Luton v Barnet

[Ban Fat Stan]

Looking forward to this, Luton based on inconsistent home form are there for the taking. Having won our last 3 away games we are in good form.

Having said that we are always rubbish at Kenilworth Rd and it rains so it will probably be the same again!

Akinde will score a penalty you have been warned.

Should be around 600+ Bees so hopefully we can generate a bit of noise. Always fun to watch rent a mob getting reved up in the corner I'm sure they won't disappoint.

One of my favourite grounds so for once I hope we put a good performance in and I don't get soaked walking back to the car.

 

[Urban]

Shit ground, shit club. Their away stand is genuinely the worst I have ever come across (I'm sure there must be worst in the dredges up north somewhere though)

Reckon we'll lose personally, the racist bellcheese Hylton will act his usual dirty self and it will rain.

 

[BelizeHatter]

Happy New Year Urban.

 

[BelizeHatter]

Interesting for us. Bit of pressure mounting for the first time. Barnet are on good away form, we just had a shocker at home and aren't winning enough of the games we would want. We seem to generally be poor at home and a bit clueless going forward. Bit odd as we started the season flying forward but letting lots in. Just cant quite get the balance right. Will be tight I'd imagine and I'm intrigued to see how "the best defense in the League" handle Akinde. Poorly I'm expecting as we're not the best and hes on fire and a real handful

 

[Urban]

Happy New Year Urban.

Thanks pal, you too

 

[BeeArmy]

Really looking forward to this.

Stephens
Vilhete Dembele Nelson Johnson
Ryce Taylor Weston Gambin
Akinde Akpa Akpro

1-2 (Akinde Gambin) with at least 600+ bees travelling

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

The problem is the midfield for me, the defence is fine, not the best in the division like the stats show but quite decent with a very good keeper, the forwards have shown to be good and in Hylton we genuinely have a quality lower league forward who is a complete pain in the arse to defend.

We just have never got the balance in the midfield right all season and IMO have far too many of the same type of player. All the passing along the back 4 which after a while tends to wind the home crowd up is because none of the midfield players really show for the ball properly, make a run or look to create space and we have no width there. In fact that's not true, on occasion one of them does show for the ball, Olly Lee but... well yeah I don't think we need to go into much more detail on him!

Personally I think the shape ins wrong but if we want to preserve with it we need some balance in there, not some wingers and strikers (Cook, or promising as he is Gilliead) trying to play at being central midfield players or some genuine wing backs. God knows what Gray does in training because he never seems to get a look in despite looking reasonable in a few appearances that I have seen. Unfortunately Pelly hasn't really kicked on as he promised in the early season games as well. The midfield disappearing act was so poor I was left thinking Smith may be worth a go again and I think most know we have probably moved on from him now! So I think we have some business to be doing there in a few days.

Wouldn't mind seeing us go back to a 4231 that we employed under Still and see if that gives us what we need there. With Rea and Lee perhaps as the 2, McGeehan in his favourite position, Gilliead wide and maybe Cook on the other side? Might have some more impact on games out wide than up against central midfield players. Unfortunately you lose Marriott/Hylton partnership up front in that. Hopefully we'd also look to move the ball a bit quicker with that and not the rather slow and ponderous play we have now whilst we all wait for the midfield to actually move.

Any way, we really need to win this IMO even if it's just to keep the home crowd on side as I saw some worrying signs on Boxing Day. If we lose we would have well and truest been reeled in by the rest of the league too which would be a real shame after such a promising start. Also with the Portsmouth game coming up, the reverse of which we got absolutely schooled in the type of football we profess to want to play we could be staring at a seriously poor Christmas period of fixtures with a string of tough games against in form sides coming up (Cambridge, Wycombe)

 

[BeesKnees]

I never enjoy us playing Luton and I expect this will be no different.
Both teams have conceded the same number of goals in their last 6 and had 3 clean sheets apiece. Apart from a poor first 45 minutes against Stevenage when the caretaker managers forgot to include someone in midfield who can tackle, we've looked solid and a threat going forwards.
If we play well then it will be a close game. Wouldn't surprise me if we lined up the same as against Cheltenham with Nicholls and Gambin playing as inverted wingers so Vilhete and Johnson can overlap.

 

[barnet_pls]

Agree as above, but think the above team (below) : is too light in midfield and will get over run. Would drop Gambin, put in Champion for steel and sub JMR late in game for Gambin.

Stephens
Vilhete Dembele Nelson Johnson
Gambin /JCR J.Taylor Weston Champion
Akinde Akpa Akpro

 

[George Reilly's Hairpiece]

We're 4/1 to win tomorrow which ordinarily would be a bonkers price given the respective home and away records. But it is Luton away... If the rain of Noah proportions can't call a game off we've got no chance.

Can only see a home win.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Interesting selection for us, not entirely sure what formation we are playing.

Smith coming back in is particularly interesting. Have to wonder what that means for Jake Gray if even Smith who, a 100% type player no doubt but whose passing is suspect at best and doesn't really fit in with the Jones "philosophy" is ahead of him in the pecking order.

