Match Thread Coventry City at Oxford United Match Thread - Tuesday 14th Aug

[cc84cov]

People will obsess about McNulty. It's not much different to when McNulty was here at the start of last season and we created nothing.

We didn't play 1 up front last night.

The most worrying thing is how Robins has no gameplan and seems to switch his approach every game and makes it look like he hasn't told the players about it.

We ended last season with a system that worked 2 up front I think the problem is he’s recruited poor,are brown and mason better than stokes ? Has he replaced Sparky with a like for like’ish player to play with Max ? It’s all gone out the window a new system & un-proven new forwards to play as wingers....tactically very poor.

 

[torchomatic]

Really disappointing last night. I was pleased Grimmer and Brown were starting, but they were both a bit poor really. The whole team didn't look like they could be arsed last night. Flashes from Bayliss and I thought Tom Davies was OK but the rest really were a little bit rubbish.

Only consolation was it was quite near and the parking was free.

 

[Nick]

We ended last season with a system that worked 2 up front I think the problem is he’s recruited poor,are brown and mason better than stokes ? Has he replaced Sparky with a like for like’ish player to play with Max ? It’s all gone out the window a new system & un-proven new forwards to play as wingers....tactically very poor.

We have had pretty much a different system every game, even in pre season it was constantly changing.

It doesn't matter who we recruit if there is no real gameplan or system in place of how we want to play. It sounded the other day like Viveash was trying to play a way Robins didn't trust and last night it was something completely different.

He hasn't really tried anybody playing off Biamou to see how it works.

 

[MatthewWallis]

We have had pretty much a different system every game, even in pre season it was constantly changing.

It doesn't matter who we recruit if there is no real gameplan or system in place of how we want to play. It sounded the other day like Viveash was trying to play a way Robins didn't trust and last night it was something completely different.

He hasn't really tried anybody playing off Biamou to see how it works.

It's quite clear what the problem is, yet I've seen a few people now start with the 'SISU sold McNulty and haven't invested in the team'

 

[cc84cov]

We have had pretty much a different system every game, even in pre season it was constantly changing.

It doesn't matter who we recruit if there is no real gameplan or system in place of how we want to play. It sounded the other day like Viveash was trying to play a way Robins didn't trust and last night it was something completely different.

He hasn't really tried anybody playing off Biamou to see how it works.

Agree it does seem by comments made Viveash has a lot to say on this system,I feel we will resort back to 4-4-2 soon problem then is accommodating Andreu somewhere.

 

[Speedies_Chips]

probably because he was worried about covering fot Sterling who's absence on the park was quite worrying! i think Robbins may be expecting to much of the youngster at this early stage of the season

Yes. Sterling has now been played at right back and right midfield and didn't look up to speed in either position.

 

[Londonccfcfan]

All I'm thinking at the moment is why did I book Bl

Really disappointing last night. I was pleased Grimmer and Brown were starting, but they were both a bit poor really. The whole team didn't look like they could be arsed last night. Flashes from Bayliss and I thought Tom Davies was OK but the rest really were a little bit rubbish.

Only consolation was it was quite near and the parking was free.

After that shambles really regretting naively being so hasty and booking Blackpool away Tickets and accomodation yesterday.

 

[CJ_covblaze]

We shouldn't be 3 games into the season without a clue who's playing and what formation we're using. Basic stuff. We conceding the first because Hyam didn't close their striker down as he didn't have a clue if Brown was covering or not giving them time to deliver the ball and then everyone in the box, including the keeper, hoped someone else would deal with it.

Robins gave the 'streetwise' thing back when we lost to Stanley in the winter and now he's bringing it out again, these are his players playing to his system and if he hasn't drilled that into them by now then it's his fault.

That was the case in May last season.

 

[Mcbean]

All I'm thinking at the moment is why did I book Bl


After that shambles really regretting naively being so hasty and booking Blackpool away Tickets and accomodation yesterday.

Have faith !

 

[Londonccfcfan]

Have faith !

Yes ok lets all have Blind faith!

We have one day left to make use of loan window! I really hope one of JP and JCH don't go on loan.

Desperately need a centre back, keeper and Striker! But we been saying this for months now!

 

[Nick]

Yes ok lets all have Blind faith!

We have one day left to make use of loan window! I really hope one of JP and JCH don't go on loan.

Desperately need a centre back, keeper and Striker! But we been saying this for months now!

One day left?

 

[Londonccfcfan]

One day left?

Oops correct. When does it close ?2 weeks?

 

[Covstu]

It took a while to get McNulty to click and find a system that suited his style of play and we are now in a position of getting a new team to try and find a system that suits them to get goals. We haven't found this and could be another 10 games or so until we achieve this.

We have changed the squad significantly and we need time to adapt...

 

[GaryJones]

These first 3 games feel like pre-season games to me.
The real pre-season games were a total waste of time in my opinion - what are we supposed to learn by playing Derby and West Brom?
We were running around in circles trying to get the ball - no time to work on systems and string passes together and work out how we were going to play going forward into the new season. We should have done the same as previous seasons and played Leamington - Nuneaton etc etc at least we would have had sight of the ball and be given the chance to work through the style of play for the start of the season so we could hit the ground running.

 

[Nick]

Robins keeps talking as if it is still pre season as well.

 

[Covkid1968#]

Well...this is all a bit depressing. Robins has been the man since he came back, so lets cut him some slack whilst he gets his head into gear.....I remain pretty positive about the year ahead.

