Bury Vs Luton

[That Fat Centre Half]

Surprised there isn't a match thread already for this given there are quite a few Bury and Luton fans about it seems.

Really interesting game this, seen Bury play twice so far this season, first time they were better than us and it could be said we were lucky to get a draw, second time the gap closed and we won a tight one in the cup and I'm expecting another tight one here as well.

We will finally welcome back McNulty from his suspension to replace the shaky Franks. Personally don't feel there are any other changes warranted, except maybe Tyler if he is fit.

We really need to go on a winning run now I feel but this will be a tough one, Bury are very good at home by all accounts and our away form is indifferent at best so will be a good test to see if we truly have the mettle to get an automatic place, I'm still slightly skeptical.

I think it will be a tight one and as we are draw specialist I think 1-1.

 

[UTS]

We seem to have got over our mid season slump and have won 3 in a row and are unbeaten in 5. We haven't lost at home since the 28th November.

 

[Judge Dredd]

Let's be honest, our away form isn't indifferent - it's shite. One away win since October tells it's own story. That said, our best away performances since have been against the top sides - we were good against Wycombe, unlucky against Burton, and of course beat Plymouth in our best away performance of the season.

Then again, we had Doyle in all of those games and he was pivotal as we set up pretty defensively and looked to counter in all three more or less. He's a big miss. But at least we have some more attacking threat now with the injuries starting to clear so maybe it evens out.

Question for the Bury fans - do you still play the 3-5-2 you were using at the Kenny earlier in the season?

If so, Still loves to match up against that formation, and as he was raving about the performance of Franks vs Accrington in his press conference today I have a sneaking suspicion the team we will line up with will be:

-------------------------Keeper

------------Franks--McNulty--Wilkinson

Harriman--------------------------------------Griffiths

------------McGeehan---------Smith

-----------------------Guttridge

----------------Stockley--------Lee


To be honest, whilst it isn't what I'd pick necessarily, I'd be happier with that than the lop-sided, half-arsed 4-4-2 diamond we've tried and failed to execute in the last couple of games.

 

[Judge Dredd]

Oh and I'd snatch your hand off for a draw right now if offered for sure.

 

[Kenneth E End]

Would take a point if offered right now, but we really need to start turning these 1 points into 3 points. Crucial stage of the season now.

This division is going to be seriously close.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Yeah on a single game basis I think a draw would be a good result but we have had so many now it doesn't really cut it, if we want an auto place. You can't keep drawing and banking on whoever is above dropping points all the time to keep you in touch.

That's why we need a winning run in my opinion, no excuses now Guttridge is back either, it's put up or shut up time now for us.

 

[KeithH]

Shite Fred title
Free flowing football gone, much tighter at the back now. Draw I think.

 

[McShambles]

Shit fred title. Should've been 'Benched McNulty vs Returning McNulty' or somesuch.

Anyway, at the moment, they're playing as a 4-4-2. Slightly concerned about Guttridge running the show but not about the attack if it doesn't include Cullen.

I predict the fourth tight encounter this season between the two sides and I'd take a draw now.

 

[Chippy]

Bore draw. Which Id be happy with.

 

[LordJord]

Come on Luton, need you to take points from Bury in this one!

 

[AFCB_Mark]

I read Still about how he "loves" Jayden Stockley - is he doing well then? Found the right level and potentially a future club to call home?

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

I read Still about how he "loves" Jayden Stockley - is he doing well then? Found the right level and potentially a future club to call home?

I like him, definitely grown on me and I think he has improved. I think he'll get better with experience and perhaps working with and learning from a striker like Benson, who I think he is somewhat similar too, will help him.

However I think league 2 is probably about his level, if we were to go up I'd like us to seek out someone a bit better but I'd have him back here if we stayed down I think.

 

[Judge Dredd]

Yeah I'd second that. He's the type of player who splits opinions as lots only see his lack of pace, but he does have something about him in terms of hold up play when used correctly, puts lots of effort in and has added goals in the past couple of games. I'm not sure I'd want him as our main striker next season regardless of what league we were in, but I'd certainly have him as an understudy/rotation player.

 

[Chippy]

Agree with above he's winning me over. He needs to get in the gym though - think if he bulked up a little he would be a right handful - can still get beaten from a standing start too easily

 

[Cardsfan]

I read Still about how he "loves" Jayden Stockley - is he doing well then? Found the right level and potentially a future club to call home?

