Coventry City League Cup: Official Matchday Thread

[MelksRed]

Just now, Northern Red said:

Sykes was one of our better performers, but clearly a bandwagon has been started with him that people are jumping on.

Thought he played well in thr first half.. not aided by a non-existent mid-field in the second. That and simple things (like passing) went to hell on a hand cart post the goal.

[GrahamC]

2 minutes ago, Northern Red said:

Sykes was one of our better performers, but clearly a bandwagon has been started with him that people are jumping on.

They’ve moved from Naismith on to Bajic, apparently.

Probably because Bell went off injured..

[robin_unreliant]

5 minutes ago, PAPA650 said:

please tell me thats not our reserve goalkeeper wasting wages on that muppet even the commentry were laughing ffs

God help us if Max gets injured.

[NDW4CITY]

Just now, MelksRed said:

Thought he played well in thr first half.. not aided by a non-existent mid-field in the second. That and simple things (like passing) went to hell on a hand cart post the goal.

Agreed, I thought he was one of the few to come out of this with some credit

[steviestevieneville]

11 minutes ago, Ecko said:

What has happened to sykes and tgh? Both have regressed worryingly.

I don’t think TGH was ever very good at championship level tbh . If we’re ever serious about a promotion push then you need better than him & wells who’s first touch & decision  making are baffling & bell & mehmeti & cornick , plus I’ve missed one or two. It’s where we are though . Oh Mcrorie as well 

Edited August 13 by steviestevieneville

[steveybadger]

6 minutes ago, MythikRobins said:

Honestly, thought Naismith was our best player.

Well apart from losing Simms for the goal . He’s very good on the ball but he does make mistakes.

[NDW4CITY]

Just now, robin_unreliant said:

God help us if Max gets injured.

So true.....I don't want to get on his back, but Bajic gave me nightmares every time a corner came over.

[MelksRed]

2 minutes ago, hollydog said:

Don’t buy this first half good argument. It was competent but we neither scored against a second string Coventry team nor seriously tested their keeper.

And yet, I remember him having to save at least two (one with his fingertips and another from a strong attempt by Mayulu)

Are my eyes deceiving me?

Just now, NDW4CITY said:

So true.....I don't want to get on his back, but Bajic gave me nightmares every time a corner came over.

He also had a great save on the line .  

[Nugget]

Thankfully we have some players to come into that side. Max deffo our number one, always wanted to see Bajic get an opportunity, but needs to work on his confidence in the going for balls in the box, they were clearly targeting that.

Yu, Earthy, Twine(!?), Nelson, Pecover (from bench), Stokes (from the start) would enhance us. On to Saturday, let’s hope we gel soon for all our sakes.  

[Shauntaylor85]

12 minutes ago, Ecko said:

What has happened to sykes and tgh? Both have regressed worryingly.

TGH confidence looks in pieces. 

[W-S-M Seagull]

I didn't see much of the 1st half so can't comment on that. 

But once again it seems like we are trying to pass the ball into the net. We can comfortably get to the edge of the D before our passes get intercepted. 

Conceding one goal isn't the end of the world as long as we can score 2. But we are really struggling on that front. 

[gibbo7]

Just now, steveybadger said:

Well apart from losing Simms for the goal . He’s very good on the ball but he does make mistakes.

Agree he was decent today.  Always said he’s great on the ball.  He’s the player who could easily feed the ball into the 10 time and time again.  Problem is there is no 10 and no imigination in the final 3rd.  When Stokes did cut the ball back like a 10 would everyone was stood watching.  Would have been a tap in for an out and out 9.

[RedRock]

Oh dear. Wheels came off big time in the second half, although we still created enough chances in the last 45 mins to win that.

A few of those players were given a massive opportunity to prove themselves worthy of the first team squad and completely fluffed their lines. Pretty clueless performances by some.

Have we got a specialist attacking coach? If not, we need one and quick.

Obvious we need two goal scoring wide players with crossing ability and that are played by the manager on their correct side and a goal scoring No 10. They’ve also got to be ‘oven ready’ and that ain’t going to come cheap - unless the likes of Nelson are given the opportunity (why not? Couldn’t be any worse than the wide players we had out there) and takes it. Otherwise, there is going to be a lot of ‘Bristol City 0’ this Season. 
 

