I went to the Luton v Coventry match on Saturday, and a few things stood out for me having witnessed the game in person:

• First touch is everything at that level
  Referee Michael Oliver is so far ahead of what we get in L2 it's unreal
  VAR, while delivering correct decisions on a technical level, still feels like it ruins things
  

On that last point, because I was sat in the Luton end, we genuinely thought the game had been won late in extra time. I didn't see the handball with the naked eye (neither did any of the Coventry players) and so when it was chalked off, even as a neutral, it felt absolutely gutting.

I can't imaging celebrating a significant goal like that for Town, and then having that moment ruined. And I know, over time, fans will likely hold back their celebrations for fear that VAR might yet intervene — because it will, even if everyone in the ground, including the opposition, appears to accept it as legit.

It's fair to say Luton play direct, but they did it so well. Their 'out' ball was far more precise than what we see in L2, and they played with two strikers, Morris and Adebayo. They stick very close to one another and work as a pair, without one being the 'big man' and the other the 'small man'.

Also — and I know the vast majority of football fans already feel this way — I'd never witnessed a shoot-out at Wembley before, and it was horrendous. Although I wanted Luton to win, the poor Coventry lad who missed was devastated. Seeing all the Luton players and staff run past him in that moment of celebration looked so cruel against the backdrop of 85,000 fans and all those cameras.

I know there are going to be heroes and villains in every match but it would've made it just that little bit better if the keeper had saved it, rather than him blasting over the bar. Such a horrible way to decide a football match, but I guess it remains the best way given the lack of alternatives that have been suggested over the years.

I really enjoyable match, though. I've read online that a lot of people weren't blown away by the quality but, witnessing it first hand, it's far, far better than the quality I saw in L2 (which may be stating the obvious). And while I've watched hundreds of matches, they've usually been local non-league games, when it's not been Grimsby, so being part of an 85,000 crowd at Wembley with the stakes so high was a relatively new experience for me.

I've been watching a lot of football this last 3 months at all levels and you're right . The pricice pass and first touch are every thing ..... And let's be honest our first touches last season were horrible at times . The passing was worse

If I lived closer to London I'd 100% be going as a neutral to a few games like this, glad you enjoyed it.

Penalties are minging.
I took a penalty 17 years ago and missed. Never forgotten it, it genuinely scarred me for life and it was only amateur football so god knows what this bloke is feeling right now.
To make my matters worse, I had only ever taken a penalty in pre season since that day 17 years ago until 2 weeks ago. Semi finals of the local Sunday league. I refuse to take a penalty. 4 4 after 5 penalties. Everyone refuses to go next so I step up, totally defeated before I even kicked the ball. Needless to say I missed and we went out the semi finals.

Quoted from RichMariner

I went to the Luton v Coventry match on Saturday, and a few things stood out for me having witnessed the game in person:

• First touch is everything at that level
  Referee Michael Oliver is so far ahead of what we get in L2 it's unreal
  VAR, while delivering correct decisions on a technical level, still feels like it ruins things
  

On that last point, because I was sat in the Luton end, we genuinely thought the game had been won late in extra time. I didn't see the handball with the naked eye (neither did any of the Coventry players) and so when it was chalked off, even as a neutral, it felt absolutely gutting.

I can't imaging celebrating a significant goal like that for Town, and then having that moment ruined. And I know, over time, fans will likely hold back their celebrations for fear that VAR might yet intervene — because it will, even if everyone in the ground, including the opposition, appears to accept it as legit.

It's fair to say Luton play direct, but they did it so well. Their 'out' ball was far more precise than what we see in L2, and they played with two strikers, Morris and Adebayo. They stick very close to one another and work as a pair, without one being the 'big man' and the other the 'small man'.

Also — and I know the vast majority of football fans already feel this way — I'd never witnessed a shoot-out at Wembley before, and it was horrendous. Although I wanted Luton to win, the poor Coventry lad who missed was devastated. Seeing all the Luton players and staff run past him in that moment of celebration looked so cruel against the backdrop of 85,000 fans and all those cameras.

I know there are going to be heroes and villains in every match but it would've made it just that little bit better if the keeper had saved it, rather than him blasting over the bar. Such a horrible way to decide a football match, but I guess it remains the best way given the lack of alternatives that have been suggested over the years.

I really enjoyable match, though. I've read online that a lot of people weren't blown away by the quality but, witnessing it first hand, it's far, far better than the quality I saw in L2 (which may be stating the obvious). And while I've watched hundreds of matches, they've usually been local non-league games, when it's not been Grimsby, so being part of an 85,000 crowd at Wembley with the stakes so high was a relatively new experience for me.

Whilst I appreciate your insight and I'm sorry for having a go, but I can't help but feel sorry for the lifelong Luton fan I know that couldn't go to this massive moment for the club because a fan of another club had a ticket. I think we'd all been upset if that had occurred at such a match for Town. Not sure if it relates to your ticket, but Luton were daft to let their season ticket holders buy 6 tickets each. I hope we don't make that mistake, admittedly I'd take the mistake over being in the Championship Play off Final!!.

[quote=140313]

Whilst I appreciate your insight and I'm sorry for having a go, but I can't help but feel sorry for the lifelong Luton fan I know that couldn't go to this massive moment for the club because a fan of another club had a ticket. I think we'd all been upset if that had occurred at such a match for Town. Not sure if it relates to your ticket, but Luton were daft to let their season ticket holders buy 6 tickets each. I hope we don't make that mistake, admittedly I'd take the mistake over being in the Championship Play off

It wasn't at capacity, so don't get your point.

