Luton v Stevenage (just a local game)

[oakroader]

Choo choo....

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Games been played at a frenetic pace, but Stevenage are defensively awful. Their keeper also looks injured to me, either that or he simply doesn’t know how to dive, just seems to fall over in stages!

They’ve looked ok going forward though so not surprised they have got one back. Important to close it out and slow the pace of the game down in the second half.

 

[oakroader]

Collins needs to do more to justify his place....
gone distinctly cold since the beginning few games of the season ......
getting on the scoresheet today should help.....there's gonna be enough chances based on the first half display

 

[SkyBluesRose]

What is it with Luton and scoring a shit tonne of goals? First 8-2 vs Yeovil and now 7-1 vs Stevenage

 

[Judge Dredd]

Stevenage architects of their own downfall first half, second half is as good a performance as you will see in this league. Absolutely relentless, pushing for goals at 6-1 in injury time, love it.

The switch from the diamond to 4-3-3 has made an unbelievable difference to the whole team, primarily in freeing up Hylton and Berry who should be our key players. Berry today justified every penny of his price tag. Perfect hat trick topped off with a worldie, but also ran the show in terms of possession, unlucky not to get an assist or two with deliveries into the box. Class.

Proper statement to the rest of the league that. How will we follow it up on Tuesday is the next question... would be very Luton to go and get hammered.

 

[Judge Dredd]

What is it with Luton and scoring a shit tonne of goals? First 8-2 vs Yeovil and now 7-1 vs Stevenage

We are ideally suited to picking teams off in open games. Sometimes struggle to break down a parked bus but when teams play high lines or try and come at us we are lethal. Stevenage conceded early today so played far more openly than they historically have down here.

 

[BelizeHatter]

Top performance. James Justin out of position hardly played all season just wow. Everyone looked good again including the subs. Pelly too Oaky - only slight criticism he does dwell on the ball a little too much in the defensive midfield position. Cuthbert imperious. Really looking forward to Tuesdays test

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Taken the piss out of Stevenage in that second half really, superb performance. Some of the football second half was incredible. The early goals made Stevenage play so open and that isn’t going to end well with our front 3 and Berry. Berry was just superb, class performance with the goals but also ran the midfield.

Stevenage I think essentially gave up after the penalty. The last 2 goals certainly just felt like we were passing it around a load of statues as well worked as they were.

 

[Vanni]

Berry, what a player eh? Oh crap I forgot he's not with us anymore

Seriously though, good luck to him I say. he always gave his all for us. I readily accept that players move all the time and it doesn't really matter to me if they go to a supposed 'rival' club or not. I also don't care who they played for before, hence why I was always daydreaming about 4/5 years ago that we would somehow manage to get Mark Tyler in. I never really cared that he was a former pish player.

Then again, I do accept that some rivalries are so bitter that it's almost a given they won't sell players to each other. But I'm talking about the likes of Celtic and Rangers, and Man U and Liverpool, and not Chp/L1/L2 footy 4th div footy.

Anyways, well done Luton. Choo choo!

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

What is it with Luton and scoring a shit tonne of goals? First 8-2 vs Yeovil and now 7-1 vs Stevenage

I think on both occasions the naivety of the opposition managers have come into play massively, both tried to play high and try to play us at our own game essentially. I noticed in the week that Sarll was saying it should be a good open game with both sides looking to play, which I raised an eyebrow at because thats not how teams should be looking to play us this year IMO. Teams that sit in and look to retain their shape are the ones that are going to trouble us.

Dont want to go too OTT and be seen as "billy big bollocks" or whatever but it really is stupid to think you are going to come to Kenilworth Road and beat us in an open, passing game, we have invested heavily to put together a side to play that sort of game.

 

[Kenneth E End]

Anyone for 7Up?

 

[oakroader]

Snow White???

 

[Kenneth E End]

So how do I pick the bones out of that one... what a scintillating performance in every area of the pitch. A better performance than the one against Yeovil in my opinion.

Stevenage just couldn't live with Luton, although they let in some bloody soft goals. If Westley was their manager, they wouldn't have gone in.

Fraser Franks and Luke Wilkinson were abysmal today in the centre of defence. They were all over the show; Hylton, Collins and Cornick ate them for breakfast. To be fair, Stevenage tried to pass it around a little bit, apart from the aforementioned defenders who were hoofing everything that came their way.

Luke Berry being about half a foot smaller than Wilko had the freedom of the six yard box to slot in his first, and a header. Danny Hylton then cut in from the right hand side of the penalty area to somehow put it past the keeper's near post. A counter attack and great play by Hylton and Olly Lee setup Berry for his third, left footed. But Luton had so many chances it could've conceivably been 5 again in that half. Slight disappointment that the defence went to sleep towards the end of the first half, but when you're cruising its easy to do so.

Second half Wilkinson barges Collins off the ball in the area; pretty soft penalty for me, but it would be a foul anywhere else on the pitch - Hylton slots away. Berry then scores the goal of the match to complete a perfect hattrick from 20 yards out.

