Piss poor

[champs95]

That was one of the most bizarre games I have witnessed.
Apart from anything else, I've only just seen the first 15 minutes because there was a problem with that period here, live!
Luton did not have a single shot on target (apart from the penalty!) and scored three goals.
I will be so glad to see the crowds back. This just doesn't feel real.
I was reasonably happy with some of the stuff I saw.
I thought Buckley was excellent. He turned up everywhere and showed a cool head. Obviously, he won't always get so much time on the ball.
Davenport was good too. (Very hard to tell if he got a touch to the ball first in the penalty incident).
Rankin-Costello grew into the game, and Brereton had a good first 20.
Carter was patchy, but he has a decent turn of speed for a big guy.

For me, next season could see the Academy finally come to the fore.
Not sure how good Fisher is, but the outfield should see plenty of game-time for Nyambe, Lenihan, Carter, Rankin-Costello, Travis, and Buckley.
Vale, Butterworth, Magloire, Grayson, Wharton and Platt might all be in contention too.
Those are all Academy graduates.
Then we have other youngish players in Davenport, Chapman, Brereton and Gallagher.
Add in Dack and Armstrong, and we have a very decent core.
I would keep Rothwell too, although he is one of the most frustrating players I've seen. He has loads of skill and creates space expertly, but the final product is often woeful! I think he and Chapman are best used for half an hour when defences are tiring.
Of the older midfielders, if I had to keep two, I would prefer Downing and Bennett to Holtby and Johnson. The latter two simply don't contribute enough.
I'd still like to see an experienced keeper and centre-back brought in.
The left-back position is simply up in the air. Perhaps Bell will finally come good!

So, I can see a starting XI such as:
NEW KEEPER
Nyambe Lenihan A.N. OTHER Bell
Travis Buckley Rankin-Costello
Dack Brereton Armstrong.

That would still leave plenty of quality on the bench. For example, Gallagher could do a straight swap for Brereton in the second half.

I am NOT being critical of the young kid, who is clearly not quite ready. I do agree by playing him, you can only find out. But Carter had a bit of a mare. Lenihan since lockdown has been really out of sorts I feel. I think Carters og was down to him. I must say, I disagree with his pace. I am now very concerned about his future from here. He was slower than slow. Johnson slow. The turning circle of an arctic cruiser. They possesed no real pace up front, but he was caught out badly for pace twice in the 2nd half. That's a concern. But kudos for giving him a few games, he can only leanr and improve from that, fair enough, no complaints. Will he be good enough? I wouldn't want to play in this defence so exposed so much, leaking goals for fun, no real midfield protection. And being so young, we need to be careful not to kill him too early in his career.

What a huge disappointment Holbty has been since he returned form injury. A shadow of the potential he showed early on with us.
I don't get disappointed with Rothwell, I expect him to have no end product. He isn't getting coached to be any better (who is?) and will always be the same. He won't wake up in Sept and suddenly be better. Without improving through coaching, he will stand still.
JRC and Buckley are at least putting themselves about. And both look good for next season. Davenport is a neat little player. Will TM trust him over Evans/Johnson? My feeling is no.

Taking our 17 goal striker with 30 mins to play defied logic. But I gave up trying to understand a while back, and just accept it now.