Luton Town Season Preview: pressure reduced

With the 2018-19 League One season coming up, The Football Lab spoke to Luton Town fan Dave O’Flanagan (@LTFC_Dave)…

You scored 62 home goals last season, more than any fourth-tier side has managed since the number of games was extended in 1983. Even though you missed out on the League Two title, this surely must go down as one of the most enjoyable seasons ever?

Definitely. I predicted 2nd place 12 months ago when doing this, so looking at it that way, I can’t be too upset as promotion was the main aim. Obviously for Accrington to be the side that finished above us is a bit of a kick in the teeth but to give them credit they went on an absolutely incredible run – aided by a fortuitous win at Kenilworth Road – and deserved the title. The 8 goal opening day blitz against Yeovil was incredible but I feel the 7-0 demolition of Cambridge where our players had a “goal of the season” competition, and equally putting 7 past “rivals” Stevenage will probably be more memorable games for the fans.

The main history-making Hatters were James Collins and Danny Hylton, who became the first fourth-tier players to score 19+ goals for the same team since 2009-10. Do you see the duo causing problems in League One?

I would hope so – Something my followers on Twitter will have seen me mention on a couple of occasions is that Danny Hylton has never really experienced League 1 football, bar one game at Rotherham and although he’s arguably at the peak of his career now, evidenced by his goal return over the last two seasons, I think how well he makes the jump will decide how successful our season is. Collins has more experience in League 1 but I think he’s probably the “second” striker at the moment and the movement that Elliott Lee posseses could see him come into the team

It seems like whichever division you end up in under Nathan Jones, he’ll commit to playing front-foot football with flying full-backs. Jack Stacey and Dan Potts must have been exciting to watch last season?

Stacey was probably one of our most underrated players last year. Coming in at a time where first choice RB James Justin was linked with a 7 figure move away, I think a lot of fans expected – and perhaps even wanted – Stacey to play second fiddle to JJ. However when he was given a chance, he took it superbly and deservedly kept Justin out the team. Potts has been an absolute revelation over the last 18 months. Approaching the back end of the 16/17 season I don’t think too many fans would have lost sleep if he was released however he kicked on, even scoring in the failed play off campaign, and carried out this season, not just scoring goals, but vital ones at that, usually from an Alan Sheehan set piece.

Alan Sheehan certainly looked busy at the end of season’s awards! Does his wonderful 2017-18 campaign show that ball-playing centre-backs are becoming increasingly valuable?

Certainly for a side that wants to play the “right” brand of football I think it’s important that your defence are comfortable with the ball at their feet, something that Harry Maguire and John Stones have been showing at the World Cup for England. I’ve watched lower league football for a long time now and I don’t think there’s too many players with the passing range Sheehan has, let alone centre backs. He captained the side for a long time last season whilst Cuthbert was injured and should take the armband this year as well.

You mentioned last year that you needed a more aerially accomplished centre-back to compliment Sheehan. Do the signings of Sonny Bradley and Matty Pearson tick that box?

Simply put, yes. Bradley has been a long term target and to sign him on a free transfer – regardless of what contract Plymouth did or didn’t offer him – is a massive coup for us, and he’ll definitely strengthen us at the back, and should be able to get a few at the other end with quality delivery. I’m a little less convinced on Pearson although Jones has got most things right since he’s been here so I trust his judgment on that one.

James Shea took the number one jersey off Marek Stech for the final eight games of last season. Has he done enough to start at Portsmouth?

No. Although Shea did well when he came in, and when he featured in the Trophy, I think Stech is rightly still the Number One keeper in the eyes of Nathan Jones. Although he had a little wobble last season, Stech was only “dropped” after his partner had gone into labour and when the chance came Shea took it well, without really setting the world alight. I would expect Stech to reclaim his spot for Portsmouth with Shea keeping him on his toes.

Alan McCormack looks a real leader but he did have a long spell on the sidelines that year. Will you rely on Glen Rea in the holding role?

McCormack’s fitness – perhaps more so than anyone else at the club – is going to be vital to how we do this season. Whilst Rea has kicked on well in his time here, I think you could see the extra class and experience that McCormack bought to us when he was available. Rea’s utility value to operate as a CB or in holding midfield makes him a valuable asset but if both are fit I would expect McCormack to shield his defence more often than not.

You look perhaps a tad light in central midfield at the time of writing, especially with Olly Lee moving to Hearts. Are you hoping for additions there?

Although indiciations seem to be that our transfer business is done, central midfield is probably the one area we’re a little short in at the moment although with Luke Berry ahead of schedule after his horrific injury it’s not a major issue. There are concerns over players – McCormack’s fitness which has been mentioned, and also for me, whether Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu can put a consistent run of form together after ending the season well.

Andrew Shinnie didn’t feature after March last season, while Elliott Lee appeared to finish the campaign in good form. After signing on a two-year deal, does Shinnie have a job on to win his place back?

Definitely. Shinnie started the season well and was arguably our man of the match against Yeovil but his form drifted as the season wore on and the pitches worsened. I think it would be a very courageous move for Jones to play Lee in an attacking midfield role, especially against higher quality opposition but he did do well there, and Shinnie will have a fight on his hands, although I hope being in a higher division should give him more freedom.

Jorge Grant tended to cut inside from the left of a flat, four man midfield when he was at Notts County last season. Having joined on loan from Forest, where do you see him fitting into a diamond system?

I’m not convinced we’ll see the diamond formation too much this season. With an array of options at CB including the signings of Pearson and Bradley, I feel that a 3 man defence with wing backs is something Jones is considering this season. That being said I would be very surprised if we had a lot of width in midfield so Grant may find himself playing more centrally this season, although there is a lot of competition there.

Hatters aside, what are your thoughts ahead of the League One season as a whole? Any potential dark horses for you?

I’m looking forward to it. We’ve got an incredibly tough start with Portsmouth away and then hosting Sunderland who’ll have to cope with the “big fish, small pond” tag. I think Accrington especially will struggle to repeat their heroics of last season and would probably bite your hand off if you offered them 20th, whilst it wil be interesting to see how far Wycombe’s brand of football gets them against better opposition. I had tipped Coventry as dark horses but I want to see what they do now they’ve sold Marc McNulty before backing them. After a good season last year, I think Shrewsbury will struggle this time around.

Where will you finish?

I got this right last season predicting 2nd, but this is a lot more difficult. For the first time in probably 10 years there isn’t massive pressure on us to get promotion. That being said, as I’ve mentioned above, I do feel there’s a chance if our new signings click. Unless things go appallingly badly we shouldn’t find ourselves in any real danger so I’ll stick with a conservative 9th.

Thanks to Dave for his answers. The Football Lab’s verdict on Luton can be found on We Love Betting from late July.