 

[tin]

Thought that was similar to the Hull game in all fairness. Plenty of huff but no real puff. It was mostly one or two touch stuff, trying to overplay IMO.

Naismith was his usual slack self defensively relying on heroic last-ditch tackles and we saw what a clinical striker looks like in Simms (not for the first time against us either). 

I can see how Armstrong has the dire goalscoring record he’s got. Mayulu led the line well.

[Dr Balls]

15 minutes ago, cidercity1987 said:

Seems like a confidence player

 Came in with a role to play last season , now he is 4th choice CM and 3rd choice RB. Same problem for him here as at WBA

So much of sport is confidence, and since joining us, any he had has been knocked out of him, especially since Manning took over.

[StGeorge]

14 minutes ago, The Coach said:

There’s almost an air of Johnson and Holden style of football in the lack of chances we can create. That’s a concerning trait.

10 shots in first half? mmmm Under Holden we wouldn't get that in 5 games

[NDW4CITY]

Just now, W-S-M Seagull said:

I didn't see much of the 1st half so can't comment on that. 

But once again it seems like we are trying to pass the ball into the net. We can comfortably get to the edge of the D before our passes get intercepted. 

Conceding one goal isn't the end of the world as long as we can score 2. But we are really struggling on that front. 

I would even question "comfortably getting to the D" ...even that was a struggle 2nd half

[westonred]

That was truely shocking 2nd half i think it just proves our squad isnt strong enough to many average players not championship standard

[Ivorguy]

Sorry didn’t look any where near where we should be.

After first ten league matches if there isn’t huge improvement we shall be back where we were when Nige came.  Not enough quality and needing new head coach. LM isn’t a manager because those in power said we needed better coaching.

When we can take corners with purpose then I may begin to believe there is coaching going on, because at present there are few indicators that it is

 

 

[BS3 Ark at Ee]

Cornick was a waste of a substitution especially if he’s due to leave….why give him game time ahead of others….soon as knight came off we looked a different side 

[REDOXO]

1 minute ago, MelksRed said:

And yet, I remember him having to save at least two (one with his fingertips and another from a strong attempt by Mayulu)

Are my eyes deceiving me?

He also had a great save on the line .  

He did make a decent save. 
 

Strangely in the States they had the BBCradio Coventry team covering the game. Steve Ogrizovich said twenty times about crosses being put on top of him as he looks dodgy. 
 

 

2 minutes ago, Shauntaylor85 said:

TGH confidence looks in pieces. 

He was awful. FBC thought he did well. FFS!

[MelksRed]

Just now, REDOXO said:

He did make a decent save. 
 

Strangely in the States they had the BBCradio Coventry team covering the game. Steve Ogrizovich said twenty times about crosses being put on top of him as he looks dodgy. 
 

 

Couldn't hear that, was at the Gate 

[W-S-M Seagull]

1 minute ago, Ivorguy said:

Sorry didn’t look any where near where we should be.

After first ten league matches if there isn’t huge improvement we shall be back where we were when Nige came.  Not enough quality and needing new head coach. LM isn’t a manager because those in power said we needed better coaching.

When we can take corners with purpose then I may begin to believe there is coaching going on, because at present there are few indicators that it is

 

 

@headhunter did you ask Manning what the deal is with corners and why we offer little threat from them? 

[Supersonic Robin]

I don't think anyone made much of a case to force their way into the starting XI that played vs Hull, with the possible exception of Mayulu.

[old_eastender]

2 minutes ago, BS3 Ark at Ee said:

Cornick was a waste of a substitution especially if he’s due to leave….why give him game time ahead of others….soon as knight came off we looked a different side 

Spot on. 

[One Team]

2 minutes ago, Ivorguy said:

Sorry didn’t look any where near where we should be.

After first ten league matches if there isn’t huge improvement we shall be back where we were when Nige came.  Not enough quality and needing new head coach. LM isn’t a manager because those in power said we needed better coaching.

When we can take corners with purpose then I may begin to believe there is coaching going on, because at present there are few indicators that it is

 

 

Meanwhile some bloke called Weinmann scored again.

[Davefevs]

50 minutes ago, IAmNick said:

Coventry goal: https://streamin.one/v/11cc4ecc

Such a shame, Wells was a slightly bigger touch away from being clear.  Defender got a vital block.

