Issues to be resolved ASAP (5 Viewers)

[CJparker]

1) sign Jennings
2) sign a new striker
3) resolve the Wood issue by off-loading him or making him captain
4) sign a new left back, x 2 if Hussey leaves
5) sack off ROD


Only then can we have a stab at getting out of this league - our squad as it stands isn't big enough to mount a serious challenge.

 

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[WillenhallSkyBlues]

Not sure how you can justify needing two new players if hussey leaves, since when has hussey had the ability and the effect of two players?

 

[hill83]

So by my maths you are saying we need one more player to make our squad big enough.

 

[CJparker]

Well we need a new left back anyway, as we have no cover for Hussey. Our squad should have two players for every position.

ROD is taking up a wage and is clearly not part of our plans - shipping him out will allow us to bring in the new striker we desperately need.

 

[Gray]

so if ROD stays we wont go up!?

 

[Hateley's Heed]

1) sign Jennings
2) sign a new striker
3) resolve the Wood issue by off-loading him or making him captain
4) sign a new left back, x 2 if Hussey leaves
5) sack off ROD


Only then can we have a stab at getting out of this league - our squad as it stands isn't big enough to mount a serious challenge.

Add a pacy winger and it could even be worth a trip to Ladbrokes (or William Hill, Coral, BetFred etc if breached any advertising rules on the forum).

 

[ccfcway]

wonder what the priority is

1) a left back as cover foe Hussey, even though Kilbane, Wood and Edge can play there
2) An empty Escrow account and if this months rent isnt paid, there is no guarantee that we will actually play at the ricoh !

 

[CJparker]

wonder what the priority is

1) a left back as cover foe Hussey, even though Kilbane, Wood and Edge can play there
2) An empty Escrow account and if this months rent isnt paid, there is no guarantee that we will actually play at the ricoh !

None of those 3 fill me with confidence at LB - then again neither does Huss!!

But you are right, who cares about having a reasonable squad when SISU are concerned....put up and make do, that's their motto.

 

[stupot07]

1) sign Jennings
2) sign a new striker
3) resolve the Wood issue by off-loading him or making him captain
4) sign a new left back, x 2 if Hussey leaves
5) sack off ROD

1) if we sign jennings I think we still need another midfielder as Thomas is out for 2 months (we've lost 4 CMs in clingan, Norwood, Deegan and bigi and only signed Barton and at a push Kilbane)
2 and 5) we already need 1 striker, selling ROD will mean we need to sign 2 IMO
3) we either can or can't afford Wood, and if an acceptable offer comes in he will be sold - making him captain won't make any difference to whether he stays or goes.
4) Kilbane will offer cover at left back - we only need to replace hussey if he goes.

A pacy winger would be good for plan B.

 

[Astute]

We now have players that would have improved last seasons 1st team. Not as bad as you are saying CJ

 

[ccfcway]

jennings and one striker, thats the lot.

Time to get ready for the new season

 

[SkyBlueBlood]

Main issue will be the negotiations with the Mrs after the euro millions draw to see how much I can have for new players!

 

[RichieGunns]

We now have players that would have improved last seasons 1st team. Not as bad as you are saying CJ

I agree with Astute...it's not as bad as your making out.

I'm of the opinion that a lot of City fans on here are dillusional. I mean you all seem to think we've got money coming out of our ears...aren't 8 (+ possible 2/3 more) signings not good enough for you?

WE'RE IN LEAGUE 1 NOW PEOPLE!!! What we have is what we're gonna get. No premier league or championship quality strikers are going to sign for us.

Live with it, or go support another team.






...Sorry but im fed up of seeing these threads bashing the team when they haven't even got to the start of the season yet...lets make our comments when the team has played at the least 15 to 20 games.

We then have a good base of knowledge to go from. At the moment we haven't a clue how this team will shape up because we've only seen them in friendlies...GIVE THEM A BLOODY CHANCE!!

*Shakes Head* :slap:

 

[CJparker]

Hey Richie I do support the team but all I am saying is that the squad needs bolstering further - even the likes of Brentford have got 2 players for every position, and we aren't quite there yet.

 

[RichieGunns]

Hey Richie I do support the team but all I am saying is that the squad needs bolstering further - even the likes of Brentford have got 2 players for every position, and we aren't quite there yet.

But we do have people to cover positions...we just don't have the RIGHT people if i get your meaning.

