Match Thread Coventry City - Hull City Match Thread - Saturday 9th Aug (6 Viewers)

[wingy]

Solid enough performance if a little meh I guess. But….

Seem to have carried on from last year with no goals and it not looking like our strikers will actually be the ones that score them.

Why does every attack and perceived chance to score a goal have to come from a cross near to the corner flag. If it’s obvious to us folks in the stands it’s going to be obvious to the opposition.

I’m also unsure whether we actually made Hull appear better than they were. I guess that’ll question will be answered in a few weeks when both teams have a few more games under their belts.

Tat's should have scored but strangely shot narrowly wide the only one that possibly beat the goalie hit the corner of the frame unlucky,MVE.

 

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[CCFCSteve]

Thought we played some decent stuff but as was obvious to all, lacked a cutting edge, also ball just didn’t really fall our way, players taking it off each others toes around area, a couple of great last ditch blocks etc. Hull set themselves up well defensively but felt like the type of game where if we get a goal, they open up and we probably get more.

I’d have gone simms and wright down the middle for the last 10-15 mins and do worry about our lack of flexibility in these situations. I just don’t see any of our strikers as lone striker against teams sitting deep and still think wright is more effective coming in from the left where he gets more space and can bully full back. Appreciate he’s not fully up to speed yet though

Expect some incomings and outgoings before window closes. Sure we’ll improve and got a decent base to work from

 

[Rodders1]

A new striker does absolutely nothing to solve that. It's the same shit build up that is too predictable. A new forward comes in and would look exactly the same trying to win headers against two massive centre halfs every week

This is a fair point. The formation / style is too predictable and formulaic. Another number 10 or inside forward on the right would be useful. But as we have a wealth of strikers it feels we need to play 2 up top - think Simms and another works.

 

[mmttww]

But really can’t shake the idea that the tactics we have are just very easy to defend against.

Yeah, this is where I'm at. Not sold on the meme that the strikers we've piled up are poor or ineffective. Think we make them look that way. Don't understand what a no. 9 is meant to do in this system tbh.

 

[Earlsdon_Skyblue1]

It was flat, we lacked punch, but at least we didn't lose.

First game of the season and would have been nice to win, but it really isn't the end of the world.

Sack it off and go again next match. I really think we need some new attacking options in if we're going to be successful this season, though.

 

[Briles]

When do we ever play the ball early into the channels? Our style of play is completely different now, we used to be one of the fastest teams going from one end to the other, we're the opposite now.

Yeah exactly because we don't have the players

 

[StrettoBoy]

I just don’t see any of our strikers as lone striker against teams sitting deep and still think wright is more effective coming in from the left where he gets more space and can bully full back. Appreciate he’s not fully up to speed yet though

But as we have a wealth of strikers it feels we need to play 2 up top - think Simms and another works.

I also think that on occasions - and today was probably one of them - we need to try two up front.

With that system we might even get the best out of BTA and Bassette. Neither of them has a particularly good eye for goal but them both have energy and pace and can drag defenders out of position, freeing up space for the other forward. That could help Simms.

 

[Gibbo]

Tough, scrappy game. Neither side impress. Unimpressive lack of speed in transition from defence, despite Rushworth's best efforts. 2nd half improvement as Frank gives them a kick up the arse. Things improve further when Torp and Simms come on in the 70th minute. Late winner from Simms

Something like that anyway...

Not that far wrong....I know except for the Simms but, but we all have fantasies

 

[COVKIDSNEVERQUIT]

What are those boxes along the touch line? Automated offside?

 

[COVKIDSNEVERQUIT]

Howard Webb saying more physicality to be allowed this season. Let's hope that's true

Not with these Shit Ref's.

 

[COVKIDSNEVERQUIT]

Sheaf injured. Pathetic

Sick note has to go.

 

[SKYBLUES90]

Trying not to be be so negative as it’s the first game of the season but it’s hard.

For me it just felt like a continuation of last season. We don’t have the old excuse of new players needing to gel, we always start slow it all just felt a bit meh.