[REDOXO]

1 minute ago, MelksRed said:

Couldn't hear that, was at the Gate 

I was in Milwaukee!

[Curr Avon]

Good first half where our pressing created several chances - that were predictably squandered.

Knight's half time withdrawal left a huge hole in midfield, and this combined with a lack of energy, clueless passing and a toothless forward line made it easy for Coventry. 

Made one yearn for the days of Tommy Wotsisname.

[NDW4CITY]

Just now, REDOXO said:

I was in Milwaukee!

Sorry to hear that  

[MelksRed]

Just now, REDOXO said:

I was in Milwaukee!

I envy you - trade you 

[Cov 77]

3 minutes ago, StGeorge said:

10 shots in first half? mmmm Under Holden we wouldn't get that in 5 games

Yes to be fair , hardly any shots back then some of the stats were unbelievable, we have had 30 shots in two games, 9 on target , not firing at the moment for sure but no comparison to back then 

[REDOXO]

Just now, NDW4CITY said:

Sorry to hear that  

A very nice bit of it mind you.  

[Ivorguy]

Our two new big no 9s looked to this old Robin to be more Terry Bush than John Atyeo

[NDW4CITY]

Just now, REDOXO said:

A very nice bit of it mind you.  

does it involve beer? 

[Shauntaylor85]

I don’t know what it is with city but you watch other sides at this level and they just have more of a threat than us and just punish teams. We are so poor going forward and that was meant to be the core area to fix as per all of the Tinnion and Manning summer PR. Appreciate just a cup game and lots of changes but big pressure on Saturday now. They need to prove it’s not another season of failing to break teams down.

[hollydog]

9 minutes ago, MelksRed said:

And yet, I remember him having to save at least two (one with his fingertips and another from a strong attempt by Mayu

Any decent keeper would have saved them. We should be creating so much more at home.

[Gert Mare]

A good first half would see us 1 or 2 nil up against Coventry reserves. It was a poor toothless performance tonight. There is nothing to get fans off the seats. It’s mind numbing.

[CityCiderEd]

6 minutes ago, RedRock said:

Have we got a specialist attacking coach? If not, we need one and quick

I'd be happy with a coach that gets us to cross a ball properly, to shoot when a chance arrives and be able to actually pass to a teammate...... Also why when winning the ball high up the pitch it invariably ends up back with the keeper. 

[SecretSam]

Coventry just looked 5% sharper than us in the second half.

And they could bring Simms off the bench.  Says it all.

[REDOXO]

1 minute ago, NDW4CITY said:

does it involve beer? 

There is a lot of beer up here. For sure. You can’t even focus on the cases as they fly off the conveyor. 
 

 

[lenred]

5 minutes ago, westonred said:

That was truely shocking 2nd half i think it just proves our squad isnt strong enough to many average players not championship standard

In general I think most are championship standard. It’s just that a lot of them are just average / below average championship standard. Doesn’t mean that they can’t play in this league but it does point as to why we find ourselves where we do year on year.  New season though so let’s hope we get firing Saturday and we start to see the fruits of the time Manning has had with them now.  

[MelksRed]

1 minute ago, hollydog said:

Any decent keeper would have saved them. We should be creating so much more at home.

Agree...but to say he wasn't tested (as the original post asserted) isn't an accurate statement. No shots on target, no saves = not tested. He had to do something...he was, therefore tested. 

[Rob k]

8 minutes ago, W-S-M Seagull said:

@headhunter did you ask Manning what the deal is with corners and why we offer little threat from them? 

Cos we don’t have hardly anyone to deliver a consistently good set piece at the club 

[Lakeside Red]

Can’t see us scoring many goals again this season. Need to move cornick off Bell is to lightweight Sykes is hit and miss 

[The chief]

9 minutes ago, Curr Avon said:

Good first half where our pressing created several chances - that were predictably squandered.

Knight's half time withdrawal left a huge hole in midfield, and this combined with a lack of energy, clueless passing and a toothless forward line made it easy for Coventry. 

Made one yearn for the days of Tommy Wotsisname.

Dominant first half and much the better team. Loads of chances and were picking better options more quickly to create those chances. 

Abysmal second half , Williams and TGH dreadful . Their substitutions got hold of the game quickly and ours made us worse . We totally gave them the initiative. Very poor second 45, all the good things we did first half disappeared . Very disappointing . From the bell imjury onwards our shape and control was thrown in the bin. 

