Coventry Telegraph - Bloggy Oggy Oggy

Andy Blair and the Demented Chicken

2008-09-24T18:14:55Z

The crazy incident at the Watford versus Reading fixture at the weekend reminded me of a similar event which took place at Highfield Road one September afternoon in the 1980/81 season.

Sitting on the thick wooden seats of the Sky Blue stand for the game in question that day I recalled a very open tussle with Crystal Palace in which City - if memory serves - had taken the upper hand and were ahead by the odd goal in three early in the second half. The visitors - attacking the old Kop end - were busting every sinew to equalise when in the 55th minute the referee, a Mr D Webb, awarded a free kick in a dangerous position around our box. Up stepped young striking sensation Clive Allen - the game's first £1 million teenager, and the scorer of The Eagles first goal complete with classic 80's bubble perm - who carefully addressed the ball before taking several strides back. The faithful weren't concerned of course by the award of free-kicks in dangerous situations back then. We were regularly informed by the media that the clumsy, leaden-footed, brick-booted, one dimensional British player simply wasn't capable of "Bending it Like Beckham". Bamboozling "banana" free-kicks as the media christened them was the exclusive preserve of the Brazilians.

Occasionally grainy clips would appear on the "Saint and Greavsie" on Saturday lunchtimes showing goals from the intriguingly exotic South American Leagues. These clips would have us all drooling in open mouthed wonder before rushing out to attempt to replicate them in the local park - jumpers for goal posts and all that - only to fail spectacularly. Our orange "Wembley Trophy" footballs sliced or toe-poked in all manner of directions, leaving the under employed keeper to chomp on a bar of Curly Wurly or some such.

Anyway, back to Clive Allen and this dangerous free kick. I was talking to ex-City, Villa and Sheffield Wednesday midfielder Andy Blair the other day - as you do. He reminded me that he'd played in this Crystal Palace fixture and he gave me a pitch eye view of what happened next;

It appears that Andy had positioned himself in the wall and suddenly realised he was directly in Clive Allen's firing line so he tactically withdrew to the safer end of the wall. The ref blew his whistle and Andy and the rest of the wall watched in admiration as the young Palace striker bent a strike of power, pace and precision up over the sky blue barrier and into the top left hand corner of the net past the despairing grasp of Jim Blyth.

The young midfielder -who scored that day - could only admire the finish but then stared in bemusement as the City right back and legend - Mick "Scoop" Coop - leathered the ball up the pitch. Andy believed that Coop did this in frustration. However, bizarrely, the referee Webb signalled for play to continue.

The young Allen halted in mid celebration raced around the pitch before chasing after the man in black his arms flailing around - in Andy's words - squawking like a demented chicken. He and several other Palace players chased after the official screaming that the game should be abandoned and replayed, or awarded to the visitors by default. Rules should be changed, heads should roll, Government's would fall, planets would collide, the earth would be wracked with plagues and famine etc. The ref - and the relieved City players - carried on oblivious, much to the hilarity of the fans. Andy spent the rest of the game avoiding Palace midfielder Gerry Murphy who had taken serious umbrage. Particularly when Andy himself stole in to seal the game for the Sky Blues when he scored the third and killer goal with 17 minutes left. Murphy spat at the Scottish international and threatened to kick him if he went near the ball again. Andy re-called spending the last few minutes trying his best to keep out of his way.

The game was captured by MOTV cameras and I clearly remember Jimmy Hill stifling a grin as he replayed the incident which clearly showed the ball flashing into the top corner before hitting the metal frame and bouncing out. Allen - clearly still in shock - was interviewed after the game and brilliantly described the incident as the best goal he'd never scored.

The Case for the Defence

2008-09-24T17:12:18Z

Money-bags QPR were the latest side to leave the Ricoh this season with the word nil resounding in their ears, although the second half resembled a siege of Rourke's Drift proportions. Our lads led by Michael Caine - resplendent in a red tunic - screaming "front rank fire, middle rank fire" rebuffed the foreign hordes from the Bush.... Shepherds Bush. What names too? Leigertwood, Buzsaky, Gorkss, and Cerny, these might get you big points if you were playing scrabble in Poland but they won't get you three points at the Ricoh.

