With everything that is going on in the world due to Coronavirus, football is of little importance right now. However, there will be a time when it comes to the forefront of our minds once again, and so I thought I would reflect on what the future may bring.
As of now, nobody really knows when football is going to return, or in what capacity, however there appears to be a bond within the football world to conclude what was started, and finish the season.
That would potentially mean that the final nine matches of the Luton Town term would be played behind closed doors. I think by the time mass gatherings are allowed again, the window for playing the remainder of the campaign would have long gone.
So, while not ideal for those of us who enjoy, and indeed need our live football fix right now, these games are likely to be played without supporters in attendance.
So, what does that mean for Graeme Jones and his players? The general consensus is that the lack of that famous Kenilworth Road atmosphere would go against us in our quest to avoid the drop. That argument is an easy one to make, but just how true is it? I’m not so sure.
Of course, if this was to be a whole season then there is no doubt it would have a major impact and unlikely to be a positive one. However it isn’t, it is nine matches and there is a strong chance our cause could be helped by playing behind closed doors.
The reason I say that is because a lot of the fixtures Luton have left are against sides in the middle of the table, with little or nothing to play for.
We see it time and time again that sides struggle for motivation when everything is normal and when such scenarios come around, so I find it hard to believe these teams will find it easy to get themselves up for matches of these kind when nobody is watching them.
Of the nine remaining fixtures the Hatters have to play, five of them are against sides sat between 10th and 18th in the table, who are likely to have little or nothing to play for by the time we meet them. That is more than half of our remaining games.
Those teams would still have to be beaten, but it might be much easier to beat them behind closed doors, than if there were external factors, such as pressure from the stands.
Football isn’t going to resume anytime soon, and while the health and lives of so many are at stake, nor should it, but it will return eventually, and playing behind closed doors might not be the worst thing to happen to the Town.
