Luton Town – CaughtOffside

All 20 Premier League clubs set to vote against European Super League

Mark Brus — Tue, 24 Oct 2023 13:47:29 +0000

All 20 Premier League clubs are set to vote against the proposal of the formation of a new European Super League, according to an exclusive from Ben Jacobs via the Daily Briefing.

This story hasn’t completely gone away since a first attempt at forming a Super League fell apart in just 48 hours back in April 2021, with the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham backing the project at the time before U-turning after huge backlash from fans.

All 20 English top flight teams have now agreed that they’re against the idea of the European Super League, despite some figures in the game clearly still being keen on trying to make it work.

Supporters get 3pm blackout update as new Premier League TV packages set to be agreed

Jason Pettigrove — Wed, 18 Oct 2023 18:51:37 +0000

Premier League football supporters across the country will arguably waiting with baited breath to find out the detail behind the new TV deals, including a longed-for removal of the Saturday 3pm blackout.

Clubs in the English top-flight will also be keen to understand what slots will be available when the deals for 2025/26 to 2028/29 are struck.

According to BBC Sport’s Simon Stone, the packages are set to be agreed by the end of the calendar year, and supporters are set to be disappointed once more.

Premier League expect to have 2025-26-2028-29 TV packages agreed by end of year. Sat 3pm ‘closed period’ retained. All other games live, inc all Sun 2pm. 5 packages, all linked to current slot (Sat 1230 + 1730, Sun 1400 + 1630 and Mon/Fri). All packages bigger than 38 matchrounds

— Simon Stone (@sistoney67) October 18, 2023

The 3pm blackout will stay as part of all of the packages available, which will, apparently, be bigger than 38 match rounds.

There will be five packages on offer with every slot, including the 2pm Sunday kick-off’s, now having live matches.

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Jurgen Klopp is unlikely to be happy about the Saturday lunchtime slot being kept, with all other ‘usual’ slots – Friday night, Saturday evening, Sunday afternoon and Monday night staying the same too.

In short, not an awful lot has changed and the vagaries of the fixture calendar will surely end up with supporters having to travel the length and breadth of the country at hours to suit the TV companies rather than those that the game supposedly can’t do without.

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Collymore’s column: Euro 2028 can bring us together again, player strikes, top man Saka and more!

Stan Collymore — Fri, 13 Oct 2023 13:13:58 +0000

In his exclusive column for CaughtOffside, former Liverpool attacker Stan Collymore discusses some of football’s biggest talking points, including Premier League funding of lower leagues, Bukayo Saka’s current form, why he supports player strikes, what Euro 2028 will do for the country, plus much more.

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English teams will dominate in Europe again but that might not be good for the game

Brighton got a bit of a bloody nose in in match day one and then they sort of regrouped by match day two. I think that Newcastle’s result against PSG was perhaps more relevant than ever and it made a change because it wasn’t just the champions putting on a performance like that.

West Ham winning the conference league last year – there were some very good teams in that tournament, and let’s not forget Aston Villa in the game in Warsaw. We’re in a very, very strong footballing zone, without a doubt, and I don’t think many people will be surprised that the Premier League with its riches would have the strongest teams.

When I was a kid growing up, I think it was six European Cups on the bounce. Liverpool three times, two for Forest and one for Villa over six consecutive years,. Then you had the likes of Ipswich Town and Tottenham winning the UEFA Cup, and even Scottish teams like Aberdeen were winning the Cup Winners’ Cup.

The Premier League undoubtedly is entering an era where it’s money has, and will continue to make, a difference in terms of getting the best players from around the world, and I wouldn’t be surprised that unless there’s some sort of real attempt from UEFA to implement some sort of financial fair play that allows teams in Holland, Belgium and Portugal, never mind in France, Spain, Italy, and Germany, to compete on a level playing field, then I don’t think it will be all English clubs that win the major European trophies.

Spanish clubs will always be there or thereabouts but we will get to a point if you’re not careful where it’ll be the vast majority of clubs are English with two or three Spanish clubs mixed in that are winning everything.

Let’s not forget that if we’re looking back 40/50 years ago, we’re talking about clubs from behind the Iron Curtain being very competitive. Russian teams, Ukrainian teams. Others like Dukla Prague.

