2024-25 Championship Match Day Thread

[Super_horns]

Good win for Plymouth but Luton are struggling at the moment .

Injuries and a lack of goals but Moses was very good .

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

If Edwards doesn’t change the formation it’s only going to end one way and it’s not going to be pretty. The midfield is wide open constantly. Players look low on confidence and I’m not sure the recruitment matched how Edwards wants us to play either.

That new contract we have given him could really become a millstone around our necks I’m afraid.

Looking at who we have played, Burnley aside it couldn’t really have been much easier I don’t think. I’m genuinely worried about relegation at this point to be honest, especially as Edwards seems so dogmatic in what he is doing even though it’s not working

 

[Kenneth E End]

Really really can’t believe we lost that. Plymouth looked the worst side we’ve faced this season… and Luton were worse than that.

I thought we turned a corner with injuries, yet within a week Bell, Morris, Chong, Andersen and Mengi all break down. Its relentless.

 

[Super_horns]

Dodgy goals for Norwich apparently but they seem to have found their mo jo.

 

[SF_]

We're always poor at Millwall but wow, that was bad

 

[SF_]

So bad. Long season.

 

[Super_horns]

Encouraging and positive first half ,

We sat back after the break and the subs weren’t great allowing Sunderland back in the game to dominate .

But great run by Baah to win the penalty and we held on quite comfortably actually.

 

[91SPP]

Dodgy goals for Norwich apparently but they seem to have found their mo jo.

Always frustrating to concede a goal in a match that shouldn’t have stood, but twice? Really frustrating in a game that we absolutely deserved at least a point. Chalk it up to it not being our day and move on. We were fortunate to beat Boro earlier in the season, but unfortunate today. It’s the championship, it happens.

I am really quite impressed with the performances and work ethic of our team, in terms of a group of players leaving every last bit of themselves out on the pitch it’s a very easy group to support. I’ve been impressed in the games I’ve seen us play this season, bar Barrow in the cup, I really hope that we have enough to stay up.

 

[BarrieOwl]

If Edwards doesn’t change the formation it’s only going to end one way and it’s not going to be pretty. The midfield is wide open constantly. Players look low on confidence and I’m not sure the recruitment matched how Edwards wants us to play either.

That new contract we have given him could really become a millstone around our necks I’m afraid.

Looking at who we have played, Burnley aside it couldn’t really have been much easier I don’t think. I’m genuinely worried about relegation at this point to be honest, especially as Edwards seems so dogmatic in what he is doing even though it’s not working

Bit tougher when you can't bring you own ref to games isn't it....

 

[Super_horns]

Very sad.

RIP.

I guess we will never know if he could have been saved with quicker treatment?

Anger at decision not to stop Sheffield Wednesday v West Brom match

The victim's brother posted on social media to say "going to a game will never be the same".

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[91SPP]

Sunderland away tomorrow - we've lost all three away games, they've won all three home games. Anything can happen, but the smart money is on a defeat.

I'd be delighted with a point, but expectation levels aren't high.

 

[BarrieOwl]

Very sad.

RIP.

I guess we will never know if he could have been saved with quicker treatment?

Anger at decision not to stop Sheffield Wednesday v West Brom match

The victim's brother posted on social media to say "going to a game will never be the same".

www.bbc.co.uk

It's EFL protocol to not stop the game this season, Bannan and another of our players notified the referee who continued.

 

[Super_horns]

It's EFL protocol to not stop the game this season, Bannan and another of our players notified the referee who continued.

Yes that is fair enough.

A very sad tragic event .

 

[SF_]

We've been ok at home but last season's 1-5 still haunts me and I fear another pumping off Watford.

Need to win really as the next one is Burnley away...

 

[Tea Towel]

Bristol City away tomorrow for Wednesday

Don’t know what to make of them, hit and miss like usual I’d imagine

Not sure why we’re the only team playing away tomorrow that are away again on Saturday

 

[Super_horns]

We've been ok at home but last season's 1-5 still haunts me and I fear another pumping off Watford.

Need to win really as the next one is Burnley away...

