[retired_smitchell78]

Sorry but we've John Eustace, Laurent Delorge, Youssef Chippo and Macca. I don't think Sheff Utd have a better midfield. Michael Brown is class as is Ndlovu but i don't know much about the others.

[retired_smitchell78]

www.ccfc.co.uk

Kettering 0 Coventry City Reserves 3
05 Aug 2002 22:32


Gary McSheffrey took his tally to five goals in two starts by netting twice as Coventry City reserves beat Kettering 3-0 on Monday night.

The diminutive striker struck both from penalties as Gary Mills’ side stepped up a gear after the break to score all three goals in the second half. The success follows his hat-trick against Welsh side Newtown last Wednesday.

Youssef Safri scored the other in the game, which saw the Sky Blues field a largely youthful side against last season's Doc Marten's Premier League champions.

Coventry started brightly – Lee Mills headed over the crossbar from Robert Betts’ diagonal after six minutes. Safri boasted the next real chance on 14 minutes as the midfielder’s free-kick curled around the wall but was easily held by the goalkeeper.

The Sky Blues boasted the majority of possession without the sting in the final third until the stroke of half-time, when Mills’ low stinging shot from 20 yards looked promising but was held by the Poppies custodian.

The visitors started the second half brightly – McSheffrey shooting from the tightest of angles only to see the keeper palm away with 51 on the clock – before they did make the breakthrough just 60 seconds later.

Richard Butcher blatantly hand-balled in the area and from the resulting penalty, McSheffrey made no mistake as he finished low to the keeper’s right.

Matt Inman got the better of the City defence after 54 minutes before shooting into the side netting, before the action switched to the other end – the ball falling to McSheffrey after Mills had dummied Fowler’s cross, only for the England Under 20 international to see the keeper save again.

City doubled the deficit on the hour – Safri picking up the ball 20 yards out before launching a thunderous 20-yard shot which sting the goalie’s fingers before ending up in the back of the net.

Coventry’s third and final goal arrived at the death. McSheffrey was again causing the Kettering defence trouble and after his legs were taken in the box, he converted the resulting penalty with ease to leave it 3-0 to the Sky Blues.

[retired_smitchell78]

www.ccfc.co.uk

19s romp home against Chesterfield - but no joy for 17s
05 Aug 2002 16:49


The Under 19s and 17s experienced mixed fortunes as they took on Chesterfield as part of their pre-season programme on Friday, August 2.

While the U17s lost 1-0 to the Spireites, the U19s romped to an 8-0 victory.

A hat-trick for Rory May, a brace from Avun Jephcott, one from Shaun Cooney and two own goals, saw the youth team thrash the visitors.

Academy Director, Steve Ogrizovic, was thrilled with the result.

“The U19s played very well, they were far too strong for Chesterfield.

“The football was nice to see and I was pleased with the way that they responded.

“It was good for Lee Fowler to get his first game under his belt and all the signs are there, showing that we’re moving in the right direction”.

A recent lack of goals for the younger age-group was highlighted by Ogrizovic.

“We seem to have a few problems with scoring at the moment. We need to be more ruthless in front of goal and take our chances.

“Although it was a disappointing result, the under 17s have had a good pre-season and played very well in the game with Wolves a few days before.

“The boys are progressing well and are looking good for the new season”.

[retired_smitchell78]

John Eustace, whose debut term as Coventry captain was wrecked by injury, will again lead the Sky Blues this year.


Manager Gary McAllister spent a long time mulling over the decision but has now confirmed that his 22-year-old midfield partner, who chalked up just five league outings last season, will retain the skipper’s armband.


“I’ve spoken to John about it and explained that my concern was that he was still a young man to be taking on the responsibility of it all,” said McAllister.


“But I think he’s up to it because he’s a good leader and has got the respect of the dressing room, which is always the most important thing.”

[retired_smitchell78]

Steve Walsh lined up alongside a pack of City's brightest young prospects last night in an attempt to prove that, at 37, he still has something fresh to offer the Sky Blues.

