2020/21 General Match Thread

[Caer]

It may have taken us 4 attempts this season but we've finally beaten Walsall, albeit in not very convicing fashion but with results above us it puts things back in our not very safe hands for automatic promotion.

We don't play again in the league until 3rd April but that coincides with 8 of our final 9 games coming in April and Peterborough, Doncaster, Portsmouth and Coventry all to play in that spell, thankfully mostly at home.

 

[Bucket_]

Do you fancy yourselves despite that, Caer? I'm curious to know the other teams' perspectives on how they think it's going to end up at the top.

We're the definite underdogs right now and I actually like that. Despite the playoffs being far more likely an outcome for us, 4 points is not a lot and we appear to have found a strong new system in having Bogle and Pitman playing together. Saturday was one of the most dominant displays I've seen from us all season.. Scunthorpe appeared to come for a draw, and defended brilliantly for a lot of the game, but our pressure was pretty unrelenting and eventually paid off.

In other news, we've just about sold out our Wembley allocation for the tinpot trophy final after the general sale began today. Absolutely can't wait to see that sea of blue at Wembley again! If ever there was a time I could be an unashamed football nonce and shout Blue Army in Waterloo, and actually expect to get a reply, it'll be then! I imagine it's gonna be a loud day, especially with Sunderland bringing close to 40k as well.

 

[Super_horns]

Cannot say any of have a tough run in (on paper) but Sunderland have a lot of games and of course you guys to visit so fancy the top 2 to stay as they are.

Luton's hardest game left is Charlton away and Barnsley probably Plymouth away if they need the points.

Sorry Pompey and Mackems!

 

[Bucket_]

No need to be sorry, our standard new year slump has put paid to any realistic chances of getting into the top 2 really. Tbh after that run it's pretty unbelievable we're still as close to the autos as we are!

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Im still really nervous about it all to be honest, feel like im waiting for the magic to wear off as we surely cannot keep going as we are - its Luton!

Losing Jones may yet bite us in the arse, Micks a great guy and club legend but isnt neccesarily the most tactically astute. The players self managing can only really go so far. we should have enough to see it through but I have nagging doubts.

 

[Gassy]

Do you fancy yourselves despite that, Caer? I'm curious to know the other teams' perspectives on how they think it's going to end up at the top.

View attachment 10609

We're the definite underdogs right now and I actually like that. Despite the playoffs being far more likely an outcome for us, 4 points is not a lot and we appear to have found a strong new system in having Bogle and Pitman playing together. Saturday was one of the most dominant displays I've seen from us all season.. Scunthorpe appeared to come for a draw, and defended brilliantly for a lot of the game, but our pressure was pretty unrelenting and eventually paid off.

In other news, we've just about sold out our Wembley allocation for the tinpot trophy final after the general sale began today. Absolutely can't wait to see that sea of blue at Wembley again! If ever there was a time I could be an unashamed football nonce and shout Blue Army in Waterloo, and actually expect to get a reply, it'll be then! I imagine it's gonna be a loud day, especially with Sunderland bringing close to 40k as well.

Well I don't think anyone can say Luton aren't up. It would have to be something really spectacular to throw that away.

For me its then Barnsley Vs Sunderland for 2nd. I fancy Sunderland to nick it - just. The only reason I'm basing that argument is I've seen us play Sunderland 3 time this season. At times, they've really been a league above. I missed the Barnsley game so can't comment. Pompey were really poor last month but we met them at possibly the best time of the season.

One warning I will issue though is that every year as the season is in its final few games, we see many top teams play the relegation fighting teams & the bottom teams usually start winning in their final desperate fight for survival. I certainly expect a couple of results to raise some eyebrows

 

[oakroader]

There's so much anxiety about...
Most of us would have given a kidney to a Watford fan to be here at this point in the season ...
It does feel like being the jockey on the leading horse on the last furlong at the grand national who seems to be going backwards while the others are catching up....
Hope the momentum keeps us going to the finishing line...

 

[Gills4years]

Am I missing something here? I thought Luton had not lost for 25 games or something?

