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    2019/20 squad comparison

    Posted by Carrolls Elbow on 13/8/2025, 9:13:29

    Man for man, this team arguably more talented than the one that got promoted, but they benefitted from all knowing how we set up and played inside out. Current team are still finding a rhythm at an attacking level.

    Aside from Justin and Stacey, who were far too good for the level and we’d kill for now and arguably a reliable Collins type finisher striker, our current team is better IMO.

    Keeley > Shea
    In defence Pearson/Bradley - probably par with Mads/Kal/Christ
    In central midfield Shinnie, Pelly, Berry, Rea, Macca a better unit but we have better footballers now in Sav, Baptiste, Walsh, Clark, Fanne, Nelson
    Attacking midfield/wide men - Lua Lua, Moncur, Elliot Lee, Cornick - certainly more options than seemingly Alli, Chong (assuming he’s available), Nelson, Clark, Kodua
    CF - Collins and Hylton were great together. Lee supporting. We know we’re still looking a bit light but would hope a fully fit list from Eli, Wells, Yates, Woodrow (im not counting Nordas) should have goals in them.

    You can appreciate looking back, how NJ and then Mick had a consistent team, setup, style of play that suited the players we had. Feel MB is still searching for that and I hope he might settle on a 433 at some point in the season.

      Re: 2019/20 squad comparison

      Posted by Herts Hatter on 13/8/2025, 12:07:57, in reply to "2019/20 squad comparison "

      Put those 2019 players through 2 years of Rob Edwards and they might not seem so good. Basically we were as bad as any team in English football last season which may cloud judgement of players who might do better in a different team. I think I fair few of the current team need to be judged after a few months of this season

        Re: 2019/20 squad comparison

        Posted by Farhat on 13/8/2025, 9:45:34, in reply to "2019/20 squad comparison "

        I haven't got the statistics to hand, but we took very few points off the rest of the (finishing) top ten in the 18/19 season, but we hammered the other 14 teams.

          Re: 2019/20 squad comparison

          Posted by FrednBob on 13/8/2025, 9:55:12, in reply to "Re: 2019/20 squad comparison "

          22 points out of 54 against teams 10th or higher

          72 points of 84 against teams 11-24

          Didn't lose to a side that finished 11th or below all season.

          Re: 2019/20 squad comparison

          Posted by EastEnder on 13/8/2025, 9:48:07, in reply to "Re: 2019/20 squad comparison "

          The first 2 games we got 1 point off 6 v Pompey and Sunderland, then we went to Posh and lost 3-1 and were 22nd.

          Re: 2019/20 squad comparison

          Posted by Letchworth Hatter on 13/8/2025, 9:35:56, in reply to "2019/20 squad comparison "

          Today's team is not as good.

          I would take the team that started when we beat Portsmouth 3-2 in the snow everyday of the week.

          Shea

          Stacey
          Bradley
          Pearson
          Justin

          McCormack
          Shinnie
          Pelly
          Berry

          Lua Lua
          Collins

          Add Stech, Potts, Sheehan, Rea, Cornick, Hylton, Lee, Moncur

          Only GK and depth at CB make today's squad anymore competitive than that one.

          We are currently a team made up of centre backs, raw young players with potential, injury prone, players playing in the second favourite position, and experienced players at the end of their careers.

          Credit to Bloomfield if he gets us promoted.

            Re: 2018/19 squad comparison

            Posted by Carrolls Elbow on 13/8/2025, 9:47:44, in reply to "Re: 2019/20 squad comparison "

            Agree, my point was the “team” everyone knew their role, skills etc.

            Talent wise, our current playing 11 is better. But it’s not a proper team yet.

              Re: 2018/19 squad comparison

              Posted by Letchworth Hatter on 13/8/2025, 9:54:19, in reply to "Re: 2018/19 squad comparison "

              I don't think 'talent wise' it is better.



                Re: 2018/19 squad comparison

                Posted by Music Critic on 13/8/2025, 10:35:01, in reply to "Re: 2018/19 squad comparison "

                I'm one of those people who thinks we need to strengthen, a lot, but there is no way that 'talent-wise, 2018 is better than 2025.

