General Matchday Thread

[Raymondo316]

Was my tele playing up or were Luton wearing red?? ever since I can remember their home shirt has been white or orange......never red like it looked tonight.

 

[Kenneth E End]

WOW! Where do I start with that one... unbelievable performance and atmosphere. I'm so glad they stepped up as a side because it really did worry me after last week.

I'm going to say it just to shout Southey up... playing Middlesbrough first up at Fortress Kenny is a great occasion. Honestly, that home end has never been as loud as that in my time of supporting the club. It was deafening at times.

And to be honest, Middlesbrough were umimpressive at the back. Luton will be slightly disappointed they didn't get more than the 1 point, because they were rattled and unorganised. Going forward, with a player like Assombalonga et al they're naturally going to be dangerous.

Sonny Bradley last season was almost the running joke about his lack of goalscoring... he goes and fucking does that!

It is a huge jump up in class from League One. Bring on Cardiff next weekend!

Doesn't the Kenny also look great from the opposite angle!

 

[Lamby]

The only defence that was rattled and unorganised was yours. You were lucky to scrape a draw, and using the cheating tactics every week won't get you anywhere but 24th

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Brilliant game of football, some of the defending perhaps not so much though! But cant argue with the entertainment value at the least!

Looked a little nervy to begin with and thought we looked a little susceptible to those crosses from Johnson who looked impressive. After that goal though we really grew into the game and looked the better side until 2 mad moments from Shinnie and then Sluga. Cant be too hard on either but we do need learn sharpish you cant dwell on the ball in those areas at this level. Didnt get too many high presses like that in the level below.

Sluga has made a foul up on the shot but that aside I thought he was absolutely excellent - let him have that one.

Second half we again played well, the Butterfield/Lee swap was a bit of an odd one I thought, Butterfield looked a little off the pace to me and we lost our way in that period. Great strike from the Boro lad.

Was gutted when the penalty got given as the effort put forward by us you couldnt fault but what a shite miss from him. Definitely should have had a penalty ourselves, how the lino missed it when its right in front of him clear as day. Ridiculous.

If we can play like that, with that effort we can make up the gap in quality to other teams I think, with the crowd backing us we can stay up. Big IFS though!

 

[Kenneth E End]

510 days unbeaten at home.

 

[Lamby]

510 days unbeaten at home.

Whoop de fucking do

 

[Judge Dredd]

The only defence that was rattled and unorganised was yours. You were lucky to scrape a draw, and using the cheating tactics every week won't get you anywhere but 24th

We could shithouse our way through every minute of every game and still finish above you (again) pal

 

[Judge Dredd]

Brilliant game for the neutrals and for us really. Funny one as you'd have taken a draw (to say the least) when we were facing a pen at 3-2 down with 10 mins left. But overall there is a tinge of disappointment not to win when you factor in the keeper howler, the pen that should have been on Potts, the Collins chance going in to stoppage time etc.

Things that were noticeable from the step up:
- the physicality. Might be because Middlesbrough were a Pulis side last year but they all seemed to be absolute athletes, big, strong, quick.
- need to be quicker in possession or more careful when playing out from the back. We got caught several times when Boro applied a high press against our defensive midfield (not helped by us not having a true DM in that line-up - we would have benefited from Alan McCormack today)
- cannot afford to allow shooting opportunities anywhere outside the box. Even a half chance is dangerous in this division - not just the third goal, but the one that Sluga pulled a worldie off from just before his howler. In League One both go over the stand never mind the bar.

Pleasing for me was that our centre backs didn't look too exposed. They were brilliant last season but the concern was their pace (or lack thereof) might get exposed with the step up. The only time we looked vulnerable was when Boro successfully applied the counter press on our DM (Pelly a couple of times, Shinnie for the second goal).

Lots to be pleased about. Mainly we didn't look out of our depth against a solid side at this level. Home form will be key and a point under the circumstances is a decent start.

 

[Judge Dredd]

Just caught up on the post-match on Sky. Laughable that their pundits thought it was a 4-3-3 tonight. Clearly a diamond, albeit with a few tweaks to compensate for the wing back situation.

The strikers (particularly McManaman) pulled wide to give us that width that Stacey and JJ provided last year but it was never a 4-3-3, Sky pundits are legit useless.

One thing about that variant of the diamond is that it puts even more emphasis on the #10 influencing the game as he becomes the most prominent central player. I can't recall Elliot Lee touching it never mind influencing the game. Need to see more from him for sure - we looked much better with Moncur in his cameo IMHO. Unless we sign a genuine right wing back we will need Lee to step up big time or we will need to shift to something more like McManaman - Collins - Cornick and get that width higher up the field.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Just caught up on the post-match on Sky. Laughable that their pundits thought it was a 4-3-3 tonight. Clearly a diamond, albeit with a few tweaks to compensate for the wing back situation.

