August Reviewed....

By CovSid67
September 3 2006

Five games played, three without scoring, two without conceding, and no real quality displays likely to send out the message we might be contenders. It's worth remembering it's a marathon not a sprint, and it's best not to show your hand too early....

Selling last seasons top scorer, and scorer of fifty per cent of our goal so far this season(!), the sale of Gary McSheffrey also momentarily sent out a message to supporters that 'Operation Premiership' meant nothing too.

While the performances have been slightly lacking (With out best two displays resulting in defeat!), seven points was about as much as I would have expected after the opening fixtures. As long as we start our season properly before the end of November (As we did last season), and manage to tread water until the team start to gel, I'll be averagely happy.

Kevin Thornton's quality late effort versus Hull helped push us to mid-table rather than keeping us near the bottom of the table, in a game so drab that standing at the bottom of a ladder for two hours - as I was - seemed preferable to witnessing this game! This was his first goal for the club, and he celebrated by indulging in a spot of badge kissing (Which I have know problem with if it's meant - though others do). The career of the next player to be sold by the club for millions of pounds has properly begun....

The transfer window has now come and gone, and while thoughts of spending any money on any player seemed unlikely to me for a good few years yet after the Richardson era/error, Coventry City have now spent £1 million three times in a few months! (All-be-it that some/all those deals are some money down, some to be paid later).

Ellioott Ward's signature was followed soon(ish) after by Kevin Kyle, and a week later followed the signing of Leon McKenzie - though according to Five Live, Sky Sports, and the +soccerbase website, Nacho Novo is now Coventry City's new star striker (For a fee of £500,000!).

He isn't (Maybe he'll get his dream move in the January window!). Leon McKenzie (As is written above) is .... though the story of his signing was removed from the official site 20 minutes after appearing there! And, if reports are to be believed, we might just have the new Stan Collymore on our books! An impressive scoring record, rumours of a spell in jail, and in a mental insitution, and breaking a team-mates jaw! (He denies all three stories).

The fact that Nigel Worthington was so reluctant to release him, that Norwich fans seem bothered he has left, and that Mickey Adams never gave up the chase, would suggest we might have a fine addition to our side. Please don't let us destroy his goal-scoring abilities!

Kyle and McKenzie's signings have cast doubt over Stern John's place in the starting XI, and Adebola's too. Both were rumoured to be leaving before the transfer window closed, with the latter supposedly part of a swap deal involving Matt Richards or Darren Currie. The words 'competition for places' has been uttered, but I can't see any of Kyle, McKenzie, or John accepting being left out. And I can't see us playing with three strikers either!

Darren Moore was also set to sign before the deadline, but 'issues' with Derby means he will be staying there for at least a little while longer.

The 'out door' has only seen three players leave over the last week: Morrell, Jorgensen, and El Idrissi have though. The first two have ended up at Blackpool, and will be missed by very few (Though I thought CJ was worthy of a proper run in the side, usually being the fall-guy after any defeat - however good, bad, or indifferent his performance was). El Idrissi, who looked useful against Leicester, and far from the worst performer versus Hereford, was probably worthy of a longer deal than offered....

Quite how hard Mickey Adams tried to sign a keeper only he knows, but, with only Andy Marshall at the club, a back-up keeper is still a necessity. I doubt Stephen Hughes could manage the same heroics again as he did against Stoke a few seasons back....