Confirmed : Lampard Head Coach (9 Viewers)

[fernandopartridge]

Suits our squad down to the ground IMO, our midfielders suit the “dish” shape much more than playing with a 10.

Yeah,

Rudoni = Mount
Eccles = Kante
Sheaf = Jorginho

 

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[The watchmaker]

Yes but as a cheat if you ctrl A before the pay window comes in, you can copy the article

Now this is the kind of tactical insight i needed.

 

[MalcSB]

Are you still allowed to say that? Starmer’s thought police will have you up before the beak in a jiffy!

@torchomatic Im assuming you didn’t poo on my post because I had drawn attention to potentially race sensitive language perhaps not being acceptable these days.

 

[Earlsdon_Skyblue1]

"Unnerving" You're the gift that keeps on giving Earlsdon.

You went to watch Wasps. I am not sure you have any right to throw stones at anyone.

 

[Sky Blue Goblin]

Now this is the kind of tactical insight i needed.

 

[Nick]

I have to say, I'm absolutely shocked that the biggest pair of Robins out pushers have responded to my comment in such fashion.

If Lampard fails, and I hope he doesn't, we will remember your posts about Robins. That must be unnerving, I suppose.

Remember what you want.

You're being over dramatic.

 

[Nick]

I am not speaking like anything. You wanted Robins out, you got it. We now have Lampard. Personally I think it is completely ridiculous.

The level you have gone at people though, there is quite a bit of ammunition coming your way if it doesn't work out. You have to own that.

 

[Sky Blue Goblin]

That’s not a great look

It’s an interesting one but nothing new. Says king has an ego and wants to be involved in the club like in transfers and contracts.

Says the key will be the relationship between king and Frank. Goes on about Manchester and Chelsea connections and then just he was questioned by people at the club but he wanted Lampard and obviously thinks he’s the best fit.

 

[KenilworthSkyBlue]

You went to watch Wasps. I am not sure you have any right to throw stones at anyone.

Hold your tongue you serpent. Thou art nothing more than a hornswoggler with a phallus the size of a thimble.

 

[Brighton Sky Blue]

Yeah,

Rudoni = Mount
Eccles = Kante
Sheaf = Jorginho

All of our keepers= Kepa

 

[Wyken Sky Blue]

Well balanced article

Doug King likes to refer to Coventry’s squad as ‘the deck’ and by replacing Mark Robins with Frank Lampard, the Sky Blues owner is like a blackjack player who has a hand worth 17 and still calls ‘twist’.

From start to finish, this has been King’s show. After leading Coventry from League Two to within a penalty shootout of the Premier League, Robins was one of the most popular managers in the club’s history. Fans were furious at his sacking three weeks ago and have been lukewarm at the prospect of Lampard’s appointment.

Mail Sport understands King was even questioned by senior figures about the wisdom of hiring Lampard, and encouraged to look elsewhere. He conducted an exhaustive search, settling on a final three-man shortlist after two rounds of interviews.

In the end, King, who is worth more than £300million, has invested a sizeable chunk of his personal fortune into the club and is the sort of bloke who makes big calls and stands by them. He has led negotiations with Lampard, with even top club officials kept out of the loop as the final details were discussed.

There is plenty in Lampard’s favour. As a rookie manager, he led Derby County to within 90 minutes of promotion in the 2018-19 season, eventually losing to Aston Villa in the Championship play-off final. His arrival would undoubtedly excite the Coventry players.

Lampard also made enough money as a player that he need never work another day in his life. For that matter, nor would the next generations of Lampards. Though he is likely to be the highest-paid boss in the Championship, Lampard is returning to management because he wants to crack the code. This is no vanity project.

He is widely respected and was also seen by some influential figures, including Gary Lineker, as a future England boss. Lampard has retained strong links with Chelsea – a club already on good terms with Coventry – and Manchester City, which should put Coventry in prime position to sign their young fringe players on loan.

These contacts are so strong that when Michael Beale was sacked, many at Rangers thought Lampard should have been given the job on that basis alone. Lampard also impressed Ibrox chiefs with his presentation during interview, though the role ultimately went to Philippe Clement last October.

Though his year at Everton is viewed from the outside as a failure, insiders tell a different story. Players spoke well of Lampard’s man-management skills and of his knowledge and understanding of the game. Though seen as a pleasant character externally, Lampard was not afraid to read the riot act when required.

