Luton v Sunderland

[ksrclaret]

What a brilliant interview with Luton's Lockyer and Morris. So humble and down to earth.

You can see why Luton have managed to do this. They look to have a great group.

[claretbob]

Well done Luton. High energy and physical football at its best which served us well in 2016. Tv revenues do level the playing field but even so the likes of Sunderland could easily reach similar turnover to the 180m Everton and Leeds managed which dwarfed our 125m. We can’t always rely on them squandering it every season. Luton need to spend £10m just to get their ground up to scratch and will need to bank most of the EPL riches to spend on their proposed new ground. Could be another ballot coming up for the away game if they make couldn’t there?

[Clovius Boofus]

I know Sunderland's defence was greatly diminished, but the rest of their game wasn't much cop. Struggled to pass the ball for most of the match.

[aclaretinstevenage]

The A6 northbound towards Bedford

The Stockingstone Road area is actually quite nice with some terrific houses.

[beddie]

Sunderland did well under the circumstances. Hume looks a good player.

[Here's-Johnny]

Work on a 23k capacity stadium on the site of a former power station in the town centre scheduled to start by the end of the year

As has been mentioned estimated £10M spend to bring Kenilworth Road up to PL standard. Think they need to redevelopment the stand along one side that looks like it consists of a series of boxes

Forward thinking already.

[Notsosuperstevedavis]

Its different gravy to what we’ve played all season. It seemed like neither side really wanted the ball. It was frenetic from first minute.

Pleased for Luton.

[Vegas Claret]

I'm sure I read the other day they might play at MK Dons stadium if they go up

[EarbyClaret]

I'm sure I read the other day they might play at MK Dons stadium if they go up

I haven't seen that but if they do make to the PL you'd have thought playing at Kenilworth Road would give them a much better chance of survival than if they switched to MK

Assuming the PL have given them the OK bearing in mind the club have spoken about what they need to spend to bring the ground up to the minimum required standard

[JohnDearyMe]

You'd be depressed if you were a Sunderland fan after watching that. They just didn't turn up

[dougcollins]

Thought they were poor. Really poor.

[Healeywoodclaret]

Well done Luton. Don’t we all love the underdog although Luton been better than Sunderland all season long for me.

[Hipper]

What a brilliant interview with Luton's Lockyer and Morris. So humble and down to earth.

You can see why Luton have managed to do this. They look to have a great group.

I thought that. Players seemed to enjoy their football, having little smiles and laughs with their colleagues.

[Woodleyclaret]

Gutted for Sunderland too many players didn't turn up
Great fans who deserved better

[claretonthecoast1882]

Men against boys all over the pitch.

Also one in the eye for weak fans of other clubs who claim they can't compete in the Championship due to parachute payments. Luton just get on with it and 2nd yr running in the play offs.

[Tribesmen]

I'm sure I read the other day they might play at MK Dons stadium if they go up

I would say £10 mill would be wasted on that ground and how much rent would MK want per season , now this would be off set with having filled MK's ground . Would love to hear what the board and fans think they would do if they went up

[CrosspoolClarets]

Really pleased for Luton.

All this talk about parachute payments but we had about £60m worth of loans if we wanted to buy them all, maybe more, and the cost would have been quite affordable. Many of these type of young players are typically on less than £10k per week and some won’t have loan fees as it is developmental for their main club. So most sides in the Championship should be able to afford that if their manager can lure them.

I’d suggest we benefitted more from the ‘name’ of Kompany than the parachutes, valuable though they still were.

So a side like Luton can do it, for that matter Coventry too.

[Flying Without Ings]

Rumours circulating this morning that Mowbray is getting sacked. Apparently it’s not a good enough job to get a newly promoted team into the playoffs! Very Watfordy

[ClaretTony]

Rumours circulating this morning that Mowbray is getting sacked. Apparently it’s not a good enough job to get a newly promoted team into the playoffs! Very Watfordy

He’s done a terrific job with a squad that’s been decimated with injuries. I saw a rumour last week that he’d be sacked if they didn’t win the play offs but it would be a ridiculous decision.

[ElectroClaret]

Watched the game last night with 2 Sunderland fans out here in Lanzarote in Linekers bar. Cracking lads.
When i told em i was a Claret, they didn't quite get on their knees in worship, but they weren't far off.
Couldn't praise us highly enough, mightily impressed by the way we came back at their place in the second half.
(Some of the noisiest fans they've heard)

In return, i just about managed to stop myself from giggling at their inept performance.
Wouldn't have been polite

[jedi_master]

I thought Luton were excellent last night and the scoreline flattered Sunderland - it could have been anything with the amount of chances cleared off the line. Luton might not be pretty, but they are efficient and make the absolute best out of the limited levels of genuine quality that they have. Will just add that I thought Carlton Morris was superb. He ran the channels and led the line so well, constantly pressed and didn't give Sunderland a moments peace.

I said before I think Luton will win the PO's and I stick to it - the one thing they have that I think the other three teams lack is bottle.

[kentonclaret]

He’s done a terrific job with a squad that’s been decimated with injuries. I saw a rumour last week that he’d be sacked if they didn’t win the play offs but it would be a ridiculous decision.

Similarly with Darren Moore at Sheffield Wednesday despite getting 96 points during the regular season. The image of the club owner with head in hands and Peterborough leading 3-0 wasn’t a good sign. So much emphasis placed on promotion from these Play Offs especially if the club has finished the season comfortably in 3rd place - both owner and fans expect the team to reach Wembley as a minimum.

[nil_desperandum]

I would say £10 mill would be wasted on that ground and how much rent would MK want per season , now this would be off set with having filled MK's ground . Would love to hear what the board and fans think they would do if they went up

Spending 10 million on a short term fix at Kenilworth would be a good investment if it significantly improves their chances of staying up.
You don't get a lot for 10 million in the Premier League transfer market nowadays, but I don't think many PL teams will fancy playing at a hostile compact Kenilworth Rd, and it should be worth a good few points.
Playing at MK Dons would remove this advantage to a large extent (IMHO).

[Enola Gay]

There was a Luton fan BTL on the Guardian article saying it'd be a cold day in hell before they played in Milton Keynes.

General feeling is they were hoping to muscle in on Luton's turf and win fans at their expense.

[Healeywoodclaret]

I just want to see the premier league try to incorporate Kenilworth Road into their “Greatest League in the World” mantra.

Yeah Luton (rather than us) will become The Gatecrashing Ginger Stepkids of the Premier League.

[kentonclaret]

Should Middlesbrough win tonight I would expect them to start as the bookies favourite to win the play off final at Wembley, even though Luton finished above them in the final table.