Player News
As reported earlier, players are starting to get unhappy with how it's going with the team.
Ivan Kaviedes and
Marc Bridge-Wilkinson both think the club is underachieving, while
Paul Evans has a slight concern that the club is not topping the table, and a major that he has lost confidence in his manager's (me, heh) ability... They're all willing to remain at the club, for now at least.
Injury News
Kevin Foley is recuperating from his groin injury, about one week from being back on the field. I ask my physios for a health report. The three of them all think I should let a specialist examine the injury to avoid further complications in the future. I ask about sending him to rehabilitation. They say 2 to 4 weeks. I take the risk, he'll be out for 3 weeks attending physiotherapy.
Transfer News
I spent a good while asking coach reports on about each and every one of my players, starters and some reserves. Following my coaches' recommendation, I offer
Lee Morris around. They were telling that it was probably time I'd transfer list him. I'll start by a round of offer before listing him.
September 25, 2007
LDV Vans Trophy South, round 1
home vs Swansea City (7th in League One with 15pts, we have 6pts)
Odds: Luton 7-4, Swansea 5-4(fav)
S: Showunmi/Kaviedes/Vine
AMC: Mansell
DM: Davis/Evans/Keane (up arrow for wingbacks)
DC: O'Connor/James/Bruce
GK: Morris
I go again with
Ryan Morris at keeper.
They show a 4-4-2 formation with moderate push from the wingers.
14': They have a throw-in on our right side. We leave a winger unmarked, he gets the ball, centers it, they score. Down 0-1.
25':
Ivan Kaviedes is injured and has to go off, DAMN!
The half ends with us down 0-1.
WE ARE DOMINATING THEM!!! We just can't buy a goal. As a proof of our somewhat good play, we are outshooting them 11 to 3 (5 to 1 on target), and we're winning possession in the middle (21/19) and on their end (23/15)...
47': We put two more on target, now 13 shots, 7 on target.
79': It's now
Marc Bridge-Wilkinson's turn to get hurt. And it had to happen 5 minutes after we had done our third and last substitution. We'll have to try and mount the comeback with only 10 players. It will not happen. We lose 0-1.
Final Score: Luton 2, Swansea 1
Shots: Luton 16(8), Swansea 7(2)
It's not like we're not putting the shots on target DAMNIT!!!
MoM: Sure thing, their keeper, Nick Colgan gets it.
HoM:
Keith Keane, with the only 8 on the squad.
Possession: (us/them)
our zone: 11/11
middle: 21/23
their zone: 19/13
Overall: 51/49
Ryan Morris only pulls a 6 in this game, probably his rookie wall.
We get $4000 for losing in first round, oh so nice...
Ivan Kaviedes strained a knee ligament in the game, set to miss a month. I ask my physios for a report immediately and they tell me I should probably let a specialist examine him. Said specialist says it will be between 2 to 4 weeks of physiotherapy for him to be like new. Can't be worse than a month, so I go for it. Verdict is 4 weeks (a month, duh)...
Marc Bridge-Wilkinson has fractured some ribs and will miss 3 weeks. My physios don't have any concerns for his long term fitness though, which is sort of a good news, we can't use more of these right now.
Ironically, the attendance for that game marked a record for the team... the lowest attendance in a competitive match. Nice.
Following this loss,
Rowan Vine is now also unhappy. He too thinks the team is underachieving.
FM