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

[clint van damme]

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

Going off one of the interviews he did earlier in the year when he talked about sacking Robins I fear that may not be the case.

 

[Ashdown]

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.

No wonder BTA has so much energy , he spends half the game sitting on the turf.

 

[Matt smith]

After calming down from last night that was one of those games if you draw 0-0 it is seen as a decent point

But if you play the way we played and you lose you should rightfully expect severe criticism because we didn’t even try and have a go

Like @Evo1883 said it was like we were scared

The ultimate playing with a wimper

 

[TomRad85]

After calming down from last night that was one of those games if you draw 0-0 it is seen as a decent point

But if you play the way we played and you lose you should rightfully expect severe criticism because we didn’t even try and have a go

Like @Evo1883 said it was like we were scared

The ultimate playing with a wimper

I agree with you, we should have seen out the 0-0 here and against Hull. Valuable lost points as well as gained points for likely bottom enders. If we lose at home to Sunderland too it's done, you can't keep chucking points against dross.

 

[Matt smith]

I agree with you, we should have seen out the 0-0 here and against Hull. Valuable lost points as well as gained points for likely bottom enders. If we lose at home to Sunderland too it's done, you can't keep chucking points against dross.

Next week is must win, think that’s pretty clear.

 

[TomRad85]

Next week is must win, think that’s pretty clear.

Well we have to be braver and play for a win as now a draw won't cut it at all having got nothing from Hull and Fulham.

 

[Sky Blue Harry H]

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.

Decent, reasoned summary of how I saw/see it. Without reigniting the debate about how fit he might be, we are crying out for someone with Hamer's ability to pick a pass, shoot, and take a decent set piece (Torp can enter the debate there, too).

 

[Boicey]

Lampard entered the season with a plan to work hard, be physical and defend, be hard to beat. Recruitment was on that basis.
That was a massive change from last season when we attacked in numbers and at tempo most the time. In fact the defence was our weakness.
So in a way we've moved away from our strengths and to our weakness especially when playing most the same team.

Id have been much happier to have recruited to improve our general skill level and ball playing quality. Surely that's a better long term strategy.

 

[PUSB-We_are_going_up]

Next week is all dependent on Bobby’s fitness for me
If he is fit (99.9% not)


If Bobby isnt fit

 

[Matt smith]

Next week is all dependent on Bobby’s fitness for me
If he is fit (99.9% not)
View attachment 55509

If Bobby isnt fit
View attachment 55510

That’s the team I’d pick. But we all know it won’t be that

 

[Londonccfcfan]

Not read this thread.

But why didnt Rushworth just catch that ball? Surely easiest catch ever instead he pushes it over the bar. The first of 2 cosuccesive corners that lead to the goal.

Just invites pressure. Lacking confidence had nothing to do the whole match.

 

[Tommo1993]

Not read this thread.

But why didnt Rushworth just catch that ball? Surely easiest catch ever instead he pushes it over the bar. The first of 2 cosuccesive corners that lead to the goal.

Just invites pressure. Lacking confidence had nothing to do the whole match.

Ball dropping towards the line, Rushworth already running towards goal. That could’ve easily ended up a goal.

 

[lord_garrincha]

Ball dropping towards the line, Rushworth already running towards goal. That could’ve easily ended up a goal.

I remember at the time saying safety first.

A major stretch to blame him on this one.

 

[southern_comfort]

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!

Agree with most of that apart from Assante his energy does not bring anything for us he runs into players like a headless chicken then goes down if a player Evan looks at him he is nowhere near a premier player and should be off loaded

 

[lowblocklounge]

Not read this thread.

But why didnt Rushworth just catch that ball? Surely easiest catch ever instead he pushes it over the bar. The first of 2 cosuccesive corners that lead to the goal.

Just invites pressure. Lacking confidence had nothing to do the whole match.

Risky that. It’s wet and it could have easily slipped and his momentum was towards goal.

My issue with their goal was the lines man missed a nailed on offside 2 minutes before that which led directly to the 2 corners. He puts his flag up there they don’t score.

 

[Londonccfcfan]

Ball dropping towards the line, Rushworth already running towards goal. That could’ve easily ended up a goal.

Nah. Goalie with confidence catches that 9 times out 10. If their striker even touches him and he drops it it woukdnt count woukd be called a foul.

The only thing he had to do was catch a ball all match.

That was cautious on another level. I'd call it out and calm it shite and continues his rabbit caught in headlights form.

Yet he's getting ratings of 6/7s. Mental.

 

[Tommo1993]

I remember at the time saying safety first.

A major stretch to blame him on this one.

People need to see the goal again, obviously. More tragic defending by Dasilva who’s still living off his goal. He ends up behind Oscar Bobb. Awful.

 

[Evo1883]

Not read this thread.

But why didnt Rushworth just catch that ball? Surely easiest catch ever instead he pushes it over the bar. The first of 2 cosuccesive corners that lead to the goal.

Just invites pressure. Lacking confidence had nothing to do the whole match.

I agree and said at the time to my dad at worst he gets pushed into his net and its a foul , feels like he didnt have the confidence .

 

[Londonccfcfan]

Fine margins like that cost you in this league. But all these little things matter.

That tip over the bar continued the sustained pressure on us.