The former Leicester folk-hero, who played 90 minutes at Newtown last week turned in another full stint as Gary Mills' second string secured a comfortable victory against their Conference hosts.

He produced an object lesson in canny energy conservation against Leon Ryan - a new arrival at Rockingham Road from Middlesbrough Reserves via Finland - whose height and physical presence provided the sole threat in an otherwise punchless Poppies attack.

And Mills, Walsh's manager at Tamworth last season, confirmed that the veteran is being seriously considered for a full-time role at Highfield Road.

"Steve's on trial with us," explained Mills. "He's here to try to get himself a contract and make himself a Coventry City player - it's as simple as that.

"He's only been with us just over a week, but you can see his fitness and sharpness coming already and, at the moment, I don't think he's doing himself any harm.

"Obviously I hope he gets there because I recommended him and I think he's a good player, a good asset for us. We'll know in time but it's the gaffer's decision - nobody else's."

[retired_smitchell78]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR> *Laughs at Coventry's midfield*

With a midfield like that one wonders HOW you didn't go up last seson...! Our other two midfielders will be 1) Michael Tonge (class 19 yr old- Liverpool want him) and 2) Unsure who he'll play. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Well we didn't have McAllister last season and Eustace was injured for most of the season plus we will be missing David Thompson and Youssef Safri due to suspensions.

I've never said Sheff Utd are sh*t. I think they are a decent team but on paper they don't look as strong as Cov but football is palyed on grass so i guess we'll see on SAturday.

[retired_smitchell78]

our sheffield friend has gone strangely quiet [IMG]/infopop/emoticons/icon_confused.gif" alt="confused[/IMG]

[retired_smitchell78]

we've only 25 days till the transfer window closes for british/world transfers so if Thommo/Hughes ain't sold by then we are stuck with them till January when the window reopens for a few weeks.

[retired_russ10120]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Sky Blue Tom:
Prediction time everyone!

Coventry 2-0 Sheffield United

Goals: Eustace (23), Davenport (87).

Sent Off: Every Sheffield player, coaching staff and fan. Remarkably, the game is allowed to finish.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Because the referee mistook thier physio for 10 players. [IMG]/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif" alt="wink[/IMG]

[retired_smitchell78]

from www.iccoventry.co.uk


Coventry City chairman Mike McGinnity has admitted he is trying to offload big-money signings Lee Hughes and David Thompson to ease the club's crippling debts.

McGinnity reiterated today that he is desperate to bring in cash and slash the Sky Blues' wage bill but said he was not prepared to sell the £8m pair off cheaply just to get them off the books.

And he wants the rest of his his big-money stars to accept a 'play now, get paid later' deal to help ease the club's cash crisis.

In an exclusive interview with the Evening Telegraph, McGinnity said he had had one meeting with West Bromwich Albion about Hughes and is negotiating with another Premiership club, believed to be Blackburn Rovers, about Thompson.

"I've had one meeting with West Brom chairman Brendon Batson about Lee," he revealed, "but that didn't turn out satisfactorily.

"As far as David is concerned, I'm still having very positive talks with a Premiership club and it could be that we sign a deal for him in the next few days.

But with the new transfer window system due to take effect at the end of the month, blocking all moves until January, McGinnity admits that he has little room to manoeuvre. And he is now calling on the players' union to help negotiate a revised salary structure that would reflect the club's league status more real-istically.

"Something's got to give," he said. "We have lost £5million over the next two years because of the collapse of ITV Digital, and we're in the last season of the parachute payment for clubs relegated from the Premiership which is worth another £4million.

"I can't go out and replace £9million just like that. The bubble has burst and we've got to do something about the wages.

"If the players are sensible, I'm perfectly willing to say 'if you are prepared to take a reduction now, and we go back up, I will reimburse you and add a bonus.'

"I can't go straight to the players, I've got to go through the proper channels which is the PFA. But I don't think I'll be the only chairman thinking along these lines."