At least wait until you lose a game before starting grumbling or worrying.

I am not so sure about Sunderland, despite them sticking 4 past us twice this season. We showed them far too much respect and a lot of fans seemed to accept those defeats on the basis that Lee Cattermole probably earns the equivalent of our whole team. Football doesn't work like that and the fact that Saturday's narrow win was their first out of four games against Walsall, who are now in the relegation zone, suggests to me that they are still displaying a soft side.

My money would be strongly on Barnsley for the automatics, particularly if Keiffer Moore's nasty collision with Gab Zakuani at our place had not put both players out for the season.

 

[Gassy]

Am I missing something here? I thought Luton had not lost for 25 games or something?

At least wait until you lose a game before starting grumbling or worrying.

Tbh Luton fans, you're what 8 points clear in promotion - there are 12 teams in a relegation battle and you're the ones moaning about worry & anxiety the most.

It's like Bill Gates coming on here & moaning that he might not make as much as he did last year, despite reports showing that he's on course to smash last year's profits after record sales.

 

[Caer]

Do you fancy yourselves despite that, Caer? I'm curious to know the other teams' perspectives on how they think it's going to end up at the top.

It's hard to tell with us because we don't lose games but we will very happily draw them. Suppose one of our bonuses for the run-in is our squad depth is fairly good for this level so on paper at least we stand a good chance in April despite the busy schedule.

As far as I'm concerned Luton are impassable so it's 3 teams fighting for 2nd. We'll drop points here and there because that's what we've done all season, so we may have to rely on other teams.

We've already played Barnsley twice so we can hope they continue to not score goals for a few more games but they looked a class above last week even playing against the wind they pressured us. Our last home game is against Portsmouth so anything can happen up to that point, Portsmouth seem to have already had their wobble so we have to at least match their results and hope to keep it in our hands with our games over Barnsley.

Seeing as it's a new everything at Sunderland I'm going to be positive and say we'll just nick 2nd. I'll also simultaneously be negative and say if we fail that I fancy us to lose in the playoffs to probably Charlton.

In other news, we've just about sold out our Wembley allocation for the tinpot trophy final after the general sale began today. Absolutely can't wait to see that sea of blue at Wembley again! If ever there was a time I could be an unashamed football nonce and shout Blue Army in Waterloo, and actually expect to get a reply, it'll be then! I imagine it's gonna be a loud day, especially with Sunderland bringing close to 40k as well.

Our allocation sold out a little while ago so they'll definitely be 40k Sunderland there. The sponsors will definitely be happy with a sold out Wembley but beyond that I would just like to see us win some silverware at Wembley, even if it is a tinpot trophy where we played 3 U-21 teams to get to the final. We'll be making a weekend of it hoping to mimic the scenes the day before the league cup final in 2014.

 

[Craig]

I think Luton have one of the top two spots pretty much tied up now. Out of us, Pompey and Sunderland you'd have to say on paper we've got the least testing run in. It's usually a bastard that paper though.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Tbh Luton fans, you're what 8 points clear in promotion - there are 12 teams in a relegation battle and you're the ones moaning about worry & anxiety the most.

It's like Bill Gates coming on here & moaning that he might not make as much as he did last year, despite reports showing that he's on course to smash last year's profits after record sales.

Its not really moaning, just general scarring from our past impacting on the perception of the present.

Where we have been and to be honest the amount of times we have screwed ourselves over, its natural you would have some worries nagging away that disappointment is around the corner. Its been a fantastic season of that there i no doubt and its exceeded where I thought we would be regardless of what happens from here on in, but our history does tend to cloud it. There is a reason on old conference forums we were derisively, and not altogether unwarranted, referred to as Lolton and everyone awaited our "fuck up and failure" for that season. Would have thought any fan of a lower league side would sympathize with that, we are all used to having our emotions played with!

 

[Gassy]

Its not really moaning, just general scarring from our past impacting on the perception of the present.

