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Luton Town home match day thread

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Jerseybean

Jerseybean

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Tuesday at 1945 it’s Ashton Gate under the lights for the visit of Luton Town. They have drawn two and lost one so far and have scored just once.

https://www.bcfc.co.uk/news/match-preview-luton-town-h/

Our starting line-up will be interesting, guessing no Williams and Atkinson and Massengo are both doubts.

It will be fascinating to see how Nathan Jones approaches the game, whilst he may be hoping to make a few changes, he indicated in an interview after the Preston defeat, that a number of first-teamers have picked up knocks. Potential starting line up shown below.

The ref is Leigh Doughty. Over the last 12 months he has refereed 34 games, comprising 25 Championship games, 5 League Two games, 3 League One games and 1 EFL Cup game. In addition he has been the Fourth Official 39 times. During this period he has issued 125 yellow cards at a rate of 3.68 per game and 4 red cards at a rate of 0.12 per game.

The Hatters were perhaps the surprise Championship team last season finishing sixth on 75 points and making the playoffs before losing out in the semi final to Huddersfield 2-1 on aggregate. As this article explains their success last season was after years of struggles: https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11717/12585687/luton-town-championship-play-off-contenders-rise-from-non-league-exile-to-verge-of-premier-league

In fact they were only promoted back to the EFL in 2014 after a five-year exile in non-league football!

Of course we signed KN from them back in May on a free. Losing him to a club who finished 11 places and 20 points behind them in the Championship and who they’ve lost to only once in the last 13 meetings dating back 20 years caused a bit of a stir among their fan base!

He certainly holds Luton and their manager in high regard ‘Luton were unbelievable for my career, the manager was absolutely brilliant, he was amazing - I can’t thank that club enough. Honestly, I will always love everyone at that club. Nathan Jones is an incredible manager, he’s going to manage at the highest level - I have absolutely no doubt about that; how hard he works, how much he goes into detail, the coaching staff he has - Chris Cohen is an exceptional young coach, Mick Harford, I can’t speak highly enough about.’

They signed Luke Freeman on a free from Sheffield United in July, he recently made headlines off the pitch: https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/luke-ayling-leeds-united-pride-27715913

Their other incomings so far:

Alfie Doughty - Stoke City, undisclosed

Matt Macey - Hibernian, undisclosed

Carlton Morris - Barnsley, undisclosed

Cauley Woodrow - Barnsley, undisclosed

Louie Watson - Derby County, compensation

Ethan Horvath - Nottingham Forest, loan

Tobias Braney - Bowers and Pitsea, free

Daniel Idiakhoa - Newport Pagnell Town, free

Jayden Luker - Lambeth Tigers, free

After their recent Carabao Cup defeat against League Two Newport County Nathan Jones said: ‘You've seen one of the worst performances ever at this football club.’

A brief history

In January 1885 Luton Wanderers changed their name to "Luton Town" at a secret meeting of their committee.  Although a “Town” club was needed, the secret manner in which it was achieved was frowned upon.  John Charles Lomax and George Deacon arranged a public meeting at the Town Hall for the 11th April 1885 to form a “Town” Club by democratic means.  This was opposed by the instigators of the secret January meeting who said there was already a “Town” club and there could not be two.  The tense meeting at the Town Hall, attended by most local football lovers, heard from many speakers.  The overwhelming majority voted down the secretly formed club and for the creation of the Luton Town we know today.  

Early games consisted of friendlies, but a strong committee pushed behind the scenes and took the foresighted decision to pay three players in 1890, the first club in the south to do so.

Founder member of the Southern League in 1894 the Town finished runners-up to Millwall in each of the first two seasons but the ambitious club wanted more and made a bid for election to the Football League.  Their initial proposition failed and a season had to be spent in the United League before they were accepted into Football League Division Two in 1897.

Unfortunately after three years of increasing struggle, in a predominantly northern based league, the club took the brave decision to rejoin a, now much stronger, Southern League which eventually formed a new Division Three of the Football League in 1920. 

