Luke Berry has asked us to share the following message to everyone connected to the club:
"Three promotions. Four different divisions. Seven years. What a ride!
"When I signed in 2017 the aim was definitely to get out of League Two and reach the Championship. But the Premier League? Being interviewed on Match of the Day? You’re having a laugh, surely!
"My time at Luton might be over, but the journey has been everything I was promised by Nathan and Gary – and then some”
It entirely makes sense that Berry would only choose to leave Luton, where in the Championship he would surely get more games than in the Premier League with Ross Barkley likely to leave, to play for a manager he's worked for before.
Luke Berry CM. Free. Luton blogger Dan Potts. LB. Free. Luton blogger Will Mannion. Keeper. Free. SLP Josh Edwards. LB. < 6 figures. SLP Bair. Striker. 750K. SLP say Unlikely
Not going to be drawn on the individual players themselves but in terms of the positions that suggests we are looking at that sounds promising at least - cover/competition for Small, an experienced replacement for Dobson, at least one new Keeper in (and therefore probably at least one out) and a senior striker not named May who will hopefully actually be available over a whole season.
Obviously that's not ALL we need but if we did strengthen those positions then it would have to be seen as a fairly positive outcome... albeit "if" is doing a lot of heavy lifting in that sentence.
Luke Berry seems like he would be a real coup. Two Premier League goals and an assist last season despite only playing 310 minutes and starting two games. We really lacked goals last season outside of May so having a player who can actually score from midfield is hugely important.
Of course we pulled off a real coup a few years ago when we signed an experienced central midfielder. A tempo dictating player who had just missed out on the Championship Play-Offs on goal difference and was described by their manager as his brain on the pitch. We all loved Ben Watson right? Hopefully this one will be more on the Diarra end of the scale
Don’t want to be a negative fan re our potential signings, and he’s clearly a quality player, but aren’t we trying to get players that stay fit or are going to give us 30/40 games a season at least? Discounting his prem season, he’s had 7 seasons with Luton of which he’s averaged just 21 league games per season. The most games was their season in league 2. 34 appearances. In 20/21 he managed 31
Don’t want to be a negative fan re our potential signings, and he’s clearly a quality player, but aren’t we trying to get players that stay fit or are going to give us 30/40 games a season at least? Discounting his prem season, he’s had 7 seasons with Luton of which he’s averaged just 21 league games per season. The most games was their season in league 2. 34 appearances. In 20/21 he managed 31
Is that due to injuries or just that there were better players taking his spot?
Don’t want to be a negative fan re our potential signings, and he’s clearly a quality player, but aren’t we trying to get players that stay fit or are going to give us 30/40 games a season at least? Discounting his prem season, he’s had 7 seasons with Luton of which he’s averaged just 21 league games per season. The most games was their season in league 2. 34 appearances. In 20/21 he managed 31
Depends what we need him for. Based on how he's been used recently he seems more like a good pro to have on the bench and maybe come on to try and get some goals later on in tighter games.
Not every signing is going to be one for the 1st 11. Arguably it's our squad depth that has been one of the problems in recent times.
Don’t want to be a negative fan re our potential signings, and he’s clearly a quality player, but aren’t we trying to get players that stay fit or are going to give us 30/40 games a season at least? Discounting his prem season, he’s had 7 seasons with Luton of which he’s averaged just 21 league games per season. The most games was their season in league 2. 34 appearances. In 20/21 he managed 31
Agree we need several signings to be starters who we can expect to play 30/40 games, but we could also do with some experience and leaders in the squad, so I can see NJ bringing in a few older players who won’t necessarily regularly play 90 minutes.
Don’t want to be a negative fan re our potential signings, and he’s clearly a quality player, but aren’t we trying to get players that stay fit or are going to give us 30/40 games a season at least? Discounting his prem season, he’s had 7 seasons with Luton of which he’s averaged just 21 league games per season. The most games was their season in league 2. 34 appearances. In 20/21 he managed 31
Dont forget that Brighton fella who has come in as Head of Performance - Our injury issues did seem to lessen, once he joined.
Luke Berry CM. Free. Luton blogger Dan Potts. LB. Free. Luton blogger Will Mannion. Keeper. Free. SLP Josh Edwards. LB. < 6 figures. SLP Bair. Striker. 750K. SLP say Unlikely
Not going to be drawn on the individual players themselves but in terms of the positions that suggests we are looking at that sounds promising at least - cover/competition for Small, an experienced replacement for Dobson, at least one new Keeper in (and therefore probably at least one out) and a senior striker not named May who will hopefully actually be available over a whole season.
