The Closed season
(Where are the signings? Pre-season no room for optimism)
The start of June saw Mowbray staring to organise his back room staff as in came Mark Venus and Jamie Clapham. Only days after winning the election Sepp Blatter stepped down under pressure from FIFA’s sponsors. With the season a long way off and still no new players signed City were drawn away to Rochdale in the League Cup 1stRound the next day the League One fixtures were announced and City drew a plumb home tie against the pre-season favourites Wigan, at home. City fans now started to
get a bit nervous about the lack of signings or even rumours of signings as pre-season tour seemed to be either in Slovenia or Ireland but in the end neither were picked. Finally some news on signings but for many too late as many League One teams have already been recruiting with Bury taking both Leon Clarke and Tom Pope, back at City Mowbray had drawn up his wish list with the rumour that Chris Porter might be one of the targets. City in the end never signed him and a lucky escape as he had only scored twice for Colchester this season before December. One forward that would be playing next season was Marcus Tudgay who finally put pen to paper for a contract extension. For those missing football they could tune into the Women’s World Cup being held in Canada on artificially pitches if they did they saw a good England side progress to the Semi Finals with a 2-1 win against the hosts. City revealed Nike as the makers of the new kit but many wonder if we were ever going to sign anyone to fill the £44 shirts? One player that might have been on his way was Giles Coke but he decided to join Ipswich, where to date had only made one start. More re-signings as Chris Stokes signed and then a massive relief as Nick Proschwitz didn’t sign he returned to German Club Paderborn were he is yet to play. In the Women’s World England England achieved their best ever finish of 3rd after beating Germany in the 3rd/4thPlay off match. So finally after what seemed like a never ending age City at last signed someone and to be fair it seemed a cracking signing as Sam Ricketts arrived from Wolves with a one year contract he seemed destined to be the captain. It was "London Bus Syndrome" at City as we wait months for a signing and two come along at once. City landed Romain Vincelot from relegated Leyton Orient but the big shock was were actually paid money for the player a mere £25,000 but he was the first player we had bought since Adam Barton, it certainly looked like Sisu were backing the manager. The next day Sisu were back to their old tricks as they finally won an appeal in the High Courts at the third time of asking. Man mountain and as sure to break down as an Iceberg, Reda
Johnson signed up for another year. With many players still to sign City went to what is now the annual pre-season opener away to Nuneaton but didn’t perform too well in a scoreless draw. Season Tickets were now out and available and had been selling well but fans wanting to pick them up had to find a room tucked away in the Courtaulds Building. The biggest gripe this season seemed to be the colour of some of the season tickets books, only the full price adults were Sky Blue, things had change the same time last years fans took to the streets in a march demanding a return to the Ricoh. Away from football it was a good time for tennis as Britain reached the Semi Finals of the Davis Cup for the first time in 38 years. Second pre-season game was played at Haven and Waterlooville’s ground losing 2-1 to Portsmouth with George Thomas scoring for City. City were still on the look out for forwards and one name mentioned was Leon Best but that proved to be just a rumour. The first two game City hardly played well but one player on trial did shine was Ruben Lameiras and he was added to the squad. Another pre-season away to another League Two side and it 1-1 against Luton More British sporting success as someone who has to be classed as Britain’s most under rated sporting hero, Chris Frome, won the Tour de France again under heavy accusations of taking performance enhancing drugs and proving to be very unpopular with many in France. Finally a forward was signed not practically tall but apparently fast as Newcastle’s Adam Armstrong signed on for six months. On the same day people were staring to get worried by the pre-season results as the team went down 1-0 away to Cambridge. The next day a City XI continued the pattern of disappointing performances with a scoreless draw away to Leamington.