By the mid-1930’s, such was the growth in population in Luton and surrounding area, that the Board of the club felt that they could afford to push the boat out and spend some money on the side, safe in the knowledge that spectator support would be forthcoming.

With this decision taken, great changes were made within the club and players that would normally have been outside their reach were taken on and, as predicted, the crowds increased rapidly.  Promotion to Division Two was narrowly missed in 1936 but the team made no mistake the following season when they won the Division Three championship on the back of a superb home record and the 55 goals of Joe Payne.

Further promotion in 1955, buoyed by the goals of record goalscorer Gordon Turner and the versatile talents of Bob Morton, saw the Hatters in the top flight for five seasons which included a trip to Wembley in the 1959 F A Cup final.  Sadly, this prefaced a slump which saw the team drop to Division Four by 1965 but they then bounced back to enjoy ten years at the top after winning the championship of the old Division Two in style in 1982, aided by players such as Ricky Hill, Brian Stein and Mal Donaghy under the managership of David Pleat.

April 24th 1988 will forever go down as a red letter day for all Luton supporters as the Town won the first major trophy in their long history with Brian Stein sweeping home a last minute winner as mighty Arsenal were beaten 3-2 in the Littlewoods Cup final. 

An artificial surface laid at Kenilworth Road in 1985 was ripped up six years later just as the club was about to be relegated from Division One and the riches of the Premier League, which the Hatters were founder members of but unable to compete in, commenced.

Since that time the club has enjoyed F.A.Cup semi-finals and promotion to the Championship but on the other side of the coin a draconian points deduction saw the club cruelly relegated from the Football League in 2009 and despite valiant attempts to return it proved more difficult to regain past glories than originally anticipated.  In 2014, however, after five years away, the team won promotion back to the Football League in glorious fashion.

Since returning to the Football League the Hatters have made strong attempts to achieve further promotions which finally led to a highly successful 2017/18 campaign when the team finished runners-up to Accrington.  This was followed by a scintillating 2018/19 season when the championship of League One was achieved and with it Championship football for the first time since 2007.

As mentioned in 2021–2022, they finished 6th in the Championship and earned a spot in the play-offs but were beaten in the semi-final by Huddersfield Town.

The club's nickname, "the Hatters", reflects Luton's historical connection with the hat making trade, which has been prominent there since the 17th century. The nickname was originally a variant on the now rarely seen straw-plaiters.

On 28 May 2020, Nathan Jones was reappointed as Luton Town manager, almost 18 months after originally leaving the club to manage Stoke. He replaced the outgoing Graeme Jones, who left by mutual consent the month before. In his first press conference, Jones spoke of his "regret" and "remorse" over the way he initially left the club and that he understood the mixed fan reaction to his exit and return, with hopes that he could earn fans' trust back. Jones went on to successfully guide Luton to Championship safety on the final day of the season with a 19th place finish, despite the club lying in 23rd when Jones re-joined. In the following season, Jones achieved a 12th place finish after scoring 62 points – Luton's highest points total in the second tier since the 1981–82 season.

In January 2022, Jones signed a new contract with Luton until 2027. Results continued to improve under Jones, with him leading the club to finish 6th and qualify for the playoffs at the end of the season. Though the club ultimately lost 2–1 on aggregate to Huddersfield Town in the semi-final, Jones was widely praised for his management and was named the 2021–22 EFL Championship Manager of the Season at the league's annual awards ceremony.

Jones is a devout Christian who credits his faith with getting him through bad times. He has several religious tattoos on his body including praying hands and the crucifixion on his left biceps and forearm, Jesus Christ on his right biceps, and Michaelangelo's 'The Creation of Adam' across his back.

"It keeps you grounded. There's a lot of temptations, a lot of pitfalls nowadays, especially for a sportsman – and I think through God's guidance I've been able to steer clear of them. Through the hard times I've always had the stability of the Lord in my life and my family background has kept me on the straight and narrow." Nathan Jones does not hide his faith and is very open to mentioning it during press conferences, occasionally appending 'god willing' to his hope that his tactics work.

