By CovSid67
October 9 2005

The international break seems like a good time to do a review of Coventry City's season so far, though the reality is, as far as positives go, there isn't that much to write. Look away now if you don't want to know the scores....
Coventry City have already faced two of the relegated sides, Norwich and Southampton, and performed well enough, drawing 1-1 each time (Results against ex-Premiership sides is usually the yard-stick by which people measure how well they might do over a season). We've played a team that is always in or around the play-offs, Reading, and .... erm .... drawn 1-1. We've also played fancied(ish) Derby County away .... and drawn 1-1!

Added to that a 1-1 draw away at Millwall (A ground we've enjoyed little by way of success on since dropping down a division), a 2-2 draw away at Brighton (Where we haven't done anything since around the time Hitler gave up painting and decorating as a career before moving into politics), and you're left wondering if 46 points will be enough to see us stay up this season, as we attempt to copy Wolves from last season as the divisions draw specialists. We must have been a forecasters dream during the first 10 matches!

We've also faced two of the promoted sides, Hull (At home) and Sheffield Wednesday (Away), having lost both fixtures with displays that suggest another season of misery for us. Both sides were poor, with Coventry City, sadly, looking far worse than two sides expected to struggle - and the Hull result was about as disappointing a way possible to lose the unbeaten record at the Arena.

Three of our better players - who have failed to shine, it has to be said - have gone out on loan, with Barrett going to Livingstone, Williams going to Millwall, and John going to Derby. These loans are said to be down to finances, rather than poor form, and that Richard Shaw is selected ahead of Williams is surely proof of this! Williams is the second best defender at the club (Behind Robert Page) and really should raise his game and make one of the central defensive positions his own.

The John loan sees Coventry City in a lose-lose situation. If he's a success at Derby, he will be sold - rumour has it for less than we paid for him. If he isn't a success, and comes back to us, he will probably be no more than a sulking substitute, costing us a wage that without crowds of 22,000+ every home match, we cannot afford.

John's Derby debut brought more of the same comments as he has enjoyed/endured during his time at Coventry, and with him being a former Forest player, he is going to have to do something special to win the Pride Park faithful over (A few more games gone, the situation seems to be getting worse for him!).

Coventry City are still short of wide players, with Scowcroft failing to shine on the right (And looking a different player when played up front - as long as Adebola plays too), and McSheffrey failing to shine on the left. Willo Flood has come in, but has only had "moments" so far. With complaints that we are too lightweight, then seeing us bring in a player of Flood's build, I'm left wondering if we pay people by the pound - as in weight of, not wages! His initial one month loan spell ended recently, with Adams' having seen enough to keep him here for another month.

There is surely a pacy winger out there somewhere in need of a club, that wouldn't cost the earth in wages? (Reading's Kevin Doyle apparently cost a mere £5,000, and looks as if he would give Linford Christie a race!). Rumour has it David Thompson could be coming back to Coventry City on loan, though I personally think I've more chance of winning the Lotto than seeing "Thommo" back in one of our Sky Blue(ish) shirts. Stan Lazaridis name has also been mentioned, though again, I won't be holding my breath on that one (I would welcome either or both signings though!)....

Star of the show for Coventry City so far has been Dele Adebola, scorer of five goals - two of which have turned potential defeats into draws, and two that turned our Arena debut into a memorable event. What a difference 12 months has made! We couldn't give him away a while back, now he's a hero again. It's hardly surprising that other clubs have looked at signing him, and hardly surprising that Coventry City said "no!" to attempts to do so! If he can continue his current form, January should see us saying "Adios Dele".

In defence, Robert Page has been the pick of the bunch, while Richard Duffy has been nowhere near to producing the quality displays we saw from him last season (I'm sure his form will return soon!) - with giving away penalties becoming something of a speciality for him! Page is the sort of no-nonsense central defender Coventry have lacked for a while, and his displays so far this season have earned him a one-year extension to his contract. That said, he has been lucky to stay on the pitch for the entire match a few times! (Though he was finally caught out after giving someboy a gentle slap in the Watford match).

Stephen Bywater has made the odd mistake, but looks a quality loan signing by Micky Adams. If we only find the money to make one signing this season, we could do far worse than try and make him a permanent fixture (A recent Micky Adams interview suggests we have no chance of making this happen). With Carroll, Hislop, and Walker all on the books at West Ham, it's unlikely he will get a look-in anyway - though the fact WHU didn't allow him to play in League Cup matches for us would possibly suggest otherwise. It's to be hoped the six month stint with a proper goalkeeping coach sees Clayton Ince improve significantly (Learning to catch would be a start).

Stephen Hughes has disappointed, whether it be through picking up a pointless red card, or through being injured and not being a part of the squad. And, having already seen red for opening his mouth this season, he once again threatened to let his runaway mouth land him an early shower versus Brighton. Claus Jorgensen has replaced him recently, and looks a far better option as far as scoring is concerned, and not that bad in the defensive half of the pitch either. If only CJ could last more than sixty minutes a match....

There have been to many matches already where to many Coventry players have been off the pace, and excuses that we're only a few games into the season are rubbish - the season starts in August, so the players should start in August too, not October or November! I'm sure their wages are paid from August onwards. And because the nearest thing we have to star players haven't joined in yet/have been off the pace, the entertainment level has been far lower than is acceptable.

One of the biggest plusses has been the opening of the new Arena - at last! - though with the board trying to cut back on every penny possible, and an entry fee of £21 per match, I would be surprised if the club get anywhere near a sell-out for any game this season, except maybe Wolves at the start of 2006. A starting price of £15 a game (As is to be charged against Crystal Palace - with some season ticket holders already saying that because of this they will not be re-newing next season!) would have been far more likely to see those missing supporters turn up week-in week-out, but alas, the club continue their policy of fleecing those that do, rather than trying to encourage back a lot more of those that don't....

Mike McGinnity has recently stepped aside (Apparently only temporarily, but I would be surprised if he did actually come back), with Geofrey Robinson taking over - a decision received only slightly better than if it had been revealed Bryan Richardson was once again to take charge!

And, as if all that wasn't bad enough, a change of venue means the after match beer in town has seemingly finished forever! I can't even drown my sorrows with a good argument....

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Currently -1 point compared to the matches against the same sides last season, with Coventry City also having taken a 2 points from 12 on offer against the promoted and relegated sides. Big wow.

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