Could this be the beginning of a
great new period in the history of Coventry City Football Club? Seven,I
repeat seven new signings have arrived which has been unheard of in previous
seasons. New additions to the backroom staff in the form of City legend
Richard Shaw and Lee Carsley being promoted from under 18 coach to the first
team. There may also of been a place for former player Noel Whelan, however bad
mouthing the club on Twitter is not the best way to go about getting a job now
is it Noel. Last season there was much debate about Andy Thorn's use of the
4-1-2-1-2 formation and his subsequent switch to 4-4-2 and then return to
the aforementioned formation. Now it seems that Thorny has decided to play
the modern 4-2-3-1 formation, one I personally favour. With the new players and
system could the club finally be moving in the right direction?
The Edge
Kevin Malaga
It all started with Stephen Elliott, then John Fleck, then Kevin
Kilbane, then Kevin Malaga, then William Edjenguele, then Callum Ball and as it
stands Reece Brown. During the months between the end of the season and the
opening of the transfer window on July 1st, the majority of city supporters
were more concerned with who was going out than who was coming in. Of course
it isn't like the fear held by the fans wasn't justified,
with the stand out players of last season Richard Keogh and Martin Cranie and academy
graduate Gael Bigirimana all leaving the club. Despite this Andy Thorn is
putting together a squad well able to challenge for automatic promotion,
gradually filling the gaps that were so apparent in the squad from last
season. Firstly much needed creativity in midfield in the form of Scotsman John
Fleck and trialist Ricky Pinheiro (this trialist could however be Daniel Halfar of 1860 Munich). Secondly any strikers that are not Clive
Platt or Freddy Eastwood, step forward Stephen Elliott, Callum Ball and another
trialist Bruno Cazarine. We have also replaced Keogh and Cranie with Malaga
and The Edge who both looked decent on their debuts against Hinckley United. Add
to this utility men Kevin Kilbane and Reece Brown who add a certain depth to
the squad and for a 35 year old Kilbane looked particularly mobile on debut
against Hinckley, it is good to know we haven't signed
another Michael Hughes or Arjen De Zeeuw who
basically couldn't move. With Bruno, Ricky (or Daniel) and Steven Jennings still
on trial we have a potential 10 new signings and if rumours are to be believed
more still to come. As harsh as it may seem, I for one hope Portsmouth do go
into liquidation and that we sign up Izale McLeod (currently on trial at
Pompey) as I believe at this level he could really do some
damage.
Kevin Kilbane
Manchester City, Arsenal, Real Madrid just some of the teams that
currently adopt the 4-2-3-1 formation and it is fair to say that these teams
play some of the most attractive football in the world at this moment, not only
this but they also tend to win things as well (except Arsenal). This is because
this formation is the formation of the present and future. Now it is clear to
see that we don't have players such as Cristiano Ronaldo, David Silva or even
Maroane Chamakh, yet the beauty of this formation is that it allows a manager
or coach to get the most out of underachieving players. Whether it is
4-2-3-1 or a converted 4-5-1 or 4-3-3 these formations allow for flowing
football and see the likes of Leon Britton, Mark Gower and Shaun Derry look
like world beaters which with all due respect they are not. Since England's
exit from Euro 2012 many have complained that we do not produce enough
technically gifted players, when compared to Spain or Germany this may be true
but I am of the opinion that the real problem is the 4-4-2 system we have
played since the beginning of time. Fact of the matter is this system allows a
team to be compact in defence and lethal on the attack. When you
break it down it is simply a 6-4 formation in other words
six defenders and four attackers, the defensive players contain the
other team whilst being able to keep the ball through two holding midfielders.
The four attackers can all interchange and play between the lines causing all
sorts of problems for the opposing defence. The diamond worked well in parts
last season, the problem being however that huge spaces open up on the flanks,
resulting in the full backs coming under intense pressure. As regards 4-4-2
this is a formation on the way out, unless you have two pacy wingers for
example the Manchester United duo of Antonio Valencia and Ashley
Young (unfortunately David Bell and Carl Baker do not fall into this category)
it is simply ineffective in modern football.
Gael is in the Bigi time now
Keogh, gone but not forgotten
This is Coventry City and with Coventry City nothing is ever
perfect, with all the recent signings the fact that SISU are still in charge of
the club has been seemingly forgotten by some. I'm sick of going on and on
about their running of the club but I would like to point out a few things for
consideration. Firstly despite numerous signings no money has actually changed
hands for any of these players; there is of course money available from the
sale of both Gael and Keogh. Secondly the fact that the club have funded
the Category Two status in the new Elite Player
Performance Plan can be seen in one of two ways, it can be seen as great news
because Gregor Rioch and the academy have produced good young players in recent
years and it’s good that they can continue to do so. Or that SISU have realised
from the Bigi sale that they can produce young players at little cost to then
sell on for big transfer fees. Thirdly any talk of a takeover has been
non-existence in recent weeks, has Gary Hoffman lost interest or is he on a
rather long holiday.
Not wanting to finish on a bad note, I leave
you with the news that our league one rivals Preston have taken former Aston Villa keeper Peter Encklemen
on trial.