Mind you our back four - and of course Kieren Westwood - had to be on their mettle. The midfield had given up so much ground that they played the second half in the car park of the Coach and Horses on Longford Road. Jay Tabb had to be rescued from the canal twice and then pay to get back in. Not before he'd put £10 on his cashless card though so he could buy the forwards a cup of tea each while they watched the game from the QPR half.

The fans focus seems to be on our lack of goals. Rightly so - goals as they say - win matches. But credit where it's due. Their average age is barely 22 and collective appearances number less than 200 but Chris Coleman and Steve Keane seem to be moulding them nicely. What was the adage about getting it right at the back first?

Back to QPR though and it's little wonder the Hoops fans were largely silent on Saturday. I mean how the hell do you invent popular terrace chants with those names? Actually - talking of terrace chants - well done to the lads under the scoreboard for injecting some much needed atmosphere into the proceedings. Is it the new West Terrace I wonder?

The muteness of the visitors however hides a deep concern for us all. They are still coming to grips with a recent club statement regarding a massive price hike. Any club statement that opens with the line "Our ultimate goal is to reach the Promised Land of the Premiership and beyond"- clearly written by Buzz Lightyear - but in the next breath mentions "price restructuring", would have any fan worried.

The statement trumpeted prices rises of eye watering proportions. Some hoops fans will pay £50 to watch QPR host Derby County next Saturday; £50! The Rams are afforded platinum status on the recent price re-grade. Derby County! Platinum? How much longer can clubs get away with this? How much longer will the game squeeze its life blood dry yet condone the likes of say a Kevin Kyle? I'm sure every club has got at least one. A player who strolls from his gleaming Audi A5 parked in his free parking space at 2:45 on a Saturday afternoon to his free seat in a comfy corporate box, while another truly obscene amount of money is deposited in his bank account? 16 700 on Saturday its clear that the fans have start voting with their feet. When was the last time Mr Kyle last used his I wonder?

Should Ray Ranson have bothered? I wish Steve Spires was here.

2008-09-15T11:38:19Z

"I bet he wishes he hadn't bothered" I said to my missus as I nodded towards the directors' box while listening to the smattering of boos at the final whistle on Saturday. "Yeah. That's gratitude for you" my better half replied.

Up in the posh seats I spied the former Man City full back with a bemused expression on his face possibly musing over the same thoughts as the faithful disappeared down into the bowels of the Ricoh Arena where no doubt the steps were too steep and the concrete floor of the concourse was too hard.

Whats wrong with us? Why have we suddenly become a bunch of moaning whinges? Why are the silent majority just letting the vociferous minority rule the roost? Who are this vociferous minority? Where have they suddenly come from?
What do they want? No wonder gates are falling - people blame the credit crunch - but when you could find yourself plonked next to some shaven headed, over weight, knuckle dragging Neanderthal decked out in Burberry who in between mouthfuls of a steak and kidney pie systematically abuses players for the slightest indiscretion. Who would want that for their dose of Saturday afternoon escapism from the depressingly humdrum that is daily life in Brown's Britain?

Is it high expectations? Are we a poor mans Newcastle United? No. More likely its 40 years of pain and frustration starting to manifest itself. But, are we a special case? Are we more deserving than the long suffering fans of clubs such as Southampton, Norwich? Clubs identical in many ways to us.

May be after all these years the Aussies were right? Is it because there is an antipathy toward football in general at the moment? The fact that you can't watch the national team on TV without having to fork out even more money rankles. The home nations collective no show at Euro 2008, rankles. The national press's obvious glee in reporting that footballs millionaires under achievement shown up by our Olympic "part-timers" returning with the fruits of four years of early morning training sessions dangling around their collective necks, rankles too. Maybe it's the weather? Maybe it's the petrol and fuel price rises?

Some or all of this may also go some way to explaining Fabio Capello's admission that the England players are "frightened" of playing at Wembley due to the reaction of disgruntled, and frustrated supporters tired of paying over the odds prices to watch over paid, under performing "premiership stars" go through the motions or worse be outplayed by teams who can actually pass a ball. Sound familiar.

Clearly the players discussed the reaction of the fans at the final whistle. I read with a tinge of disappointment Leon Best's comments in the CT this morning. Are we determined to drive this bright young prospect into the hands of his home town club? I've heard Clinton Morrison's thoughts on the CWR, as well as Chris Coleman's feelings after the game about the fans reaction. That is when Geoff Foster could manage to find the right tape.

