Yahoo News Dip in form, understudy steps up and gem unearthed - the first 33 days of Coventry City's season
We’re four league games in to the 2024/25 Championship campaign and Coventry City have four points on the board after registering just one win, a draw and two defeats in their opening fixtures.
The solitary success wasn’t without concern, bringing a sense of relief when a stoppage time goal snatched victory from the jaws of 2-2 draw that would have instilled much disappointment given it was at home to newly promoted Oxford United who had, disappointingly, been allowed to score twice against the Sky Blues.
City have, however, found a source for early encouragement and excitement in the Carabao Cup, getting to the third round of the competition for the first time in 12 long years to earn a plum tie against Tottenham Hotspur at the CBS Arena. So it’s not all doom and gloom, and it’s still very early days in the league when Mark Robins’ men have tended to be slow burners in recent seasons, albeit in mitigating circumstances.
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So what have we learned since the opening day of the season when the team slipped to a 1-0 defeat at Stoke?
Goalkeeper hierarchy
That summer signing Oliver Dovin is Mark Robins’ first choice keeper and will need time to grow into the Championship while Ben Wilson, who ended last season as understudy to Brad Collins, is now preferred to the former Chelsea prospect as the regular matchday back-up from the bench. Wilson has also been given the first two games in the Carabao Cup, and we await to see if one of the standout performers from the 2022/23 campaign will be picked to face Spurs next week.
Dip in form
That Bobby Thomas – one of the standout and consistent performers from last season – has dipped in form. One of the first names on the teamsheet since his arrival from Burnley just over 12 months ago, the centre-half was virtually ever-present last term, featuring in 44 of City’s 46 league games and playing in all five FA Cup matches. He earned rave reviews for his first campaign at the club but was subbed off just after the hour against Bristol City in the cup in the second game of the new season, and been replaced by Joel Latibeaudiere in the league since.
Chance to cement
That Luis Binks has got his chance to cement his place in the team after resigning for the club on a permanent deal from Bologna, following an encouraging season-long loan. The 23-year-old was largely understudy to Liam Kitching at left-sided centre-back last term but Binks has been handed the opportunity to establish himself in the back four and, so far, has done enough to hold onto the shirt.
Suffering without Sheaf
That the Sky Blues are a shadow of themselves without Ben Sheaf in the side and that the failure to sign a new senior central midfielder has left a considerable hole and spread concern amongst the fanbase. The influential skipper has played just 20 minutes of football so far this term as he’s battled back from a pre-season ankle ligament injury, and City have looked disjointed and lacked control in midfield as a result. His absence has shown just how vulnerable the team look without him.
Looking great on paper
That Robins has some of the most exciting and strongest attacking options at his disposal since he’s been at the club but it remains a work-in-progress and yet to transfer onto the pitch the formidable forward line that it looks on paper. Hopefully it’s just a matter of time before things start to settle down and the new players start making a real impact.
Unearthed a gem
That in late summer signing Norman Bassette, City appear to have unearthed a real gem. The 19-year-old Belgian striker has been plucked from the French second division and has made a really confident start to his Coventry career, with many fans likening him to Viktor Gyokeres in terms of style.
Stuttering start
That the basics are clearly not being done at the minute, with Robins admitting that his players looked “disjointed” and accusing them of “not running hard enough” against Norwich. The stuttering start has left some to begin to wonder if Adi Viveash’s influence is being missed on the training field where City now have four first team coaches rather than one dominant voice. Only time will tell.
Tempered expectations
That expectations need to be slightly re-evaluated. Hopes and ambitions were through the roof before a ball was kicked this season following a hugely encouraging pre-season, in particular the impressive performance against Everton, with some even eyeing automatic promotion. But the reality of the rigours of the Championship have quickly kicked in and reminded everyone how competitive the league is, no matter how good a team looks on paper or performs in the close season.
Trust the process
That, once again, City have made a sluggish start to the season but recent history has taught us that there is no need to press the panic button. The Sky Blues usually take time to work their way into a season and if we all trust in the tried and trusted process then hopefully the team will grow in confidence and stature, and set up camp at the top end of the division.
