Luton Fans Report - V Good

Clueless, hopeless, shapeless. And that's just me. Fortunately Worthington declared on two for our Anglia TV brother in arms, as they strolled to a easy victory. They do have some very decent players, but the ease in which they won was cringe worthy. Norwich did the minimum won the game without breaking sweat, Ashton's strength, Huckerby's pace was far too much for our defence. Etuhu, a man mountain with his sidekick Safri, with plenty of neat early passing were too sharp from our Bermuda Triangle midfield. Maybe I am being over critical for what are a honest, if limited bunch of players who have done brillantly over the past 18 months and with a quick move up the leagues, you are always going to get days where they aren't good enough.
So, much for the international break helping buy us time. We need reinforcements NOW please, not next week, next month, or in January. Now. Newell appears to have fiddled whilst Rome is burning. The team are short in confidence, the pattern of play has gone as has the fast tempo of play which was so successful. Even a no-mark like me can see this. Not sure if Newell has incredible loyalty or is very stubborn, but we are crying out for help at the moment.

Three away games, no goals, hardly a shot in anger ( bar for the first half at Sheffield), it's just as well we had the cracking start to the season. At the moment without the introduction of a couple of loans and with a difficult looking fixtures before Christmas, it could get worse before it gets better.

Shall we start the positives? Ok, well that's them out of the way. We were doomed before the start with Michael's team selection. Not sure why he opted to keep Perrett in the building after his display against Burnley. Not saying Barnett would have done a whole lot against a player of Ashton's quality, but at least he has pace and potential. Where as dear old Russell is on a terminal decline. I know I am if I have to keep watching him flounder.

Very odd, to play both Robinson and Nicholls from the start, they both looked nowhere near fit. Not a fan of Holmes, but he hasn't done much wrong recently, turning in some creditable performances. Against Etuhu and Safri in Norwich's engine room, their lack of match fitness was cruelly exposed.

The icing of this particularly unpalatable cake was the sending of Perrett, two bookings worthy of yellow cards, hacking down Henderson on the touchline, he got there as quick as he could( half an hour late ) and a studs up challange catching Thorne on the chest. Nicholls then off after the game, appearing to give a Nescafe handshake in the direction of Etuhu, whom he had a ding dong battle with over the course of the game.

Etuhu came over clapped the Luton fans in a mocking style ( silly little man). Then Nicholls, the only Luton player to come over to clap, only to be meet by the intellects hurling abuse at him. Luton fans why so intelligent and loyal? Nicholls has been immense this season. Yes, he was poor today, but he was 40% fit at most and up against a competitive decent player in Etuhu. Once Etuhu had milked the applause of the Norwich crowd. Nicholls gave him the gesture and was dismissed by the tunnel. It was childish/futile/pathetic way to get sent off. Very undignified.He should know better, the game's lost, walk away, forget about it. Straight red card, missing three games. That's handy. The only good thing is maybe it will give him a chance to gain fitness.

To be polite today, we had at least two empty shirts in Foley and Brkovic, they were terrible. Foley OK, up against Huckerby's pace but never got near him to challange. Brkovic thinks he is Maradona, but at the moment playing Madonna would be a better option. Dean Morgan hit the side netting from a corner and that's about it ( the ultimate definition of an optimist - someone who stands up in excitement when Morgan takes a corner). The midfield were playing so deep we almost played an 8-0-2 formation. Poor Feeney, worked hard ploughing a lonely furrow. Howard was well marked by, at times both Doherty and Davenport. Those two who Luton rolled past a month ago, made for a stress free afternoon for Green.

Although Heikkinen fed Morgan to shoot at Green. We were behind quicker than you can say " Tony Thorpe's mother comes from Lahore". Huckerby in acres of space, to feed the ball via Ashton into Hughes, who took aim and fired past Beresford from the edge of the box. Marlon, motionless like a rabbit caught in headlights as the shot which was near him appeared saveable, albeit well struck.

Davenport, who made a few Marvin esq rhino charges from centre back, laid the ball to Wright on the right wing and crossed for Etuhu unmarked in front of goal to head wide. Huckerby turned past Foley, passed to the onrushing Drury to shoot low and Beresford easily saved.

What was the response? Whack aimless long balls 60 yards up to Howard when up against two strapping centre halves. Norwich meanwhile, continued to pass through us, leaving the midfield to wander around. When we did get the ball out wide, Brkovic wasted the delivery. He couldn't cross the road at the moment never mind a football.

Howard and Feeney combined, Brkovic lurched at the ball and fell over at Green's feet. Heikkinen flashed a header wide from Nicholls's free kick. However the killer goal was forthcoming and it couldn't have been more basic. Long kick by Green, Ashton rose higher than Perrett, his flick sent Huckerby away through on goal, Foley was still in Thetford at the time. Huckerby's cool low finish beat Beresford.

Ashton won a challenge with Howard, sent Drury away into the box, Beresford rushed out and got the ball with the bonus of a Drury boot sandwich for good measure. Underwood foolishly kicked out out Hughes near the corner flag. Safri's floated centre was headed over by Doherty. Ashton created another chance twisting past Perrett to drill a shot at Beresford.

Although Howard's stabbed wide after Morgan had helped on Underwood's centre. Luton weren't an attacking threat. Another Norwich counter attack, saw Huckerby playing a 1-2 with Ashton, who back flicked the ball into Huckerby's path but he failed to find the target.

At half time Newell needed a Churchillian team talk, however judging by the second half it was more like Churchill Insurance. Norwich content to sit on their lead and Luton couldn't arise from their slumbers.

Perrett's face prevent an goalbound Etuhu shot. Heikkinen dwelt covering another goal kick by Green, Thorne pounced slide in Ashton but Underwood hacked clear. Davneport picked the ball and ran and ran through a sea of bodies without one making a solid challange, the ball arrived at Ashton who lashed in a cross shot which Beresford parried well.

Two subs, Enoch for Feeney. Why? Feeney worked hard without any service. Enoch did OK, well better than others and Vine for Morgan. Brkovic's loopy cross across the goal, hit Wright's hand before Howard could nod it. Defo penalty not given. Luton threw men forward, for all the good it did them, they might have thrown themselves into the nearby river.

Etuhu robbed Nicholls, fed Safri on the break. His ball to the otherside of the penalty area, was met by a well hit shot by Henderson, which Beresford smothered. Showunmi and Underwood combined on the left, the cross headed away by Davenport , Robinson's bicycle kick limply drifted wide.

Vine picking up a loose ball, a bit of fancy footwork beat Safri and Doherty, but Howard dragged his shot wide. Nicholls, played Enoch through on the right, a cheeky drag back beat two defenders, but no one could latch on to his cross.

Then came Perrett's sending off, followed by Nicholls and Etuhu's love in. They could be the new Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder, to end an unsatisfactory day in a very undignified manner.

Lets hope for better on Tuesday. At least having Percy Edwards hopefully back will improve matters. We helped kick start Crewe's season, let's hope they will return the compliment. Hopefully the players will show more gumption. Come on chaps, do it for yourself. If they can't be motivated to do it for themselves, we have problems.


Grabbed from User Posted Link

Posted By: Cockhead, Nov 20, 17:24:13