Luton v Notts - batelino de campiones

[LongEatonPie]

Starting this now because this will be the greatest football match on the planet, probably. Well after the FA Cup.

 

[BelizeHatter]

Really looking forward to this too albeit a couple of weeks away and we've got two games before it happens. A little exaggeration above but it is a big game and should have a big crowd and atmosphere to match.

 

[jacobncfc]

Bonus really for us, my eyes are firmly on the gap to fourth. Would be delighted to get out of Luton keeping it the same, however that happens.

Suspect we'll go to spoil, frustrate and hit on the counter. If we can avoid going behind early then it could be an interesting one.

 

[AFaceInTheCrowd]

Viewing this game as a complete free hit as 3rd place are 4 points behind so a defeat wouldn't be the end of the world to anyone bar the social media bed wetters. Think Luton will edge it at home their record is impressive and they have dished out some spankings. I would take a point if it was offered all day long but this game won't decide either sides promotion it's the bread and butter games like today which determine you gaining enough points over a season. Would hope we will sell out the 1000 allocation as there is no good excuse not to.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Big game, already looking forward to it even if it feels like ages away! Will be a very interesting battle, from what I saw of Notts County they look like the sort of side who give us problems, organised and experienced defensivley, direct in attack. You would hope at home we would be better equipped to deal with such a threat and look to get on and dominate the ball as we like, but i think they have the set up to cause us problems. I am however beginning to trust Jones as tactician, where I have been previously quite sceptical on that front, so will be a real test of that.

Cuthbert I think will be a big miss for this game in particular, think this would have been more or less the perfect game for him, whilst Mullins does provide a little bit of that its clearly not the same level. Will be a big test of the Mullins/Sheehan partnership i think. At the moment id back us to get 3 points simply because I think we have the players in attack to cause real problems and confidence must be very high right now, but you never know, get shocked by Gateshead and then it all looks a bit different.

 

[jacobncfc]

Can certainly see Ameobi and (hopefully) Stead causing big problems for Sheehan in the air, it's just whether we see enough of the all to get crosses in and get Grant involved.

 

[oakroader]

If jones is any sort of tactical genius he will realise the possible jeopardy in not deciding to prioritise the league and play a second string against Gateshead....
We must not risk derailing this train ride to league one....
Choo choo

 

[Maple Hatter]

Far too early in the season of course to be calling this a championship decider but a win for either team would be a good psychological boost. The Kenny will be packed and the volume will be turned up so it should be a special occasion. I'm sure we've learnt from the Swindon and Coventry games in how not to play this one. Even if Notts County adopt a counter attacking game I'm hoping we'll be prepared. The team is full of confidence which we know is everything in this game. The advantage with having a big squad with quality back up in every position is that we can now reshuffle the pack. Fully expect us to make changes for Gateshead. The checkatrade will be a full second XI giving our players a decent break before the County game. Bring it on!

 

[Kenneth E End]

We’ve hit 34 goals in 10 home games this season which is bloody incredible. Even more so if you take out the two blips v Cov and Swindon.

 

[jacobncfc]

We’ve hit 34 goals in 10 home games this season which is bloody incredible. Even more so if you take out the two blips v Cov and Swindon.

Lost two though ain't ya. Got to go back to 2016 since we did that.

 

[denzel ecfc]

Early days, don't get ahead of yourselves

 

[Kenneth E End]

Lost two though ain't ya. Got to go back to 2016 since we did that.

At the end of the day, we’ve identical records this season. Statistics from previous seasons are pretty worthless.

We’ve only lost 1 away from home, but we’re far more comfortable at home. I’d say 1 v 2 defeats is semantics.

 

[jacobncfc]

Zero defeats to two if you will, mate, please.

 

[The_Viking_Magpie]

Just happy to be involved in top of the table clashes such as this, especially in early December!

 

[Kenneth E End]

Zero defeats to two if you will, mate, please.

Who cares?

 

[The_Viking_Magpie]

Who cares?

Statisticians and seekers of the truth.

 

[Youpies]

We will aim to frustrate against Luton. I think the players will fancy their chances but will be structured and play to the game plan.

Looking forward to this. Short trip for me and should be a good game. I don't think we will win. But we don't play many top of the table clashes

 

[Pie and chips]

It will be nice to see the two styles of play on show in this game luton's fast and neat passing game with the shoot from anywhere policy and Notts slow and methodical play if Luton score first then I don' think we are quite good euff to turn that around but you never know we are a far better second half team than first and it be very interesting if we are the top two come May as it's the reverse game at the fortress lane.

