Playing Catch Up....!

By CovSid67
May 27 2006

Coventry City enjoyed their best finish yet in their five seasons in the second tier of English football, finishing eighth in the Championship.

Wins in their last two games; 1-0 away to Stoke (Thanks to an Adebola goal), and 3-1 at home to Cardiff on the final day of the season, saw them finish on a high.

Prospect Kevin Thornton started both matches, and, impressively, six home grown players featured for Coventry City at some point during the Stoke match: Whing, Hall, Giddings, Thornton, Turner, and McSheffrey (While Isaac Osbourne was an unused substitute).

John, Adebola, and Wise ensured Coventry City supporters left the Arena for the final time this season with a smile on their face, with Andrew Whing enjoying a particularly fine game in the attacking half of the field (Who needs Richard Duffy?!). Richard Shaw, on his final appearance for Coventry City, managed to make one last costly error, allowing Steve Thompson a goal for the away side.

The match had that typical 'end of season' feel .... until 'crab-man' Stephen Hughes (Master of the sideways pass!) was replaced by Dennis Wise - whose presence once again, in his final appearance, lifted the home side. Even going down to 10-men, with all substitutions made and Stuart Giddings being forced to leave the pitch injured (Having again come on as a substitute) didn't hamper the Sky Blues.

Gary McSheffrey won three trophies at Coventry City's annual awards ceremony: 'Top Goalscorer' award, 'Players' Player of the Year' and the Evening Telegraph sponsored 'Player of the Year Award'. Marton Fulop won the 'Young Player of the Year' award, chosen by manager Micky Adams and his coaching staff. Don Hutchison won 'Goal of the Season' for his stunning goal against Leeds United. The award cermony took place at the Arena.

Dennis Wise left the club to become Swindon manager, Andy Morrell is currently considering his options, which are likely to include moving away from the Arena, while Richard Shaw has also finally left the club. Oldsters Clayton Ince and Adie Williams have also been told they can leave. Only one of those mentioned will probably be missed. Claus Jorgensen has also been told he can leave.

Marcus Hall has signed up for another season, while Don Hutchison is likely to do the same soon. Attempts to sign Marton Fulop permanently are on-going, though Wigan are also said to be after him. He wouldn't be guaranteed first team football there, and would be just as wise to stay at Spurs if Coventry City don't sign him .... in my humble opinion. Youngsters Liam Davis and Andy Gooding eventually re-sign for the Sky Blues too.

Sadly, youngster Craig Reid has been allowed to leave .... again. Sixteen goals for the reserves in one season is probably as much as you could ask for from a player, but it obviously wasn't good enough to keep him on.

Colin Cameron, Kenny Lunt, Rhys Weston, and Neil Alexander are all linked with a move to Coventry City. Pele is also spotted near the Arena....

'All In The Game', starring Ray Winstone and Roy Marsden, is aired on Channel 4 - most of which was filmed in and around Coventry City's new stadium. As of yet, I haven't spotted myself in a crowd scene!

Surprise! Surprise! As I predicted when the Isle Of Capri people applied to build the biggest casino in the country, the powers that be didn't only not select the already built venue, but they didn't even raise false hopes by putting the Arena site on the short list. As with out attempts to get the new Wembley built here, I guess our central location was just to damn convenient....

Stern John continues to close in on Pele's international goalscoring record, finding the net for Trinidad & Tobago in their friendly defeat against Wales.