Pools v Luton

[Pooliekev]

Depends whether we've got two fit centre backs to put out. Two on the treatment table and one suspended. The fourth one prone to game changing brain farts.

On the plus side we're three unbeaten so we have a bit of momentum and Luton had the longest game in recent history on Saturday finishing about 9pm.

I'll go for a home win 2-1, we're well overdue.

 

[Kenneth E End]

I can't help thinking that the exertions from yesterday's game will affect them a little bit, as well as the long trip up tomorrow afternoon. They'll have probably only had a couple of hours training time since the Doncaster game, so not particularly ideal preparation.

Thankfully Scott Cuthbert's injury isn't too bad, although I'll be surprised if he comes back in on Tuesday. Sheehan looked back to his old self and there isn't much need to change it up too much after yesterdays performance.

Danny Hylton starts the first of a two game suspension after picking up his 5th yellow and 6th yellow resulting in a red. For two absolutely stupid reasons.

Supposedly around 200 tickets were sold by Luton fans ahead of Saturday's game, so anticipate at least another 100 travelling up.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Do think this one might be a bit of a struggle for us. Saturday was a bruising game and it looked like a number of players picked up knocks, that whilst wont keep them out of playing might hamper them enough to make it a factor. Hylton also a big miss, such an impressive forward player at this level and his partnership with Marriott is developing nicely, but he does do some silly things. So could be a challenge. But the team has goals in it so we have always have a chance.

I liked the look of the midfield with Gray in it on Saturday so i hope we continue with that (i presume we will with Cook injured), he has looked a useful player thus far who perhaps hasnt got the game time he was expecting. Sheehan looked far better as well so hopefully he isnt too affected by his head injury.

Be interesting to see what happens up front, he clearly sees Hylton/Marriott as a partnership and was reluctant to play Marriott without Hylton at Crawley, so I wonder how that is going to work itself out. You would have thought he would play Marriott and Vassell but I get the feeling he doesn't think those 2 will work well together and we really do not have another forward in the style of Hylton really. Hopefully we arent in for another over thought starting 11!

 

[Sestonpoolie]

Glad Hyltons out,scores against us every time.It'll be Nice too see Jake Grey again.
Can only remember us beating Luton once in the God knows how many seasons,so we might be due a win.
Two cracking piss ups with the Luton lads last 2 seasons.

 

[Chief Rocka]

300 Luton fans on a Tuesday night in Hartlepool? Hmmm...

The question for us is who plays where across the defence, both Jones and Bates are seemingly falling to pieces every other week, Harrison suspended, so I guess, Carroll/Toto/Donnelly/Richards? doesn't really fill you with confidence.

 

[Glasshalffullpools]

I think we will sneak this , ....Jones and / or Bates still can't be both out , if so you have to question the logic in signing them ...Fevverstone could play CB if needed ..

 

[Bosox]

Danny Hylton starts the first of a two game suspension after picking up his 5th yellow and 6th yellow resulting in a red. For two absolutely stupid reasons.

It's a 1 game suspension apparently. The second yellow effectively wipes out the first so he doesn't get the suspension for a 5th yellow but the next time he gets booked that will be treated as his 5th yellow and he'll have another 1 game suspension to serve then.

 

[PoolieTom]

Sounds like Hignett told Amond to run his arse out on Saturday, which likely means he won't be starting on Tuesday. I'll be disappointed if Paynter is picked again. Think he needs a break of some sort to get his head right. Amond/Fewster upfront, Thomas and Allessandra out wide would be my choice.

Paynter starts - I'll predict 0-0 or 0-1
Paynter doesn't start - 2-1

 

[BelizeHatter]

See this as another testing benchmark for if we do measure up as Promotion contenders we need to be getting point/s from these tough games.

 

[Chippy]

Score draw tonight. Think we are a bit battered and bruised from Saturday, and Hylton will be a massive miss for us again.

Either way, we nee to be picking points up here really.

 

[Glasshalffullpools]

Why ? Once we start winning we will be top 7 ...we aren't the type of team that the types of teams that you think you are should be picking up points from ..

 

[BelizeHatter]

IF - and it's a big word we don't suit yet - we have title/promotion aspirations it's exactly the sort of game we should be thinking of getting points, as every single game should be. Champions elect go into a tough Autumnal midweek trips to the North East expecting a result

 

[BelizeHatter]

So we'll be getting beat tonight, despite my expectations ;-)

 

[Glasshalffullpools]

Autumnal midweek at Hartlepool ! .......cold wet Tuesday is default description for southern journos ...replace wet with windy if needed ...

 

[Glasshalffullpools]

Mind , it is a bit nippy !

 

[Sestonpoolie]

Blowing a gale also.

 

[Chief Rocka]

Got hit with a sudden wave of optimism, it's either that or wind, think we'll win tonight.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Luton team is Walton, Justin, Sheehan, Famewo, Potts, Lee, Gray, McGeehan, Gilliead, Mpanzu, Marriott.

