retired_trainer21

Wednesday 11 February 2004

It's time to speak to Graham Abraham again, and I'm looking forward to seeing him more at ease with the world!!

CET: Graham, things are looking up suddenly.

Graham: Well, well, well, we meet again, but under rather different circumstances!!

The last time we spoke, the Sky Blues were right in the thick of a relegation battle. They then lost at home to Crystal Palace in the next game which you described as 'crucial'.

Yes, that's typical of this club isn't it. We lose a game like that to a team we should be beating. Just when you think there's no recovering back we come with 4 wins in the next 5 games - and hey, we've even managed to win away from home as well!!

You must have been rubbing your eyes in disbelief at those three goals in nine minutes.

Yeah, suddenly we're being given penalties, own goals - it's weird how it can all turn around. We're not doing much differently as far as I can see - but we've been getting the rub of the green lately and it shows. The players' confidence is sky high now and should stay sky high for as long as this run goes on. It could be 4 in a row if we beat Wimbledon later.

The club had introduced a scheme to get into the Wimbledon game for a tenner - but that was before City decided to start winning a few games - so hopefully the fans will take advantage of the offer and get to the ground tonight to support the team.

Yeah, they should do, but we all know who the real fans are!!

Do fickle fans annoy you??

Yes, but every club has got them. Their money is as good as ours as far as the club is concerned but if you're supporting a team you do it wholeheartedly or not at all in my opinion.

Graham, enjoy it while it lasts - and I'll see you again soon.

Yep, we just need a couple more results to get ourselves completely free from worry but in all honesty I think the team is better than the league position suggests. See you again.

retired_trainer21

SBA Talks Exclusively To CM Stories

Thursday 12 February 2004

Well, the first thing to tell you all is that reports saying that the Wimbledon game was on Wednesday night were incorrect. We face the Dons on Saturday afternoon!!

We understand that this excellent run can backfire on us in just as spectacular fashion - we face two very tricky away games - at promotion-chasing Rotherham and Reading, following Saturday's game. Needless to say then that the three points against Wimbledon could prove hugely significant should we get them.

We appear to be slowly putting the jigsaw together now with the security of knowing that the likes of Warnock, Fowler and Osbourne have all signed contracts with the club.

Stephen Warnock could have easily gone back up to Anfield at the end of the season - he still had another year left on his deal with Liverpool. What he has done is show a willingness to play first team football. He has shown me that he is now an integral part of the set up here and we didn't want to be without him next season.

Liverpool will need some fairly major compensation for Warnock and we must make it a priority to raise the necessary capital before the summer.

Youssef Safri and Dele Adebola are the latest players to feel the pinch of the financial situation here and we are hoping to get them both sorted with moves as soon as we can. Safri remains in my first team plans while he is still here. Adebola is hoping to impress for the benefit of both parties during his loan spell at Millwall.

I was contacted by local radio station BBC Radio WM earlier in the week. They have invited me into the studio to participate in a Friday Night Phone-In show at some point in the next few weeks. They told me that they have the City manager in to take calls and talk to fans twice a season. I questioned why it had taken them so long to get in touch with me - their reluctance to give a straight answer led me to believe that it was probably due to our disappointing league position!! It would make sense that, after acquiring a good run of results, they have now called to invite me in!! I would have been only too happy to have gone into the studio earlier in the season and made sure they were aware of that (although hopefully our fortunes will dictate that they won't be put in such a sensitive position in the future).

SBA

[This message was edited by SBA on 18 February 2004 at 22:14.]

retired_trainer21

MATCH REPORT from the CET

Saturday 14 February 2004

CITY 1
Goodman 51

Wimbledon 1
Agyemang 62

City Run Halted By Brave Dons

Mark Goodman looked to have put the Sky Blues on course for a fourth consecutive victory at Highfield Road today but they were pegged back by visiting Wimbledon in a repeat scoreline of the sides' earlier match this season.

SBA will view this as two points dropped. City dominated much of the game but they will not be in danger of the drop if they continue to perform to such a standard for the rest of the campaign.

SBA made the one enforced change with Calum Davenport having picked up a knock in training. He was replaced by Craig Pead, with Whing moving back into the centre of defence.

Mo Konjic looked to be in serious trouble with the referee early on as he hauled down Patrick Agyemang who looked to be through on goal, but he escaped with just a yellow card.

City started slowly with plenty of patient passing but no end product. Warnock and Pead both fired over from long range before Goodman found himself in space on the penalty spot but fired over with only the 'keeper to beat.

The Sky Blues had to wait until six minutes into the second half before they broke the deadlock, and Goodman didn't have to wait too long after his earlier miss before being presented with another great chance.