Looked very promising when we had him 2 years ago, great in the air. Good to see him doing well in League 2, although if you don't want him next year I would love to see him back at Kingfield (probably wouldn't happen, mind)

 

[AFCB_Mark]

I just feel for him really, he was hyped here as the savour and next greatest thing because he came into the first team picture aged 15 (mostly because we had few options and he was the best of the crop).

Since then everyone has been waiting for him to suddenly explode into this superstar, all whilst sat in our development squad and farmed out on endless loans, spending half his life in digs and hotels.

He just needs to find a club to call home, settle down probably at league two level IMHO, and finally I reckon his career will take off.

He's a Dorset lad, but staying with his local club here won't do him any favours. Reckon we'd be happy to let him go for nothing to the right club. Maybe that could be Luton, or maybe it'll be a shop window for another L2 club who would make him their focal point up front for years to come.

 

[Kenneth E End]

One change for Luton Town from their 2-0 victory over Accrington at the weekend.

Steve McNulty replaces Fraser Franks who drops to the bench.

 

[UTS]

Unchanged side from the one that beat Argyle.

 

[Kenneth E End]

Bury already had one chalked off for offside early on. In 2 of the 3 games this season, we've just allowed Bury to play. Overloading the midfield on both occasions and allowing them to get chance after chance in to the danger area. We've got to stifle them.

And on cue, Bury score.

 

[Judge Dredd]

Sounds like we are getting battered. Another nightmare first half, becoming a recurring theme. Need to get in to half time at 1-0 and sort it out.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Seems as if we haven't turned up at all.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Oh dear! Sounded better second half but still not great.

Away form is officially downright terrible and a bug issue.

 

[UTS]

BIG win! 4 wins in a row.

 

[Judge Dredd]

Well that was predictable.

Hope we abandon this 4-4-2 diamond experiment now, it clearly isn't working for us.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Personally don't think formations or systems have got much to do with it, we've played loads all year 442, 352, 4231/451, none of which had made a great deal of difference to be honest, we just aren't quite good enough for automatic promotion.

 

[T.A]

Very good win against P/O rivals and puts less pressure on us v Oxford on Saturday.

I didn't go so I've no idea on what happened but it's nice to finish work and see another win.

 

[Super_horns]

Luton fan in a big over-reaction on the local station.

Said they are like a relegation team which was harsh I though given their decent season overall.

 

[Judge Dredd]

Personally don't think formations or systems have got much to do with it, we've played loads all year 442, 352, 4231/451, none of which had made a great deal of difference to be honest, we just aren't quite good enough for automatic promotion.

Maybe the constant tinkering is the problem though? Last season, after a shaky start using 4-4-2, after 10 games Still sussed it, went 4-2-3-1 and never looked back. We played the same set up every week regardless of who was in the team and who we were playing against. This season we seem to be constantly tinkering around looking for something that works without ever really settling on something. Granted the injuries have had a lot to do with that, but now Gutts is fit and so is most everyone else we could do with some stability again.

 

[Judge Dredd]

Luton fan in a big over-reaction on the local station.

Said they are like a relegation team which was harsh I though given their decent season overall.

I'm sure 3CR go out of their way to track down the most idiotic fans they can. That or it's just a case of only the morons are sad enough to phone in to a local radio show...

It's a funny one really, if you had offered any Luton fan our current position at the start of the season they'd have snatched your hands off. Because we were top for a while and in the automatics for long stretches it feels like we are doing worse than we actually are. Had we done it the other way round, like Bury or Southend for example and been shit but come good at the right time to push up the table late I'm sure the atmosphere around the place would be a bit different.

I think automatic promotion is probably beyond us now (though it's by no means a foregone conclusion), but I'm confident we'll be in the play-offs which is a very good effort for a first season back and with the player losses we have had to cope with this season.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Yeah people who ring into 3cr are always slightly deranged I think. I didn't hear the call but I understand a lot of the frustration in some sections of the support. The football has been nothing short of dire to watch all season really.

Part of the reason why I think formations are by the by, as whatever it is on that particular day our style is always the same, even when we had Cullen up top on his own it was by and large long direct football. And that's after last season where we played very good football so we have it in us.

Understand why people are frustrated, but no doubt we have done amazingly to get ourselves 4th in our fist season back, as JD says if have had that at the beginning of the year no matter how we played.