LUTON LOWDOWN
Luton make the playoffs!
Luton have finished the season in 4th place, and now have the excitement of the playoffs to the Premier League. They will play Wolves in the semi-finals over two legs, which despite Wolves suspension problems will be a major challenge for the Luton side. Wolves will miss their top striker Jackson for both legs, and one of their defenders for the first leg too. Manager Kirby had this to say ‘’Wolves were one of my pre-season favourites for promotion and nothing has changed. They’ve had a up and down season, but still have the quality to be in the top league’
Whilst Luton are no-where near a premier league quality side, they have promised their fans they will try their best to achieve promotion. Not many predicted Luton to finish in the top six, having started the season with a very old squad, and wages in the bottom three for the division. Gradually however, the side has improved, and all season they have hovered around the top half of the division, and the top six, so maybe it isn’t that much of a surprise to finish fourth.
Jovic has finally found a bit of form up front, after having a lean spell following his signing from Sporting Lisbon, taking the load off Awoniyi a bit, who was having to shoulder most of the workload up front. Panak has settled in well at the back, giving the weak defence a bit of stability.
The chairman was also pleased to see that all players met their required minutes for the season, and the only two players who will be leaving are old keepers. It is likely one player will be promoted from the academy at the end of the season, and the club have already agreed to sign another back up keeper from Millwall.
Early transfer news
Rumours are circulating that impressive young keeper Chevalier will be leaving the club at the end of the season, after receiving an offer from the Premier league for his services. It is unlikely that the club will stand in his way, whether they go up or not. A top quality goal keeper and some cash coming the way of Luton to further help the rebuilding.
League round up
Week 30
Luton 1-2 Forest
Feel a bit robbed by this one. We had tactical advantage at the start, and the better of the stats overall, but were hit by the clinical finishing of Forest. Awoniyi continued his rich vein of scoring form with the first goal, but Forest came back into the game with a goal by Montiel. The game swung back and forth, but looked like it was going to end in a draw, before the late sucker punch from the opposition, through Toffolo. A rare off day for keeper Chevalier, but decent games for Davies and Richards at the back.
Starting to slip down again in the table, but it's all very tight.
Week 31
West Brom 0-3 Luton
Great away performance and win, I'm not sure how we can be so bad one game, and then so good the next though!
We used tactical advantage to the full, and got 71% possession and 24 shots, in one of our best games of the season.
Jovic finally put his shooting boots on, and netted a couple, including one from the spot, and Florentino got the other.
There were good performances and abs all round, and it's nice to see young Eising turning on the style now he has hit 18 rated.
A few more games like this one please
Week 32
Luton 1-0 Bournemouth
Another good performance from the lads, who did enough to just edge out Bournemouth in a close game.
Both sides went for a passing approach, and it led to a few chances.
Awoniyi was the main man again, with the only goal of the game, and Panak got man of the match for an all action display.
Luton stay in the playoff zone for now, can they get the extra games at the end of the season? not many games to go now.
Week 33
Sunderland 0-1 Luton
The class of Jovic was enough to see Luton past the boring D from Sunderland, though it could easily have been a bore draw.
We slightly edged what there was in terms of action, but there wasn't a lot going on for the fans to cheer about to be honest.
Davies got man of the match for some assured defending, and it was nice to keep a clean sheet, though only facing 1 shot on target it wasn't too hard!
Luton stay in the top 6, where they've been most of the season, but can they stay there for some extra games?
Week 34
Luton 0-2 Sheffield Utd
Not too much of a surprise to lose to a very good United side, though our initial tactical selection didn't help.
The blades went into the early lead, and no matter what we tried we couldn't get back into the game.
The stats showed united were the better team.
Still hanging on in there, but have some more tricky games to come
Week 35
Wolves 0-1 Luton
Nice win away from home, and not one I expected given Wolves quality.
In reality in was quite a tight game that either side could have won, but we managed to get all our shots on target, and they were wasteful. It was defender Panak who scored the all important goal. ul dude.
Still in the playoff positions, but things could change before the end of season.
Week 36
Stoke 0-1 Luton
Great result on the road for the hatters. It was a cautious tight game, but we slightly edged it, with that man Awoniyi being the only goal scorer again. He really has done well since being made captain at mid season.
Panak had a good game at the back again, and the young keeper continued to impress.
So 4th place with only two games to go, it would only take a point or two to confirm a playoff place, not bad for a team that started the season in the bottom three wage payers.
Week 37
Luton 4-0 Fulham
We benefitted from the Fulham gaffer going AWOL again, and took advantage to the full.
Camus scored a hat trick from midfield and Jovic also found the net.
In another bonus all players have now made their minutes.
Luton guaranteed 3rd or 4th, which is way better than I expected when taking over as caretaker at the start of the season.
The playoffs will be interesting, with many good sides involved. Luton don't expect to go up, but will appreciate the extra games.
Week 38
Millwall 1-1 Luton
With the playoffs in the bag, and nothing much to play for in the final league game of the season, Luton decided to have some fun and attack the Lions. It was quite an entertaining game, which ended up all square in the end.
Jovic scored again, through an early penalty this time around, but despite all the chances, there was only one other goal in the game.
Millwall have no doubt more of an eye on the future, gg dude.
Plenty of decent abs all round, but it was Jovic, Panak and Richards who caught the eye most.
So 4th in the table, and playoffs against Wolves to look forward to!
