2024-25 Championship Match Day Thread

[FarehamPompey]

Hoping to get our first win over the next few games.. we have a few players coming back from injury so should start to get a bit stronger. A win against West Brom would be lovely!

 

[Super_horns]

Hoping to get our first win over the next few games.. we have a few players coming back from injury so should start to get a bit stronger. A win against West Brom would be lovely!

Been a rough run for you !

Coventry at home - probably a draw .

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Early season big game for us tomorrow at Millwall. Think everyone is going we have sorted a few things over the international break and maybe a few closer to fitness m, especially Nakamba.

Hoping Edwards has reviewed a few things in the break and is going to change to a more conventional midfield shape because the midfield 2 hasnt worked and been a major issue for us. If he has then he needs to make some big calls on who to drop to make room, I like Chong but for me going to a more conventional 352 which we had major success with and dropping him is the way to go

 

[91SPP]

We’ve got Cardiff at home, really not sure what to expect. I had them down as a team to struggle this season, as did the bookies, they conceded 70 goals last season and their top goalscorer finished on 6. They’ve started this season conceding 10 and scoring one, despite this (however) the Cardiff fans seem to think they easily have enough quality to finish in the top six. I don’t know if I’m missing something, perhaps they come to Pride Park and turn us over 3-0 and show this quality they supposedly have, but it’s nice to at least be the favourite for a Championship game (again) finally.

 

[Kenneth E End]

Millwall (A) - one of the more unenjoyable away days. Not a huge amount of change personnel wise, but I just hope they've been using the last two weeks wisely. Amari'i Bell was playing in Honduras on Tuesday night local time - god knows how fatigued he'll be.

I've said before that teams who have underperformed have generally prior to the first international break tend to "get their shit together" at that point.

I wouldn't expect that Luton deviates from the 352 against a team like Millwall. Expecting the below:

GK Thomas Kaminski
RCB Reece Burke
CB Mark McGuinness
LCB Teden Mengi
RWB Reuell Walters
LWB Alfie Doughty
DM Shandon Baptiste
CM Jordan Clark
CM Tahith Chong
FW Elijah Adebayo
FW Carlton Morris

Subs: James Shea, Amari'i Bell, Mads Andersen, Victor Moses, Cauley Woodrow, Marvelous Nakamba, Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu, Liam Walsh, Joe Taylor

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Just good to get the win, wasn’t a particularly good game or performance I don’t think and I think we’ve played better this season but we just needed to get a win by any means necessary.

He finally made the right call and tweaked the shape with Nakamba coming in and we looked better for it especially first half. Second half we looked a bit sloppy but toughed it out, indebted to Kaminski for a couple of decent saves

 

[SF_]

Great point. Showed why we won't be in the relegation mix.

 

[Tea Towel]

Absolute sickener to a goal like that in against QPR. Must have been 10 players around the ball in our 6 yard box scrambling for it

On the whole a point probably a fair result, but had we gone in at half time a goal up like we should have I think we’d have won that

 

[Super_horns]

A good response second half after a dodgy first where we seemed to get caught out a lot by Coventry's pace.

Georgi got hold of the game and we pressed better.

Both teams guilty of some bad shooting or poor finishing.

Might help if we don't let a goal in early..

Good Championship game if not a little bit a case of 2 contrasting halves.

 

[91SPP]

we kept our perfect record at Pride Park: three wins, three clean sheets. It was fairly comfortable and then we sat back for the last 10 which I never like, but ultimately Cardiff lacked quality to do anything with the ball. We should’ve made it 2-0 with the last kick of the game, but.. you’ll probably all see why it was 1-0. The miss is doing the rounds online.

I do think Cardiff were markedly worse than any of the other teams we have played this season. It looks as though the manager is about to lose his job, which is probably unsurprising, but the squad lacks serious quality/creativity so I’m not sure where they go from here. They piled a lot of money into players based on what they once were and not what they now are, an unstable ownership and expectant fanbase.

 

[Super_horns]

Was a shocker!

Least it didnt matter .

Cardiff tend to switch managers almost as much as we do so maybe another one soon ?

