Luton Town (A) - Sun 10th Dec, 14:00 | Pre-Match Thread

[The Stockport Iniesta]

Relegation 6 pointer this one.

 

[Salford in the City]

Our best team without Kev. While not all of these are in form, it is the best balanced side. Shoehorning Alvarez in is a mistake.

Eddie
Akanji Stones Días Ake
Rodri
Bernardo Kovacic
Foden Haaland Grealish

I like the look of that, even though Bernardo looked gone the last 15 mins.

 

[ninjamonkey]

Have to give them respect, they held the dippers and narrowly lost in the dying moments to arsenal. On the back of no win in 4. This isn't ideal and is far from a given at this point. an absolute must win though. We drop any more points before the new year now with the fixtures we have theh it's curtains for our record 4 in a row.

2 might be manageable again but we simply can't chase down 2 teams who are approaching double figures infront.

They will be well up for this, can you see us matching their intensity? It shouldn't be a question but I've not seen anything to suggest so for about 2 months.

If we continue with this shit tactic of having all our midfielders vacate midfield as much as possible then they'll be guaranteed a goal or two, will we outscore them? We obviously should do but I couldn't tell you how I can see us creating scoring opportunities right now.

Players need to be fired up. Pep needs to go back to last seasons formation and we need a convincing win

Assuming still no doku and stones is good to play again,

Ederson
Walker
Stones
Dias
Gvardiol
Rodri
Kovacic
Bernardo
Bobb
Foden
Haaland

Foden central, Bobb and Bernardo out wide, would like to see alvarez play from out wide if he features. He can't play 10.

 

[chaddblue]

We’ll smash them

Major players back and the rest of them with a huge point to prove after such a pitiful effort tonight

If we don’t see a big reaction from the players who should be hurt and embarrassed then there’s something seriously wrong

 

[Damanino]

if we drop points here than we are really low especially after a big loss like this Villa one

reaction is needed for the Villa loss but this is a bit silly because I hoped for a reaction and anger after the way we threw away the win vs Spurs and the reaction to that was that Villa mopped up the floor with us basically.

Ake, Dias, Akanji 3 man defence, Stones playing the hybrid role, Rodri, Bernardo, Kovacic midfield and Grealish, Haaland, Foden upfront for me.

we need to start controlling games, keep possession and not have teams have a field day going through our midfield.

 

[marco]

this game cant come quick enough pep will go to reset after villa, players back and the team have a point to prove 1-3 City

 

[SWPISHOME]

Ederson

Walker
Dias
Stones
Ake

Rodri
Kovavic
Bernardo

Grealish
Bobb
Haaland

 

[argyle]

We've turned into flat track bullies.

That said, I wouldn't be surprised if we lose this one.

I hope he drops Alvarez for an extra body in centre midfield.

 

[eyalluvitt]

I doubt anyone that has watched us play the last month would feel confident ahead of any game regardless opposition. We are awful at the moment.

Henshaws blind school reserves would hit long diagonals and play on Gvardiol’s dilly dallying

 

[TrentGrisham]

Our best team without Kev. While not all of these are in form, it is the best balanced side. Shoehorning Alvarez in is a mistake.

Eddie
Akanji Stones Días Ake
Rodri
Bernardo Kovacic
Foden Haaland Grealish

Foden for Kovacic and Doku out wide for me.

 

[urban genie]

Back to basics, the extra CB in midfield worked great last year but is causing issues with no Kev or gundo

4-3-3 fluidcas a 4-4-2 when necessary of old just till players are back to match fitness (nunes/kova/kev etc)

 

[burning blue soul]

If I was Rhodri I'd be putting in a pay increase request immediately.
Seems we can't function without him.
Fucked if I know how this game will pan out. Looks like confidence is low in the City team.
If we don't beat Luton we are in a world of hurt. Possibly 8/9 points behind the leaders by Monday.
That's a gap this squad will struggle to make back if they continue the kamikaze football.

 

[sh249]

Back to what works:

————Ederson———-
—-Akanji-Dias-Ake—-
——Stones-Rodri——
Doku-Bernardo-Foden-Grealish
————Haaland——-

Unlikely though. Pep seems bent on doing things differently this season.

 

[Bluewars]

___Ederson
__Akanji___Dias___Ake
___Stones___Rodri___
Silva_Foden_Kova_Jack/doku
_______Haaland____

 

[Gray]

Team running on empty, players out of form, wafer thin squad.

Another struggle I fear.

 

[jim tolmies perm]

Simply want to see Pep stop stubbornly fucking about and do what he knows is the right thing. Anyone slacking out the door.
This one really is win at all costs

 

[richards30]

How far have we fallen that i`m terrified of being beaten by Luton?!!? Think Kyle needs a break to be honest as he`s been poor for weeks now, hopefully its not the start of a sudden decline with 3 years left on his contract.

Ederson
Stones
Dias
Gvardiol
Ake
Rodri
Bernardo Silva
Foden
Grealish
Doku (Hopefully)
Haaland

If Pep wants Stones to be stepping into midfield then do it from the RB position again? We are FAR too open when a CB does it and i`d like to see Gvardiol tried at CB with Ake back in so when Stones steps forward then we still have a solid back 3 behind.

 

[grant1977]

1-1

 

[willipp]

Time to drop Walker and go three at the back again. Back 3 of Akanji, Dias, Ake. Stones and Rodri in front and then Kovacic, bernardo, Grealish, Foden, Haaland.

We need to get control of the ball back as Luton will now be well up for this thinking we’re on the ropes.

 

[Lovebitesandeveryfing]

I genuinely expect a draw.
Just as they would have got the other night against Arsenal. Except that there were six minutes of extra time announced. And Rice scored in the 97th minute.
(I'd take the draw, too, in current circumstances…)