Not sure we can score that many goals again.

Can see a tight game.

As Cardiff and Coventry showed tonight positions don't always mean much.

 

[Kenneth E End]

Didn't get home until gone 11pm last night and after a night's sleep hoped that I had calmed down after yesterday's performance.

TLDR version: for me, we need to part company with the current management team.

There are some who are happy that we can be a mid-table Championship team. With our resources, anything less than top 6 is a failure. I think the club would recognise that too. Right now, points wise and performance wise, we could barely be further away from that.

Firstly, a word for Oxford. If Luton had won that yesterday, it would've been a level of steal that would've seen you in a prison for a long time. Even at 2-0 up, the game definitely wasn't over; Oxford missed quite a few chances and Luton had actually punished mistakes for a change. Oxford should've won easily. The penalty shouts I was a mile away from, but it didn't look like any of them were stonewall from what I could see.

But the Luton team on the pitch is an absolute mess. They are disorganised and playing a system that they just simply cannot play. They have no identity. Edwards and his management team have been in charge for 2 years now.. it reaffirms that he tweaked Jones' side and took them to the next level, but has since lost all kind of work ethic and aggression. Players have no confidence - who's fault is that?

Players that have been signed, the jury is very much out. Mark McGuinness was never and still isn't a £10M defender. The process that seems to have worked over the last few years feels like it's been ripped up.

The signs have been there since pre-season - lessons haven't been learnt. This isn't just a momentary lapse of form and a kneejerk reaction... Luton have won 4 league games in the entirety of 2024. It's not good enough. They came in underprepared. Pre-season a total waste of time. And good teams that work a lot harder are punishing us.

It feels like some of the players' heads drop after any negative moment. I can't blame them for that - we now have a losing mentality and it's very dificult to get over that. Some players I think are going through the motions and don't want to be here. Name no names... *cough* Mengi *cough*.

I've gone to nigh on 500+ matches at Kenilworth Road. That moment from Liam Walsh has to rank amongst the worst things I've seen on the pitch. To get sent off just 30 seconds after coming on without touching the ball... for me, he should pack his bags and rip his contract up. Incredibly unprofessional. Strangely, Luton played better with 10 men!

Its simply not good enough. Many people stayed behind and clapped them off but I couldn't do so myself. There weren't many boos but you could tell that the frustration is building.

We need a change. The board haven't been afraid to make this decision in the past, although we've only sacked 2 managers in nearly 10 years.

 

[mase]

Didn't get home until gone 11pm last night and after a night's sleep hoped that I had calmed down after yesterday's performance.

TLDR version: for me, we need to part company with the current management team.

There are some who are happy that we can be a mid-table Championship team. With our resources, anything less than top 6 is a failure. I think the club would recognise that too. Right now, points wise and performance wise, we could barely be further away from that.

Firstly, a word for Oxford. If Luton had won that yesterday, it would've been a level of steal that would've seen you in a prison for a long time. Even at 2-0 up, the game definitely wasn't over; Oxford missed quite a few chances and Luton had actually punished mistakes for a change. Oxford should've won easily. The penalty shouts I was a mile away from, but it didn't look like any of them were stonewall from what I could see.

But the Luton team on the pitch is an absolute mess. They are disorganised and playing a system that they just simply cannot play. They have no identity. Edwards and his management team have been in charge for 2 years now.. it reaffirms that he tweaked Jones' side and took them to the next level, but has since lost all kind of work ethic and aggression. Players have no confidence - who's fault is that?

Players that have been signed, the jury is very much out. Mark McGuinness was never and still isn't a £10M defender. The process that seems to have worked over the last few years feels like it's been ripped up.

The signs have been there since pre-season - lessons haven't been learnt. This isn't just a momentary lapse of form and a kneejerk reaction... Luton have won 4 league games in the entirety of 2024. It's not good enough. They came in underprepared. Pre-season a total waste of time. And good teams that work a lot harder are punishing us.

It feels like some of the players' heads drop after any negative moment. I can't blame them for that - we now have a losing mentality and it's very dificult to get over that. Some players I think are going through the motions and don't want to be here. Name no names... *cough* Mengi *cough*.