 

[larry_david]

I'd love to rewind 4 weeks that's for sure. Wonder if we'd do anything differently

 

[Nick]

 

[larry_david]

Anyone have the videos of the offside goals. I want to see us actually score a goal

 

[Sky_Blue_Ste]

Anyone have the videos of the offside goals. I want to see us actually score a goal

 

[Liquid Gold]

The second was never offside, the defender was goal side of him with his arms round him, baffling call. The first is tighter but you're supposed to give the striker the advantage if it's tight. Probably hated us because someone called him a bald c**t after about 5 minutes even though he clearly had hair.

 

[BackRoomRummermill]

I am not worried in the slightest it will all come good , I know losing is shite but believe me it’s for the greater good.

 

[BackRoomRummermill]

Yes no doubt we will win a game or two or maybe even 12 games this season (which btw means relegation)

Fact we were shocking in pre season and havnt improved since the real stuff started.

I'm afraid we need to long hard look at ourselves. We have major issues. Goalscoring and goal keeping is just the two glaring issues not been addressed.

We will be OK

 

[Cov. Kids. Never. Quit]

Clown

Thanks for that, you and Grendel must be related .

Some people just don't have a sense of humour.

 

[Nonleagueherewecome]

I'd be very happy to go down to 1 DM if Robins won't address the issues in the 4-2-3-1.
----------------Burge----------------
Grimmer-Willis-Davies-Brown
-------------Ogogo------------------
--------Bayliss Shipley----------
-------------Andreu-----------------
---------Biamou-Hiwula---------

Massive deja vu for me this year after the first few months of last season where anyone with half a footballing brain could see the issues with the way we set up with 2 DMs in a midfield 4. Got away with it in L2 because the opposition didn't have the quality to break down a back 6. He's so defensive and then seemingly stubborn (or blind) with his tactics - from the formations, square pegs in round holes, through to his late and bizarre substitutions. We only changed shape last year due to the same game injuries to Kelly and Jones and even then he tried to go like for like, slipping Shipley into Kelly's role for a game before turning to Bayliss. If he can't address absolute basics like the ridiculous kick offs and throw ins for most of last season, I've not much confidence in him correcting the subtle flaws within his chosen formation from week to week - especially when his soundbytes suggest he thinks the issues are players trying to find their feet at this level/match smartness. He's done so much good off the pitch, just wish he'd demonstrate the lessons learned from last season on the pitch now.

Bang on, that's been my team for about a week now. If Hiwula is stills struggling to find the net after a while in that role, maybe Ponticelli.

 

[Nonleagueherewecome]

In fairness it was Geoff who dropped that Robins-ism into the conference, he was just answering the question; CWR seem to love it when he uses it and said after the opening goal ‘we won’t be surprised if we hear him use the phrase a few times’ yet he didn’t use it until prompted

So "streetwise" is Robins' "bonorific", then?:
Boner-riffic! - Family Guy - Adult Swim

 

[Grendel]

Has Burge pissed him off too? Robins was very cagey in his interview prior to the Wimbledon game when Geoff asked him if he was back in contention. He looked kind of annoyed and seemingly avoided the direct question answering 'he's back in the squad, yes'. Just left me with a feeling there was more to it than met the eye and he was another I expected to start last night.

He fell out with him after the Sutton debacle

 

[Grendel]

The second was never offside, the defender was goal side of him with his arms round him, baffling call. The first is tighter but you're supposed to give the striker the advantage if it's tight. Probably hated us because someone called him a bald c**t after about 5 minutes even though he clearly had hair.

Biamou was in front of the defender. His foot is ahead even on the still before he released the ball. It’s the guy on the far side whose movement once the ball was released that counts.

 

[Nick]

Biamou was in front of the defender. His foot is ahead even on the still before he released the ball. It’s the guy on the far side whose movement once the ball was released that counts.

He didnt have the ball to release it (JCH) did he? More of a deflection.

 

[JulianDarbyFTW]

This forum seems to attract people with extreme opinions. We're either amazingly good or absolute plop, and there's no inbetween. We've played 2 league games, and could (maybe should) have won the first, and did well to get a point in the second. It's not like we've lost 4-0 two games in a row.

 

[stevefloyd]

Doesn’t he pick the team?...

He does pick the team but he can't help it if they have a mind of their own and decide to play on the wing, they probably couldn't hear his squeaky voice telling them to get back

 

[Nick]

He does pick the team but he can't help it if they have a mind of their own and decide to play on the wing, they probably couldn't hear his squeaky voice telling them to get back

He puts them on the wing though?

 

[Hobo]

Really disappointing last night. I was pleased Grimmer and Brown were starting, but they were both a bit poor really. The whole team didn't look like they could be arsed last night. Flashes from Bayliss and I thought Tom Davies was OK but the rest really were a little bit rubbish.

Only consolation was it was quite near and the parking was free.

It goes to show how often fans think someone not in the team will be somehow better. When in reality the manager who sees them playing and training everyday, has not been playing them for a valid reason.

 

[Magwitch]

We play Oxford again in a couple of weeks and it’s live on telly, let’s see if we improve with our first team available

 

[Londonccfcfan]

It goes to show how often fans think someone not in the team will be somehow better. When in reality the manager who sees them playing and training everyday, has not been playing them for a valid reason.

Looking good in training and doing it on the pitch are two different things. Judged by what we do on the pitch.