The whole episode made me think of the very sad and untimely demise of an acquaintance that I haven't seen since the club upped sticks to the Ricoh. Steve Spires I figured had become a little disillusioned with it all. His absence perhaps a manifestation of a yearning for the back roads and boozers of Stoke and the "old haunt" of Highfield Road with all its nooks and crannies. Little did I know that he had been gravely ill for the past few years? Sadly news reached me of his passing last week.

"Captain Black". Was a lover of all things sky blue. His laid back style, easy conversation and acerbic wit. All of these characteristics made him a joy to bump into while I was busy flogging fanzines outside the Mercer's Arms car park on match days. The man was no fool though and he didn't suffer them either.

He would just appear like the shop keeper from Mr Benn. He never seemed to change. His trusty, well worn black leather jacket became increasingly more "lived in" and his five o clock shadow became a little less intimidating flecked as it was with a hint of grey. But the easy approach and ready wit were always in evidence. How we could do with a dose of those qualities now. Rest in peace Steve Spires.

Our Next Caller is John from Wyken.....

2008-09-13T20:10:48Z

I like Preston North End. I like their tradition and history. I like their ground Deepdale with its three- and soon to be added fourth - well appointed stands, it reminds me of Highfield Road. I like the fact that it has the free to enter football museum. I like their home kit. White shirts, navy shorts, white socks. Simple. Solid. Traditional. I like the fact that despite selling a number of decent strikers, Healy, Cresswell, Macken, Fuller, Nugent; and losing a couple of decent managers Moyes, Davies. They've always maintained a challenge at this level.

I like the fact that I once won an argument with a friendly landlord in Preston. He tried to tell me that Preston were a shocking side, much worse than Coventry. I begged to differ. As we left for the ground he bet me a free beer that Preston wouldn't win that day. Imagine his surprise when he found me back in his bar barely 45 minutes later. Demanding my free beer. The half-time score at Deepdale. Preston North End 3 Coventry City 0. Fair play he gave me a free pint for every goal that the Lillywhite's had scored.

It wasn't always thus. When we were first relegated I was arrogant and dismissive. We were above these sorts of small clubs. We were premiership, we were a cut above. We would surely put the likes of Preston North End and others to the sword; swat them like insignificant insects on our relentless charge back to where we belonged. Consistent heavy defeats at Deepdale slowly knocked that oafish, blinkered view out of me however. Now I have a healthy respect for the Lancastrian outfit and view fixtures with them - particularly away - with a strong dose of new found respect. When they arrived today at the Ricoh second in the league after a promising start, even more so.

Sitting in the sun prior to kick off the consensus was that a point would not be too much of a disappointment given our recent run of defeats. And as 0-0's go it wasn't that bad. Given the heat! People have to take account of those extreme conditions today. It's been a long time since the players played in that kind of relentless sun.

I thought City started well enough. Boozy protected by his minder "The Doyler" started well spraying a couple of decent balls around as well as working well on his defensive duties. The back four coped well with the - shall we say - physical approach of PNE's front two of Mellor and Parkin. A right pair of bouncers in more ways than one. The front guys looked lively especially McKenzie who appeared to be getting some joy down the left. A couple of decent half chances were created in what was a reasonable encounter. Things started to go down hill after the break as the game slipped into a malaise of misplaced passes coupled with poor control. The faithful's frustration manifested itself
culminating in some purple headed ejit - all veins, tattoos and spittle - barracking the Leon Best for not "f***ing tracking back" and being "f***ing lazy" The fact that he was in an offside position and would have been pulled up had he touched the ball was totally lost on Mr Purple Head. Still it's all about opinions isn't it?....sigh.

The fact that the former Saints man was booed by a small section of the crowd who cheered when he was replaced by Simpson speaks volumes for these clowns. I noted many others around me sadly shaking their heads and rolling their eyes in exasperation. The youngster showed plenty of effort and commitment in his first full game of the campaign; however he did fluff his lines when slid in by Eastwood mid way through the first half dallying when a first time strike was called for.

Talking of which Freddy Eastwood is slowly settling in. His fitness and injury problems aside I thought he showed up well although he held onto the ball for too long on a couple of instances either through a lack of a team mate in a decent position or trying to work an opening for himself. Anyone who's seen the compilation video of the goals he scored for Southend will have noted that a number were scored following mazy dribbles into the box.