Those days are gone, unfortunately, but for me, a healthy UEFA ecosystem means clubs in Eastern Europe, Portuguese clubs and others would be competitive in Europe, and I don’t see that being the case for some for some time to come.

—

I’m in favour of player strikes but the caveat is managers need to play the game too

I don’t think authorities give a **** about players. They’ll be provided with analytics and data that shows a players physical state dropping off at times of the season but FIFA still want to push for a World Cup every two years because it makes them more money.

You also have the ridiculous situation that whenever there is a three or four week break, players are going off to America or Asia for lucrative pre-season or end of season tournaments.

The reality is that yes, I agree with Pep and I think if European players went on strike they would have to insist on two things.

Pep Guardiola

Firstly, a six-to-eight week, end-of-season, break. All of June and all of July off, no football anywhere except for a World Cup or a European Championship.

Secondly, a maximum number of games played, or a cap on how many minutes an individual player can play in a season.

For example, if Jack Grealish has played 45 games for Manchester City and then he’s got five more games to go in a season to make it 50 – and that’s the total amount he’s allowed but he has cup games and England games still to play – I’d want to see Pep Guardiola go ‘I’m happy for him to play five games potentially for England even if that means missing Manchester City games. We’ve got a big enough squad to cope.’

It would call out the managers that are bleating about player welfare, and show quite clearly who is serious about it and which managers are the hypocrites.

If Pep is serious, then I would absolutely follow him on this.

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Euro 2028 can bring the country together again just like in 96 but the experience will be diluted

Euro 96 was effectively the rebirth of the English flag for the English team. If you remember it was just a year before the Labour Party voted ‘things can only get better’ and there was a real sense of ‘we’re in the EU, we’ve got Italian baristas making coffee in even the smallest towns, we’ve got Polish builders and carpenters doing a great job…’

There were people coming from left, right and centre and working in all sorts of industries and Britain felt inclusive. It felt like the English flag was no longer a flag that traditionally had been flown by the National Front and the BNP. Euro 96 was a real galvanising force for everybody.

To be honest, I think that the vast majority of football fans are still in that mindset, despite the fact that the country has a very nasty post-Brexit feel about it at the moment.

With regards to Euro 2028, I’m not against more countries having big tournaments but I do think from a cultural perspective, that European Championships and World Cups should only ever be held in one country.

I think that that’s an important component of a tournament, so I’m not a massive fan of a Pan Britain or a Spain/Morocco/Portugal tournament. Even an America/Canada/Mexico tournament means a lot dilution of the full experience.

The experience is supposed to be as much about learning about the culture in that country, as it is about spreading football love, so to speak.

I’ll give an example of Germany 2006. There were at least 100,000 England fans over there and pretty much most of them came back with an attitude of ‘we’re only a generation or two away from our grandparents who are always talking about World War Two in Germany and whatever, but what a great country what a great welcome.’

I’ll go and I’ll enjoy Euro 2028, but I don’t think it will resonate in the same way as Euro 96 because that was solely an English tournament and it coincided with the feeling of England being comfortable in its skin politically for the most part.

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Bukayo Saka gets the nod ahead of Jude Bellingham as player of the season so far

The reason I’ve chosen Saka is because he’s not allowed missing the penalty for England, which is only two years ago, to affect him.

Being a particularly young man, a relative rookie, he’s already being thought of as the top man, the game changer at Arsenal and he’s taking that all on board whilst scoring goals and creating chances. Just brilliant.

I was sat amongst the families during the Euros for the semi-final and the final. I sat with Jack Grealish’s dad, chatted to my former captain, Stuart Pearce, and I saw Saka with his girlfriend after the game.

I said to my mate I’m gonna go over and say something. I said “you won’t know me from Adam, but I’ve been in your position. Not missing a penalty, but I’ve been in your position now as a footballer where you have days where something doesn’t happen for you. Just keep your chin up.” He looked really crestfallen and it could have been very, very easy over the next couple of years for his form to be really up and down.

You look at Marcus Rashford for example, getting involved with charities, school meals and taking on the government… Rashford’s been hot or cold on the pitch at present. There’s been no consistency.

I could equally say Jude Bellingham as my pick for the season’s best player so far. What an incredible start for life at the world’s biggest football club.