Where we have been and to be honest the amount of times we have screwed ourselves over, its natural you would have some worries nagging away that disappointment is around the corner. Its been a fantastic season of that there i no doubt and its exceeded where I thought we would be regardless of what happens from here on in, but our history does tend to cloud it. There is a reason on old conference forums we were derisively, and not altogether unwarranted, referred to as Lolton and everyone awaited our "fuck up and failure" for that season. Would have thought any fan of a lower league side would sympathize with that, we are all used to having our emotions played with!

Sure, I can understand that to an extent - but it's been 5 years since you were in the conference.

All the Luton fans came on this forum at the beginning of the season predicting top 6 finish. We all laughed at you saying "don't be arrogant", but in the end you were right tbf. Now you're there, you're constantly all posting about being so anxious at the top of the table. You can't have it both ways!

I personally don't sympathise with any lower league fan that is in 1st place of league 1, never mind one that is on a 25 game unbeaten run, on for a double promotion & hasn't had a bad season since 2011/12 all at the same time.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Sure, I can understand that to an extent - but it's been 5 years since you were in the conference.

All the Luton fans came on this forum at the beginning of the season predicting top 6 finish. We all laughed at you saying "don't be arrogant", but in the end you were right tbf. Now you're there, you're constantly all posting about being so anxious at the top of the table. You can't have it both ways!

I personally don't sympathise with any lower league fan that is in 1st place of league 1, never mind one that is on a 25 game unbeaten run, on for a double promotion & hasn't had a bad season since 2011/12 all at the same time.

The 5 years in the conference did immense damage to the club though thats the problem, it humbled everyone to an extent I feel, which might be a good thing but it leads to kind of thinking above.

Over and above that though I dont think its particularly odd that fans are anxious of an end of season run in, especially with the incredible consistency, and in my view very high quality of the sides in the chase.

 

[Gassy]

The 5 years in the conference did immense damage to the club though thats the problem, it humbled everyone to an extent I feel, which might be a good thing but it leads to kind of thinking above.

Over and above that though I dont think its particularly odd that fans are anxious of an end of season run in, especially with the incredible consistency, and in my view very high quality of the sides in the chase.

Yeah no doubt the conference humbles you, I have massive respect to some of the clubs & fans down there. They're all (apart from Barnet) great & welcoming people, loyal and they actually play some very good football. There are a few teams who could certainly learn from that league, without a doubt.

Sure you can be anxious, I'm just saying to perhaps be mindful to some of the other teams as it comes across quite annoying when the team walking away with the league is coming across with comments "after all, we are Luton"

 

[ProfessorGreen]

Disappointing from both sets of fans re the checkatrade final. The EFL are going to have a field day.

Kind of expect it from Sunderland fans as they could be excused as being ignorant as to what the feeling towards where the competition has gone is as they’ve not been in it before.

Pompey been down here more than long enough but a certain saying to do with goldfish springs to mind. Fair enough if you’ve still supported it all the way through but a boycott should be a boycott, not a boycott but if we get to the final we’ll all turn up. Really poor imo. Imagine if Blackpool fans all turned up just for a ‘big’ game pre oystons removal, would have lost so much credibility, but they stuck to their guns properly.

Anyway our game on Saturday, won 5 and drawn 2 (against Luton and Pompey) of our last 7 home games, fingers crossed we can keep that form up.

 

[Gassy]

Disappointing from both sets of fans re the checkatrade final. The EFL are going to have a field day.

Kind of expect it from Sunderland fans as they could be excused as being ignorant as to what the feeling towards where the competition has gone is as they’ve not been in it before.

Pompey been down here more than long enough but a certain saying to do with goldfish springs to mind. Fair enough if you’ve still supported it all the way through but a boycott should be a boycott, not a boycott but if we get to the final we’ll all turn up. Really poor imo. Imagine if Blackpool fans all turned up just for a ‘big’ game pre oystons removal, would have lost so much credibility, but they stuck to their guns properly.

Anyway our game on Saturday, won 5 and drawn 2 (against Luton and Pompey) of our last 7 home games, fingers crossed we can keep that form up.

Should be a great game, we’ve got 10/12 and haven’t conceded a goal in 4 games!