I've gone to nigh on 500+ matches at Kenilworth Road. That moment from Liam Walsh has to rank amongst the worst things I've seen on the pitch. To get sent off just 30 seconds after coming on without touching the ball... for me, he should pack his bags and rip his contract up. Incredibly unprofessional. Strangely, Luton played better with 10 men!

Its simply not good enough. Many people stayed behind and clapped them off but I couldn't do so myself. There weren't many boos but you could tell that the frustration is building.

We need a change. The board haven't been afraid to make this decision in the past, although we've only sacked 2 managers in nearly 10 years.

By all accounts Luton have not been great this season, but I feel most Oxford fans would still have taken a point before kick off... and we've all come away rather disappointed we didn't get all 3.

Your keeper made some great saves, and you cleared another off the line... I do think at least one of the penalty shouts could have been given without too much complaint from Luton, but i do agree none were 'stone-wallers'. Special mention for Liam Walsh who had a fantastic 30 seconds on the pitch before being sent off that was the first game this season where I thought the ref was really poor, and not just for us either.

The two Luton goals came from mistakes at the back (you're pretty much guaranteed at least one a game from us); and we're guilty of not taking our chances again... Hopefully those two things change over the course of the season as I worry it could come back to haunt us later on.

That said though, I'd have taken a point from Burnley and then Luton inside 4 days, and it was an entertaining game to watch last night so I'm pretty happy. If we lose to Pompey at the weekend then that will certainly take the shine off of this week. I'm not saying we 'should' beat Pompey, but we need to be taking points off the teams who came up with us as a minimum if we have plans to stay up I feel.

 

[David Curries Mullet]

Hull have had a good 2 weeks. West Brom having a blip. Looks like the league will be wide open all season.

 

[mase]

Oh, and forgot to mention Tyler Goodrham with another peach of a goal and performance

I really think we're going to struggle to hold on to him

 

[jhe10]

Hull have had a good 2 weeks. West Brom having a blip. Looks like the league will be wide open all season.

Three wins, ten goals, that'll do. Test will come (probably Saturday) when we play someone who isn't rubbish.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Didn't get home until gone 11pm last night and after a night's sleep hoped that I had calmed down after yesterday's performance.

TLDR version: for me, we need to part company with the current management team.

There are some who are happy that we can be a mid-table Championship team. With our resources, anything less than top 6 is a failure. I think the club would recognise that too. Right now, points wise and performance wise, we could barely be further away from that.

Firstly, a word for Oxford. If Luton had won that yesterday, it would've been a level of steal that would've seen you in a prison for a long time. Even at 2-0 up, the game definitely wasn't over; Oxford missed quite a few chances and Luton had actually punished mistakes for a change. Oxford should've won easily. The penalty shouts I was a mile away from, but it didn't look like any of them were stonewall from what I could see.

But the Luton team on the pitch is an absolute mess. They are disorganised and playing a system that they just simply cannot play. They have no identity. Edwards and his management team have been in charge for 2 years now.. it reaffirms that he tweaked Jones' side and took them to the next level, but has since lost all kind of work ethic and aggression. Players have no confidence - who's fault is that?

Players that have been signed, the jury is very much out. Mark McGuinness was never and still isn't a £10M defender. The process that seems to have worked over the last few years feels like it's been ripped up.

The signs have been there since pre-season - lessons haven't been learnt. This isn't just a momentary lapse of form and a kneejerk reaction... Luton have won 4 league games in the entirety of 2024. It's not good enough. They came in underprepared. Pre-season a total waste of time. And good teams that work a lot harder are punishing us.

It feels like some of the players' heads drop after any negative moment. I can't blame them for that - we now have a losing mentality and it's very dificult to get over that. Some players I think are going through the motions and don't want to be here. Name no names... *cough* Mengi *cough*.

I've gone to nigh on 500+ matches at Kenilworth Road. That moment from Liam Walsh has to rank amongst the worst things I've seen on the pitch. To get sent off just 30 seconds after coming on without touching the ball... for me, he should pack his bags and rip his contract up. Incredibly unprofessional. Strangely, Luton played better with 10 men!

