Match Thread Coventry City vs Fulham (H) - Coventry Building Society Arena - Sat 24th October (3pm KO) (2 Viewers)

[Sky Blue Wozza]

The M1 was great fun tonight, adding to the overall good vibes of the day!

Set-pieces are going to be so important to our season, so it’s imperative we start Torp - or, at a push, Hamer. Rudoni needs to be in or around the box and Grimes on corners reminds me of when Eccles did it a few years back (only worse)

Yirenki looks like he may have to attributes to be a very good player, but is too raw and lacks positional sense. It’s a shame we haven’t seen him at RWB again, as the Forest game was his best for us. With Thomas potentially injured, we may not see a back three again for a while unfortunately.

 

[Cov4life]

From the first few minutes today, you could just tell we weren’t at it. Everything looked so slow and pedestrian. Found myself thinking do these players genuinely want to win today?

It concerns me where the money went this summer. I can’t believe we spent what we did, yet we're still relying on the same majority of players from last season.

A couple of lads did alright, but for the rest, I can't shake the feeling that this team only performs when there's real jeopardy on the line. We started the season slow, and it wasn't until it became embarrassing that we had no points we finally turned up against Forest and Newcastle. But as soon as we got those two wins, we’ve taken our foot off the gas thinking we’ve cracked it and now lost to Spurs and Fulham.

I bet next week we play out of our skins now that we've dropped into the relegation zone. It's the exact same thing we saw last season, flying high and miles ahead until Christmas, then letting things slip until Boro overtook us. It took getting the fright of our lives for us to finally put in a performance against them when the pressure was actually on.

 

[jto123]

Oh well, disappointing result but we just don’t have the squad to seriously compete at this level. Happy we’ve had some nice wins so far, hopefully there will be some more, but fully expect us to finish rock bottom bar a big Man City points deduction.

I think the telling thing was Fulham looked so comfortable on the ball around us despite clearly being one of the poorest teams in the league. It’s not a good sign of where we’re heading.

Another minor gripe is when we went behind to Hull, Spurs and Fulham we barely created a chance at the end. They all looked so comfortable. I think we might simply not have the quality. Just got to enjoy what we can take from the season.

 

[baldy]

I think the telling thing was Fulham looked so comfortable on the ball around us despite clearly being one of the poorest teams in the league. It’s not a good sign of where we’re heading.

Another minor gripe is when we went behind to Hull, Spurs and Fulham we barely created a chance at the end. They all looked so comfortably. I think we might simply not have the quality. Just got to enjoy what we can take from the season.

That's where I'm at already - fully expecting us to go down & just trying to enjoy the odd win here & there (hopefully)

 

[gspotgaz]

I think the telling thing was Fulham looked so comfortable on the ball around us despite clearly being one of the poorest teams in the league. It’s not a good sign of where we’re heading.

Another minor gripe is when we went behind to Hull, Spurs and Fulham we barely created a chance at the end. They all looked so comfortably. I think we might simply not have the quality. Just got to enjoy what we can take from the season.

It’s not a minor gripe at all. It’s very alarming we couldn’t even get the ball, let alone create a chance in the last few minutes.

 

[sebulba]

If there was a league between the championship and premier, we'd be ok but, it's a massive stepping stone. 25 yrs ago we could beat any team on any given day .. not now, so much has changed

 

[jto123]

Anybody able to tell me about Lampard’s interview on CWR? His Coventry YouTube interview was soft and added nothing.

 

[fatso]

If there was a league between the championship and premier, we'd be ok but, it's a massive stepping stone. 25 yrs ago we could beat any team on any given day .. not now, so much has changed

25 years ago we were relegated exactly because we couldnt beat any team on any given day!

Then we continued to not beat any team on any given day until we found ourselves in League 2!

 

[Sky Blue Harry H]

Saying that!! Let’s give up on the MVE long throw!! 8/10 times it’s frustrating the it doesn’t clear the first man!!

Especially in conditions like today.

 

[sebulba]

25 years ago we were relegated exactly because we couldnt beat any team on any given day!

Then we continued to not beat any team on any given day until we found ourselves in League 2!

bryan richardson got us relagated

 

[Bigelvesy]

This one has really got alarm bells ringing for me. The other losses I could manage, but this was such a drab performance, lacking any creativity or real chances with players taking up starting spots who are well below the level required too far into the season now.