Quoted from ginnywings

[quote=140313]

Whilst I appreciate your insight and I'm sorry for having a go, but I can't help but feel sorry for the lifelong Luton fan I know that couldn't go to this massive moment for the club because a fan of another club had a ticket. I think we'd all been upset if that had occurred at such a match for Town. Not sure if it relates to your ticket, but Luton were daft to let their season ticket holders buy 6 tickets each. I hope we don't make that mistake, admittedly I'd take the mistake over being in the Championship Play off

It wasn't at capacity, so don't get your point.

I saw they sold out their allocation? Either way, the point remains, which is that club fans shouldn't be disadvantaged by ticketing policies that potentially exclude their own fanbase - although it is difficult to avoid.

Quoted from RichMariner

I'd never witnessed a shoot-out at Wembley before, and it was horrendous..

Erm…I’ve watched a couple and yes I don’t think anyone on here would disagree with you!

I read that each team were (only) allocated 37,500 tickets.  This is never enough for such a critical game.

There were 85,000 there.  

Interesting analysis in how Luton play.

  They finished 3rd with limited resources.  Very impressive. They were incredibly hard to beat.  Only 4 away league defeats out of 23, in a tough league.

Overall, they had 3 fewer league defeats than every other  team (except Burnley).  This record includes automatic promoted Sheffield United.

Makes our 2-2  away draw and 3-0 win (by HT) look even more impressive!  And we had a very depleted team. 😃😇

Quoted from Mandy Dunnit vs Hettie

Erm…I’ve watched a couple and yes I don’t think anyone on here would disagree with you!

I was thinking the same. Weird that a town fan wasn’t there to see those two horrendous finals we lost, but was in the Luton end yesterday.

Most on here don’t need telling it was horrendous. We know full well. That Bristol Rovers one will hurt forever. I’m jealous you didn’t know about it.

Quoted from TownSNAFU5

I read that each team were (only) allocated 37,500 tickets.  This is never enough for such a critical game.

There were 85,000 there.  

My (Cleethorpes-based) brother-in-law is a Wednesday fan and wasn't able to get a ticket for the game tomorrow. Their allocation sold out on Friday and he wasn't able to get one despite lots of time spent online trying.

I suspect the attendance for the game will be well below capacity which is bloody stupid, really.

Loads and loads of empty seats in the Barnsley end yesterday, horrendously spaced out too which makes it look even worse too.

Wednesday got extra allocation of blocks that were originally allocated to Barnsley too but seems even that wasn't enough.

Normally they sell tickets in the seats that are in camera view first but seems they didn’t do that for the league 1 and 2 finals.

The allocations are always all over the place for such games although, if we’re being kind, 37’500 would be more than enough for Luton and likely Coventry, even if every season ticket holder took a friend from Luton…

Wednesday sold what they were given but the spacing out of Barnsley was weird as was Carlisle/Stockport…

Quoted from RichMariner

I went to the Luton v Coventry match on Saturday, and a few things stood out for me having witnessed the game in person:

• First touch is everything at that level
  Referee Michael Oliver is so far ahead of what we get in L2 it's unreal
  VAR, while delivering correct decisions on a technical level, still feels like it ruins things
  

On that last point, because I was sat in the Luton end, we genuinely thought the game had been won late in extra time. I didn't see the handball with the naked eye (neither did any of the Coventry players) and so when it was chalked off, even as a neutral, it felt absolutely gutting.

I can't imaging celebrating a significant goal like that for Town, and then having that moment ruined. And I know, over time, fans will likely hold back their celebrations for fear that VAR might yet intervene — because it will, even if everyone in the ground, including the opposition, appears to accept it as legit.

It's fair to say Luton play direct, but they did it so well. Their 'out' ball was far more precise than what we see in L2, and they played with two strikers, Morris and Adebayo. They stick very close to one another and work as a pair, without one being the 'big man' and the other the 'small man'.

Also — and I know the vast majority of football fans already feel this way — I'd never witnessed a shoot-out at Wembley before, and it was horrendous. Although I wanted Luton to win, the poor Coventry lad who missed was devastated. Seeing all the Luton players and staff run past him in that moment of celebration looked so cruel against the backdrop of 85,000 fans and all those cameras.

I know there are going to be heroes and villains in every match but it would've made it just that little bit better if the keeper had saved it, rather than him blasting over the bar. Such a horrible way to decide a football match, but I guess it remains the best way given the lack of alternatives that have been suggested over the years.

I really enjoyable match, though. I've read online that a lot of people weren't blown away by the quality but, witnessing it first hand, it's far, far better than the quality I saw in L2 (which may be stating the obvious). And while I've watched hundreds of matches, they've usually been local non-league games, when it's not been Grimsby, so being part of an 85,000 crowd at Wembley with the stakes so high was a relatively new experience for me.

Good read that RichMariner....

I sometimes used to go and watch Luton when I lived in MK and when I had nothing much else to do I'd go to see local(ish) games

I'd completely forgotten about it but they mentioned on the commentary about the last time they were promoted to the top flight... I was there at Kenilworth Road the night they beat QPR in 1982 to go up

They had a half decent side then and they managed to get a foothold in the top tier and also won the League Cup some years later before they started their demise as the Prem was introduced in 1992

I'm not sure how they'll fare now they're back in the big time - their team in the 80s arguably had a lot more going for it than this current squad but you never know

Forest have shown this past season that some heart and endeavour can make up for a lack of finesse so maybe Luton could survive.... even fourth from bottom this time next year will be construed as a success after their lean years. I wish them well although I think they'll need lady luck on their side to survive