please log in to view this image please log in to view this image COVENTRY CITY v WATFORD please log in to view this image Coventry Building Society Arena Saturday 2nd September 2023 Kick Off : 1500 BST Coventry City welcome Watford on Saturday afternoon, with the Sky Blues looking to go four games unbeaten in the Championship. Mark Robins’ side have drawn their last two after beating Middlesbrough 3-0 earlier in the month, with last season’s play-off finalists currently sat in 12th. Watford meanwhile have hit a tough patch of form. Since their opening day, 4-0 win over QPR, they’ve not won a game, taking just one point from three league games since. Some comments from the fans. “Coventry have had a lot of changes to go through over the summer with their playing squad revamped with the Hamer and Gyokeres money. That might mean it’s a little while before we see them at their absolute best but they should still be content with the start they’ve made. “Ismael will be hoping for ample time to get things working with his squad and while I think there is a good team in there, patience is needed, and not many get that at Watford. I really thought Watford would start strong, and after that win over QPR, I thought I was right. But they’ve not looked great since and whilst it’s still early doors, you can’t help but think that Valerien Ismael will soon come under pressure if form doesn’t improve. “Coventry are steady as ever. They’ll put points on the board this season and despite the losses of Viktor Gyokeres and Gustavo Hamer, they’re still going strong. Team News Some changes to the starting line up seem possible, but at the moment there is no news from the training ground. Our Officials Referee; David Webb please log in to view this image Rob Smith and Andrew Dallison Darren Drysdale
You feel we need to get something or Ismael will come under pressure - he shouldn't but we know what the owners and some fans are like.
I think both sides will want to go into the International break with a positive result behind them. The players that have come in after the purge seem to be ones that Ismael wants, and the club are going along with the different approach. The days of being given a bunch of players, and told to make a team out of them, appear to be over, for the time being anyway. This may make his job safer than some who have occupied the hot seat.
Hope so - he obviously had a say in most of the signings and wants to use them when they are fully fit. Some saying we need more which is true but at this stage we'd probably just get old player who really isn't up to and that is where we have gone wrong before I feel. Mind you god help us if we get more injuries!
Looking at some of the players we have shipped out this summer, you have to wonder why they were with us in the first place. I am not convinced by our midfield, which having read comments from Coventry seems to be a common theme. Too soon yet to see if our attacking ability has improved with the new signings.
Last year it seemed the players were the wrong kind of fit, they could not last longer than 80 minutes and any sudden pressure or change of direction tore a muscle or hamstring The way we are playing this year may not cause those injuries BUT the players need to be fit to play at least a 100 minutes now Our first year under Zola we tore teams apart for 70 to 80 minutes and then had to defend with last ditch tackles, at the time Zola said the players needed better conditioning to keep up the tempo Nothing much has changed there
We do seem to have had a fitness/injury issue throughout the Pozzos era it has to be said. Surprises me as they are football people who really ought to know what it takes to have a fit squad ready to play most of the season.
Perhaps I will be hoping that, miraculously despite a seemingly lack of priority over many years, there might be a progression of home grown players progressing from the youth ranks and given a chance in the first team.
Problem there is every time we have had a player who showed the promise needed for that they were immediately poached by Man City or Chelsea
First recent season in the Premier League we (joint with Leicester) had the best injury record. At the time it was put down to that cryogenic pod in the training ground car park as only us and Leicester had one. Not sure what has happened since though, Mark!
Maybe that broke down too like our players! I wonder if we keep changing medical teams as well as managers too much? Or the way each fitness teams does things might affect things.
Is this a bit of team news? One player who has returned to fitness is Francisco Sierralta, who had looked to be settling into life as a No.6 before he sustained a quad problem. “Sometimes you see a player and think you can compensate for missing that player. But then when the player is not playing you realise how big that miss is,” Ismael admitted. “We are delighted he’s been training for the full week with the squad. “At the minute he looks good and can be back in the squad tomorrow.”
Afternoon all. Anyone got a stream, I've not found one unfortunatley. Enjoy the game all. (why do I say that?).
