Football League World
·5 November 2024
Football League World
·5 November 2024
The Hatters have had a really disappointing season so far, and will need to make some changes in January.
This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more...
Luton Town have had a bitterly disappointing opening three months to the campaign, and are only just outside the relegation places currently.
A 1-1 draw against West Bromwich Albion on Friday evening at Kenilworth Road was enough to take them into 21st, with Plymouth Argyle's 3-0 defeat to Leeds United keeping the Hatters away from danger for the time being.
However, this was not how supporters had envisaged the season going following relegation from the Premier League, and currently there is no sign of progress from the start of 2024/25.
Those in mid-table are slowly starting to escape from the clutches of Rob Edwards' side, and the January transfer window cannot come soon enough for Luton, who are seeking improvements to the team.
While some may have expected the Hatters to challenge for a play-off place after their year in the top flight last time out, this season has been a real struggle and performance levels have been way below expectations.
Injury issues, particularly in defence, have plagued the Bedfordshire club throughout the first three months of the campaign, and they will have to be addressed in the winter otherwise what has been a poor start could turn into a disastrous season.
Football League World's Luton Fan Pundit, Finley Cannon, was asked to predict two things that could happen in the January transfer window, and he focused on both ends of the pitch.
"I think Joe Taylor will leave in January," he started. "It's pretty clear that Edwards doesn't see him as an option from the bench or starting, so, I think it's pretty certain Taylor will leave, and he's one of the most sought-after young strikers in League One, League Two and maybe even at Championship level after his really excellent season last season in both League One and League Two where he was top scorer for two different sides.
"So, him leaving would be completely unsurprising, and I wouldn't be surprised if he is the one that instigates that move away."
"It seems like it's something we're saying constantly now, and I mean it's unacceptable not to have signed more in defence when we already had those big injury issues. We’ve got multiple players who are now being shoehorned back into the team when they are injured."
This season has been poor for many linked to Luton, and on the pitch it has been a huge struggle for Taylor, who had perhaps hoped that he was going to be given more of a chance following an incredible 2023/24.
The 21-year-old had been linked with a move to Huddersfield Town in the summer, but it was something that never materialised, and instead he has been forced to see out the first half of the campaign at Kenilworth Road.
He scored 21 goals for Lincoln City and Colchester United in 44 matches last season, but since returning to Bedfordshire, he has only featured in cameo roles, racking up less than 90 minutes of football in seven Championship matches.
This lack of opportunity is hindering Taylor's career, and although he has plenty of time in it to develop and grow, this is an incredibly important time for that to happen and without regular game-time he will not improve.
Championship and League One clubs will be circling in January, and allowing him to move on would be the best for all parties.