Catches it just relieves the pressure.

 

[Londonccfcfan]

I agree and said at the time to my dad at worst he gets pushed into his net and its a foul , feels like he didnt have the confidence .

People need to see the goal again, obviously. More tragic defending by Dasilva who’s still living off his goal. He ends up behind Oscar Bobb. Awful.

Dont have it in me yet to re watch the match or goals.

Watching it live was bad enough.

 

[Evo1883]

People need to see the goal again, obviously. More tragic defending by Dasilva who’s still living off his goal. He ends up behind Oscar Bobb. Awful.

If bobby is fit i would like to see mfuni start at LB for a game or 2

In truth the starting 11 needs a refresh

 

[Tommo1993]

I agree and said at the time to my dad at worst he gets pushed into his net and its a foul , feels like he didnt have the confidence .

Confidence could be it. He fucks up the catch in dodgy conditions he bundles it home even without a challenge.

 

[Tealeaf]

Oh how we laughed when people called us the worst team in the Premier League

 

[coop]

Da Silva has to double up on goal scorer caught in no man's land.If FL loves BTA this much he needs to play him up top to chase down defenders because he is absolutely shocking anywhere else on the pitch.Why have we stopped the high pressing game especially at home?

 

[Skybluedogwood]

Next week is all dependent on Bobby’s fitness for me
If he is fit (99.9% not)
View attachment 55509

If Bobby isnt fit
View attachment 55510

My only change would be Mfuni for Torp and Thomas alongside Pinnock if he’s fit.

Absolutely zero chance of any of this happening as we’ll have another broadly unchanged team with a few cameos from other players.

We are guaranteed to be relegated continuing the current approach of dropping deep, trying not to concede and creating nothing with a championship side. Yet another game yesterday that was there for the taking zero appetite to attack in numbers, just hope to nick something.

Now is the time to try something different while there is everything to play for, hard to see how it can be any worse but we’ll find out and be a step closer to actually knowing what our best team looks like.

It’s a shame in hindsight we went out in the Carabao. Shrewd move from Hamer playing U21s as there hadn’t been a proper opportunity for a number of players to show what they can do and force their way into the team, training is not the same as an actual match, any sportsman knows that.

 

[JSL]

Am i alone in wondering why we play with 2 wingers and one CF? Even on the rare occasion when we get a cross in, we are out numbered and it comes to nothing when on the attack unless its a set piece where the CBs go up. Surely 2 up front is worth a go?

 

[AFCCOVENTRY]

Am i alone in wondering why we play with 2 wingers and one CF? Even on the rare occasion when we get a cross in, we are out numbered and it comes to nothing when on the attack unless its a set piece where the CBs go up. Surely 2 up front is worth a go?

Lampard needs to get a grip of his stubbornness and play a formation with the best quality players in those positions. The championship experiment is done.

 

[Tommo1993]

Dasilva’s start and end position.

 

[Evo1883]

Oh how we laughed when people called us the worst team in the Premier League

We certainly looked it yesterday

 

[shepardo01]

Da Silva has to double up on goal scorer caught in no man's land.If FL loves BTA this much he needs to play him up top to chase down defenders because he is absolutely shocking anywhere else on the pitch.Why have we stopped the high pressing game especially at home?

Dasilva - Yes! Absolutely! What the hell is he doing here!?!!

 

[Skybluedogwood]

I agree and said at the time to my dad at worst he gets pushed into his net and it’s a foul , feels like he didnt have the confidence .

He gets caught under the ball and goes for the safer option. Hard to tell if it was poor timing /positioning or if he was taken by surprise by a gust, bottom line was he ended up in a body position which wasn’t great to catch from and suspect his confidence had taken a hit too. As you say, keepers are almost untouchable, but hard to know how well these modern gloves stick to a greasy ball too.

 

[Cally Fedora]

The problem Lampard has for me is how he gets another body in midfield but is still able to play our best player - Rudoni. We desperately need to plug the oceans of midfield space we give up. Maybe something like we did at Forest with 3 rotating across the front positions

 

[CCFCSteve]

We certainly looked it yesterday

Yeah, wasn’t pretty, Fulham looked no better than us though. It had a rancid 0-0 prem dullfest in horrible conditions written all over until bit of magic from Bob

Need to be braver both tactically and the players at home as we’ve proven we struggle to keep a clean sheet. Don’t mind that type of performance/set up away or against the real top teams at our place but it’s not working against rivals

 

[Skybluedogwood]

Am i alone in wondering why we play with 2 wingers and one CF? Even on the rare occasion when we get a cross in, we are out numbered and it comes to nothing when on the attack unless its a set piece where the CBs go up. Surely 2 up front is worth a go?

What position does BTA actually play though, love to see a heat map as it doesn’t feel like he spends much time near the touchline in the opposition half …

 

[CCFCSteve]

The problem Lampard has for me is how he gets another body in midfield but is still able to play our best player - Rudoni. We desperately need to plug the oceans of midfield space we give up. Maybe something like we did at Forest with 3 rotating across the front positions

100% this and it was always going to be our major challenge this season. Rudi is playing great and working really hard but we continue to have him trying to overload the flanks* and it’s leaving us short in the middle.

*he probably puts the best crosses in to be fair