How can SP say this squad is better???? (11 Viewers)

LB87ccfc

Member
This really does amaze me 2 weeks ago it was all hats off to Waggott to tying pressley down to a new deal, 7 unbeaten, how far can we go? blah blah, now we lose 3 in a row - a sending off when 1.0 up costs us, a penalty with a disallowed clear goal going against us, and a top top team in Preston playing the way that works for them who are used to gathering points and will be up their again this year and suddenly its slit your wrists time.. what aload of fickle cunts we have on here sometimes.
 

ccfcway

Well-Known Member
This really does amaze me 2 weeks ago it was all hats off to Waggott to tying pressley down to a new deal, 7 unbeaten, how far can we go? blah blah, now we lose 3 in a row - a sending off when 1.0 up costs us, a penalty with a disallowed clear goal going against us, and a top top team in Preston playing the way that works for them who are used to gathering points and will be up their again this year and suddenly its slit your wrists time.. what aload of fickle cunts we have on here sometimes.

seems pressley must be one as well then

"to lose three games in a row isn't good enough for what we want to do this season."
 

Evo1883

Well-Known Member
This really does amaze me 2 weeks ago it was all hats off to Waggott to tying pressley down to a new deal, 7 unbeaten, how far can we go? blah blah, now we lose 3 in a row - a sending off when 1.0 up costs us, a penalty with a disallowed clear goal going against us, and a top top team in Preston playing the way that works for them who are used to gathering points and will be up their again this year and suddenly its slit your wrists time.. what aload of fickle cunts we have on here sometimes.
Come on , coventry fans cling onto anything that resembles success , thats why we are bringing out a DVD for the 7 match unbeaten run
 

SkyBlueSid

Well-Known Member
I've watched the three home games since we returned, having not seen the team play since we left the Ricoh. The fall in the standard of the squad, in my opinion, is quite alarming. Pressley has certainly instilled a decent work ethic and they cannot be criticised for not grafting. But that should be a 'given' at any club, and there is no way you will succeed in this division unless you are willing to give 100% every game.

Where we are lacking is simply any quality. We are just a group of journeymen, padded out with promising youngsters. In the games I've seen we seem unable to dominate even quite ordinary opponents, even though we managed to win a couple. WE are doomed to remain in mid-table as things stand as half-decent teams will just match us for effort and beat us with quality, just as Preston did. Grayson was right, they dominated the game virtually throughout.

The only way I can see to improve, given the budget, is by using the loan system better. We currently have loanees from places such as Bournemouth - what a comedown! Other teams seem to be able to get decent Premier League fringe players to provide the quality, so I can only conclude that Pressley lacks connections to get such players.
 

Otis

Well-Known Member
This really does amaze me 2 weeks ago it was all hats off to Waggott to tying pressley down to a new deal, 7 unbeaten, how far can we go? blah blah, now we lose 3 in a row - a sending off when 1.0 up costs us, a penalty with a disallowed clear goal going against us, and a top top team in Preston playing the way that works for them who are used to gathering points and will be up their again this year and suddenly its slit your wrists time.. what aload of fickle cunts we have on here sometimes.

Well, maybe so, but there's an awful lot of City fans out there declaring this one of the worst ever performances in living memory. I think you at least have to allow for a little doom and gloom.

It was truly, truly shocking that effort on Saturday.
 

WestEndAgro

Well-Known Member
Well, maybe so, but there's an awful lot of City fans out there declaring this one of the worst ever performances in living memory. I think you at least have to allow for a little doom and gloom.

It was truly, truly shocking that effort on Saturday.


Exactly Otis, the performance was shocking and was pretty much as bad as any I can recall, the lack of quality and willingness to make something happen was appalling, I was sitting there cringing at times, truly embarrassing !
 

Otis

Well-Known Member
Exactly Otis, the performance was shocking and was pretty much as bad as any I can recall, the lack of quality and willingness to make something happen was appalling, I was sitting there cringing at times, truly embarrassing !

