Mark Robins, a manager saying it like it is. (9 Viewers)
- Thread starter hill83
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Nonleagueherewecome
Well-Known Member
Agreed on Sheff.
But the other big positive is that yesterday he acknowledged that his system wasn't working-"we weren't gaining anything by having a spare man in midfield". And the Cody Formation is kinda this:
---Baker--Bailey--Henderson--------
-----McGoldrick-------------Fleck---
---------\----Cody-----------------
I like slightly lop-sided formations like this, it takes the opposition manager bloody ages to work out how to counter it (if he can work out what's going on).
We get the benefit of two strikers at times with McGoldrick narrow from the right and Baker wide as a RCM.
Essentially losing the "hole" player gives the RW and LW much, much more freedom, which has been seen with McGoldrick getting much more space against Carlisle when we switched to it, and Fleck popping up in pockets of space effectively at Oldham. The "base" of 3 CM's-albeit with Baker shunted wide from that role-gives the widemen that freedom. It does what these formations profess to do, but seldom deliver-451 when defending, 433 when attacking.
It also ensure's we don't waste a player in a position I utterly despise in this division as it simply isn't needed-the deep lying DMC.
I call it the 4-2-1-1-1-1
Nonleagueherewecome
Well-Known Member
It certainly didn't do much for Phil Neal's career!
Yes, boss :claping hands:
WillieStanley
New Member
Where Boothroyd came unstuck there was that King waltzed straight into the first team dressing room and had Jordan Clarke cleaning his boots. Where's the consistancy. I have no issues with managers being strict, especially when you've got a staff team consisting of Shaw and Carsley who seem to want to be "One of the lads". Balance and consistancy is the key.
You might have Robins saying that it was the worst game he'd ever seen but we'll take the points but you've also got the other coaches building the lads up "This is what he's looking for, if you just add this/work on this"
I have every faith in the staying power of this regime, but I guess only time will tell.
One Aidy legacy I hope we've kept is "Mini-Coventry" at away games. I loved that idea and think it could really work at this level, where we should be intimidating other sides.
hill83
Well-Known Member
Agreed, but it's a good start, rather than coming in and fellating everyone from the off.
From my reading of Robins' interviews I am thinking we may have a manager to stop the slide. I liked the fact that in the Oldham report he saw that 4-5-1 wasn't doing the job and changed formation: do we have a manager who knows what he's doing? Plus in these early stages he can tell people how bad things are.
Brighton Sky Blue
Well-Known Member
Pretty much-we're after a manager who is proactive in matches and has us taking the initiative rather than hanging around and waiting to concede before being sparked into doing anything (cough, Thorn).
Cov bt Oldham - one of the few teams as poor as coventry. 3 games, 2 excessively poor performances and one satisfactory one. How is #2 any better than shaw?
SISU totally messed up the selection process by making a short list that included someone who everyone knew wouldn't get then job and another who was not prepared to take the job for what SISU were offering.
That left Mark Robbins -#2. Even SISU didn't consider him the best for the job, and there is no difference in the team's performance.
You could argue shaw got more out of the team because under him they beat a team in a higher league!
#2 has brought in 4 players since joining - despite saying that the team had quality throughout, and going on record as saying he did his homework before taking the job.
From what I've seen, he certainly doesn't inspire me with confidence. For me he is definitely the wrong man for the task. Hopefully I will be proven wrong, and he totally transforms the team, but I have seen absolutely no evidence that he has the ability to do that.
SISU's operation blue square seems on track still
SISU totally messed up the selection process by making a short list that included someone who everyone knew wouldn't get then job and another who was not prepared to take the job for what SISU were offering.
That left Mark Robbins -#2. Even SISU didn't consider him the best for the job, and there is no difference in the team's performance.
You could argue shaw got more out of the team because under him they beat a team in a higher league!
#2 has brought in 4 players since joining - despite saying that the team had quality throughout, and going on record as saying he did his homework before taking the job.
