There is a saying in football that a manager is only as good as their signings and in Peter Reid’s case, Stern John is hardly an example of good practice.
Take yesterday’s embarrassing defeat at Gillingham. When Reid threw on John at the expense of Graham Barrett at the start of the second half, City were 3-1 down with three minutes gone and it was downhill from then on in. Now John was brought on to partner Dele Adebola in attack but did he aid the Nigerian who was working his socks off? No he ambled around the pitch, bespoke in gloves and white boots in a manner that annoyed many of those who had journeyed to Kent and brought out a chant of “Stern John Is A Lazy Tw*t”
John’s attitude typifies what many feel about the Coventry manager. Like John, this is merely a job for Peter Reid who has been accused of treating Coventry City as a 9-5 role. Reid’s leaving the pre-season tour early to attend his daughter’s 21st birthday, an excuse unlikely to win favour with many employers, riled those who had forked out more than the price of a season ticket to follow the team to Germany.
On that occasion, he left his assistant Adrian Heath to run the show and it is alleged that it is like that at training as well. More proof if any were needed of the manager who thinks he is a celebrity, came when he gave every player and staff member Christmas Day off, something that did not happen at any other club in either the Premiership or Football League.
When Reid does turn up, his support of the reserve and Academy set-up is laughable compared to many other clubs. After only seeing an hour of the reserves friendly at Nuneaton Borough back in August, he has not been seen since at Manor Park, unlike Rotherham boss Ronnie Moore who is a regular watcher of City’s second string.
Reid’s failure to turn up and support the youth team in their FA Youth Cup tie at Watford was a snub of the grandest order and one that none of his predecessors in the last ten years have done.
Anyone can look good in training - Dean Holdsworth made a career out of it during his time at Highfield Road, but to see how players are progressing or not then you need to see them in competitive match action rather than some training ground practice match.
His critics have had much to mull over regarding his tactics - “4-3-3- when we have the ball and 4-5-1 when we don’t” was one of his witticisms at the club’s AGM last month.
His playing of top scorer Andy Morrell as a right side midfielder has baffled many and his faith in the players he has brought bar Stephen Hughes has often defied logic.
The league table does not lie and City have been in the bottom half for the majority of a season so far losing eleven matches, including an unforgivable defeat at them from up the M69 and twice conceding two goal leads.
The aforementioned defeat at Gillingham which brought chants of “Reid Out” was the third time this season, City have let in three goals in a game and twice they have let in four goals.
It’s all very well making statements promising to ring the changes but the main change has to be a manager if anything is to be salvaged from an unsuccessful first half of the season.
Chairman Mike McGinnity is unlikely to sack him as that would mean failure on his part for appointing him in the first place so that leaves the option of resigning.
To do that would take a man of honour. Does Peter Reid have that honour? we will see.