Telegraph Fanzone No. 7
By CovSid67
January 23 2009
Given the bizarre amount of injuries suffered to so many of our defenders recently, I can't help but be pleased with recent results. I'm not quite sure how many more it would take to finally break our resolve, but those that have helped us go on a six match unbeaten run deserve great credit.
You could not help fear the worst when the defence was named for the SW fixture, and almost as nervous when the defence was named for last weekends fixture against Blackpool. But the reality was, the 'stand-ins' seemed to perform better than some of the players who when fit can call certain positions their own.
Ben Turner deserves real credit for his contribution since being re-called to the side, and of the 10 games he has started this season, it's worth noting Coventry have only lost one match! He might not be the most cultured of defenders (Yet), but he gets the job done, no messing! His two-year contract extension is well deserved.
One of my biggest gripes over the last however many years has been the lack of goals from our defenders - so far this season they've chipped in with ten (Though not many from our stand-ins!). OK, some have been penalties, which don't count as far as some people are concerned, but they do to me. Now if only the midfield could join in!
The sale of last seasons 'Player Of The Season' should have been greeted with sadness, but Jay Tabb has been such a pale shadow of said player that I doubt we will notice he's moved on. He said - I presume jokingly - that he hid when he thought he might have to fill in at right-back against QPR, but the reality is, he's been hiding for to much of this season.
With so many players having left recently, and comments coming from the manager and chairman about bringing in the 'right player', on the 'right wage', for the 'right fee', I hope not every potential signing is priced out of a move to the club. I also hope with Tabb gone, and Mifsud possibly going, the club finally use the opportunity to bring some height into the middle of team!
After previous F.A. Cup disasters, I doubt anybody is taking the Torquay tie for granted. But, if you couldn't land the money-spinning home tie that would see your bank balance swelled, with your dreams for an unlikely success ended for another year, this would be a fixture a lot of supporters would have chosen. I'm bored of hearing about 'Sutton' when cup shocks are mentioned, so please don't let it be 'Sutton and Torquay' after the weekend!
Following the cup match is a fairly nasty set of fixtures, which will go a long way to deciding whether our season ends in March or in May! Here's hoping the club can get nearer to, then stay around the play-off positions, for long enough to persuade a few of those supporters still staying away, to take up any of the offers the club are making regarding cheaper tickets.We have the chairman, the manager, and a lot of the players necessary to be a potential force in this division - now we just need a decent crowd backing the players. And it might be (According to some) to soon for the players we have to try and compete for a top six place and above, but if the club fails to show that we are getting closer, the better players will leave, meaning more re-building.
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