Coventry City v Crewe Alex

[JJ1532]

I must admit, I do quite like visiting the Ricoh, even if its mostly due to the JPT area final win.

Hopefully the team can replicate Tuesdays performance, which for the most part was apparently much much better than what has been on display for most of September. I'd imagine it'll be the same team barring any late injury surprises. Garratt has been put on notice with Richards starting in the Checkatrade, so time for him to stop conceding shit goals.

As for Coventry, I'll be interested to see if this is another hot start which will inevitably tail off, or whether they are actually decent. Signs look promising for them so far. They don't look full of goals, but their defence looks pretty good, 6 clean sheets in 10.

Hoping we can pull something out of the bag here as we desperately need a result. I'd be delighted with a draw, but think we'll come up short and lose 2-0.

 

[CCFC_Charlie]

I'm confident that we're actually pretty good, the stats and performances seem to back it up and from what I've seen so far, I'd fancy us to make the top 3. As for this game, I fucking hate playing Crewe at the Ricoh. It would be typical Cov for us to take 6 points from Exeter at home and Swindon away and then go and lose here. I imagine we'll go unchanged unless Chris Stokes' injury is serious which would force us to play academy kid Chris Camwell at LB. Hoping that Biamou can get his first goal of the season in this one as he's looked good last two games but desperately needs a goal.

Will go for an optimistic 3-0 win, but expecting a 1-2 loss.

 

[TimeyWimey]

I don’t like how much of a scapegoat Garratt is becoming, Richards won’t fare better, but he needs taking out of the firing line after 11 in 3 games.

Watched the Wycombe game over iFollow. We weren’t great and there’s no pintpointing one part of the team. Defence is weak, midfield is meh and the attack is lucky to feed off scraps. That said, we didn’t miss Cooper so hopefully he doesn’t walk straight back in any time soon.

Draw would be fine. In fact we’re begging for a 0-0 right now.

#IWontBeThere

 

[The Reverend Skyblue]

Well we beat our number one bogey side away on Tuesday and hey hoo our number two bogey side is up next.
What a week if we can beat them both.
We have a better record against Man City and United, Chelsea and Arsenal, but can we beat Swindon and Crewe, with all due respect to both noble football clubs, no we bloody can't.

 

[TrinidadsNumberOne]

Huge huge huge call to give Richards his debut today.

One of the worst awaydays in the country so couldn't be arsed going, especially with me going the handegg at Wembley tomorrow. I expect us to not cause Coventry a single problem and we'll lose 3-0.

 

[SkyBluesRose]

Two in two this week!

 

[TrinidadsNumberOne]

Well done Dave Richards for keeping the scoreline down.

No shots on target despite having 3 forwards who have all played and scored in the Championship and League One is nothing short of pitiful. Our midfield is an embarrassment as well. Side to side and backwards but no drive, no bite and no forward instincts.

I'm not arsed about it, I'm not gonna cry for Artell out because, unlike the previous manager, he's not a divisive tosser looking to manufacture hostility within the fanbase or completely take the piss. This club has needed an overhaul and a lot of fans, myself included, thought that because of fight and good form showed by this side under Artell last season, we thought we'd turned a corner and would be up there this year. The truth is, the club has been in such a bad way for years, the overhaul wasn't happening overnight. It's easy to say Artell's recruitment was shite when we were all lauding it a month ago. It wasn't shite at all, the problem was the fact that we've needed such an overhaul for years, but because we haven't covered all the areas that needed overhauling as we've arrogantly assumed that the Academy boys out of position will be a better bet, we've still got gaping holes in the side at fullback, lacking experience in CM and lacking real pace and real width. I like Porter and Walker, but ask yourselves this. Did we need Porter when Bowery and Dagnall were an effective partnership last year? Was Brad Walker, a 21 year old midfielder from a relegated L2 club, a viable player to the departed 30+ year old Danny Hollands who played in the Championship and League One? Is Conor Grant, who just looks like one of our own identikit sideways and backwards midfielders, the answer to replace Callum Cooke, who was instrumental in us staying up last year. The whole club is rotten to the core. It's a stagnant mess with a failing Academy which produces inferior and lightweight footballers year on year which the manager is subsequently obliged to play. Some of these players work hard but are limited footballers and it shows (Ng, Wintle) whereas others (Kirk and Cooper in particular) are more concerned with maintaining their lifestyle as a baller despite flattering to deceive dramatically. Kirk, an apparent forward, has 0 goals for this football club in the league yet goes around bragging about his life as a "baller" and can't even make the starting line-up anymore.

