Luke Thomas

[UniFox21]

Just now, NewburyFox said:

Is he allergic to going forward? He is a decent defender but when you compare him to Ricardo on the other side it is night and day.

Assume he's asked to sit back given Ricardo player as that inverting full back. Can't have both fullbacks wondering.

[Richmondfox]

Just now, UniFox21 said:

Assume he's asked to sit back given Ricardo player as that inverting full back. Can't have both fullbacks wondering.

He offers zero assistance and support to the wingers.  Unable to pass the ball forwards and never runs forwards into the space we constantly have in front of the winger. 

 

If it’s tactics from the manager it isn’t helping our attack out.  I think it’s a bit of both. Maybe he the manager has asked him to not push on of Ricardo is further up, but when a winger has two men on him it space ahead, it’s such a waste. 

 

Look at how easy it was for the right side of Cov to attack constantly. Simple 1-2 and they were in. 

[sm1]

Want him to do well considering he's a local lad who's come through the academy, but he doesn't offer anything. Average defensively,  awful going forward. His passing range makes Hamza look good. He's the LB equivalent of Skipp.

[JimJams]

6 minutes ago, NewburyFox said:

Is he allergic to going forward? He is a decent defender but when you compare him to Ricardo on the other side it is night and day.

To be fair to him, you're comparing him to someone who, without injury, would be comfortably plying his trade as a regular starter for a Premier League side even at 31.

 

But it's true we don't have any fullbacks capable of doing what Ricardo does.  The options are very underwhelming.  

[The Year Of The Fox]

Saw him throw the ball further than he took his corner today 😂

[00rawat]

Needs  to layoff the corners and,leave it  to winks if he is in the side. 

Edited 20 September 2025 by 00rawat

[Jimmy]

6 hours ago, Jobyfox said:

Never like the argument of signing players for “squad depth”. I’d always rather sign better players who, by definition, then create squad depth. 

good job we haven't signed him then ain't it, we've given a new contract to our starting left back, who if he loses his place will likely be because we have signed someone that's better creating the depth

[Jobyfox]

1 minute ago, Jimmy said:

good job we haven't signed him then ain't it, we've given a new contract to our starting left back, who if he loses his place will likely be because we have signed someone that's better creating the depth

Semantics. He’s “signed” a new contract. 
 

I actually think he’s doing ok this season and not the biggest problem for the team by any means. I just worry that the length of the deal indicates a certain lack of ambition.

 

If we go up he’ll never be good enough. If we stay down he’ll only ever be average 

[Jimmy]

3 minutes ago, Jobyfox said:

Semantics. He’s “signed” a new contract. 
 

I actually think he’s doing ok this season and not the biggest problem for the team by any means. I just worry that the length of the deal indicates a certain lack of ambition.

 

If we go up he’ll never be good enough. If we stay down he’ll only ever be average 

yes but whatever we sell him for counts as profit so its an easy sale if we go up and don't want him

[Angus Scott]

6 minutes ago, Jimmy said:

yes but whatever we sell him for counts as profit so its an easy sale if we go up and don't want him

That depends on whether we are paying him a ridiculous high wage, especially has he's on a 4 year contract. 

No club will touch him if that is the case & we'll be stuck with him

[Jobyfox]

10 minutes ago, Jimmy said:

yes but whatever we sell him for counts as profit so its an easy sale if we go up and don't want him

We probably wouldn’t get more that one or two million for him, which I suppose will just about cover his wages.

 

But we’re clearly not going to be aligned on this so I’ll bid you good night 

[Jimmy]

2 minutes ago, Jobyfox said:

We probably wouldn’t get more that one or two million for him, which I suppose will just about cover his wages.

 

But we’re clearly not going to be aligned on this so I’ll bid you good night 

yes but he has a book value of zero as we didn't pay anything for him what ever we sell for is profit, we don't have to cover off wages or anything else, you don't seem to understand how it works

[Jobyfox]

2 hours ago, Jimmy said:

yes but he has a book value of zero as we didn't pay anything for him what ever we sell for is profit, we don't have to cover off wages or anything else, you don't seem to understand how it works

Well I don’t claim to be an accountant, but for illustration purposes let’s say we’re paying him £20k a week and sell him for £1m. 

 

When you sell a homegrown player for £1m, that shows as £1m profit on disposal of player registrations. That boosts your PSR position (since it increases profit - pure profit in this case). 
 

