Sky Blues Talk - Coventry City General Chat

Jeffers Extends Cheltenham stay + England U19 Interview

Coventry La La La — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 11:38:40 GMT

Jeffers interview after England U19 Cap

Jeffers extends Cheltenham stay Click here for full story

Dimi Ends Up At Corfu

Coventry La La La — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 03:46:27 GMT

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Dimi Konstantopolous has finally found a club after being released by Coventry City at the end of last season.

The keeper, who made 24 appearances for the Sky Blues after being signed from Hartlepool United, has signed for Greek Super League club Kerkyra F.C.

Dimi played in their opening game which was a 2-1 victory against AEK Athens at the Panpeloponnesian Stadium

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Savage Tips Cookie For Wales

SkyBluesAndy — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 17:53:14 GMT

Recent reports suggest the current Wales manager John Toshak is set to resign from his post claiming he has took the Welsh national side as far as he can take them. Wales lost their last game 1-0 to Montenegro.

In an interview with Robbie Savage, the Welshman himself believes the Wales side need a lift and when asked who can do that he suggested former Sky Blues manager Chris Coleman.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/foot...es/8973219.stm

Ryan Giggs has also been tipped for the post (despite still playing first team football for Man United..)

Jutkiewicz Looking Forward To Leicester Game

Coventry La La La — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 12:16:11 GMT

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Striker is fit and raring to go

Coventry City striker Lukas Jutkiewicz says he has recovered from the minor injury he sustained and is looking forward to Saturday's M69 derby game against Leicester.
The 21 year old striker is due to return to full training today after being out for two weeks with a knee injury picked up taking a penalty against Derby.
Jutkiewicz said to the CT: "I have been really looking forward to getting back to training this week, especially as we will be preparing for such a big game in these parts."

Fingers crossed I will be back in the side for that because I know what a massive game it is. I have got old school friends who are Coventry and Leicester fans and I know what it means to them, and hopefully they will be coming to the game to watch me."
"Obviously being at Everton you don't get much bigger than the Merseyside derby but I am sure this game means just as much to the fans down here."
Jutkiewicz has been the penalty taker for City since his arrival from Everton, but he is keen to show City fans he can score from open play as well as from the spot.
"Strikers are always judged on goals so I don't mind how they come, but it would be nice to get a couple from open play," said Jutkiewicz.
"A lot of people have asked me if I picked up my knee injury against Derby when I took the penalty. I certainly didn't feel any pain at the time but I did shortly afterwards when I was running about, so I am not sure."

Lukas on Marlon King

Coventry City striker Lukas Jutkiewicz feels that if Marlon King is finally signed by the Sky Blues, he will be a great asset to the Sky Blues.

Speaking to the CT, Jutkiewicz said: "It's great to have competition and someone on your heels in training pushing you.

"Marlon is a top quality striker and I am sure he will be great for us when he gets up to full fitness. The manager is not bringing in players to make up the numbers he wants to improve the team."

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Osbourne No Further On

Coventry La La La — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 12:56:00 GMT

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No sign of a return for Osbourne
Coventry City midfielder Isaac Osbourne is still plagued by doubts as to whether he will play again for the Sky Blues.

The former Covsupport News Service Young Player Of The Year winner has been out since last year with a knee injury and told the CT: "When you are out for so long you do occaisionally wonder if you will ever play again but you can't allow yourself to think that like that.

But I'm no sob story. I just want to get fit and play again. I am in my last year with Coventry and hopefully I can get back and show the new manager what I can do.

"I know that will be hard because we have got a lot of good central midfielders here and even people like Sammy Clingan have had to battle to get a game. But the manager has encouraged me and told me not to rush back and that I will get my opportunity and you can't ask for more than that.

"I don't want any favours. Just an equal opportunity and then it is up to me to take my chance. I would love to get into the first team again but it won't be the end of the world if I don't because there are a lot of clubs out there and at the moment, the most important thing is for me to get fit.