August
(the month of honour, and for once it’s the team that have the honour)
The first day of the month saw the final pre-season game as City took on Oxford United in Nuneaton, it ended in a very disappointing 0-0 draw again City struggled up front. So no wins pre-season making the worst pre-season since 1970. Fans were worried "if we can’t beat League Tow sides what chance have we got against League One", was the thought, the optimism built up when Mowbray became manger was steadily eroding. Sisu were back in their favourite home the courts, where they heard another action would drag on into the New Year. With the problems scoring in pre-season the management were on the look out for more fire power up front and rumours were that two would join soon. The next signing wasn’t a forward but a defensive midfielder in the shape of England U20 player Bryn Morris. First game of the season was at home to the firm favourites for automatic Wigan Athletic, whilst City, according to the bookies look set for mid table but maybe it was a good time to play Wigan as they were giving debuts to ten players. 13,000+ fans turned up for the first day to see debuts for Sam Ricketts, Ruben Lameiras, Romain Vincelot and Adam Armstrong. City were for the first time playing on a brand new state-of-the-art pitch installed by Wasps in the summer to stand the rigours of Rugby and Football and to produce a good playing surface for the rest of the season. Another change to the ground was the closing of the North Stand but with fans more tightly pack in the other stands it did create a good atmosphere. City fans were in an even better mood after with a 2-0 win Armstrong becoming only the 7thplayer to score twice on his debut and he hit the post as well, Bryn Morris made his debut late on. Next up was a League Cup clash in Rochdale, on a ground were we had lost all five games we had ever played there. City gave a debut to second choice keeper Reece Charles-Cook as City wore the new Red away strip for the first time. City fans had a minute’s applause for a young 15-year-old fan, Jason Parsons who recently died. A late goal by Tudgay meant it ended 1-1 and so to extra time and penalties, the home side converted all their kicks whilst Lameiras missed his and City went out of the cup. At last, more reinforcements came up front but it wasn’t as tall forward most wanted but Norwich’s quick wide player Jacob Murphy who signed. After a boogie ground of Spotland, City’s next game was at another one Millwall’s Den a ground City had never won at. The Lions were another relegated team and one expected to push, at very least for a play off place. Not a great start as Millwall won an early penalty but Burge unlike Reece-Cook could save penalties and kept out the spot kick minutes later Armstrong stunned the home fans with a brilliant 35 shot to put the Sky Blues into a lead. City tore into the London side winning 4-0 with Armstrong scoring four in two and City were top of the league. Next up at home were Crewe a team that always does well at the Ricoh. It was a midweek game but the kick off time had to be put back a quarter of an hour because of the number of people trying to get in! The fans that turned up were entertained as Fleck scored his first goal in Coventry for two and a half years, Crewe playing defensively levelled, Armstrong scored again, Crewe levelled but a blast from O’Brien won the game and City remained top of the league playing some great football. Last game of the month saw a big clash as City travelled the short distance to Walsall who were in third place and despite a brilliant goal from Murphy City lost for the first time that season 2-1 and Maddison went off with a bad injury.
September
(Month of atonement. City have nothing to make up for, for once.)
City started the month in 5th place inside the play off places on goal difference and two points behind 2ndplace. More transfer activity, first of one that got away as City failed to sign Nicky Ajose from Leeds. The forward instead went to Swindon were he has found the back of net on regular occasions. A forward City did land was Lateef Elford-Alliyu, most famous for playing in the Premier League at only 15 under Mowbray; he came in until the end of the year to prove himself. Forgotten man Danny
Swanson finally left the club to play for Hearts where he has only played occasionally. Adam Armstrong’s performances were attracting attention as he was named League One August Player of the Month. Despite City being full of goals yet another forward joined, this time a tall one in Marc Antoine-Fortune. Goals were also on the agenda for England as they ran in six against San Marino and became the first team to qualify for the European Championships. The next day City were on Sky for the first ever clash against Burton Albion, the home side were in 3rd place. Before the game Steve Waggott told fans two more players were on their way including an exciting winger who was with one of the younger England teams. The game itself saw City without their loan stars as they were away on International duty. City went a goal down thanks to an own goal but battled back to win 2-1 with Marc Antoine-Fortune making his debut and City moved up to 2nd place. England maintained their 100% qualifying record with a win over top seeds Switzerland as Wayne Rooney notched his 50thgoal for his country. The name of the mysterious winger was announced as City signed him, Ryan Kent, signed to cover for Maddison whilst he was out injured. Next up was a trip to Scunthorpe but despite a debut by Ryan Kent City played poorly and lost by a single goal. On the following Monday City fans had a rare treat as the U21 played at The Ricoh, Q.P.R were the visitors and it ended in an entertaining 3-3 draw. Whilst no one any longer believed them Sisu still insisted they were close to finding a place for the new ground but they had until December if it would be in Rugby. Next up was the only home game in the month and a tense City saw out a deserved 1-0 win against Chesterfield. Only around 11,000 saw the game many were disappointed with the attendance but many criticised the ticket office now tucked away upstairs at The Butts, home of Coventry Rugby Club. The next day more good news from the world of tennis as Britain reached their first Davis Cup Final since 1978. Last game of the month saw some familiar faces as City travelled to Bury to face a side with six former City players in their match day squad and it was one of them, Leon Clarke that did the damaged with two goals in a 2-1 defeat. Another U21 game at the Ricoh saw the side beat Colchester 4-1.
