Luton Town v Cambridge United 31/1

[Kenneth E End]

We meet again..

Must be the 50th time we've met each other in the last few years, as old foes rekindle their footballing love.

In the build up to this, new Cambridge loan signing Cameron McGeehan has said "he'll always be a Luton fan; you can't dispute his form in a more attacking role than he was played here last season.

Luton have got injured players starting to come back to fitness. Luke Guttridge played 90 minutes and scored in a 5-0 win over Stotfold in midweek, whilst Alex Lawless came on in the second half in the draw with Cheltenham last weekend. Pelly Ruddock may also get a place on the bench.

You can't help thinking that the Cambridge players would be slightly distracted with their game against Manchester United taking place just 3 days after this game. As many have said however, Richard Money won't allow them to be distracted, in order to get one over his former side.

Looks like it'll be close to a packed house again with just a couple of hundred tickets left as of a few days ago - attendance looks to be well over 9,500.

 

[Laker]

I don't think there's been less riding on a game against Luton from our perspective. Unless there's a disaster, we're safe in the league yet have no chance of going up - proper mid table obscurity.

That said, the Man Utd game on Tuesday does give an incentive for players to stake a claim for a spot so we won't exactly roll over.

There's done confusion on McGeehan's comments in that it appears to be old comments dug up by local press and then rehashed into a new article so I'm not reading much into that. And frankly it doesn't matter - he looked more gutted than anyone when we drew with Dagenham on Tuesday.

We've almost sold our allocation (100 left yesterday apparently) so should be a decent U's following. I'm not going as I'm off to Birmingham v Norwich, I just couldn't get motivated for this away trip.

I imagine there'll be a couple of changes again as Money balances the fatigue of the squad.

I think we'll lose but it's not a major issue if we do.

 

[Habbinalan]

I think this will be our 10th meeting in just over 2 years. Meet up and beers with friendly rivals before and after has become a pleasurable ritual over the years, even though one of them can always find more doom to add to the doom and gloom of a Hatter's existence than I thought possible.

This has become the fixture we (including the manager) want to win and the players know it. So even though "everything will be against us http://www.http://www.onefootballforum.co.uk/images/smilies/whistle.gif ," both teams will be up for it and a battle is likely.

Despite our rejuvenated defence and the rock that is McNulty, I see 2- 2 and a full house (we had around 100 tickets left last night but a number in the Man U queue had that as their next priority). I think we've filled 4 coaches as everyone seems scared of parking in Luton.

Another enjoyable weekend in good company awaits.

 

[Arbury]

I shall be going and as always I'm looking forward to it, expecting another tough game but I think this maybe one battle to many lately with some players looking a little jaded on Tuesday, think the players will enjoy it though and I'm hoping dickie will have another tactical master class.

KTF

 

[Arbury]

The thread is a bit quiet although it's what I expect when we play Luton, there always quiet, not to worry kenny, the amber army is heading you're way on Saturday so you'll know what proper fans sound like.

 

[huddsmoose]

The players looked knackered against Daggers on Tuesday. I'm sure Dickie will get them fired up again but we might well run out of steam second half. I'm not too hopeful of a positive result.

It'll be interesting to see the team we put out - especially if/how long Elliot and Donaldson get on the pitch. Just three days between two massive games; do we sack off the Luton game to have a real go at Man U or go all out on Saturday as we expect to get beaten anyway at Old Trafford? Seems a big ask to perform at 100% in both matches.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

I just hope to god that we get some bloody players back and get a bit of imagination going forward. Getting very fed up with the turgid performances of late.

We've struggled with injuries so you can sort of excuse the pretty awful play we have put on offer recently and its a credit we are still up there but with players coming back I want some more invention than Wilkinson cross field hoofs.

It will be an odd goal as with all of our games but I just want to see a spark up front!!!!

 

[Kenneth E End]

Richard Money making a few harmless comments in the press I see: "we owe Luton a defeat".