From what I've seen, he certainly doesn't inspire me with confidence. For me he is definitely the wrong man for the task. Hopefully I will be proven wrong, and he totally transforms the team, but I have seen absolutely no evidence that he has the ability to do that.
SISU's operation blue square seems on track still
hill83
Well-Known Member
Ccfcisparks
Well-Known Member
What a ludicrous comment, i think you are forgetting the 4 league losses on the bounce afterwards...
WillieStanley
New Member
Sorry mate, you're either a WUM or you're so angry at SISU you're deluded in your bias.
WillieStanley
New Member
For away matches, they would stick loads of Coventry City scarves, posters, badges, pictures etc in and around the dressing room. This was to stamp our authority on the stadium and claim it as our own, also to intimidate the opposition. I think it worked for a while, we went to a few bannana skin grounds and came back with 3 points!
Sky Blues
Active Member
There is a logic paradox in your suggestion. If Sisu are idiots then logically their #1 choice is flawed. Therefore, #2, the option not picked by idiots, would actually be more suitable for the club than the #1 choice.
I agree it was a terribe match and we were very poor. Cannot handle many like that away and I dred to think what a decent team will do to us.
Could not believe that our own fans were booing a City player again, I agree McShefery was rubbish again but just do not clap him when he goes off we should never boo our own players.
Could not believe that our own fans were booing a City player again, I agree McShefery was rubbish again but just do not clap him when he goes off we should never boo our own players.
covcity4life
Well-Known Member
agreed OP
had we beat oldham under thorn like this we would have heard
"the lads gave me 100%, never gave up, battled it out, so happy and looking forward to mk dons"
robins is more like worst game ever,we cant pass,we were shit,well take the points but i expect imrpovement
i am liking robins!
had we beat oldham under thorn like this we would have heard
"the lads gave me 100%, never gave up, battled it out, so happy and looking forward to mk dons"
robins is more like worst game ever,we cant pass,we were shit,well take the points but i expect imrpovement
i am liking robins!
The usual knee jerk reactions I see. We were shit, Oldham were shitter, one swallow and all that. I'm happy with the win but the team selection was appalling, the centre backs atrocious, Sheffers his usual ineffective plodder, Robins says they were shit.........big deal, he's proved nothing yet !!
Mucca Mad Boys
Well-Known Member
It doesn't matter how bad we played, 3 points is what will improve the situation and now we have that 1st win, hopefully we'll build on it for MK Dons and Bournemouth (and obviously the whole season).
On CBs, Wood is probably our best, Brown shouldn't play but Cameron is still not 100% and Edj isn't that great, Malaga I would start, but if he can't speak English it can cause problems!
McSheff is only starting until Fleck gets back as he STILL isn't 100% hence why he's been coming off the bench. He has been really shit so far!
I'mARealWizard
New Member
Clearly you and I differ greatly about what acceptable standards are appropriate for a team from the Championship.
Whilst not expecting to be in the top 6, languishing within the relegation zone and giving that kind of performance for a new manager (when players usually buck up their ideas) does matter.
It matters a great deal.
Nonleagueherewecome
Well-Known Member
But what about what's acceptable for a team in League One? We may be "from" the Championship, but was are also from the Premiership, and from Division III South!
Mucca Mad Boys
Well-Known Member
3 points no matter how you get them is acceptable.
Performance was, from what I heard, bad, but last year we've played well and got beat. Performance only supplements the result.
Diehard Si
New Member
We won ugly. We came strong at the end of the game for a change. This may have been down to tactics, a strong bench (Fleck, Cody) and fitness. Or all of the above.
Robins changed the pattern and the players and it worked.
Negatives are that we were still useless for most of the game. Possession retention is the issue again. We always give it away and get hit hard on counter attack.
That said, scrappy league 1 games are not good for ball retention anyway.
Clean sheet and a win tho, all that counts.
Robins changed the pattern and the players and it worked.
Negatives are that we were still useless for most of the game. Possession retention is the issue again. We always give it away and get hit hard on counter attack.
That said, scrappy league 1 games are not good for ball retention anyway.
Clean sheet and a win tho, all that counts.
