MATCHWATCH : Luton Town (a)

[bcubed]

Speaks volumes what Pauno thinks of this game / competition, chasing the game and takes our 3 most senior players off

Yep and after Baldock had his best chance, well probably of the season!

[Royality creeps In]

Is this our youngest ever side for a first team game?

[CountryRoyal]

Substitutions have removed attacking impetus. Not the first time we’ve said that.

[Zip]

Lots of pressure and some decent saves from Luton keeper

Had we scored from Aluko I think we'd have gone on to win comfortably

As it is I reckon we're done for

Such a shame. A slightly stronger squad could see us through and give the younger players more opportunities.

As with the league cup, he's over stacked it and we'll go out and lose chances to play.

Agreed
Short sighted approach from the manager

I don’t think so. There is always the risk of injury. We are very much in the promotion mix in a very congested season. We also don’t have a big squad these days. Our players need a break.

[Pepe the Horseman]

Lots of pressure and some decent saves from Luton keeper

Had we scored from Aluko I think we'd have gone on to win comfortably

As it is I reckon we're done for

Such a shame. A slightly stronger squad could see us through and give the younger players more opportunities.

As with the league cup, he's over stacked it and we'll go out and lose chances to play.

Agreed
Short sighted approach from the manager

The trouble is our squad is so light that we can't really take that risk. Who else would you have played? Rino and Laurent both desperately needed a break. Deffo not worth risking João. Assume Puscas must've had a set back, as this would've been ideal for him. Swift has played a lot recently after a long time out, so I think it was right not to risk him either. Richards only just back from injury. Morrison has played very game so could do with a rest. Pretty much leaves Holmes and Ovie.

[Snowflake Royal]

Such a shame. A slightly stronger squad could see us through and give the younger players more opportunities.

As with the league cup, he's over stacked it and we'll go out and lose chances to play.

Agreed
Short sighted approach from the manager

I don’t think so. There is always the risk of injury. We are very much in the promotion mix in a very congested season. We also don’t have a big squad these days. Our players need a break.

No one suggested we play the entire first team.

If Cabral gets injured for example, Southwood will have to come in and has played three games. A less dismissive approach the cup and it would be four with at least one more to come. You can replicate that all over.

[Hound]

Such a shame. A slightly stronger squad could see us through and give the younger players more opportunities.

As with the league cup, he's over stacked it and we'll go out and lose chances to play.

Agreed
Short sighted approach from the manager

I don’t think so. There is always the risk of injury. We are very much in the promotion mix in a very congested season. We also don’t have a big squad these days. Our players need a break.

Yeah agreed. We don’t have the squad to sustain a cup run as well

Enjoyed the game and bigger picture is some good game time for the kids

[CountryRoyal]

Don’t like to rag on the younguns but Bristow has been very poor.

I agree and haven’t been overly impressed with him when I’ve seen but let’s not forget what Richards looked like when he was younger.

[SCIAG]

Absolutely the right approach from Paunovic. We are playing two games a week, we don’t need “opportunities to play”.

[Pepe the Horseman]

Agreed
Short sighted approach from the manager

I don’t think so. There is always the risk of injury. We are very much in the promotion mix in a very congested season. We also don’t have a big squad these days. Our players need a break.

No one suggested we play the entire first team.

If Cabral gets injured for example, Southwood will have to come in and has played three games. A less dismissive approach the cup and it would be four with at least one more to come. You can replicate that all over.

Who else would you have played today?

[Ascotexgunner]

I really hate that we treat the FA Cup like this but it's a difficult one. Squad is light, playoffs a serious possibility and the fact the senior deadwood in our team offer bugger all really gives the manager a problem.

[Hound]

Oh no. So close

[Snowflake Royal]

Fairly strong side to start with a blend of reserve for me. I want them to win because I want the younger lads to get more game time. And some our players are only just back and could use the minutes.

Something like:

...................Southwood
Esteves, Holmes, McIntyre, Bristow
...................Semedo, Swift
....Aluko,.........Olise, ..........Baldock
........................Puscas

Cabral, Richards, Dorsett, Watson, East, Onen, Melvin-Lambert, Lawless, Ejaria

If I knew which of the youth were ok at LW I might put them in for Baldock as he's not ideal there.

This is a team the first XI have comprehensively beaten in their last three league games.

[CountryRoyal]

How have we not at least taken it to extra time

[Zip]

Agreed
Short sighted approach from the manager

I don’t think so. There is always the risk of injury. We are very much in the promotion mix in a very congested season. We also don’t have a big squad these days. Our players need a break.

No one suggested we play the entire first team.

If Cabral gets injured for example, Southwood will have to come in and has played three games. A less dismissive approach the cup and it would be four with at least one more to come. You can replicate that all over.

Where have I said someone has suggested we play our entire first team? Bizarre thing to say. Pauno clearly isn’t bothered about the Cup. He may think very differently if we were mid table....just as we hit the bar.
In truth this team he has selected has outplayed Luton in the second half and we are desperately unlucky to be going out.

[Pepe the Horseman]

If we'd left the senior pros on, Aluko would've missed that instead.

[Snowflake Royal]

Tough one for Onen, awkward height and rising on him.

[Ascotexgunner]

How have we not at least taken it to extra time

Finishing is woeful.

[Jackson Corner]

That’s two open goals pathetic

[CountryRoyal]

I think we’ve absolutely done the right thing today, and it was an enjoyable game too. As others have said we just don’t have the luxury of risking ANY of our first team players. On this awful pitch I even cringed a bit at seeing Olise playing.