Jones is bilingual, able to speak both English and Spanish.

Over the years we have been evenly matched, we have lost 23, won 22 and drawn on 18 occasions. Last season we drew at home and lost away:

 

 

 

 

 

5208C74B-FEE9-4822-ADED-1F32FC1C60BE.webp

B6A8F8BE-BFF0-4249-9C2E-E49A47673C59.jpeg

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Davefevs

Davefevs

Posted
Posted

Nathan Jones playing 5122 Holden-ball, according to the above graphic…although Wyscout showing as a more conventional 3412.

image.thumb.png.97c42666f780938bdfd80c8cb3cba58c.png
 

They will play high tempo….fast and direct.

image.thumb.png.29761b01b29a30b998a84d0a4c740641.png

We are more slow and ponderous…at times. I think we have to play in behind their WBs, and for me we need pace up top tomorrow night.  We won’t get much change out of Bradley and Burke aerially.

Id like to see Pring and Wilson start…and if Massengo not over Tonsilitis (assuming Williams rested), I’d go Sykes and Weimann either side of King, with Conway partnering Wells up top.

Of course we’ve no idea whether Atkinson is fit, so assume Vyner / Klose / Naismith.

Im guessing no press conference today?  So, complete guesswork really!

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ExiledAjax

ExiledAjax

Posted
Posted (edited)
9 hours ago, P'head Red said:

Bugger. Forgot they signed Woodrow. He always loves to score against us!

Cauley Woodrow has played against us seven times (six League and one League Cup). He scored in two of those matches. That's a 28.6% hit rate.

Only one of those games was a win for Woodrow's team.

https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/cauley-woodrow/bilanzdetails/spieler/169801/gegner/698

Edited by ExiledAjax
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BigTone

BigTone

Posted
Posted
14 hours ago, Jerseybean said:

Tuesday at 1945 it’s Ashton Gate under the lights for the visit of Luton Town. They have drawn two and lost one so far and have scored just once.

https://www.bcfc.co.uk/news/match-preview-luton-town-h/

Our starting line-up will be interesting, guessing no Williams and Atkinson and Massengo are both doubts.

It will be fascinating to see how Nathan Jones approaches the game, whilst he may be hoping to make a few changes, he indicated in an interview after the Preston defeat, that a number of first-teamers have picked up knocks. Potential starting line up shown below.

The ref is Leigh Doughty. Over the last 12 months he has refereed 34 games, comprising 25 Championship games, 5 League Two games, 3 League One games and 1 EFL Cup game. In addition he has been the Fourth Official 39 times. During this period he has issued 125 yellow cards at a rate of 3.68 per game and 4 red cards at a rate of 0.12 per game.

The Hatters were perhaps the surprise Championship team last season finishing sixth on 75 points and making the playoffs before losing out in the semi final to Huddersfield 2-1 on aggregate. As this article explains their success last season was after years of struggles: https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11717/12585687/luton-town-championship-play-off-contenders-rise-from-non-league-exile-to-verge-of-premier-league

In fact they were only promoted back to the EFL in 2014 after a five-year exile in non-league football!

Of course we signed KN from them back in May on a free. Losing him to a club who finished 11 places and 20 points behind them in the Championship and who they’ve lost to only once in the last 13 meetings dating back 20 years caused a bit of a stir among their fan base!

He certainly holds Luton and their manager in high regard ‘Luton were unbelievable for my career, the manager was absolutely brilliant, he was amazing - I can’t thank that club enough. Honestly, I will always love everyone at that club. Nathan Jones is an incredible manager, he’s going to manage at the highest level - I have absolutely no doubt about that; how hard he works, how much he goes into detail, the coaching staff he has - Chris Cohen is an exceptional young coach, Mick Harford, I can’t speak highly enough about.’