"The problem is with my left knee and down to wear and tear. I had scans and was told that I could keep playing and that went on for about three months until I played at Derby last November and it got so bad that I couldn't play again.

"I had to rest for a couple of months and it didn't really improve so I had an operation in the New Year and that ruled me out for the rest of the season. I had targeted the pre-season to get back but the closer that got the more I knew in my own mind that I wasn't going to make it, and nine months on I am still no nearer to knowing when I'll be back.

"I did some running a few weeks ago but the twisting and turning set me back so I am just doing straight-line running now and waiting to see a specialist a week on Monday. He will hopefully give me the go-ahead to push on or he might say I need another op.

"But I am not going to give up because I don't want this to be the end of my career so early, I just wanted it sorted out."

http://www.coventrycity-mad.co.uk/ne...18/index.shtml

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Leicester City Ticket Sales.

SkyBluesAndy — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 21:41:51 GMT

Just got an e-mail from CCFC about latest products and everything... some of you guys might have received it as well.

Anyway on the bit advertising the Leicester game it says:

Quote:

Our sources tell us Leicester tickets are selling very fast and are looking to sell out, so come down, join the great atmosphere and help cheer your Sky Blues on!

Had a quick look on the CCFC online ticket booking page and Block 15 is pretty much sold out with a few seats available towards the bottom, Block 16 could do with some more tickets being sold at the top though, the best atmosphere is when the top of Block 16 sing as well. Leicester will sell out the away end bringing around 5,000... with a lot of people staying at home to watch the Derby game they have probably saved themselves for this one. Couple that with our 100% home record and the fact it's after the international break I think if we can get somewhere near 25k that would be great.

I really do think we desperately need to be averaging 20-22k most games though, but I think we are some way off that yet :(

Clingan Determined To Start

Coventry La La La — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 11:39:32 GMT

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Midfielder won't sulk if on the bench

Coventry City's Northern Ireland midfielder Sammy Clingan, has found himself slightly out of favour under the new management of Aidy Boothroyd and has only started one game so far this season and that was in the 3-1 defeat at Millwall.

As a regular starter under the previous manager Chris Coleman, Clingan has found it hard to accept being on the bench, but he has said he will accept that and won't sulk over it, but that doesn't mean he won't be fighting to win back his starting place.

Clingan is with the Northern Ireland squad preparing for the Euro 2012 qualifiers and spoke to The Belfast Telegraph, he said, "I missed the first three games of the season, I was on the bench and it came as a big shock to me because anywhere I have been I haven't been on the bench but these things happen and make you a stronger player.

It's not about me, football is a team game and once I'm called upon I have to be ready. I can't sit and sulk if I'm not in the team because it's not fair on other players. It's not nice to sit on the bench and I'm witnessing it for the first time in my career this season. I came back in against Millwall and hopefully I can keep my place.
"When the new manager didn't start me, it was hard to accept, but I'll not be a selfish person. That is not me. I think I am a good professional and I'll support the players who are in the starting eleven

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Jeffers Extends Cheltenham Stay

Coventry La La La — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 11:36:38 GMT

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Loan extension agreed

Coventry City and Cheltenham Town have reached an agreement to extend the loan period of striker Shaun Jeffers.
The 18 year old is in England's under 19 squad for tonight's game against Slovakia at the Alexandra Stadium, Crewe and has scored twice for Cheltenham in just one start and four substitute appearance.
The Robins were keen to extend the loan of Jeffers, but the decision rested with City boss Aidy Boothroyd and whether he wanted the striker to return to Coventry
Under the complicated loan and transfer rules, as Jeffers is under 21 the two clubs can extend a loan until the January transfer window, but there is a 24 hour recall clause should Coventry need the services of the player.
Robins manager Mark Yates said, "I'm going to watch Shaun tonight for the England Under 19s and hopefully we can complete the loan extension tomorrow."
"Shaun has done really well for us since arriving on loan and Aidy Boothroyd has been pleased that he is playing in a competitive first team environment. Shaun will be back with us after tonight's match and will be in the squad for Saturday's game at Barnet."