I think I
speak for every City fan when I say how great it is that we've actually signed
a player. It’s more a sense of relief that the club have been able to make a signing;
any signings looked bleak in the midst of the transfer embargo. Of course the club haven't paid
any money for said signing, but the fact is that instead of news about Bristol
City nicking our physio Michael McBride or Gary Deegan being
suspended being reported on Sky Sports News for at least five seconds they will
report that, 'Coventry City have signed Stephen Elliott on a free from Hearts'.
However the question remains who is he?
Stephen Elliott
You'll not be surprised that
Stephen Elliott hasn't exactly been the most prolific
striker English football has ever seen, or for that matter Scottish
football (11 goals in 56 appearances for Hearts). Although that is still a
better goals per game ratio than both Clive Platt and Freddy Eastwood so it’s
not all bad. Elliott has previously played for Norwich, Preston and Wolves but
it was at Sunderland where he thrived. He scored 16 goals in his debut season
(04/05) with the black cats, a season in which Sunderland won the championship
and promotion to the Premiership. Injury derailed the majority of his Premier
league season and the rest of his Sunderland career, despite this he was still
able to provide the mackems with their best moment of that dismal season an absolute
screamer against Newcastle.
Bye Rich
This encouraging news was met with the announcement that
Martin Crainie had rejected the contract offer and would leave the club on a
free. Whatever way you look at it this is a big blow for the club, his
partnership with Richard Keogh was one of few good points of last season.
During his three years with the club he filled in at both left
and right back but it was his impressive performance at centre half
which endeared him to the fans. The calming influence he gave to the team
was enhanced when he was paired up with Richard Keogh at the start of last
season. Our good performances and wins from last season would always
be as a result of the strong defensive work the pair put in. I would imagine if
you asked city fans would they would rather keep many would say Keogh, the
problem is that with the departure of
Crainie many expect Keogh to follow suit. A strong partnership on the pitch is
matched by their friendship off it, with Crainie even driving Keogh
to training and I wouldn't be surprised if the same arrangement
occurs again maybe in Cardiff or Middlesbrough.
John Fleck
What also became clear with the signing of
Elliott and departure of Crainie, is that we are close to signing
former Everton and Hull winger/left-back Kevin Kilbane or as the
Evertonians called him, 'Zinedine Zilbane' and Rangers wonder
kid John Fleck. I see no problem with Kilbane a player with previous
league 1 experience with Huddersfield and given our lack of left-back
cover with Chris Hussey the only recognised left-back in the squad (He is also a rapper).
As regards John Fleck, finally we potentially have a creative player
who isn't 35 plus (sorry Don Hutchison and Dennis Wise). Fleck who made
his Rangers debut aged fifteen is another player like Charlie Adam and Chris
Burke to come through the Rangers academy and promise so much and not
deliver. But as Adam and Burke will testify their drop down or should that be
up to the championship has seen them be among the most exciting
and influential players in that division. Burke played well in many
play-off campaigns with Cardiff and Birmingham. Charlie Adam got promoted with
Blackpool and subsequently moved to Liverpool. If we do sign Fleck (that is a
big if knowing our luck) he could be the catalyst to a promotion push. We are
in desperate need of a player who wants the ball and can create chances unlike
the many midfielders we have signed over the years; Michael Doyle, Stephen
Hughes, Ellery Cairo, Michael Hughes, Julian Gray, Khalilou Fadiga, Tim
Sherwood, David Bell, Neil Wood, Chris Birchall and Colin Cameron. The list
goes on. Now enjoy Vanilla Kilbane PUSB
Manchester City, Arsenal, Real Madrid just some of the teams that
currently adopt the 4-2-3-1 formation and it is fair to say that these teams
play some of the most attractive football in the world at this moment, not only
this but they also tend to win things as well (except Arsenal). This is because
this formation is the formation of the present and future. Now it is clear to
see that we don't have players such as Cristiano Ronaldo, David Silva or even
Maroane Chamakh, yet the beauty of this formation is that it allows a manager
or coach to get the most out of underachieving players. Whether it is
4-2-3-1 or a converted 4-5-1 or 4-3-3 these formations allow for flowing
football and see the likes of Leon Britton, Mark Gower and Shaun Derry look
like world beaters which with all due respect they are not. Since England's
exit from Euro 2012 many have complained that we do not produce enough
technically gifted players, when compared to Spain or Germany this may be true
but I am of the opinion that the real problem is the 4-4-2 system we have
played since the beginning of time. Fact of the matter is this system allows a
team to be compact in defence and lethal on the attack. When you
break it down it is simply a 6-4 formation in other words
six defenders and four attackers, the defensive players contain the
other team whilst being able to keep the ball through two holding midfielders.
The four attackers can all interchange and play between the lines causing all
sorts of problems for the opposing defence. The diamond worked well in parts
last season, the problem being however that huge spaces open up on the flanks,
resulting in the full backs coming under intense pressure. As regards 4-4-2
this is a formation on the way out, unless you have two pacy wingers for
example the Manchester United duo of Antonio Valencia and Ashley
Young (unfortunately David Bell and Carl Baker do not fall into this category)
it is simply ineffective in modern football.