The game then went a bit quiet for a period, before James Justin, in his first start playing out of position slots in from the left to make it six. Then relentlessly, almost like they were looking for a last minute equaliser, Luton break again - Elliot Lee hits the post and falls for Gambin to make it seven.

Has Matt Godden managed to find a way out of Scott Cuthbert's pocket too?

Unbelievable. Those are this season's champions folks.

 

[Hatter86]

We’ve certainly had worse days...

 

[Judge Dredd]

Best thing about Berry's goal which you don't see on the Sky Sports clip is that it all came from him blocking a shot on the edge of his own box, breaking forward, laying off to Collins then sprinting the length of the pitch to get in position to bend it in the corner. Proper box-to-box midfield goal and performance today. Probably won't score as many overall but he's a far more complete midfield player than McGeehan IMHO (although to be fair the latter is a few years younger).

 

[Kenneth E End]

Luton have won every league match at home this season when they've had 11 men on the pitch for the duration.

Not a bad turnaround from the last couple of years.

 

[Maple Hatter]

I'm not convinced that we won by so many because Stevenage played so poorly. Today, espcecially second half, no team in this division would have lived with us. Some of the football we played was top class and belongs in a higher league. We seemed to score at will and could have got double figures. That said we aren't going to play like that all season but just now and again we'll turn in a performance like that, as we did againt Yeovil. Today we were outstanding in all areas of the field. Cuthbert was a rock, Justin grew into the game and will cause a headache for NJ. Berry was on fire and Ollie Lee complimented him well. Hylton was also his usual self. So many positives today. Tuesday will be a different type of game but Exeter will be wary about our attacking force. Last word on the crowd. Really got behind the lads today. The place rocked just like we know it can.

 

[codaplenty]

Well Oakroader I always thought you were a nice guy but picking on little old Stevenage and scoring SEVEN goals against them is just plain cruelty, never mind the RSPCA it should be the RSPCS and am sure you can work that out. Nice one son, Highbury draws ever closer eh !!

Snow White???

 

[Urban]

Great result for you today, the highlights looked impressive.

Hylton in them just encapsulated why he's a dick though. He scores the pen and runs straight over to the opposition fans? Why? Such a pointless thing to do. Just go and celebrate with your mates.

 

[oakroader]

Well Oakroader I always thought you were a nice guy but picking on little old Stevenage and scoring SEVEN goals against them is just plain cruelty, never mind the RSPCA it should be the RSPCS and am sure you can work that out. Nice one son, Highbury draws ever closer eh !!

Thank you my good old friend...
we’re scoring more times than a cheap hooker on Hollywood Boulevard......top scorers across all the leagues I reckon..
keep the champagne on ice till we meet again .....I will pay!!!

 

[Hatter86]

Great result for you today, the highlights looked impressive.

Hylton in them just encapsulated why he's a dick though. He scores the pen and runs straight over to the opposition fans? Why? Such a pointless thing to do. Just go and celebrate with your mates.

Just a quick one on this, the footage doesn’t show it but he ran over to the executive box in the corner which he always tends to do when he scores at the Oak Road End. Can only assume he has friends and/or family there. True he probably doesn’t need to take a detour via the Stevenage fans but he’s a dick. Luckily he’s our dick and we bloody love it.

We are ideally suited to picking teams off in open games. Sometimes struggle to break down a parked bus but when teams play high lines or try and come at us we are lethal. Stevenage conceded early today so played far more openly than they historically have down here.

I agree with this. Both Yeovil and Stevenage were far to open and got taken apart. Stevenage should have accepted the loss, tightened up and limit the damage. They continued to press and when we bought on reinforcements they took more damage. By this point it looked like they genuinely couldn’t be bothered any more. This was epitomised by the kick off after the 7th where it went back to Luke Wilkinson on the centre circle who for no reason hoofed it the length of the field for a goal kick. Weird. Stevenage were poor. Played decent football at times and to be fair they should have done better with some headed chances, but their midfield was non exsistent and their defense was woeful. Shudder to think we once had 75% of it defending Mark Tyler. Jonathan Smith went some way to proving NJ was right to let him go over the summer.

We were really fantastic. Was a bit worried to see Mullins in given he had such little game time and he did take a while to settle in but he was strong in the end. Justin at left back was the right call. Dan Potts has done nothing wrong but Justin had to play and Jack Stacey, who you could argue has been our best signing, is undropable right now.

Saw what Luke Berry is all about today. Has had a difficult start after being slowly eased in then picking up the 3 game ban, but he was imperious today. Great energy and a really classy operator. Lee and Rea both did great in the midfield.

Cornick ran them ragged and chased everything. Honestly the boy does not stop. If he bulks up and develops his end product he will be really special. Hylton was Hylton, you know what you are getting. James Collins looked thoroughly pissed off that he didn’t score. Hit the post, had one cleared off the line and won a penalty that Hylton scored. On another day he could have been fighting Berry for the matchball. All the subs did their bit. Pelly was strong in the middle, Gambin grabbed his goal and Elliot Lee was a box of tricks. Set up James Justin with a great ball and hit the post before Gambin put away the rebound.

