FA Cup 2021

[That Fat Centre Half]

We need better full backs. Our biggest weakness. Bell was awful today and has been bang average all season and has zero competition.

Bell has been ok for me, solid if unspectacular. He’s defensively pretty solid and it’s clearly his job to be the one who stays whilst Bree bombs on down the other side. He was absolutely dreadful today though no doubt about that. Thought NJ was going to run into the pitch at one point and give him a shake he was getting that irate with him

An upgrade would be nice there but for me the clearer weakness is central midfield that area was the reason the first half was so bad today, just no foothold there, we couldn’t get a foot on the ball there and they just dictated the play. It’s the only area we don’t have a real outstanding player in.

 

[BelizeHatter]

Bell doesn't offer enough in any part of his game for me. Gives the ball away cheaply, gives very little width on the left in attack and we are constantly stretched and exposed game after game on that side.......when he doesn't get forward. Maybe all of thats a lack of support and option in front of him with all the midfielders being right footers and more central due to our shape, but he is playing alongside our best player in Kal. Hard to tell on TV rather than being there. I'll give him some more time but im pretty dissapointed and dont think he will cut it.

Noticed yesterday when Fred came on he seemed he was down the right, probably to accomodate a formation change, but they obv dont fancy him as a fullback/wingback option.

I think our midfield lacks the spectacular but is good enough and has depth for us to move upward or at a minimum consolidate - whereas we have zero alternative options at either fullback. Have to find a young athletic natural LB. Tough ask and tough acts to follow as down the years/decades weve had some amazing fullbacks.........which is prob half the reason im (unfairly?) griping.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Yep we have had some great fullbacks especially the JJ/Stacey season and I think we suffer from comparing recent players to them. Bree certainly does and I’m probably doing the same with our current central midfield options by thinking of a Dewsbury-Hall shaped hole we have there that will likely never be filled

Returning to Bell, in my view he is a marked upgrade from what we have had at left back in previous seasons, e.g Potts who though a good servant I cannot believe is still here and even Naismith, fantastic player though he is never really played well at left back when asked to do it for an extended time. Plus I think there’s a bit of recency bias clouding things here as he had some really good games this season but he’s not been particularly stand out in any recently. I know it’s a what have you done for me lately business but his performances at Barnsley, Coventry where he was a key part of that demolition job, opening day against Peterborough were all excellent performances. He’s had some great primarily defensive performances this season too, thinking Millwall away where he managed to lock up Wallace who is a top player at this level for the most part

He’s not as involved in an attacking sense as Bree is certainly but defensively I think he’s been very solid. Yesterday was certainly a bad performance from him but I’m not at the point where I’m thinking we need him replaced. We are light at fullback though and still don’t really understand the whole Kioso situation

 

[SF_]

Such a shocking game that, Cardiff were just as bad as us but we gifted them 2 goals.

No fans in the ground 100% impacts performance, our lot in particular just seem to lack any urgency, or sharpness without the pressure of a crowd.

That's the worst i've seen Van Den Berg & Bauer play, although pretty much everyone was bad bar maybe DJ, Cunningham & Iversen.

Referee was abysmal, Woolmer, his decision late on in extra time to give Cardiff a free kick instead of us a penalty for handball was fucking incredible.

Can't say i'm bothered about the cup, even if we would have drawn Liverpool away, rather get dogshit performances like that out of the way and bounce back in the league.

 

[Super_horns]

I know it was at home but you've played Liverpool reserves already too..

At least you don't have to worry about a replay!

 

[SF_]

I know it was at home but you've played Liverpool reserves already too..

At least you don't have to worry about a replay!

Yep, a trip to Anfield would have been good but we seem to get a big cup draw most seasons in fairness, so like I say, i'm not too fussed.

 

[Super_horns]

Well done Boro.

Excellent performance and win.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Rode their luck with the goal they scored. No idea how that’s allowed to stand, considering they are I think overly strict on handball for defenders the fact that goal was allowed to stand is a bit of a joke really. Don’t get me wrong love seeing Man Utd in such a sorry state but..that left a poor taste for me

 

[Super_horns]

Basically they changed the rule this season meaning a goal can only be ruled out if the scorer themselves handles the ball.

They had the rule about any attacking handball counting last season but that proved to be as controversial!

There needs to be some middle ground guess.

One thing having the ball brushing an arm and another for a handball like tonight .

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Basically they changed the rule this season meaning a goal can only be ruled out if the scorer themselves handles the ball.

They had the rule about any attacking handball counting last season but that proved to be as controversial!

There needs to be some middle ground guess.

One thing having the ball brushing an arm and another for a handball like tonight .

Thing is if it were a defender they’d have no issue calling the play back quite a bit after it happened and reviewing it in minute detail in slow motion. But because it’s a goal they can’t? It’s just a foul in the build up surely? Why over complicate it

Just doesn’t sit right with me at all.

 

[Kenneth E End]

If that’s not handball, I’m done with football.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

It was I think they’ve just twisted themselves in knots with this rule about handballs and whether it leads direct to a goal (and the handball law in general) and forgotten that at its base level it’s simply a foul in the build up and should be called as such.

