Matchday Thread: Luton Town v Port Vale

[alwaysvaleme]

Ryan Boot must start on Saturday

 

Spot on

 

 

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[Jacko51]

That makes it sound like we had quality chances and seemed unlucky when truthfully we were well beaten.

 

 

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My tongue was very firmly in my cheek when I wrote that REP.

[elav trop 1876]

Well after another visit to the hell hole that is Luton I have to say it's thoroughly depressing. On the most part I won't comment on the ownership of the club because we all know it's a problem but as it stands the on the field issues need sorting quickly.

 

Everyone has been screaming out for 4-4-2 but I can honestly say after only missing one game so far this season it's not working. Last night was a tactical shower of poo. There are some decent players in this squad, you can see from things like their first touch, movement and general on the ball play they are decent. In terms of how we're organised though, our shape and our pattern of play. I'm no professional football manager but have coached a bit over the years, done a few badges and even I can see some glaring issues with the side that Brown doesn't seem able to.

 

Last night we once again had four centre halves across the back. Gunning didn't do too bad and got a couple of crosses in from decent positions as he tends to be able to muscle his way into bits of space. Davis on the other hand could only cross from deep and generally be very predictable as he always searched for Worrall for an out ball. They tried their best but looked like centre backs. Mr Anderson and Smith did well together and were not at fault for either goal, Anderson would probably be my pick for our man of the match as he just won everything in the air, was strong in the tackle, good on the deck and relatively quick for a big man. However what was in front of them was nothing less than a shambles.

 

Centre midfield was once again men against boys. Middleton was just terrible. It's not because he's a particularly bad player in any particular area but he just has no presence in there, due in part to not really having a partner as Whitfield is NOT A CENTRE MIDFIELDER. Ben obviously has talent but is a much more attack minded player than you can afford in a midfield four. It meant we lost the midfield for the entire game only improving slightly when De Freitas was moved inside. Worrall and De Freitas toilet all night to little reward as far to often they gained the ball too deep and were reliant on Barnett a lot for support or a pass, rather than a centre midfielder to help gain yards up the pitch. It was just painful to watch. I won't get onto Stobbs who may be young but for a winger he can't beat his man or cross so......

 

As for up front anyone could have played there and had more impact than Pope who spent more energy waving his arms around than really digging in and at least trying to make it hard for their centre halves. Yes he had no service but sometimes you've just got to keep plugging away and be awkward and annoying and force a mistake. Barnett did a bit better as his mobility helps but otherwise the front two were anonymous. Turner helped when he came on and Pyke wasn't introduced early enough.

 

It's a disjointed squad, with poor team selections, no confidence, too many injuries (which can't be coincidence)and all in all it's time for Brown to go.

 

agree from the games I have seen, the big issue and we all said get your spine right and fill in players after once u know whats left of your budget--

our ctr midfield especially is a joke and teams just roll through us so cant play 442 because we are even weaker in addition to an unsettled out of position back 4 means we are there for the taking-

mb never got his spine and I'm shocked that for all his years in the game and contacts he couldn't dig a decent commanding ctr mid from somewhere rather than keep relying on pugh n tongue along with pinning his hopes on guy.

[elav trop 1876]

My tongue was very firmly in my cheek when I wrote that REP.

 

would that be Michael ,there is a joke in there somewhere