He was also tactically flexible – switching between a back three and a back four and different midfield configurations – and wanted to implement a progressive style. Yet the background noise of a club in chaos drowned out everything else. Perhaps a case of right place, wrong time.

‘He had to deal with a bin fire at Everton,’ said one source. ‘Hopefully he gets the time he deserves.’

Coventry are one of the few clubs in the Championship to have spent heavily on transfers in recent times and they have a strong squad. They are only 10 points adrift of the play-offs and with 87 to play for, can still reach the top six. If Lampard gains early momentum they may be hard to stop.

This is a risk, though. Like many of England’s so-called ‘Golden Generation’, Lampard is not a day-to-day coach, allowing his staff to plan and lead most sessions. That might have been OK a couple of decades ago but this is the era of the ‘career coach’, even in the second tier.

Enzo Maresca and Kieran McKenna led Leicester and Ipswich respectively to promotion last season by implementing a clear method and preparing for every match in painstaking detail.

In the Championship, it is the age of Johannes Hoff Thorup, Carlos Corberan and Danny Rohl. Does Lampard have the wit to outsmart these football obsessives in a tactical duel?

Highly rated coach Anthony Barry linked up with Chelsea under Lampard in 2020 but stayed on under Thomas Tuchel and will play a key role in Tuchel’s England setup. How Lampard could have done with Barry, both at Everton and now.

When King took sole control of Coventry in January 2023, Robins was set a target of promotion in three seasons. This is season three. There have been suggestions that if Coventry do not make it to the Premier League in May, several key players may be sold.

Presumably such matters were raised in talks with Lampard, though football executives have an unfortunate habit of failing to reveal the full financial picture to potential new managers. Let us hope that was not the case this time.

This project will stand or fall on the relationship between King and Lampard. Nearly eight years after retiring as a player, Lampard retains a huge public profile. Ask the average person to name a footballer and a good number would come up with Lampard, who is still recognised in the street wherever he goes. Sky Blues supporters should get used to their club’s new name – not ‘Coventry City’ but ‘Frank Lampard’s Coventry City’.

The problem is, King wants to be front and centre, too. He likes to be involved in player trading and enjoys haggling with clubs and agents over contracts and transfers. A big, brash personality with an ego to match, it will be interesting to see how King handles working with a man far more recognisable than he is.

If this move works, all the credit will go to Lampard and the players, with King in the background. If it does not, King will again be in the firing line. That may be unfair but it is simply how the world turns in football.

Lampard is hardly short of ego himself and he and King may butt heads from time to time. If such cracks widen, this project could turn sour very quickly. For Coventry to succeed under King and Lampard, they need all hands on deck.

 

[SBAndy]

Remember what you want.

You're being over dramatic.

I actually think it’s a fair assessment. The eyes of the footballing world have been drawn to us now - if it fails we quite possibly become the laughing stock of the country (yes, slight exaggeration accepted). I’m quietly confident it’ll work, mind.

The idea that if it fails our fans will march on you and Cam to sacrifice your first-born child, however, wasn’t something I’d had in mind.

 

[hill83]

It’s an interesting one but nothing new. Says king has an ego and wants to be involved in the club like in transfers and contracts.

Says the key will be the relationship between king and Frank. Goes on about Manchester and Chelsea connections and then just he was questioned by people at the club but he wanted Lampard and obviously thinks he’s the best fit.

Don’t forget it’s all prefaced with “Mail Sport understands”

 

[mmttww]

Match is fine. The rest completely unnecessary

from your POV. Highlights exist already, this is trying to be something else.

 

[napolimp]

Yeah,

Rudoni = Mount
Eccles = Kante
Sheaf = Jorginho

First time I've seen Eccles being compared to N'Golo Kante.

 

[Brighton Sky Blue]

King would be best advised to sit back and just let Lampard do his job. Focus on the off field stuff absolutely, but leave the on field stuff to the pros.

 

[MalcSB]

Keep your Twitter brain worms in off topic

So using a phrase like chief and Indians is acceptable today then.

I must stop self censoring what I say, trying to avoid offence,

 

[KenilworthSkyBlue]

Remember what you want.

You're being over dramatic.

Earlsdon overdramatic? Never.

 

[SkyBlueDom26]

Not liking all this attention, just get the press conference done and get to business

 

[chiefdave]

Seemed to take an age to end up with a guy that's been rumoured forever and a day.