October
(The Halloween month but City are not scared as a new record is broken)
City started the month in 7th place, 8 points above the drop zone, a point behind the place off places and five points shy of the top two but with a game in hand. This month also saw former coach Dave Hockaday land the Kidderminster job who were bottom of the National Conference and still are. It was revealed that City paid £104, 015 to agents over the last year which represented a drop on the previous year’s total. City paid the 7th most in League One with Wigan miles ahead of anyone else. First game of the month was at home to Shrewsbury and as Burge went down with an illness Reece-Cook made his league debut in goal that day. City ran out 3-0 winners but it could have been many more with some good saves and several penalty appeals it took two goals from Armstrong and a very rare penalty conversion to give Fortune his first goal. City were still unbeaten at home with four wins and a draw City had only previously opened the first five home league games with four wins and no defeats 9 times in the past. It was back to cup action next as City took part in the 2ndRound of the Johnson’s Paint Trophy. Now the idea of the early rounds to have a series of local games to attract the fans in as City drew a nice local game as we had to travel to Yeovil. Two players made their debuts that night one was midfielder Ivor Lawton, this would the promising players last game of the year as he would be injured later in the week and the other debutant was Lateef Elford-Alliyu a player that has looked pretty poor in his U21 games to date. The game ended without a score and went to penalties again Reece-Cook faced a shot out and again he couldn’t save one, failing to score for City were Elford-Alliyu and Ricketts as another route to Wembley closed. Yeovil would be beaten away by Oxford in the Southern Semi Final. Another long trip was on the cards next as City travelled to Fleetwood and by some strange twist of fate, in charge for Fleetwood for the first time was none other than Steven Pressley. The former manager was warmly greeted by the away fans before the game. Despite Burge being fit again two clean sheets and some good performances meant Reece-Cook retained the number 1 jersey. The game looked to be heading for a 0-0 when late on sub George Thomas cut in a shot his effort was saved but it rebounded off the keeper and on to former City player Richard Wood and he could only watch as the ball ended up in the back of the net and City won. Yet another new appointment for the backroom staff as Lee Glover joined to be the U21 coach. City fans had a rare treat next as the England U21 appeared at the Ricoh in a game against Kazakhstan. England won 3-0 with goals from Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Nathan Redmond and former City loanee Chuba Akpom. Back with the Sky Blues and some excitement was had when the news came through that Chris Eagles was training with the squad looking for a deal to sign but the next day the big news broke not about Eagles but another midfielder signed none other than Joe Cole, "yes Joe Cole the real Joe Cole" as it was put, City fans were in considerable shock at the signing of the former England International. Blackpool were next at the Ricoh and they parked the bus or should it be a tram, in front of the goal and where holding out for a point when Reda Johnson stretched for a ball and fell down in pain, he had to go off and the bad news was the injury would keep him out of the rest of the season. The game ended scoreless which meant yet another clean sheet for Reece-Cook people were starting to take notice. In midweek City travelled to Rochdale and gave a debut to Joe Cole to the excitement of the away fan as he became only the 15thex-England International to play for City. It ended scoreless and it was revealed that Reece-Cook was close to a club record. Meanwhile Chris Eagles had flown to Bury were to date he has played thirty minutes of football. George Thomas was then sent on loan to Yeovil but his time there was not successful he failed to score and was out of the picture when a new manager took over the struggling League Two side. The next game was at Swindon and with City one up after half time we won a penalty, now the old Corinthians side refused to score from penalties when they were introduced over a hundred years ago and it seems that City have got that Corinthian spirit as Tudgay had his penalty saved but thankfully he followed it up to make it 2-0 and so seemed to have sealed a victory not long after that we hit a major milestone as Charles-Cook past his own goalkeeping coach’s record of the length of time with out conceding unfortunately that didn’t last much longer as Swindon scored two goals late on to snatch a draw. The F.A. draw took place on the following Monday and City fans almost got the draw we had been praying for but it was Northampton at home and not away. One player that would not play in that cup tie was Bryn Morris who failed to break into the first team was recalled by Middlesbrough and sent on loan to York and played 3 times before his loan ran out. Final game of the month was at home against Peterborough the game was delayed for 15 minutes because of traffic problems on the A444 but if fans turned up to see Cole’s home debut they were disappointed as he was left out of the squad on fitness issues. City were poor in the first half and Posh were good and they took a deserved two goal lead as City’s unbeaten record looked in danger but City fans drew similarities to the previous season when Peterborough 2-0 but lost 3-2, it couldn’t happen again, could it? City were far better in the second half and backed by the crowd started to dominate and it wasn’t long for their reward as Vincelot scored his second goal in consecutive games to put him second highest scorer and to put City back into the game. With ten minutes to go Murphy ran at them again and found Armstrong who levelled. Seven minutes later the same pair combined again, Murphy with another surging run and Armstrong with a skilful finish put City into a lead and the Ricoh into raptures. We had 12 shots on target that day the most this season.
