Luke Thomas

[Tommy G]

17 minutes ago, Joe90 said:

Bang average championship player at best, it’s going to be scary because if we get promoted we need a good 8 players in the starting 11 

Same for most promoted teams - nothing new. 

 

He will do on a cost benefit point in this division but will fall back as a cup player and back up if promoted. Not sure it warrants all the stress in here. 

[Sol thewall Bamba]

2 hours ago, Dickov22 said:

His positioning and lack of pace here is diabolical. How anyone can say he’s a good player at this level is beyond me 

It's a ball inside him, happens up and down the country to every full back in the pyramid every week.

 

If Winks played that ball to Fatawu you wouldn't bat an eyelid at the opposition fullback. 

 

Looking at it from when the ball is played, Luke's inside the tracks of the 18 yard box (pretty standard starting position for a full back so no real issues there), Vestegaard is very close to Faes. As a ex CB I'd want my starting position here rather than where Vestegaard actually is, especially accounting for his lack of mobility.

Edited 7 October 2025 by Sol thewall Bamba

[Sol thewall Bamba]

The trendy line when he was breaking through was that he was better than Chilwell. Now Aluko is better than Thomas apparently.

 

Aluko will get a year or so of support and then be the latest academy lad under the bus.

Edited 7 October 2025 by Sol thewall Bamba

[Xen]

16 minutes ago, Tommy G said:

Same for most promoted teams - nothing new. 

 

He will do on a cost benefit point in this division but will fall back as a cup player and back up if promoted. Not sure it warrants all the stress in here. 

Exactly.

 

At the end of the day... maybe he's ok with that? He's getting a good wage playing football for his hometown club, being part of some of our success and even if he isnt quite at the standard of a mid-table prem side (as we'd hope to be) he is a reasonable back-up at worst. He's not going to play for England or get a transfer to a CL club, so he may well be content to play a role here even if its not the most glamorous. It's exactly what King did for years after dropping out of the first XI and we all love him for it.

 

I've said it before in match threads but I think most of the situations where he's looked most exposed are primarily down to lack of support from either the LW, LCM or LCB. A stronger fullback like Ricardo can cope in situations like that because he's clearly above the normal standard in this division. Luke isn't, and suffers as a result. He's ok and actually wants to be here, so yeah, not worth stressing over at this point. Maybe if we get promoted and he's still our starting fullback next season then there's cause for people to grumble, but we're not there yet.

[rugbyblue]

5 minutes ago, Sol thewall Bamba said:

The trendy line when he was breaking through was that he was better than Chilwell. Now Aluko is better than Thomas apparently.

 

Aluko will get a year or so of support and then be the latest academy lad under the bus.

Agree.  I personally want local/academy lads in the team.  Bit of pride rather than mercenaries.  I liked mcateer before his departure, you cant argue he didn't put a shift in or make an effort for the shirt.  I prefer monga over mavididi.   Preferred Kdh and Barnes to bought in players.  

Lots will disagree but there has to be some ties with local area in the team.  Its not like the big money players have all set the world alight in the main.  

[shen]

1 hour ago, MPH said:

 

we should always be up for improving our team. Everyone is replaceable. But if funds are limited, he’s way way down the list of priorities..if we get promoted, then maybe the funds will be available to improve him then.

Would you also be saying that if we hadn't spunked a lot of money on Kristiansen? 

 

49 minutes ago, Joe90 said:

Bang average championship player at best, it’s going to be scary because if we get promoted we need a good 8 players in the starting 11 

It's scary if we get promoted? It's the not-getting-promoted prospect that's scary, not having to replace players.

[Lcfcwigstonblue]

I think he struggles 1v1 and dives in quite a bit.

When he broke through he got forward a lot and looked very good in that aspect of his game.

However tactics mean he doesn't really get forward due Ricardo having free reign to do so.

[TheGoldenGod]

8 minutes ago, Lcfcwigstonblue said:

I think he struggles 1v1 and dives in quite a bit.

When he broke through he got forward a lot and looked very good in that aspect of his game.

However tactics mean he doesn't really get forward due Ricardo having free reign to do so.

This! Not physical enough and weak in the tackle. When he dives in, he often misses the ball and the man! rather he wipe the fella out tbh.

[HoustonFox]

1 hour ago, Sol thewall Bamba said:

It's a ball inside him, happens up and down the country to every full back in the pyramid every week.

 

If Winks played that ball to Fatawu you wouldn't bat an eyelid at the opposition fullback. 

 

Looking at it from when the ball is played, Luke's inside the tracks of the 18 yard box (pretty standard starting position for a full back so no real issues there), Vestegaard is very close to Faes. As a ex CB I'd want my starting position here rather than where Vestegaard actually is, especially accounting for his lack of mobility.