As I said on the match day thread during the game, at one point I just started watching the subs running up and down the touchline. It was much more entertaining.
 

lewys33

Well-Known Member
As I said on the match day thread during the game, at one point I just started watching the subs running up and down the touchline. It was much more entertaining.

When people were leaving in numbers block 15 started chanting "is there a fire drill" to which the lad in front of me, jumped up and turned to his friend with an alarmed face shouting "is there?!"

Made it all worthwhile :D :pointlaugh:
 

fernandopartridge

Well-Known Member
Most points of view here are predicated on Cov having a divine right to beat every team in this league. I don't see a lack of quality as such more a lack of adventure. It's trying to get that balance right.

Last season's good start is looked at with rose tinted glasses. By November we had been found out and struggled even with the likes of Moussa, Clarke and St Carl in the side.
 

fernandopartridge

Well-Known Member
Nov - 1st Jan last season

P10
W4
D3
L3


It was into Jan when the slide started
November was 2 wins, 2 defeats and a draw. One win in 4 league games in December. That's 3 in 9.

We were leaking goals (19 in 8 games). I've ignored the cup games as both were against lower league opposition and this thread is comparing league form really.
 

stupot07

Well-Known Member
Nov - 1st Jan last season

P10
W4
D3
L3


It was into Jan when the slide started

November and December was

P9 W 3 D3 L3 = 12 points 1.33 points per game.

The form before that was P14 W8 D3 L3 = 27 points 1.93 points per game,

Quite clever use of stats sliding the New Year's Day win in to bump up the form ;)


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk - so please excuse any spelling or grammar errors :)
 
Last edited:

SkyBlue_Bear83

Well-Known Member
November and December was

P9 W 3 D3 L3 = 12 points 1.33 points per game.

The form before that was P14 W8 D3 L3 = 27 points 1.93 points per game,

Quite clever use if stats sliding the New Year's Day win in to bump up the form ;)


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk - so please excuse any spelling or grammar errors :)

He is right though, going into November we were placed 13th in the table.

Going into January 1st we were 12th in the table and 10th after the new years day win.

The signs were there through November/December and it slowed down but it didn't really burst until after the FA Cup win at Barnsley in January.
 

stupot07

Well-Known Member
He is right though, going into November we were placed 13th in the table.

Going into January 1st we were 12th in the table and 10th after the new years day win.

The signs were there through November/December and it slowed down but it didn't really burst until after the FA Cup win at Barnsley in January.

It's that more to do with other teams having a wobble too and we were sat in midtable picking up midtable level of points 1.33 = 61 over a season ( 9th in league table).

The fact remains we had been worked out, our momentum had been stopped (the difference between the 2 levels of form would equated to 17 points over a season) which coincided with the AFC Wimbledon game. It did however nose dive further from jan, but as ferndando says the warning signs were already there.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk - so please excuse any spelling or grammar errors :)
 

SkyBlueSid

Well-Known Member
If we are looking at the stats, we could consider our results for this calendar year. In 2014 we have won 8, drawn 10 and lost 15 times in the league. That is 33 games for 34 points. if that level of performance and return continues it is relegation form. It certainly cannot be regarded as progress.
 

fernandopartridge

Well-Known Member
If we are looking at the stats, we could consider our results for this calendar year. In 2014 we have won 8, drawn 10 and lost 15 times in the league. That is 33 games for 34 points. if that level of performance and return continues it is relegation form. It certainly cannot be regarded as progress.
Albeit with a squad where more than half of the players didn't join until August.
 

SkyBlue_Bear83

Well-Known Member
It's that more to do with other teams having a wobble too and we were sat in midtable picking up midtable level of points 1.33 = 61 over a season ( 9th in league table).

