Coventry City Q&A from CoventryLive as Sky Blues reporter Andy Turner answers some of the week’s most pressing questions.
With recent results for Coventry City deteriorating, attention has quickly turned to the January transfer window and the opportunity for Mark Robins to strengthen his flagging side.
Some fans have questioned the club’s summer recruitment, while others understand that the Sky Blues must get things right come the mid-term trading period, when there is a huge opportunity to add the necessary quality to help set the team back in the right direction and push at the top of the table.
With recent results for Coventry City deteriorating, attention has quickly turned to the January transfer window and the opportunity for Mark Robins to strengthen his flagging side.
Some fans have questioned the club’s summer recruitment, while others understand that the Sky Blues must get things right come the mid-term trading period, when there is a huge opportunity to add the necessary quality to help set the team back in the right direction and push at the top of the table.
That possibility is still a few weeks away. Meanwhile, City will face Stoke at the CBS Arena this weekend, hoping for a quick and much-needed pick-me-up from a positive result and performance before the next international break. Andy Turner, Sky Blues reporter, answers some of your burning questions from the week.
We waited too long to hire because we were waiting for the sale of Vik to be completed. This new recruitment team must shoulder the majority of the blame. Kitching was unnecessary.
AT: If a manager is going to play three at the back, he needs at least five center-halves for cover and competition. The recruitment department had players lined up, and the club was hoping to get signings in early, but that doesn’t always happen due to a variety of factors. I don’t believe it was due to a lack of initiative on the part of the City. They would have planned for Vik’s departure early in the summer if they had known.
I’ve heard that Villarreal are willing to loan out Ben Brereton Daz, with several Championship clubs interested. I believe at least one of Wright and Simms will deliver, but surely a proven Championship striker would be worth a look? Even if it is on loan.
AT: That’s a fascinating prospect. He certainly knows the division and has a proven track record of scoring goals at this level, so a loan could be the ideal solution. However, he would not be short of options, and with Leicester City, Southampton, and West Bromwich Albion all expressing interest, it’s likely he’ll seek to join a promotion-chasing side rather than a transitional side. However, good call.
According to what I’ve read, we need to address our back three. How many goals have they given up as a result of their apparent inability to defend crosses into the box? Poor recruitment, in my opinion. Meanwhile, there are people like Callum Doyle. Other clubs are tearing it up with Norton Cuffy and Luke McNally. It would have been preferable if we could have hired at least one of them.
AT: In an ideal world, City would have returned for Doyle and McNally. However, Doyle was always going to go elsewhere to further his development, just as Maatsen did the previous season when he moved to Burnley, while the Sky Blues attempted to sign McNally but the Clarets were unwilling to sell. Mark Robins wanted to have more permanent signings than loans this season, so when Bobby Thomas became available, the club decided to focus on him. Thomas impressed at the start of the season and will hopefully be able to sustain that form to prove to be a very good signing.
Do you have any idea how confident the club is in strengthening our midfield in terms of quality rather than quantity in January? For once we have the funds, do we have the goals in place, and will they want to join a team that is struggling near the bottom?
AT: I’d say you’re very confident. Mark Robins has mentioned addressing the situation, so we can assume he has Doug King’s approval. I’m sure the target/targets have been identified, and the club will be working hard to meet them in January. You make an interesting point about the league position, but City remains a very ambitious club that has spent money and appears to have more funds to strengthen in future transfer windows. That, along with the style of play, size of club/stadium/fanbase, and recent track record for coaching and development, will be major selling points.
I don’t see any immediate improvement, but Wright is starting to fire, so I’m confident the team will improve.
AT: Things can quickly change. Stoke have gained ten points in their last four games, moving them from fourth bottom to 12th. Keep your fingers crossed, eh?
