Luton Away next

Norman_Conquest said:
Totally agree on that front but I also don’t think the game at their place so late in the season helped
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Were we to reach the play-off final, and if Luton were our opponent, there would be 33 days between the two matches.

I don't think it matters much, beyond crippling injuries.

Just like against Norwich.
 
I'm not sure the game is that relevant in terms of what might happen in the playoffs. Assuming (and hoping!) that we can get the injured players right for the playoffs the team we play against Luton might be quite different to what it will look like should we meet them again in the playoffs.
 
Corcaigh_the_Cat said:
Whitehead at right back, Bamford injured and still picked?

Our previous game against them, in which they outplayed us, had little to do with it.

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I loved that game. We got battered 2nd half yet didn't let them have a shot on target all game. The tension was incredible.

This season's challenge has felt different. Not as nervy. I think because we've always been an outside bet after the start. I will be gutted now if we miss out though.
 
Sheriff_John_Bunnell_ret said:
I loved that game. We got battered 2nd half yet didn't let them have a shot on target all game. The tension was incredible.

This season's challenge has felt different. Not as nervy. I think because we've always been an outside bet after the start. I will be gutted now if we miss out though.
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I think it's felt different this season because of how a play, attractive with tons of goals.

Karanka's side was very much geared towards keeping goals out, Carricks on scoring.

If we scored first under Karanka we'd win and vice versa.
 
Said it on another thrrad. Id play distinctly averrage in this game. A bore draw would do me. Dont give them any motivation in the playoffs to revenge a thrashing. Leicester job on juninho springs to mind.
 
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UTB70 said:
Said it on another thrrad. Id play distinctly avetse in this game. A bore draw would do me. Dont give them any motivation in the playoffs to revenge a thrashing. Leicester job onnjuninho springs to mind.
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That's not Carrick's mindset at all, not going to happen (at least not intentionally).
 
Play to win every game for me, get sharpness in the legs. Go lay down that marker that If we meet you at Wembley this is what you'll get on neutral territory to.

It's one thing getting your insight on Chuba l. It's another thing stopping him. You then have to stop Archer, Ramsey, Mcgree, Forss, Jones and even Crooks. More than one string on this bow. Seems like destiny Chuba smacking home the winner on the hallowed turf
 
Nakamba is getting rave reviews there. He is kind of a Kante if you bought him off Wish. great tackler and DM but his passing isnt the best. You press him hard enough and he will give it up and allow you to break quickly
 
Have to say I am more relaxed about this game now knowing we have three attempts to get a win to secure 4th place - and even then we may have enough depending on other results.
 
Play the youth Team. No need to risk any injuries, at worst we will finish fourth. Even if we don’t pick up any injuries what’s the point in showing our hand a few weeks from a potential play off final.

Complete none event, sorry sky
 
I'd rest a few at Luton. Momentum is important though. We still want to win. Akpom I would definitely rest. People say the game is such nowadays that they will have scouts at every match. That maybe so, but having scouts watching akpom and actually being able to play against him surely must be two different things.
 
Corcaigh_the_Cat said:
Whitehead at right back, Bamford injured and still picked?

Our previous game against them, in which they outplayed us, had little to do with it.

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If I remember that Norwich game rightly we came out of the traps fast and should have been out of sight in the first 20 minutes. Norwich kicked lumps out of Bamford and he limped about the pitch up until 5 minutes before time. Bamford carried that injury into the play off final and Kalas not being available was a big blow that Norwich exploited.

The discussion here is whether Luton could do something similar and if it would be wise to rest key players or players carrying a knock. I'm usually all for playing the strongest team but it is easy to see why you would rest players.

P.S. I had a look at the live texts from your link and we had seven corners and three attempts on goal in the first 20 mins. In the 24th minute Bamford was down with a lengthy injury and the game changed after that.
 
Hammies_Tash said:
I've see Luton live 7 or 8 times this season, to give credit to Edwards he's really changed the way they play, alot more possesion based, but kept the resilience & team ethic which was their big strength they had under Jones. However it would be a travesty if they finish above Boro, they're not a patch on us, struggle to score goals and play a lot of backwards & sideways 'nothing' possession. They're a bit like us under Karanka, but without the attacking flair. I'd be more than comfortable getting them in the play off's at any stage, we would play them off the park
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Saw the game v Millwall and thought both were average
 
This match absolutely has relevance to any play off game. Anyone that says otherwise doesn’t know what they’re talking about. It gives the managers a first hand look at how the teams match up against each other. It gives the players a feel for how to play their opposite number.

For me, we’re holding the cards at the minute. Teams need to stop us as I believe we’re 2nd only to Burnley in this league. As I said I’d take out our key players and go for the win. Carrick can still send out the right message by going at them and continuing to play front foot football.

But why give them a chance to have a look at us and garner an idea of how to stop us in a dress rehearsal when we’re in the privileged position of not needing to win? Carrick has the perfect opportunity to put out an under strength team given the amount of knocks and niggles we’ve picked up recently. A defeat with an under strength side won’t knock our confidence especially when we’ve got two warm up games left to play.
 
Luton are a physical team and like to put a foot in. We need to avoid injuries. We also need a strong ref to ref the game in a fair manner. Several of our latest refs have been hopeless.
 
I think we will struggle against Luton, or Millwall for that matter.

Teams like that will just go long to beat our press, initiated by our front 4 plus 1 midfielder.
It then becomes a straight fight between our defenders and their forwards.
A fight I'd struggle to back us to win, meaning we are relying on our front players to out score other teams and get us out of trouble. When we have came up against organised, solid teams, this hasn't happened.
 
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