They signed Luke Freeman on a free from Sheffield United in July, he recently made headlines off the pitch: https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/luke-ayling-leeds-united-pride-27715913

Their other incomings so far:

Alfie Doughty - Stoke City, undisclosed

Matt Macey - Hibernian, undisclosed

Carlton Morris - Barnsley, undisclosed

Cauley Woodrow - Barnsley, undisclosed

Louie Watson - Derby County, compensation

Ethan Horvath - Nottingham Forest, loan

Tobias Braney - Bowers and Pitsea, free

Daniel Idiakhoa - Newport Pagnell Town, free

Jayden Luker - Lambeth Tigers, free

After their recent Carabao Cup defeat against League Two Newport County Nathan Jones said: ‘You've seen one of the worst performances ever at this football club.’

A brief history

In January 1885 Luton Wanderers changed their name to "Luton Town" at a secret meeting of their committee.  Although a “Town” club was needed, the secret manner in which it was achieved was frowned upon.  John Charles Lomax and George Deacon arranged a public meeting at the Town Hall for the 11th April 1885 to form a “Town” Club by democratic means.  This was opposed by the instigators of the secret January meeting who said there was already a “Town” club and there could not be two.  The tense meeting at the Town Hall, attended by most local football lovers, heard from many speakers.  The overwhelming majority voted down the secretly formed club and for the creation of the Luton Town we know today.  

Early games consisted of friendlies, but a strong committee pushed behind the scenes and took the foresighted decision to pay three players in 1890, the first club in the south to do so.

Founder member of the Southern League in 1894 the Town finished runners-up to Millwall in each of the first two seasons but the ambitious club wanted more and made a bid for election to the Football League.  Their initial proposition failed and a season had to be spent in the United League before they were accepted into Football League Division Two in 1897.

Unfortunately after three years of increasing struggle, in a predominantly northern based league, the club took the brave decision to rejoin a, now much stronger, Southern League which eventually formed a new Division Three of the Football League in 1920. 

By the mid-1930’s, such was the growth in population in Luton and surrounding area, that the Board of the club felt that they could afford to push the boat out and spend some money on the side, safe in the knowledge that spectator support would be forthcoming.

With this decision taken, great changes were made within the club and players that would normally have been outside their reach were taken on and, as predicted, the crowds increased rapidly.  Promotion to Division Two was narrowly missed in 1936 but the team made no mistake the following season when they won the Division Three championship on the back of a superb home record and the 55 goals of Joe Payne.

Further promotion in 1955, buoyed by the goals of record goalscorer Gordon Turner and the versatile talents of Bob Morton, saw the Hatters in the top flight for five seasons which included a trip to Wembley in the 1959 F A Cup final.  Sadly, this prefaced a slump which saw the team drop to Division Four by 1965 but they then bounced back to enjoy ten years at the top after winning the championship of the old Division Two in style in 1982, aided by players such as Ricky Hill, Brian Stein and Mal Donaghy under the managership of David Pleat.

April 24th 1988 will forever go down as a red letter day for all Luton supporters as the Town won the first major trophy in their long history with Brian Stein sweeping home a last minute winner as mighty Arsenal were beaten 3-2 in the Littlewoods Cup final. 

An artificial surface laid at Kenilworth Road in 1985 was ripped up six years later just as the club was about to be relegated from Division One and the riches of the Premier League, which the Hatters were founder members of but unable to compete in, commenced.

Since that time the club has enjoyed F.A.Cup semi-finals and promotion to the Championship but on the other side of the coin a draconian points deduction saw the club cruelly relegated from the Football League in 2009 and despite valiant attempts to return it proved more difficult to regain past glories than originally anticipated.  In 2014, however, after five years away, the team won promotion back to the Football League in glorious fashion.

Since returning to the Football League the Hatters have made strong attempts to achieve further promotions which finally led to a highly successful 2017/18 campaign when the team finished runners-up to Accrington.  This was followed by a scintillating 2018/19 season when the championship of League One was achieved and with it Championship football for the first time since 2007.