Our back 4 in general have pretty poor and reactive positioning. They leave so much space and don’t seem to intelligently cover for each other. It really worries me as a lot of not that great teams have made exposed us. I’m not sure having a front foot defender next to Vesty is the best option. He wanders forward and is slow and his strength as we all know is passing, not organizing. I’m not sure either Okoli or Faes are his best partners. Someone who just is a stopper is what we need. Is that Nelson (despite him being still raw). 
 

Back to topic and Thomas, he also ball watches and chases too much. If we play Ricky, we need more of a sitter LB I think to help with shape and solidity. He’s fine if we have Hamza on the right who tends to sit a bit more. I’d love LT to focus on defending and just do that for now, he naturally has some good instincts going forward. Finally (I’m sure you’re all like, thank goodness), he needs to get MUCH BETTER with his delivery. I can’t believe as a professional team, he’s still one out our main set piece takers 

[coolhandfox]

7 hours ago, Tommy Fresh said:

Players can still develop you know, he's also not exactly played week in week out during that time has he.

He played 150 games as a professional, I just don't think he has the physically or technical attributes to play at a higher level. 

 

Is he ok for now yes, should we be looking for better externally or internally yes. 

 

 

 

 

[MPH]

3 hours ago, shen said:

Would you also be saying that if we hadn't spunked a lot of money on Kristiansen? 

 

 

We bought him nearly 3 years ago?

 

besides, what has that got to do with how we manage and spend our finances this season? We have to manage what we have now..

 

I was actually quite excited when we bought Kristiensen. Really thought he had the potential to kick on..

[Stadt]

What’s he good at? Not his fault he’ll be on too much money but the extension was silly.

[shen]

1 hour ago, MPH said:

We bought him nearly 3 years ago?

 

besides, what has that got to do with how we manage and spend our finances this season? We have to manage what we have now..

 

I was actually quite excited when we bought Kristiensen. Really thought he had the potential to kick on..

I understand, but I'm wondering if it plays a trick on the mind that just because we spent big on a supposedly superior player in the same position, and that player still being here, makes some think it's not a priority to upgrade on Thomas or to address the issue. 

 

Obviously we would have had more room financially and literally in the squad had VK left this summer, but I recall people pointing at our full backs last season as a major weakness. And this was in a squad that was frankly performing poorly all over the pitch.

[MPH]

2 hours ago, shen said:

I understand, but I'm wondering if it plays a trick on the mind that just because we spent big on a supposedly superior player in the same position, and that player still being here, makes some think it's not a priority to upgrade on Thomas or to address the issue. 

 

Obviously we would have had more room financially and literally in the squad had VK left this summer, but I recall people pointing at our full backs last season as a major weakness. And this was in a squad that was frankly performing poorly all over the pitch.

 I think it’s more to with the actual car crash of a financial show we’ve been putting out recently, myself..  we are desperate for goals and defensively we are not conceding  an atrocious amount… it’s obvious really where our little amount of money should be spent.

Edited 7 October 2025 by MPH

[BKLFox]

Joint 2nd in key passes with Winks both behind James…..but doing a shite job and doesn’t get forward to support😂 

[ceebeefox]

On 07/10/2025 at 14:38, TheGoldenGod said:

This! Not physical enough and weak in the tackle. When he dives in, he often misses the ball and the man! rather he wipe the fella out tbh.

Who tackles in football now? I reckon there’s about four proper tackles a game now.

[FrankieADZ]

Sorry but how can anyone defend Luke Thomas, like really 

I'd rather have VK over him

 

Once again shown up, I don't think I've seen him get a 5 out of 10 in months 

Get this idiot out the 11

[Taz_The_Fox]

Hes ****ing useless but that chance at the end was a very hard one to take 

[Will1981]

Time to give Aluko a run

[Muzzy_no7]

Yeah there’s no defending him anymore.

 

He can’t defend 1v1, he looks like a kid playing adult football and doesn’t offer anything in the final third.

 

Its time for VK to get several games in a row. 

[Guest]

On 22/09/2025 at 16:49, Guest said:

I don't really rate him but I think he'll probably be OK as a safe, steady full back if we have Ricardo on the opposite flank and players like Winks, Faes and James (i.e. players who aren't afraid of the ball) in the side. Between Thomas, Choudhury, Okoli, Skipp and Soumare there were just too many players who were at best unadventurous and at worst outright uncomfortable in possession. 

Disregard, he is dog poo

[alanf0x]

Awful player. Why we keep dishing him out 4 year contracts only rudders knows 

[frany104]

The worst performance I’ve seen in years. 
 

he passed the ball out of play 3 times with no one around him. One went for a corner to pompey. 
 

who the **** gave him a 4 year contract extension!? 
 

Aluko must be wandering what he needs to do to get a chance. 

[coolhandfox]

4 years 

[beepee1984]

6 minutes ago, alanf0x said:

Awful player. Why we keep dishing him out 4 year contracts only rudders knows 

Not saying anything for certain, but Luke Thomas's middle name is Jonathan and I starting to think Rudders played away in Syston in late 2000 if you get my drift

Edited 18 October 2025 by beepee1984