Ethan was not surprised by his team's victory over a fifth-tier opponent. What truly excited him, however, was the potential he saw in his squad for the future.
The tactical system he implemented was quite advanced for 2008. With the players at his disposal, Ethan was confident that Luton would take English football by surprise.
A week later, the team played their second pre-season friendly, traveling to Brighton, a coastal city in southern England. Their opponents, Brighton & Hove Albion, were a League One side at the time.
Securing a friendly against a League One team was no easy feat, especially for Luton, who were considered one of the weakest sides in League Two. Meanwhile, Brighton were seen as strong contenders for promotion to the Championship and, in the long run, potential Premier League hopefuls.
Despite this, the match drew little media attention. The English press was focused on the Premier League, where Cristiano Ronaldo had just led Manchester United to a Champions League triumph before sealing a high-profile move to Real Madrid. Chelsea, meanwhile, had just appointed World Cup-winning manager Luiz Felipe Scolari.
With the spotlight elsewhere, the friendly at Brighton's home ground attracted only a modest crowd. A few local journalists were present, but the match was mostly of interest to fans of both clubs.
For Brighton, this was expected to be a straightforward warm-up, a chance to boost morale with a comfortable win before the season started. However, they clearly underestimated Luton's strength.
Right from kickoff, Luton's high press unsettled the home side.
Just two minutes into the game, Luton took the lead.
The goal came from their midfield enforcer, N'Golo Kanté. Brighton had committed too many players forward, allowing Kanté to intercept a pass in midfield. Without hesitation, he drove forward towards the edge of the penalty area. As Luton's two forwards pulled Brighton's defenders apart, Kanté seized the moment and unleashed a powerful long-range shot.
The ball rifled past the goalkeeper, nestling into the back of the net.
On the touchline, Ethan's eyes lit up. He knew that Kanté's long-range shooting ability was rated around 63—not an elite level by any means, but in League Two, it was already impressive. More importantly, the Frenchman was only 17 years old. Perhaps he should work on refining his shooting technique even further?
Ethan stroked his chin in thought.
Meanwhile, Kanté sprinted towards the sideline and leaped into his manager's arms.
For Kanté, Ethan had been a mentor and a believer. He had scouted him from an amateur club in France, brought him to England, and placed his trust in him, giving him opportunities others might not have. Kanté was already a key player in pre-season, and his gratitude was evident.
"Thank you, coach!" he said in his limited English.
Ethan laughed and patted the young midfielder on the back.
"This is what you deserve, kid. You've got real talent!"
Then, ruffling Kanté's hair, he added with a grin, "And from now on, call me 'Boss'!"
"Yes, Boss!!!" Kanté beamed, flashing a wide smile.
In the stands, the Brighton fans were stunned. Their team had barely settled in, and they were already trailing. The Brighton players looked shaken—conceding so early was never part of the plan.
Originally, they had scheduled this match expecting an easy win against a weaker opponent to build confidence. Now, they found themselves chasing the game.
Determined to respond, Brighton pushed forward aggressively. Luton, however, dropped back into a compact defensive shape, forcing the home side to attack from the flanks rather than through the middle.
The battle was on.
Luton's defense isn't just about parking the bus. They apply relentless pressure on every ball carrier, making it difficult for Brighton to organize an attack, even on the wings.
The second goal came swiftly.
Drinkwater and Mitchell Piran combined to win possession on the wing. Without hesitation, Drinkwater glanced up, spotted Vardy's run, and launched a precise long ball over the top.
Exploiting the space behind Brighton's defensive line has been a key part of Luton's attacking strategy. Vardy's blistering pace allowed him to break free from the central defenders, and his finish was nothing short of spectacular. Adjusting his stride to meet the ball in full flight, he swung his right foot with perfect timing, executing a stunning volleyed lob over the goalkeeper.
Brighton's keeper was left helpless—2-0!
Ethan, however, remained composed. He knew Vardy was capable of such brilliance; when full of confidence, the striker could produce moments of sheer magic.
John Aston, standing beside him, was left in awe. Years later, in his autobiography, he would write:
"In that moment, I saw Van Basten..."
At the time, though, he was simply too stunned to react, his mouth agape in disbelief. Of course, he conveniently left out the part about nearly drooling in his autobiography.
Brighton, trailing by two goals at home, struggled to find a response. Their attempts to break through were continuously thwarted by N'Golo Kanté, whose tireless presence in midfield was proving to be an impenetrable barrier.
Luton's third goal came before halftime. In the 38th minute, captain Kevin Keane found space on the right side of the penalty area and unleashed a decisive strike. The ball curled into the top corner—an unstoppable effort.
In the second half, Ethan made only a minor adjustment, replacing Charlie Austin with the towering Matt Schmidt. The manager was focused on building chemistry among his attacking trio, as these three forwards would be his primary options for the season. Despite lacking depth, Ethan had to make the best of his limited resources.
Schmidt's presence offered a different dimension to Luton's attack. Standing at 1.98 meters, his aerial ability was a valuable asset. However, his mobility and pace were significantly inferior to Austin's.
Yet, Ethan saw him as the perfect weapon against deep-lying defenses. Many teams keep a towering striker on the bench for a reason.
Luton's fourth goal came directly from Schmidt's aerial presence. A quick counterattack found him as the target man. His cushioned header set up Vardy, who had perfectly timed his run to beat the offside trap. One-on-one with the keeper, Vardy coolly slotted the ball into the bottom corner—4-0!
Luton's dominant performance boosted their morale heading into the new season. They played several more warm-up matches, allowing Ethan to experiment with different formations and personnel combinations. Naturally, results fluctuated, but friendlies were never about winning; they were about refining tactics and identifying weaknesses.
What mattered most was victory in the official competition.
As the preseason drew to a close, the anticipation for the new campaign grew. Luton was ready.