Reflections on Luton Town's pre season match against Dundee United
For those who didn't spend a tenner, I've composed my thoughts about the match
First half thoughts vs Dundee United (for those not wanting to spend a tenner):
You can see the possession based philosophy Edwards has brought in. Very focussed on wing play, little going on through the middle, other than when the ball gets cut across in the box.
The football looks great, but we need to be more clinical with the final ball and finish. It could very well be a case of “we will score one more than you” football. However, to restate what I mentioned from the first friendly against Rukh Lviv, there will be a lot of grumbling about how we play it out from the back.
The only noise was from the travelling Luton fans. Fair play to every single one of you
Mostly one way traffic. Whenever Dundee United attacked, we cut them out really quickly, other than their goal and one chance where defensively we weren’t at it. Kaminski did well to get down and save it. One defensive action in particular was from Joe Johnson, gave the eyes, one move and the attacker was on the floor. Amazing to see Teden Mengi back in the starting lineup, enjoyed seeing the new hairstyle too. Reassuring seeing Baptiste dropping deep to pick up the ball and mucking in with the defensive side. He has a good range of passing. Hopefully Baptiste to Doughty will be a frequent sight this season.
I really like Reuell Walters at right wing back, such a progressive runner. Nearly carved out a chance in the first 10 minutes. His progressive running on was on show to win the penalty. However, he needs to work harder going backwards, got done a few times in behind. Regarding the pen, you can see Jordan Clark has learning from Carlton. Same technique. I loved that.
15 minutes on the clock when Dundee United scored. Literally against the run of play, from our own goal kick, ball comes straight back towards us. Holmes gets opened up, ball gets cut back and Babunski with a great finish. Nice touch from Dundee United playing Babushka after getting scored. That goal was peak “FM”.
Normal service resumed though, and we got straight back on top, must have had 90% possession. Really enjoyed the bias from the in house commentary team, especially when Holmes charged into one of their players, and then when their player raked Chong’s Achilles “good strength son”. That’s what it’s about, bias!
Alfie looks vital to how we want to play, which is to be expected from the man who created 85% of all our chances last season. Took his goal really well, liked the run and ball in from Tom Holmes.
Joe Johnson, looks absolute class. In the absence of Bell he genuinely could work in the left of a back three until Bell is back. His reading of the game is sensational. Nelson grew into the game, took a while to get into it, but then showed a good range of passing and movement around the box, nearly scoring a cracking goal.
Second half thoughts vs Dundee United (for those not wanting to spend a tenner): Mengi really came into the game early doors, stepping out of the back three, perhaps because Walters was at right centre back and then Aidan Francis Clarke and had more pace than Holmes to cover. Although it was clumsy to give away the penalty, although I have my doubts it was even in the box. Side note - it was funny seeing Louis Moult convert the penalty, because he was a player we were linked with a lot in the past.
I’m very excited to see more of Zack Nelson this season, he has such good feet, genuinely see him getting first team minutes for us. If he can get that final pass exact, he will be some player!
Chong was just everywhere, covering every blade of grass, finishing the game at left wing back and getting 90 minutes in the tank. He’s one that will be vital this season, linking midfield and attack, saw the @secondtierpod mentioned him as their one to watch, I’m inclined to agree.
Shame not to see Shandon Baptiste getting 90 minutes, but potentially we could see a full 90 against Celta Vigo. Overall a very positive 55 minutes from him and good to see Pelly getting minutes. Don’t know if it was the camera angle, but Pelly looks a lot leaner. I genuinely saw him striding out with the ball and thought, when did we re-sign Sambi Lokonga, he just looks so much more mobile.
I can see a loan for Aidan Francis Clarke, perhaps isn’t quite ready for the first team, although due to defensive injuries at the moment, he could certainly start the season as a bench player, but he’s one that needs minutes in the EFL, NOT the Conference. It’s great that he’s comfortable on the right and left of defence.
65th minute, that turn from Elijah Adebayo was pure filth, need a shower after watching that. Shame he couldn’t get a goal from it, but it was great defending as he turned the covering defender inside/out. I can see 20+ goals for Elijah this season.
The tide of the game really changed once Clark, Elijah, Mengi and Doughty went off. I don’t know if it’s because we got all the kids on, or Dundee United coming into the game more, but we did lose all the control we had for the first 60 minutes. We ended up lumping it up top to Joe Taylor who couldn’t win a single aerial ball, and then Cauley was just chasing shadow second balls.
Shame that the experience of Townsend and Ogbene couldn’t carve anything out for the two up top.
Great seeing Christian Chigozie get the last 5 minutes. Routh who?! Finishing the game with a very young back three of Chigozie, Bateson and Francis Clarke. Absolutely love it!
To conclude, overall, it’s pre season and the way we play around with it at the back, we give the ball away a fair bit carelessly, better teams will punish us relentlessly in games, and not allow us back into games - we desperately need players back from injury, more for the depth of the squad than anything else.