Stanford broke down the left wing before picking out David Pipe on the edge of the area. His goalbound effort was blocked - straight into the path of GOODMAN who couldn't miss from six yards out.

City then appeared to take their foot off the gas as they sensed a win which would have taken them up towards mid-table.

To Wimbledon's credit they showed some of the old battling qualities which they were once renowned for and rocked Highfield Road by drawing level just after the hour mark.

Patrick Agyemang still had lots to do as he chased the ball towards the left edge of the penalty area. He did brilliantly to cut back inside both Konjic and Whing before firing past Shearer and inside his near post.

The Sky Blues rallied with Goodman again going close before substitute Barrett was denied by a flying stop from Paul Heald.

Wimbledon could have stolen the game late on when Adam Nowland burst unattended into the penalty area but his shot rippled the side netting. The 50 or so travelling fans went wild with excitement as they thought it had gone in, much to the amusement of the rest of Highfield Road.

So City had to settle for a point when they probably should have had all three. They now face a couple of testing away trips with Rotherham United, currently fifth, first up on Wednesday night.

City are up to 17th position in the Division One table.

MATCH STATS

Goal Attempts

Coventry City 9
Wimbledon 2

Corners

Coventry City 4
Wimbledon 1

retired_trainer21

MATCH REPORT from the CET

Wednesday 18 February 2004

Rotherham United 1
Byfield 5

CITY 0

City Pay For Early Lapse

The Sky Blues were hit by a scrappy Darren Byfield goal just five minutes into this evening's game at Millmoor, enough to win a game that rarely got out of second gear.

City, chasing the game for the remaining 85 minutes, could not make an impact on the stubborn United back four and find themselves slowly being brought back to the chasing clubs beneath them at the foot of Division One.

SBA named an unchanged side with the now familiar 4-5-1 formation again in operation.

Rotherham won a throw-in ten yards from the corner flag. It proved as good as a corner and when a group of opposing players jumped for the ball but collectively failed to make any meaningful contact it was left for Byfield to clip the loose ball past Shearer.

Warnock nearly brought City level immediately but saw a 20-yard drive tipped over the home crossbar.

City failed to make an impression in the rest of the half and lacked urgency in the final third in a performance more akin to those seen in the early part of the season.

Rotherham were always a threat with Whing and Konjic kept on their toes by the bustling Byfield.

The Sky Blues enjoyed a good spell early in the second half with Stanford raiding down the left flank with increasing regularity but with City still trailing SBA opted to go for a 4-4-2 line-up. Osbourne was replaced by Vijay Singh with Barrett replacing Pipe.

City were left a little light in midfield though and Rotherham could have added to their advantage as the game wore on.

SBA may look at making changes to his starting eleven for the trip to Reading on Saturday with many of his regular performers tiring badly at the end of the game.

City drop a place to 18th in Division One. They visit The Madejski Stadium at the weekend before rounding off the month of February with what could be a vital game at home to struggling Norwich City.

Goal Attempts

Rotherham United 7
Coventry City 2

Corners

Rotherham United 3
Coventry City 4

retired_trainer21

SBA Talks Exclusively To CM Stories

Thursday 19 February 2004

I'm looking forward to seeing how my players respond to the last few results when we go to Reading this weekend.

Success must have seemed so much easier for the lads to come by in recent weeks as we have embarked on an impressive run of results. A lot of them are quite inexperienced in playing at this level and so it will be a good test to see how they react to us taking just the one point from the last six available.

We must give credit to Wimbledon for the way they set their stall out on Saturday. We could have jumped above them in the table with a win but they were determined not to let that happen and probably felt their hard work merited a point.

Last night's defeat at Rotherham was just a case of a game too far for many of the youngsters in the side. The end of a game within such a busy spell on what was a damp, cold night in South Yorkshire saw the rigours of First Division football catching up with a few of the lads. I will have to look again in training before deciding whether to shake things up for Saturday.

The club have received a couple of offers for Michael Doyle this week and I hope to see him fixed up with a new club by early next week.

He had a decent run in the side not so long ago and didn't let anybody down. We are having to accept a cut-price offer for him - we realise he is worth far more than the figures we have accepted but again are hindered by our financial situation.

We sit on 37 points in the knowledge that a couple of quick wins would see us go well clear of the danger area while a couple of bad results would mean the dreaded 'R' word doing the rounds once again around these parts.

SBA

retired_trainer21

Friday 20 February 2004

You are listening to Radio WM ... on 103.7FM ... across Coventry & Warwickshire ... THIS IS SPORTS TALK ... with Rob Gurney & Adam Dent ...