I think at the moment we look exactly what we are. A team with several new players still learning each others strengths. The back five - right back aside - seem settled. But the midfield and forward line are very much a work in progress.

As we strolled down the canal path back to the car park in the late Summer sun we were overtaken by the "Coventrian" canal boat slowly chugging its merry way back to the canal basin. I couldn't help wondering if - like the slowly meandering narrow boat - Coventry City was destined to laboriously trudge the country's backwaters for the rest of my natural.

Climbing behind my steering wheel I flicked on CWR only to find some bloke wittering on for twenty minutes or so about his season ticket problem. We really are a nation of whiners. It's bound to get us a gold medal at London 2012 if it ever becomes an Olympic event. Moaning and queuing we're nailed on certainties.

I found myself screaming at Geoff Foster to cut the guy off only to find the CWR man sympathising. What is this Samaritans FM? I yearned for Clive Eakin. Oh for the days of the legend that is Rob Gurney. Geoff was obviously having a bad day for after letting Mr "I've been a fan for over 40 years and I've never been so insulted" - whinge on about how the salt on the chips at the Ricoh is just too salty, he then plays a tape of Chris Coleman's thoughts on the game only to realise afterwards that it was the tape from the Doncaster game. Moving swiftly on he switches to Rob back at the studio who reads out a number of miserably depressing text messages before quickly introducing a caller;

"Let's talk to John in Wyken"
"Hi John"
"Hi Geoff - I thought we were rubbish today Geoff"
"Were you at the game today John"
"Erm...no..."

Click. That was enough Coventry City for me today.

Thornton's Selection Dilemma - and I'm not talking Chocolates!

2008-09-03T19:12:21Z

The recent surprise "sale" of Julian Gray prompted Chris Coleman to respond to queries regarding the deadline day deal by commenting that he felt had enough cover down the left hand side listing McKenzie, Tabb and Mifsud as suitable replacements for the now departed former Birmingham and Crystal Palace midfielder. Surprisingly - or worryingly - if you are Kevin Thornton the youngster was not mentioned in this company, giving rise to concerns that the Irish youngster has, at best, slipped down the pecking order, or at worst, disappeared off the Chris Coleman radar altogether in what could very well be his make or break season.

The allocated squad number of 29 hardly fills us with confidence that Thornton will feature more regularly than of late. Of course the squad number could have no relevance whatever. His omission from the aforementioned quote could be that Coleman sees the young Irishman as being of more use in another position. A central midfield berth perhaps? An advanced role playing in behind the strikers? Even as an impact player, arriving from the bench in a bid to affect the latter stages of a game. Who knows maybe even a replacement right back? The worry for me is that Coleman's statement means that Kevin Thornton is about to go the way of a number of City youngsters who have failed to make the grade at Championship level. Remember John Eustace, Craig Pead, David Pipe, Barry Quinn, Liam Davis and others. All showed a reasonable amount of promise before being allowed to leave.

Thornton appears to be a firm fans' favourite though. His brief - almost cameo performances - have caught the eye of a number of bosses who've taken charge of first team affairs in the three years that KT has been part of the first team squad. But therein lies the rub. A paltry 18 starts in three seasons appears to underline that Messrs Reid, Adams, Dowie and the current incumbent Coleman do not share the fans' view that Thornton commands a first team place. Injuries have played their part but 29 appearances from the bench would suggest that something is awry behind the scenes for one who from the outside looking in appears to have the ability to carry a threat at this level. Rumours of ill-discipline, application, diet and weight problems regularly surface on the grapevine that is the various supporters' forums. Possibly the "smoke" and "fire" adage might raise its ugly head at this point. The argument of young talent being brought in from abroad limiting the chances of young local talent can be dismissed in this case. This is Coventry City not Arsenal or Chelsea.

So is the Drogheda born youngster about to go the way of a number of his peers and slip silently - at best - into lower league obscurity? If so it may leave the faithful scratching their heads and asking the pertinent question; just what does it say about the club's youth policy that so few youngsters seem to make the grade at this level or higher? Marcus Hall would appear to be the best youngster that the club has produced over the last decade or so. That in itself is disturbing. There are - you could argue - potentially a few pretenders to that crown in the shape of Chris Kirkland, now a regular at Wigan Athletic. Calum Davenport who is now finding regular football at West Ham. Little Sheff perhaps, although the jury is very much still out on whether he can establish himself as a true premiership player. Others could point to highly rated Daniel Sturridge, poached from the academy and now making a name for himself at Eastlands. By anyone's standards whether Kevin Thornton makes it or not a conveyor belt it certainly isn't.

