Peterborough United v Luton Town 18/8

[Kenneth E End]

Will this relentless start ever end? Another really tough game - again, one that I'd be happy to take a point from. If that were the case, that would be 2 draws and 2 defeats in the opening 4 games, which would look like a very ordinary start... but having to play Portsmouth, Sunderland, West Brom and Peterborough in the first 3 weeks!

Luton made a number of changes on Tuesday night at West Brom - far less than their opponents and acquitted themselves well against promotion candidates. That said I don't think anyone really outside of the XI from last weekend are really banging the door down in the reserves.

Jake Jervis has now not scored since December - 16 games ago for him when he was at Plymouth. There were indications in his interview on Thursday that Jonesy's patience is wearing a bit thin, just like the supporters. Money well spent...

Peterborough have a quality squad, like they always do. A possibility that want-away midfielder Marcus Maddison could come back into the side today. Their team hasn't shown much indication so far of not jelling; they've had a positive start. Steve Evans will certainly get his team up and himself for this game, played in front of potentially 2,300+ away supporters.

For Luton, I'd remain with the diamond which Jonesy always does, but we need a plan B. I'd go with this side:

GK Marek Stech
RB Jack Stacey
LB Dan Potts
CB Matty Pearson
CB Alan Sheehan
DM Glen Rea
CM Jorge Grant
CM Pelly Ruddock
AM Elliot Lee
CF Danny Hylton
CF James Collins

Subs:
James Shea, Jack Stacey, Sonny Bradley, Andrew Shinnie, Alan McCormack, Luke Gambin, Jake Jervis

Rea replacing McCormack - for me Alan was at fault for the goal last weekend, drifting out of position allowing their player to make the assist.
Think Sonny Bradley is unfortunate to miss out, especially as we're yet to keep a clean sheet yet.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Think we will get beat today to be honest. They have a quality squad and tactically astute manager who I think will get the better of Jones rather dogmatic use of the diamond. Definitely take a point with a run of games against decent sides, but less well fancied than 3 we have played so far, to come.

As I said on the other thread, anyone else a little concerned about Hylton? Seemed to have another “niggle” type injury on Tuesday, doubt he would have played anyway but still the fact remains. Seems to be picking up little injuries a lot of late and he hasn’t really been right since he picked up his hamstring injury in February time.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Think we will get beat today to be honest. They have a quality squad and tactically astute manager who I think will get the better of Jones rather dogmatic use of the diamond. Definitely take a point with a run of games against decent sides, but less well fancied than 3 we have played so far, to come.

As I said on the other thread, anyone else a little concerned about Hylton? Seemed to have another “niggle” type injury on Tuesday, doubt he would have played anyway but still the fact remains. Seems to be picking up little injuries a lot of late and he hasn’t really been right since he picked up his hamstring injury in February time.

Not dogmatic use of the diamond then as we look to have gone 3 at the back! Very interesting indeed.

Personally would have had Grant over Lee in that shape but interesting to see how it plays out.

 

[BelizeHatter]

Carved open twice on the break. Every mistake gets punished so far in L1. Again have most if the ball so far but done little with it.

 

[BelizeHatter]

Ditto for three. Ruthless

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Absolutely awful from us. Not sure how you can be so open with so many defensive players on the field. We don’t even look like creating a chance for one of our forwards and haven’t in the last 2 games to be quite honest. Absolutely dreadful.

 

[Vanni]

Oh come on Hatters ffs. I thought you lot weren't going to roll over for the pish.

Fcuking pish, 3 out of 3 now and top of the table

 

[PoshinPretoria]

Blimey a Cambridge fan, how nice... forgotten all about those three. Bless their little hearts.

 

[Super_horns]

Time to give Bradley a go?

Big signing to an extent and maybe he will improve things ?

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Better 2nd half (not hard!) but the game was won by then so means nothing really.

The 352 didn’t work and the team looked totally bereft of any pace, in particularly defensively. Peterborough where just able to counter on us at will really.

Some bullet points thoughts from me. Don’t think Lee is the right player for the 10 position, holds onto the ball far, far too long and wastes decent runs by Hylton and Collins as a result. We have been moving the ball from side to side rather than with any penetration or purpose as a result of him playing there. Don’t get the hype with Pearson, looks a fish out of water with the ball at his feet, which is key to the way we play, and put us under so much pressure by giving the ball away. Failing to get a player to play McCormacks role is still a mistake IMO. Pelly played quite well again I thought so one positive there perhaps.

