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Coventry Build Up Thread


St Chalet

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Thread on their forum suggests the club are only expecting an attendance of 6,000 including away fans.

 

could be surreal really, the ground holds 32,500 so with 6000 in attendance they might as well only open one stand, will be like the JPT games at St Marys, 26,500 empty seats, they should have made it a fiver to get in really.

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I know this is extremely pessimistic, but should our league form continue to desert us and we fall down the league, wouldn't it be nice to blame it on the amazing FA cup run that takes us to the final and sees us as the first second tier winners for a long time?

 

Fitness wise, only Lallana appears tired, and even he might actually benefit from a game to get his fitness back rather than need a rest. I'm sure the others won't suffer from having to play another game. I'd put a strong side out myself.

 

By the way, where was de ridder at Brighton, was he suspended?

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I know this is extremely pessimistic, but should our league form continue to desert us and we fall down the league, wouldn't it be nice to blame it on the amazing FA cup run that takes us to the final and sees us as the first second tier winners for a long time?

 

Fitness wise, only Lallana appears tired, and even he might actually benefit from a game to get his fitness back rather than need a rest. I'm sure the others won't suffer from having to play another game. I'd put a strong side out myself.

 

By the way, where was de ridder at Brighton, was he suspended?

 

De Ridder was injured, which showed up our lack of options even more tbh.

 

Don't think it was anything serious.

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I know this is extremely pessimistic, but should our league form continue to desert us and we fall down the league, wouldn't it be nice to blame it on the amazing FA cup run that takes us to the final and sees us as the first second tier winners for a long time?

 

Fitness wise, only Lallana appears tired, and even he might actually benefit from a game to get his fitness back rather than need a rest. I'm sure the others won't suffer from having to play another game. I'd put a strong side out myself.

 

By the way, where was de ridder at Brighton, was he suspended?

 

just watched coverage on BBC web and De Ridder was with the squad but not chosen

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Completely unrelated subject, but no point in starting a new thread ... Saints related as it relates to Rudi Skacel.

 

1622 FOOTBALL: Crawley Town launch a bid to sign Hearts midfielder Rudi Skacel. Steve Evans, manager of the npower League Two leaders, revealed he hoped to sign the 32-year-old Czech on loan until the end of the season.

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Completely unrelated subject, but no point in starting a new thread ... Saints related as it relates to Rudi Skacel.

 

1622 FOOTBALL: Crawley Town launch a bid to sign Hearts midfielder Rudi Skacel. Steve Evans, manager of the npower League Two leaders, revealed he hoped to sign the 32-year-old Czech on loan until the end of the season.

 

Has he signed yet?

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Will Coventry be the latest team at the bottom of the table to thrash Saints?

 

Coventry beat Brighton 2-0 while we flopped against Brighton's makeshift side (skip the excuses).

We really do have to overcome our away hoodoo if we are to make it this season.

 

Do something about it Nige and fellers!

Just TURN UP and show some fighting character! End the soft away habit of gentile tip-tapping the ball around and allowing the other team to take the ball away from us. Disposess the ball off them! End the complacency! You have to graft for it!

 

This may not be the right match to experiment with the youngsters at this stage of the season. We need a victory!

 

We need our first win of the year. Otherwise we'll become a laughing stock.

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Looks like the door is open for Puncheon then. Will be interesting to see how that pans out.

 

I would rather have Puncheon on the bench than the youngsters. This is the perfect opportunity to find out where he is at. He must know that if he wants to progress his career he has to shop window himself here and impress.

Water has flown under the bridge. Everyone deserves a second chance. If he plays, for heavens sake give him a good reception. We could all be surprised.

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Bart

 

Butterfield

Hooiveld

Martin

Harding

 

De Ridder

Schneiderlin

Hammond

Holmes

 

Barnard

Connolly

 

Bench Davis, Richardson, Guly, Puncheon, Cork

 

Rest Lallana and Fox , There is no place for Forte in our first team. Whenever he plays we are goalless. Win this game and give the youngsters a chance in the next round which will not be so important to us, because we must win our first game of the year now. And I have every confidence in Bart, so get behind him.

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This will never ever ever be the team they go with, but I really wouldn't mind if it was. Chance to rest a few players, get their injuries sorted, and a chance to see some of the younger players have a go.

 

Bart

 

Stephens

Martin

Hooiveld

Shaw

 

Holmes

Ward-Prowse

Cork

Reeves

 

Forte

Hoskins

 

Subs: Davis, Saville, Butterfield, Isgrove, Robinson, Connolly, Lallana

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Bart

 

Butterfield - Hooiveld - Martin -Dickson

 

Holmes - Ward-Prowse -Cork - Puncheon

 

Reeves

 

Connolly

 

I'm not sure how likely it is that Punch will be play, but certainly expect Reeves and JWP to start from what NA has said. Wouldn't be surprised to see some other youngsters on the bench too.

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Bart

 

Butterfield - Hooiveld - Martin -Dickson

 

Holmes - Ward-Prowse -Cork - Puncheon

 

Reeves

 

Connolly

 

I'm not sure how likely it is that Punch will be play, but certainly expect Reeves and JWP to start from what NA has said. Wouldn't be surprised to see some other youngsters on the bench too.

 

why Cork out of interest, probably the one of the 3 most in need of a break. Morgan was suspended for the last game so I'd guess he'll be the one of the 3 to play in this game,if indeed it's any one of 3.