Edited August 13 by The chief

[westonred]

Manning presser just now he said he was pleased with the amount of chances we created in the first half Yes Liam but we still never scored this is what you get when you dont buy proven Championship strikers 

[Dullmoan Tone]

Where’s all the posters gone who were assuring us it would all be so much better after LM had a full pre-season with the squad?

[Dolman Block B]

Sims

Knows where the net is 

Pain in the ass 

[Barrs Court Red]

13 minutes ago, BS3 Ark at Ee said:

Cornick was a waste of a substitution especially if he’s due to leave….why give him game time ahead of others….soon as knight came off we looked a different side 

Yeah that irked me.  I view these EFL cup early rounds as glorified friendly games, but to overlook the youth for someone we’re binning off isn’t great. 

[One Team]

3 minutes ago, Barrs Court Red said:

Yeah that irked me.  I view these EFL cup early rounds as glorified friendly games, but to overlook the youth for someone we’re binning off isn’t great. 

But, but….the pathway!

[Dr Balls]

5 minutes ago, westonred said:

Manning presser just now he said he was pleased with the amount of chances we created in the first half Yes Liam but we still never scored this is what you get when you dont buy proven Championship strikers 

This has been my worry about Manning since he arrived. He doesn’t seem to understand that the object of the game is to put the ball in the net, rather than some form of point-scoring for artistic impression in the build up. No end product = no wins!

[Cornwall red]

Training session for next few days - passing to your own team, target shooting, scoring. We will be fine then!

[hollydog]

5 minutes ago, MelksRed said:

Agree...but to say he wasn't tested (as the original post asserted) isn't an accurate statement. No shots on target, no saves = not tested. He had to do something...he was, therefore tested. 

I did say seriously tested but don’t want a row about semantics. Have a good evening. UTC.

[JBFC II]

A lot of people making some very reactionary comments here. It was a league cup game where we were good for 45 minutes and pretty rubbish for 45 minutes.

All tonight highlighted is certain players aren't good enough to be starting at this level, Coventry made positive substitions when the game had gone flat and that changed things, Manning clearly didn't value the game highly enough to do likewise.

Hull taught us a lot more about what the season will hold than tonight, and that was very positive. A bit more quality in the 10 role and we could well be pushing for the top 10 (maybe even top 6). No side has had their season won or lost by a 1st round league cup game, Saturday will tell us an awful lot more about how close we are to improving on last season

[Frenchay Red]

Manning is used to going out in the first round. He went out 5-1 a season ago.

[Davefevs]

15 minutes ago, BS3 Ark at Ee said:

Cornick was a waste of a substitution especially if he’s due to leave….why give him game time ahead of others….soon as knight came off we looked a different side 

If you’ve used “if he’s due to leave” then doesn’t that perhaps answer your own question…maybe he’s not off, and that’s why he played!

6 minutes ago, SecretSam said:

Coventry just looked 5% sharper than us in the second half.

And they could bring Simms off the bench.  Says it all.

They played a bit quicker, into the forwards, bypassing our press a bit (were you watching Millwall?).  They also pressed Naismith really hard, and therefore until the final 10 mins, he couldn’t initiate our attacks like he did first half.

Because Cov went a little more direct, they stretched the pitch.  We were nice and compact first half.  As a result we suddenly find it harder to pick up the bits and pieces.

Robins won the second half, unfortunately I’m referring to wily old Mark Robins!

I enjoyed certain things though.  Wasn’t anything like doom and gloom.  But would’ve like momentum for a Saturday.

[ZiderEyed]

9 minutes ago, CityCiderEd said:

I'd be happy with a coach that gets us to cross a ball properly, to shoot when a chance arrives and be able to actually pass to a teammate...... Also why when winning the ball high up the pitch it invariably ends up back with the keeper. 

Remarkable really how bad crossing has become in professional players.

When I was a nipper we practiced crossing regualrly (I get that it was more prominent in the game then), and I could always hit a mark - levels have increased for certain play styles, but crossing seems worse than I remember growing up. 

[Fuber]

Big issue is that you could stick most of this squad 18 yards out, and only about three of them are even capable of scoring.