Peterborough didn’t even need to get out of 1st gear in the first half we were that all over the place.

Got to get a decent result on Tuesday otherwise all momentum from last season will be totally lost.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Time to give Bradley a go?

Big signing to an extent and maybe he will improve things ?

He was playing today!

 

[BelizeHatter]

Pearson was poor today. Not sure if it was just a bad game or he didn't take to the change in system. Hasn't looked great on the ball at all but today was woeful. Plenty if teams play two right footed centre halves so why not us try two lefties?

Def not creating enough and maybe TFCH is right about Lee. Maybe we just need to adjust to a clear upgrade in quality of opposition. We knew it was a tough start and we've got less than we hoped but sadly the performances have steadily declined too

 

[Super_horns]

He was playing today!

Ah sorry .

Didn't realise you went 3-5-2 - sometimes a sudden change in formations needs work on.

Even more so against a top scoring side like POSH.

 

[ThisTinpotLeague]

Is it possible that Luton, like all their fans, spent the entire pre season sitting around and talking about how great they were?

 

[Kenneth E End]

Ah sorry .

Didn't realise you went 3-5-2 - sometimes a sudden change in formations needs work on.

Even more so against a top scoring side like POSH.

Especially as it wasn't used AT ALL during pre season!

 

[Liam_SWFC]

It's been a tough start to the season for Luton, Portsmouth, Sunderland and Peterborough are all sides you'd expect to be top 6 come May. Luton will be fine, solid mid table finish.

 

[PoshinPretoria]

It's been a tough start to the season for Luton, Portsmouth, Sunderland and Peterborough are all sides you'd expect to be top 6 come May. Luton will be fine, solid mid table finish.

I agree too many decent Div 1 players not too.

 

[PoshinPretoria]

Better 2nd half (not hard!) but the game was won by then so means nothing really.

The 352 didn’t work and the team looked totally bereft of any pace, in particularly defensively. Peterborough where just able to counter on us at will really.

Some bullet points thoughts from me. Don’t think Lee is the right player for the 10 position, holds onto the ball far, far too long and wastes decent runs by Hylton and Collins as a result. We have been moving the ball from side to side rather than with any penetration or purpose as a result of him playing there. Don’t get the hype with Pearson, looks a fish out of water with the ball at his feet, which is key to the way we play, and put us under so much pressure by giving the ball away. Failing to get a player to play McCormacks role is still a mistake IMO. Pelly played quite well again I thought so one positive there perhaps.

Peterborough didn’t even need to get out of 1st gear in the first half we were that all over the place.

Got to get a decent result on Tuesday otherwise all momentum from last season will be totally lost.

Luton boss went 3/5/2 today to try and counter the Posh width...Evans just played it narrower after about 5 minutes screaming at Dembele to "run at the middle". Basically the only difference between the sides today was the tactics, Posh's pace and we got the rub of the green with a couple of decisions (quite how the ref and lino overturned the Luton penalty is beyond even the most biased Posh fan!)

2nd half Posh played 10 yards deeper as they did in the other two wins. Evans is a good manager and whilst it may not be pretty and some fans would like to see Posh go for 6-7 goals, he will rarely draw/lose from a winning position like many of our more inexperienced Managers since Ferguson have in trying to do so.

Luton will be fine though...too many good players. Perhaps lacking a bit up top, but in midfield they were more than a match for a physical Posh team and that is a top half position in this league.

 

[Pompeyblue]

I'm sick of Luton and how massive they think they are. What difference does it make if you had 2k fans or 1 you still got thrashed and thats what I like to see.

 

[Super_horns]

Luton boss went 3/5/2 today to try and counter the Posh width...Evans just played it narrower after about 5 minutes screaming at Dembele to "run at the middle". Basically the only difference between the sides today was the tactics, Posh's pace and we got the rub of the green with a couple of decisions (quite how the ref and lino overturned the Luton penalty is beyond even the most biased Posh fan!)be .

Well your manager didn't think it was a foul but maybe that is no surprise!

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Luton boss went 3/5/2 today to try and counter the Posh width...Evans just played it narrower after about 5 minutes screaming at Dembele to "run at the middle". Basically the only difference between the sides today was the tactics, Posh's pace and we got the rub of the green with a couple of decisions (quite how the ref and lino overturned the Luton penalty is beyond even the most biased Posh fan!)