http://www.coventrycity-mad.co.uk/ne...stay_554347/in

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Platt Enjoying Life At Coventry

Coventry La La La — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 11:32:24 GMT

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Striker still getting to know his team mates

One of Aidy Boothroyd's more surprising signings of the summer was that of the 32 year old journeyman pro Clive Platt, but the little known and apparently underrated striker has raised a few eyebrows with his performances.
Platt joined City in the summer from Boothroyd's previous club Colchester and was described by the City boss as a striker who makes more goals than he scores.
Speaking to The Coventry Telegraph, Platt spoke about the football and his private life since joining the Sky Blues.
He said: "My first few weeks at Coventry City have been really enjoyable and I feel I have settled in very quickly. It helps because I obviously worked with the manager at Colchester last season so I know his routines and what he expects from his players, while the lads have made me feel very welcome."
"Footballers spend a lot of time in the dressing room with each other where there is always plenty of banter going on and I have always been in the thick of that, but there is an unwritten rule in the game that you don't go shouting your mouth off from your first day so, while I am usually one of the loud ones dishing it out, I have been very quiet up to now."

"I am just biding my time, taking it all in and getting to know everyone and spotting my potential targets. Life has been pretty good on the pitch too, and I have been pleased with the playing time I have had so far and was very happy to get my first start last Saturday, although not so with the result."
"Although I felt I won my fair share of headers, I do feel that the referee gave Millwall more decisions than he gave us, which often happens when you play away at an intimidating ground where the crowd make lots of noise, but hopefully we will make the Ricoh like that and start getting decisions going for us."
"The problem was that I was being fouled quite a lot with one man in front of me and another behind, climbing up my back and trying to head the ball, but whenever I used my arms to stop them I was penalised for it and they got a free kick. It can be frustrating for me because throughout my career I have had referees say to me, 'You're a big lad, get on with it,' and it seems that if opposition players commit a foul and win the ball it is fair game but, if I do it, I get pulled up for it."
"The other frustrating aspect of the game was the sending off because up until that point we had got our goal back and were in the ascendancy. Ask any of our lads and they will tell you that at that point of the game we were confident we were going to go on to win and we could see from the body language of their players that they were there for the taking."
"Unfortunately Carl Baker went off and the reverse happened. Bakes was obviously disappointed but, to be fair to him, I thought his first booking was very harsh because their lad had his arms round him on the floor and he was just trying to get free and the second yellow came for kicking the ball away and he insists he didn't hear the whistle, so I think he and the gaffer are going to sit down and look at it again on the video. We are now looking forward to the next game when we hope to bounce back."
"My wife, Imogen, is from Leicester and I am from Wolverhampton so we have moved into a house in between the two, just outside Hinckley so it is easy to get up the M69 or down the M6 to our respective families. We have a little girl, Maddie,who will be four in November and she has her dad wrapped round her little finger."
"When we decided we were going to have kids I always said that I would be the strict one but I can't bring myself to shout at her and always go for the easy option and pick her up for a cuddle if she looks like she is going to cry because she's been naughty, but she's great fun and at a lovely age, and certainly keeps me on my toes."
http://www.coventrycity-mad.co.uk/ne...56/index.shtml

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City Sign Striker U18

Coventry La La La — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 23:15:28 GMT

Richards signed

Coventry City have signed Courtney Richards from Birmingham based Evostick League side Romulus FC.

Richards is an U18's striker and has been given a scholarship at the Sky Blues.

