Match Thread Coventry City - Preston North End FC Match Thread - Saturday 22nd Feb (18 Viewers)

[Nick]

Discuss the Coventry City - Preston North End FC match, tactics and predictions

 

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[Otis]

Discuss the Coventry City - Preston North End FC match, tactics and predictions

It's Preston, so let's forget about the not picking up any points again and can you please start the thread for the following game after, thanks.

 

[skybluelee]

Get back to a 4, get on the front foot, top 6 by tea time.

Dovin
MVE, Thomas, Kitching, Bidwell
Torp (if fit), Grimes, Rudoni
Saka, Simms, EMC

 

[covcity4life]

Draw not too bad but think we can win this one

 

[Sky Blue Goblin]

I think back to the 4-2-3-1 (3-2-5). Let’s try and dominate the space and control the game through their low block. Will need some creative balls from midfield so hope Torp is fit alongside Grimes.

 

[Viktor17]

Agree with above, think we should try the back 4 again.

Hopefully sheaf on bench also.

 

[Mucca Mad Boys]

I think back to the 4-2-3-1 (3-2-5). Let’s try and dominate the space and control the game through their low block. Will need some creative balls from midfield so hope Torp is fit alongside Grimes.

View attachment 41538

Lampard did say he didn’t land on 5-3-2 to make us better defensively, it was more of an assessment on the personnel at the club.

We end most games playing 5-4-1 / 3-4-3 so it’s a natural progression to put Rudoni as a roaming AM / CM and play with two wingers. With Haji and EMC coming back, you have to try fitting them both in the team with Simms upfront.

I can see us sticking with Eccles and Grimes in the middle for a little bit.

 

[clint van damme]

If we get 3 points here and end up getting promoted going up will be the 3rd biggest achiement of the season behind beating Swansea and these.

 

[robbiethemole]

I hope not, Eccles was useless on Saturday, it only got better when Allen came on and got closer to Bannan, but the bloke still ran the game for them. We need Allen’s closing down in midfield to allow Grimes to work his magic with forward passes.

 

[SkyB]

Have seen Holmes is out for them. Hoping Osmajic gets his ban before the game but if not then hope we boo the shit out of him every time he touches the ball.

 

[Para1140]

Replace Eccles with Allen to carry the ball and move us forward.
if hes ready EMC from the start
Bidwell has to play instead of Dasilva
it was last season against Preston where we saw them intentionally target him with Balls over the top and we were 0-2 down before we knew what had hit us. Dasilva weaknesses was really shown up that day

 

[shmmeee]

If EMC is fit to start 433/4231 if not 532. Allen instead of Eccles if Torp isn’t fit either way. Hopefully Bidwell is in as well.

 

[TomRad85]

Have seen Holmes is out for them. Hoping Osmajic gets his ban before the game but if not then hope we boo the shit out of him every time he touches the ball.

If he's banned then Riis comes in, who literally terrorises us every time.

 

[Sky Blue Goblin]

Don’t think this is the game for Eccles, if we want to progress Grimes further up play Allen to cover if not Torp will be better in the pivot imo.

 

[NortonSkyBlue]

I would advise Lampard to pick a team of players who have not played against Preston in a Sky Blue shirt. Hire an exorcist, explore Voodoo, anything to break the curse of PNE. This has to be our time.

 

[Macca1987]

Lampard has never lost against Preston for CCFC, so the hoodoo is already laid to rest

 

[shmmeee]

It’s only 12 years since our last win at home against Preston, barely even a hoodoo at this point. Do think we can win this but they’ve had some good results against playoff contenders recently and the losses haven’t been huge either. Will be a 1-0 or 2-1 either way I reckon.

 

[Saddlebrains]

Early murmurings are Allen or Torp in for Eccles, Bidwell and EMC from the start

 

[TomRad85]

Early murmurings are Allen or Torp in for Eccles, Bidwell and EMC from the start

4 at the back making a come back?