Black6Osprey
New Member
An away win is great and all that really matters is the 3 points. Yes, both central defenders were IMO very poor and clearly think they are better than they are with some dreadful distribution and terrible decision making. We need to get it sorted and quickly if we really want to get away from the bottom of the table. We did look like we could get something during the last 20 minutes and I was thinking at the time that if the game was about 10 minutes longer we would get the win. Then we went and stuck it in anyway and I immediately wanted the game to be 1 minute longer. Sheff was okay and I'm not sure why he's getting such a kicking for this particular game but I suppose after recent performances anything less than majestic will be seen as shit. Cody and Fleck both made an impact and I hope both start tonight but I suppose that depends on Flecks fitness. Bailey who I know is quality did well and stuck the boot in as well as trying to pass it (you can only pass it well if your team mates show for the ball). I would like to see Malaga come back in for Brown (I think Robins will keep it the same though) but I don't rate Edge so it would appear we are stuck with Wood as I don't see Cameron coming back in just yet. Henderson did nothing for me again so I hope if he plays tomorrow he steps it up a bit, but again if you are hoping for movement and trying to find team mates you are only as good as the players you are trying to pass to. Moussa clearly doesn't need to pass so has an advantage in that respect and I think will do well for us.
covcity4life
Well-Known Member
whata bout your mate fleck who is rubbish despite his great cameos vs yeovil and oldham?
Mucca Mad Boys
Well-Known Member
On what grounds is he rubbish?
He's got 2 assists with barely any game time...
(If your comment is sarcastic I take that back)
covcity4life
Well-Known Member
it was sarcasm but its to someone who really called fleck rubbish
Black6Osprey
New Member
I assume you're talking to me?
As I stated before he did okay at Yeovil (lets not go mad) and since he came back from his few games off injured (not an entire season) he has been poor. I said prior to Saturday, and I quote " I'm not saying Fleck can't get better but if he doesn't play well I'm not going say he's great" and at Oldham he improved the situation but again the game was that bad my dead for 30 years gran could have breathed more life into the game that what was on display. So he did okay and deserves another chance. I'm not saying he is now the best player ever nor the worst. Only time will tell how good he is but if you want to say he's great even if he 's not then that's up to you.
covcity4life
Well-Known Member
my issue is mopre with you saying other loanees that you have not seen WILL BE GREAT
Black6Osprey
New Member
The crime of having an opinion. I am guilty ma lud.
And I now feel a restraining order is needed as how do you know what I have and haven't seen.
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SkyBlue_Bear83
Well-Known Member
An ill informed knee jerk opinion which was made after very little football for Fleck
Black6Osprey
New Member
How is saying someone was poor who played poorly an ill informed reaction?
If he plays well or poorly tomorrow (if he plays) then I will say what I see Roy, I'll say what I see.
Mucca Mad Boys
Well-Known Member
I thought it was sarcasm, but then I thought, a few on here think that so. I take it back, but it applies to those who hold that.
Mucca Mad Boys
Well-Known Member
You have said he's rubbish, and ok, he hasn't been a class act yet, but nontheles has shown he has a bit of class about him! He has, in less than (approx) 180m assisted 2 and Cody had 2 juicy crosses for him from Fleck, his service is better than all we have atm, and to think he still isn't 100% it gives you a lot of hope.
In short, to say he is rubbish at this stage, is laughable to be honest!
SkyBlue_Bear83
Well-Known Member
You have every right to have an opinion on how he played in a particular game which I will not argue with as you were at the games
However I think it is knee jerk an ill informed to form a general opinion and judge the overall quality player of the player after 2 games
For once I m agreement with a coventry city manager! It also sort of puts to rest that a manager must always put a positive on every single match no matter how bad.
As long as he doesn't give the typical thornisms, he is guaranteed an improvement on the former incumbent!
Now just need to get rid of the rest of thorn's dead wood and cov might just might stand a chance!
As long as he doesn't give the typical thornisms, he is guaranteed an improvement on the former incumbent!
Now just need to get rid of the rest of thorn's dead wood and cov might just might stand a chance!