Rob: A very good evening everyone and welcome to a very special Friday night edition of Sports Talk with me, Rob Gurney, Adam Dent ... and Sky Blues manager SBA ...

- It's Friday Night ... it's Sports Talk ... have your say on the Sky Blues ... on Coventry 76 2*1 2*1* -

Adam: City travel to The Madejski Stadium to face play-off chasing Reading tomorrow in search of their second away victory of the season. Joining us tonight to reflect on happenings so far and to look forward to the run-in to the end of the season, it's a welcome to Sports Talk to SBA ...

SBA: Thanks a lot lads. Well, here I am you see - at the first time of asking ...

Rob: Well, with you being new to the management game we chose to respect your privacy in what has been a testing time for the Sky Blues so far this season. But things have definitely started to look up since Christmas ...

Adam: Ha Ha, what sort of comment is that??

Rob: Yes, I should just add that it would have been a difficult situation for anyone coming into the City job, no matter how experienced a manager they might have been.

SBA: I would have come into the studio no matter what the position of the club - I'm happy to take the fans' questions. They're the heartbeat of the club - and I'm a fan myself of course.

Rob: Well, we're glad you could join us.

Adam: OK, I think we can go to our first caller ...

Rob: Let's go to Phil who's in Binley Woods ... good evening Phil.

Phil: Yeah, evening lads. I'd just like to try and understand why suddenly in the press this guy is being hailed as some kind of messiah. We're in a worse league position this season than we have been since coming out of the Premiership. We've been dire for most of the season and most of last season's team have been put out on the scrapheap - it's no wonder they're not attracting offers from other clubs is it??

Adam: OK SBA, well, we never said it was going to be easy!!

SBA: No, that's fine. Phil, I'll try and break down what you've said and answer each point separately. It was felt that last season we weren't playing with enough hunger. We were getting beaten not because other teams had more quality but because they were hungrier.

Phil: Well that's a matter of opinion.

SBA: Those same players were given a good run in the side at the start of this season but we weren't seeing an upturn in results. I think the younger lads I've brought in are full of commitment and desire to do well for themselves and go far in the game, which can only be good for the club as a whole. I take your point about players not being able to put themselves in the shop window if they are not playing. But I don't want to have to sacrifice that if it means risking getting relegated.

Adam: ... and some of those players weren't playing well enough to attract attention anyway were they ...

Phil: ... I still think people are getting a bit over-excited just because we've picked up a few results lately ...

Rob: We went so long without getting wins that it was a natural consequence once the results did start coming in I think ...

SBA: Phil I can assure you that we're taking nothing for granted. We realise we still need victories to get clear of danger - hopefully once we are then I can look at peripheral factors like shipping players out. We're always open to offers but I do agree with you that in some instances we're not helping ourselves by leaving certain players out of the first team picture.

Phil: OK, I just want to see us back doing well again that's all ...

SBA: Not at all, it's great to know there are people out there that care so much.

Rob: I think the summer is going to be a crucial time for ensuring the financial stability of the club isn't it ...

SBA: Yes. The Chairman will know more about it than me. What I can say though is that the fact that so many of the better paid players at the club are coming towards the end of their contracts is going to have a positive affect on the club. Hopefully next season there will be far more scope to wheel and deal in the transfer market than there has been this season.

Adam: Yes, I think it's fair to say that 3-4 years is about normal for an established Premiership club to be able to 'clear the decks' following relegation.

Rob: OK, let's go to Sarah who's in Canley, good evening Sarah.

Sarah: Hiya guys. Don't worry SBA I won't be as aggressive as the last caller.

SBA: I'm still here Sarah so no worries ...

Sarah: OK, Mark Goodman. He's been playing up front on his own for most of the time. Do you think that giving him more support will help his game. There might be more to come from him if he was given more support.

SBA: In theory that might be true but to be honest he's thriving on it. He's a very confident lad - he'd probably play in goal if we asked him to. We've got confidence in him as well - we've loaned out our two top scorers for the season in Joachim and Adebola so it's very much up to him and Suffo to stake a claim for that place in attack.

Adam: You seem to be quite adamant that the lone striker is the way to go ...

Rob: City have had their best results with the 4-5-1 in fairness ...

SBA: Yeah. I think if you're battling at the wrong end of the division then you need to concentrate on winning that midfield battle first. We're doing that quite well at the moment - and that's another reason for bringing in some of the youngsters in that area of the pitch as well - some of the workrate is excellent.

Sarah: Right, well I just want to say well done in the job so far. We know it can't be easy and we'll keep supporting wherever we are.

SBA: Much appreciated.