 

[Kenneth E End]

Thought Luton played better probably v Preston and Portsmouth but came out on the wrong side of it. Again, virtue of getting that early goal where you’re not chasing the game.

First half Luton were easily the better side and could’ve been at least a couple of goals ahead. Second half they were easily second best. Some mistakes made at some really crucial times which weren’t punished. A draw would not have been an unfair result. The free header at the end which wasn’t converted would’ve been a real sickener but our defence needed to snuff out that sort of chance. Pelly giving the ball away straight after coming on which needed a last ditch foot save has been punished in previous matches. Pelly particularly really seems to be having a bad run since pre season.

First away victory in the calendar year. Presumably it’s never taken as long in our history. Hope that’s the starting point now and they’ll regain some confidence.

Still feels like some players are not vibing this Luton team at the moment after not getting their moves in August. I hope I’m wrong.

Shout out for Liam Walsh. Clearly not better than this level but trying is heart out every match and bringing some quality. Seems to have been a solid addition. Another shout out for Reece Burke who despite all the injuries, technically for me is the second best defender in that side after Mengi. In my eyes, if he could stay consistently fit, a lower PL defender.

 

[Robie]

Another team looking like rabbits in headlights as we turn them over with ease. Clearly expected to just need to turn up. Their #22 kicked lumps out of Dembele and should have received more than the one yellow card. The scoreline flattered them, we should have been a couple more goals ahead but still really comfortable in control of the game.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Thought Luton played better probably v Preston and Portsmouth but came out on the wrong side of it. Again, virtue of getting that early goal where you’re not chasing the game.

First half Luton were easily the better side and could’ve been at least a couple of goals ahead. Second half they were easily second best. Some mistakes made at some really crucial times which weren’t punished. A draw would not have been an unfair result. The free header at the end which wasn’t converted would’ve been a real sickener but our defence needed to snuff out that sort of chance. Pelly giving the ball away straight after coming on which needed a last ditch foot save has been punished in previous matches. Pelly particularly really seems to be having a bad run since pre season.

First away victory in the calendar year. Presumably it’s never taken as long in our history. Hope that’s the starting point now and they’ll regain some confidence.

Still feels like some players are not vibing this Luton team at the moment after not getting their moves in August. I hope I’m wrong.

Shout out for Liam Walsh. Clearly not better than this level but trying is heart out every match and bringing some quality. Seems to have been a solid addition. Another shout out for Reece Burke who despite all the injuries, technically for me is the second best defender in that side after Mengi. In my eyes, if he could stay consistently fit, a lower PL defender.

Yes was a weird one as we definitely have played far better than that this season, but was just about getting on the board with a win after so long. Hopefully something to build on although i still think there are questions about tactically what we are trying to do at the moment and a few weird absences again with Baptiste & Walters in particular.

Burke wouldnt be here if he didnt have paper mache hamstrings, but he does so we get him for the 25ish games a season hes fit for. Decent enough.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Another team looking like rabbits in headlights as we turn them over with ease. Clearly expected to just need to turn up. Their #22 kicked lumps out of Dembele and should have received more than the one yellow card. The scoreline flattered them, we should have been a couple more goals ahead but still really comfortable in control of the game.

Was just watching the highlights of your game, Stoke dont seem to have really been in the game, they really seem destined to be eternally mid-table despite significant investment every season.

You certainly seem to have settled well, Harris getting player of the month an interesting one, always seemed a hard worker but not much else before settling with you - shows what can happen to players when they find an environment that suits them

 

[Super_horns]

Facing their old manager next week too !

WBA look in good touch .

 

[Don Tonberry]

Another harsh lesson dealt to us today despite some encouraging signs in the first half when we really should have scored.

I still refuse to judge until we've got through this gauntlet of shit (Burnley away and Sheffield United at home are the next two) and we've actually got a healthy squad. New signing Ibane Bowat now sidelined for six months without kicking a ball for us and Yengi injured in the warm up today. It's beyond a joke now.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

West Brom looking good, thought the off field financial stuff would finally catch up as their transfer business didn’t look amazing but Corberan is such a good manager at this level - as shown by his Huddersfield stint and seemingly at WBA too

 

[SF_]

Everton or Southampton could do a lot worse than poach Corberan.