Transfer Deadline Proves to be a Gray Day in a Grey Summer

2008-09-02T22:03:59Z

Has there ever been a more acrimonious transfer period than this summer? Manchester United are blarting at Real Madrid's secret approach for Ronaldo. Madrid themselves are squealing at Chelsea's under hand approach for Robinho who was so traumatised by the whole thing that he spent the entire summer confused and crying, according the Real president, before jumping on a jet late last night and flying to London to sign for a club that plays in Manchester. I'm convinced he still isn't sure who he has signed for. Meanwhile Spurs are squealing over United's approach for Berbatov, while Blackburn protested about old boy Mark Hughes trying to tempt Rocque Santa Cruz to the blue half of Manchester. And as for Gareth Barry don't get me started. Even the sky blues had trouble nailing down deals. The Eastwood, Morrison and Wright deals all dragged on and on.

As for the people at Sky - the company that invented football back in 1992 - well of course they love it and milk each deal for all that it's worth.

The fans of course are whipped up into some sort of rabid frenzy like kids on Christmas Eve wondering what will be under the tree in the morning. Will it be a Scalextric, a Nintendo Wii, an ipod or an Argentinian Centre Half? They wake up on transfer deadline day plus one and dash downstairs only to find none of the above just a 32 year old journeyman right back from Crewe on a loan until January. I imagine that's how most Fulham fans felt this morning when they sat down at the breakfast table only to find Julian Gray bobbing up and down in their corn flakes.

Sadly most fans see little or no movement in club personnel as some sort of depressing pre-cursor to a club run by a board with no ambition or desire to succeed. This is underlined by a total lack of transfer deadline day activity, a sure sign that the new season - barely a month old - is already a write off. They seem to ignore the fact that said board has spent most of the summer bringing in half a dozen players or more. Me I'm glad that we haven't had an influx of players in the last 24 hours. To me it almost smacks of panic buying. Look at the purchase of Leon McKenzie for example, a last minute deadline day buy who cost the best part of a million and is still yet to convince me that he is worth that value.

Me. An injury free right back aside, I'm happy with the business we have concluded this summer. Now let's just sit back and see what Coleman can do with them over the next year or two.

Mum's the Word

2008-09-02T22:02:25Z

My mum, bless her, has a saying that she would always trot out at times when I was feeling particularly sorry with my lot in life.
"Never mind son." she would say "No matter how bad things seem there's always somebody worse off than you." Of course she was right, Mums always are, it's their job. So as disappointing as Saturday's defeat to Doncaster Rovers was I consoled myself by looking around at the less fortunate from the football world.

Now, far be it from me to poke fun at these less fortunate souls - Leicester City (snigger) - I am of course above that sort of thing. However while listening to 606 on Saturday evening I happened across a suicidal Derby County fan. The Rams - no league wins in 36 starts now, an English League record - are in free fall, according to Disillusioned of Derby. Four games into the season and he has already written of the entire season. Automatic promotion was a pipe dream, the playoffs were already out of reach and Derby are nailed on for relegation. He wanted the board out, Jewell out, half the squad out, the grounds man, the stewards, the turnstile operators out etc. Poor old Disillusioned of Derby he must have thought that returning to the Championship would see them romping victoriously around the division on a free scoring junket that would take them straight back up to the Premiership where, - he was firmly of the opinion - that they still belonged, despite what happened last season.

I was talking to an old friend the other night. He's a long standing Crystal Palace fan. He was suicidal then and that was before the midweek 4 goal Carling Cup hammering away at Division One Leeds United which was followed up with another 4 goal mauling at Reading last weekend. He was consoled by the fact that they did manage to score their first league goal of the season though. Southampton fans roundly harangued their young side as they left the St Mary's pitch following last Saturday's lunch-time reverse at home to Blackpool.

You see, suddenly things don't seem so bad. I'd like to think that the sky blue faithful have a little more about them, but already I'm hearing whinging callers on the Saturday night post match phone in. Contributors to GMK on line are already posting threads with such titles as "Is Coleman the right man for the job? How long should we give Ranson?" etc Worse still rumours abounded that a certain sky blue fan squared up to Elliot Ward as he left the pitch following the final whistle at Doncaster on Saturday. All of this is at odds with the widely held view that most sky blue fans would take a mid-table finish as decent progress this term following the debacle of last year. Well mid-table is exactly where we are.

