The Eric Morcambe Trophy (Luton v Morcambe)

[Maple Hatter]

Not many Morcambe fans on here but enough fellow Hatters to discuss the game. Need to get back to winning ways today after a below par performance at Chesterfield. Not saying that its an easy game but if you want to pick a fixture to get the confidence back then Morcambe at home would be it.
Danny Hylton coming back into the team should have the desired impact. We looked off the pace and lacked a leader up front last week. Otherwise I can't see many changes although it will be interesting to see if Stacey comes back into the team and whether Famewo will be given another chance. Unfortunate for Famewo that the team had an off day which clearly affected his performance. We certainly need to get some of that team spirit back on the playing field.
Have predicted a comfortable win which we should achieve. Don't know much about Morcambe other than they gave us a tough game in the first fixture. Playing at KR is a different prospect for them and no doubt they will look to frustrate us and not let us play our natural game. The early goal is the key here. We know what we can do to team when the confidence is there.

 

[Laker]

You need another E, pal.

 

[Kenneth E End]

Trevor Kettle.

 

[Maple Hatter]

You need another E, pal.

oops! What do you expect I'm born and educated in Luton. Apologies to Eric!

 

[shoddycollins]

Usually it's Morecombe people write.... Morcambe is a new one, why do people have such a blind spot over the name of that town?

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Just got a nasty feeling we are going to go on a bit of dodgy run. Injury and suspension beginning to creep in and following today we have a sneaky tough run of fixtures coming up.

Important to win here to get us ready for that but just got a feeling we are about to go on a bit of a form dip.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Looks like we are playing Olly Lee as a defensive midfielder today. Good to see we’ve learned from last season then....

 

[Kenneth E End]

A snowy Kenilworth Road today it seems. Could be a slight leveler.

All this talk about Kevin Ellison - he's on the bench.

 

[oakroader]

When you’re team is top of the table it seems trite to criticise....but.....
Let’s see if jones is capable of getting us through this lull in our push for promotion...
Jury still out in my mind....
Testing times me thinks...

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Not a very good game this, felt very flat, even more so with Hylton going down, his hamstring clearly gone. Bad news for us no matter what the result is today, we have other strikers obviously but he is such a talisman.

Other than that we have had most of the play but struggled a little to break them down and create something clear cut.

 

[BelizeHatter]

Bang average. MorEcambe can consider themselves unlucky not to win let alone not get a point. Balance all wrong in personnel I'm guessing but its hard to see on TV not getting the whole picture - but Berry ineffective and Shinnie dreadful. Lightweight and no product. Could be due to a lacking from the defensive mid role in Lee which we all saw is not a great spot for him last year. Look susceptible despite good showing from the defense no protection and neither fullbacks got forward all game. A little powder puff up top without Hylton until Cornick came on. Not good but we're clear still.

 

[Vanni]

I do have a bit of sympathy with Morecambe. They're going to get a battering next Saturday.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Not great but got it done in the end just. Morecambe the better side that 2nd half, lacked the quality to do much with that though. Got ourselves out of jail with a decent set piece from Lee and a good header from Mullins.

Agree with Belize, the balance isn’t right at the moment be good to get Sheehan back next week as that will at least get the midfield back to how it was. Hylton is going to be a massive miss.

 

[Judge Dredd]

Thought Shinnie was man of the match by a distance so gave to disagree with that part of BH's assessment!

Very laboured performance though no doubt about it. Something about Collins and Lee doesn't seem to click as a partnership, maybe because both seem to like dropping deep rather than running in behind (not that there was much space to run in to today). We looked much better with Cornick on and the 4-3-3 but he has been much more effective as a sub than a starter this season so tough call whether to go with that from the beginning next week. Hope Hylton is fit for Wycombe.

 

[BelizeHatter]

I lost count of how many times Shinnie got eased off the ball rather than picking a pass. Very lightweight and didnt track back as much as usual. Several times just stood there after losing it and his normal quick pass and move into space was missing for me too - prob cos he couldnt pick a pass. Now maybe thats due to a lack of movement in front of him and no support/options from behind him from the centre mid but we werent good in midfield or up top today. This via TV though so maybe not fair as the real thing is such a wider more expansive experience, so more than prepared to admit I could be off with a narrow TV view.

 

[Maple Hatter]

I agree with Belize, Shinnie didn't have one of his best days. Lost most of the 50/50 challenges, was easily shrugged off the ball and guilty of trying to get past one too many men. Did hit the odd good pass but by his hight standards not one of his best. Didn't think Potts had a good game either again compared to the form his has showed most of the season. Thought Mor(e)cambe had a good game plan today by hassling us at every opportunity, forcing errors and cutting off the supply to our front men. The second half they grew in confidence and could have scored but fortunatley Stech was in fine form. The goal came at the right time and after that grew in confidence, especially with the introduction of Cornick. Not a great fan of Rea in the central defensive role and definately don't like seeing Olly Lee so far back in defence. He has a creative side to his game which he couldn't show today. On a positive note we showed we can also grind out a 1-0 win and at the end of the day its the 3 points that count. All teams have a bad period and it seems that just at the minute we are struggling to find our form. The win is a confidence builder and next week we have a very winnable away game at Grimsby providing we play with the right team spirit and positive tactics.

