Luton will continue to play three at the back against Portsmouth today, with manager Matt Bloomfield apologising to loan signing Josh Bowler for the change but warning his struggling side have to be ready to “scrap”.
The Hatters will have Kal Naismith back and hope to have Mark McGuinness fit too after the two centre halves missed the derby defeat at Watford on Sunday.
After he was appointed on January 14, the Town boss switched to a 4-2-3-1 formation and the club recruited players in the transfer window to fit that system, but against Sheffield United, a month later, Bloomfield surprised the Blades with a return to predecessor Rob Edwards’ favoured 3-5–2, with three centre halves and two wing backs.
It worked for the first half, as Town outplayed the promotion-chasers, but couldn’t find the net and ultimately lost 1-0. Since then, that’s been the set-up, even with the defensive injuries last weekend.
“It’s the formation we’re using [against Portsmouth] and if that uses it for the rest of the season because we have success, then great. If we feel that change is needed again, then we’ll be open to it,” said Bloomfield.
Bowler was recruited in the transfer window on loan from Nottingham Forest to play wide in the 4-2-3-1 formation, but the line-up change has seen his minutes restricted to substitute appearances off the bench.
Bloomfield said: “I don’t regret changing the formation because it complements the group that we have available, not just one player. We can’t just play it for one player, and we have to do it for what’s best for the group and what’s best for the group.
“As we saw against Sheffield United and Plymouth was to play through at the back, so my apologies go to Josh. We brought him in, but it soon became apparent that we needed to change. And we’ve now got Alfie [Doughty] out in his best position and Amari’i Bell’s best position. We’ve had two forwards playing in their best position. So, for me it was, it was a change that was right at the right time.”
He added: “I feel a bit for Josh because he left a club playing 3-5-2 to come to a club that was playing 4-2-3-1 and, near enough, the game after that we changed formation. So I feel for Josh.
“We’ve had to find different ways to try and get him involved, later on in the game. Once or twice we’ve gone to a four and he came on in central midfield as one of the eights on Sunday.
“Josh’s instinct is to attack, so I think you have to know that there’s a trade-off, if you have a midfield. He’s an attacking player with that attacking instinct, but we absolutely brought him here because I believe in him.
“I’ve watched him for a number of years from afar, and I think he’s a really good attacking player. And he’s and he’s proven in the Championship and we have to find ways to use him.”
Asked if three at the back will be the formation Bloomfield sticks with, he said: “I’m not sure if it’s something I’ll commit to for the whole of the rest of the season, but it’s certainly what suits the group we have right now. We believe, historically, this club’s used it a lot and it feels like it fits.
“Izzy [Jones] looks like he’s very at home as a wing back. Alfie’s played a wing back his whole career, and Amari’i left of the [centre half] three complements the group.
“We feel like it’s the best way to get the best out of this group right now and if that so happens that it continues throughout the season, then great.
“If we feel like a change is needed at some point, we have to be open to that. I’m here to do what’s best for Luton Town Football Club, for this group of players.
“We spoke when I first came about, used both formations. It’s not about me. It’s not about my ego, [that] I’ve wanted to do such a way.
“It’s about finding out what’s best for this group. And I believe that the two home performances that we had to two weeks ago showed that that’s the best formation for this group right now.”
The fresh absence through injury to defensive midfielders Marvelous Nakamba and Sheldon Baptiste – both will be out for six weeks with the same calf problem – is likely to mean that Lamine Fanne and Zack Nelson return to the match squad.
“He’s a young player learning the game and he’s someone we think extremely highly of,” Bloomfield said of Fanne.
“As we mentioned with Christ [Makosso], with Reuell [Walters], with Joe [Johnson], we’ve got lots of young players and we’re not in a position now to be using them all at the same time, because it’s the time for experience and know-how to get ourselves out of where we are right now.
“But Lamine will come back into the thinking. Zack will come back into the thinking. Zack, I’ve said it a number of times, he’s going to be a top player.
“He’s a great boy. Zack and Lamine, they both worked extremely hard when they’ve not been in the squad and we welcome them back into the squad ready.”
Today’s opponents Portsmouth have conceded one more goal than Town (56), but have hit the net 12 more times and sit nine points clear of the bottom three, having won three league games on the bounce.
But Bloomfield has masterminded an upset against Pompey already this term, when his Wycombe side knocked them out of the FA Cup. His Chairboys side also faced them in League One last term, as the south-coast side won the division.
‘They were a good team, got some good players and got some players that are in-form. So they’ve got dangers on their pitch for them in attacking areas,” said Bloomfield, who also played alongside Portsmouth boss John Mousinho when they were at Wycombe between 2008-2010.
“John’s a great guy, done a very good job and his team are running, they’re scrapping and they picked up some good results.
“So, we’re in for a tough afternoon, and we have to be ready to run and scrap and head and tackle. The basics of the game need to be there. And they will be.”
The fans’ view…
The host of the Luton Town Supporters’ Trust Podcast, Kevin Harper, had a different view on the formation and personnel needed to beat Portsmouth. You can watch the preview episode below…
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