sw88
Chief Commentator!
So the CET have ran an article with this headline. But at no point has TM mentioned names, hence me thinking there should be a '?' After the headline. I didn't even realise he's fallen out of favour, but would love it if we managed to get him back!!:
By Andy Turner | 03/11/15
Tony Mowbray admits Coventry City’s attempts to draft in experienced defensive cover is fraught with obstacles.
The Sky Blues boss is looking for a more seasoned campaigner rather than raw top flight specimen to pick up where Reda Johnson left off before he was ruled out for the season with thigh injury.
The Telegraph understands that former Academy graduate Ben Turner has been considered but the powerful Cardiff City centre-half is not quite back up to speed in terms of fitness after a long lay-off following an ankle reconstruction.
A player of that ilk certainly appears to tick the man mountain box Mowbray is looking for but the manager says it’s proving a difficult task.
Story Link Joe Cole could make Ricoh Arena debut': Five key points from Tony Mowbray ahead of Barnsley match
“We have had four or five conversations with different clubs but the stumbling blocks are that some are players who the clubs might be looking to move on in January,” said the City boss, who has tasked technical director Mark Venus with coming up with suitable candidates.
“I have left it with Mark to make some calls for me over the weekend and I’ll get an update today on where those are.
“There is an issue because generally Premier League or Championship clubs want to give loan experience to young players who need game time.
"The other potential targets are experienced players who can’t get near the 18-man matchday squad and are probably earning decent money.
"But the problem with them is that if they have played any football for their club and then go out on a short-term spell to a club like us, come January when they are looking to move them off the wage bill then they’d be going to a third club, and you can’t play for three teams in a season.
“So there are a few hiccups and obstacles in the way to try to overcome to try to find the right people to come in to give us the defensive cover.”
He added: “The other options are young players but they have other issues. I’ve no problem bringing in young players in attacking areas to run away to score and create goals but defensively it’s a little bit different.
“I’ve always felt that you need a bit of experience, particularly down the middle of your team; you need some guy who can get their head on it and defend.
“Generally the experienced players cost a bit more than the young ones they’re happy to send out and subsidise because they want them to get experience.”
Mowbray revealed that there is a bit of money available to bring in cover, albeit unlikely to be in time for tonight’s home clash with Barnsley, but remains hopeful that, while not telling people to go to games, increased crowds at the Ricoh will provide funds for a rainy day later in the season.
“We have got some saved at the minute, and that’s why Mark is very good at managing the football budget,” he said.
“He’s telling me at the moment that we have got money to get someone. My concern is moving forward.
"Injuries are part and parcel of football and if the squad got so stretched I wouldn’t want to put untried young footballers into a team that’s doing well. I’d rather go and get some experience to keep it ticking along.
'Budget is pretty average for this league'
“But, generally, experienced footballers cost money. Clubs aren’t charities and if a player earns X it’s very difficult to go to those clubs and say can we take him for X divided by ten of his salary.
“It’s a fine balance because sometimes you want to go and make a decent offer for a player to come in and help keep things going.”
He added: “Because we don’t own the stadium we haven’t got revenue streams that most clubs who have a stadium have where they can sell pies and cups of tea and the odd beer. So the funding from the matchday is from people buying their ticket to come to watch the game.
“And that’s why it’s a fine balance for me if, somewhere along the line, we can be successful that people do come and watch.
"Without going into the intricacies, the budget is pretty average for this league, maybe in the top ten. With what we have done so far money is quite tight and it’s just a case of keeping that revenue stream coming.
“It’s little fine details of another X amount on the gate might allow us to bring another footballer in for a month. What would be sad, in my eyes, would be to fall away because we haven’t got an extra few quid to bring someone in for a month.”
By Andy Turner | 03/11/15
Tony Mowbray admits Coventry City’s attempts to draft in experienced defensive cover is fraught with obstacles.
The Sky Blues boss is looking for a more seasoned campaigner rather than raw top flight specimen to pick up where Reda Johnson left off before he was ruled out for the season with thigh injury.
The Telegraph understands that former Academy graduate Ben Turner has been considered but the powerful Cardiff City centre-half is not quite back up to speed in terms of fitness after a long lay-off following an ankle reconstruction.
A player of that ilk certainly appears to tick the man mountain box Mowbray is looking for but the manager says it’s proving a difficult task.
Story Link Joe Cole could make Ricoh Arena debut': Five key points from Tony Mowbray ahead of Barnsley match
“We have had four or five conversations with different clubs but the stumbling blocks are that some are players who the clubs might be looking to move on in January,” said the City boss, who has tasked technical director Mark Venus with coming up with suitable candidates.
“I have left it with Mark to make some calls for me over the weekend and I’ll get an update today on where those are.
“There is an issue because generally Premier League or Championship clubs want to give loan experience to young players who need game time.
"The other potential targets are experienced players who can’t get near the 18-man matchday squad and are probably earning decent money.
"But the problem with them is that if they have played any football for their club and then go out on a short-term spell to a club like us, come January when they are looking to move them off the wage bill then they’d be going to a third club, and you can’t play for three teams in a season.
“So there are a few hiccups and obstacles in the way to try to overcome to try to find the right people to come in to give us the defensive cover.”
He added: “The other options are young players but they have other issues. I’ve no problem bringing in young players in attacking areas to run away to score and create goals but defensively it’s a little bit different.
“I’ve always felt that you need a bit of experience, particularly down the middle of your team; you need some guy who can get their head on it and defend.
“Generally the experienced players cost a bit more than the young ones they’re happy to send out and subsidise because they want them to get experience.”
Mowbray revealed that there is a bit of money available to bring in cover, albeit unlikely to be in time for tonight’s home clash with Barnsley, but remains hopeful that, while not telling people to go to games, increased crowds at the Ricoh will provide funds for a rainy day later in the season.
“We have got some saved at the minute, and that’s why Mark is very good at managing the football budget,” he said.
“He’s telling me at the moment that we have got money to get someone. My concern is moving forward.
"Injuries are part and parcel of football and if the squad got so stretched I wouldn’t want to put untried young footballers into a team that’s doing well. I’d rather go and get some experience to keep it ticking along.
'Budget is pretty average for this league'
“But, generally, experienced footballers cost money. Clubs aren’t charities and if a player earns X it’s very difficult to go to those clubs and say can we take him for X divided by ten of his salary.
“It’s a fine balance because sometimes you want to go and make a decent offer for a player to come in and help keep things going.”
He added: “Because we don’t own the stadium we haven’t got revenue streams that most clubs who have a stadium have where they can sell pies and cups of tea and the odd beer. So the funding from the matchday is from people buying their ticket to come to watch the game.
“And that’s why it’s a fine balance for me if, somewhere along the line, we can be successful that people do come and watch.
"Without going into the intricacies, the budget is pretty average for this league, maybe in the top ten. With what we have done so far money is quite tight and it’s just a case of keeping that revenue stream coming.
“It’s little fine details of another X amount on the gate might allow us to bring another footballer in for a month. What would be sad, in my eyes, would be to fall away because we haven’t got an extra few quid to bring someone in for a month.”