The £20k/week wages drag your PSR position down. The £1m sale pushes your PSR position up. Both are taken into account when calculating whether you are within allowed loss limits 

 

Happy to be corrected if I’d understood this wrong as I don’t claim to have great accounting knowledge 

 

Edited 20 September 2025 by Jobyfox

[FoxesTez]

He's so limited. When he receives the ball his first touch back in towards the centre back is infuriating. Open your body out and play forward every once in a while. 

[Gazza M]

I think he has been very solid at LB so far. He also put some good corners in prior to his last one. Vastly improved on where he was as a player 2 years ago. 

[Claridge]

Doesn’t help the rubbish way we try to play out from back.Always receives it under pressure.so easy  to press against . Mark ricky and it will end up with thomas under pressure and he doesn’t have the skill set to do anything with it

[SafewayFox]

4 minutes ago, FoxesTez said:

He's so limited. When he receives the ball his first touch back in towards the centre back is infuriating. Open your body out and play forward every once in a while. 

I spent about 5 minutes watching Thomas when we were under the cosh in the first half.

You’re spot on, I don’t know if he doesn’t trust his own ability but everything he does seems so basic and not once did he let the ball go across his body nor does he offer himself as an outlet.

 

5/10 performance today from Luke.

 

[brookfox]

Probably not a coincidence that Fatawu with Ricardo in support looks more dangerous going forward than Mavadidi with Thomas behind. He’s very seldom supporting the attack down the left meaning Mav is often on his own vs 2 defenders. Not sure if it’s tactical or just ability/mentality. He’s a good defender but seems to have regressed as an attacking threat.

[jv1]

Absolutely horrendous - and taking set plays - Jesus 🤢 

[foxinsox]

1 hour ago, Jobyfox said:

Semantics. He’s “signed” a new contract. 
 

I actually think he’s doing ok this season and not the biggest problem for the team by any means. I just worry that the length of the deal indicates a certain lack of ambition.

 

If we go up he’ll never be good enough. If we stay down he’ll only ever be average 

I think Luke had a good game today, against a decent winger. He also got a few decent balls into the box. The forwards wasted them of course, but he did his bit.

 

He gets forward in some games on the overlap so is capable of it. That he didn't do so today probably say more about following instructions than ability.

 

He is easily good enough at this level, and the team is better with him in it.

[Sinnoh]

Okay set plays aren't great. But complaining about him going forward when he has the useless lump mavadidi Infront of him doesn't help. 

 

All day today Ricardo and Abdul were talking and in sync. Mav and Luke just don't seem to have that, and unlike Abdul, mav doesn't track back to help the defence. 

 

Id like to see how Luke does when he has a more capable player Infront.

[James_lcfc]

10 minutes ago, Sinnoh said:

Okay set plays aren't great. But complaining about him going forward when he has the useless lump mavadidi Infront of him doesn't help. 

 

All day today Ricardo and Abdul were talking and in sync. Mav and Luke just don't seem to have that, and unlike Abdul, mav doesn't track back to help the defence. 

 

Id like to see how Luke does when he has a more capable player Infront.

What a strange take 
 

Useless lump? Mavididi has proved he’s more than capable at this level - With pretty good defensive stats as well.

Thomas offers literally nothing going forward in support. Properly dreadful player.

 

[JimJams]

20 minutes ago, Sinnoh said:

All day today Ricardo and Abdul were talking and in sync. Mav and Luke just don't seem to have that, and unlike Abdul, mav doesn't track back to help the defence. 

Except he blatantly does.

[Lcfc-1992]

At least Kristiansen will try and support the winger, loves an overlap. It might help out Mavididi as he’s not expected to do it all on his own. 

[Jobyfox]

1 hour ago, foxinsox said:

I think Luke had a good game today, against a decent winger. He also got a few decent balls into the box. The forwards wasted them of course, but he did his bit.

 

He gets forward in some games on the overlap so is capable of it. That he didn't do so today probably say more about following instructions than ability.

 

He is easily good enough at this level, and the team is better with him in it.

I agree. I think he did ok today and I think he’s done ok this season.

 

I’ve been a big critic of him in the past and groaned when I realised he was going to be our starting LB this season. Not completely convinced yet, but I’m always happy to be proven wrong. 
 

There are currently much bigger issues with the team at the moment (in midfield and attack) and that’s testament to how well LT has settled so far this season