Hull were there for the taking and yet again we weren’t clinical enough to finish them off. I hope it’s not going to be like this again but I just don’t think we’re going to have that edge about us to see teams off.

Clearly we have the team there, we play most teams off the park week in week out but we’re just not clinical enough to see it over the line.

 

[jto123]

Not the most insightful comment, but has the camera TV Angle changed? Seems to be further out?

 

[SBTasha]

In a nutshell…..Shit game, strange team, weird tactics but a great clean sheet. Roll on Derby!

 

[Cov98]

I've said it before, but our biggest issue is the pace we play at.

We play so slowly and telegraph every pass and move which makes everything way too predictable.

Against Betis there was a short period where we upped the tempo and started playing some quick passes and moving the ball around quickly and we looked properly difficult to deal with.. but we only did it once for about 40 seconds. I just don't understand why we barely ever play like that.

 

[Sky_Blue_Dreamer]

After one game?

But it's the same setup as the latter part of last season. And it's not that difficult to negate.

 

[Super Frank]

Not too downhearted about today.

We were in control of the match. Thought we were good for the first 60 mins but then started to run out of ideas, and Hull started the time wasting.

Saka looked knackered after 70 mins but no Rodrigues, and I think we now know for sure that Simms is not in Frank’s plans. He’ll be gone by the end of the month.

We need a striker and winger by the end of the month.

Got to agree with most of that. Just stinks to be in control of matches and not find a way to win. Reminds me of end of last season.

 

[GIMOC]

the issue we have is teams know how to set up against us as we are too predictable

what have they been doing in training all summer?

identical to last season

No plan b

if you are an opposing manager, you have the easiest job scouting us

we are so slow in the final third

30+ crosses and how many did get on the end? Not many

 

[Ccfcisparks]

the issue we have is teams know how to set up against us as we are too predictable

what have they been doing in training all summer?

identical to last season

No plan b

if you are an opposing manager, you have the easiest job scouting us

we are so slow in the final third

30+ crosses and how many did get on the end? Not many

I would sack Lampard, what was DK thinking with that.

 

[mrfr]

Bits of our play in possession today reminded me of two really good England teams, one with Lampard in it and the one managed by Gareth Southgate. Lots of possession, lots of neat interplay in channels without a final decisive pass, and then lots of speculative crossing of the ball without ever looking like anyone was going to get on the end of it.

Rudoni pulling wide to get on the ball creates an overload in possession but then means our most potent goal threat is on the wrong side of the ball when we have our most dangerous moments. I wonder if we’d be better off pushing him further forward as a deep-lying striker and setting up with a wider midfield three as opposed to the 2-1/1-2 which gives us lots of the ball but not massive forward impetus.

I thought Rushworth gave an assured performance after his clanger last week, and I like how keen he is to start attacking moves from quickly releasing the ball - just need more runs from more than just Tatsu in those situations.

 

[chiefdave]

Bits of our play in possession today reminded me of two really good England teams, one with Lampard in it and the one managed by Gareth Southgate.

Is it too late to get a refund on my season ticket? Not sure I could stand a year of Southgate-ball

 

[CovValleyBoy]

Lads & Lasses City have a Goalkeeper.

 

[Gint11]

I've said it before, but our biggest issue is the pace we play at.

We play so slowly and telegraph every pass and move which makes everything way too predictable.

Against Betis there was a short period where we upped the tempo and started playing some quick passes and moving the ball around quickly and we looked properly difficult to deal with.. but we only did it once for about 40 seconds. I just don't understand why we barely ever play like that.

100%
We are at our best when we used to play fast. Teams who counter or break fast is so hard to defend against.

Under Robins we were a counter-attacking team, little possession but fast countering. King came in, became obvious we have some money and Robins decided he wanted us to be a possession based team. Now this is what we have, slow, robotic and boring play.

I’m sure we’ll be fine as we have good players but I’d switch back to fast countering all day over this.

 

[thekidfromstrettoncamp]

Just watched the highlites from the game and it changed nothing for me about the pen. their player took the leg the ball had gone one of a many bad decisions made by the ref.