Unfortunately we're never going to get everything right...Thorn can only do so much and i think he's done a great job so far, regardless of what people think.

I think Wood will stay (for the mean time...possible sell him in the Winter Transfer Window)

Hussey is someone that i think will stay...he's got a slightly longer contract that Wood so there isn't as much haste in getting rid of him...which i don't think they should.

People also seem to be having a go at Kilbanes fitness. I think Kilbane will be fine. He can play in midfield and at Left back.

The Edge is getting his feet in this league but give him a chance and im pretty sure he'll do just fine in either CB or LB...


I just think its pointless speculating on what the club needs. We just have to wait and see what Thorn has up his sleave.

He'll have gone through the same thinking process as the fans but the difference is he'll know exactly what he needs to get and until we see the signings, we wont know what it is he feels the club needs.

I am sorry for getting angry though...just starting to get on my tits a little.

I wanna get to the beginning of the season without seeing another thread titled "What we need?/Thorn is a fat git/Why is our manager fat/We're not gonna win the league/our signings are crap" etc etc.


Let the football do the talking and us fans do the supporting...if it goes wrong then we can moan like the true negative Coventrians that we are...but if i goes right...then we can celebrate and look forward to an amazing season and a possible jump straight back into the Championship!

 

[Grendel]

Hey Richie I do support the team but all I am saying is that the squad needs bolstering further - even the likes of Brentford have got 2 players for every position, and we aren't quite there yet.

Where do you get that from? The official site shows only 4 defenders and Wiki a squad of 18.

 

[stupot07]

We now have players that would have improved last seasons 1st team. Not as bad as you are saying CJ

Who apart from maybe Kilbane would have improved last seasons 1st team?

 

[stupot07]

I agree with Astute...it's not as bad as your making out.

I'm of the opinion that a lot of City fans on here are dillusional. I mean you all seem to think we've got money coming out of our ears...aren't 8 (+ possible 2/3 more) signings not good enough for you?

WE'RE IN LEAGUE 1 NOW PEOPLE!!! What we have is what we're gonna get. No premier league or championship quality strikers are going to sign for us.

Live with it, or go support another team.






...Sorry but im fed up of seeing these threads bashing the team when they haven't even got to the start of the season yet...lets make our comments when the team has played at the least 15 to 20 games.

We then have a good base of knowledge to go from. At the moment we haven't a clue how this team will shape up because we've only seen them in friendlies...GIVE THEM A BLOODY CHANCE!!

*Shakes Head* :slap:

Conversely you have those that think we dead certs for automaic promotion

 

[Grendel]

Who apart from maybe Kilbane would have improved last seasons 1st team?

The truth is we don't know because we have never seen most of the players. Will Ball score more than Nimeley - you would hope so. Is a fully fit would good enough at this level? Certainly. Fleck, Jennings, Bell, McSheffrey, Kilbane, Barton, Thomas, Baker I would have thought will be better than the relevant comparisons in this league. The bench will be strong a constant issue last season. McDonald should play a whole season. Come on even I believe we should be up there.

 

[stupot07]

The truth is we don't know because we have never seen most of the players. Will Ball score more than Nimeley - you would hope so. Is a fully fit would good enough at this level? Certainly. Fleck, Jennings, Bell, McSheffrey, Kilbane, Barton, Thomas, Baker I would have thought will be better than the relevant comparisons in this league. The bench will be strong a constant issue last season. McDonald should play a whole season. Come on even I believe we should be up there.

I agree that they should be better in the context of league one in this coming season but my reply was to Astutes ascertion that "We now have players that would have improved last seasons 1st team" I.e. would have improved our team in the championship.

 

[Jack Griffin]

Well we need a new left back anyway, as we have no cover for Hussey. Our squad should have two players for every position.

ROD is taking up a wage and is clearly not part of our plans - shipping him out will allow us to bring in the new striker we desperately need.

I thought Edjenguele & Kilbane were both able to play LB.
Wood (if he stays!) & Clarke at a pinch.

The truth is that Waggot is a wheeler dealer & there will be a lot of churn on the squad while he is around.. as long as he keeps it effective.. ermmm like it wasn't last season!

 

[RichieGunns]

Who apart from maybe Kilbane would have improved last seasons 1st team?