Find it a pretty underwhelming appointment tbh, can't help but be reminded of getting shot of Sillett to get a big name in Terry Butcher in and we all know how that worked out.

But it is what it is, he's our manager now so time to get behind him. Here's to 3 points this weekend for Frank Lampard's Coventry City as we will now be known.

 

[SBT]

Not a brilliant sign if “senior figures” are already briefing journalists about their opposition to the deal.

 

[MalcSB]

The supporters forum is at 6pm lol

Early opportunity to two foot Lamps?

 

[napolimp]

This is a risk, though. Like many of England’s so-called ‘Golden Generation’, Lampard is not a day-to-day coach, allowing his staff to plan and lead most sessions. That might have been OK a couple of decades ago but this is the era of the ‘career coach’, even in the second tier.

Enzo Maresca and Kieran McKenna led Leicester and Ipswich respectively to promotion last season by implementing a clear method and preparing for every match in painstaking detail.

In the Championship, it is the age of Johannes Hoff Thorup, Carlos Corberan and Danny Rohl. Does Lampard have the wit to outsmart these football obsessives in a tactical duel?

I found this part especially interesting. I'd want a manager/coach who is highly intelligent in the game, and obsessed with the clubs success 24 hours a day.

 

[Ccfcisparks]

So using a phrase like chief and Indians is acceptable today then.

I must stop self censoring what I say, trying to avoid offence,

Get all this woke nonsense off this thread. We are just trying to talk football you melt.

 

[pusbccfc]

This is how big an appointment this is that it’s made Sky News and not just SSN.

We will get more coverage than ever.

 

[mmttww]

Mail article is pretty messy. It talks about target of promotion in three years. Not hard to check your facts on that one. Feels like an opinion piece re: King rather than an article analysing the appointment of Lampard. Has the vibe of the author being given inside information by one person which that person wants to be known. Doesn't mean it's inaccurate, but has a whiff of bias about it. I guess we'll find out!

 

[SlowerThanPlatt]

This is how big an appointment this is that it’s made Sky News and not just SSN.

Get in there!

 

[chiefdave]

Mail Sport understands King was even questioned by senior figures about the wisdom of hiring Lampard, and encouraged to look elsewhere. He conducted an exhaustive search, settling on a final three-man shortlist after two rounds of interviews.

He has led negotiations with Lampard, with even top club officials kept out of the loop as the final details were discussed.

King wants to be front and centre, too. He likes to be involved in player trading and enjoys haggling with clubs and agents over contracts and transfers. A big, brash personality with an ego to match, it will be interesting to see how King handles working with a man far more recognisable than he is.

Its the Mail so could well be bollocks but it does sound like he's got some inside information. Definitely some red flags in there.

 

[Calista]

It's Cardiff, they are in an even worse way than us

That's the problem though in terms of expectations

 

[David O'Day]

Don’t forget it’s all prefaced with “Mail Sport understands”

and written by a bloke who has been about 24 hours behind all the way through

 

[Sky Blue Goblin]

Its the Mail so could well be bollocks but it does sound like he's got some inside information. Definitely some red flags in there.

Don’t think it’s nothing new, seems to just be how he operates and is a very head strong individual who makes decisions and backs them.

 

[Tommo1993]

from your POV. Highlights exist already, this is trying to be something else.

Fans need to see ’dicking around’ to believe it.

 

[David O'Day]

Its the Mail so could well be bollocks but it does sound like he's got some inside information. Definitely some red flags in there.

not sure I trust a man show has been behind the curve all the way through this

 

[Sky Blue Goblin]

and written by a bloke who has been about 24 hours behind all the way through

Only one way to find out.

@Saddlebrains did you write any dirt on here that Tom could of copied for his article

 

[Otis]

Oh well. It's done now. I am underwhelmed, but of course I will back him 100%.

Can I ask one thing of my fellow Sky Blues fans....even though I know it will be to no avail.

If we win, say the next three games, please don't give it the whole "King made the right decision" stuff and that Lampard is fabulous. Let's not forget the new manager bounce effect and all that.

By the same token, if results don't improve immediately, can we also refrain from saying it's a terrible appointment.

He's here and we have to give him until the end of the season, unless we drop right down the table further and look like we are going to be relegated.

We have to give him time and can't be giving snap judgements on the back of just a handful of results.

Let's hope he's a big success.