Luton v Oxford preview: Here's why this game has banana skin written all over it

[@markwilliams2191]

another great podcast lads

[@chrismcknight7164]

We can keep the system but just change the formation. Four at the back gives us an extra option and more width when we're trying to build from the back, so less likely to get caught in possession in a dangerous position. Plus having two wingers and a man behind the lone striker gives you better ability to execute a high press and more width/options in the final third. Using only wingbacks in wide positions doesn't give us enough defensive cover, we're getting too exposed while also being too predictable in attack.

[@peterscott234]

Totally agree about NJ. This is my first game (in person) since Luton beat Coventry 5-0 and have come 6500 miles to see the Hatters. The fans need to start the improvement process by singing the praises of RE and Elijah. My heart says 3-0 to LTFC.

[@nikwhite7930]

Hope you get a win on your travels. I live in Melbourne now and obviously have limited games try to get in each season but I ain't loaded. These games are important with the distance and limited in person (i saw villa away last season only game ) . Enjoy the boys will win for ya.

[@KebabMusicLtd]

Amazing to reflect on the fact that Oxford and then Cambridge were once regarded as our main rivals as far as the Conference was concerned. Of course, Crawley, Fleetwood, Mansfield and even Stevenage were the teams who won the titles before we finally managed to climb back into the league, but Oxford (for one season) and then Cambridge were the best of the former league teams and I am sure we pulled our biggest gates against them too. I truly believe the lads will come good sooner or later. I don't like to say too much pre-match as I always feel I jinx it.

[@welcome2mytruth]

I actually spat out my drink hearing the snake being mentioned again. I cannot believe that any fan thinks he is the solution - he isn't and for me, will remain in distant memory. The other 5-0 I think was home to Birmingham, around the start of that season, because my friends still rub it in my face. Tonight's game is a tricky one for everyone. For Rob, he needs to prove that he can make the right choices. Chong is out and I think this will be a blessing and will allow the middle of the park to be more creative and make more accurate passes in the final third. We had the International break and nothing had changed, which is why fans are probably very unhappy right now. Rob can be stubborn for the sake of it, but the stats says otherwise and if we lose tonight, fans will have every right to be angry at Rob. He will be the only person in the room who can't see the glaring issues and that his system will not work. James is right, we need a change for now, to get us out this rut and if Rob doesn't - the club needs to rip up his contract as I am bored of the excuses when his stubbornness is the problem. Eli needs an opportunity to play with someone he can work with like Taylor. I see those two linking up well. But I am worried Rob will pick the same shape, and put players out of position just to stroke his ego and run the risk of injuries. I hope we come away with a win, but if we lose, fans need to direct their voice at Rob and not the players and the board have a balancing act now as the club is on thin ice with all the negativity returning and need to nip in the bud. COYH!!! If Rob makes a shape change - 3-1 Luton If Rob remains stubborn - 0-2 Oxford.

[@jeffreymarks5439]

I respect your knowledge,enthusiasm, caring attitude etc,etc.I just think you are going round and round the houses on the same issues so many times it's making the podcasts extraordinary long.As a general rule I think you should be looking to contain each podcast to around 30 minutes.

[@Paul-cn3ij]

Not the first time Mengi has gone down with his knee, gone off and been ok to play the next match. Conjecture but I think he has an issue with his knee now that causes pain but playing doesn't do more damage. The problem is without scans they can't be 100% sure it is the same thing so he goes off. Can't blame him for being worried it's a new injury. Bet he'd stay on if it were 10 minutes to go in a big game! 2-1 to the Town

[@stephball6011]

Would love to see Luton bring back the passion, flair and energy but can't see it happening. I'm going for a nervous 1-1.

[@SoulfulHatter]

The banana skin may be for Oxford …let’s hope so. Not sure why you’d take swipes at Nathan. For all his errors of judgement, he did a remarkable job keeping us up and overall we have a lot to thank him for. Oxford have what we used to enjoy at Luton - a well-managed and effective transfer window, playing with intent, a solid defence and an on-target strike force. Seems your judgement was spot-on about Eli, James, hopefully not on his own up-front though. Worrying that I’m seeing a draw as a good result. But I’ll be happy with a 1-1 draw and that’s what I’ll go for. With a dose of wishful thinking unless we change our set-up which I agree with you guys that Edwards is very very unlikely to do.

