In pre-season, I was looking at some of the L2 squads being assembled as players were brought in. At the time I notice the ongoing giant's recruitment campaign going on at Mansfield as they pursued their physical approach to the new season; not a fixture I was at all looking forward to. I just don’t care much for games against Mansfield a most ugly side that even the local folk of Mansfield can hardly be bothered with for their home games, at least the ones with little travelling support hovering around 2500.
Nathan made one change to last week’s winning line-up at orient with Jake Gray coming in for the suspended Danny Hylton which meant Cook would be playing in a more forward role. I would not say anybody was massively surprised with the selection nor would I say there was a feeling of delight. Surely it would have been more sensible to have either Vassell or the tricky Banton in the starting 11 against this team of “fourth division giants”. What the heck was Marriott likely to achieve up front as the one recognised striker on the pitch for us. Also does NJ just not think Banton is up to it? Surely Banton deserved a place on the bench after such a great performance against WBA a couple of weeks back and according to reports a good display at Barton in the week. A touch bewildered, I took my seat in the stand not exactly filled with expectation for basically a team with one striker playing against this horrible Mansfield bunch. We started with a slightly odd formation that saw Dan Potts and Stephen O’Donnell pushed right forward on their respective flanks. Glen Rea as expected in the holding midfield role and Gray looking more like a right back that a midfielder. The whole approach seemed to be based on maintaining possession, being patient and hopefully drawing Mansfield out and creating some space to play the forward ball. However, despite that tip-tap football, Mansfield seemed perfectly happy, why should they want the ball? When Mansfield did lump the ball forward a move produced a cross over our penalty area and a totally needless corner brought about by zero communication between goalkeeper and defender that meant the ball was unnecessarily headed out to concede a corner. From that corner, the giants prospered from our usual set piece weakness and a soft poorly defended goal conceded; a couple of unchallenged headers and bang; it’s 1-0 to Mansfield. Wow, were Mansfield going to be happy now, just sit back and let Luton play tip-tap and keep an eye on little Jack was the game plan, “we only came for a point, maybe we will get three”. We did not really change much that first half just continuous sideways, backwards going nowhere passing. It was not good stuff and I started to think of a Yardbirds song from the 60’s: over under sideways down, backwards, square and round, over under sideways down; when will it end, when will it end? Well, that as close as I can recall to the lyrics of that Yardbirds number and it certainly described the first half for me. What an entirely forgettable first half with only Gilliead showing the endeavour and will to actually get forward and run at the opposition. On the left flank, Potts did try one forward run but it was just embarrassing for the poor lad just does not have a clue when it comes to wing-back play. For me, the highlight of the first half was Cuthbert bellowing to O’Donnell “get your head to that f***ing ball”. We were so desperately missing the “pain in the arse, chase everything Hylton”. I really did expect some changes in the second half; surely NJ would introduce Pelly and Vassell to add some pace and power to run at these lumbering giants but no, the same 11 came back onto the field. Thankfully we seemed to have a touch more purpose about us in the second half but really we were not getting that far as the clock ticked away with less than 30 minutes left when a ball dropped to Sheehan in the Mansfield penalty area. Unfortunately, Sheehan made a complete mess of it and hooked the ball over the bar; was it going to end in another disappointing home performance? At last, on 68 minutes Nathan had seen enough and made a desperately needed double substitution bringing on Pelly and Vassell for Cook and Potts. Straight away we changed our shape with Sheehan going to wing back & Rea centre back. We started to look like we had some width and powerful running on the field at last and Mansfield were now getting a touch panicky as we now wanted to run at them and reduce this “Yardbirds” stuff. Maybe we were going to get something from this game, maybe Nathan had left it a touch late to chuck his diamond away for the afternoon? We were now looking much more like a side capable of doing something against a very basic and physical lower league outfit, the sort of team we really should be taking apart if we are really going to occupy one of those top three spots at the end of the season. At last a goal was looking a possibility and thankfully that goal came from a bobbling long range shot from Cameron McGeehan. I think the ball skimmed off the turf at least twice before nestling in the bottom right corner of the Mansfield net. McGeehan does have his critics but his goals from midfield are so often vital to our side. Now the task was to press on and win the game; we almost got that winner from a Cuthbert effort well saved by the keeper. It was getting better, we were getting closer, but why had Nathan left it so late to make these changes? Then with the last kick of the game, we almost got the winner when Marriott, who was actually getting some service now, hooked the ball so narrowly wide of the goal. I