Club is sleepwalking to non-league. It'll never change. 3 top half finishes since 1998 is comfortably the worst record in the country. The losing mentality is so ingrained in this club now that, regardless of our squad (which does have talent in it on paper) and our manager, under the current system, we'll always be in the bottom half of whatever league we play in. It's a dead club that refuses to adapt where other clubs have done so. We could be 3 leagues below Shrewsbury fucking Town next year and that'll make me sick to my stomach given we were that far ahead of them in 2003-04...

 

[TimeyWimey]

Fans are just bored now, completely apathetic. We know the cause but nothing will ever change whilst certain people are still alive and kicking so we put up with it. We’ve tried and we’ve failed with that. Drained after needing to hound Davis out because he outstayed his welcome by 2 years, no one can be arsed to point out Artell’s failings. Instead, nit pick at poor individual performances - I wonder who will take Garratt’s place in the scapegoat ranks.

Down with the Vale. Maybe that will rid us of the lead weight that is the Academy and certain individuals. Probably not.

 

[CCFC_Charlie]

We've only had 4 top half finishes in the same time-frame!

Far from our best performance, and on another day Crewe might have nicked something. Our goal was very fortunate as well. Really need to start taking our chances, although Crewe keeper was excellent last 15.

 

[PUSBCCFC]

Well done Dave Richards for keeping the scoreline down.

No shots on target despite having 3 forwards who have all played and scored in the Championship and League One is nothing short of pitiful. Our midfield is an embarrassment as well. Side to side and backwards but no drive, no bite and no forward instincts.

I'm not arsed about it, I'm not gonna cry for Artell out because, unlike the previous manager, he's not a divisive tosser looking to manufacture hostility within the fanbase or completely take the piss. This club has needed an overhaul and a lot of fans, myself included, thought that because of fight and good form showed by this side under Artell last season, we thought we'd turned a corner and would be up there this year. The truth is, the club has been in such a bad way for years, the overhaul wasn't happening overnight. It's easy to say Artell's recruitment was shite when we were all lauding it a month ago. It wasn't shite at all, the problem was the fact that we've needed such an overhaul for years, but because we haven't covered all the areas that needed overhauling as we've arrogantly assumed that the Academy boys out of position will be a better bet, we've still got gaping holes in the side at fullback, lacking experience in CM and lacking real pace and real width. I like Porter and Walker, but ask yourselves this. Did we need Porter when Bowery and Dagnall were an effective partnership last year? Was Brad Walker, a 21 year old midfielder from a relegated L2 club, a viable player to the departed 30+ year old Danny Hollands who played in the Championship and League One? Is Conor Grant, who just looks like one of our own identikit sideways and backwards midfielders, the answer to replace Callum Cooke, who was instrumental in us staying up last year. The whole club is rotten to the core. It's a stagnant mess with a failing Academy which produces inferior and lightweight footballers year on year which the manager is subsequently obliged to play. Some of these players work hard but are limited footballers and it shows (Ng, Wintle) whereas others (Kirk and Cooper in particular) are more concerned with maintaining their lifestyle as a baller despite flattering to deceive dramatically. Kirk, an apparent forward, has 0 goals for this football club in the league yet goes around bragging about his life as a "baller" and can't even make the starting line-up anymore.

Club is sleepwalking to non-league. It'll never change. 3 top half finishes since 1998 is comfortably the worst record in the country. The losing mentality is so ingrained in this club now that, regardless of our squad (which does have talent in it on paper) and our manager, under the current system, we'll always be in the bottom half of whatever league we play in. It's a dead club that refuses to adapt where other clubs have done so. We could be 3 leagues below Shrewsbury fucking Town next year and that'll make me sick to my stomach given we were that far ahead of them in 2003-04...

3 top half finishes since 1998 is definitely not comfortably the worst record in the country.


We've had just 3 since 1990. 1970 was the last time we finished above 7th.

 

[JJ1532]

Another game without scoring, another game where we didn't look like scoring. Only thing I would say is, we weren't as bad as last Saturday or even Cambridge. And at least we lost to a decent side that has a very good defence. In isolation, this defeat and performance you can take. Same with the Exeter defeat. Those defeats aren't terrible. The narrow defeat to Cambridge, the hammering by Carlisle, the way we lost on Tuesday, those are the killers.