[@TerryJC1971]

Good performance tonight is needed regardless of the result - we just need a back to basics stable positive attitude on the pitch.

[@adamsamm3158]

I'd like to see a 4-3-3: Taylor Brown Moses Clark Walsh Nakamba Doughty McGuinness Burke Walters Kaminski So many good subs too: Woodrow for Brown Eli for JT Nelson for Moses Krauss for Nakamba Teden for Burke Pelly for Walsh (to manage Walsh's minutes - could even put Nelson here and go 4-3-1-2 with JT staying on and Woodrow behind JT and Adebayo) If we wanted to defend a lead, we could easily switch to a 5-3-1-1. But we can all dream. I think Rob will go for a 5-3-2 with Taylor in for Chong, Walsh in for Krauss and Nakamba in for Nelson (Nakamba in the CDM role). Predicting a 2-0 Luton win.

[@lawrencepalmer7775]

You seem very nervous chaps. It’s going to come good soon so keep the faith and keep positive. Rob is building for the long term, we all know we aren’t bouncing straight back up and if we did we would go straight back down, he needs this season to build a team that will survive and succeed in the Prem. Short term thinking this season is for the fans but we all need to be patient and put up with the poor performances in the short term for longer term success. We won’t go down but we also won’t set the world alight this season. Get behind Rob, perhaps he could communicate his vision better to stop the social media bashing though.

[@KevinHarper-ry5vf]

Hi Lawrence. Great comment. We're fully behind the long-term. New ground and ambition is fantastic and we're huge supporters of it all and are right behind Rob to deliver it. The nerves and things come purely from a fear that this game could turn into the equivalent of the Stevenage game in the first Conference season when Big Mick was hounded out and it took us an eternity to recover (some of that admittedly down to poor decisions in advance of that). Hopefully the boys put in a great performance tonight, win the game and our fears can end!

[@g1k278]

As Eli will be playing maybe he is on the left with Brown in centre and Moses on the right? Who knows what RE will go with he sometimes surprises with personnel choices if not formation.

[@Geeraf-pw1yu]

Not a bad shout but I'd prefer to see Eli in the middle of that 3 personally!

[@TerryJC1971]

Team: Kaminski Defence - Walters/ Burke/Mcguniess/ Alfie Midfield- Kraus/ Marv/ Moses/ Walsh Forwards- Brown / Taylor

[@DAZFITUK]

4 - 4 - 2 would be my choice. 2 - 0 is my prediction (1 of the goals by 1 of our back line). Come on you Hatters! 🥃⚽🥃

[@ruthlees4619]

Tonight is the night! I'm not going because we live near Manchester and I'm not allowed out on a work night ... so as I'm not there to see it, we'll definitely put in the performance we've been missing so far this season. 3-0 ( minimum) By the way, LOVe the podcast. I like your gloomy realism and your grudging admiration for the opposition .

[@stevesims6875]

We want some fight and passion. Not this sitting back and waiting for the opposition to fall asleep as we pass the ball to death in the hope of finally making a chance. Having said that 3-1 Luton!

[@luton_gmanrock]

Kevin is talking like this is another crisis? We have great replacements for the injured and we have alternative striking power too, Taylor, Nelson, Brown, Woodrow. RE needs to select a proper team and respectfully, not the remanences of past seasons - sorry clicker. It's 'last chance saloon' for Elijah Adebayo. Edwards' favourite boy needs to start his scoring campaign and pressure is on the boss. Saying this > 3-1 Luton Town with Adebayo on the score sheet.