only wish we had another 10 minutes on the clock to play, if we had then I reckon we would have collected all three points. So there it is, the horrible home fixture with Mansfield out of the way for the season; please let's not draw them at home in the cup. The Sunday Rant: I absolutely hate this so called low carat diamond formation at home; just so frustrating. Under JS we played a lot of long ball without having the players suited to that game. Under NJ we use his “diamonds are forever” approach but again like JS, we don’t have the players, in this case, wing backs, capable of really effectively playing that formation at least at home. In away games, it works well as we can wait for the opposition to come at us and then try to hit them on the counterattack but at home, it’s just too slow, ponderous and predictable without the necessary wing backs to make it work. We do have those wingbacks in my view in youngsters Justin and Senior but both have injuries. I like Nathan and think he will lead us into a brighter future and a promotion or two but currently, I just wonder if he is trying, at least in home games, to play a championship style of football with L2 players against sometimes smart, sometimes physical L2 sides. I do now question the use of Sheehan as a centre back, great tackling, anticipation, and brave blocking but he is often dwarfed by the opposition strikers. Would it be better to use his undoubted skills at LB and have Mullins or Famewo in the centre with Cuthbert? Danny Hylton; oh, how we miss him when he does not play and there is nobody remotely close to stepping in for him as a striker. Sticking with strikers, just how pissed off must Banton feel for yet again not even getting a place on the eight-man bench? I am not being overly critical of NJ including CMS on the bench when match fit but surely Banton with his close control and pace would have been a better bet yesterday? Clean sheets, yes they would be nice but truly I could happily live without them if we simply have it within us to create chances for Marriott and Hylton and we score one more goal than the opposition. Finally, as jimmy Greaves used to say “it’s a funny old game": from the 22 L1 & L2 games played on Saturday there were only two home wins; how unusual is that? A few thoughts on individual performances: Walton: made a couple of smart saves but to my mind, he showed the inexperience of a youngster when he really should have shouted “leave the ball” to our defender, Sheehan I think, who needlessly headed the ball out for the corner that led to the Mansfield goal. O’Donnell: what you see is what you get, pace, effort willingness but a touch of a lack of sense at times. Cuthbert: yet another very good game from Cuthbert; got MOM from the sponsors. Sheehan: mostly a decent performance could have or should have scored. As a central defender in L2 I reckon he is struggling a touch against the big guys. Potts: defending fair enough at this level but as I say week after week just not capable of wing back play that is so desperately needed in Nathans formation. Rea: decent enough game and is capable of making the kind of tackle that Olly Lee can only dream about. Gray: played deep early on but moved up in the second half and might have scored but his shot was very tame. He had a fairly poor game in my view but that’s what we will have when we remember that he is only a youngster developing his game: confident he will become more consistent and a good player for us. McGeehan: played deeper for much of the game, always looking for the ball but things he tried, like others in the team, just did not come off apart from that very welcome equaliser. It’s all too easy to be critical of McGeehan but where would we be without his goals from midfield? Gilliead: our one bright star during the whole 90 minutes; willing to take players on, win the ball and at least try to press the opposition; surely has to start every game? Cook: neither bad or good; never made that much of an impression on the game. Marriott: worked away as best he could with just very little created for him until the two 68th minute substitutions were made. Create chances for him and he will at least convert some of them into goals. The Subs: Pelly: at last somebody willing and able to run at the opposition with pace and power. His passing did not always work as he wished but at least the Mansfield lads started to panic and space began to be created. Vassell: not a bad effort but needs more time on the pitch and a goal if he is to make a second year with our club. Ferocious Olly Lee: came on at about the 80th minute and those around me shared a quick joke of would he have time to get booked as the clock was ticking down: yes, he did have time and he collected his 6th yellow of the season. Teams: Luton: Walton, O’Donnell, Potts (Vassell 68), Cuthbert (C), Sheehan, Rea, Gilliead, Gray ( Lee 80), McGeehan, Cook (Pelly 68), Marriott. Subs not used: Craig King, Jonathan Smith, Johnny Mullins. Mansfield: Shearer, Bennett, Benning, Collins (C), Pearce, Clements, Hoban , Green, Hurst, Kyle Howkins, Rose . Bookings: Mansfield: Thomas 60, Rose 72; Luton: Ferocious Olly Lee 90. Referee: Graham Salisbury; fairly reasonable but I thought he should have clamped down on the Mansfield time wasting much earlier that he actually did. Attendance: 7,787 (295 Mansfield).
2 Comments
Stevo
10/23/2016 06:31:08 am
Cheers, good read as always.
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lizard
10/24/2016 10:51:33 am
you missed the best bit of the day, ie, the Wherry
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