It strikes me that our current win ratio of 50% - if maintained - will give us almost 70 points at the end of the season. Not bad considering we are bedding in 6 or seven new players, who are clearly yet to gel as a team. Not bad when you consider one of them has missed most of pre-season and the other most of last season. Not bad considering we are missing a couple of key players - Best, Doyle - from last season. Not bad considering the average age of the team. Not bad considering we still need an injury free recognised right back. Not bad considering we pushed a premiership side to 120 minutes of cup football in a televised game that must have shown us in a decent light to the rest of the footy public.

Keep the faith 'ey lads, Mums the word.

The Sky Blue Army, Geoff Foster and Jeff Stelling

2008-09-01T09:59:42Z

I admire the Sky Blue Army I really do. They have more stomach for the fight than me, more commitment to the sky blue cause than me, more loyalty to the shirt than me and probably more disposable income than me. Every second week or so match day tickets are secured, maps are scanned, pubs are selected, and meeting points are arranged in readiness for Saturday morning or Tuesday evening departures as they travel the length and breadth of this green and pleasant land - more in hope than expectation - to support the Sky Blues.

On the odd occasion when I do travel away I see the same faces, the same battle weary souls with skins as thick as a Rhino's rear end - Paul McKay, Kev Monks and his good lady Rachel, Steve "Choccy Penguin" Payne, Natalie Cox, Nigel Eccles and many, many others whose faces I recognise but whose names I don't yet know. I am willing to bet - holidays aside - that these people were all at the Keep Moat Stadium on Saturday, for many the first trip to the home of Doncaster Rovers.

Doncaster Rovers, who are they? The mixture of ignorance and bravado that rolls off the various city websites on Saturday morning has me worried.

"They're only a second division side"...."No problem; I forecast an easy 3-0 win"...."Yeah Eastwood to bag a couple" etc

Have these people got such short memories? Remember last season? Remember Blackpool? Remember Scunthorpe? Remember last weekend even? Bristol City? They were all second division outfits recently. These sky blue fans are very young, very foolish or eternal optimists. I am none of these three. Time has taught me to take nothing for granted when assessing the outcome of a game involving Coventry City.

So I sat down with my Saturday afternoon buddies the two Geoff's - Stelling and Foster. One is the super-smooth, sharp-witted, twinkle-eyed, friend to former football stars of decades gone by. The other presents Soccer Saturday on a well known TV satellite station!

Did you see what I did there?

But seriously though, I can't listen to Geoff Foster. That's no disrespect to him or his commentating style; it's just his perpetually nervous tone never fails to transmit to me making me even more nervous. Even on the rare occasions when we are thumping several shades of the proverbial out of the opposition. He is a dyed in the wool sky blue fan whose heart is more often than not to be found on his forearm than in its rightful place in his chest cavity, and that's what bothers me. He has no doubt witnessed enough occasions down the years where the sky blues have managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory, and that has to affect any man regardless of his mental make up.

"...and the fourth official indicates that there is FIVE MINUTES of added time to be played!" he would wail with the tone of a man who's about to endure root canal work. Then adding "Can the Sky Blues hold on to this six goal cushion?"

I have a sister in law who suffers from the same nervous affliction. Bizarrely she gets to the game an hour before kick off to look at a largely empty arena psyching herself up for the game, then spends most of the ensuing ninety minutes either in the ladies, going to the ladies, or coming from the ladies.

So there I am watching goal flash after goal flash roll frantically up the screen. The only reference to the Sky Blues game at Doncaster was that someone named Wellens had lashed home a shot from distance to give the home side a lead - which in the view of the reporter watching the game - was totally against the run of play. This statement gives me hope. However as the afternoon wears on a hard pressed Jeff "Super cool" Stelling - such a Geoff Foster wannabe - can hardly keep up with the goal action. Still no news from Doncaster however. Chris Kamara up at The Riverside could hardly contain himself when Middlesborough took the lead against ten men Stoke City, his voice level rising to such a high frequency at one point that my mum's dog's ears pricked up. Still no reports from Doncaster. Phil "big nose" Thompson almost orgasms as Robert Green saves a penalty at Upton Park; and still no news from Doncaster. Still no news from Doncaster. Inevitably as the minutes roll by toward ten to five the result pops up at the foot of the screen.