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why Cork out of interest, probably the one of the 3 most in need of a break. Morgan was suspended for the last game so I'd guess he'll be the one of the 3 to play in this game,if indeed it's any one of 3.

 

Only because he was shown training with JWP on the Saintsplayer video. I actually think Hammond would be a better choice, just for experience and grit.

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I remember the time, not so long ago, that FA Cup 3rd round day was the most anticipated in the foseason. Always big away support wherever you were playing. Where has it all gone wrong.
TBH I think it's about priorities. Ours this season is promotion, next season if successful it will be about consolidation. Once we are "safely" back in the PL, then the FA Cup will take on more significance, as one of only 2 trophies and routes to Europe available to us.
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I remember the time, not so long ago, that FA Cup 3rd round day was the most anticipated in the foseason. Always big away support wherever you were playing. Where has it all gone wrong.
getting Cov five minutes after we just played them at their place doesn't help, nor does the high price of tickets and fuel these days.
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getting Cov five minutes after we just played them at their place doesn't help, nor does the high price of tickets and fuel these days.
Tickets are cheap enough for this game. I've got cheap train tickets booked, but various mates are doing 4 in a car, don't work out much for petrol doing that. I remember back in the early to mid 90s playing Cov twice in the same season and if memory serves me right, the cup game was the more popular trip, same for Villa away in (I think) 2001. Something has changed and it can't just be blamed on Man United pulling out of the comp that time.
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adkins interview gave the impression fa cup was not a piority and that he would use it to give some youngsters a chance. looking at the training footage there was at least 5 young players of whom I only recognised Reeves and JWP.

 

cork needs a rest but I cannot see adkins playing two wide men with only holmes and forte the options therefore it will be the diamond formation. again due to injuries we dont have a ready steady replacement for cork so he will probably play.

 

bart

 

frazer martin jos harding

 

 

morgan

 

cork hammond

 

 

jwp

 

connolly reeves

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We took a fair few to Northampton a couple of years ago, a similar distance to Coventry (and we had already played them in the Carling Cup). Coventry and the Ricoh Cemetery have to be one of the worst away days full stop. The cup has definitely lost some appeal but there are special circumstances this year (league priorities etc) and it doesn't take a lot to revive some interest.

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It is the start of January though, haven't done particularly well recently, Forest away the week after, not taking FA Cup as a priority so will probably play the kids/reserves. Lots of factors which will stop people from going.
I am well aware of all those reasons. My question is at what point did the FA Cup start losing its appeal to such an extent for clubs like us? I'm not that old, but I remember when the FA Cup 3rd round was the biggest weekend of the season, always got people buzzing and good away support regardless of other factors. Guess its years and years of having the Premier League being pushed as the be all and end all, both consciously and sub-consciously.
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I remember the time, not so long ago, that FA Cup 3rd round day was the most anticipated in the foseason. Always big away support wherever you were playing. Where has it all gone wrong.

 

1. In my view, all clubs now seem to make a lower priority than the league, presumably because the league is where the big money is now.

 

2. Modern professional clubs have bigger first team squads and need to give some a game to keep them happy/fit ...'rotation' if you like. So the crowd knows that they will be seeing a second team of sorts, so the club knows it will be a small crowd, so it becomes even less of a priority, so they play even weaker teams, so the crowds get even smaller ...etc .. a vicious circle, arguably started by Man U, but carried on by pretty much all league clubs now.

 

3. The romance of the 3rd round was always about big club vs little club. It was exciting if you were in the old div 3 or 4 and playing a 1st division team. Little clubs still get the buzz if they drawn against a big club, and often take huge followings away, shaming the relatively small home crowds. However there's no buzz for us in playing the likes of Coventry.

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I am well aware of all those reasons. My question is at what point did the FA Cup start losing its appeal to such an extent for clubs like us? I'm not that old, but I remember when the FA Cup 3rd round was the biggest weekend of the season, always got people buzzing and good away support regardless of other factors. Guess its years and years of having the Premier League being pushed as the be all and end all, both consciously and sub-consciously.
Promotion is worth too much now for it not to be a priority!
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I know we haven't completely sold our allocation out, but can anyone confirm if you can buy on the day up there? May make a last minute decision to go tomorrow morning (depending on hangover). Thanks in advance...
Would be surprised if you cant, but might be worth calling the ticket office just to confirm.
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I see JWP, Doble, Reeves and Jack Stephens in the Video on player, don't recognise any other youngsters, so I assume they'll be involved in some capacity i.e. travelling with the squad etc.

 

seeing the injuries and suspension we have at the moment the young players will be necessary to fill out a 7 man bench. Doubt if many of them will see action though unless we're cruising 4-0 at half-time.

 

Guly,Lambert,De Ridder,Fonte,Chaplow,Barnard are going to miss out seemingly.Dickson is out on loan,take a quick head count and see if you can get to 18 without the kids.

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seeing the injuries and suspension we have at the moment the young players will be necessary to fill out a 7 man bench. Doubt if many of them will see action though unless we're cruising 4-0 at half-time.

 

Guly,Lambert,De Ridder,Fonte,Chaplow,Barnard are going to miss out seemingly.Dickson is out on loan,take a quick head count and see if you can get to 18 without the kids.

 

What are you counting as "kids"? Ben Reeves is 20 years old, Ryan Doble turns 21 next month. They haven't been in the academy for a long time now. Yes they haven't played alot, but they aren't much younger than Lallana, Cork and Schneiderlin.

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