The fact remains we had been worked out, our momentum had been stopped (the difference between the 2 levels of form would equated to 17 points over a season) which coincided with the AFC Wimbledon game. It did however nose dive further from jan, but as ferndando says the warning signs were already there.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk - so please excuse any spelling or grammar errors :)
Yea I said the signs were there, the signs were there from the beginning of the season tbh. Once we stopped scoring goals we were going to be in trouble.

I wouldn't say we'd been worked out though, it was more we had zero depth after the first 11 imo. I seem to remember that was the time we started picking up injuries and suspensions. Clarke had a few niggling injuries and was out for 3 or 4 games in that period. I think Wilson and Fleck also picked up 1 game bans for 5 bookings. We went to Hartlepool in the cup in December and played with no striker.

If we'd have kept Clarke at the club and Wilson and our first 11 fit, I don't see any reason why we couldn't have at least got close to replicating our form from the first few months.
 

Otis

Well-Known Member
Well, that's part of the point really. The squad seems to get that bit worse every season. Hence no progress.

Can't blame Pressley though for losing our best players and trying to replace strikers who can bag 20 goals a season in League One is very difficult.

Only hope we have is that freebies we bring in come good, or we bring talented youth players through the system.
 

Sky Blue Harry H

Well-Known Member
Can't blame Pressley though for losing our best players and trying to replace strikers who can bag 20 goals a season in League One is very difficult.

Only hope we have is that freebies we bring in come good, or we bring talented youth players through the system.


Bang on the money Otis - the quality of the players we are getting/loaning is down to ££££s (or lack of). We then look to see if we can discover a nugget via the Academy - like Calum, Cyrus etc and ....well, we know what happens next. Need SISU to man up (sorry, Joy) and find some ££££s or do one (please, Joy)
 

LJC_CCFC

Well-Known Member
Can't blame Pressley though for losing our best players and trying to replace strikers who can bag 20 goals a season in League One is very difficult.

Only hope we have is that freebies we bring in come good, or we bring talented youth players through the system.

We have strikers capable of getting goals in Jackson, Nouble, McQuoid, Tudgay and Miller. Unfortunately they have yet to be afforded the chances that Clarke and Wilson had last season. There is no way in hell that Wilson and Clarke would get 20 goals a season in this system. For me we have a much stronger squad than last season, the problem is Pressley hasn't got a clue.
 

Rusty Trombone

Well-Known Member
We have strikers capable of getting goals in Jackson, Nouble, McQuoid, Tudgay and Miller. Unfortunately they have yet to be afforded the chances that Clarke and Wilson had last season. There is no way in hell that Wilson and Clarke would get 20 goals a season in this system. For me we have a much stronger squad than last season, the problem is Pressley hasn't got a clue.

So you're saying we need Baker and Moussa back to set some goals up.

Did Pressley have a clue last year?
 

Gazolba

Well-Known Member
For me we have a much stronger squad than last season.

To win games, you need to score goals. All of our top scorers have gone. You also need to stop your opponents scoring, our best goalie has gone - to be replaced by a vastly inferior loanee. Our reserve goalie from last season is not considered good enough to step in. How can you possibly think we have a stronger squad?
 

Otis

Well-Known Member
To win games, you need to score goals. All of our top scorers have gone. You also need to stop your opponents scoring, our best goalie has gone - to be replaced by a vastly inferior loanee. Our reserve goalie from last season is not considered good enough to step in. How can you possibly think we have a stronger squad?

It is early days, but it is looking like Allsop is not even close to being anywhere remotely near the level of Joe Murphy and I can't see any of our strikers being quite as prolific as Callum Wilson was.

Debatable about elsewhere, but goalkeeper and goalscorer are 2 of the very key roles in a side. Certainly at the moment I would say we are looking weaker. Defence seems strenghtened, but midfield still lacks some steel and I guess time will tell whether we can get a 20 goal a season goalscorer out of Nouble, Jackson, Tudgay, Miller and McQuoid.
 

Astute

Well-Known Member
It is early days, but it is looking like Allsop is not even close to being anywhere remotely near the level of Joe Murphy and I can't see any of our strikers being quite as prolific as Callum Wilson was.