"Everyone at the club wishes Courtney every success, and like Liam Mayer who joined Walsall FC last season, we will follow his progress at the higher level," said Romulus' Youth Director Mark Taylor, according to Non-League Daily.
"Of course we are sorry to see such a talented lad leave us and as a player and a person he will be sorely missed.
"But a chance to play at that level doesn't come along every five minutes so we are delighted for him, he definitely has the ability to make an impact."

http://www.coventrycity-mad.co.uk/ne...10/index.shtml

Jermaine Off To A Flier

Coventry La La La — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 13:59:49 GMT

Jermaine Grandison was Man Of The Match on his Tranmere Rovers debut last night.

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The defender, whose youth loan until the end of September was completed yesterday, played in Tranmere's Football League Trophy game with Accrington Stanley.

Unfortunately, for Grandison, there is no chance of progressing further in the competition as Tranmere drew the game 1-1 and lost 5-3 on penalties.

http://www.coventrycity-mad.co.uk/ne...37/index.shtml

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so many questions so few answers..

hamil99 — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 13:33:07 GMT

Just been thinkin about city as I do most hrs of the day and wondering wats going on behind closed doors.. a few questions came to my mind that hav just been left hanging in recent times..

The stadium. I remember reading a lot of articles saying that the money from the sale of foxy and dann was going to be used to buy back a percent of the stadium. Wat happened to this, I thought it was a good idea, all successful clubs own their grounds.

Gunnersen. Ummm... new contract please.

King. Was apparently ment to sign b4 millwall, now leceister. Get it sorted.

Westwood. It's all well documented wats going on, i just want to know why has it been allowed to get to this stage, should of been sorted last yr.

Ward. Don't see Wat he's going to offer. Prefer Jeffers back, doing well at cheltenham and has an England u'18s call up, does ward?

There loads more but my phones acting up so before I lose the lot I stop...

Ward deal to be signed next week

Coventry La La La — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 10:36:23 GMT

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Bolton problems need sorting first
The signing of Bolton's teenage striker Danny Ward was delayed yesterday because of details at the Bolton end of the deal need to be sorted first.
Coventry City and Millwall have emerged as the favourites to sign the highly rated 18 year old, but Bolton manager has insisted that Ward signs the long term contract with the Trotters before he can go on loan.
Sky Blues manager Aidy Boothroyd had hope to have completed the signing yesterday after they had emerged as the club most favoured by Ward, but it now looks as if the deal will have to wait until next Tuesday at the earliest. The emergency loan window opens on Tuesday so no deal can be done until then.
Boothroyd, who has been watching the progress of Ward for some time and has been trying to attract him to the Ricoh said of the situation, “That’s ongoing and dependent on one or two things at the Bolton end, so it is not a given.”
“He’s one of two or three players we have been looking at and he was one I identified on my first day at the club. The loan window re-opens on Tuesday so we have got to see how we go.”
http://www.coventrycity-mad.co.uk/news/tmnw/ward_deal_to_be_signed_next_week_554008/index.shtml

Danny Ward is a Striker who played on the Wings for Swindon last season and looked promising during the playoffs at Swindon and could offer some pace on the RM but i can't see him getting a sniff upfront if we sign King. But could compete with Bell or McSheffrey on the Wings

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King fit to play against Leicester

Coventry La La La — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 08:25:57 GMT

Striker expected to sign next week

The controversial move to sign disgraced striker Marlon King is inexorably moving closer and could be completed by next week, in time for the 30 year old to play in the M69 derby against Leicester.
City boss Aidy Boothroyd has insisted that King is fit enough to go straight into any squad.
He said, �We didn�t have to sign him before the window closed but we hope to complete that by the end of the week,� confirmed the City boss who invited the player to train at the club last week where he underwent a series of tests to assess his fitness."
When asked how long it would be before King would be fit enough to play competitive football, Boothroyd said, �For the next game! He�s kept himself in good shape and he would be available for the Leicester match - http://www.coventrycity-mad.co.uk/ne...07/index.shtml

Westwood: I won't be bullied

Coventry La La La — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 08:23:14 GMT