 

[Judge Dredd]

Anyone get a good angle on the Barnet goal? Looked miles offside from where I was sat, players reacted like it too but you never know for sure.

 

[BeesKnees]

Anyone get a good angle on the Barnet goal? Looked miles offside from where I was sat, players reacted like it too but you never know for sure.

No idea but can you ask Cuthbert to use his own legs instead of trying to get a piggy back from Akinde.

 

[Urban]

Ffs

 

[Judge Dredd]

No idea but can you ask Cuthbert to use his own legs instead of trying to get a piggy back from Akinde.

Akinde spent 90 mins in Cuthbert's pocket.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Played a lot better today, started with a lot more tempo and speed in our play. Great free kick from Sheehan. Barnet goal looked suspiciously offside but I don't have a great view so difficult to say. I will say that that official on that side was pretty useless and looked a bit deer in headlights afterwards.

Second half we started pretty well got 2 quick fire goals, both excellently taken and then saw it out. Barnet had a lot of the ball that second part of the second half and didn't really do to much. Akinde looked a handful first half but didn't look interested after they went 2 goals down.

 

[Judge Dredd]

Cuthbert and Hylton were immense today. Smith also was really, really good and whilst he is technically limited, he was key to setting the higher tempo today with his pressing.

 

[BeesKnees]

Akinde spent 90 mins in Cuthbert's pocket.

Cuthbert shouldn't have stayed on the pitch.

 

[BelizeHatter]

Often a sure fire sign Cuthbert outmuscled and nullified a physical threat

 

[Judge Dredd]

Laughable. In the incident I assume you are referencing it shouldn't have even been a foul, Cuthbert won the header cleanly before even touching Akinde. One of countless examples of him comprehensively winning that personal battle today.

 

[BeesKnees]

Laughable. In the incident I assume you are referencing it shouldn't have even been a foul, Cuthbert won the header cleanly before even touching Akinde. One of countless examples of him comprehensively winning that personal battle today.

The ref was laughable, for both sides.
You deserved the win but I certainly don't agree that Cuthbert nullified Akinde through fair means.

 

[Kenneth E End]

I definitely want to see that Barnet goal again, because I and 1000s of others felt it was clearly offside. I couldn't help thinking that it was Cuthbert playing him on; he seemed to slip at the wrong moment. If the assistant has got it right, its an absolutely superb decision.

Overall I think refereeing performances have been OK this season so far; we've benefited from a couple of poor decisions in our favour but the officiating on Boxing Day and today was nothing short of appalling. In both games there were some absolutely blatant fouls that both refs turned a blind eye too. I hate berating referees, but its the inconsistency that frustrates people.

I can see how Akinde has scored the goals he has, although you've got to credit the Luton defence and Cuthbert in particular for nullifying him in the second half especially.

 

[Kenneth E End]

You deserved the win but I certainly don't agree that Cuthbert nullified Akinde through fair means.

I didn't see anything that Cuthbert did that was untoward. I'd say Bogle is a superior striker to Akinde.

Cue abuse about bias.

 

[Kenneth E End]

I definitely want to see that Barnet goal again, because I and 1000s of others felt it was clearly offside. I couldn't help thinking that it was Cuthbert playing him on; he seemed to slip at the wrong moment. If the assistant has got it right, its an absolutely superb decision.

Here it is...

http://www.skysports.com/watch/vide...etitions/league-two/10713634/luton-3-1-barnet

Pretty inconclusive that angle. On balance, I'm going to say the lino has made a good decision there.

 

[Judge Dredd]

Bogle looked better against us but wouldn't want to judge not watching either most weeks. Wouldn't swap Hylton for anyone when he plays like he does today though!

 

[Bosox]

Just the tonic Luton needed, playing a very poor Barnet team today. Comprehensive win and now on to the big game with Portsmouth on Monday with a spring in the step.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Akinde wasn't getting any different treatment than Hylton was up the other end, so not sure what all that is all about. Just physical players going at it, nothing wrong that I saw both fouled each other at times but nothing major than you see in any other game.

Agree with JD that Smith was key today, I've not been his biggest fan but his energy is immense and he wins those lose balls that we haven't been doing with Lee in there recently. Whether that's a long term strategy in midfield remains to be seen but he was really key today.

 

[Kenneth E End]

Shit ground, shit club. Their away stand is genuinely the worst I have ever come across (I'm sure there must be worst in the dredges up north somewhere though)

Reckon we'll lose personally, the racist bellcheese Hylton will act his usual dirty self and it will rain.

Well aren't you a treat!

 

[Kenneth E End]

I never enjoy us playing Luton and I expect this will be no different..

I didn't realise that Barnet have only beaten us once in their entire history.

 

[rudebwoyben]

Looking at the Sky Sports footage of the goals, Bira didn't look 'miles' offside. All of Luton's goals were wonderful strikes from distance, it has to be said.