All in all a great day. October is going to be a tough month with us taking on most of the top 7. Already beat Stanley and Stevenage, tough one against Exeter next. Can’t wait. Final note on Stevenage. 8 miles away as they couldn’t sell their allocation. You can get a local bus for God sake. Pathetic.

Now, I’m off to watch Danny Hylton bait Stevenage fans on Twitter, if there are any...

 

[Maple Hatter]

I think Collins was a bit peed off at the team getting seven goals and he isn't on the score sheet. Nothing wrong with that I guess. I agree about Justin. He oozes class and he will only get better, but he has to play. Stevenage average about 2k at home so that was a quarter of their home support. But you could argue that they see the game against us as more of a derby (rather than just a local game as we do) and they were only 3 points behind us so this was a key game for them too. In that case I was expecting a few more. There are other clubs in the lower leagues with a similar home attendance that would have taken far more away for a local game.
I'm looking forward to Tuesday. Exeter will give us a good test. Shame that the away support is restricted to 350 all sold out earlier in the week.

 

[Judge Dredd]

Just a quick one on this, the footage doesn’t show it but he ran over to the executive box in the corner which he always tends to do when he scores at the Oak Road End. Can only assume he has friends and/or family there.

Pull the other one... he goes to the box purely so he doesn't get booked for his winding up the away fans. 100% he is winding them up every single time, he just loves it, can't help himself.

And I for one fecking love him for it, what a guy

6 goals in 4 or 5 games for him now I believe? A few pens in there but his overall play is right back to where it was at his peak last season, and when he is on it he's the best overall striker in the league. Long may it continue! Not a single league booking yet either which is surely a miracle.

 

[Hatter86]

Pull the other one... he goes to the box purely so he doesn't get booked for his winding up the away fans. 100% he is winding them up every single time, he just loves it, can't help himself.

And I for one fecking love him for it, what a guy

6 goals in 4 or 5 games for him now I believe? A few pens in there but his overall play is right back to where it was at his peak last season, and when he is on it he's the best overall striker in the league. Long may it continue! Not a single league booking yet either which is surely a miracle.

Yeeaa I know, just trying to justify his shithousery. To be fair I conceded he was a dick. My favourite thing he’s done this season was against (I think) Colchester where he took a drink from the opposition keepers water bottle and tipped the rest away. Today he tried to get Jonathan Smith to go on a lap of honour with the Luton players. Not convinced he had Smiths best interests at heart.

Gutted I can’t make the Exeter game now. I realise schedulers couldn’t have known we’d both be up at the top, but putting on a Tuesday night is ridiculous. That said it’s probably a shorter journey on a Tuesday for us than it is for a lot of the other sides.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Yeeaa I know, just trying to justify his shithousery. To be fair I conceded he was a dick. My favourite thing he’s done this season was against (I think) Colchester where he took a drink from the opposition keepers water bottle and tipped the rest away. Today he tried to get Jonathan Smith to go on a lap of honour with the Luton players. Not convinced he had Smiths best interests at heart.

Gutted I can’t make the Exeter game now. I realise schedulers couldn’t have known we’d both be up at the top, but putting on a Tuesday night is ridiculous. That said it’s probably a shorter journey on a Tuesday for us than it is for a lot of the other sides.

The water bottle thing is one of his regular tricks, saw him do it at Lincoln this season and a handful of other times last season. Particularly annoyed the Barnet keeper last year with it!

 

[Judge Dredd]

Gutted I can’t make the Exeter game now. I realise schedulers couldn’t have known we’d both be up at the top, but putting on a Tuesday night is ridiculous. That said it’s probably a shorter journey on a Tuesday for us than it is for a lot of the other sides.

With the reduced allocation it's probably for the best, would have been a mad scramble for tickets if it was next Saturday!

 

[Judge Dredd]

My favourite thing he’s done this season was against (I think) Colchester where he took a drink from the opposition keepers water bottle and tipped the rest away.

The water bottle thing is one of his regular tricks, saw him do it at Lincoln this season and a handful of other times last season. Particularly annoyed the Barnet keeper last year with it!

Never noticed that, that's quality he's such a pure unrepentant dick, love it.

 

[oakroader]

I hate to say it but there’s gonna be some prick out there,who wants to make a name for himself,waiting to take hylton out....
I’m glad that our attacking options are such that goals are coming from more than one player......
just in case.....

 

[Urban]

I hate to say it but there’s gonna be some prick out there,who wants to make a name for himself,waiting to take hylton out....
I’m glad that our attacking options are such that goals are coming from more than one player......
just in case.....

I think it's far more likely to be a player more than anything else. He'll get completely swept through at some point this season. And I wouldn't condone it but I also wouldn't care too much. There's no need for him to be an arsehole. But if you don't support a team that plays against him you'll never truly get it.

 

[Laker]

Waiting for a keeper to piss in their water bottle and leave it for Hylton.....