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Coventry City's Kieren Westwood, who has found himself at the centre of controversy because of his refusal to sign a new contract with the Sky Blues, has spoken for the first time about why he won't sign.
The 25 year old Irish international goal keeper has been consistently linked with moves to other clubs throughout the summer, but nothing came of any of them apart from one bid from Scottish club Glasgow Celtic which was described as derisory by Coventry.
Westwood had asked Coventry last year about negotiating a contract extension, but the club left it until a few months ago to start talking to Westwood and his representatives and this has apparently annoyed Westwood.
Since his refusal to agree to sign the contract, he has been relegated to the bench and on loan Everton 'keeper Iain Turner has taken his place.
Westwood, who is with the republic of Ireland squad preparing for their Group B Euro 2012 qualifying games against Andorra and Armenia, has had personal issues to cope with. He became a father to Caitlin last week and missed the second game of the season at Watford because of a family bereavement.While he is with Ireland he spoke about the controversy surrounding his contract.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, he said, "Six months ago I would have signed a new deal, 12 months ago I was asking for a new deal, and the year before that they promised me a new deal but nothing ever materialised and I don't know why. I want to see how things go but I am being slaughtered in the papers for it like it is my fault. I am being made to look the bad guy which is unfair."
'I was offered a new contract four weeks ago. The manager asked me if I was going to sign and I said no and that is it. I have not asked to leave, I just said I don't want to sign the contract. I love it at the club and that has not changed. I am still committed. The manager asked for an answer, he wanted me to be straight up and honest, which I have been."

'Next thing I know, I am out of the team, and find myself being attacked in the press. I didn't want to get embroiled in this kind of political issue. I have not done one interview all summer, but have kept my mouth shut and wanted to let my performances do the talking."

'I just want to play football but now I am being slated in the papers everyday and I have been dropped for no reason. And enough is enough. I always train hard and work hard and give my best in games. I really don't know what is going to happen. Bullying me is not going to work."
Coventry City manager Aidy Boothroyd, who has both criticised and praised Westwood for his performance is as frustrated as Westwood over the affair and some of his comments have annoyed Westwood.
Boothroyd accused Westwood of inconsistency after the home win over Derby, saying, "'We’ve got two very good goalkeepers, one who’s proved himself to be the best in the division but last week he nearly cost us the game then he won us the game, and I don’t want to work with that inconsistency."
'We’ve got a situation where I want him to sign, his representatives want him to sign, the club and everybody in Coventry wants him to sign but he’s not quite sure yet but he’s not ready, nobody’s come in for him and therefore I’ve got to go with what I think is consistent and settled."

'I want Keiren to play in the Premiership with us but, as good as he is, I’ve got a decision to make before the next game. I have to have a chat with him and find out it he’s part of the future here or not. If he isn’t, we’ll have to deal with it."
Westwood interpreted these comments as a slur on his character saying, "It is a slur on my character.I want to do well for the club but I am not being allowed to do that. I will always be available for selection and I will always perform to my best."
"The manager has said I am the best keeper outside the Premier League and yet he doesn't want to play me. Ask anyone who knows me and they will tell you I am not a bad lad and I train hard everyday. This hurts me because I just want to play. I am not arrogant. Since I was released by City I have worked hard every day, I have played in the conference and I know what it is like to be on �150 a week, so I am not a big-time Charlie."

"I am not going to change because I am out of contract. I know I have to work hard to get where I want to be and that has always driven me and always will or I know I will get nowhere."
With his refusal to sign the new contract, he is now more likely to be leaving Coventry City, probably in the January transfer window.
City chairman Ray Ranson said earlier this year that whatever happened Westwood would not be leaving the club for nothing, but with no serious offers coming in for the player during the summer and with all of the club who have been linked with him finding alternative goal keepers, he is unlikely to be offered the chance to play regular football, therefore putting his international chances in jeopardy

http://www.coventrycity-mad.co.uk/ne...06/index.shtml

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