Match Day Thread Coventry City v Sunderland AFC – Play-off Semi Final 1st Leg - Friday 9th May 2025 - KO 20:00

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Your Prediction:

  • Total voters
    79
  • Poll closed .
RTB said:
Good luck to Doddsy's Chairboys tomorrow <cheers>
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Thanks. Far from optimistic, given the thrashing they gave us at Adams Park recently. I suppose my masochistic streak will prevail and I'll watch it on TV. Won't be travelling over for it
 
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FellTop said:
Morning campers. Quiet one last night was it?

First thought from me. That was a great coaching performance. I wanted pace behind their full backs and thought we needed Watson. To play the two strikers though was really smart. It gave us the pace but also double the threat against probably Coventrys weak spot. And it no doubt confused Frankie boy. Then to have Ballard in and do what he did - take a bow Regis. I prefer to watch a different style of play personally, but as a Sunderland fan I absolulelty loved what I saw last night. In particular the second half.

What a defensive showing. Ballard was immense. One of the better defensive showings for a long time as an individual. Anyone remember big Stan Varga debut against Arsenal? Bit like that. Big shout for ONien too mind, really complemented him.

Neil played like a real leader I thought. He was disciplined and he never got out of position once as far as I could tell. He still had that 360 degree view in his head, and real clarity to take the ball on and release Le Fee for the first goal too. Would have been easy to play it up field blind. That is the sort of play coaches look for in holding midfielders. Jobe alongside him was immense too, another hugely disciplined game. At 19 it is ridiculous he can play in so many ways.

I thought the two lads up front scared Cov all night. The pace they had seemed to affect the CBs who always seemed to give themselves 5 yards. I have to call out Mayendas goal though. That is just class. He reads it and gambles which is amazing. Then the calmness to shimmy, sit the keeper down and finish is magical. I would be so surprised if some really big clubs are taking notice of him. He has literally everything.

Lastly Wilson lad. A finish of a lad who hasnt lost confidence. Delighted for him and us. A buzzing Isidor must be infectious around the place.

Brilliant all round lads. And to those of you who were there - massive thanks - you sounded fantastic and did your jobs from the stands.

Haway the lads. Love this bunch.
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Great post
 
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FellTop said:
Morning campers. Quiet one last night was it?

First thought from me. That was a great coaching performance. I wanted pace behind their full backs and thought we needed Watson. To play the two strikers though was really smart. It gave us the pace but also double the threat against probably Coventrys weak spot. And it no doubt confused Frankie boy. Then to have Ballard in and do what he did - take a bow Regis. I prefer to watch a different style of play personally, but as a Sunderland fan I absolulelty loved what I saw last night. In particular the second half.

What a defensive showing. Ballard was immense. One of the better defensive showings for a long time as an individual. Anyone remember big Stan Varga debut against Arsenal? Bit like that. Big shout for ONien too mind, really complemented him.

Neil played like a real leader I thought. He was disciplined and he never got out of position once as far as I could tell. He still had that 360 degree view in his head, and real clarity to take the ball on and release Le Fee for the first goal too. Would have been easy to play it up field blind. That is the sort of play coaches look for in holding midfielders. Jobe alongside him was immense too, another hugely disciplined game. At 19 it is ridiculous he can play in so many ways.

I thought the two lads up front scared Cov all night. The pace they had seemed to affect the CBs who always seemed to give themselves 5 yards. I have to call out Mayendas goal though. That is just class. He reads it and gambles which is amazing. Then the calmness to shimmy, sit the keeper down and finish is magical. I would be so surprised if some really big clubs are taking notice of him. He has literally everything.

Lastly Wilson lad. A finish of a lad who hasnt lost confidence. Delighted for him and us. A buzzing Isidor must be infectious around the place.

Brilliant all round lads. And to those of you who were there - massive thanks - you sounded fantastic and did your jobs from the stands.

Haway the lads. Love this bunch.
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Great to read a coach’s perspective on it. Respect.
 
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Prehab26 said:
Fair question.

I seen more defensive resolve last night than I expected TBH. We have been weak at the back but the conservative shape helped big time.

