discuss them further later.

Having withstood a barrage of high balls, long balls and a couple of kitchen sinks we needed to get to HT at the very worst 1-0 to regroup. Another ball in from wide, oh joy. Initially its dealt with decently, but we're slow out to the second ball and the cross finds Lockyer, who crawled out of Joffys backside at the perfect time to head home. Its height advantage and a running jump versus a standing jump, Hume nearly ends up in the back of the net too having attempted to contest the header. We knew what our frailties were and Luton were taking full advantage.

Second half started worryingly with O'nien fluffing a passback and then Patto fluffing his ball out, the eventual 'finish' from whichever Luton giant picked up the loose ball was rather funny and for me summed them up, incredibly wasteful and unable to put the particularly wounded animal out of its misery. You still felt we were capable of a moment, you always are with that attacking talent on the field, but as it goes it didn't materialise. The lads who carry our threat had an off day (and thats not a criticism at all), you can't rely on individual magic to get you through games every week. Not our night and ultimately the injuries exposed us. I feel we cope loads better with Batth and Ballard available to head some of the shelling away, and you know, an actual left back at left back and a genuine striker and stuff. Its a miracle we finished sixth with such a patched-up, lopsided XI.

So finally, back to Luton. Credit to them and their manager, their style is uncompromising but by Lord it was effective. They identified how they could beat us and stuck to that task to the letter (okay it didn't take a tactical genius to spot), coupled with their niggly, ****-head fouls and ridiculously intense press aided by a smaller pitch. They didn't run out of steam like they did at the SoL despite being unable to hammer in the final nail (the hilarity of the last minute corner where they fluffed a 3 on 1). I do think that they may well suffer with that style on the vast open plain of the Wembley pitch, which will suit a footballing side much better and gives them an awful lot of ground to cover. Hopefully the Boro smash the chin shaggers tonight and then see Luton's WWE-style long ball off in the final.

Incredibly proud of where we've come from since late Jan 2022, that Bolton 6-0. I'd have suggested you were on some form of heavy sedatives if you'd have suggested we'd be contesting a Championship playoff campaign a mere 16 months later. We've been on an unbelievable journey since. These players and Tony have done what Kyril set out to do when he bought Sunderland AFC - to connect the fans back to the team and back to the club. Keep the faith boys and girls, we'll go again!