The rule they change this season was I think for accidental handball leading directly to a goal, think the VAR ref and the on field ref just totally focused on that and forgot they can call foul play in the build up if they want too.

Or at least that’s how I’m rationalising the latest lunacy of football laws to myself!

 

[Super_horns]

Maybe handball should be handball unless it deflects off another part of the body first?

I agree don't think anyone would have complained had it been chalked off (apart from a bit of moaning about Man U getting decisions!)

Gone from one extreme to the other really to me.

 

[oakroader]

Luton v Cambridge on sky tv channel 981 this afternoon

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Great draw for us getting Chelsea at home. Played them last season and got done I still think a touch unfairly with the 2 balls on the pitch and then got outclassed a bit so a chance to get some retribution maybe. Midweek game so they won’t fancy that.

 

[coronakopite]

Great draw for us getting Chelsea at home. Played them last season and got done I still think a touch unfairly with the 2 balls on the pitch and then got outclassed a bit so a chance to get some retribution maybe. Midweek game so they won’t fancy that.

I can't think of a worse (better ) combination of lower league opposition and ground for the Fancy Dans from the West End to go than the current Luton team/style at the Kenny.

I can't think of a more fitting experience for the Moneybags supporting fans to "enjoy" than the walk past the mops and buckets of the hardware shop, wading through the piss running out of the toilets just past the turnstiles, clambering through the terrace back gardens to find their "seats" and then falling over the obstructions as they head en masse to the exits when they go 2-0 down.

Almost tempted to see if I can blag a ticket if it doesn't clash with our game at Wycombe on the Tuesday night.

 

[BelizeHatter]

Haha. I just put a very similar post on another site ro the above.

Midweek? Didnt realise that. For me - and many other Hatters i suspect - under the lights at the Kenny can be a magical place.

 

[coronakopite]

Haha. I just put a very similar post on another site ro the above.

Midweek? Didnt realise that. For me - and many other Hatters i suspect - under the lights at the Kenny can be a magical place.

"Magical" Yeah, I guess that's one word for it.

 

[BelizeHatter]

It is for me

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Hopefully will be a great atmosphere. I think Bilic said it best when West Brom came here a couple of years ago - it’s a tough place to go because everything is loud and everything is dangerous.

If you aren’t used to it it can really get on top of you

 

[BelizeHatter]

Was.......back in the day it was a forty mile round trip rather than 10,000........

 

[Kenneth E End]

I can't think of a worse (better ) combination of lower league opposition and ground for the Fancy Dans from the West End to go than the current Luton team/style at the Kenny.

I can't think of a more fitting experience for the Moneybags supporting fans to "enjoy" than the walk past the mops and buckets of the hardware shop, wading through the piss running out of the toilets just past the turnstiles, clambering through the terrace back gardens to find their "seats" and then falling over the obstructions as they head en masse to the exits when they go 2-0 down.

Almost tempted to see if I can blag a ticket if it doesn't clash with our game at Wycombe on the Tuesday night.

Kensington and Chelsea isn’t that bad?

 

[oakroader]

Kensington and Chelsea isn’t that bad?

they're actually sited in fulham....

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Peterborough performing pretty admirably against Man City so far tonight, kept them at bay and had the odd break out opportunity. Young lad up front Jones looks like he’s got a bit about him on the break.

Chelsea for us tomorrow. Tuchel been in the press today saying they have some big injury issues, lost the cup final at the weekend and the rest of the press conference was about Abramovich and his ties to Putin which is becoming a huge issue for them and not a question about us or the game really. Wonder how much of a “distraction” that will be

Few things stacking in our favour, will take some effort on our part but if they are just a few percent off it I don’t doubt we will give them a good game

 

[Super_horns]

Grealish certainly not looking like a 100 million pound player .

 

[BelizeHatter]

I wish i shared your optimism TFCH. Think their reserves will punish our half reserves. We havent been great lately and now face one of the best football sides on the planet.

 

[Super_horns]

Guess it depends how they adapt to the conditions but will be tough to score against .

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

I wish i shared your optimism TFCH. Think their reserves will punish our half reserves. We havent been great lately and now face one of the best football sides on the planet.

Not saying we will win just think we will push them at least, and certainly if they are a few % off.

You say we we haven't been great, performance wise possibly correct, but we've been winning and are arguably the most in form team in the league! A big part of that is through mental strength, out running and out working teams and as Jones said after Stoke, we want to win games. If they take a look and dont fancy it on the night, you never know.

 

[BelizeHatter]

Agree with all of that. Just think its more likely with their quality they'll stiffle us and gobble up our longer balls and pass us to death, easily bypass our press and hurt us. Just a bit concerned as theres a chance we will get a confidence shattering pasting. Once our heads do drop we can get spanked

 

[BelizeHatter]

But........ we should enjoy the evening both fans a players and staff and make sure whatever happens we tried our best on the park and in the stands and dont let a result phase us, whatever it is ........COYRRH