Fleck and Barton for a start (Barton seems like a decent player...only time will tell of course)

I'd say Kilbane is a better player than Clingan (so i wouldn't exclude him)

Ball looks promising and i recon he could have made our team a little more dangerous in goal last season (again only time will tell if im right or wrong)

If we signing Jennings then i can say thats Norwoods replacement (again this is just hearsay on what has been said about him controlling the midfield but he does sound like a promising signing assuming we make it) - also i think he's a good replacement for Deegan who wasn't the greatest player in the world...

With us having a strong defence (Keogh and Cranie) last season I'm struggling to see what Malaga and The Edge would have brought to the proceedings apart from their height and presence in the box. The fact that Malaga has won a good 90% of his headers so far in pre season and the Edge knows how to make a good cross could possibly make them very important this season (again only time will tell)

Brown sounds like a player for the future whose here for a little experience but i think he'll improve as the season goes by so i wouldn't put him in the improve last years team catagory but still i will be watching him closely this season to see what he does.

They're a lot of positives to these new guys...yeh there are some negatives but im not going to go putting them down before i've seen at least 15 to 20 games played...then ill make my decision on whether they were the right players to bring in...

 

[RichieGunns]

Conversely you have those that think we dead certs for automaic promotion

I'm neither thinking we'll do shite nor that we'll do brilliant.

I think a good test as to whether this team is good enough for this league is to at least get a playoff place.

I wouldn't like to see us mid table but at the same time i do not think we'll be fighting for our survival either.

I'm sitting on the bench hoping for a good season with lots of highs and also expecting some lows as you will never have a perfect season.

 

[stupot07]

Fleck and Barton for a start (Barton seems like a decent player...only time will tell of course)

I'd say Kilbane is a better player than Clingan (so i wouldn't exclude him)

Ball looks promising and i recon he could have made our team a little more dangerous in goal last season (again only time will tell if im right or wrong)

If we signing Jennings then i can say thats Norwoods replacement (again this is just hearsay on what has been said about him controlling the midfield but he does sound like a promising signing assuming we make it) - also i think he's a good replacement for Deegan who wasn't the greatest player in the world...

With us having a strong defence (Keogh and Cranie) last season I'm struggling to see what Malaga and The Edge would have brought to the proceedings apart from their height and presence in the box. The fact that Malaga has won a good 90% of his headers so far in pre season and the Edge knows how to make a good cross could possibly make them very important this season (again only time will tell)

Brown sounds like a player for the future whose here for a little experience but i think he'll improve as the season goes by so i wouldn't put him in the improve last years team catagory but still i will be watching him closely this season to see what he does.

They're a lot of positives to these new guys...yeh there are some negatives but im not going to go putting them down before i've seen at least 15 to 20 games played...then ill make my decision on whether they were the right players to bring in...

Saying that they wouldn't have improved last season championship squad isn't putting them down.

Fleck - is unproven
I would compare Barton to Norwood - Norwood's better which is why he's in the championship
we've not even signed Jennings yet and if you consider at the majority of the SPL is league one standard he never played above League One/SPL
Ball - not good enough for a championship side hence the loan to us in league one.

I'm not saying the arn't positives, and as I said in the context of the league we are in they will do well - but to say they would have improved our Championship side is going a bit too far

 

[RichieGunns]

Saying that they wouldn't have improved last season championship squad isn't putting them down.

Fleck - is unproven
I would compare Barton to Norwood - Norwood's better which is why he's in the championship
we've not even signed Jennings yet and if you consider at the majority of the SPL is league one standard he never played above League One/SPL
Ball - not good enough for a championship side hence the loan to us in league one.

I'm not saying the arn't positives, and as I said in the context of the league we are in they will do well - but to say they would have improved our Championship side is going a bit too far

How can you say Ball isn't good enough for the Championship. He played 26 time for Derby last year in the Championship AND he scored for them on several occasions. The reason we've got him isn't because he isn't good enough, its because Derby's Manager wanted him to get more experience.

At first he didn't even want to let him go but the only way Derby were going to get Cov to allow them acces to Keogh was if they let us have Ball for the season. The two deals were done seperately but there complition hinged on the other being agreed.

Fleck may be unproven at this level but i think considering Rangers were desperate to keep him, shows that he is a good prospect.

Barton was almost a Premiership Player mate! It's only because of his double leg break and fractured ankle that he never took that step. I know opinion was devided but a lot of PNE fans said he's still got a lot of potential so its a kinda watch this space moment really!

