Telegraph Article No. 8 Season 09/10

Well done Chris Coleman, you almost fooled a few people into believing we were contenders!

In defence of those that did, you cannot help but get carried away as soon as a few results go your way, that's what football fans do. In the case of Coventry City supporters, probably more in hope than actual expectation though....

We were actually in the play-offs places for around ten minutes just over three weeks ago - we are now twelve points away from sixth place, and seventeen points behind the team we over-took, Cardiff. And we're bottom of the current form table too. We were poor during our decent run, and we're now even worse. The first half against Leicester was unacceptable, as was the first half against Reading. Just awful.

Yes, we have had some massive decisions go against us (Leicester's second 'goal', Cardiff's 'penalty', and Hussey's disallowed goal versus Derby), but the reality is we simply have not been good enough. Yet on paper, we look to have a far better side than play-off contenders Blackpool. The difference is obviously a manager that can motivate.

I guess we could keep making the excuse that our opponents are higher up the table than us? Or on a good run of form? Or we could always join in, and try and end that run? I also repeatedly hear the players now have nothing to play for. What about a top half finish? (Rather than seventeenth place!). Or for the supporters who pay good money to watch? Or professional pride? Or even their wages?

I cannot believe we still intend to sign Leon Barnett in the summer (Doing so should persuade a few supporters not to bother renewing season tickets), while allowing Elliott Ward to leave. Barnett makes the (Fairly) inexperienced Ben Turner look like Franz Beckenbauer! I'm also not overly sure why Wright is being offered another contract either, as his form has been awful for to much of this season, and he is clearly being exposed, game after game, as the weak link in the side.

Stead, while far less stroppy than Leon Best (No goals in a dozen games!), is not the battering-ram striker we need for this division, while Freddie Sears, whose position is 'striker' according to a few reputable football websites, is also not the goal-scorer, or goal creator, we so badly need. He is typical of the light-weight signings we insist on making.

Chris Coleman has now been in charge of Coventry City for just over one hundred Championship matches, and has a less than impressive record. If my maths are correct, we have only managed to score over two goals in a league match eight times since CC took over, and have failed to score in 29 matches. And twenty-two of his thirty victories have been by a single goal. Yes, a win is a win, but this shows how unconvincing we are!

I now couldn't really care less whether or not we get rid of Coleman, as I - along with plenty of others - firmly believe that no matter who the manager is, or which players represent us, nothing will ever change. We don't matter enough to people, whether that be the people in this City, or to the people that represent us.

We have four more games of yet another fairly uninspiring season left, before a summer break, followed by more of the same. The season ticket sales for the next nine-month disappointment should make interesting reading....