His trajectory – Birmingham-Dortmund-Madrid – has always been forward. That dude has also very cleverly done well to escape the spotlight. He comes back and plays for England and if he plays poorly, he goes back to Madrid and plays well. Nobody’s really gonna care if you play poorly.

For Saka at Arsenal, he’s still the top man, and he’s still doing it with the England squad. He’s been absolutely exceptional is for me, and I’m really looking forward to him scoring the match-winner in a semi-final or a final which would completely banish the memories of his penalty miss.

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The Premier League must help to fund the lower leagues to stop more clubs going out of business

The chasm between the Premier League and the other English professional leagues is growing, and I think that what has to happen is a clear pipeline of money from the English top-flight downwards must be established. Look at the Premier League benefactors and the system that they work in – it’s the football pyramid.

Luton Town were in the bottom tier of the professional game in League Two and went all the way up to the Premier League. They’re not an established Premier League club yet, but let’s say we’re looking back in 10 years time and Luton have the money to buy Jude Bellingham because they’ve spent their Premier League money very wisely. They’ve got into Europe, they’ve done a Brighton and then some and they’re competing in the top four of English football… you would say that’s impossible but with the with the money that’s available the game, it’s not impossible.

The thing that annoys me is, is that when when clubs get into the Premier League, they pretty much moan and bitch around the table ‘I gotta give more money to a team in the National League. Can’t we ever have the extra few million for ourselves?’

If 15% of all money that we generate in the Premier League is automatically going down the leagues in a very clear system that supporters can see, that the FA can see, that there’s nothing hidden and that every single penny is accounted for and it’s gonna be in perpetuity so that in 10 years time we will have seen the trickle down effect of that money, then that’s the way to do it.

We also need a fit-for-purpose ‘fit and proper persons’ test.

Ron Martin at Southend, the Oystons at Blackpool, those in charge at Charlton for years, Scunthorpe have problems, Oldham had problems… all of it could’ve been avoided if, on day one, when they owned their club, the authorities assigned the club a real world value and the new owners had to put down a 10% deposit in cash at an FA bank which was kept is a bond. Then if bills etc couldn’t be paid, the FA can release funds from the deposit.

Also, club owners must have their main source of business income in England. Not Scotland, not Wales, not tax havens, not Dubai, not America… Any business that runs Manchester United for example, or FSG at Liverpool – the business has to be registered in England, which is often not the case.

Clubs have got to look after themselves and work within their own financial parameters of course, but I do believe Premier League clubs are responsible for the pyramid up until a point probably not far beyond the National League South or North.

Perhaps the Isthmian League, where it’s a very good standard of semi pro teams, and you’re getting x amount of ex-pros, Academy kids etc.

That would be the starting point whereby those clubs upwards could get some sort of regular funding when required.

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Exclusive: VAR is needed but why use refs in their 30s and 40s

Jason Pettigrove — Thu, 12 Oct 2023 09:00:42 +0000

The absolute debacle surrounding the VAR decision in the recent Tottenham vs Liverpool game has reignited the debate over whether it’s the technology or those using it that aren’t fit for purpose.

Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) chief, Howard Webb, has done another media round where he’s attempted to smooth over one of the worst errors we’ve seen to date, but that’s done little for the credibility of the organisation.

An organisation who routinely employ officials in their 30s and 40s who are having to keep up with the play of super-fit athletes.

That’s all wrong according to Premier League co-creator, ‘super agent’ Jon Smith.

‘Despite the furore that has again erupted around VAR, my initial thought is that it’s needed. A lot of football fans say it’s not but I’ve seen some awful decisions over the years and I’m a huge referee fan by the way. Frankly, how can you have, and why would you want, someone in their 30s or 40s trying to keep up with play when the game is being played by super fit teenagers and 20 somethings?’ he wrote in his exclusive CaughtOffside column.

‘Then those officials are having to make instant decisions when they may be 20 yards away and slightly blindsided. Decisions which are impactful on people’s lives and, in some cases, on lots of money being earned by a club or national team who are hoping to progress through to the next stage of a tournament.

‘[…] I think there’s a dichotomy here. I like VAR. I think what they did in the World Cup was along the right lines and I think we should use modern technology, but, all the things I’ve just said, I think they’re relevant to how it should be implemented.’

One surely has to ask the question of the authorities as to why they aren’t using the version of VAR that was available at the 2022 World Cup – and is used in other leagues.