And IF we do sign Jennings then considering what you just said, he'd be perfect for this League wouldn't he Again another talent that hasn't had the best opportunities just yet but could shine if he's given the right attention and has the right attitude.


As for the SPL i've always been of the opinion that its highly under rated. I'd say the SPL top table Championship to mid table Prem in its standards.

And as Ross County and Inverness showed, Scottish teams are no push overs...Id even say the SPL and lower leagues of the SPL are more physical...hence why someone like Deegan will thrive up there...

 

[stupot07]

How can you say Ball isn't good enough for the Championship. He played 26 time for Derby last year in the Championship AND he scored for them on several occasions. The reason we've got him isn't because he isn't good enough, its because Derby's Manager wanted him to get more experience.

At first he didn't even want to let him go but the only way Derby were going to get Cov to allow them acces to Keogh was if they let us have Ball for the season. The two deals were done seperately but there complition hinged on the other being agreed.

Fleck may be unproven at this level but i think considering Rangers were desperate to keep him, shows that he is a good prospect.

Barton was almost a Premiership Player mate! It's only because of his double leg break and fractured ankle that he never took that step. I know opinion was devided but a lot of PNE fans said he's still got a lot of potential so its a kinda watch this space moment really!

And IF we do sign Jennings then considering what you just said, he'd be perfect for this League wouldn't he Again another talent that hasn't had the best opportunities just yet but could shine if he's given the right attention and has the right attitude.


As for the SPL i've always been of the opinion that its highly under rated. I'd say the SPL top table Championship to mid table Prem in its standards.

And as Ross County and Inverness showed, Scottish teams are no push overs...Id even say the SPL and lower leagues of the SPL are more physical...hence why someone like Deegan will thrive up there...

Gary deegan played 25 games last season scoring 3 goals - is he good enough for the championship?

The SPL is poor - the top players - Hooper, Ledley, Commons, etc are good championship players nowhere near mid table Prem standard, the rest are poor Kevin Kyle was prolific in the SPL but nowhere near good enough for the championship.. Rangers will basically be playing Nuneaton Boro's level so them wanting to keep hold of fleck is hardly a ringing endorsement.

Barton nearly a Prem player because Liverpool wanted him? That means Thomas is nearly a prem player - thy actually signed him!

Again I'm not saying they're poor, they will be good in this league, hopefully top 6, but to say they would have improved last seasns squad is going overboard.

 

[Astute]

Thanks Rich. Saved me an essay on my phone

We are also starting with a stronger squad. It was the 1st half of the season that did us. Then we got Norwood and Nimely. They were also not our players. Nearly all of the players are ours that have come in. Ball is on loan, but by the sound of it we could sign him after the loan has finished.

Top priority now is getting Jennings to sign. My lad is on leave from the army the day before the Yeovil game and is meeting me there. Don't look as though he will get a ticket unless he goes in with the Yeovil fans. He may be a Motherwell supporter, but one of his favourite games ever was when we beat WBA with a late goal at HR. Had my 2 eldest lads with me and you would never have guessed they were not Cov fans.

 

[Astute]

How can you say that none of them would have improved our team? We were poor. Full stop. Jennings is better than Deegan. He won't score many goals, but he will run the midfield. To me the SPL is lower Prem to middle Championship depending on which side it is. Jennings was constantly one of Motherwells best players. They finished 3rd. They have had their best seasons for many years since he had been with them. Coincidence?

 

[Astute]

I would say we have had to wait for him to pass a medical and he is just back from injury, so hopefully in next couple of days. He has been watching us whilst injured and played today, so sounds as though he will.

 

[Astute]

Where did your last post go Stu?

 

[stupot07]

Pressed delete instead of submit reply! Bloody iPad!

Again I'm sure he will be a good signing, but if he was that good a championship team would have snapped him up.

Interesting there was only 1 Motherwell player in the SPL team of the year.....and 5 from Dundee United.

 

[Wrenstreetcarpark]

1) sign Jennings
2) sign a new striker
3) resolve the Wood issue by off-loading him or making him captain
4) sign a new left back, x 2 if Hussey leaves
5) sack off ROD


Only then can we have a stab at getting out of this league - our squad as it stands isn't big enough to mount a serious challenge.