                Our current centre halves apart from Holmes are better than, or on par with, Bradley and Pearson

                Keeper is better, as you say

                Defensive midfielders are better than Rea and on a par with McCormack although that is more debateable as McCormack was quality. McCormack was also near the end of his career in 2018/19

                The only positions I'd definitely say that 2018-19 team was better were the full backs (we are currently so short there it's laughable) and Berry (creative midfield). Also, Collins (in his prime) is probably up there with today's Wells and better than anyone else we have

                Our squad is far less balanced, though because recruitment has been, to my eyes, scattergun. Where and what is the plan? I have no idea

                  Re: 2018/19 squad comparison

                  Posted by Letchworth Hatter on 13/8/2025, 11:11:13, in reply to "Re: 2018/19 squad comparison "

                  I disagree

                  In the areas of the pitch where goals are created and scored the 18/19 team is streets ahead.

                  It also had real leaders.

                  For me Stacey, Justin, Bradley, Berry and Collins walk into the present team.

                  Lua Lua, McCormack, Pelly and Shinnie would all make cases for being included.

                  If we didn't play with three centre backs I think based on performances so far, more of the 18/19 make the first XI.

                  I think I'm being generous to Wells.

                  Keeley

                  Justin
                  Bradley
                  Makosso
                  Stacey

                  McCormack
                  Baptiste
                  Berry
                  Clark

                  Wells
                  Collins

                    Re: 2018/19 squad comparison

                    Posted by Music Critic on 13/8/2025, 11:32:38, in reply to "Re: 2018/19 squad comparison "

                    I don't think that is a million miles from what I said

                    But McCormack over Saville? Interesting. I think we need to see more of Saville but I don't think there's a lot between them. But Saville is, currently, better for the only reason that he isn't injury-prone (that's jinxed it). McCormack, in his prime, was probably better than Saville but he wasn't here when he was in his prime

                    I just disagree about Bradley. A great leader and player for us but I just don't agree he is better than any of our current centre halves apart from Holmes and he's maybe on a par with McGuinness. Loved Bradley but we still have leadership but with more pace and more technical ability at centre half now

                    So, I make it 3 (maybe 4 - full backs, Collins and Berry) get into our current 11

                      Re: 2018/19 squad comparison

                      Posted by Letchworth Hatter on 13/8/2025, 11:53:16, in reply to "Re: 2018/19 squad comparison "

                      Sonny Bradley played for and captained the club in over 100 games in the Championship - eventually helping to lead us into the Premier League. He was 27 in 2018.

                      The centre backs we have on the books that saw us relegated from the Championship aren’t anywhere near those levels. If they are they haven’t shown it.

                      You can take Mengi, Andersen, Naismith, Lonwijk, Odoffin and McGuinness - I will happily take Bradley all day long (albeit alongside a quicker Makosso).

                        Re: 2018/19 squad comparison

                        Posted by Music Critic on 13/8/2025, 12:00:50, in reply to "Re: 2018/19 squad comparison "

                        Couldn't disagree more about Bradley and you're cherry-picking. He also almost led us to relegation in 2020 and we would have definitely dropped without Covid interrupting things.

                        And, on that point, Bradley led us to promotion to the Prem? That is a bizarre take - he barely played in 2022-23 and not that much in 2021-22. That is a huge stretch. Lockyer led us to promotion

                        But we may as well leave it at that cos we ain't going to agree

                          Re: 2018/19 squad comparison

                          Posted by Ostrich spotter on 14/8/2025, 8:40:10, in reply to "Re: 2018/19 squad comparison "

                          I am with you all the way in your discussion with Letchworth Hatter. However, what you are both ignoring is that the overriding consideration is that the 2018/19 squad was better given it was a balanced squad. Whilst current squad may contain a good number of better individuals, it is not a better team. The gaps are glaringly obvious and it is disappointing and concerning that these gaps have not been filled and, based in Bloomfield's comments, not even close to be rectified.

                            Re: 2018/19 squad comparison

                            Posted by Letchworth Hatter on 13/8/2025, 12:20:54, in reply to "Re: 2018/19 squad comparison "

                            I'm not asking you to agree with me.

                            I just think that you are wrong.

                              Re: 2018/19 squad comparison

                              Posted by Music Critic on 13/8/2025, 13:44:47, in reply to "Re: 2018/19 squad comparison "

                              Not asking you to agree, at all. Just challenging your utter shite. You post a lot of it

                              Nothing to say about my counter to your claim about Bradley supposedly leading us to the Prem, then? Or nearly taking us down?

