Match Thread Nottingham Forest vs Coventry City (A) - City Ground - Sat 19th September (5.30pm KO) (17 Viewers)

[Skybluedogwood]

So you arent playing Grimes?

He can hand out the oranges at half time and make a speech

 

[RJASkyblue]

Onyeka is horrible with the ball. I find it quite weird how Grimes has become the fall guy when Onyeka has been atrocious so far this season.

Totally agree re: Onyeka. Summed up last night by going down the right, could have gone on for another 20 yards but sent a totally pointless cross in to the box where we only had one player. His whole demeanour looked very lacksidasical when being the experienced player he is should have come on with real purpose and energy.

 

[Ccfcisparks]

Totally agree re: Onyeka. Summed up last night by going down the right, could have gone on for another 20 yards but sent a totally pointless cross in to the box where we only had one player. His whole demeanour looked very lacksidasical when being the experienced player he is should have come on with real purpose and energy.

That was Lati wasnt it?

 

[RJASkyblue]

That was Lati wasnt it?

No, definitely Onyeka.

 

[Ccfcisparks]

No, definitely Onyeka.

Lati did it too. I commented it in the match thread

 

[Offhegoes]

Christ, Lampard looked solemn at the press conference today. I realise it's the morning after a defeat and was probably the last thing he wanted to do. In a way it's good to see. Our manager clearly caring about this bad start to the season, but at the same time we have seen our heads go down in the last 2 games. When Villa got their 2nd and 3rd goals, and Brighton got their 2nd last Saturday. We seemed to accept defeat. There wasn't an anger or fire about our play. That is worrying, We were awful last night. Even that spell in the 1st half, was based on chasing the ball down for 10-15 mins, and scrappy attacking moves. There was no flow to our play. Some say it was our reserve team, but it had all our big money signings in there.

 

[Cov. Kids. Never. Quit]

Said on another thread would be surprised if MVE injured as I spotted him on sky stream at half time speaking to Bobby and running back towards the bench area

In the Sky interview with Frank Lampard today, the Sky interviewer asked about Amenda, at the end he said are there any more injuries and Frank said no everyone else is fine.

 

[long way home]

If this goes wrong on Saturday i can see more than a few things happening. We will be on the news again if Saturday goes wrong.

 

[standupforcity]

FL Just seems to have lost it somehow.. how can you leave so much money and talent on the bench.. I'm talking I about league games... if it's the same tomorrow I think his days are numbered...

 

[Sky Blue Goblin]

If this goes wrong on Saturday i can see more than a few things happening. We will be on the news again if Saturday goes wrong.

Can’t see Lampard being sacked regardless of Forest. Mind you was wrong on Robins

 

[clint van damme]

Can’t see Lampard being sacked regardless of Forest. Mind you was wrong on Robins

Its ridiculous that its even been mentioned to be honest.
Worse case scenario we've had 3 bad results, I dont want us to be a club that sacks a manager after 3 bad results.

 

[Sky_Blue_Dreamer]

Its ridiculous that its even been mentioned to be honest.
Worse case scenario we've had 3 bad results, I dont want us to be a club that sacks a manager after 3 bad results.

I agree, but it's not just results is it. All the performances have been bad (except Man City) and we look clueless all over the pitch and devoid of any fight. It's really difficult to see where any kind of result will come from.

 

[KenilworthSkyBlue]

Can’t see Lampard being sacked regardless of Forest. Mind you was wrong on Robins

No chance he'd be sacked if we lost to Forest. It's been a dreadful start but we're 5 games into the season. It's a mute point even mentioning it.

 

[clint van damme]

I agree, but it's not just results is it. All the performances have been bad (except Man City) and we look clueless all over the pitch and devoid of any fight. It's really difficult to see where any kind of result will come from.

Its still far too soon to talk about sacking him.
And disappointing that people are doing so in my opinion.

 

[Skybluedogwood]

I agree, but it's not just results is it. All the performances have been bad (except Man City) and we look clueless all over the pitch and devoid of any fight. It's really difficult to see where any kind of result will come from.

In fairness to Lampard, quite a few players did come in late and it’s taking a bit of time to learn his best 11. The three problems as he I see it are 1- a general concern he might allow sentiment over certain players (Grimes) to cloud judgement 2- injuries with a notable fall off in back up player 3- low confidence of some players (MVE)

I’d love to see how a fully fit starting 11 including most of our new players would do. I genuinely think we’d compete with most teams. But I equally fear we’ll never see that as injuries aside, I worry he will continue to make strange selections, such as treating Yirenkyi and Onyeka as interchangeable for one slot when it’s clear to all the defence is fragile and we need both of them battling in the midfield for now and not Grimes chasing shadows. I’d even rather have Eccles crunching a few tackles than Grimes, games are passing him by.

Let’s see what the next few games bring. Going to be potentially tough with injuries and Lamps deserves our full support. He’ll get mine as long as we see some evolution whereby it at least feels like he’s making the best use of the available resources, he’s had a few games to experiment and I now want to see some learning put into practice.

So for example Gboho has to play ahead of EMC and Grimes benched. Let’s see…..