Knight can't shoot. TGH can't shoot. Williams can't shoot, etc etc.

It's ironic that the one player we could arguably really do with at the moment is that chap that assisted Simms for his goal. Used to play for us. Ironically.

The other issue is style of play - can say it again and again. We played on the break under NP because we have no composure and vision, and the ones that do are defenders, so we bypass the midfield and hit on the break to be effective, the side effect of which mean we were boring in possession, aside from when we had Scott and Semenyo.

We have the same midfield now as then and I see no evidence of that changing anytime soon. We simply don't have the squad balance across the middle of the park without Bird. Williams, TGH, Bell, Sykes - don't fit the possession style BT and Manning evidently want.

Makes the decision to let James go but keep Williams lamentable.

[ProfitInMyPocket]

It's early and it's the cup so not devastated.

My key points from tonight -

Midfield is going to absolutely kill us this season if it doesn't improve. Naismith was the only one passing forward in the second half.

Wide players really off it, need Yu to come in and offer something different, hopefully give everyone a lift.

Set pieces. Jesus. If Dickie isn't in the box we might as well just pass it back to the keeper, waste of time. 

The turning of the game was at half time even before the 5 changes from Robins. They stepped up the pitch and we just couldn't get out. Midfield just knocking it sideways and melting under pressure.

Fally starts for me if we wanna link the play up, if we wanna catch teams on the break I'd play Armstrong.

Only ones coming out with credit tonight for me was Tanner, Fally, Naismith and Stokes. Rest were indifferent, didn't get enough time or off the pace. Got to do better.

 

[Davefevs]

2 minutes ago, JBFC II said:

A lot of people making some very reactionary comments here. It was a league cup game where we were good for 45 minutes and pretty rubbish for 45 minutes.

All tonight highlighted is certain players aren't good enough to be starting at this level, Coventry made positive substitions when the game had gone flat and that changed things, Manning clearly didn't value the game highly enough to do likewise.

Hull taught us a lot more about what the season will hold than tonight, and that was very positive. A bit more quality in the 10 role and we could well be pushing for the top 10 (maybe even top 6). No side has had their season won or lost by a 1st round league cup game, Saturday will tell us an awful lot more about how close we are to improving on last season

Not sure game had gone flat, Cov were on top and knocking on the door imho.

[And Its Smith]

Bed wetters are out again. It’s the Carabao cup and we made loads of changes.  Tonight’s result doesn’t really matter does it. Onto the weekend 

[Shauntaylor85]

2 minutes ago, Fuber said:

Big issue is that you could stick most of this squad 18 yards out, and only about three of them are even capable of scoring.

Knight can't shoot. TGH can't shoot. Williams can't shoot, etc etc.

It's ironic that the one player we could arguably really do with at the moment is that chap that assisted Simms for his goal. Used to play for us. Ironically.

The other issue is style of play - can say it again and again. We played on the break under NP because we have no composure and vision, and the ones that do are defenders, so we bypass the midfield and hit on the break to be effective, the side effect of which mean we were boring in possession, aside from when we had Scott and Semenyo.

We have the same midfield now as then and I see no evidence of that changing anytime soon. We simply don't have the squad balance across the middle of the park without Bird. Williams, TGH, Bell, Sykes - don't fit the possession style BT and Manning evidently want.

Makes the decision to let James go but keep Williams lamentable.

Said this on the weekend. We didn’t need to keep Williams. He is a typical mid table hit and miss midfielder. 

[NDW4CITY]

1 minute ago, JBFC II said:

A lot of people making some very reactionary comments here. It was a league cup game where we were good for 45 minutes and pretty rubbish for 45 minutes.

All tonight highlighted is certain players aren't good enough to be starting at this level, Coventry made positive substitions when the game had gone flat and that changed things, Manning clearly didn't value the game highly enough to do likewise.

Hull taught us a lot more about what the season will hold than tonight, and that was very positive. A bit more quality in the 10 role and we could well be pushing for the top 10 (maybe even top 6). No side has had their season won or lost by a 1st round league cup game, Saturday will tell us an awful lot more about how close we are to improving on last season

Yeah that's fair. Plus I want to believe that some of the players who played poorly imo (TGH, Mehmeti, Williams, Cornick etc) cannot possibly play that badly again. I desperately want to believe that.  