It takes all of the guesswork out of the decision, which can arguably be arrived at more quickly as a result.

Like most other things that the Football Association meddle with, there’s enough bureaucratic red tape to get through to put off even the most fervent supporter, but something really does need to change.

The multi-million pound entertainment industry that football now is cannot afford to be derailed by what we’ve become accustomed to.

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Andros Townsend joins Luton Town on short-term contract

Connor Holden — Wed, 11 Oct 2023 15:40:43 +0000

Luton Town have announced the signing of English winger Andros Townsend on a short-term contract until January 2024.

Townsend will wear the number 30 for Luton, and has said “I feel like its a good fit and these last couple of weeks have been good for both parties” when speaking on his move to the Hatters.

He believes he can help the team, and the manager has seen where Townsend can help the side. Another reason that may have helped his decision to join the Hatters is the fact that Luton is his local team, stating that he “lives 20-25 minutes away” so he has kept up with their progress over the years.

Welcome @andros_townsend! ??

— Luton Town FC (@LutonTown) October 11, 2023

In his career, Townsend has played for Tottenham, Newcastle, Crystal Palace, Everton and now Luton, and along the way he has had loan spells with Yeovil Town, Leyton Orient, Milton Keynes Dons, Ipswich Town, Watford, Millwall, Leeds United, Birmingham City and Queens Park Rangers.

{morestories latest]

Townsend has made 437 appearances so far in his career at senior club level, as well as having 13 senior caps for England (scoring three goals in these 13 appearances). He has made his most appearances at club level with Crystal Palace, making 185 appearances, scoring 16 goals and providing 28 assists for the Eagles.

Luton currently sit 17th in the Premier League, and will hope that the signing of Townsend can give them a boost in attacking areas, as well as adding some Premier League experience to their squad.

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38-year-old former Premier League defender gets first international call up

Jason Pettigrove — Tue, 10 Oct 2023 08:53:20 +0000

It’s not often that there’s a heartwarming story to be told in football circles, but for one former Premier League defender, all of his dreams appear to have come true at the ripe old age of 38.

At one stage in his long career, which began in 2003 at Luton Town and still isn’t over in 2023 at Cheltenham Town, Curtis Davies would almost certainly have had aspirations to play for the England national team.

Unfortunately for the former West Brom, Aston Villa, Leicester City, Birmingham City, Hull City and Derby County centre-back, a call-up for the senior side never materialised, and three U21 caps were all that he had to show for his troubles.

The very last thing he could’ve expected was a call up in a season that’s expected to be one of his last in the game, but that’s exactly what’s happened.

It will be a proud moment for me to pull on the shirt of The Leone Stars and make my family in Sierra Leone proud but most of all my dad. He did everything in his power to give me the best chance to become a footballer, so I dedicate this all to him. ??

— ?????? ?????? (@TheCurtisDavies) October 9, 2023

Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Davies announced that he will be playing for Sierra Leone, the country of his father’s birth, in their upcoming friendly matches.

He’s able to do so because of having never appeared for the Three Lions at senior level. A similar situation occurred with Ryan Giggs who represented England at schoolboy level before changing his allegiances to Wales.

Even if these next games are the sum total of his international career, it’s clear from Davies’ posts just how proud he is.

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Video: Van de ven bags first Tottenham goal thanks to Maddison invention

Jason Pettigrove — Sat, 07 Oct 2023 12:54:41 +0000

Despite being down to 10 men at Luton Town after Yves Bissouma’s regrettable red card, Tottenham took a step closer to the top of the Premier League table after Micky van de Ven bagged his first goal for the north Londoners.

Spurs had squandered a number of chances in the first half with Richarlison guilty of one of the misses of the season, and once Bissouma had been given his marching orders, Ange Postecoglou might’ve been forgiven for thinking that it was going to be one of those days.

Fortunately for the visitors, some quick thinking from James Maddison set up the chance for van de Ven and he made no mistake.

Micky van de Ven gets his first Tottenham goal ?

10-man Spurs lead Luton!

Some move from James Maddison to set the goal up ? pic.twitter.com/RRV7JwARrm

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) October 7, 2023

Micky Van de Ven SCORES!!