The strikers (particularly McManaman) pulled wide to give us that width that Stacey and JJ provided last year but it was never a 4-3-3, Sky pundits are legit useless.

One thing about that variant of the diamond is that it puts even more emphasis on the #10 influencing the game as he becomes the most prominent central player. I can't recall Elliot Lee touching it never mind influencing the game. Need to see more from him for sure - we looked much better with Moncur in his cameo IMHO. Unless we sign a genuine right wing back we will need Lee to step up big time or we will need to shift to something more like McManaman - Collins - Cornick and get that width higher up the field.

Agreed with this. Cranie played well and not knocking him as a player but we really need someone who can provide that attacking width. Will also allow us to shift Cranie into that DM spot meaning Pelly/Shinnie arent having to pick up the ball there where they are clearly not comfortable, its a waste of Pelly in particular who looked far better higher up later in the game. I dont think Collins playing in that way long term is a particularly good use of him.

 

[Super_horns]

Even Sky's formation pre match had you playing a diamond formation with 2 up front so guess the pundits took no notice !

 

[Kenneth E End]

I've just seen Britt's penalty flying past the window...

Ryan Shotton is stealing a wage based on that performance for Boro.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Was my tele playing up or were Luton wearing red?? ever since I can remember their home shirt has been white or orange......never red like it looked tonight.

Its definitely Orange but it looks quite a bit darker this year than we have had previously.

 

[Maple Hatter]

Still buzzing after last night. It proved we can compete and that the spirit within the team is a still very strong. Pleased that despite losing JJ and Stacey we are still very much a threat on the flanks. The fans played their part too and were behind the lads throughout. Its going to be one hell of a coaster ride this season but one I'm looking forward to.

 

[M Dogg]

You’ll take some scalps at home but playing like you did yesterday you’re going to take some pastings on the road where teams have bigger pitches and space to run at you

 

[Judge Dredd]

You’ll take some scalps at home but playing like you did yesterday you’re going to take some pastings on the road where teams have bigger pitches and space to run at you

Agreed with that. Home form will be absolutely crucial this season.

Jones has mentioned previously in interviews that we'll need different ways of playing so I wouldn't be at all surprised if we ditch the diamond away from home but then we haven't seen anything else in the pre season friendlies yet. I guess we will find out next week away to one of the early favourites for promotion in Cardiff.

 

[SoutheySWFC]

510 days unbeaten at home.

You lost in January you dweeb

 

[Lamby]

We could shithouse our way through every minute of every game and still finish above you (again) pal

And yet still not manage to beat us for another season?

 

[BelizeHatter]

Very annoying that a Sky Viewing stops you watching on iFollow while in the US but absolutely nowhere i was carried ESPN+ so just left with commentary that failed for half the game...... and still due to rights not seen any highlights

 

[Jamo]

I think we'll get an arseholing from Fulham today but I think they'll do similar to a few teams this season. Still can't wait for 3pm.

 

[SF_]

Clarke starting over Fisher for his added height but other than that its the team I expected.

Nugent not even in the squad, pointless signing.

 

[SoutheySWFC]

Boring Bullen starts with one striker, four on bench.

 

[MagpieBee]

An odd looking squad for us today. Strong defence but through injuries / transfer rumours we’re missing most of our midfield and attack.

Hoping Marcondes can step up in the striker role, and at least it’s good to see Watkins in the starting XI.

 

[Etienne Vermeer]

Very annoying that a Sky Viewing stops you watching on iFollow while in the US but absolutely nowhere i was carried ESPN+ so just left with commentary that failed for half the game...... and still due to rights not seen any highlights

Been there done that. I didn't bother with ifollow this year, for that reason and we'll be shit.

 

[MagpieBee]

Hit the crossbar twice, few shots narrowly wide, concede to the first shot (a great header tbf) of the game. Standard Brentford.

We do look pretty great though, could easily be 2 up.

 

[Etienne Vermeer]

Welp, good timing for Bialkowski, Fielding just went off injured.

 

[Tom_ITFC]

Welp, good timing for Bialkowski, Fielding just went off injured.

Hope he’s in better form than last year!

 

[Kenneth E End]

Brilliant first half for Barnsley up against Fulham.

 

[SoutheySWFC]

Well that's a solid start, losing KW for a couple of games is shite mind.

 

[MagpieBee]

No idea how we didn’t win today. Only one shot against us, couple of great saves by their keeper, and we hit the woodwork three times. Keep playing that though and we’ll be fine.