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

One for the Luton and Pompey fans but I see Matt Taylor has announced that he is retiring at the end of the season. Had a good career, probably best remembered for his spectacular goals during his spell with Pompey, who had got him from us. I think it was him that lead BFJ to say his "at least Dick Turpin had the decency to wear a mask" phrase such was the price they got him for!

Bit of an end of era that for me, he was probably my first footballing idol - you know when youre just getting into supporting your club and youre still doing that "favourite player" stuff - he was always mine. Not as old as some (ahem....Oaky haha!) but thats a startling realisation!

 

[BelizeHatter]

Hey chaps and chapess........"We're going up as fucking Champions".......maybe, what if, look out, oeeerr.

Come on. Its natural to get the collywobbles this close. Its not arrogance or a lack of humility its a natural fear. Yeah we should make it, but dont get your knickers all bunched up just cos we're honest and express our fears

 

[BelizeHatter]

Bunched knickers a potentially non PC and cheap sexist jibe. Sorry ladies if offended. But since you like football im thinking you might let it slide this once ;-)

 

[K-Win]

Disappointing from both sets of fans re the checkatrade final. The EFL are going to have a field day.

Kind of expect it from Sunderland fans as they could be excused as being ignorant as to what the feeling towards where the competition has gone is as they’ve not been in it before.

Pompey been down here more than long enough but a certain saying to do with goldfish springs to mind. Fair enough if you’ve still supported it all the way through but a boycott should be a boycott, not a boycott but if we get to the final we’ll all turn up. Really poor imo. Imagine if Blackpool fans all turned up just for a ‘big’ game pre oystons removal, would have lost so much credibility, but they stuck to their guns properly.

Hmmm..... I wonder what Argyle fans would have done in the same situation? Around 500 sad fans in the ground with 20k to 30k linking arms outside Wembley singing protest songs, I reckon.

At the end of the day, the chance of winning some silverware, any silverware is hard to resist for most fans.

Last year's final attracted 41k fans (Lincoln avg attendance for 2017/18 was 8,782 - Shrewsbury 's was 6,249)

Previous year to that, the final attracted 74k fans (Coventry avg attendance for 2016/17 was 9,111 - Oxford was similar)

The competition had the same format for those two seasons so you need to throw fans of Lincoln, Shrewsbury, Coventry and Oxford under the bus too, Prof.

 

[Gassy]

Some rule changes starting from June 2019 that will effect all football clubs (Thought this is great timing for Bradford fans):

A number of rule changes will be introduced in football next season which will affect all English clubs. The International FA Board (IAFB) have introduced a number of changes for the 2019-20 season including clarifying handball regulations and changes to goal kicks, free kicks and goal celebrations. All of the changes will come into force on 1 June 2019 and these are the main points.

Dropped ball

If play is stopped inside the penalty area, the ball will be dropped for the goalkeeper. If play is stopped outside the penalty area, the ball will be dropped for one player of the team that last touched the ball at the point of the last touch. In all cases, all the other players (of both teams) must be at least 4m (4.5yds) away. If the ball touches the referee (or another match official) and goes into the goal, team possession changes or a promising attack starts, a dropped ball is awarded.

Free kicks

When there is a ‘wall’ of three or more defenders, the attackers are not allowed within 1m (1yd) of the wall; an attacker less than 1m (1yd) from the ‘wall’ when the kick is taken will be penalised with an indirect free kick. When the defending team takes a free kick in their own penalty area, the ball is in play once the kick is taken; it does not have to leave the penalty area before it can be played.

Goal celebrations

A yellow card for an ‘illegal’ celebration (e.g. removing the shirt) remains even if the goal is disallowed.

Goal kick

The ball is in play once the kick is taken; it can be played before leaving the penalty area.