 

[mmttww]

Don't remember us having any clear chances and the match stats back that up (xG < 1). New signings or not, we've got to find a way to play that makes better chances. All the crosses feel hit and hope.

You'd expect if this is the plan, that we'd be laser focused on whoever's out wide looking to cross has their head up and aims to pick someone out but I never see that. It's frustrating as hell and I don't get it.

 

[Nuskyblue]

Don't remember us having any clear chances and the match stats back that up (xG < 1). New signings or not, we've got to find a way to play that makes better chances. All the crosses feel hit and hope.

You'd expect if this is the plan, that we'd be laser focused on whoever's out wide looking to cross has their head up and aims to pick someone out but I never see that. It's frustrating as hell and I don't get it.

Yea, that was our problem last season. Neat and tidy but we struggle to make bonafide clear cut chances, that said I liked that Saka was cutting in and getting shots from the edge of the box off. The first one must have been inches away. Hull looked a poor side, two of their CBs were absolute carthorses. It definitely feels like two points dropped.

On a positive note it was miles better than last seasons opener and we've got Wright to come in for BTA.

 

[stay_up_skyblues]

It was a decent performance if toothless. Seemed like Hull shit the bed after ten mins and then shut up shop for a point which you can’t knock. That will be the order of the day most home games so it needs a tweak to unlock. We need a new striker to replace Simms and Bassette, and we need Wright 100%… I maintain he is still clearly not fit per the back end of last season. One or both of those scenarios should make the difference.

Theres merit in saying it looked like a continuation of last season. But I’d snap your hand off for top six again so it’s not really a bad thing.

 

[stay_up_skyblues]

Yea, that was our problem last season. Neat and tidy but we struggle to make bonafide clear cut chances, that said I liked that Saka was cutting in and getting shots from the edge of the box off. The first one must have been inches away. Hull looked a poor side, two of their CBs were absolute carthorses. It definitely feels like two points dropped.

On a positive note it was miles better than last seasons opener and we've got Wright to come in for BTA.

Harsh RE their cbs I thought they were superb and we would do well to get the lad were after.

 

[Nuskyblue]

Harsh RE their cbs I thought they were superb and we would do well to get the lad were after.

Some of their passing out from the back was comically bad 5 was OK actually the other one tho (Adjai?) good god.

 

[stay_up_skyblues]

Some of their passing out from the back was comically bad 5 was OK actually the other one tho (Adjai?) good god.

Fair but as out and out defenders they were colossal. Felt like we put 50 odd balls in and they dealt with every one.

 

[robbiethemole]

They were only up against BTA and Wright for God’s sake! U21’s would be able to deal with them, which is so damning on our ‘strikers’! Never looked like winning headers against the cbs

 

[Hobo]

Some of their passing out from the back was comically bad 5 was OK actually the other one tho (Adjai?) good god.

Probably because their 5 was Lundstram, who was playing central midfield and their play maker from the back.

 

[Nuskyblue]

They were only up against BTA and Wright for God’s sake! U21’s would be able to deal with them, which is so damning on our ‘strikers’! Never looked like winning headers against the cbs

Tbf Wright looked more likely to cause them issues. If fully fit I think he'd have caused them issues, he looked half a yard short when he came on.

 

[covcity4life]

Don't remember us having any clear chances and the match stats back that up (xG < 1). New signings or not, we've got to find a way to play that makes better chances. All the crosses feel hit and hope.

You'd expect if this is the plan, that we'd be laser focused on whoever's out wide looking to cross has their head up and aims to pick someone out but I never see that. It's frustrating as hell and I don't get it.

The one where torp played rudoni through was a good chance. In surprised it rated as so little xg

Saka and mve went super close but they were not chances you expect to score from si that's to be expected

 

[mmttww]

The one where torp played rudoni through was a good chance. In surprised it rated as so little xg.

Yeah, the block from Hughes for that was impressive. Looked a simple 1on1 and then he just appeared.