I didn't realise it until I read it elsewhere - a Luton striker hasn't scored for TWELVE games (a defeat of Tranmere). That is a ridiculous stat and its testament that we're still in our competitive position.

This game is now a sell out for home supporters and with only 100 tickets left for Cambridge supporters, we're set for our 5th 10,000+ home attendance in the last 12 months.

 

[Judge Dredd]

with only 100 tickets left for Cambridge supporters, .

Final figure was 930, off-sale now.

Somewhat understandable with the outlay for the cup game on Tuesday, but even so that's a slightly disappointing effort not to sell out. Wonder if we'll shift the dividers over and give the extra 100 seats to the Luton fans locked out of the stadium.

 

[Tom_CUFC]

Terrible effort from us, but I'll be there, love Luton away, proper game.

Snap your hand off for a point and no injuries right now.

 

[Laker]

I don't know if it's terrible although it is a shame not to sell out. Going to both cup games has rather rinsed people of money and pay day was only yesterday for a lot of people, January is a bit of a bitch for cash flow. Add to the fact we've played Luton so many times over recent years, it's not the most appealing fixture. But yeah, disappointing not to sell out.

I'd take a draw today, remaining unbeaten through January would be a great effort.

 

[huddsmoose]

I was just about to write the same - I was initially surprised that we didn't sell out but when you set it against the back drop of circa £75 for Man U tickets, plus travel costs, just after Christmas, maybe I shouldn't be surprised that people sacrificed a trip to KR that most will have done several times recently.

Still, I'm disappointed not to be going today, our matches against Luton have always been really close and hard fought with a decent atmosphere.

 

[Kenneth E End]

On the Man Utd tickets - how many are you looking at selling for that one? It was a tough sell at lower prices for us and AFC Wimbledon up at Eastlands in 2011. Will you sell your allocation? Considering January is peak selling month for holidays, I wouldn't use the "post Christmas" excuse as one - not that its that important.

Had a dusting of snow overnight - around 1cm, which is quickly melting. The club have asked for volunteers to clear snow off the covers, but I can't see there being any problems. The town is on a hill however, so any precipitation falling could be sleet/snow rather than rain.

 

[Arbury]

Not sure how many tickets we've sold for the Man U game but I can't help thinking it's a poor show not to sell 1030 for is what a 50 minute journey?

As for the game, as always I'm thinking the worst and hoping for the best, I think we'll lose but I'm genuinely looking forward to it, not sure on the line up but think we'll miss Hughes battling qualities today and his height, think Simpson may come in the midfield.


KTF

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Think the Man Utd game is a pretty poor excuse to not sell out really, considering you sold out the home game, and could have done many times over apparently, you think a 1000 of those could afford to make the arduous trek to Luton! Games like that should be driving interest in going to watch, not diminishing it.

As for just after Christmas, it's February tomorrow!

 

[Kenneth E End]

Today is the 12th time Luton have met Cambridge in 2.5 years. Crazy.

What's even crazier is that Money thinks Cambridge were the better team last season - how many points ahead? 20?

 

[Kenneth E End]

This could be our team today; toss up between Lawless, Howells and Whalley to play the 2 wide positions:

Subs: Justham, Lacey, Ruddock, Guttridge, Cullen, Miller, Walker

 

[Laker]

Today is the 12th time Luton have met Cambridge in 2.5 years. Crazy.

What's even crazier is that Money thinks Cambridge were the better team last season - how many points ahead? 20?

Yes he said we were the better team in our games against Luton last season and this which is correct. I'll give you the cup game this season at a push.

 

[Vanni]

Unfortunately couldn't make it today, or is that fortunately? Anyway, sounded like an extremely poor 1st half from us with Luton taking all the chances that came their way. A much improved 2nd half, but I would worry a little if I were a Hatter. It's never a good sign when a very good side with a 3 goal cushion lets their opponents back in the game.