2nd half Posh played 10 yards deeper as they did in the other two wins. Evans is a good manager and whilst it may not be pretty and some fans would like to see Posh go for 6-7 goals, he will rarely draw/lose from a winning position like many of our more inexperienced Managers since Ferguson have in trying to do so.

Luton will be fine though...too many good players. Perhaps lacking a bit up top, but in midfield they were more than a match for a physical Posh team and that is a top half position in this league.

Evans is an excellent manager for this level no doubt about it, Jones tactically out thought himself today in anticipation of Evans knowing how to stop our usual way of playing and it blew up in is face.

Toward the end of the 1st half we had our "kick it head it" centre half playing right back and our right back playing midfield, whilst also having had to swap our defensive midfield player who was totally lost. Then had another reshuffle at half time. Shows what a tactical job Evans did Jones in the first half really, we were so ragged by the end of it and had fallen to pieces.

 

[BelizeHatter]

I'm sick of Luton and how massive they think they are. What difference does it make if you had 2k fans or 1 you still got thrashed and thats what I like to see.

Huh? Where'd that come from. I'm thinking even Kenny our most optimistic controversial and out there fan, has been pretty humble. The rest have said we're pretty average at best. We're reasonably well supported for this level. Get the fuck over yourself and enjoy you're bigger, better and a couple of years ahead on the evolutionary scale.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Huh? Where'd that come from. I'm thinking even Kenny our most optimistic controversial and out there fan, has been pretty humble. The rest have said we're pretty average at best. We're reasonably well supported for this level. Get the fuck over yourself and enjoy you're bigger, better and a couple of years ahead on the evolutionary scale.

There’s a couple of the very few posters on here who seem to have some sort of complex about us despite us pretty much all saying we are aiming at mid table. They seem to be fighting some weird straw man they have made for themselves in their heads.

Can’t say I have any particularly strong feelings about any club or it’s fans at this level so i find it quite complimentary the strong feeling we seem to stir amongst a select few. Makes a quiet section of the forum a little bit more interesting at least too!

 

[Pompeyblue]

There you go again

 

[Son of Cod]

Colin Murray known lower league expert declared Siriki Dembele as one of four Posh players good enough for the Championship on Quest last night. Looks like he has started well this season, but would love to know exactly what he is basing that opinion on as it sure as hell isn't about 90% of his professional career so far.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Colin Murray known lower league expert declared Siriki Dembele as one of four Posh players good enough for the Championship on Quest last night. Looks like he has started well this season, but would love to know exactly what he is basing that opinion on as it sure as hell isn't about 90% of his professional career so far.

He was very impressive yesterday I thought, we did give him the freedom of the field in the main but he did exploit it well and could pick a decent pass to go with it. It was shite defending from us for his goal but was also great athleticism from him to keep control and finished well too.

Perhaps working with a manager like Evans might focus his mind and improve him as a player.

 

[PaulHaddock]

I’m more interested to see what happens in a couple of months. He started great for us too but once teams figured him out, they doubled up on him and made him near ineffectual. Better players around him will probably help.

 

[Son of Cod]

He was very impressive yesterday I thought, we did give him the freedom of the field in the main but he did exploit it well and could pick a decent pass to go with it. It was shite defending from us for his goal but was also great athleticism from him to keep control and finished well too.

Perhaps working with a manager like Evans might focus his mind and improve him as a player.

Yeah there is definitely a great player in there and I do think it's a mentality/attitude thing, so perhaps you are right and that being at Posh will be good for him. To say he is ready for the Championship is ridiculous though and highlights the lack of research that Colin Murray and/or his team do.

 

[Maple Hatter]

Very surprised when I saw that line up. We hadn't played badly in the two opening games and coped quite well defensively. I thought the main focus would have been in the attack where we haven't been converting chances.
The capitulation in the first hafl reminded me of a few games we played last season Port Vale and Chesterfield away for example where we also looked unrecognisable and were out thought tactically. Hoping we don't see a repeat and that NJ doesn't spring any other tactical surprises that backfire.
Agree with others about Lee. He looks uncomfortable in the midfield role and it looks to me a case of NJ being desperate to play him.
Far too early to predict how our season will pan out. These have been three difficult games against sides tipped to be involved in the promotion race. Two decent performances and one naive. We learn and move on.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Jones normally has a couple of games a season where he just does something weird tactically that blows up in his face. Port Vale last season I recall and the season before i seem to think it was Crawley away or something like that. Let’s hope this was one of those.

Really need a good result against Southend though.