FL72 talking points: Ipswich's start, Luzon punished, Blackpool woe
Tuesday 25 August 2015 08:00, UK
Stunning strikes, managers punished and fan protests - this weekend's Football League action was not to be missed.
Sky Sports' Football League expert gives us his five talking points from the weekend's action across the Championship, League One and League Two.
Who or what caught your eye? Leave your comments below if you're reading on skysports.com or get in touch via Twitter @SkySportsFL.
Ipswich's early charge
Ipswich Town are the early-season pacesetters with three wins and a draw following their 2-1 victory over Preston at Deepdale this weekend.
Mick McCarthy's men missed out on promotion last season after losing to local rivals Norwich City in the play-off semi-final. McCarthy has led former clubs Sunderland and Wolves into the Premier League in the past so can he do it again with the Tractor Boys?
OLLIE'S VERDICT:
Mick's my favourite manager - a great bloke, down to earth, says it how it is. He always goes under the radar, he's like a stealth bomber.
Ipswich have been like a great big boat; not only has Mick repaired the hole in the bottom of it, he's got it floating again and now going in the right direction.
For me it is not a surprise; I expect him to be up there. He's got two Championship titles on a CV and he's now got a club the size of Ipswich back on the rails so it's not lurching side to side. They missed out in the play-offs last season but I am fully expecting him to go one step further this year.
Luzon rapped for celebration
Charlton left it until the dying seconds to grab a winner against Hull - and manager Guy Luzon celebrated so wildly he was sent to the stands.
Luzon ran 50m down the touchline to join in with his jubilant players but said he'd do it again: "Yes, I would. If you could tell me we will score a winner so late then I would. I'm an emotional guy, it meant a lot to me."
OLLIE'S VERDICT:
If you can't get emotional doing your job there is something wrong. Football is all about highs and lows - that's what we love about it.
If I was a supporter I would want my manager to show that he cares so well done, Guy Luzon.
Have I done anything like that? I have done some dance moves! You don't know what to do; you have those moments and you want to celebrate but you're not allowed out of that little white line. I think it's ludicrous (he was punished). It's common sense going out of the game.
Frustrated Fulham fans
Fulham are yet to win this season under manager Kit Symons and Fulham fans grew restless at Craven Cottage during their 1-1 draw with Huddersfield.
Boos rang down from the stands during the game in which an injury-time Cauley Woodrow equaliser saved the home side.
"I understand the frustration from the supporters, they can get restless," Symons said after the match. "But I also know that from hard times you have to show some character to get better. We just need a bit of luck."
OLLIE'S VERDICT
They'd been in the Premier League so long perhaps they became a bit blasé about it. To get back out of the Championship you have to be humble; you are where you are and this division is a lot more competitive than the one above it.
They spent £11m on Ross McCormack but they've also got some young players so I'd say be patient and support them. Stick with the manager and see if you can get some results in a very topsy-turvy league.
It is all about getting that energy right. I don't think fans realise sometime how immense their help can be, especially when it is not going well.
Blackpool woe
Ollie took Blackpool into the Premier League where they narrowly missed out on survival on the final day of their debut season.
But four years on, they're bottom of League One, without a competitive win since January, and without a victory away from Bloomfield Road since April 2014.
Protests by fans have been directed at the club's owners, the Oyston family, and continued on Saturday when Sheffield United condemned the Tangerines to a fourth successive defeat.
OLLIE'S VERDICT
Every time a goal goes in the team's body language drops. The crowd, even those turning up, are alienated against the owner.
The whole thing is one of the saddest things I have ever seen in the game because I didn't have that scenario. I was part of wonderful things and the crowd helped me win with the same bloke in charge.
I don't understand what on earth is going on but it is heartbreaking for the Blackpool supporters to see their club where they are at the moment. By them digging their heels in with him, though, I think it will make things worse.
You have to have a reason as a player to want to go to a club and why would you want to go to Blackpool at the moment?
Stunners and high standards
The Football League served up 76 goals across matchday four - but was there a better one than Marco Matias' stunning volley for Sheffield Wednesday against Yorkshire rivals Leeds?
"Marco's goal was very special. He showed excellent technique," Wednesday manager Carlos Carvalhal said of the goal that saw the Owls' summer signing flick the ball over his shoulder and lash into the top corner.
OLLIE'S VERDICT
What a fantastic goal that was. The way he flicked it over the defender and volleyed it was stunning.
The overall standard of the games this weekend impressed me, starting with the one I was at on Friday, Birmingham against Derby. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I thought it was refreshing with some wonderful young players. Tom Ince looked at his exciting best and I really like Demarai Gray as well.
It is interesting to see the quality of young players coming through and the standard that they are managing to produce. That's why the Championship is so tough - but so enthralling for everyone watching.