November
(The month of the bonfire as Murphy goes off like a rocket)
City started the month in 4th place, four points adrift of automatic promotion and three points above the 7thplaced team. City did have a game in hand and that game came as Barnsley visited The Ricoh on the first Tuesday of the month. This game had all the hallmarks of a home banker, Barnsley were on the verge of setting a club record for the number of consecutive defeats and they never do well in Coventry it turned out a lot closer then many had hoped. Kent scored his first goal for the City to give us an early lead; Armstrong made it two as City were coasting by half time. Barnsley pulled one back after the break before Armstrong made it 3-1 almost immediately but back came Barnsley scoring after the most blatant of handballs. City were now on the back foot until a free kick was awarded up stepped home debutant Joe Cole he lined up to take the kick, he took two steps to the side and advanced he sent the kick over the wall and into the back of the goal for a brilliant free kick, just about the only thing he had done during the game. That was four games in a mad twelve minutes there was even time for a late Barnsley penalty as City edged the game 4-3 and closed in on the leaders. The next day Liverpool’s new manager Jurgen Klopp recalled his loan players including Kent, but the winger didn’t go back for the first team and was soon back with City. It was also announced that day that Wasps wanted City to stay at the Ricoh but the next day this was put into question when Steve Waggott left the club. To many Waggott was the acceptable face of Sisu the only one the fans really liked. The Chief Executive arrived at the club in December 2011 and oversaw some of, if not the most turbulent years in the club’s history. He over saw transfers and in his time sacked two managers Thorn and Pressley and appointed three, Mark Robbins, Pressley and what must be his master stroke Tony Mowbray and left the club in a lower division but in a far healthier position. City were quick to appoint his successor in Chris Anderson a former semi-pro player in the German leagues he will be responsible for commercial and football strategy. He wanted fans to reconnect with the club and forget the past. All this was a bit of a distraction as City started their F.A Cup campaign at home to Northampton, City with injuries, suspension and loan players not allowed to play put out a weaken side. City didn’t perform too well and were 2-1 down when promising young forward Basala Sambou made his debut, City went down meekly meaning we have lost at the first stage of the last four cup competitions. There may have been a new man in charge in the boardroom but he kept the party propaganda about a new ground claiming there is a site in the City for one no one believed him. The next day it was rumoured that the site was the Butts which as least gave City fans a good laugh imaging the traffic chaos around there during match days. Sad news next that former keeper Martin Fulop had died, the Hungarian played 33 games for City in 2006 conceding 41 goals and keeping 9 clean sheets he was only 32 when he lost his battle with cancer. Next up was a long trip against another struggling team, Colchester. This was amazingly the last away Saturday game of the year. The fans were united in a minute’s silence for the people killed recently in the Paris attack. The game itself saw City go a goal down but fought back well with two from Murphy, playing up front in absents of Armstrong and the other goal came from Fortune who had his best game by some margin. City moved up to 2nd and they became joint automatic promotion favourites with Wigan and Walsall. City were still in the loan market and the next signing was a real bolt from the sky blue as former play Gael Bigirimana who played 32 game for City in our relegation season but now had fallen out of favour at Newcastle. He was the 14thplayer signed that had previously had a spell at the club. A few days later and City fans just couldn’t believe the players coming in and at last a replacement for Johnson as Ben Turner returned. These players arrive in time as second placed City took on top team Gillingham in front of the biggest home gate of the season of 15,604. What happened in the game may just go down in City’s history as the greatest ten minutes ever as City torn apart the leaders with Turner scoring on his second debut and Murphy banging in a hat trick the quickest in the league since Tom Crawley scored three at home to Forest in 1938 and the first hat