Coventry City 2010/11 Preview

A new season, a new manager and a multitude of new players. Most fans across the country would enter a new season with optimism after such a summer. The feeling amongst the Ricoh Arena faithful is perhaps tainted with a little more apprehension. There is almost certainly a tinge of mistrust amongst some sections of the support, and who can blame them? After 34 years in the top flight, the damage done by Coventry’s relegation from the Premier League in 2001 has never yet looked like being fully repaired.

The fear factor that Newcastle brought down with them for their brief Championship stay has gone for this season. Hull, Burnley and Portsmouth all have their own issues and as such there would appear to be no one club capable of easing through the season with very few challenges, so maybe a few of the fallen giants may feel that this is their best chance of a return to the Premier League, especially given the shock of Blackpool’s success in last season’s play-offs. With fifteen other clubs in the Championship having similar “back where we belong” ambitions, Sky Blue optimists have seen their hopes dashed too many times to believe that they might be amongst those with genuine reason to believe this is their time – but should they be optimistic this time?

When Chris Coleman was relieved of his duties at the end of last season, you could understand why, albeit you felt a little sorry for him. Many players had failed to perform on a regular basis, and whilst Coleman’s predecessors had been rather difficult to warm to, Coleman’s honesty about his under-performing squad was refreshing, if a little difficult to stomach on a weekly basis, and he himself was difficult to dislike.

There is something a little different about the feel of this latest set-up. Whilst Ray Ranson continues to fend off the standard, but in his case unwarranted “no ambition” accusations that most club chairmen outside of the Premier League’s elite seem to be subjected to, new boss Aidy Boothroyd has survived an uncertain reception and has gradually started to win the doubters over.

 

Boothroyd’s arrival was not one that the bookies or the fans saw coming. The merchants of doom were up in arms. “Short sighted board”, “Should have been Mowbray”, “Driving more supporters away” and “Coventry City RIP” were frequent comments on message boards. Despite this Boothroyd has made eight new signings thus far with more signings promised before deadline day, filtered out some dead wood from the under performing squad of last season and been brutally honest with what he expects from his side. Freddy Eastwood appears rejuvenated and new players such as Clive Platt and the returning duo of Gary McSheffrey and Lee Carsley have achieved success at Championship level, as indeed has the manager himself. With an average of 75 points per Championship season in his short managerial career, all things point to Boothroyd being somewhat more savvy than the footballing purists seem to give him credit for.

As the new season commenced Boothroyd also came under fire from the ever controversial Ken Bates and Neil Lennon, the latter for his allegedly disrespectful dismissal of Celtic’s bid for prized asset Kieran Westwood which was somewhat below Coventry’s valuation. Boothroyd’s almost Strachan-like quips at the expense of his would be critics have endeared him to fans a little more as the frosty reception they originally afforded him begins to melt.

On the strength of Coventry’s opening matches, there would appear to be ample room for improvement to the creative side of the team, but with seven points from three matches, the spirit of the side and their ability to achieve results beyond their performance would suggest that Boothroyd’s no nonsense approach is sinking in already. Experience and reputation would appear to count for nothing as the fledgling centre-back partnership of Ben Turner and Nathan Cameron keep the expected partnership of the more experienced Richard Wood and James McPake routed to the bench. Aaron Gunnarsson, Sammy Clingan & Carl Baker are amongst those who are having to wait out their turn, although those players who had their opportunity in the woeful Carling Cup exit at Morecambe may be waiting for some time!

Aidy Boothroyd openly admits to his side being a work in progress that will take a few months before beginning to fulfil the potential he believes they possess. However, after their opening day victory over beleaguered Portsmouth, mediocre performances in the following two games have still yielded four goals and as many points. Whilst not wanting to achieve results when playing poorly every week, it’s certainly a great habit to have whilst you’re waiting for the performances to arrive. So with genuinely positive competition for places and the expectation of more fresh blood in the squad, maybe, just maybe, the ten years of pain, disappointment, and a manager’s office with an all too easily activated ejector seat can be placed firmly in the past. Just maybe Coventry City at last has a chance to shine.