[Glenn]

from www.gmkonline.com

City Grab Draw In Germany

By Kev Monks
Date: 17/7/2002

VfR Aalen 1 Coventry City 1 Game two of City's pre-season tour to Germany was a trip to the Baden Wurtenburg region to face VfR Aalen side who narrowly missed out on a place in the German second division last season.


This game proved a stern test for a much-changed Sky Blues side who, in the pouring rain, played second fiddle to a strong home XI

VfR Aalen took a thoroughly deserved lead in the 35th minute when Michael Bochtler scored with a low drive.

However, with Gary McSheffrey replacing Youssef Chippo at the interval, the Sky Blues rallied and within four minutes of the restart, drew level when John Eustace was on hand to volley in a Dean Gordon cross from six yards.

City were in control for the rest of the match with Gary McAllister impressing with the standard and accuracy of his passing.

And the Sky Blues might have sneaked a win, had a clear Julian Joachim penalty had been given, but it was not - much to the disgust of the 15 City supporters in the stands.

But VfR Aalen were more than worthy opponents and for McAllister's men to come away unbeaten was a more than fair result.

Goals: Bochtler (35, 1-0), Eustace (49, 1-1).

City: Hyldgaard; Quinn, Konjic, Davenport, Gordon; Chippo (McSheffrey, 45), Safri, McAllister Eustace (Betts 77), Bothroyd (Lee Mills, 71) Joachim. Subs not used Montgomery, Zuniga, Martinez, Shaw.

Attendance: 80.

[Glenn]

The Sky Blues lined up in a 4-1-3-2 formation, with Calum Davenport and Mo Konjic paired in the centre of defence and Dean Gordon and Barry Quinn operating in the full-back positions. Youssef Safri started his first pre-season game in a holding role just in front of the back line, while his compatriot Youssef Chippo played on the left of a midfield three with captain John Eustace on the right and Gary McAllister in the middle. Julian Joachim and Jay Bothroyd looked after responsibilities up front, while Morten Hyldgaard was in goal.

[Glenn]

1.What’s your prediction on how City will do this season - and why?

2. Which City player do you think will be most important to city this season (assume Hedman, Thompson and Hughes will be leaving)

3 Which City player most underperformed last season

4. Which team are you looking forward to playing most – and least

5. Who will get relegated – and promoted (name three teams in each category)

[David N. Port]

1 Play offs

2 Safri/ Eustace/ McAllister

3 Lee "C*nt" hughes

4 I dunno

5Promoted

Ipswich
Wolves
Cov

Relagated
Don't know, or care

[Glenn]

The new superstadium complex for the Sky Blues and associated leisure complex on Foleshill gasworks is being delayed again - this time over a legal hitch.

Legal experts are being asked to look at financial transactions due to go through the joint venture company being set up by the club and the city council.

There are fears that channelling the £42million which Tesco is paying to build a giant Tesco Xtra superstore as the key shop on the site may breach European rules on public finance.

Now experts are being asked to find out if that is the case - and if so, what alternative arrangements can be made.

Deputy council leader Cllr John Mutton (Lab, Binley and Willenhall) said on Wednesday: "The Tesco money is coming to the council then going out to the stadium (company) and some people think there's a problem with that.

"Some people think it goes against what the European Union is saying about state aid. We don't think it's state aid - it's coming from the private sector.

"Tesco is paying £42million and the money left after £17million is spent cleaning up the site will go to the joint venture company.

"We're getting expert legal people in just to review that. But it's slowing things down."

The council owns the land after putting in £10million. Advantage West Midlands, the regional development agency, is also investing in the site.

The football club is putting up £2million cash, as well as paying for the £4.5million to £5million worth of work already done in getting planning permission and securing Tesco as a major operator on the site.

[Glenn]

Youssef Safri has assured Coventry City supporters that his ambitions lie firmly with the club.

The Moroccan midfielder, who had an outstanding first season at Highfield Road, lined up alongside player boss Gary McAllister for the first time this week and the pair showed all the makings of a formidable double act in the middle of the park.

And even though the 25-year-old is a potential target for Premiership clubs, Safri says he is not interested in going anywhere except back to the top flight with the Sky Blues.

"I love Coventry and the people here very much," he said.

"Everywhere I go people make me welcome and I am very happy here and happy to stay and fight to get the club back to the Premiership.

"Coventry gave me my chance to play football in England and I want to repay their confidence in me and do the best I can. I know the club have to sell a few players but I hope they don't sell me because I am very excited about the new season.

"Youssef Chippo has told me what a great team Coventry had when Gary McAllister was here before and I hope this will happen again.