As for ourselves, this was always coming after the Man ure draw, so I'm not too disappointed. I would have been though, if we didn't make a fight out of it in the 2nd half.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Money must have given them a rocket at half time as Cambridhe played really well 2nd half, combine that with us doing our usual sit back and defend it was always going to be tough. Not reading to much into that as we have done that all season and this is the first I can remember it's caused us an issue.

First half we were really good, and I'm probably one of his biggest critics but give him his due Howells had his full back on toast time and again.

 

[Kenneth E End]

First half excellent, second half atrocious and it feels like we ended up on the losing side. Cambridge's gameplan was to be physical, as always and try to muscle the ball into the net. Although we allowed them to play far more than they should've done. We had a total collapse in the second half. All over the place - complacency?

What have you done to Cameron McGeehan - he looked like a walking red card today. Flying into tackles; seemed like he either had something to prove or someone had upset him. Doyle and McNulty tried to do a job on him, trying to wind him up - seemed to work. Sign o immaturity, but he's without doubt going to be a top player going forward. Could've easily been red carded in the second half for flying into Nathan Doyle and Scott Griffiths, but neither were given fouls! (Actually the later, the whistle had already gone fortunately for him).

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

I think the 2nd half was probably a mixture of a few things, losing Wilkinson can't have helped for a start. Then you have our love of sitting back deep when we are in the lead and Cambridge actually turning up and playing some decent stuff for a time. Up until the first goal I was still very confident we would see it out, after that things got a bit frayed.

As for McGeehan, he was very petulant, and should have been booked. Dont recall him being like that before but maybe I was just blind to it as he was one of our players. Don't neccesarily think its a bad thing for him to add a bit of aggression to his game you sort of need it when coming up against people like Doyle, McNulty and Smith.

 

[Laker]

Meh, we lost. Sounds like we were awful first half and decent second. No complaints if that's the case.

Don't know what McGeehan which has offended you all but he hasn't been "dirty" in any other games for us so either you're being previous or it was a one off.

Roll on Tuesday....

 

[djs]

Doyle spent a LOT of time and effort trying to wind McGeehan up. Mostly he didn't react but sometimes he did and could easily have been punished a couple of times. Mind you, I'm surprised that Doyle didn't get his yellow a lot earlier.
Overall though I was impressed with McGeehan - he's going to develop into a damn good player in time.

 

[Kenneth E End]

Don't know what McGeehan which has offended you all but he hasn't been "dirty" in any other games for us so either you're being previous or it was a one off.

We know he's not that sort of player. I didn't know what the hell he was thinking most of the game.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Wasn't 'offended' by McGeehan?

Odd thing to say, thought he was your man of the match and looks a better player than I remembered him.

 

[Laker]

Wasn't 'offended' by McGeehan?

Odd thing to say, thought he was your man of the match and looks a better player than I remembered him.

Read back you spoon, there'd been negative posts about him, sounds like he "offended" some.....

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Read back you spoon, there'd been negative posts about him, sounds like he "offended" some.....

I suggest you read back actually you dining utensil, "offended you all" is what you said. Only been 2 comments about McGeehan in the game when you said that, implying you were referring to both those comments

Merely pointing out I wasn't unhappy with McGeehan and you had misconstrued one of the 2 comments you were referring.

As an aside from this misunderstanding, what are your thoughts on Tom Elliot? I know a Cambridge fan and he doesn't rate him at all but I have always thought he has caused us big problems and thought he was good again today.

 

[Kenneth E End]

Read back you spoon, there'd been negative posts about him, sounds like he "offended" some.....

He didn't offend anyone at all? I don't know what the hell you're going on about.
He played very well, but it was tinged with immaturity; on another day he could've walked.

 

[Judge Dredd]

He played well in the second half, anonymous in the first. Two naughty tackles, one in each half, that if he had caught the challengee would have been potential reds. I still love him though, and he clearly still loves us judging by how much time he spent applauding our fans at the end.

Cambridge were shit first half (that free kick...). We were shit (but not quite as shit) second half. Wilkinson is 500x the defender that Franks is, at least.