 

[91SPP]

Everton or Southampton could do a lot worse than poach Corberan.

In terms of managers being able to consistently achieve above the resources at hand, he's one that comes to mind as one of the best.

 

[SF_]

Blackburn at home on Sunday who have started the season surprisingly very well.

Heckingbottom is starting to put his stamp on the team and seems to be favouring a 4-2-3-1.

Hopefully, Osmajic gets a start as he was great against Fulham. Bowler looks like he will become a key player too. Harsh to drop Ledson but I imagine Whiteman will come back in, even though i'd prefer McCann to start over him, Potts and Greenwood to come back into the 11 too I suspect.

Woodman
Potts - Storey - Lindsay - Kesler-Hayden
Thordarson - Whiteman
Bowler - Frokjaer - Greenwood
Osmajic

Cornell, Whatmough, Brady, Ledson, McCann, Holmes, Okkels, Riis, Keane​

 

[Super_horns]

Great second half by Hull.

Stoke's new man probably knows he has a task on his hands now.

 

[Bartonyellow]

Great second half by Hull.

Stoke's new man probably knows he has a task on his hands now.

Not his problem. He will be gone in 8 weeks to be replaced by the next idiot who will attempt to turn it round.

 

[Tea Towel]

Tough one away at Luton, haven’t seen much of them this season bar the first game tonking, obviously in a false position at the moment but we love ending other teams bad runs so I’ve not got high hopes

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

We sort of stopped the rot last week against Millwall so you are kind of fine on that front!

Good to just finally win a game last week although the performance, in particular second half, was a bit ropey. Weirdly Edwards seemed more upset after the win than he had some of the defeats this season.

I still think we have some pretty fundamental issues in our tactical approach at the moment, but people were starting to question if we had the mentality any longer - which we did & with Nakamba now fit he is perhaps able to cover some of the midfield gaps better than some of the other midfield players have been.

Really hoping we build on the win and really turn the corner today but really need to see it from this team before i really believe it.

 

[Super_horns]

Think we forgot it was an early kick off ..

Defensively particularly poor .

 

[Tea Towel]

Be interested to hear a Luton fans perspective

Hard one to take, I think we were the better team for large parts of the game, suddenly a handball (looked like his shoulder), red card and a penalty to bring it level then a late winner which looks like Morris had handballed to control it not given?!

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

We absolutely stole that game. Thought we were genuinely awful right up to the penalty and red card incident which totally changed the momentum of it.

Not sure what Edwards needs to see to stop this shape we are using, just consistently lose the midfield battle meaning we end up easy to press against the back 3 and then we get forced long into an isolated Adebayo. Just on repeat for 75 minutes. Chong js a good player but not fit for the current system - we must sacrifice him to gain a foothold in the midfield where Krauss looked good when he came on. If he can’t see this then..literally no idea what he is doing tbh. His almost embarrassed demeanour at the end of the game spoke volumes.

Don’t like going at refs but comes to something when a ref whose given you a penalty and red in your favour and the home fans boo you off. One of the worst performances I’ve seen, worked himself into a tizz early on and got into a pattern of giving “make up” decisions to correct prior errors - leading to a perpetual cycle of bizarre decision. Needs taking off games and a bit more training

 

[Tea Towel]

Be interested to hear a Luton fans perspective

Hard one to take, I think we were the better team for large parts of the game, suddenly a handball (looked like his shoulder), red card and a penalty to bring it level then a late winner which looks like Morris had handballed to control it not given?!

I’ve just seen another replay and it’s DEFINITELY his shoulder, not even close. Bernarda red will 100% be overturned

Infuriating for decisions like that going against us when we’ve not had a penalty since 22/23 season!

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

I’ve just seen another replay and it’s DEFINITELY his shoulder, not even close. Bernarda red will 100% be overturned

Infuriating for decisions like that going against us when we’ve not had a penalty since 22/23 season!

Not seen it back yet and wasn’t particularly clear at the game but will say 2 things

A) wouldn’t surprise me if it was incorrect given the general performance of the ref today. Absolutely abysmal

B) I’m not sure anyone, officials included, has a single clue about what handball is anymore.