Handball

Deliberate handball remains an offence. The following ‘handball’ situations, even if accidental, will be a free kick: The ball goes into the goal after touching an attacking player’s hand/arm. A player gains control/possession of the ball after it has touches their hand/arm and then scores, or creates a goalscoring opportunity. The ball touches a player’s hand/arm which has made their body unnaturally bigger. The ball touches a player’s hand/arm when it is above their shoulder (unless the player has deliberately played the ball which then touches their hand/arm). The following will not usually be a free kick, unless they are one of the above situations: The ball touches a player’s hand/arm directly from their own head/body/foot or the head/body/foot of another player who is close/near. The ball touches a player’s hand/arm which is close to their body and has not made their body unnaturally bigger. If a player is falling and the ball touches their hand/arm when it is between their body and the ground to support the body (but not extended to make the body bigger). If the goalkeeper attempts to ‘clear’ (release into play) a throw-in or deliberate kick from a teammate but the ‘clearance’ fails, the goalkeeper can then handle the ball.

Penalties

The team’s penalty taker can have (quick) treatment/assessment and then take the kick. The goalkeeper must not be touching the goalposts/crossbar/nets; they must not be moving. The goalkeeper must have at least part of one foot on/in line with the goal line when the kick is taken; cannot stand behind the line.

Substitutions

A player who is being substituted must leave the field by the nearest point on the touchline/goal line (unless the referee indicates the player can leave quickly/ immediately at the halfway line or a different point because of safety, injury etc). Goal kick The ball is in play once the kick is taken; it can be played before leaving the penalty area.

 

[K-Win]

Thanks Gassy. Some interesting stuff in there. Most of the changes make sense I feel.

Does the Goal Kick change mean that the opposing team can station players around the keeper to block off passing out easily to the full backs, if they so wish? Could be interesting if a team is chasing a goal at the end of the game.

The Substitution one makes a lot of sense. Just get off the f*cking pitch, already. I would also like to find some way of preventing already injured players hobbling out to the middle of the pitch, collapsing and calling for the physio. Everyone knows it's just a stalling tactic so that the sub can strip off his five layers of clothing, put on his kit, shinpads and boots, remove or tape over his jewellery, study the tactics board, send out a tweet or Instagram post and give everyone else on the bench the latest, flavour-of-the-month, complicated handshake..... grrrrr.......and, breathe.......

 

[Kenneth E End]

The sub rule will eliminate the tactic of the subbed player being the furthest away.

 

[oakroader]

there should be a we-cum wanderers rule...stop time wasting!!

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Not sure how you would do it but the one that annoys me is the "keeper injury" which is basically tantamount to a tactical timeout for some teams at this point. Keeper goes down and all over to the bench for a team talk - its so blatant most of the time but cant really do anything about it.

 

[ProfessorGreen]

Hmmm..... I wonder what Argyle fans would have done in the same situation? Around 500 sad fans in the ground with 20k to 30k linking arms outside Wembley singing protest songs, I reckon.

At the end of the day, the chance of winning some silverware, any silverware is hard to resist for most fans.

Last year's final attracted 41k fans (Lincoln avg attendance for 2017/18 was 8,782 - Shrewsbury 's was 6,249)

Previous year to that, the final attracted 74k fans (Coventry avg attendance for 2016/17 was 9,111 - Oxford was similar)

The competition had the same format for those two seasons so you need to throw fans of Lincoln, Shrewsbury, Coventry and Oxford under the bus too, Prof.

Consider them thrown, and any Argyle fan who had the same fake principles I'd call out too.

 

[Kenneth E End]

there should be a we-cum wanderers rule...stop time wasting!!

Not sure what parties you go to..:

 

[Gassy]

Not sure how you would do it but the one that annoys me is the "keeper injury" which is basically tantamount to a tactical timeout for some teams at this point. Keeper goes down and all over to the bench for a team talk - its so blatant most of the time but cant really do anything about it.

Very true as is what K-Win mentioned about subs, although I do wonder if players will now all wonder into the centre circle

Keepers are annoying though, they're basically untouchable these days & I can only see this problem getting worse. They'll become the new Neymars in effect with any corner you attack, they'll start going down like a lead balloon & immediately get free kicks

 

[BelizeHatter]

COYH. Lets put this to bed before Sunderland play again. Matty 'mile offside' Blair has done the teamtalk. Lets go win these next two games