? 0-1 Luton Town vs Tottenham Hotspur

WATCH EVERY GOAL ? https://t.co/2w98QqADfX #PL #PremierLeague pic.twitter.com/mfweOlU8mo

— FuboCanada ?? (@fuboTVCanada) October 7, 2023

Pictures from TNT Sports and fuboTV

The post Video: Van de ven bags first Tottenham goal thanks to Maddison invention appeared first on CaughtOffside.

Video: Match in Luton Town’s hands as Tottenham star sees red card after pathetic decision

Darren Looney — Sat, 07 Oct 2023 12:37:30 +0000

Luton Town have a big chance to cause a huge upset at Kenilworth Road against Tottenham on Saturday afternoon as the away side have been reduced to 10 men.

Spurs have been the better of the two teams in the first half and have had a host of chances but have failed to convert any.

Now the North London club have given Luton an advantage as Yves Bissouma has received a red card just before halftime for diving.

The decision was a pathetic one as he did not need to do it with only seconds left of the half to play. The midfielder has now put Ange Postecoglou’s side in a tough position as they look to go top of the Premier League with a win.

How is this not a free kick on maddison right before bissouma dive tho pic.twitter.com/oXUizEWnhQ

— William Elofsson (@WilliamElofsso1) October 7, 2023

Nightmare for Spurs! ?

Despite a dominant first-half display, they will play the second 45 minutes with 10 men as Yves Bissouma is given a second yellow for a dive… pic.twitter.com/5HzHusQNQp

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) October 7, 2023

Tottenham are down to 10 men against Luton Town after Yves Bissouma received his second yellow card for diving.

? @USANetwork pic.twitter.com/cihUQ8hL6O

— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) October 7, 2023

RED CARD! Tottenham are down to 10 men after a Yves Bissouma DIVE! ?

"There's no challenge, he just crumbles to the floor looking for something." ?

Stream LIVE, or on-demand after, here ? https://t.co/p7VxbUqK5b #OptusSport #PL pic.twitter.com/ICS0YExCYP

— Optus Sport (@OptusSport) October 7, 2023

Footage courtesy of TNT Sports, NBC Sports and Optus Sport.

Video: Richarlison in contention for miss of the season with shocking attempt vs Luton

Darren Looney — Sat, 07 Oct 2023 12:05:11 +0000

Tottenham have travelled to Luton Town for the Premier League’s early kick-off on Saturday and the match has already seen one of the misses of the season.

As expected, Spurs have started the better of the two teams and have had a host of chances within the opening 30 minutes of the match. Several of them should have been scored but one stands out above the rest.

Within the first two minutes, Richarlison made a run to the back post but ended up with a miss-of-the-season contender as the Brazilian missed the target from a yard out.

Richarlison won't want to see that one again ? pic.twitter.com/gDJL0ywZjG

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) October 7, 2023

Richarlison missed from here ?????????????pic.twitter.com/fH4lfHaWKY

— Concra Gh (@GhConcra) October 7, 2023

Footage courtesy of TNT Sports and V Sport.

Major Tottenham star could play against Luton despite not being 100 percent fit

Jason Pettigrove — Thu, 05 Oct 2023 15:21:35 +0000

Ange Postecoglou takes his Tottenham Hotspur side to Kenilworth Road on Saturday lunchtime, as his high flyers get set to take on struggling Luton Town with a place at the top of the Premier League table at stake.

With table-topping Man City not playing third-placed Arsenal until the final match of the weekend, Spurs could sit proudly atop the English top-flight for at least 24 hours – and maybe more if the Gunners and the Cityzens play out a draw.

You wouldn’t bet against the latter because luck certainly appears to be on Postecoglou’s side at present.

? pic.twitter.com/OyvNCZT2zl

— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) October 5, 2023

Injury time wins against Sheffield United and Liverpool have helped propel the Lilywhites into second place in the table, and along with Arsenal they remain the only teams in the division to be unbeaten after seven games.

They’ve relied on the creativity of James Maddison and the goalscoring prowess of Son Heung-min to help them achieve such a solid start, and as football.london report, Son has not been at 100 percent recently.

With Manor Solomon adding to Spurs’ recent injury woes, there’s a need to keep Son as close to match fitness as possible, whilst studiously managing the amount of time he spends on the pitch in order that he can get back to full fitness quickly.

Therefore, he’s likely to play some part in Saturday’s game but it’s unlikely to be a full 90 minutes.

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