 

[GaryJones]

Just looked at our record against Preston and it almost defies belief - think we’ve only ever beaten them 3 times out of 30 odd games - unbelievable!
Think it was against Preston that Tats broke his back last season too - it’s about time we battered this lot but I will take a scrappy 1-0 win this time around

 

[Merseyskyblue]

Could we see a midfield of grimes, Allen and Torp, with Rudoni at rw?

 

[TomRad85]

It’s only 12 years since our last win at home against Preston, barely even a hoodoo at this point. Do think we can win this but they’ve had some good results against playoff contenders recently and the losses haven’t been huge either. Will be a 1-0 or 2-1 either way I reckon.

They seem to be out of their early season shite and back into proper grindy Preston mode. Don't think its going to be pretty.

 

[shmmeee]

Could we see a midfield of grimes, Allen and Torp, with Rudoni at rw?

Or a 343 with Rudoni and EMC wide.

 

[Nick]

Paul Gallagher bound to score for them

 

[robbiethemole]

They are playing Millwaaaa tomorrow night so hopefully will pick up a couple of injuries or muscle strains to knock them a bit

 

[SkyblueTexan]

Still recall last season’s 3-0 defeat which pretty much ended any faint playoff hopes. Heckingbottom has them playing well atm. They beat Norwich away and drew with Burnley. Will be a very tough match. Think we should pack the midfield to avoid getting overrun and go 1 up top. Please no DaSilva or Eccles who were both ineffective Sat. Lati wasn’t much better either.

 

[Viktor17]

Early murmurings are Allen or Torp in for Eccles, Bidwell and EMC from the start

Yep exactly that. Id go Allen for Eccles regardless, bring Torp on if fit.

Any noise if sheaf will make bench @Saddlebrains

 

[shepardo01]

They seem to be out of their early season shite and back into proper grindy Preston mode. Don't think its going to be pretty.

Sixth in last 15 form table. Only 3 points less than us I think.

 

[shmmeee]

Yep exactly that. Id go Allen for Eccles regardless, bring Torp on if fit.

Any noise if sheaf will make bench @Saddlebrains

Reckon that will be a late decision if it happens. Has he even been confirmed back in training yet? I’d expect a tweet when he is.

 

[bukayosakamoto]

Just looked at our record against Preston and it almost defies belief - think we’ve only ever beaten them 3 times out of 30 odd games - unbelievable!
Think it was against Preston that Tats broke his back last season too - it’s about time we battered this lot but I will take a scrappy 1-0 win this time around

That was one of the most depressing first halves of football I've ever seen. 3-0 down and our best player at the time with a suspected broken back.

 

[Sky Blue Goblin]

That was one of the most depressing first halves of football I've ever seen. 3-0 down and our best player at the time with a suspected broken back.

Not to mention all the people pissing about with the phone lights. Jesus what a shite game that was

 

[Viktor17]

Reckon that will be a late decision if it happens. Has he even been confirmed back in training yet? I’d expect a tweet when he is.

Due back this week was hope, and he shouldn't need weeks to be ready like HW. Be great come that Stoke game if we can have sheaf/Grimes working together.

 

[Gibbo]

Does 3-4-3 + Saddlebrains intel look like this? It looks like a good compromise between the fantastically successful 5-3-2 and the wildly optimistic 4-3-3.

Dovin
Binks - Thomas - Kitching
MVE - Allen - Grimes - Bidwell
Rudi - Simms - EMC

With Pato lined up as a sub for Rudi on 70 mins?

 

[Otis]

I hope not, Eccles was useless on Saturday, it only got better when Allen came on and got closer to Bannan, but the bloke still ran the game for them. We need Allen’s closing down in midfield to allow Grimes to work his magic with forward passes.

Only problem is, Preston are usually very physical and Allen can struggle in games like these, where he can be simply outmuscled.

 

[CovValleyBoy]

I

Early murmurings are Allen or Torp in for Eccles, Bidwell and EMC from the start

Excited. Only Monday.