July 2010 Archives

WITH the pre season period coming to an end and the new season round the corner I tend to share the optimism of my fellow bloggers

As i said in my last blog pre season results do breed a confidence that can be taken into the new season with an air of confidence.. Even if it's against variable opposition to not concede in five games is an achievement

The West Brom game will be a step up again and it will be interesting to see how we fare in that one

It's still clear however that we need more options upfront

with the new manager starting to get "his team" together and especially with the re-signing of lee carsley, there is a genuine feel of optimism from most fans on the message boards, the results from the friendlies have been promising, with the clean sheets a hopeful marker for the season ahead.
The carsley signing makes a lot of sense and he adds a much needed old head to the youth policy we have been used to, his experience will be invaluable over the coming months, he is a natural winner and will give us a stability and tenacity in the middle of the park, often lacking last term.
its also nice to see macca back after all the previous speculation, i feel he is a home town boy, who will give his all for the cause.
1 area we are obviously lacking is up front, with only freddie tried and tested at this level and his recent return doesn't suggest he is the answer to our goalscoring problems, good strikers are a very expensive lot for any team on a budget, so it will be interesting to see who we draft in, but that apart, we have a very good keeper, excellent back four and ample quality in midfield, add a quality striker to the mix and there is every reason to be optimistic for the forthcoming season.
Mind you, we thought the same about england's world cup campaign............

Coventry City unveil Lee Carsley signing

LEE CARSLEY has been unveiled as Coventry City's fifth summer signing.

Richard Wood set to return for Coventry City

RICHARD Wood is set to make a return to the side when Coventry City continue their pre-season programme at Walsall.

* For more Coventry City news and gossip click here.

THE RETURN of Lee Carsley, another Coventry City old boy (at 36 years of age he's an old boy in more than one sense), will no doubt put a smile on the face of many Sky Blue supporters.

For me, the deal is reminiscent of those which saw Don Hutchison and Dennis Wise brought to the Ricoh, and one can only hope that Carsley emulates their success. Wise and Hutchison proved that age is no barrier at Championship level, and the worth of an experienced head in the centre of the park is plain to see.

Everton FC reject Coventry City loan bid for Lukas Jutkiewicz

AIDY Boothroyd's search for a bit of Premier League quality continues after Everton refused to let striker Lukas Jutkiewicz out on loan to Coventry City.

Northampton Town 0 Coventry City 1 - Andy Turner's verdict

COVENTRY CITY extended their unbeaten friendly run with a narrow win over League Two Northampton Town but still lacked a cutting edge in front of goal.

* For more Coventry City news and gossip click here.

Marcus Hall's belated farewell to Coventry City fans

MARCUS Hall is set to say a belated fond farewell to Coventry City fans when he turns out for Northampton Town against the Sky Blues tonight.

Aidy Boothroyd wants goals against Northampton Town

AIDY Boothroyd goes into tonight's match at Northampton looking for his Coventry City players to get goals.

* For more Coventry City news and gossip click here.

I read Aidy Boothroyd's comments about signing another central defender and the fact that the number 5 shirt is vacant with a degree of disbelief. I am aware Elliot Ward was released but he was hardly played for last season.

We already have 5 central defenders Wood, McPake, Turner, Cranie and Grandison. With Boothroyd keen to bring another one in, there is no other position in the side where we have so much competition.

The player who's place is under threat is Richard Wood who has not be given the number 5 shirt. Signed by Coleman, he had a decent half season forming a strong partnership with James McPake. It seems however that Boothroyd doesn't see him as a first choice central defender.

ON the face of it two goalless draws against non league opposition doesn't sound like a good start to the Sky Blues pre season

However looking at the matches in detail it looks like Aidy Boothroyd is using the early matches very much as an experiment. Most of the squad have had a chance to show what they can do.

As a result the side hasn't been particularly settled. And often in the second part of the game a mass of substitutions have been made

Also interestingly some players have been tried out in positions they are unfamiliar with

Coventry City still searching for No.9 star

THE search goes on for a new striker to fill the coveted No.9 shirt at Coventry City previously worn by Leon Best.

Coventry City opt to pass on triallist duo

COVENTRY City boss Aidy Boothroyd has decided against taking on triallists Orlando Smeekes and Kevin Ellegaard.

* For more Coventry City news and gossi click here.

THROUGHOUT the World Cup the Telegraph had an online contest of their own going on, in which thirty two Sky Blue players battled against each other in a knockout competition to seew who is the greatest Sky Blue legend.

And the player who got most votes was Ronnie Farmer beating Bill Glazier into first place.
As I'm in my fifties I am old enough to have seen a lot of the players in the hall of fame, and Ronnie Farmer was a very good midfielder although he would have been called a wing half then.