I do wonder what the board will think if we lose the next 2 league games. Stevenage are our bogey side at Gresty Road and we haven't won at Huish Park in ages. But if we can't get a result out of those 2, then serious questions have to be asked of Artell.

Only saving grace from today was at least the new rail halt made the journey far better. Got back in quick time thanks to that. Oh well, put some of the reserves out on for Oldham on Tuesday and pray we can get something from the Stevenage game.

 

[TimeyWimey]

I do wonder what the board will think if we lose the next 2 league games. Stevenage are our bogey side at Gresty Road and we haven't won at Huish Park in ages. But if we can't get a result out of those 2, then serious questions have to be asked of Artell.

They should be already. It’s obviously not as black and white as him having to be sacked the moment anyone questions him but he isn’t in the honeymoon period anymore, he’s had a good summer to deal with the squad and we’re now entering October. Whether he comes good in the next two games doesn’t mask some atrocious performances recently. From what I’ve seen, serious belief in him from players themselves has ebbed as the season has gone on. But he’s also failed to rectify obvious weak points, RB being most notable.

 

[Dan Phillips]

Hehe.

 

[PUSBCCFC]

Another game without scoring, another game where we didn't look like scoring. Only thing I would say is, we weren't as bad as last Saturday or even Cambridge. And at least we lost to a decent side that has a very good defence. In isolation, this defeat and performance you can take. Same with the Exeter defeat. Those defeats aren't terrible. The narrow defeat to Cambridge, the hammering by Carlisle, the way we lost on Tuesday, those are the killers.

I do wonder what the board will think if we lose the next 2 league games. Stevenage are our bogey side at Gresty Road and we haven't won at Huish Park in ages. But if we can't get a result out of those 2, then serious questions have to be asked of Artell.

Only saving grace from today was at least the new rail halt made the journey far better. Got back in quick time thanks to that. Oh well, put some of the reserves out on for Oldham on Tuesday and pray we can get something from the Stevenage game.

Got the train the Ricoh only once last season. How busy was it today?

 

[JJ1532]

They should be already. It’s obviously not as black and white as him having to be sacked the moment anyone questions him but he isn’t in the honeymoon period anymore, he’s had a good summer to deal with the squad and we’re now entering October. Whether he comes good in the next two games doesn’t mask some atrocious performances recently. From what I’ve seen, serious belief in him from players themselves has ebbed as the season has gone on. But he’s also failed to rectify obvious weak points, RB being most notable.

Nolan. Nolan has probably been the most consistent player so far this season, made a few mistakes sure, but generally he's been solid. Switch him and Ng around and you've got a much more balanced defence.

I'll give Artell his due, at least today(and Tuesday) there were 4 defenders, 3 midfielders and 3 strikers on the pitch playing a 4-3-3, so far fewer square pegs in round holes than in recent weeks.

To go a bit more in depth, thought Richards looked very calm, made some good saves and barring a total shocker on Tuesday, he should start against Stevenage. Defence was mostly ok, way better than they were in the last 3. Midfield is badly lacking, too many players of the same type, zero creativity or goalscoring in any of them. This is where we miss Jones, at least he knew how to pop in a goal every now and again. Got to sign someone of this ilk unless Grant ups his game.

As for the strikers, further to TNO's point, I've mentioned before how you don't need both Bowery and Porter, but Porter for me is the better player and scores way more than Bowery. Problem was, Artell signed Bowery early and then Porter. He couldn't not sign Bowery, but then once Porter came in, Bowery became a spare part. Although saying that, thought Bowery did the dirty work on the left wing well today. He starts on Tuesday and probably next Saturday the way Porter is playing at the moment.

Subs made no sense today. Cooper on at half time for Ainley, why? Ainley was doing ok, nothing special but he didn't deserve to come off. If he was carrying a knock, fair enough, but if it was perceived form, then thats poor. 2nd sub was Kirk for Bowery. Ok, fine. But why Kirk and not Dale? Then the 3rd sub, well what a total waste of time that was. Why Grant for Walker? Seemed such a nothing sub.