Obviously that's not ALL we need but if we did strengthen those positions then it would have to be seen as a fairly positive outcome... albeit "if" is doing a lot of heavy lifting in that sentence.
Somebody like Berry who is only half fit is not a replacement for Dobson, who was always fit (to drop by the end of games).
Don’t want to be a negative fan re our potential signings, and he’s clearly a quality player, but aren’t we trying to get players that stay fit or are going to give us 30/40 games a season at least? Discounting his prem season, he’s had 7 seasons with Luton of which he’s averaged just 21 league games per season. The most games was their season in league 2. 34 appearances. In 20/21 he managed 31
Is that due to injuries or just that there were better players taking his spot?
No idea but I’d imagine if he’s stayed through to the prem days since league 2 he’d have been 1st 11 if fit.
Don’t want to be a negative fan re our potential signings, and he’s clearly a quality player, but aren’t we trying to get players that stay fit or are going to give us 30/40 games a season at least? Discounting his prem season, he’s had 7 seasons with Luton of which he’s averaged just 21 league games per season. The most games was their season in league 2. 34 appearances. In 20/21 he managed 31
Depends what we need him for. Based on how he's been used recently he seems more like a good pro to have on the bench and maybe come on to try and get some goals later on in tighter games.
Not every signing is going to be one for the 1st 11. Arguably it's our squad depth that has been one of the problems in recent times.
Don’t want to be a negative fan re our potential signings, and he’s clearly a quality player, but aren’t we trying to get players that stay fit or are going to give us 30/40 games a season at least? Discounting his prem season, he’s had 7 seasons with Luton of which he’s averaged just 21 league games per season. The most games was their season in league 2. 34 appearances. In 20/21 he managed 31
Depends what we need him for. Based on how he's been used recently he seems more like a good pro to have on the bench and maybe come on to try and get some goals later on in tighter games.
Not every signing is going to be one for the 1st 11. Arguably it's our squad depth that has been one of the problems in recent times.
But he’s coming off prem wages, I doubt he’s being lined up for the bench by us if he’s going to be one of the highest paid.
I wonder what the chances are of signing Darko Gyabi on loan from Leeds might be, local lad who was on loan at Plymouth back end of last season. Also mates with Karoy I believe.
Don't believe #cafc's bid for Dunfermline's Josh Edwards has been rejected, as has been reported north of the border.
And also it isn't a six-figure offer either.
SLP
Not sure why people are having a pop at Ronnie. He reposted something from the SLP. Nothing controversial abt that
It was simply he didn't originally credit rich. So posted as if he were ITK.
At 5.39 his post got a lol. He then corrected it with the SLP info 5mins later. Then got quite a rude reply from someone at nearly midday. Bit unnecessary to a fellow fan, but each to their own I guess. COYA
I have never quite got all the vitriol directed to Ronnie Moore/Bexley Boy/Colin. We all know he is a WUM, but let's be honest, we would miss him if he wasn't on Charlton Life!
Like the metaphorical cat we regularly kick on Saturday nights during the season.
Don't believe #cafc's bid for Dunfermline's Josh Edwards has been rejected, as has been reported north of the border.
And also it isn't a six-figure offer either.
SLP
Not sure why people are having a pop at Ronnie. He reposted something from the SLP. Nothing controversial abt that
It was simply he didn't originally credit rich. So posted as if he were ITK.
At 5.39 his post got a lol. He then corrected it with the SLP info 5mins later. Then got quite a rude reply from someone at nearly midday. Bit unnecessary to a fellow fan, but each to their own I guess. COYA
I have never quite got all the vitriol directed to Ronnie Moore/Bexley Boy/Colin. We all know he is a WUM, but let's be honest, we would miss him if he wasn't on Charlton Life!
Like the metaphorical cat we regularly kick on Saturday nights during the season.
Don’t want to be a negative fan re our potential signings, and he’s clearly a quality player, but aren’t we trying to get players that stay fit or are going to give us 30/40 games a season at least? Discounting his prem season, he’s had 7 seasons with Luton of which he’s averaged just 21 league games per season. The most games was their season in league 2. 34 appearances. In 20/21 he managed 31
Depends what we need him for. Based on how he's been used recently he seems more like a good pro to have on the bench and maybe come on to try and get some goals later on in tighter games.
Not every signing is going to be one for the 1st 11. Arguably it's our squad depth that has been one of the problems in recent times.
Don’t want to be a negative fan re our potential signings, and he’s clearly a quality player, but aren’t we trying to get players that stay fit or are going to give us 30/40 games a season at least? Discounting his prem season, he’s had 7 seasons with Luton of which he’s averaged just 21 league games per season. The most games was their season in league 2. 34 appearances. In 20/21 he managed 31
Depends what we need him for. Based on how he's been used recently he seems more like a good pro to have on the bench and maybe come on to try and get some goals later on in tighter games.
