The Future's Bright! The Future's Sky Blue!

Unlilke the Manchester United's of this world, Coventry City supporters know that success is fleeting, so should be enjoying every moment of our current run!

Last nights Sheffield United result could be merely a blip (Albeit aided by garbage match officials), or it could be the start of a run of defeats, with Chelsea at home (What do you mean? You hadn't heard about this fixture?!), followed by Bristol City away, and Preston away too. Whatever the next few results, the future certainly looks brighter....

This time fourteen months ago, most Coventry City fans were wondering whether or not the club would still be in existence! (Or, if it was, how many divisions down!).

Confidence is high after victories over top-of-the-table Wolves, second in the table Birmingham City, and Premiership Blackburn, and with a team that finally seems to understand that the opposition in local derbies will raise their game slightly, so we need to do the same, and more than that, the importance of beating local rivals and the bragging rights that go with it, the team have proved they can beat almost anybody. That said, they do struggle against 'kickers' and need to toughen up a bit, as last nights match proved....

And apart from when the top clubs were picking the bones from our relegated squad, there hasn't been quite as much interest in our players since we were relegated, and a decent display in front of the cameras this weekend could only make the problem worse. Bring it on! At least there should be a bidding war if any of our best players are to leave, rather than a feeble offer which we're forced to take rather than hang onto an unhappy player.

Gunnarsson, Westwood, and Fox have all said they are happy to stay with Coventry City and learn their trade here, though I guess it might be different if the top clubs in England put serious offers on the table in the summer, and offer to treble their wages. With footballers careers to short, who could really blame them if they take the money? Loyalty is in very short supply these days, and I doubt to many of our players are any different. 

Giving it another season at the Ricoh though, rather than warming somebody elses bench, would still leave them plenty of time to become world superstars. And keeping such quality here can only help improve our chances of trying to gain promotion, and encouraging more decent young players to join the club!

Even the target of the boo-boys, masked man Leon Best, is 'feeling the love' of supporters! (Is it just a coincidence that his form has improved since we signed some proper wingers?). Certain players in the past have achieved legendary status despite scoring very few goals for the club (Moldovan!), and Best could join the list if he can help topple Chelsea at the weekend.

As for clubs trying to pinch our chairman, I don't remember the same thing happening when McGinnity or Richardson were in charge! It's fair to say supporters would gladly have given them away, and paid for the petrol! Ray Ranson seems to be a man of his (Quietly spoken) words, whereas 'other' chairmen talked the talk and did little else .... unless you count taking us to the brink. If Chris Coleman can continue as he is, it can only be a matter of time before a Premiership club comes knocking for him too. He has already made the betting for some recent vacancies.

The quality of player brought in since Ranson arrived has been much improved, and it's unlikely that there will be any more Kevin Kyle-esque mistakes while he is in charge of the purse strings. And, as well as duff permanent signings, we've previously brought in some abysmal loan players too, who seemingly did nothing to improve the side, and couldn't leave us again quickly enough! We haven't exploited the loan market as much as usual, but in Jordan Henderson we have a player who was not only keen to extend his stay, but has actually added something to the side too!

Massive praise should go to everybody in the current set-up, from the chairman for coming in and saving us from the unthinkable; for Chris Coleman for what he's managed in such a short space of time, to bring in an entire team worthy of the Sky Blue shirt they wear!; and the scouts. I only hope the latter have a full note-book if those they've helped bring in keep attracting attention, and end up leaving.

While still possible, talk of a late surge for the play-offs is probably going to end up as wide of the target as a Michael Mifsud shot, but at least we finally have enough decent players to give us hopes of better things to come (How strange that our improvement over the last month should coincide with the leaving of two of our supposed best players: Jay Tabb and Michael Mifsud!).

This season could still all go spectacularly wrong yet. Chelsea could win by a cricket score this weekend, and we could also endure our usual end of season collapse, followed by a summer that could see bids we can't refuse for players we don't want to leave, and replacements that aren't quite as good. But at least we know that off the pitch, the club is in good hands. And for that, we say 'thank you, Mr. Ranson'.

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'It is great to hear the fans singing my name again, it really lifts me .... I feel I have definitely turned it round and that makes me feel better as a person .... [The fans] are wearing the masks as well - it’s all love isn’t it! Feel the love! .... As long as I keep scoring I am not going to take it off and I am going to start colouring it in soon' - Leon Best.