When you consider that Luton Town were most people’s favourites to win the League One title this season, the trip to Kenilworth Road this Saturday lunchtime has to be regarded as our toughest game of the season doesn’t it?
On paper it probably is, but, although they have nine points from twelve, I think it’s fair to say that the Hatters have not been too convincing so far as they’ve completed 1-0 home wins over AFC Wimbledon, thanks to a freakish late own goal, and Wigan, plus a 2-0 victory at Peterborough along with Saturday’s surprising 2-1 loss at Bradford.
As for us, we’re unbeaten against four teams that are generally felt to be more concerned with a possible relegation than a surprise promotion this season and have, deservedly, beaten three of them while being lucky to escape with a draw in the fourth match.
I think an unbiased observer would look at the two squads facing each other on the weekend and deduce that Luton will improve on their rather unspectacular start to the campaign. After all, they have still garnered enough points to keep them up there near the top while being some way short of their best.
As for us, my guess is that the neutral watcher would be impressed by some of the football we’ve played plus how many promising young players we seem to have, but will have noted the seemingly serious injury to Ollie Tanner and concluded that our small, largely inexperienced, squad is not big or strong enough to cope with the demands of a long and busy season.
Although supporters are being constantly assured that signings will be coming, it’s reached the stage now where I’m beginning to wonder if they will. Unless ot until we get something happen to prove me wrong, I’ll keep on believing that we need to sell, or at least get someone giving us a loan fee and paying a portion of the player involved’s wages , before we can bring further recruits in. Furthermore, I still find it hard to believe that there are clubs out there who are prepared to risk their money on players who, generally speaking, did little to justify their high wages last season.
I heard someone on a podcast yesterday saying that they had been assured by someone at the club that Salech and Rubin Colwill witl not be leaving the club during this window. A few weeks ago, I would have expected Alex Robertson’s name to be included as well – now, I’m not saying this means we’re definitely going to sell Robertson, but I do wonder how strong our resolve would be if someone came in for him or, say, David Turnbull?
As for Saturday, Luton have had the better of us recently after a spell where we were dominant in the fixture and I’m afraid I can see that trend continuing on Saturday. I think it could be a pretty comfortable home win, although, in saying that, this young City team continue to surprise me and I may be guilty of underestimating both them and the ability of BBM to quickly improve players under his charge.
On to the quiz then...
60s. As a youngster he wore amber and maroon for a short while before being picked up by Luton and he became a familiar face in their defence for close to a decade before a loan spell at a team which represents two places became a preface for a brief spell with a club that, like Luton, have links with things that people wear. His post playing career was slightly unusual in that after being a coach for a few years, he was offered the manager’s job and took the club to what was, and probably still is, a highest ever league position in his first season in charge, only then to resign because he didn’t think he was cut out to be a manager. He returned to oaching a few years later, it was always to the same club, and stayed for a further twelve years, but who is he?
70s. I suppose the word “unlucky” would best describe this midfielder’s playing and managerial career. Although born in Bedford, his form when he first broke into the Luton team prompted speculation that another World Cup winning country, not England, were monitoring him. However a broken leg set him back and then in his comeback game, he broke the same leg again. Although he recovered to play a part in a promotion, he left for America for a short while not long afterwards. Returning to England to play in blue by the seaside, he then moved to play in the same colour for a team which would be a contender for the one furthest away from the coast I suspect. Next, he played on an island that was once awarded a medal and he then finished his full time career playing for amber or yellow intellectuals. When it came to management, his first job, like his second one, was at a club he had played for. He got the chance to manage when the man who had brought him to the club to be his assistant, became club Chairman and promptly offered our man his old job. His second spell in charge ended when the man brought in as Director of Football, sacked him and promptly appointed himself in his place! Can you name who I’m describing?
80s. Linear day for local boy, transferred to Portsmouth. (3,6)
90s. Soap opera family meets hesitant adherent and comes to Luton for a second time during this decade.
00s. They both share the same name and played in the dame position. One of them played one game, a Football League Trophy encounter with Brentford, for Luton during this decade and the other one scored in the Olympics, scored a hat trick in a Play Off Final and scored his club’s first Premier League goal – he also had a trial for a side City have played this season during the summer. What is the name in question?
10s. Which current manager of a Championship club played for fourteen different teams in a twenty year playing career, including two spells with Luton during this decade?
20s. Which member of the current Luton squad was called up to train with the full England squad in 2010?
Answers:
60s.John Moore played briefly in his native Scotland, for Motherwell, before signing for Luton in 1965 and stayed for eight years. Following a loan spell with Brighton and Hove Albion, Moore joined Northampton for a short while before retiring. Returning to Luton to work under David Pleat’s management, Moore became manager when Pleat left and steered the Hatters to a seventh place finish in the old First Division in 85/86 before resigning, only to return as a coach again in 1991 for a further dozen years.
70s. Italy were seemingly interested in recruiting Lil Fucillo on the back of his impressive performances for Luton in the late seventies, but injury held him back and, eventually he signed for Southend before moving on to Peterborough. Fucillo then played for Valetta of Malta before returning home to play for Cambridge United. When Peterborough manager Chris Turner became the club Chairman, he appointed his assistant Fucillo to replace him, whereas when Joe Kinnear became Luton’s Director of Football, one of the first things her did was sack manager Fuccillo and replace him with himself!
80s. Luton born Ray Daniel played for both Luton and Cardiff – we sold him to Portsmouth in 1990.
90s. Mitchell (doubting) Thomas.
00s. Scott Sinclair played a single game for Luton in 2008 and his namesake scored for Great Britain in the 2012 Olympics, he also scored a hat trick for Swansea in their Championship Play Off Final win over Reading and scored the jacks’ first ever Premier League goal against West Brom.
10s. Alan Sheehan (Swansea).
20s. Reserve goalkeeper James Shea.