Be really interesting to how we approach the home tie. Not sure we will be so deep and low block, how does that play out?
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Not taking anything away from Ballards performance here which was immaculate, but Coventry made the game a true Ballard game with their constant launching of the ball by hand and foot. It wasn’t great to watch, but the commentators implied they were outplaying us. It’s up to them of course if they see that as our weakness but they were much closer to Wimbledon in style than rhe Barcelona they think they are
 
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Needed a Neil booking for £200. How didn’t he see yellow at the death when he fouled in their corner?! <laugh>
 
Pure River Slut said:
Not taking anything away from Ballards performance here which was immaculate, but Coventry made the game a true Ballard game with their constant launching of the ball by hand and foot. It wasn’t great to watch, but the commentators implied they were outplaying us. It’s up to them of course if they see that as our weakness but they were much closer to Wimbledon in style than rhe Barcelona they think they are
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And that’s why RLB played him. Bold and right.
 
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Strikers are very expensive.
I wonder what Mayenda is worth now.
A few big clubs must be aware of him and come sniffing around.
We’ve got a beauty there, lots of credit to the scouts and Speakman.
We’ve might have to add him to the regular list of ‘Big clubs watching/preparing bids for’ like Jobe, Rigg, Neil, Cirkin, Ballard and a couple of others.
 
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Prehab26 said:
Fair question.

I seen more defensive resolve last night than I expected TBH. We have been weak at the back but the conservative shape helped big time.

Be really interesting to how we approach the home tie. Not sure we will be so deep and low block, how does that play out?
Click to expand...
Don’t think we’ll be as deep but ultimately Coventry have to score which plays in to our hands of hitting them on the break

first 15 take the life out of them and let them figure it out we can make tactical tweaks as the game goes on
 
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Pure River Slut said:
Not taking anything away from Ballards performance here which was immaculate, but Coventry made the game a true Ballard game with their constant launching of the ball by hand and foot. It wasn’t great to watch, but the commentators implied they were outplaying us. It’s up to them of course if they see that as our weakness but they were much closer to Wimbledon in style than rhe Barcelona they think they are
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Scored the most crosses in the league Coventry. Makes sense as to why Ballard played
 
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FellTop said:
Morning campers. Quiet one last night was it?

First thought from me. That was a great coaching performance. I wanted pace behind their full backs and thought we needed Watson. To play the two strikers though was really smart. It gave us the pace but also double the threat against probably Coventrys weak spot. And it no doubt confused Frankie boy. Then to have Ballard in and do what he did - take a bow Regis. I prefer to watch a different style of play personally, but as a Sunderland fan I absolulelty loved what I saw last night. In particular the second half.

What a defensive showing. Ballard was immense. One of the better defensive showings for a long time as an individual. Anyone remember big Stan Varga debut against Arsenal? Bit like that. Big shout for ONien too mind, really complemented him.

Neil played like a real leader I thought. He was disciplined and he never got out of position once as far as I could tell. He still had that 360 degree view in his head, and real clarity to take the ball on and release Le Fee for the first goal too. Would have been easy to play it up field blind. That is the sort of play coaches look for in holding midfielders. Jobe alongside him was immense too, another hugely disciplined game. At 19 it is ridiculous he can play in so many ways.

I thought the two lads up front scared Cov all night. The pace they had seemed to affect the CBs who always seemed to give themselves 5 yards. I have to call out Mayendas goal though. That is just class. He reads it and gambles which is amazing. Then the calmness to shimmy, sit the keeper down and finish is magical. I would be so surprised if some really big clubs are taking notice of him. He has literally everything.

Lastly Wilson lad. A finish of a lad who hasnt lost confidence. Delighted for him and us. A buzzing Isidor must be infectious around the place.

Brilliant all round lads. And to those of you who were there - massive thanks - you sounded fantastic and did your jobs from the stands.

Haway the lads. Love this bunch.
Click to expand...

Great post mate and I remember the Varga debut like it was yesterday, always thought he was worth a try in midfield as he never quitwe lived up to that start.. Agree about Mayenda as well we need to get him tied down asp, hes dynamite.
 
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