4 pages and nobody puts in

6) sort out the rent
7) sort out the difference between income and expenditure

or else the whole thing is fucked anyway

If this isn't done it's Wisher and Faggot we have running the Club.

 

[RichieGunns]

To me the SPL is lower Prem to middle Championship depending on which side it is.

Great minds think alike as thats exactly what i said lol

I just think that considering how poor our side was last year, A lot of these players would have done a good job for us.

And there is a simple answer to your question Stu about why these players haven't been snapped up by Premiership clubs.

(1) They've not been noticed yet and therefore haven't got on the big teams radars.

(2) They were noticed but weren't deemed ready to be signed or the clubs decided another season with a lower team would give them more experience and then they would come back for them later on...

(3) The player didn't feel they were ready to go near a big club and felt that Coventry was a better option for them in this time in their career. A lot of players have started at Cov and have then gone on to better things. And a lot of players have turned down big moves before...it does happen.

(4) Some Premierships teams have so much money that they fix their sites on players that are worth millions rather than thousands of pounds. They base the players talent on how much they're worth and sometimes this pays off but sometimes (like Portsmouth) they buy these players and it goes tits up for them. All the big clubs have done it, they've spend millions and millions on players because the club they were at rates them very highly and then they've come to the club and not performed well. On the otherside, some clubs have paid very little for players and they've ended up becoming some of the most successful players at that club and have later been sold on for large amounts of money.

With Barton, his big move didn't happen because of his injury and Liverpool weren't ready to make that sort of committment to a player in that situation. At PNE his opportunities weren't coming for him, he'd been relegated to the reserves and wasn't allowed to train with the first team. He wasn't going anywhere, Preston obviously didn't want to keep him and Coventry were willing to give Barton a chance to resurrect his career. So he probably came here because we were his best option.

 

[RichieGunns]

4 pages and nobody puts in

6) sort out the rent
7) sort out the difference between income and expenditure

or else the whole thing is fucked anyway

If this isn't done it's Wisher and Faggot we have running the Club.

Both very good points...hence why i think the signings we've made are very good as we've paid practically nothing for them (apart from the £50,000 to £100,000 that we paid for Barton).

It allows SISU to concentrate more money on these two issues while still allowing Fisher, Waggot and Thorn to make signings...im suprised they allowed Thorn to spend money on Barton but im glad they did


Also this is why i get aggrevated when people moan about us not spending money on decent players etc because its obvious we don't have the money to do that...players on a free or at very low transfer prices are all we're ever going to get while we are in League 1.

And we need to get money into our coffers so we can start thinking about buying the stadium so we don't have to worry about the bloody rent!!

 

[stupot07]

Great minds think alike as thats exactly what i said lol

I just think that considering how poor our side was last year, A lot of these players would have done a good job for us.

And there is a simple answer to your question Stu about why these players haven't been snapped up by Premiership clubs.

(1) They've not been noticed yet and therefore haven't got on the big teams radars.

(2) They were noticed but weren't deemed ready to be signed or the clubs decided another season with a lower team would give them more experience and then they would come back for them later on...

(3) The player didn't feel they were ready to go near a big club and felt that Coventry was a better option for them in this time in their career. A lot of players have started at Cov and have then gone on to better things. And a lot of players have turned down big moves before...it does happen.

(4) Some Premierships teams have so much money that they fix their sites on players that are worth millions rather than thousands of pounds. They base the players talent on how much they're worth and sometimes this pays off but sometimes (like Portsmouth) they buy these players and it goes tits up for them. All the big clubs have done it, they've spend millions and millions on players because the club they were at rates them very highly and then they've come to the club and not performed well. On the otherside, some clubs have paid very little for players and they've ended up becoming some of the most successful players at that club and have later been sold on for large amounts of money.

With Barton, his big move didn't happen because of his injury and Liverpool weren't ready to make that sort of committment to a player in that situation. At PNE his opportunities weren't coming for him, he'd been relegated to the reserves and wasn't allowed to train with the first team. He wasn't going anywhere, Preston obviously didn't want to keep him and Coventry were willing to give Barton a chance to resurrect his career. So he probably came here because we were his best option.

To be fair I said championship clubs not premier league....and 1) and 2) is unlikely (e.g Bigi, Pennent, Bale, Walcott, Ramsey, shelvey, Powell) and 3) doesn't happen very often