Ins And Outs....

By CovSid67
August 3 2006

With the season's start only days away, Coventry City still look short in the goalkeeping and striking departments. Anybody got Martin Jol's phone number? Fulop and Keane would do nicely....

INS....

Andy Marshall Has looked a solid, dependable keeper during pre-season, though, having read his biography on various websites, the words 'inconsistent', 'costly mistakes', and 'relegation' crop up far to often for him to seemingly be considered as a proper contender for the No. 1 shirt. Started his career with Norwich, then became Public Enemy Number One by joining bitter rivals Ipswich. Former England U21 international, who - if memory serves me correctly - has one leg shorter than the other.

David McNamee Has the tricky task of trying to fill the usually capable Richard Duffy's boots, with RD having opted for a season in Portsmouth's reserves (To quote Mickey Adams!). Spent most of last season injured, managing only 15 appearances for Livingstone (Who were relegated). Scotland international - don't laugh!

Mikkel Bischoff Highly rated defender, whose rise to the top is said to have only been stopped by recurring injuries. Part of his problem, according to www.gameskb.com website, is that he has too many muscles! (To quote: 'Mikkel Bischoff was on the verge of a first team breakthrough with Manchester City until the club discovered he has an extra muscle in his foot'). Can play at full-back, central defender or striker! Managed only 17 appearances in four seasons. Already likely to miss the start of this season through injury....

Elliott Ward Brother of Crystal Palace's Darren Ward (Who turned down the chance to join his brother at WHU last August), and of goalkeeping trialist Scott Ward. Highly rated by a lot of West Ham supporters, and, along with keeper Stephen Bywater, was credited as being one of the main reasons West Ham were promoted fifteen months ago. Took part in 22 games last season (For WHU, and on loan at Plymouth), picking up no yellow or red cards! Quoted as saying: 'I've left the biggest club in London to come to the biggest club in the Midlands' when joining Coventry City.

Wayne Andrews Classed as being a bit of a 'headless chicken' by those Palace supporters he's left behind, but at least he's a headless chicken with pace - which makes him a better option than the player he should be replacing on the right-side of midfield. Scored goals for fun for Oldham in the 2002/3 season, and did the same for Colchester the season after, before spending most of the last couple of seasons warming the CP bench or treatment table. Will miss the start of the season through injury....

Jay Tabb Highly rated midfielder, who scored seven goals and picked up nine yellow cards for Brentford last season, and who was regarded as the player that helped DJ Campbell build his reputation (And earn a subsequent move to Birmingham City) - though Gary Breen's woeful defending in the Brentford-Sunderland F.A. Cup tie also helped. Republic Of Ireland U21 international.

Colin Cameron Part of the great Wolves exodus during the summer of 2006! Scored six goals for the Molineux club last season, picked up five yellow cards, and one red - a mere eight minutes from the end of the season, which will see him miss the start of Coventry City's campaign. Has experience of European football (With Raith Rovers - well it wouldn't be Wolves, would it?!), which could be useful for Coventry City's 2007/8 season....

....AND OUTS

Clayton Ince Never really given a chance with Coventry City, and if his pre-season displays for Walsall have been anything to go by (Including a 5-0 drubbing at the hands of Aston Villa), that decision looks to have been the right one! Might never have come to the club in the first place had we signed Andy Marshall when we first tried to, or had he not enjoyed three decent displays against Coventry City the season before....

Adie Williams A quality defender, but it just never quite happened for him with Coventry City - though he did impress for Millwall while out on loan at The New Den last season. Dennis Wise obviously saw enough in him though, as he's opted to take him to Swindon as part of theRobins (OAP) promotion push.

Dennis Wise An inspirational signing. Eleven appearances (Plus two as a substitute), six goals - whoever fills his boots has some expectations to live up to. Even when he played badly, his presence seemed to inspire those around him, as he became an unlikely hero amongst Coventry City fans. Hopefully in Wise's short stint at the club, Michael Doyle will have learned enough by playing alongside him to justify his seemingly permament inclusion in the first XI.

Andy Impey His leaving should save the club a small fortune this season, with his two minute pay-as-you-play cameos usually not worth the money they cost the club.

Graham Barrett Like AW, it just never quite happened for him with Coventry City. He classed himself as a striker, though this wasn't an opinion a fair few Coventry City managers shared, usually opting to stick him out wide. Looked okay in said position until it came to delivering a decent cross - fairly much a necessity for a wide-midfielder/winger.

James Scowcroft Came in on a free transfer last summer, and sold for £500,000 12 months later - a brilliant piece of business from Mr. Adams! With JS no longer playing out of position wide right (Where goal-kicks aimed for him usually saw him bullied out of the way by opposing defenders), the tactic for this season will now hopefully be to play the ball on the floor more this season. Has apparently taken Andy Johnson's shirt number....

Craig Reid Scored enough goals for Coventry City reserves last season to justify being given another year, with a view to pushing for a first team place, but was released by the club.