Otis
Well-Known Member
Communication letting Coventry City down, says Clive Platt
by Andy TurnerNov 8 2011
CLIVE Platt believes communication is letting Coventry City down.
And the most experienced and one of the more vocal members of the Sky Blues squad is urging his team-mates to talk more on the pitch to help turn key periods of possession into points.
“I don’t think ability is in question at this club because up until 2-2 on Saturday I thought the best team I have seen this season were crumbling, so we have to take the positives from that,” said the 34-year-old centre-forward, who was instrumental in City’s second-half fight-back against Southampton.
“There have been a couple of away results which have been disappointing when we have crumbled as a team but every time we have played at home we have held our own.
“We have had vital turning points in games but I have not seen us turn one of those to our benefit yet and that’s something we have got to work on because it is costing us points every time and if we don’t address it soon we are going to be in a very, very difficult position.”
He added: “Just watching all their team they were talking and helping each other and you could see why they are top of the league and we’re not.
“Sometimes talking is the simplest of things to do but it is very quiet out there.
"They had eleven players helping each other through but we are just a bit disjointed at the moment.
"There has got to be something wrong because we are losing games.
“Every player out there – and not just the young lads – everyone needs help and information when they are on the ball because at times it is a very quiet place.
“At times you can bring the ball down on your chest and think you are fine but there is someone bearing down behind you, so you need a simple ‘hold it,’ just a bit of a shout.
"There are a lot of people trying their hardest on their own in all the different positions because there’s not enough communication.
“I was trying to talk to as many people around me to keep the pressure on because the pressure was on Southampton.
“They had been 2-0 up and then it was 2-2 and they were on the back foot and couldn’t get out of their half, and as long as we kept kicking it long and keeping them squeezed up then we picked up the second balls and we were back on them again.
“It was wave after wave of attack, chances and corners and we needed to keep that going.
"But we let them off and it all started when one of their midfielders dropped off, picked the ball up from a goalkick and was able to ease the pressure off for a few minutes.
“It may sound insignificant but it gave them time to regroup and get themselves back together.”
Platt certainly put himself about to good effect when he went on as second half substitute against Saints and is hoping he has done enough to earn a start against West Ham in City’s next game after the international break, and a run in the side.
“I tried to make an impact, as I try to do every time I go on whether it is 20 minutes to go or the last five minutes, just try to get as much out of the time I get out there to help us get points, which is desperate at the moment,” said the player whose equaliser was his first of the season.
“Lukas Jutkiewicz battled hard all game with no help from the referee, but I knew he would be fighting for that ball and I just wanted to make sure I was somewhere where I could capitalise on it and, luckily for me, it fell straight to me.
“I definitely think I can bring something to the team and want to fight to help us win points.
by Andy TurnerNov 8 2011
CLIVE Platt believes communication is letting Coventry City down.
And the most experienced and one of the more vocal members of the Sky Blues squad is urging his team-mates to talk more on the pitch to help turn key periods of possession into points.
“I don’t think ability is in question at this club because up until 2-2 on Saturday I thought the best team I have seen this season were crumbling, so we have to take the positives from that,” said the 34-year-old centre-forward, who was instrumental in City’s second-half fight-back against Southampton.
“There have been a couple of away results which have been disappointing when we have crumbled as a team but every time we have played at home we have held our own.
“We have had vital turning points in games but I have not seen us turn one of those to our benefit yet and that’s something we have got to work on because it is costing us points every time and if we don’t address it soon we are going to be in a very, very difficult position.”
He added: “Just watching all their team they were talking and helping each other and you could see why they are top of the league and we’re not.
“Sometimes talking is the simplest of things to do but it is very quiet out there.
"They had eleven players helping each other through but we are just a bit disjointed at the moment.
"There has got to be something wrong because we are losing games.
“Every player out there – and not just the young lads – everyone needs help and information when they are on the ball because at times it is a very quiet place.
“At times you can bring the ball down on your chest and think you are fine but there is someone bearing down behind you, so you need a simple ‘hold it,’ just a bit of a shout.
"There are a lot of people trying their hardest on their own in all the different positions because there’s not enough communication.
“I was trying to talk to as many people around me to keep the pressure on because the pressure was on Southampton.
“They had been 2-0 up and then it was 2-2 and they were on the back foot and couldn’t get out of their half, and as long as we kept kicking it long and keeping them squeezed up then we picked up the second balls and we were back on them again.
“It was wave after wave of attack, chances and corners and we needed to keep that going.
"But we let them off and it all started when one of their midfielders dropped off, picked the ball up from a goalkick and was able to ease the pressure off for a few minutes.
“It may sound insignificant but it gave them time to regroup and get themselves back together.”
Platt certainly put himself about to good effect when he went on as second half substitute against Saints and is hoping he has done enough to earn a start against West Ham in City’s next game after the international break, and a run in the side.
“I tried to make an impact, as I try to do every time I go on whether it is 20 minutes to go or the last five minutes, just try to get as much out of the time I get out there to help us get points, which is desperate at the moment,” said the player whose equaliser was his first of the season.
“Lukas Jutkiewicz battled hard all game with no help from the referee, but I knew he would be fighting for that ball and I just wanted to make sure I was somewhere where I could capitalise on it and, luckily for me, it fell straight to me.
“I definitely think I can bring something to the team and want to fight to help us win points.