trick by a City player since Freddy Eastwood’s three at home to Peterborough in 2009. Bigirimana came off the bench in the second half and at the end City sat proudly top of the league. Jacob Murphy would earn player of the month in League One for his five goals in two games. Next up was a tough trip to Bradford as City fielded eleven different players that started the same fixture the previous season. Both sides were happy in the result a scoreless draw and both teams showed a contrast in skills with Bradford’s route one style and The Sky Blues’ slick passing inspired the fans to sing "We’re Coventry City, we play on the ground". Doncaster were the last visitors of the month and City were their own worst enemies with two mistakes at the back gifting Rovers the goals it ended 2-2 by Doncaster’s Nathan Tyson hit the bar late on but City’s unbeaten home league record was still in tact. It was Tyson’s namesake, Tyson Fury that made the headlines that night beating Wladimir Klitschko convincingly on points. The next day even better news as Andy Murray lead Britain the win the Davis Cup for the first time since 1936.
December
(The Christmas Month as City fans are slightly disappointed with the presents and City fans say goodbye at "The Chin")
City started the month top a point ahead of 3rd place and eight points ahead of 7th. The last month started off with Sisu back in their favourite home, the courts as their case against the council conduct towards them we now be decided in the New Year. Burton knocked City off top spot with a 2-1 home win against Millwall. The first team may not be good in the cups but the youth team were as Sambou’s 7th goal in the F.A. Youth Cup sent City through against Stoke City 1-0 and will play Charlton at home in the 4th Round. On the 13thday of the month City played for the first time in December, live on Sky at Sheffield United and City fans were fuming at the refereeing of Iain Williamson, who failed to send off a player that kick Lameiras 180% in the air, failed to book players for cynical pull backs that City players were booked for, missed a blatant hand ball in the box and the ball crossing the line and sending off Ricketts, meanwhile United scored after a ball hit the shoulder of their sub and went in. The next day it was revealed the Tony Mowbray was the bookies favourite for the vacant Fulham job but not for the first time they were miles off. Not long before the next game we had a piece of sad news former manager, managing director and chairman Jimmy Hill had died at the age of 87. JH reinvented the club and was the last manager to win promotion, only Harry Storer has had more games in charge, JH only lost 26.27% of the games in charge the best of any former manager, Tony Mowbray ended the year only losing 24.32%. Many tributes were paid at "The Chin" Jimmy’s own statue before the game against Oldham a minute’s applause before the game and at the 87 minute as well was carried out by the City fans. A new season record crowd took advantage of a £10 ticket but the crowd went home disappointed as Oldham scored with an injury time goal to snatch a point. City dropped out of the automatic promotion places. Good news just before Christmas as it was announced City would stay at the Ricoh for another two years. Another former manager passed away before the next game the former England International Don Howe. Howe was in charge in the last part of the 1991-92 season as City struggled to stay up he only saw 3 wins in his 19 games in charge but that kept us up and we became founding members of the Premier League. Another season record crowd of 17,776 saw a narrow win against Port Vale with James Maddison scoring from long range late on after coming on as a sub and after a long lay off with an injury. This meant that City stated the only unbeaten home side in the English leagues this season. Last game of the year was at struggling Chesterfield, they scored with their only shot on target and City seemed to be heading to defeat with Mowbray banished to the stands but in the last minutes it was Maddison who scored direct from a free kick in front of a large away turn out to end the year with a draw.
Following City can be a depressing business but from a relegation battle City suddenly had been transformed into a winning team and a team in the top six have we finally got a team capable of a top six finish or even better automatic promotion? 2016 could be a very interesting year and for once City fans can look forward to it with optimism are City "on their way back"; I just can’t wait to find out.