Never particularly liked the phrase "must win" really.
I mean, you can sometimes unexpectedly win the one after.
(Although that's City away)

But does this one fall into that category?
Or must not lose?

Not that i think it'll make a huge difference tbh.

It is must win for Vinny.

20k home fans have only seen one home win so far.

As soon as we go behind people walk out of the ground. He needs to show them he can win a few games.

Especially against the poorer teams in the division.

I mentioned it on another thread but I think if we don't win the Luton game we have a strange 5 or 6 months of dead rubbers to finish the season which would be incredibly depressing to watch.

100% must win just from a confidence point of view, if we can't out play Luton then it's a bit of a poor do. Townsend will be out to prove VK wrong and Barkley has been superb for them. They'll win every single header so we will need to be at our best and take our chances

Loathe to call it a must win so early in the season but I fail to see how it isn’t, to be honest.

A ginormous game if we want to have any chance.

TBH every game now is a must win or draw. The definitive must win will be V Brentford if their poor form continues and we start to pick up.

It doesn’t change the relegation picture in that I still can’t see who drops into the bottom 3 for us to get out, everyone above us will do enough to stay up imo.

But it’s a huge game for supporter confidence, for VK. At the very least we want to go down fighting now that it’s clear we don’t have the quality to survive.

Quickenthetempo wrote: ↑

Sun Dec 31, 2023 6:43 pm

As soon as we go behind people walk out of the ground.

Really! Don't think so.

Yes. If we can't beat Luton at home then hopefully the board petition the league to forfeit the rest of the season.

Not many leaders in here. You stay and fight until you can't win. Luton is a massive game for us, but given the last 7/8 games bar Everton why not have a go?
Beat Luton and again confidence builds. We gave Liverpool a really tough game and went head to head with Villa and they are strong contenders.

Keep the faith.

Yeah, I'm surprised how many people are ready to write the season off. Luton is a massive game against a team that are performing better than anyone expected. It's going to be a tough game but if we beat them we could be 2 points off Everton, 5 points off Brentford and 6 points off Forest. There are still a lot of points to play for. We haven't been able to put a winning run of games together yet but if we can string a couple of wins together, we might be able to cut the gap to a team like Brentford who are on a terrible run. Don't throw the towel in yet!!

You just already know Townsend will score a brace to snatch the points … hope I’m wrong

Whatever the preparation was for Sheff Utd just repeat it for Luton.

Simple as that.

South West Claret. wrote: ↑

Mon Jan 01, 2024 7:53 am

Whatever the preparation was for Sheff Utd just repeat it for Luton.

Simple as that.

Not sure our preparation for that game included McBurnie getting himself sent off

But we live in hope at least one Luton player does the same

Leisure wrote: ↑

Mon Jan 01, 2024 12:52 am

Really! Don't think so.

I'm surprised that you would doubt it, with all you will have seen in grounds over the years.

People have got in the bad habit of leaving early now and big sections have left by the hour mark.

The Everton game a group of about 10, a couple of rows in front, walked out on 25 minutes after Keane put them 2 up.
The Liverpool game there was empty seats from 30 minutes on. You think they're going down for a pint but don't come back up.

jojomk1 wrote: ↑

Mon Jan 01, 2024 9:03 am

Not sure our preparation for that game included McBurnie getting himself sent off

But we live in hope at least one Luton player does the same

We were dominant in the game before he was sent off and it’s remiss to suggest otherwise.

jojomk1 wrote: ↑

Mon Jan 01, 2024 9:03 am

Not sure our preparation for that game included McBurnie getting himself sent off

But we live in hope at least one Luton player does the same

We're we not already 2 up when he got sent off?

Need an early goal to settle the nerves, like vs Sheffield United. My big worry here is that the fans are expectant of a win and the atmosphere could turn if it goes the other way.

I’ve been very impressed with Luton. Above anything else they’re all absolute units but play some decent football too.

We’ll need to start finishing our chances for sure.

I think it’s a must win.

Those who were crying about our tough run of home fixtures earlier in the season should be in agreement too.

We’ve already lost against two of the sides at home who (had we beaten) probably would have been relegation rivals, at least for the time being (Palace and Everton).

Defeat to Luton as well as the two mentioned above would humiliate all those who said wait til we start playing our relegation rivals at home before judging how good/ bad we are.

NC "if it goes the other way" then we're down as down as down could be.

Let’s be honest…we have to win this game .
1. It’s a six pointer with a relegation threatened rival.
2. Great confidence booster in bagging 3 points and getting within touching distance of 17th.

Been particularly impressed with their left wing back Alfie Doughty

Staggering to think this is a “ must win “ but it very clearly is with City, Liverpool,Arsenal ( Fulham after citeh) which could leave us in an almost untenable position. Though who’s to say we can’t beat Luton and Fulham at home ? Huge huge games

Not only do we have to beat Luton, we need to get points where we look certain to lose on paper. All the other teams just above are getting points off the likes of Liverpool and City even. To stand any chance there needs to be a few surprises in there a la Dyche.

willsclarets wrote: ↑

Mon Jan 01, 2024 11:22 am

Not only do we have to beat Luton, we need to get points where we look certain to lose on paper. All the other teams just above are getting points off the likes of Liverpool and City even. To stand any chance there needs to be a few surprises in there a la Dyche.

Don’t forget we nearly did had it not been for “Luton fan” Atwell officiating against Villa

Still must win?
Or must not lose?