Thomas Asante offers nothing and Grimes is not adding value to the midfield in games where we dont control the ball. EMC shouldnt be coming off the bench against people we’ve signed (god fuck knows whats going on with them) and i genuinely cannot see any of our strikers scoring enough goals individually or between them to keep us up.

I dont understand what the style of play is anymore, its been so long since ive seen us create a chance im not even sure how they are trying to do it anymore.

Lampard talks of moments of magic from creative players being the difference in tight games…Where are our creative players Frank? What the fuck is the plan Frank.

I cant cope with the drab performances, the shit weather and then fuck all emotion in post match interviews aswell.

Todays the day I accepted we’re finishing bottom
of the league.

 

[AFCCOVENTRY]

it was basically a Championship side again today. Not surprised by the result.

The team lost 3-1 to Spurs and Lampard thought they did a good job, hence starting the same 11 again.

At home to a poor Fulham side you have to be braver and put some attacking talent on the pitch and a midfield that can do something better than what he is picking up right now.

He needs to to start getting results, it’s as simple as that. Next 4 games we still need 6 points minimum. Do what you have to do get it done.

 

[Sky Blue Harry H]

It’s not a minor gripe at all. It’s very alarming we couldn’t even get the ball, let alone create a chance in the last few minutes.

I think today will be a wake up call for Frank, in terms of needing to be ruthless. He will see that today's approach will have next to no impact on the majority of PL teams. He'll have to change personnel ( and to some extent, tactics) He's an intelligent guy, who having played at this level, should be able to see where we're falling short. You'd hope he won't want to die on the 'Grimes has to start' hill. He needs someserious surgery to the midfield and whilst I'm personally ok with Tats, we need to see what Gboho can do. Neither EMC or BTA should be starting.

 

[Ashdown]

Firstly Fulham haven’t suddenly turned into a relegation team, they generally finish quite high up the table. They weren’t a given 3 points, that doesn’t exist at this level. Expectation levels from some City fans were raised, thinking they were going to be easy meat.
Frank is still trying to work out his best team and like almost all managers has been guilty of having his favourites. Rudoni, Bobby and Da Silva have paid off. Milan, Grimes and EMC have found it more difficult. BTA is just not Premier League, I find it perplexing to watch him.
As for the newbies, Cherif and Mfuni have showed great promise, Pinnock and Amenda have looked ok, Yirenkyi works hard but lacks finesse and others haven’t really had a chance yet.
We have to offer more of a threat up front, especially at home. When they watch that game back on a video the most obvious observation was how predictable we were.
Poor free kicks and corners, long throws not working, very little threat in the penalty area.

 

[SkyBlue2039]

Difficult result today, I felt a draw would have been a fair result and I would have took a draw. I feel that’s our achilles heel this season, you can survive on 8/9 wins if you can pick up some draws on the way - we need to be harder to beat.

Hull, Spurs and Fulham we were looking at least a draw that’s an extra 3 points and we are midtable if we didn’t get caught out and then also it stops them from gaining more points - it then also takes the pressure of other games.

 

[fatso]

bryan richardson got us relagated

That wasn't the question

 

[Sick Boy]

He certainly hasn't got the physical capability to play there now.

People on here going on earlier about him pulling the strings in midfield in the PL.

 

[SkyBlue_Adam]

Firstly Fulham haven’t suddenly turned into a relegation team, they generally finish quite high up the table. They weren’t a given 3 points, that doesn’t exist at this level. Expectation levels from some City fans were raised, thinking they were going to be easy meat.
Frank is still trying to work out his best team and like almost all managers has been guilty of having his favourites. Rudoni, Bobby and Da Silva have paid off. Milan, Grimes and EMC have found it more difficult. BTA is just not Premier League, I find it perplexing to watch him.
As for the newbies, Cherif and Mfuni have showed great promise, Pinnock and Amenda have looked ok, Yirenkyi works hard but lacks finesse and others haven’t really had a chance yet.
We have to offer more of a threat up front, especially at home. When they watch that game back on a video the most obvious observation was how predictable we were.
Poor free kicks and corners, long throws not working, very little threat in the penalty area.

We won’t see a worse team up here than Fulham

 

[fatso]

Saying that!! Let’s give up on the MVE long throw!! 8/10 times it’s frustrating the it doesn’t clear the first man!!