Debatable about elsewhere, but goalkeeper and goalscorer are 2 of the very key roles in a side. Certainly at the moment I would say we are looking weaker. Defence seems strenghtened, but midfield still lacks some steel and I guess time will tell whether we can get a 20 goal a season goalscorer out of Nouble, Jackson, Tudgay, Miller and McQuoid.

Allsop doesn't even look like a goalkeeper. He looks like a player that has been put in goal as the GK got injured during the game and there wasn't one on the bench.

And it says it all when we have a defender that has missed a quarter of the games so far and could end up as our top scorer this season.
 

LJC_CCFC

Well-Known Member
To win games, you need to score goals. All of our top scorers have gone. You also need to stop your opponents scoring, our best goalie has gone - to be replaced by a vastly inferior loanee. Our reserve goalie from last season is not considered good enough to step in. How can you possibly think we have a stronger squad?

We have a stronger squad, however the players are being used incorrectly. How can you not see this?
 

LJC_CCFC

Well-Known Member
So you're saying we need Baker and Moussa back to set some goals up.

Did Pressley have a clue last year?

No that's not what I'm saying.

For the first half of the season he knew his starting eleven for every game, the players knew exactly what their jobs were and understood the nature of how he wanted them to play. Leon Clarke left and Pressley gave up, utterly perplexed as to how we would function without three time balon d'or winner Leon Clarke. He then openly admitted to the media that we couldn't make the play offs (when we still had a chance) as if to wave a metaphorical white flag.

Since then he's just copied LVG and prayed, I'm still willing to give him time but if he continues to use 5-3-2 then I'm afraid he'll get the bullet.
 

SkyBlue_Bear83

Well-Known Member
The first 11 up till January last season was undoubtedly stronger than the first 11 now.

We should still have enough to make the top 10 or 8 with a genuine chance of pushing into the top 6 though
 

stupot07

Well-Known Member
We should change to 442 then we will win 3-0 every week, and go up as champions.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk - so please excuse any spelling or grammar errors :)
 

LJC_CCFC

Well-Known Member
We should change to 442 then we will win 3-0 every week, and go up as champions.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk - so please excuse any spelling or grammar errors :)

4-4-2, 4-3-3, 4-4-1-1, 4-2-3-1 and we'd certainly improve, to say champions is rather naive tbh.
 

Monners

Well-Known Member
4-4-2, 4-3-3, 4-4-1-1, 4-2-3-1 and we'd certainly improve, to say champions is rather naive tbh.

So that's clear then, 4 at the back it is then. I actually agree with this.

Is the squad better? - probably. Is the best starting 11 better (whatever that is)? No. Losing Wilson is a massive loss and Quinn is right re the lack of ambition comment. Our current owners do have a strong track record of this strategy
 

ccfcway

Well-Known Member
First team on 1st game of last season v this season


Crawley 2013 - Murphy, Christie, Adams, J Clarke, Willis, Thomas, Wilson, Fleck, Baker (c), Moussa, L Clarke
Bradford 2014 - Allsop, Willis, Pugh, Webster, J Clarke, Johnson (c), C Thomas, O'Brien, Swanson, Tudgay, McQuoid


I would have Johnson instead of Clarke, and O'Brien instead of Thomas. The other 9 I would have last seasons team.

Stronger, my arse !
 
Last edited:

LJC_CCFC

Well-Known Member
Allsop

Clarke/Phillips
Hines
Johnson
Pugh

O'Brien
Thomas (Ideally signs a midfield enforcer)
Fleck
Swanson/Coulibaly

Jackson
Nouble
 

covcity4life

Well-Known Member
i have no issue with 532/352 when we remain solid and create 4-5 goal scoring chances a game.

but if we are not gonna threaten the goal changes will be requored, perhaps 4-3-3 or 4-4-2, utilise wingers in squad.
 

Users who are viewing this thread

Top