Notts County vs. Luton Town

jacobncfc

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6th vs. 4th here, a genuine clash of the titans down at Meadow Lane.

We've had a bit of a blow today with news that Jon Stead is out injured until Christmas, which is far more annoying after his ridiculously good start to the season. It's the one position where we can just about cope with the loss of a key player, though, with far more depth in attack than we've got anywhere else. Aaron Collins had his red card at Portsmouth last week overturned, too, which also makes it a bit less of a problem, as does Vadaine Oliver's apparent return to fitness. Captain Michael O'Connor is also available again, so sound there.

We're basically shite at home and have been all season, but I do wonder whether a game against a good team with a big, raucous away following might suit us somewhat. Games against the smaller teams in this league tend to end up with a dead atmosphere and the crowd on the players' backs after ten minutes, which can't be helping, but hopefully a good away following should lead to a half decent crowd/atmosphere.

Personally would like to us go 4-3-3, along these lines:-

Collin
Tootle - Duffy - Laing - Dickinson
Richards - O'Connor - Milsom
Campbell - Forte - Collins

Although I wouldn't be surprised to see Oliver start if he is fit, that front three is all pace and movement but there's no one who can really hold the ball or be a target for crosses.
 

Kenneth E End

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Luton will have about 2,000 fans with them on Saturday - unfortunately I can't be one of them, which I'm a bit gutted about.

We seemed to have done better against the better teams in the league thus far, but we need to start finding a modicum of consistency to retain our challenge on the top 3. A clean sheet would help!
 

connorpie

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Worry for notts in this one, going to be tough with no stead playing, and our home form is just a bit rubbish so far this season, not taking more points from games we should've been e.g. Morecambe, Stevenage, Crewe. Can see Sheehan doing something good as well. 1-2.
 

That Fat Centre Half

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Pretty sure we have Hylton back (unless his suspension is 2 games and I'm out of the loop somewhere along the line) so hopefully we should have a bit more threat about us than last weekend. I'd bring Pelt back into the 11 probably in place of Cook also.

We need to start putting together a string of wins if we want to remain in touch with the top 3 and that starts with keeping clean sheets and not giving away stupid goals. If I were Jones I'd shift Sheehan over to left back and put Mullins in at centre half with Cuthbert, I'm not convinced by Potts and I'm still not really convinced by Sheehan at centre half either. He won't do that though as he seems to view Sheehan as the key player in that back 4 at centre half.
 

Youpies

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Kind of game thats going to sum up our season really.

Either we win and we actually look like promotion contenders, or we lose and we are too inconsistent to ultimately last the distance. A draw kind of postpones the realisation of the latter. Our position flatters us somewhat by the fact that no one in this league is actually any good. One of the poorest league twos in a while.
 

Judge Dredd

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Very much looking forward to spending the day on the piss in Nottingham. Hopefully the football doesn't ruin it.
 

jacobncfc

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Thoroughly entertaining game that for a 0-0, looked like two good teams. Luton played the better football but we had the clearer chances, draw was probably fair.

Annoying to miss the penalty but it was a cracking save.
 

Judge Dredd

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Sounds about right, thought we were on top for the first 60 or so but only carved out half chances. County on top for the last third without creating much but then had the penalty and the corner that immediately followed which should have been a goal.

Referee was horrendous all day, although at least he consistently ignored the existence of the advantage rule.
 

That Fat Centre Half

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Wasn't there today so can't comment on performances but 0-0 seems an ok result given the respective league positions prior to the game and the fact Walton has saved a late penalty. Good to get a clean sheet also seems a silly amount of time since we got one. Think Sheehan at fullback is the way forward.

Really need to start winning games though!
 

jacobncfc

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I thought that Luton were neat but really lacking any sort of killer instinct in the final third. Hylton fell over a lot to no particular end and that was about it. You shit yourselves a bit when we started pressing high up the pitch too, started panicking and losing the ball in bad areas.

If you could combine Luton's passing in midfield with our movement upfront then you'd probably have a top three team but reckon both are play-off shouts at best.
 

That Fat Centre Half

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Our lack of killer instinct is a fairly recent phenomena really, last couple of home games only really, so disappointing if this is becoming a thing now really, especially with Hylton. Growing more and more concerned with Marriott by the game now also, just 3 goals this season and if anything his movement should be his strength, unfortunately there isn't really anyone to bring in to give him a rest.

Be interesting to hear people's thoughts on Cook too, not sure what over and above Pelly he brings to the team really.
 

djs

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Cook is neat and tidy, decent ball control and can spot a pass, but has no pace, doesn't head the ball, and too often you can forget that he is playing. I'm sure that there is a better option in the squad.

Anyway, I know that I'm biased, but it really was a joy to see an away side actually spending 90 minutes going for a win, right up to the last whistle, even at the risk of leaving ourselves open at the back.
 

jacobncfc

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Would agree with that tbf, the last ten was great fun with both teams pouring men forward on the counter.

Luton looked the best team we've played and that was the first time all season I've looked at us and thought we might not be in a false position.
 

Optipez

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Enjoyable game for a nil nil. Luton looked comfortable until we made a double substitution. After that we played most of the match in the Luton half.
Two top half teams, where exactly we both finish may well depend on what's done in the transfer window.
Nice to see Sheehan again , would prefer him to Dickinson at LB.
 

Kenneth E End

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So where was the foul for the penalty then?
 

Judge Dredd

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Cutherbert is pretty un-subtly hugging the Notts County player. Referees have been specifically told to give fouls for that this season so he can't complain really.
 

jacobncfc

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So where was the foul for the penalty then?

Not seen it back but it looked about as obvious as it gets at the time, your centre back was bear hugging Hollis.
 

djs

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That may well be true, but it was happening in both boxes at every corner, so why did he just pick on that one?
 

jacobncfc

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I think it was because he pulled Cuthbert out at the corner just before it and told him to stop doing it. He pretty much had no choice when he just went back in and grabbed Hollis again.
 

Kenneth E End

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That may well be true, but it was happening in both boxes at every corner, so why did he just pick on that one?
I agree to it being clamped down on, however there's so much of it going on, its impossible to maintain consistency.
 

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