His throw ins were piss poor today, (as were all our set plays) you need more sophistication than just a long throw in the PL.
We need to learn, quickly!

 

[Sick Boy]

The thing is we don't know what instructions King gave to Austin & the recruitment team. It is strange that one of the signings we heard Lampard want was Tchaouna and now he doesn't play him. He was very quiet about some of the other signings.

Said it before but King may be pragmatic about it and it’s not survival this season at all costs or bust.

 

[RegiswasGod]

I think today will be a wake up call for Frank, in terms of needing to be ruthless. He will see that today's approach will have next to no impact on the majority of PL teams. He'll have to change personnel ( and to some extent, tactics) He's an intelligent guy, who having played at this level, should be able to see where we're falling short. You'd hope he won't want to die on the 'Grimes has to start' hill. He needs someserious surgery to the midfield and whilst I'm personally ok with Tats, we need to see what Gboho can do. Neither EMC or BTA should be starting.

I agree with absolutely everything you say. Unfortunately, you left out the part about him being so stubborn that he refuses to change to a plan b until at least January

 

[RJASkyblue]

I think some of the problem is Frank talking up every team we play. He did it with Fulham this week, who were below us and hadn't won an away game, and eventually it has to get through to the players. All we heard all summer was how hard it was going to be, instead of us saying we are a good team, we won the Championship by 11 points, we scored 97 goals etc. Instead all of the comments have been so negative, and it seems that many of the players are scared instead of relishing the opportunity. Let's take the handbrake off and give it a go because performances like today will not help the atmosphere at all, and lead to relegation.

 

[Sick Boy]

I agree with absolutely everything you say. Unfortunately, you left out the part about him being so stubborn that he refuses to change to a plan b until at least January

What evidence is there that he’s stubborn?

 

[RegiswasGod]

What evidence is there that he’s stubborn?

A third of last season! Before he finally made changes against Boro and we never looked back after that

 

[Sick Boy]

A third of last season! Before he finally made changes against Boro and we never looked back after that

Ah yes the season when we won the league and a period where we had ongoing illness running through the camp and injuries and there were calls for him to be sacked even then.

 

[SkyBlue_Bear83]

Ah yes the season when we won the league and a period where we had ongoing illness running through the camp and injuries and there were calls for him to be sacked even then.

Was there really calls for Lampard to be sacked last season? Not sure I believe you on that one

 

[sebulba]

So much bickering, we're better than this

 

[Skyblueabo1111]

Firstly Fulham haven’t suddenly turned into a relegation team, they generally finish quite high up the table. They weren’t a given 3 points, that doesn’t exist at this level. Expectation levels from some City fans were raised, thinking they were going to be easy meat.
Frank is still trying to work out his best team and like almost all managers has been guilty of having his favourites. Rudoni, Bobby and Da Silva have paid off. Milan, Grimes and EMC have found it more difficult. BTA is just not Premier League, I find it perplexing to watch him.
As for the newbies, Cherif and Mfuni have showed great promise, Pinnock and Amenda have looked ok, Yirenkyi works hard but lacks finesse and others haven’t really had a chance yet.
We have to offer more of a threat up front, especially at home. When they watch that game back on a video the most obvious observation was how predictable we were.
Poor free kicks and corners, long throws not working, very little threat in the penalty area.

Fulham were dreadful, as were we. We won't meet a weaker team , at home this season. The selection was dreadful, as soon as it was announced, it was fairly obvious we would lose. I would argue that it was weaker than last year.

 

[SkyBlue_Bear83]

I think some of the problem is Frank talking up every team we play. He did it with Fulham this week, who were below us and hadn't won an away game, and eventually it has to get through to the players. All we heard all summer was how hard it was going to be, instead of us saying we are a good team, we won the Championship by 11 points, we scored 97 goals etc. Instead all of the comments have been so negative, and it seems that many of the players are scared instead of relishing the opportunity. Let's take the handbrake off and give it a go because performances like today will not help the atmosphere at all, and lead to relegation.

We're definitely giving teams too much respect.

 

[chiefdave]

Really hope the players and coaching staff don't have the same attitude some people have on here. So many people just happy to watch us not put up a fight because its the Permier League and somehow we don't really deserve to be there.