[bcfc01]

32 minutes ago, BobBobBobbin said:

That's fair and somewhat disappointing. Kinda deserve the shocking attendance.

What was the attendance ?

[JBFC II]

1 minute ago, bcfc01 said:

What was the attendance ?

10900 with 2.5k from Coventry

[Curr Avon]

11 minutes ago, The chief said:

Dominant first half and much the better team. Loads of chances and were picking better options more quickly to create those chances. 

Abysmal second half , Williams and TGH dreadful . Their substitutions got hold of the game quickly and ours made us worse . We totally gave them the initiative. Very poor second 45, all the good things we did first half disappeared . Very disappointing . From the bell imjury onwards our shape and control was thrown in the bin. 

Absolutely. The game drifted away from City and didn't seem bothered to stop it. Permanently set to cruise control in the second half. 

[MythikRobins]

2 minutes ago, Fuber said:

Big issue is that you could stick most of this squad 18 yards out, and only about three of them are even capable of scoring.

Knight can't shoot. TGH can't shoot. Williams can't shoot, etc etc.

It's ironic that the one player we could arguably really do with at the moment is that chap that assisted Simms for his goal. Used to play for us. Ironically.

The other issue is style of play - can say it again and again. We played on the break under NP because we have no composure and vision, and the ones that do are defenders, so we bypass the midfield and hit on the break to be effective, the side effect of which mean we were boring in possession, aside from when we had Scott and Semenyo.

We have the same midfield now as then and I see no evidence of that changing anytime soon. We simply don't have the squad balance across the middle of the park without Bird. Williams, TGH, Bell, Sykes - don't fit the possession style BT and Manning evidently want.

Makes the decision to let James go but keep Williams lamentable.

 - No reactions left so have to give one of these.

Will obviously give it a couple months, but at the moment I fear I was led astray by that Williams purple patch towards the end of the season that I was happy to keep Williams and let James go. Will admit that mistake if he doesn't improve. Although, I've heard we did make James an offer? Not sure if that's true.

[ZiderEyed]

1 minute ago, Fuber said:

Big issue is that you could stick most of this squad 18 yards out, and only about three of them are even capable of scoring.

Knight can't shoot. TGH can't shoot. Williams can't shoot, etc etc.

It's ironic that the one player we could arguably really do with at the moment is that chap that assisted Simms for his goal. Used to play for us. Ironically.

The other issue is style of play - can say it again and again. We played on the break under NP because we have no composure and vision, and the ones that do are defenders, so we bypass the midfield and hit on the break to be effective, the side effect of which mean we were boring in possession, aside from when we had Scott and Semenyo.

We have the same midfield now as then and I see no evidence of that changing anytime soon. We simply don't have the squad balance across the middle of the park without Bird. Williams, TGH, Bell, Sykes - don't fit the possession style BT and Manning evidently want.

Makes the decision to let James go but keep Williams lamentable.

Threat might be the word.

Do we threaten the opponent's box when we are in the offensive phase? The nebulous characteristics that make certain players great do include their ability to hit the ball from range. Can we have someone who can be a threat from range? Someone who challenges the opposition.

We can throw pelters up to our forwards, hit aimless crosses that don't make the first man, but we don't have a distance shooter? You need the threat to allow for the rest. 

[Fuber]

30 minutes ago, BCFCGav said:

Immediate thoughts, they made a bold quin-sub to a near first XI and it shone through. Barring a little late flurry we rarely laid a glove against that quality. I felt we should have responded in kind earlier, Bird felt necessary.

Two games, one goal. BUT chances/moments in both games. If we don’t start converting more though - another season of nearly and maybe awaits.

Some very disappointing performances out there tonight, especially in the midfield. Knight wasn’t himself but I still wouldn’t have taken him off. TGH and Williams didn’t show the requisite quality.

A win against Millwall on Saturday and the start of the season suddenly looks a perfectly good one. 4 points and sod the cup.

If ai had to pick a recent CH equivalent to us now - its Reading, Jaap Stam, 2nd Season, 17-18 Season.

Pretty Football. Good Patterns. Made plenty of chances and good retention of the ball with a hard working squad.

Howdver they could not hit the side of M-shed. Hope Manning at least (again) is willing to be fluid and switch to a counter attacking style like he did st times last season or this could be long one, or we see some movement with Conway out and another incoming.