As mentioned in 2021–2022, they finished 6th in the Championship and earned a spot in the play-offs but were beaten in the semi-final by Huddersfield Town.

The club's nickname, "the Hatters", reflects Luton's historical connection with the hat making trade, which has been prominent there since the 17th century. The nickname was originally a variant on the now rarely seen straw-plaiters.

On 28 May 2020, Nathan Jones was reappointed as Luton Town manager, almost 18 months after originally leaving the club to manage Stoke. He replaced the outgoing Graeme Jones, who left by mutual consent the month before. In his first press conference, Jones spoke of his "regret" and "remorse" over the way he initially left the club and that he understood the mixed fan reaction to his exit and return, with hopes that he could earn fans' trust back. Jones went on to successfully guide Luton to Championship safety on the final day of the season with a 19th place finish, despite the club lying in 23rd when Jones re-joined. In the following season, Jones achieved a 12th place finish after scoring 62 points – Luton's highest points total in the second tier since the 1981–82 season.

In January 2022, Jones signed a new contract with Luton until 2027. Results continued to improve under Jones, with him leading the club to finish 6th and qualify for the playoffs at the end of the season. Though the club ultimately lost 2–1 on aggregate to Huddersfield Town in the semi-final, Jones was widely praised for his management and was named the 2021–22 EFL Championship Manager of the Season at the league's annual awards ceremony.

Jones is a devout Christian who credits his faith with getting him through bad times. He has several religious tattoos on his body including praying hands and the crucifixion on his left biceps and forearm, Jesus Christ on his right biceps, and Michaelangelo's 'The Creation of Adam' across his back.

"It keeps you grounded. There's a lot of temptations, a lot of pitfalls nowadays, especially for a sportsman – and I think through God's guidance I've been able to steer clear of them. Through the hard times I've always had the stability of the Lord in my life and my family background has kept me on the straight and narrow." Nathan Jones does not hide his faith and is very open to mentioning it during press conferences, occasionally appending 'god willing' to his hope that his tactics work.

Jones is bilingual, able to speak both English and Spanish.

Over the years we have been evenly matched, we have lost 23, won 22 and drawn on 18 occasions. Last season we drew at home and lost away:

 

 

 

 

 

5208C74B-FEE9-4822-ADED-1F32FC1C60BE.webp

B6A8F8BE-BFF0-4249-9C2E-E49A47673C59.jpeg

Condensed Version

Luton Town:

God is on their side and Jesus Christ might get a run out at some point.

COYR

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DaveF

DaveF

Posted
Posted
8 minutes ago, Tafkarmlf said:

I can't watch or follow tonight, sadly as will be at a house warming. 

It's intriguing match, one we need to win, as pressure is already there. 

I'm suspecting a draw, let's go erm 2-2, which solves nowt but will at least be entertaining. 

I'd love a 3-0 win, however that's just a want. 

If we were to lose, suspect the knives would be well and truly out. 

Other hopes, Conway to score and our midfield finally clicking, Scott Massengo busy bees worked well last season, maybe time to unleash it if Massengo over Tonsellitis. 

COYR. 

 

Make sure you don't follow it on here as it'll likely be extremely depressing!

I wouldn't mind King and Massengo behind Scott with Weimann and Conway up top, but likely Martin to start in place or Conway?

Add 'busy bees' to the annoying things people say on OTIB thread ?

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mozo

mozo

Posted
Posted
15 hours ago, Offside said:

For a game so early in the season there feels like a lot of pressure on this one after our bad start. The sooner we get that first win the better, but we often struggle against Luton. 

Yeah I think we all expected at least 4 or 5 points from our first 4 fixtures. So a win today could make it feel like we're back on track, particularly being unbeaten in 3 in all comps.

Should be a tough game, but when Weimann inevitably scores we need to hold onto that lead but not by dropping into defensive mode.

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