"I played with him for the first time on Wednesday and I was very happy because he is a very, very good player and I think we will be all right with him in the team."

He added: "It was a very hard game for me because it was my first after the pre-season fitness training and we played against a good team.

"I am thankful that I have no injury problems and I am really looking forward to the start of the new season.

"I feel a little bit tired but that is normal after the first game but I am sure I will be all right." City take on VFB Auerbach tonight in the third of their pre-season friendlies in southern Germany, where McAllister is expected to give his younger players another run-out.

"Auerbach are a team in between the first club we played and Aalen in terms of standard, so they are slightly better than the first but maybe not as strong as Aalen," he said.

"So we will flip it round again and try a few different formations and different set-ups and go to Nurnberg for two proper games on Sunday."

Gavin Strachan and Laurent Delorge are the only two players from the 22-man squad that travelled to Germany not to have played but McAllister hopes to try them out before the club return on Monday.

"We are hoping to get them a competitive game before we go home," said the manager. "That would be ideal but there is no rush and if they are not ready they have still got time to show me what they can produce.

"They have both got a couple of niggling things and we are a bit wary about pushing them back too soon and making them long-term injuries, so I am under the advice of the physios at the moment."

[Glenn]

Friday Night Fever - At The Oval!!

BEDWORTH UNITED v COVENTRY CITY XI
Friday July 26th 2002
Kick Off is 7.30pm

Bedworth United once again face Coventry City at The Oval in a pre-season which promises to be a cracker. The City will be bringing a similar side to last season, but many of the squad will have made first team squad appearances.

At the game will be Mercia FM's Ian Shepherd along with the Black Thunder Crew who are advertising the game all next week as Bedworth United look to better the 631 that appeared for last seasons friendly.

As before the Bar will be open, so why not start your Friday night with larger and football, prices will remain the same meaning you get to watch the professionals for a fiver!!

Kids will get in for a quid adding to the superb value, and our food bar, club shop and programme stall will be open.

There is a tonne of club information on our brilliant website www.bedworthunited.co.uk

So why not join in the Fun at Bedworth United and support the Greenbacks and Coventry City FC!

BEDWORTH UNITED v COVENTRY CITY XI
The Oval
Friday July 26th 2002
Kick off is 7.30pm

ADMISSION
Adults - 5.00
Concessions - 2.50
Kids - A QUID!!

MORE INFO AT WWW.BEDWORTHUNITED.CO.UK

[Glenn]

Reserve-team players Marco Brancati and Antonio Gallieri have joined Italian side Avellino for a two-week trial.
The duo jetted back to their home country on Wednesday to link up the Serie C side, who are the second biggest club in Napoli and attract crowds of around 30,000 for every game.
Should the trial be successful, the duo could make the move permanently. "

[CovFan]

Quick-Fire Mills Double Puts City On Right Track

By Neville Hadsley
Date: 19/7/2002

VFB Auerbach 2 Coventry City 3 Kev Monks reports from eastern German town of Auerbach as a much-changed Sky Blues side continued to impress ontheir German Tour. A double-strike from Lee Mills got City on their way....

Thankfully the weather improved as 20 city supporters made the long trip to eastern German town of Auerbach.
City got off to the best possible start with two goals in the first five minutes from Lee Mills - the first a close-range finish after three minutes and then a header from a Laurent Delorge cross.

Yet again, the Sky Blues were pleasing to watch, with good passing movements and it was another excellent through ball from Robert Betts which put Jay Bothroyd clear in space to finish, putting City 3-0 up in the 39th minute.

Much to the delight of most of the 1150 -strong crowd, Auerbach staged a comeback with two goals in the space of seven minutes early in the second half.

Tino Schlars-Schmidt first reduced the arrears two minutes after the restart when he fired a low drive past Magnus Hedman from close range.

Then, after 53 minutes, Helder Schmidt latched on to a good cross to give Hedman no chance with a good finish.

McAllister made six substitutions, including bringing on himself, and both sides had chances to add to the scoring but it was the small band of Sky Blues fans who left the VFB Stadion the happiest.

Goals: Mills (3, 0-1), Mills (5, 0-2) Bothroyd (39, 0-3) Schlars-Schmidt (47, 1-3) Schmidt (53, 2-3).

City: Hedman; Pead, Quinn, Shaw, Gordon (Konjic, 52); Betts (McAllister, 67) Chippo (Safri, 67), Delorge (Eustace, 25,) Martinez; Bothroyd (Zuniga, 52) Mills (Joachim, 77).

Attendance: 1150.

[Glenn]

Was Delorge injured then ?