Not every signing is going to be one for the 1st 11. Arguably it's our squad depth that has been one of the problems in recent times.
But he’s coming off prem wages, I doubt he’s being lined up for the bench by us if he’s going to be one of the highest paid.
That's a fair point. Unless he's taking a fairly big drop and is using this as an opportunity to go the Andy Hughes/Jason Pearce route of transition from player into coach.
Plus even if he does sign its unlikely that he's the only midfielder lined up. Dobson, Kamara, Watson, Bakinson and Fiorini have all gone now, as poor as some of them were it would not make sense to not replace at least some of them in terms of numbers if nothing else. I'm not saying we need 5 new CMs, we clearly don't, but 2 or 3 more is more likely/achievable.
Personally I don’t get the hype around Luke Berry, goes against what Jones said he wanted to sign.. he has only played more than 30 games in a season once in the last 6 season, looks like he has a record of injuries.. Would rather we signed a younger, fitter player that has a point to prove!
Personally I don’t get the hype around Luke Berry, goes against what Jones said he wanted to sign.. he has only played more than 30 games in a season once in the last 6 season, looks like he has a record of injuries.. Would rather we signed a younger, fitter player that has a point to prove!
Jones will know Berry and his character and motivations well. I don’t think he’d want to bring him in if there was any doubt over his hunger. At least that’s the hope!
Having Berry around would be good as his career from being a league 2 player and playing his way through the leagues to the Premiership is a great example of a player buying into the Nathan way. He stuck with his club and achieved more than he could have reasonably have expected to. I could see him starting his coaching badges with us.
We need a bit of experience around the place - Agree on wanting young and hungry individuals, but will be helpful having a few older heads around as guidance off and on the pitch.
Trick with the latter is finding them before they look for one last payday, in the form of Gunter, Watson and Arter - Andy Hughes, and Paolo di Canio on the other hand are probably two of the best we've ever had in that sense.
Well unless I am looking at very different records or I can’t read I suggest people look a little closer at Luke Berrys’ record. It is exactly why half truths take hold. Let’s focus on his more recent and perhaps more pertinent contributions.
If Berry had fitness problems how come in the past 5 seasons - he was involved in Luton match day squad in;
In playing in the Premier League and the Championship he was not always first choice. If he were why would he drop to League 1? Indeed he could have stayed on his current contract for another year. In all honesty I have no idea who he was competing with. Do you?
He may well be a Steve Gritt type of player but after the past few seasons I would welcome a Steve Gritt in a heartbeat.
In any given season players will get some injuries, illnesses, and lose form or face changes in formation, changes in Manager. So 80% level of involvement over 5 seasons is a reasonable target. In the last 5 seasons Berry has, at a higher level, been competing for & securing participations in League match days 72% of the time.
I suggest it also speaks to both the competitive approach from Jones, Harford & Edwards and the club Berry represented. Luton is not a team of stars it is a team of competitors looking to be greater than the sum of its parts. It succeeded.
It may speak to the challenges Jones faced at Stoke & Southampton where perhaps too many thought they were stars and not competitors. I view the Jones approach as very much about having and giving 22 outfield players the chance to compete for a match day shirt.
The first day of preseason whether you are Luke Berry, Tyreece Campbell or Zak Mitchell you had better come to work each day to win that match day shirt.
Right now that will do me.
PS. I am not sure of the status around Potts. He reportedly had a nasty hamstring injury in early March so (unless it wasn’t that nasty) I doubt he will be “formally signing” for anybody just yet. Normally you would expect any rehab to be at Luton but they make no reference to such arrangement.
I can see him in rehab with a club on a “let’s see how it goes basis. Our locale and contacts may offer a mutual opportunity.
I think we have to trust Nathan Jones on whoever he sees fit to bring in. It’s obvious that he is a micro manager of his teams and only wants players he sees as being able to buy into everything he does. I think Curbs was a pragmatist. He did his research on the players he wanted to sign but set up his teams to get the best out of what he had. I don’t think Jones is a pragmatic manager at all. He has a vision and ethos and will stick with it. I think if we stick with him he’ll get us there but I think it might not be the meteoric rise we’re hoping for. That’ll do for me.
I think we have to trust Nathan Jones on whoever he sees fit to bring in. It’s obvious that he is a micro manager of his teams and only wants players he sees as being able to buy into everything he does. I think Curbs was a pragmatist. He did his research on the players he wanted to sign but set up his teams to get the best out of what he had. I don’t think Jones is a pragmatic manager at all. He has a vision and ethos and will stick with it. I think if we stick with him he’ll get us there but I think it might not be the meteoric rise we’re hoping for. That’ll do for me.