Adam: ... and at the back I think Andrew Whing has been excellent, probably my player of the season so far. He's been very consistent and when he's been asked to move inside to central defence he's not let anyone down either.

SBA: Yeah, and unfortunately for him he might be asked to play in the middle a lot more until we bring another defender in - we're going to be making that a priority when the funds are available.

Rob: Whenever that might be ...

SBA: Yeah. It's a shame for him though because he much prefers right back where he can get forward and support the attacks occasionally.

Rob: Next on the line is Mike, who's in Stoke.

Mike: Evening lads. Thanks for taking my call. SBA how difficult has it been with you replacing Gary McAllister as manager but with him still being at the club as a player. Bearing in mind he's not exactly been a first team regular.

Adam: Ooh, good question!!

SBA: Well I'm not doing this job completely on my own of course. I get valuable support from the coaching staff and Gary is always about for a word of advice. You can't buy his kind of experience in the game. He appreciates the fact that he can't get about the pitch like he could a few years ago. He's the model professional really. He's going to be retiring at the end of the season and we'll miss his dressing room presence immensely.

Adam: ... and presumably he's been encouraging the youngsters as well ...

SBA: Yep, Gary's another reason why so many of our youth teamers have made a successful transition into the first team. It's been an all-round team effort.

Mike: Good stuff. I was a bit worried that the situation could have been a bit tricky for you both.

SBA: Nah, no chance.

Rob: Thanks for your call Mike.

*Tomorrow afternoon Coventry City go in search of precious league points at Reading. Catch all the action right here on 103.7FM - Radio WM ... across Coventry & Warwickshire ... and your match report, as always, in the Coventry Evening Telegraph*

Rob: You're listening to Sports Talk with me, Rob Gurney, the Coventry Evening Telegraph's Adam Dent and City manager SBA, making his first-ever appearance on Sports Talk ...

Adam: When exactly are you going down to Reading??

SBA: I know, that's one of the major reasons I want to get back to the Premiership asap - I hate getting up early in the morning!!

Rob: So the club's budget won't stretch to an overnight stay in Reading then??

SBA: I think when we play at Sunderland we're getting to go up the night before but I don't think there are any others ...

Adam: That's incredible ...

SBA: Yeah, I'm not blaming that for the fact that we've only won once away from home though ...

Rob: Ha Ha, oh, we're getting more sympathetic by the minute ...

Adam: Well, let's wait and see ... if they get thumped 5-0 up at Sunderland then you might want to retract that comment ...

Rob: Yeah, very true ha ha ... well SBA, thanks for coming in - you'll no doubt be wanting to get back home for an early night ...

SBA: Ha Ha ... no ... I can't sleep much before the night of a game - especially if I know we're away from home. It's very much out of my hands by this stage on a Friday night - the players know what's expected of them ... just a few words ahead of the game and that's about as much as I can do ...

Rob: Well, all the very best for the rest of the season ... and we hope to be able to meet up again - perhaps when City are safe ...

SBA: Yeah, no problem at all ...

*You're listening to Radio WM*

retired_trainer21

MATCH REPORT from the CET

Saturday 21 February 2004

Reading 2
Hughes 6
Goater 19

CITY 3
Goodman 39, 49, 90

17-Year Old Superkid Brings City Back From The Dead

City have come from behind to win on each of their two previous visits to The Madejski Stadium. This, their third, turned out to be no different. But the magnitude of this latest turnaround eclipsed the previous couple of 2-1 successes. On this occasion the Sky Blues battled back from an early two goal deficit to snatch the points with the last kick of the game thanks to a hat-trick from Mark Goodman.

There had looked to be absolutely no hope for City as Reading started like a house on fire but with someone as willing as Goodman leading the line, SBA will never allow his troops to say never.

SBA drafted Davenport back into the side to replace Konjic as he sought to combat the pace threat that Forster and Co. presented.

Youssef Safri replaced Geoff Pitcher who was rested following his recent run of games after a long absence from the first team.

Reading could have gone a goal up even before they did and even then it was as early as the sixth minute. David Pipe then latched on to an Eddie Stanford cross but blasted straight at the home 'keeper with the goal at his mercy.

Reading then went straight up the other end with Shaun Goater's predatory instincts punishing City to make it 2-0 and seemingly game over even with less than 20 minutes played.

City worked a way back into the game as they looked to release the ever-improving Stanford at every opportunity. The left winger was encouraged to get chalk on his boots by manager SBA who constantly beckoned him to stay wide and not get dragged infield.

Stanford it was who produced a perfect cross on 39 minutes for GOODMAN to give the first signal of what was to come as he placed his header into the bottom corner to give the City fans hope of a revival.