Every time we play a team at the bottom of the league now its 'well they aren't really a bottom of the league team', yes they are. What are we getting next week? Sunderland are only there because of European games?

Won't be long before the same people are telling us its fine to get relegated because we'll come straight back up, where have I head that before?

We're not talking about losing to peak Man City & Arsenal. We're accepting losing to Hull and Fulham at home FFS. And not just losing, not laying a finger on them.

Those were two winnable games, thinks would be looking a lot better if we actually put in a couple of performances and won those games.

And if these aren't the winnable games what happens when we start getting the big teams up the top end of the table coming here?

 

[Skyblueabo1111]

Really hope the players and coaching staff don't have the same attitude some people have on here. So many people just happy to watch us not put up a fight because its the Permier League and somehow we don't really deserve to be there.

Every time we play a team at the bottom of the league now its 'well they aren't really a bottom of the league team', yes they are. What are we getting next week? Sunderland are only there because of European games?

Won't be long before the same people are telling us its fine to get relegated because we'll come straight back up, where have I head that before?

We're not talking about losing to peak Man City & Arsenal. We're accepting losing to Hull and Fulham at home FFS. And not just losing, not laying a finger on them.

Those were two winnable games, thinks would be looking a lot better if we actually put in a couple of performances and won those games.

And if these aren't the winnable games what happens when we start getting the big teams up the top end of the table coming here?

Seems people are happy with this. 40 million sitting on the bench, no movement from Frank, everyone else's fault . Awonyi 6 games, no goals, shoe laces tied together. Cherif, too young, may turn out to be brilliant, try him on the wing? Where he has played most of his games. If you want Assante, no problem, his energy is unbelievable. Play him as the striker. Saka, best game yet. Midfield, needs changing, give Hamer and Torp a chance, KHH right back..Go for it, stop being scared, if we are relegated, fine, but this is dross. Go for it!

 

[skyblue025]

We saw 2 poor teams today who created nothing between them. One individual good bit of play decided the match. It was incredibly frustrating.
Subs made us worse again with only Onyeka adding anything. BTA for all his energy can't be starting ahead of 2 specialist left wingers, Awonyi has looked like a poor man's Biamou since his sending off and I never thought anyone could be a poor mans Biamou. The midfield just isn't working at all.
if we are going to lose I'd much rather it be like Ipswich and a least give it a go.

 

[CovValleyBoy]

This one has really got alarm bells ringing for me. The other losses I could manage, but this was such a drab performance, lacking any creativity or real chances with players taking up starting spots who are well below the level required too far into the season now.

Thomas Asante offers nothing and Grimes is not adding value to the midfield in games where we dont control the ball. EMC shouldnt be coming off the bench against people we’ve signed (god fuck knows whats going on with them) and i genuinely cannot see any of our strikers scoring enough goals individually or between them to keep us up.

I dont understand what the style of play is anymore, its been so long since ive seen us create a chance im not even sure how they are trying to do it anymore.

Lampard talks of moments of magic from creative players being the difference in tight games…Where are our creative players Frank? What the fuck is the plan Frank.

I cant cope with the drab performances, the shit weather and then fuck all emotion in post match interviews aswell.

Todays the day I accepted we’re finishing bottom
of the league.

I thought we competed well throughout & matched a tidy prem league team, who are in no danger of being relegated, until the late winner. Disappointing we didn't create much aside from 2 first half headers. But discipline & defensive shape looked OK to me.
On to Sunderland.

 

[Viktor17]

That was on FL.

There was nothing in the game, but we are at home and these are the types of games we have to win…..yet we’ve not even thrown a punch, that’s what has really pissed me. Can handle defeat, but not even throwing a punch.

It’s a championship team still. That’s not good, he’s got a problem with grimes….he can’t start anymore for me (and I think he’s excellent) bTA just so limited at this level.

Cherif also, yes there is promise…..but I think simms would be more effective currently, cherif is a kid and it shows.

All a bit meh after yesterday……really flat.

 

[HJones23]

Worst/most frustrating part for me was how easily Fulham managed the stoppage time at the end. We basically sat back and let them knock the ball around whilst Gus & Awoniyi were running around in circles.

Similar to what happened against Hull when we went 1 down, the lads just seemed to give up & accept defeat instead of getting after them.