retired_russ10120

SBA OUT!

Good story though, KUTGW :thup:

retired_trainer21

I've just awoken from a dream ...

involving lots of sun, alcohol and a general recharge of the batteries ...

The story will continue in the next few days as real life dawns once again ...

the fight goes on ...

Details will appear here ...

retired_abejamaya98

Great story mate - super layout and easy to follow. you deserve the sack for losing twice to west bloody brom though!!

retired_trainer21

MATCH REPORT from the CET

Saturday 29 November 2003

Burnley 0

CITY 0

City Dig Deep To Stop The Rot

The Sky Blues ended a run stretching back to the middle of October in that they managed to avoid defeat in this latest away fixture - but remain in search of their first victory on the road this season after this deadlock at Turf Moor on Saturday.

City had looked the better of the two sides for the first 70 minutes before being left to hang on a touch in the final 20 but manager SBA will be pleased with the way his side worked for the result - and crucially didn't concede in such a soft manner as they did at West Brom recently.

There was a surprising inclusion on the City teamsheet as Michael Doyle was drafted in on the left hand side as SBA deployed the 4-5-1 formation as he did at The Hawthorns.

Dele Adebola played up front on his own with Julian Joachim, Doyle, and David Pipe, pushed inside from his usual position wide on the right, encouraged to support him when possible.

The City manager will be concerned at the way his side managed so much possession, particularly in the first half, but could only look back to a point blank Jensen save from Adebola's bullet header midway through the second half as evidence to suggest they could have won the game.

Burnley forced some good saves out of Arphexad but the game became scrappy in the second half as SBA saw three of his players booked, including Calum Davenport who was quickly replaced by the on-loan Matthew Kilgallon who impressed to help repel the home side's late press for a winner.

Andrew Whing was once again probably the pick of the City bunch and it may not be long before the vultures are swarming Highfield Road. SBA will do well to hang on to his talented young full back.

The Sky Blues remain next to bottom in the table. The 4-5-1 formation looks like becoming a regular feature on away days. Given their current predicament a 0-0 stalemate away to a side in the top half of the league cannot be sniffed at.

City return to action next Saturday when Sunderland are the visitors to Highfield Road.

MATCH STATS

Goal Attempts

Burnley 7
Coventry City 2

Corners

Burnley 2
Coventry City 6

retired_trainer21

SEASON 2003-04

Review of the Season so far: NOVEMBER

November Results

(a) Bradford City lost 3-1 (Staunton)
(h) Derby County lost 0-2
(a) Gillingham lost 2-1 (Adebola)
(h) Watford drew 1-1 (Joachim)
(a) West Brom lost 1-0
(a) Burnley drew 0-0

LEAGUE POSITION

City are currently 23rd in Division One. They have won 2, drawn 9, and lost 7 of their 18 games. They have scored 17 goals and conceded 23.

City have 15 points. They are 3 points below the relegation zone, 14 points below the top six, and 20 points below the top two.

Leading Goalscorers (All Competitions)

Joachim 7
Adebola 6
Suffo 2
Davenport 1
Morrell 1
Pipe 1
Staunton 1

Average Player Ratings

Figure on the immediate left indicates first team starts with the figure in brackets indicating subsitute appearances.

1. 19 Andrew Whing 7.11
2. 19 Calum Davenport 6.89
3. 18 Steve Staunton 6.78
4. 10 (5) Dele Adebola 6.73
5. 15 (1) Julian Joachim 6.63

To Appear Here ... News Updates/City Fanzine Comments/SBA Weekly Column

retired_barbara45

SACK THE BOARD!

retired_trainer21

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by CovFan:
SACK THE BOARD!<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>



I'm running this on small database, and refuse to look in any good player guides/tactic guides etc.

The sack isn't too far away if we carry on like this for much longer ... which would be a shame because I'm enjoying writing the story (more so than playing the actual game in fact )

retired_trainer21

Monday 1 December 2003

Another 6 games have passed, meaning it's time to bring in Graham Abraham for a fans' eye view.

CET: Graham, thanks for joining us once again - it can't be easy for City fans at the moment.

Graham: It's been anything but easy since the moment we got relegated. But this season it looks like we're hitting an all-time low - certainly in my lifetime anyway.

Where does the blame lie in your opinion?

Well it's a shame we can't aim a gun at the people who got us into this mess and say "get us out of it" ... so there's no real blame for the current situation ... although the board's decision to bring in such an inexperienced manager has to be called into question.

That seems to be the general consensus amongst the fans ...

Yeah, definitely. We need someone who knows how to play the transfer market, has experience in getting the best out of players etc.

How long are you prepared to give SBA?

Well it's not the fans that make the decisions and we do appreciate it isn't the most glamorous or attractive job to be in at the moment. We desperately need to offload some of the higher earners at the club but we can't appear desperate or else other clubs will snatch players like Andrew Whing away from us on the cheap.

Is relegation this season a possibility?

We live in the real world and although it's heart wrenching to see Coventry City where they are at the moment, yes it is a possibility. December will be crucial to the manager's future.

Thanks for joining us Graham.

Yeah, thanks, I just hope we don't see Saturday's performance followed up with a bad one against Sunderland because that is what's been happening, we need to find a better consistent level of performance. See you next time.

retired_trainer21

SKY BLUE NEWS

Wednesday 3 December 2003

Tigers on the prowl for City Jewel

SBA is said to have finally accepted one of several loan offers made for current top scorer Julian Joachim.

Hull City have offered to make a 40% contribution towards the striker's £10,000 a week wages and if the deal goes through it will take Joachim away from Highfield Road for the next three months.

Joachim is out of contract at City as of June 2004.

Doyle call up to spark transfer interest?

Michael Doyle did himself no harm on Saturday after turning in a competent display at Burnley and is expected to play his second game of the season against Sunderland this weekend.

The midfielder is transfer-listed at a cut-price £60,000. SBA will be hoping for more of the same from the Irishman in order to attract bids from any interested parties.

Reserve Squad Swelled

SBA has taken the action of dropping several members of his first team squad into the reserve squad with the intention of maintaining decent levels of match fitness. First team fringe players such as Geoff Pitcher and Andy Morrell, amongst others, are being made available to play in the reserve side in the coming weeks.

retired_trainer21

SBA talks exclusively to CM Stories

Thursday 4 December 2003

It was pleasing to see the team show such strength of character to see out the game at Turf Moor and ensure that we came away with something to show for our efforts.

I must admit the game had developed a feeling of 'Deja Vu' about it in the closing stages as Burnley pressed for a winner they wouldn't have merited but this time the lads kept fully focused for the 90 minutes.

I hope the fans do not see the 4-5-1 system as something of a backward step on my part. We must face reality - a harsh reality in that should Bradford City win on Saturday then we will go into the Sunderland game on the Sunday at the basement of the Division One table.

The players are all aware that the game will be screened live on TV and they want to show the nation why all at the club have faith that we won't be down there for very long.

I want to take this opportunity to quash any rumours with regards to Andrew Whing's future at the club. Whilst I can do little to stand in his way should he be tempted by a transfer move from a Premiership side, I can assure the fans that he is very happy at the club and is as determined as the rest of us to lift the club in its' hour of need. He is not the type to let such rumours go to his head and admits himself that there is still much about the game for him to learn.

We now embark on a run of three consecutive home games - all of them look tough on paper - against Sunderland, Sheffield United and Nottingham Forest. We must try and use these games as a springboard for the rest of the season.

See you on Sunday.