Its simply not good enough. Many people stayed behind and clapped them off but I couldn't do so myself. There weren't many boos but you could tell that the frustration is building.

We need a change. The board haven't been afraid to make this decision in the past, although we've only sacked 2 managers in nearly 10 years.

Agree with all of this really. The lack of identity is the core issue for me and is running through all things right now.

When we were successful the identity was so clear, in League 2/1 it was the 442 diamond with the flying wingbacks, we evolved when NJ came back to an extremely effective defensive unit and then again in the playoff and promotion seasons with the very high press. We recruited for those styles of play.

Now…I couldn’t tell you, classic example is McGuinness who is a fairly limited defender first centre half and Edwards is wanting to play more than ever before.

There’s clearly been a big breakdown between the view of the management team and those doing the recruitment and possibly the board.

After the PL I could accept some indifferent seasons, but there’s no clear idea of what we are trying to do so it just feels like it’s indifference with no purpose. Edwards made a rod for his back in the pre season by saying he wanted to challenge for promotion. Am concerned we will go down again if nothing is done.

 

[91SPP]

No surprise from our game against Sunderland, ultimately kept at arms length for the majority of the game. We did give a good account of ourselves, it’s a tough place to go so to have been leading in most metrics: shots, shots on target, etc is something we can take some pride in. They just had the quality to get over the line in situations, but largely was an equally fought match.

We’ve gone on to lose three in a row, but between Norwich, Sheff Utd and Sunderland. The latter two away from home, I’m not sure there was ever much expectation. We now have a run of games that I think will end up defining our season:

QPR
Millwall
Oxford
Hull
Stoke
Coventry
Plymouth
Preston
Swansea
Sheff Wed

It’s 10 games where we can be competitive, and will need to be competitive because if we are struggling after this run of games then it certainly doesn’t get any easier.

 

[Super_horns]

Good at home but rubbish on the road seems to be the order of the game .

Not a good omen for Luton !

 

[SF_]

Well that was easy, Watford look as bad as us away from home.

They had some good chances despite playing poorly, but that Baah and Bayo look useless.

Our home form should keep us out of the bottom 3.

Hopefully the Osmajic ban will be a short one as he needs to be starting every game when he's back.

 

[Super_horns]

Well that was easy, Watford look as bad as us away from home.

They had some good chances despite playing poorly, but that Baah and Bayo look useless.

Our home form should keep us out of the bottom 3.

Hopefully the Osmajic ban will be a short one as he needs to be starting every game when he's back.

Baah is a good young player but more of a winger really .

Agree on Bayo - cannot score to save his life .

We are probably going to to rely on our home form too .

 

[Don Tonberry]

Serious wake up call delivered to Pompey last night at Stoke. Absolutely pathetic performance.

Immense pressure to beat Oxford (a team we finished 20 points ahead of last season) on Saturday. Fail, and I already believe we'll be this season's Rotherham and that's a depressing thought.

 

[SF_]

Burnley away. 12.30pm kick-off after playing on Wednesday night. Bollocks that.

Hoping Kesler-Hayden will be fit and ready to go, the guy is class. Also hoping we get another game out of Osmajic before his ban kicks in, talk that he'll miss 4-5 games, including Arsenal in the cup which isn't too bad.

Guessing we will try and match up Burnley's 4-2-3-1 formation a bit instead of sticking to the 3-1-5-1 we played against Watford. I think we'll lose regardless, Burnley just have too much quality even though they don't look as free-scoring as previous seasons.

Woodman
Kesler-Hayden -Storey - Lindsay - Hughes
Bowler - McCann - Whiteman - Brady
Frokajer
Osmajic / Riis
​

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Sheffield United away for us as we now start quite tricky looking run of fixtures including the Watford game on the 19th.

Thankfully the international break in between those because feels like everyone needs a reset.

 

[Super_horns]

Very good open game at Sunderland and a dramatic ending!

Bad error by the Leeds keeper - is a bit error prone.

Classic Championship.