That goal proved to be the turning point of the match. City re-appeared for the second half desperate to prove they could mix it with a Reading side who are a sound bet to make the play-offs come May.

David Pipe shrugged off the attentions of two defenders as he swung over a high ball from near the corner flag early in the second period. Goodman leapt highest but saw his header parried on this occasion but it was GOODMAN who was first to react to the rebound as he smacked a volley into the roof of the net before dashing over to his adoring fans behind the goal.

At 2-2 the game was marvellously poised with chances at either end. Scott Shearer had to be withdrawn midway through the half due to injury. This allowed young stopper Jonathan Tuffey to grab his first chance at this level and he did well to tip a Hughes rocket over the bar in the closing stages.

Goodman could have completed his hat-trick as he burst through the home defence with five minutes left before firing high into the stand. However he was not to be denied in the third and final minute of stoppage time.

The ever-alert Steve Staunton took a quick throw down the City left for Stanford to run onto. He played an intelligent low pass into the area for the awaiting GOODMAN who took a touch to bring the ball under control before slotting the ball home. It may have taken a slight deflection but no matter to the youngster who could not contain his delight at completing a hat-trick of such quality, not to mention significance.

In true Roy Of The Rovers fashion the final whistle blew before Reading even had a chance to re-start play leaving SBA free to run onto the playing area and celebrate with his jubilant side.

City are up to 15th in the Division One table. Their next opponents are bottom of the table Norwich City at Highfield Road next Saturday.

MATCH STATS

Goal Attempts

Reading 11
Coventry City 12

Corners

Reading 3
Coventry City 2

retired_trainer21

SKY BLUE NEWS

Tuesday 24 February 2004

Doyle Moved On Through No Fawlt Of His Own

Michael Doyle has today completed his move south to Torquay United in a cut-price £26,000 deal. The move sees a further slice come off the Sky Blues' crippling wage bill. Eddie Stanford's emergence on the City left flank meant that Doyle would have had to wait for another chance in the City first team.

SBA Moves To Bring Youngsters In

16-year old forward Jamie Donnelly has agreed to join the Sky Blues - but won't be moving from his current base at Chesterfield until this December. The City boss is said to be very excited at the prospect of having another talented addition made to his youth side. City will regularly have Donnelly watched at Chesterfield before his move to Highfield Road. There is no fee involved.

Meanwhile Portmore United's Jamaican attacking midfielder, Omar Daley, currently on loan at Preston North End, is said to be the next target for SBA in his bargain-hunting.

Daley has impressed during his time with Preston North End (obviously a massive step up from Portmore) and it would be a major coup if City could be the club to secure his signature.

retired_abejamaya98

This is a thoroughly enjoyable read, KUTGW!

retired_trainer21

SBA Talks Exclusively To CM Stories

Wednesday 25 February 2004

I'm quite glad that we are not scheduled to play this midweek. Many more games like Saturday's episode and they'll be carrying me down the tunnel on a stretcher!!

Mark Goodman was understandably full of the joys of spring as he appeared for training on Monday morning. Without wishing him to get too carried away with the newspaper headlines I swiftly told him that he could have had six on Saturday and that he needs to work on his shooting - much to the amusement of the rest of the squad!!

He gained a full '10' mark rating in many newspaper reports but we mustn't forget the rest of the team who worked their way back into a game when, at 2-0 down away from home, there only looked to be one winner.

The manner of the victory was a great reward to those fans who have travelled the length and breadth of the country to follow us this season. We hope to produce the kind of results in the remainder of the season that will help to eradicate some painful memories during the first few months of the campaign. The trips to Preston and Bradford are two that immediately spring to mind.

Eddie Stanford was getting so far forward that he was practically up playing alongside Goodman, albeit from far out on the left hand side. We still await his first Sky Blue goal, but he has been instrumental in providing many of the chances for Goodman.

I'm hoping to see the goals spread around in future matches. The midfield are doing well in getting forward to support the attack but I think they just need that extra encouragement to go and shoot for goal on occasions.

It was worrying however to see us concede so early for the second successive game. The early loss of concentration cost us the game at Rotherham and Reading will doubtless feel we should have been subject to a similar fate on Saturday.

The Reading game showed that we can be more than a match for all of the teams challenging at the top of the table. But we also know how tight a division this is. The dividing line between success and failure is very thin. So we certainly need to be on our guard when basement club Norwich City come visiting on Saturday.

It is a great chance for us to take another step towards the mid-table safety zone but Norwich will be fired up as the matches are running out for them to get out of trouble.

I've already asked the players to be patient if we don't take the initiative as quickly as we would like to. I would echo those sentiments to the fans as well.

SBA