 

[oakroader]

shhhh!!...you didn't hear this from me.....lob in a few high balls....we're shit at defending them....
by the way...our goalie is fantastic...our attacking options are awesome.....should be a cracker....

 

[Vanni]

This thread should come with a 'slippery floor' warning.

 

[william death]

Can turn attention back to this now... As I see it, anything we can get against a side that has scored 7+ three times at home before December will be a bonus, and I still expect Luton to finish the season as champions, but we'll be at pretty much full-strength on Saturday, and if we can get the first goal through a punt into the box and Shola header or something, we might have a chance. Just can't see us keeping Luton out though. Anyway, should be a decent game, and whatever happens we'll still be top 2 with two home games to come.

 

[TommoCUFC]

3-0 Luton they’re a level above anyone else in this league

 

[oakroader]

from the midfield through to attack we are formidable
but from the midfield back to the defense regarding errors and crosses ...we are so unpredictable this season
could be next season we see our best and settled back four...
our goalkeeper has been our Achilles heel...until now....brilliant on his day
can't see the train derailing on saturday...will be a close one mind you...
choo choo.....all aboard.........

 

[Vanni]

Did anybody else raise an eyebrow when reading this - http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/42211677

If Notts are paying as much as 40k per month in win bonuses, then how much more are their players on? I'm not saying what Hardy should or shouldn't do with his money, but it sure seems like a lot for a 4th div side. Then there's also the question of possible financial consequences should Notts fail to go up this year.

 

[LongEatonPie]

Did anybody else raise an eyebrow when reading this - http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/42211677

If Notts are paying as much as 40k per month in win bonuses, then how much more are their players on? I'm not saying what Hardy should or shouldn't do with his money, but it sure seems like a lot for a 4th div side. Then there's also the question of possible financial consequences should Notts fail to go up this year.

Going up this year wasn’t actually the aim it was to be flirting with the play offs so we are well above expectation. The win/goal bonus is a bit of a smoke screen, we are doing better than the chairman thought in other words.

It’s going to be interesting in January as Hardy has said he will give Nolan what he needs to sustain us in the top 7. Which is if Ameobi and Stead get injured we will fall off the pace.
I wonder if FGR wouldn’t mind us stealing their striker muuuhahaha.

 

[Vanni]

Who knows if FGR will be able to keep hold of Doidge in January. There's bound to be loads of interested parties, and some clubs are known to offer silly money so it's interesting to see what Vince decides to do.

 

[Optipez]

I'm expecting a defeat, but we rarely don't score so it may be that Luton have to score two to beat us.
I think we have the fourth tightest defence behind Luton, Coventry and Lincoln, the latter two who have sacrificed goals for clean sheets.
Luton are the class act of the division so far, and we have rode our luck at times....but, we are gritty and I wouldn't be shocked at gaining a point of even a win.
Conceding early would be my biggest concern as we don't tend to fare well when chasing the game.

 

[jacobncfc]

Did anybody else raise an eyebrow when reading this - http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/42211677

If Notts are paying as much as 40k per month in win bonuses, then how much more are their players on? I'm not saying what Hardy should or shouldn't do with his money, but it sure seems like a lot for a 4th div side. Then there's also the question of possible financial consequences should Notts fail to go up this year.

Probably not that much - all the noises from Notts were that we’d be be happy with a season of consolidation with maybe a play- off push, so presumably we’re hitting things that they never thought would be. That’s if it’s actually true..

 

[william death]

Any Luton team news?

 

[Hatter86]

Any Luton team news?

Despite us playing in the silly cup tonight there was no press conference yesterday as far as I’m aware.

We have been without Alan McCormack, Scott Cuthbert and James Collins for an extended period and Harry Cornick missed out at the weekend. Cornick had a stomach bug and will be back. McCormack hasnt played for about 6 or 7 weeks however has been back in full training for two weeks. Likelihood is he will get some minutes tonight and see how he is for Saturday. Cuthbert we were initially told was out until January however its since been confirmed injury isn’t as bad as first feared however I’d be surprised to see him. Collins was out for 3 weeks which should see him returning at some point this week so will probably be on the bench.

Will probably play and unchanged team from the the weekend just gone with the possible exception of Cornick in for Shinnie if NJ wants to play 4-3-3 instead of the diamond. Something like this

Stech
Potts
Sheehan
Mullins
Stacey
Rea
O. Lee
Berry
Shinnie/Cornick
Hylton
E. Lee

Subs- Shea, Justin, McCormack, Mpanzu, Gambin, Shinnie/Cornick, Collins.

If McCormack and Collins aren’t available it will see Famewo and either Jordan Cook or Lawson D’ath come onto the bench.