Thorn Has Faith In Defenders

Last updated : 06 May 2011 By Covsupport News Service/RD

With the news that Coventry City will no to promoted Norwich City without Kieren Westwood, who has a shoulder injury that is expected to keep him out of action for at least another month, 19 year old Michael Quirke will once again be the custodian between the posts.

Coventry City manager Andy Thorn has no doubt about using the youngster and has faith in the defenders in front of Quirke to help him out.

Richard Keogh is set to make his 46th consecutive appearance for Coventry at Norwich tomorrow, which will make him the only Sky Blue player to have played in every Championship league game this season. He will line up next to Martin Cranie and the pair will be determined to give the rookie 'keeper all the protection they can.

Thorn enthused to the CT: "It is a fantastic achievement and a credit to Richard because he has stepped up to the Championship from Carlisle and turned in some wonderful performances."

Keogh joined City from Carlisle, as one of Thorn's recommendations, last summer and has adapted well to Championship football. When he joined City he played as an attacking right back, but under Thorn he has been moved forward and now plays as a centre half, the position he originally started in as a professional.

Thorn explained: "He's grown in stature as a person and a player and that can only be good news for us. I see him as a centre-half although I think he prefers right back, but we have a discussion and then he prefers centre back."

"He is good for a centre half because he is athletic, decent in the air and, as I have said before, we are prepared to try different things and if we like what we see we will go with it."

Under Thorn's management, Keogh and Cranie have started five of the nine games and have contributed to two clean sheets and have conceded just four goals and it is this partnership that has been charged with preventing Grant Holt from adding to his 22 goal tally and from Simeon Jackson adding to his impressive recent run of nine goals in his last seven games.

Thorn continued: "We have played against the likes of Danny Graham, Paul Kitson, Leroy Lita, David Nugent and lads who have got lots of Premiership experience so Holt will be another good test, but I think our two centre halves have been magnificent over the last nine games and with Keogh and Cranie, they have been different class. He is a good striker but I have got two good centre halves."

Both Ctanie and Keogh have played a lot of games for Coventry as full backs, but now both players are doing well as central defenders and it will prove to be interesting when Ben Turner and James McPake are both fit again and looking to start games in th every positions where Keogh and Cranie are making such an impression. At the moment there is competition for the two places from Richard Wood and Nathan Cameron as well

Thorn is not at all worried about the competition for places, saying:"Everyone will start the same in the summer. Keogh and Cranie found themselves at No.1 and 2 through the misfortune of the others picking injuries up.They came together and we felt they were a decent partnership and did terrific. They say possession is nine tenths of the law and if they go in and do well they will stay there."

Jordan Clarke is Thorn's first choice at the moment as right back and he confirmed, "For the time being, when I look at it, Jordan is kind of establishing himself at right back, and Richard (Keogh) is stamping his authority at centre half, but we have got a lot of good centre halves and there will be really good competition next year."

Martin Cranie has proved he is a versatile player and has played in a variety of position, mostly at left back where he was competent, but not outstanding.

However it now looks as if his full back playing days are over for the time being as Thorn said: "Martin was an England Under 21 centre back who played in the finals against Germany two years ago and I think he is different class and a really good player."

Cranie is another of Thorn's finds from his scouting days and it was on his recommendation that Chris Coleman signed the player from Portsmouth.

"He's thriving in his best position and part of that is Chris Hussey coming in and doing so well and making left-back his," said Thorn.

"So Martin has made centre half his as did Woody when he played, and it is only through injuries that the current back four happened because there were no other options because we had no more players. But we worked on it and the standard is good for people who want to come in."

Thorn was asked if he thought Coventry were in danger of having too many central defenders, especially if all six are fit at the same time and pushing for a place in the team

He replied: "Possibly, but I am just pleased we have got some numbers at the moment and it would be nice to walk out on the first day of pre-season with 20-odd players on the pitch to get stuck into.We may play them all and have a bigger diamond, or even a hexagon!"