[@jonathansimpson3836]

Just saying. I hope tonight is the night we fall in love with Joe Taylor. Lutonian in exile in Lincoln. The Imps fans really Love him COYH

[@matthewwilliams967]

Realistically? 1-0 and that’s optimistic given the formation, injuries and confidence issues. Meanwhile the ladies team are casually banging in 16 goals in two games…… both with a clean sheet! COYH!!!

[@louiswhitfield7696]

I am a die hard luton fan I have been offered a ticket I have sky sports but not even going to bother, Friday night convinced me Rob edwards is not a good football manager, perhaps he should get a job presenting eye candy for the ladies 😅😅😅

[@johnconroy1316]

2-0 Luton

[@sirhadley]

A banana skin match would be Prem v L2 in the FA Cup. Give Oxford a bit more respect than that please fella. We are both in the Champ on merit, and it wasn’t that long ago we were playing each other in non league.

[@rosegrace9199]

Luton 1 Oxford 2 sorry guys hope I'm wrong

[@les8475]

Anyone who knows me won't be surprised that I am predicting 3-1 to Luton.

[@nikwhite7930]

3-1 luton . I would go 4-4-2 brown playing off Eli,moses in , McGuinness out,Nakamba in. almost playing 4-1-3-2 and don't go stupid but pick forward positive movements with a tempo and defend press as a team.

[@terryalder5369]

Very negative podcast not like you guys dont think we were that bad 15 corners shows that.Should give plymouth more respect weve only played 7 games.Dont look at table till 20 games think you been looking at social media too much.

[@alanrowley620]

Why not Pelly in midfield

[@peterbatty5372]

2-0 Oxford.Luton down to 10 men

[@jaxdub]

2-1 COYH

[@markypey]

1 nil Oxford I'm afraid. Can't see luton scoring. Hope I'm wrong

[@peterscott234]

RE says that Elijah will play. Play Woodrow with him.

[@nickevans7594]

Thoughtful podcast as always guys. I think you are being way too tough on Eli, when the real problem is RE. Rob chooses to play Eli as a lone striker against 2 or 3 big defenders with no support at all, he works his socks off, but gets so little help he is probably exhausted,. You also let RE off the hook way too easily just saying he wont change the system. Playing 7 defenders GK, 5 across the back and a CM, is just so negative, leaves the forwards isolated, and is clearly not working. He promised us progressive attacking football at the start of the season, but is delivering really dull defensive sideways football. Its his job to change it!! If he wont change even after 3 wins in 27 games, then someone will have to make the big call. I know you both prefer 442, so what would your team be in that case? I would go for Kaminsky; Doughty, Mengi, Burke, Walters; Brown, Nakamba, Walsh, Moses; Morris, Adebayo. At least then the forwards should get some service. If no Mengi, then Mcguiness, but I dont think he has done enough to be selected. If no Morris then Taylor. Be nice to see RE team selection before prediction, but knowing what he is likely to do I will go with 1-1.

[@Paul-cn3ij]

It's less the 3 CB's but the 5-2-3 instead of when we've played 5-3-2 for Eli. Having someone closer to him makes a big difference compared to the two wide men that spend half the game worrying about filling in for over lapping WB's. I'd like to see a 4-2-3-1. Same back 4 as you (though Bell when he's fit) and then Marv and Krauß in front of them, Brown - Baptiste - Moses/Chong and either Eli or Carlton up front. Still prefer to have one of the strikers coming on fresh in the last 20/30 minutes as the opposition defence tires.

[@terryalder5369]

Kaminski Burke maginuss menji alfie Nakamba Krauss Moses. Brown Eljah. Taylor LTFC 3 OXON 1

[@andyweiz_ko6957]

Totally unpredictable game. No idea what the line-up will be or the formation. Could go any way but hell yeah, I’m going 4-0 to Luton

[@ClareClark-vm5qr]

1-0 Luton......

[@desjude]

Luton win 2 - 0.

[@chrismeeson4725]

😂😂 if your going to do a podcast do your homework 😂😂 so poor. We should win because they have just come up 😂 we had six first teasers out tonight you muppets. COYY

[@simonkilsby3445]

2-0 Luton

[@mdacheets]

2-0 Luton