 

[Kenneth E End]

That was a real battle today and a real gutsy victory from our point of view. I think Morecambe could be feeling a bit miffed that they've not come away with at least a point. Our goal was certainly against the run of play. A team with a bit more quality could've given us a bit of a pasting today.

Looks like we're going to lose Danny Hylton for a while now. Do we go out and replace him with a decent loanee or plough on without? Its been apparent in the last couple of weeks how much of a big player he is. Both attacking and defensively.

 

[Bosox]

Winning ugly 1-0 is the stuff of champions right? Just as well because that was fucking ugly as they come.

 

[Judge Dredd]

Looks like we're going to lose Danny Hylton for a while now. Do we go out and replace him with a decent loanee or plough on without? Its been apparent in the last couple of weeks how much of a big player he is. Both attacking and defensively.

I think you have to back Collins and Lee in his absence as it is only likely to be a couple of weeks max bar any setbacks.

If we used Collins properly (i.e. have him in the box, never going wider than the width of the goalposts) rather than forcing him to play as a link-up player running channels then he will score plenty of goals. Maybe if we are after that Yeovil fella we could play a 4-3-3 more tailored to Collins with Cornick and him either side looking to get balls in to the box. Don't think him and E.Lee work as a pair in the diamond at all unfortunately.

 

[Judge Dredd]

Doesn't look too good for Pelly's future at the club, couldn't get a game today even when it meant playing Olly Lee in a position he's provenly bad at and bringing in a player who is out of contract in the summer and surely unlikely to be offered a new one. Think his days really are numbered now.

 

[Kenneth E End]

I think you have to back Collins and Lee in his absence as it is only likely to be a couple of weeks max bar any setbacks.

If we used Collins properly (i.e. have him in the box, never going wider than the width of the goalposts) rather than forcing him to play as a link-up player running channels then he will score plenty of goals. Maybe if we are after that Yeovil fella we could play a 4-3-3 more tailored to Collins with Cornick and him either side looking to get balls in to the box. Don't think him and E.Lee work as a pair in the diamond at all unfortunately.

I'd agree with you, but after the window shuts in 11 days time, we have no recourse in terms of getting some additional resources. I'd like us to get one more body up there, even on loan for the rest of the term.

 

[Hatter86]

Thoroughly dreadful game of football, someone burgled a win. Shinnie has a mixed game. Looked the most likely to make something happen however was far to lightweight and was eased off the ball by one of Morecambes many bouncer far too often.

Good to see Stech back in form. Made two vital saves.

Thought Stacey gave us an out, will be in the minority here but I think I prefer him to Justin at this level.

Harry Cornick was brilliant when he came on, the boy is getting better and better. It’s going to be hard to justify him not starting going forward.

Unconvincing but got the job down. Sheehan back for the next game, still may need a centre half if Cuthbert is a way off. Would splash the cash on a defense minded central midfield too. Anyone got Woodyards number?

Up the fucking Hats.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Shinnie had a very up and down game, looked bright and lively early in the game but as Morecambe got more physical with him he suddenly started getting eased off the ball far to easily, which is a common problem for him.

Have to agree with Hatter86, Stacey is the better right back at this point and should start. Id perhaps go further and say that if someone is genuinely bidding 1 million quid for JJ then take it, he is going to waste a lot of some key development time behind Stacey at this point, so take the money i say and let him crack on with his career. As long as we have a decent sell on then i think thats best for everyone.

Pelly is a total goner if we are prepared to put Olly Lee in as DM over him, no point him being here at this point if that is the case.

Id like to see us bring in another decent defensive mid as well, give us some more flexibility in there i think.

 

[Hatter86]

A minor gripe from yesterday. Despite the way we have been playing and the glut of goals we have had, its ridiculous how quickly some people forget when things aren't going right. This is mainly me just venting on the bell end that stands two rows behind me but within 40 minutes he had piped up 'Make a fucking changes Jones!', 'There are no leaders our there' and my personally favourite 'Stop passing it about and get it up there!'.

 

[BelizeHatter]

James is one of ours. Be so sad to see him move on but it makes sense, esp if he starts to show discontent. Potts won't give him a look in on the other side either and he's too good for backup long term. Stacey has shown he's the better player or suited to the system right now. My player of the season - apart from Hylton