                              'Bradley better than Naismith'

                          Re: 2018/19 squad comparison

                          Posted by EastEnder on 13/8/2025, 11:41:40, in reply to "Re: 2018/19 squad comparison "

                          We don't need to be better than 2019, we just need to better than 22 other clubs!

                            Re: 2018/19 squad comparison

                            Posted by Music Critic on 13/8/2025, 11:45:29, in reply to "Re: 2018/19 squad comparison "

                            Well, I know but the thread is comparing the two teams/squads!

                            Without additions I'm not sure we are top 2 this season even though, individually, we are stronger now than then in many areas of the pitch. Trouble is we are massively weaker at full back and in advanced midfield roles. I mean significantly weaker, which might more than cancel the good stuff out

                  Re: 2019/20 squad comparison

                  Posted by EastEnder on 13/8/2025, 9:42:12, in reply to "Re: 2019/20 squad comparison "

                  We didn't actually enter Top 6 until October 23 that season.

                  Took a while to hit the ground running.

                  After one point from opening 3 games i imagine there was some moaning on here.

                    Re: 2019/20 squad comparison

                    Posted by Letchworth Hatter on 13/8/2025, 9:51:27, in reply to "Re: 2019/20 squad comparison "

                    I doubt it.

                    We had just been promoted from League Two and played Portsmouth away, Sunderland at home and Peterborough away. Three tough games whilst we tried to find our feet in the level above.

                    This wasn't a season where we had suffered successive relegations from the top flight and had millions in parachute payments.

                  Re: 2019/20 squad comparison

                  Posted by Carrolls Elbow on 13/8/2025, 9:14:04, in reply to "2019/20 squad comparison "

                  That should be 2018/19 squad comparison!!

                    Re: 2019/20 squad comparison

                    Posted by EastEnder on 13/8/2025, 9:21:52, in reply to "Re: 2019/20 squad comparison "

                    Wasn't Hylton injured 2nd half of season and Lua Lua played with Collins?\


                      Re: 2019/20 squad comparison

                      Posted by Sandgrounder on 13/8/2025, 9:29:26, in reply to "Re: 2019/20 squad comparison "

                      Yep. Generally we looked much better that season with Collins plus someone with pace rather than Collins and Hylton.

                      Consistency of selection and patterns of play are so important. I think we’re a long way off that at the moment.

                        Re: 2019/20 squad comparison

                        Posted by EastEnder on 13/8/2025, 9:29:10, in reply to "Re: 2019/20 squad comparison "

                        It's funny how people were saying we were miles off the 2018/19 team but when you look at the players available and how the team is evolving, we might not be quite as far off as we thought.

                          Re: 2019/20 squad comparison

                          Posted by Letchworth Hatter on 13/8/2025, 11:16:14, in reply to "Re: 2019/20 squad comparison "

                          You'd hope not.

                          They were a promoted League Two team and we now have a relegated Championship team that can spend.

                          There are no excuses for us being 'miles off' that 18/19 side.

                            Re: 2019/20 squad comparison

                            Posted by Music Critic on 13/8/2025, 10:39:20, in reply to "Re: 2019/20 squad comparison "

                            There are some good individuals in the current squad but there's no balance. Loads of decent centre halves and deeper lying midfielders and a good (on early evidence at least) keeper. And, well, not a lot else

                            Players that can merely 'fill in' at full back or wing back is not good enough

                              Re: 2019/20 squad comparison

                              Posted by EastEnder on 13/8/2025, 10:50:14, in reply to "Re: 2019/20 squad comparison "

                              Also depends on standard of opposition, it might be a bit like 18/19 when a lot of the opposition don't necessarily amount to all that much.

                              Don't forget there were a lot of fans favourites in that squad who had earned that tag from previous season's promotion.

                              This time players are unknowns. youngsters, or players who have got relegated in one or both of previous 2 seasons.

                            Re: 2019/20 squad comparison

                            Posted by Carrolls Elbow on 13/8/2025, 9:28:41, in reply to "Re: 2019/20 squad comparison "

                            He was injured for a large chunk. Made 25 appearances in all (good old Wikipedia!)

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