We have to trust him as we have no other option.I trust him 100 percent.
Don't believe #cafc's bid for Dunfermline's Josh Edwards has been rejected, as has been reported north of the border.
And also it isn't a six-figure offer either.
SLP
Not sure why people are having a pop at Ronnie. He reposted something from the SLP. Nothing controversial abt that
It was simply he didn't originally credit rich. So posted as if he were ITK.
At 5.39 his post got a lol. He then corrected it with the SLP info 5mins later. Then got quite a rude reply from someone at nearly midday. Bit unnecessary to a fellow fan, but each to their own I guess. COYA
I “lolled” it simply because Rich’s tweet had already been shared the night before by @MarcusH26 and then @Red_Chester, who added an “It’s happening” comment.
Mr Moore then comes along the next day, posting the words from the tweet, but no acknowledgment of where it came from, til he added that later (after my lol).
Not sure why people are feeling aggrieved on his behalf. He is quite obviously a WUM on here and elsewhere & derives some perverse pleasure from posting so much BS. I try not to feed the troll usually. Obviously a few others to avoid too.
Fair play Tel. Id missed the previous msgs's and it's happening gif - easy to do with all these rumours flying around 😂🤣😂 COYA
Personally I don’t get the hype around Luke Berry, goes against what Jones said he wanted to sign.. he has only played more than 30 games in a season once in the last 6 season, looks like he has a record of injuries.. Would rather we signed a younger, fitter player that has a point to prove!
Or we could sign more than one player in that position. We'll either need centre mids to cover three or four spaces on the pitch and backups. Right now the players we have under contract are Coventry, Anderson, possibly Edun and then Fraser, McGrandles and Taylor, who played a combined 0 seconds for Jones and will likely all be moved on. I think we need 4 CMs as a minimum to come in and one of them being an experienced player who scored a couple in the Premier League last season and knows the Jones system inside out sounds like a good signing. Have him as a player who has competition in the squad and we can rotate, it just means we also need to identify and sign some more as well.
Comments
Obviously that's not ALL we need but if we did strengthen those positions then it would have to be seen as a fairly positive outcome... albeit "if" is doing a lot of heavy lifting in that sentence.
23
13
31
21
His goals and assist ratios are impressive. I trust NJ and what he wants.
Discounting his prem season, he’s had 7 seasons with Luton of which he’s averaged just 21 league games per season. The most games was their season in league 2. 34 appearances. In 20/21 he managed 31
Not every signing is going to be one for the 1st 11. Arguably it's our squad depth that has been one of the problems in recent times.
...Now, lets get back to the rumours shall we...🙄
Plus even if he does sign its unlikely that he's the only midfielder lined up. Dobson, Kamara, Watson, Bakinson and Fiorini have all gone now, as poor as some of them were it would not make sense to not replace at least some of them in terms of numbers if nothing else. I'm not saying we need 5 new CMs, we clearly don't, but 2 or 3 more is more likely/achievable.
Would rather we signed a younger, fitter player that has a point to prove!
I could see him starting his coaching badges with us.
Trick with the latter is finding them before they look for one last payday, in the form of Gunter, Watson and Arter - Andy Hughes, and Paolo di Canio on the other hand are probably two of the best we've ever had in that sense.
If Berry had fitness problems how come in the past 5 seasons - he was involved in Luton match day squad in;
2023/24 - Premier League - 33/38
2022/23 - Championship - 38/46
2021/22 - Championship - 21
2020/21 - Championship - 40
2019/20 - Championship - 26
In playing in the Premier League and the Championship he was not always first choice. If he were why would he drop to League 1? Indeed he could have stayed on his current contract for another year. In all honesty I have no idea who he was competing with. Do you?
He may well be a Steve Gritt type of player but after the past few seasons I would welcome a Steve Gritt in a heartbeat.
In any given season players will get some injuries, illnesses, and lose form or face changes in formation, changes in Manager. So 80% level of involvement over 5 seasons is a reasonable target. In the last 5 seasons Berry has, at a higher level, been competing for & securing participations in League match days 72% of the time.
It may speak to the challenges Jones faced at Stoke & Southampton where perhaps too many thought they were stars and not competitors. I view the Jones approach as very much about having and giving 22 outfield players the chance to compete for a match day shirt.
The first day of preseason whether you are Luke Berry, Tyreece Campbell or Zak Mitchell you had better come to work each day to win that match day shirt.
Right now that will do me.
I can see him in rehab with a club on a “let’s see how it goes basis. Our locale and contacts may offer a mutual opportunity.