To me, the recruitment isn't the major issue. This group should be good enough to at least not go without scoring in 4 of the last 6. To not lose 5 straight. Thats relegation form and this squad, with all its deficiencies, should be good enough for a mid-table finish. This falls on the manager and assistant who simply doesn't seem to have a clue about the attacking aspects of the game. They've got to start making some big changes. Porter is next up for a spot on the bench, Dale should be getting way more look ins than he's currently getting. He offers something different with his direct running and pace. He starts on Tuesday for me. I'd try a front 3 of Bowery, Dale and Ainley, see how they get on.

We've just got to hope upon hope that Artell can turn this around, because if we're down near the bottom by December and aren't showing signs of improvement, then the board need to make a decision on his future. Going down with the academy costs we have would be a killer and we don't have anywhere near enough ambition to come back. They sacked Davis after it became clear improvement wasn't coming. I think by the Crawley game in mid December, you'll have more than enough idea whether Artell deserves to keep his job.

The concern for me is that we have a very tough run of home games in the next 2 months. Stevenage, Notts County, Accrington, Lincoln, Luton. Those don't look to yield many points. Its the away games which will probably save Artell. Yeovil, Colchester, FGR, Morecambe, Cheltenham, Chesterfield. Those are the games we need points from. Like I said, if we're anywhere near the drop zone come the Crawley game, you have to look at a change. Oh well, lets' just hope things improve in the next few weeks.

 

[JJ1532]

Got the train the Ricoh only once last season. How busy was it today?

Heading back into Coventry, not very. Only a 2 carriage train, but more than enough for what was needed. That platform is big enough that you'd hope, if the crowds pick up, they could put on longer trains to cope with the likely extra demand.

But if we come back to the Ricoh, I'll be making use of the station again, it massively improves the day as you don't have to trek the 3-4 miles back into town.

 

[Bartonyellow]

Hehe.

Amazing you have anything to laugh at,given you are stumbling towards Solihull Moors away next season.

 

[PUSBCCFC]

Heading back into Coventry, not very. Only a 2 carriage train, but more than enough for what was needed. That platform is big enough that you'd hope, if the crowds pick up, they could put on longer trains to cope with the likely extra demand.

But if we come back to the Ricoh, I'll be making use of the station again, it massively improves the day as you don't have to trek the 3-4 miles back into town.

The station itself has been a bit of a mess from the day the stadium was opened. It should have been built within a year of the stadium opening but delays meant it took over 10 years!

The new owners of London Midland have said they will increase the services to the stadium, which is good as the current owners have put no effort in to it, even for the Wasps' matches.

 

[JJ1532]

To be fair, what they had on yesterday was adequate. There were only 50 or so people on the station heading back into Coventry, so a 2 carriage train coming at 17.28 was more than enough. But if there are bigger crowds(and possibly when more people get used to using the station), either London Midland or the Ricoh Arena will need extra safety staff, plus put on longer trains and more frequent services.

 

[Dan Phillips]

Amazing you have anything to laugh at,given you are stumbling towards Solihull Moors away next season.

It's just amusing how excited Crewe fans got on social media after their undeserved win at Vale Park at the end of August. They've won one league game since that game which was against a piss poor Chesterfield side.

We are in a worrying position, admittedly, however, should the managerial appointment be an intelligent one, I've all the faith in the world that we will still be a League Two side next season.

 

[valefan16]

I recall P&G on the way home where some Crewe fans were already celebrating promotion practically after that game... one saying Harness should join them to swap to a promotion challenge from a relegation one... now their one of the teams we are targeting to overhaul for our own safety prospects.

Hall marks of us last season when admittedly some of our fans got giddy sat 5th in league one a year ago after destroying Millwall at home.

 

[TimeyWimey]

I recall P&G on the way home where some Crewe fans were already celebrating promotion practically after that game...

Fucking hell. Like basing your view of every American on Donald Trump.

Vale really should concentrate on their own very grave situation before our crisis about not being a top 10 side.

 

[ccfctommy]

That keeper made hs debut? He played very well!

Last season I watch our Under 23 side play your Under 23 side at the Ricoh, and your keeper came right out of the area and handled the ball under no pressure! I wonder if that was the same chap?

With regards to 'certain individuals' at your club? Are you referring to Gradi and the chairman?

 

[North_Cheshire_Alex]

now their one of the teams we are targeting to overhaul for our own safety prospects.

How's the targeting coming along, don't forget, you can try to overhaul any of the 22 teams that are above you, it doesn't have to always be about us