 

[RoboCCFC90]

Line up for me would be

Rushworth
Milan - Thomas - Mfuni - Dasilva
Torp - Yirenkyi
Tchaouna - Rudoni - Gboho
Simms

Don’t think Pinnock has the legs for a back four, Torp deserves a start. Simms over Cherif for me but don’t really mind it either way.

I would prefer to see Cherif over Simms, but wouldn't be upset to see Simms start either.

Agree on the rest of the team.

 

[CCFCSteve]

Its still far too soon to talk about sacking him.
And disappointing that people are doing so in my opinion.

Some of our fanbase are literally throwing everyone under the bus; King, Lampard, Austin and the players.

Earlier this year we finished probably the best season of most of our lifetimes which was delivered by those above.

Loyalty and support eh .

 

[Skybluedogwood]

Line up for me would be

Rushworth
Milan - Thomas - Mfuni - Dasilva
Torp - Yirenkyi
Tchaouna - Rudoni - Gboho
Simms

Don’t think Pinnock has the legs for a back four, Torp deserves a start. Simms over Cherif for me but don’t really mind it either way.

Broadly agree but I’d have Cherif ahead of Simms and Onyeka partnering Yirenkyi to add more midfield bite. So either Torp drops out or Rudoni in which case it’s down to Gboho and Tchaouna to take it in turns to drift in and support Cherif, both have shown they like to do that.

 

[Ccfcisparks]

Some of our fanbase are literally throwing everyone under the bus; King, Lampard, Austin and the players.

Earlier this year we finished probably the best season of most of our lifetimes which was delivered by those above.

Loyalty and support eh .

I think fans, certainly those of my generation are worried that the biggest season in their lifetime is going to be a complete flop and are trying to reason and find reasons for it.

I think its panic

 

[PUSB-We_are_going_up]

King got it spot on in his message, the Summer of 23 was exactly the same. Look where we ended up FA cup semi final and we were well in it for promotion until that dreadful end when the Utd game took our last fumes

 

[Shannerz]

I would prefer to see Cherif over Simms, but wouldn't be upset to see Simms start either.

Neither are ideal. One's not good enough, and one's not experienced enough.

Awoniyi's a balloon.

 

[RoboCCFC90]

Neither are ideal. One's not good enough, and one's not experienced enough.

Awoniyi's a balloon.

Frank telling Awoniyi to get into Brighton's defenders at half time.

 

[skybluecam]

Awoniyi's a balloon.

…?

 

[RoboCCFC90]

…?

Fragile and can burst at any point.

 

[Domo]

is there any chance that grimes doesnt start?

 

[fernandopartridge]

is there any chance that grimes doesnt start?

Absolutely no chance that he doesn't start. The campaign against him is getting a bit silly.

 

[Domo]

my thoughts exactly

 

[Sky_Blue_Daz]

gonna win this 1-0 Bobby Thomas header, and defend like spartans . Come on you sky blues

 

[SBAndy]

Absolutely no chance that he doesn't start. The campaign against him is getting a bit silly.

Agree that he’ll start, but disagree that the case against him (or campaign as you want to call it) is silly. He does his best work when setting the tempo of a match and is on the ball a lot. 80% of his completed passes this season came in the first 2 games - clearly we’ve moved away from that as a plan and the rest of his game doesn’t really make up for that part being neutered.

 

[fernandopartridge]

Agree that he’ll start, but disagree that the case against him (or campaign as you want to call it) is silly. He does his best work when setting the tempo of a match and is on the ball a lot. 80% of his completed passes this season came in the first 2 games - clearly we’ve moved away from that as a plan and the rest of his game doesn’t really make up for that part being neutered.

I don't think we've clearly moved away from anything yet TBF, we've played something slightly different in every game so far. Lampard's own words in yesterday's press conference still suggest that he sees Grimes as an essential player.

 

[CovValleyBoy]

The defensive work the other night was appalling in its appallingness.
2nd goal Lati fell in contact & Cherif barely left the ground in attempting to head clear.
3rd goal Simms first man made no contact

 

[CovValleyBoy]

I can't help thinking back to Don Howe tenure in charge. It was boring and seemingly 0-0 every home match. But you were under no illusions that his Coventry City had been coached to defend properly.

 

[fernandopartridge]

I can't help thinking back to Don Howe tenure in charge. It was boring and seemingly 0-0 every home match. But you were under no illusions that his Coventry City had been coached to defend properly.

Needs balance though, that team only stayed up due to other results going their way.

 

[Grendel]

I can't help thinking back to Don Howe tenure in charge. It was boring and seemingly 0-0 every home match. But you were under no illusions that his Coventry City had been coached to defend properly.

his record was terrible - we conceded more goals than under Butcher and won 3 games under him.

Edit looking at the date he took over he did concede slightly less. His record was still abysmal - he managed 3 wins and 18 points in total - dreadful manager for us

 

[CovValleyBoy]

My recollection is that Howe came in after Butcher failed. He sorted us out defensively overnight. I remember being impressed.
After conceding 8 goals in 4 days at home we need a D.Howe approach tomorrow.