Soooo you know what I was saying about an over thought starting 11..... Think we may struggle with that back 4, very young. I am assuming its a diamond still with Pelly starting up front according to the local rag!

Being fair ive just seen Mullins is injured as well so not quite as over thought as my initial reaction suggested.

 

[Judge Dredd]

Pelly up front is a bit weird but maybe could work? You really want him facing goal as much as possible though and this season his defensive contributions in midfield have been important (never thought I'd say that!).

Would rather Gilliead up top from that line-up and keep the midfield as it was, or switch to a 4-2-3-1. Maybe Jones has pulled a master stroke but I do worry about that back line. Obviously Mullins is injured but I'm a little surprised he opted for Famewo over Musonda, not because Musonda is better necessarily but as a right footed player a more natural partner for Sheehan you would think.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Pelly up front is a bit weird but maybe could work? You really want him facing goal as much as possible though and this season his defensive contributions in midfield have been important (never thought I'd say that!).

Would rather Gilliead up top from that line-up and keep the midfield as it was, or switch to a 4-2-3-1. Maybe Jones has pulled a master stroke but I do worry about that back line. Obviously Mullins is injured but I'm a little surprised he opted for Famewo over Musonda, not because Musonda is better necessarily but as a right footed player a more natural partner for Sheehan you would think.

We seem absolutely dead set that the diamond is the way to go.. He is very, very reluctant to change it from the looks of things.

Bit worried about Pelly up front, he has been great in midfield but cant hit a barn door really!

 

[Judge Dredd]

Average age of that starting XI is 21.64 years old. Must be a record for a league team of ours or close I would think?

 

[Kenneth E End]

Well, a 1-1 draw away at a Northern outpost, where we usually never do well, with such a young patched up team is not the worst result in the world by any means. Sounds as if Jack Marriott had a bit of a mare tonight in front of goal; doing everything but score.

On to Cheltenham - get a result there and I think this has been a good week.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Pretty decent point id say given the spot we were in with a few injuries and Hyltons suspension.

Listening on the radio so its difficult but sounded a fairly dull game from our point of view up until the red where we have started to get good possession and chances.

I was worried about Pelly up front as he couldnt hit a barn door but sounds like I should have been more worried about Jack! Seemed like every other minute he was missing one! He has got to be more clinical.

 

[Kenneth E End]

Supposedly, this is the youngest team for a League game in Luton's history.

 

[Judge Dredd]

Not sure what's going on with Marriott so far this season, he was ridiculously clinical last season (and needed to be as we created bugger all). This season he gets in so many great positions but just doesn't seem to be clicking in front of goal. Hopefully that will come. Personally I blame the alice band

 

[Chief Rocka]

First half both teams created very little, Luton having a little dominant spell with the ball but did nowt with it, probably missing Hylton no doubt. For a change we're starting to look a lot more solid at the back, Toto MOM by a wide margin.

At 1-0 going into the second half we looked comfortable, I'll have to see the red card again but I thought the ref got it right, to me it looked like Featherstone went in with his studs up on the lad, I was right behind the goal like so my view wasn't that great but that was the game changer.

I thought we lacked any attacking threat tonight, Amond can't play upfront on his own, the lad just runs and runs and does very little else, he's got to bury that chance he had when he hit the post, if Higgy want's to play Amond he need's someone alongside him to set him up.

Marriott (I think?) missed an absolute sitter at the end, must of been 6 yards out and skied it, harder to miss.

Overall you can't grumble taking a point with 10 men.

EDIT: Okay, having seen the sending off that seems incredibly harsh, Featherstone got full contact with the ball, player goes down like a tart, fucking great.

 

[Bosox]

Luton up to 2nd but just 2 points ahead of the team in 12th, that's crazy tight even for this early in the season.

 

[Sestonpoolie]

It was never a red card & changed the game completely.Luton created little until then & with 11 men we'd have seen the game out comfortably.
But being disappointed not to have beaten 1st & 3rd shows improvement.
Good turn out from the Luton fans.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

It was quite quick but saw the red on sky last night and his foot did look bloody high, studs up and caught Lee, at the least he has given the ref the opportunity to send him off with a silly challenge.

You're doing yourself a disservice as well, we're second!

 

[PoolieTom]

Definitely a red card, you can't have your studs on show at waist height and expect to get away with it.

Massively disappointed to only get a point at the end of the game though. Carson was rarely called into action until the last 15 minutes where he made two good saves. The free kick was a bit special, nothing you can do about that.

Luton were far and away the best team we have faced this season, so much quicker and slicker than anyone else. But to say we matched that, and probably edged it until the sending off says a great deal about how far we have come since the 6-1 drubbing at Stevenage. Toto and Donnelly were immense at centre half. Hawkins a class above in midfield.

Strange that your manager picks Jake Gray to play out wide. I think I mentioned it on a thread when he signed, he is absolutely useless in that position. Mr Anonymous you could call him. No real stand out player for you lot, but thought your left back had a good game.