Words 1240
Luton make the playoffs!
Luton have finished the season in 4th place, and now have the excitement of the playoffs to the Premier League. They will play Wolves in the semi-finals over two legs, which despite Wolves suspension problems will be a major challenge for the Luton side. Wolves will miss their top striker Jackson for both legs, and one of their defenders for the first leg too. Manager Kirby had this to say ‘’Wolves were one of my pre-season favourites for promotion and nothing has changed. They’ve had a up and down season, but still have the quality to be in the top league’
Whilst Luton are no-where near a premier league quality side, they have promised their fans they will try their best to achieve promotion. Not many predicted Luton to finish in the top six, having started the season with a very old squad, and wages in the bottom three for the division. Gradually however, the side has improved, and all season they have hovered around the top half of the division, and the top six, so maybe it isn’t that much of a surprise to finish fourth.
Jovic has finally found a bit of form up front, after having a lean spell following his signing from Sporting Lisbon, taking the load off Awoniyi a bit, who was having to shoulder most of the workload up front. Panak has settled in well at the back, giving the weak defence a bit of stability.
The chairman was also pleased to see that all players met their required minutes for the season, and the only two players who will be leaving are old keepers. It is likely one player will be promoted from the academy at the end of the season, and the club have already agreed to sign another back up keeper from Millwall.
Early transfer news
Rumours are circulating that impressive young keeper Chevalier will be leaving the club at the end of the season, after receiving an offer from the Premier league for his services. It is unlikely that the club will stand in his way, whether they go up or not. A top quality goal keeper and some cash coming the way of Luton to further help the rebuilding.
League round up
Week 30
Luton 1-2 Forest
Feel a bit robbed by this one. We had tactical advantage at the start, and the better of the stats overall, but were hit by the clinical finishing of Forest. Awoniyi continued his rich vein of scoring form with the first goal, but Forest came back into the game with a goal by Montiel. The game swung back and forth, but looked like it was going to end in a draw, before the late sucker punch from the opposition, through Toffolo. A rare off day for keeper Chevalier, but decent games for Davies and Richards at the back.
Starting to slip down again in the table, but it's all very tight.
Week 31
West Brom 0-3 Luton
Great away performance and win, I'm not sure how we can be so bad one game, and then so good the next though!
We used tactical advantage to the full, and got 71% possession and 24 shots, in one of our best games of the season.
Jovic finally put his shooting boots on, and netted a couple, including one from the spot, and Florentino got the other.
There were good performances and abs all round, and it's nice to see young Eising turning on the style now he has hit 18 rated.
A few more games like this one please
Week 32
Luton 1-0 Bournemouth
Another good performance from the lads, who did enough to just edge out Bournemouth in a close game.
Both sides went for a passing approach, and it led to a few chances.
Awoniyi was the main man again, with the only goal of the game, and Panak got man of the match for an all action display.
Luton stay in the playoff zone for now, can they get the extra games at the end of the season? not many games to go now.
Week 33
Sunderland 0-1 Luton
The class of Jovic was enough to see Luton past the boring D from Sunderland, though it could easily have been a bore draw.
We slightly edged what there was in terms of action, but there wasn't a lot going on for the fans to cheer about to be honest.
Davies got man of the match for some assured defending, and it was nice to keep a clean sheet, though only facing 1 shot on target it wasn't too hard!
Luton stay in the top 6, where they've been most of the season, but can they stay there for some extra games?
Week 34
Luton 0-2 Sheffield Utd
Not too much of a surprise to lose to a very good United side, though our initial tactical selection didn't help.
The blades went into the early lead, and no matter what we tried we couldn't get back into the game.
The stats showed united were the better team.
Still hanging on in there, but have some more tricky games to come
Week 35
Wolves 0-1 Luton
Nice win away from home, and not one I expected given Wolves quality.
In reality in was quite a tight game that either side could have won, but we managed to get all our shots on target, and they were wasteful. It was defender Panak who scored the all important goal. ul dude.
Still in the playoff positions, but things could change before the end of season.
Week 36
Stoke 0-1 Luton
Great result on the road for the hatters. It was a cautious tight game, but we slightly edged it, with that man Awoniyi being the only goal scorer again. He really has done well since being made captain at mid season.
Panak had a good game at the back again, and the young keeper continued to impress.
So 4th place with only two games to go, it would only take a point or two to confirm a playoff place, not bad for a team that started the season in the bottom three wage payers.
Week 37
Luton 4-0 Fulham
We benefitted from the Fulham gaffer going AWOL again, and took advantage to the full.
Camus scored a hat trick from midfield and Jovic also found the net.
In another bonus all players have now made their minutes.
Luton guaranteed 3rd or 4th, which is way better than I expected when taking over as caretaker at the start of the season.
The playoffs will be interesting, with many good sides involved. Luton don't expect to go up, but will appreciate the extra games.
Week 38
Millwall 1-1 Luton
With the playoffs in the bag, and nothing much to play for in the final league game of the season, Luton decided to have some fun and attack the Lions. It was quite an entertaining game, which ended up all square in the end.
Jovic scored again, through an early penalty this time around, but despite all the chances, there was only one other goal in the game.
Millwall have no doubt more of an eye on the future, gg dude.
Plenty of decent abs all round, but it was Jovic, Panak and Richards who caught the eye most.
So 4th in the table, and playoffs against Wolves to look forward to!
Words 1240