FT Doncaster Rovers 1 0 Coventry City

So another weekend wrecked. Another weekend where "The Championship" program on Sunday morning makes for painful viewing. Some of the travelling Sky Blue Army - those with a particularly masochistic streak - will have set the video to record and will still be in bed taking advantage of a well earned lie in. Who would begrudge them that?

Groundhog Day........Again

2008-08-24T15:39:50Z

Christmas seems to get earlier and earlier when you're a Coventry City fan. In years gone by early season optimism and cherished dreams of league and cup success generally persisted at least until all the mince pies had been scoffed. Nowadays the early season visit of Bristol City to the Ricoh with their unerring ability to burst our Sky Blue balloons is almost as regular a date on my calendar as yuletide itself. So it was with a sense of foreboding that I strode down the canal path in the welcome summer sun towards the Sky Blues' first real test of our early season promotion credentials. Two hours later as I trudged wearily back down the same path my déjà vu forebodings proving to be well founded, season 2008/09 has all the echoes of yet another Groundhog Day......again.

To be honest I was a little concerned when I read in Friday's CT that Chris Coleman was disturbed by the squad's lack lustre showing in training. Surely we don't think that the league is all but won already? This is Coventry City boys, nothing is certain here. Even after the fat lady has sung, milked an encore, taken a bow, blown kisses to the crowd, changed, showered, done her hair and nails, signed autographs at the stage-door before slipping into a waiting limo, things can go horribly wrong. I also voiced my concerns to Geoff Foster and Adam Dent on the CWR Friday night phone in with regard to the midfield that we would be fielding against Bristol. Gray, Tabb, Boozy and Mifsud may have a reasonable amount of football ability, but Tabb and Mifsud are on the small side, Gray is hardly renowned for his defensive capabilities and Boozy seems to be taking a while to settle into the Championship hurly burly. With ice man deputising at right back for the injured Wright and Mickey Doyle only fit enough for the bench, Bristol with their big, physical and uncompromising style would surely roll us over again. I feared the worst.

It all started so well though. For the first twenty minutes or so we looked strong we took the fight to the visitors before they threw a cold bucket of reality all over our early season excitement.

Generally goalkeepers are afforded the type of personal protection reserved for George Bush when visiting Helmand Province. Referee Dowd saw fit however to let former Sky Blue big Dele barge Westwood with an attack that would have won him at least a bronze in the 110kg class Tae-Kwando in Beijing. Dele was the first to climb from the carnage of littered bodies like the terminator rising from the wreckage of a blazing petrol tanker and plant the ball into the unguarded net. In truth my initial impression was that Westwood was a little late coming off his line and that it may have been Elliott Ward who clattered into him. Still, against the run of play the visitors were ahead, and normal service was resumed.

Talking of referee's Phil Dowd hardly covered himself in glory. His performance was underlined by a terse no comment to the waiting press as he left the Ricoh and boarded the Bristol City team bus. It would be churlish to blame the referee for the result, but the man in black hardly endeared himself with a number of baffling decisions including waving away what looked like a clear tug on Morrison when clean through in the penalty area.

With Andy Marshall on for the injured Westwood - the Sky Blues regained their composure and finished the half well creating a number of chances and forcing Basso into a couple of decent stops.

I should have read between the lines in the Friday's paper regarding Coleman's comments on the futility of friendly internationals. It was clearly a mask for the fact that Freddy Eastwood had returned from Wales with an injury which prevented him returning for the second half. In contrast Dele was putting in a "shift" as his former manager Ian Dowie loved to refer to it and it was his physical presence again that allowed him to hold off the city defence and lay off the pass that lead to the second and killer goal for the visitors.

The booing of Dele - by a small section of the faithful- when he was substituted frankly speaks volumes for their small-minded attitude. The fact that he applauded the home fans anyway speaks volumes for him. Dele scored one and made one and was a huge physical handful for the likes of Ward and Dann all afternoon.

In contrast one time Bristol City target Michael Mifsud was little more than nuisance value. The Maltese international was soundly booed by the visiting fans when he left the field after a largely ineffectual performance down the right. I thought McKenzie hurt the Bristol defence more when he was moved out to the wing to accommodate Simpson in the second half. The former Norwich man provided the best cross of the game to an unmarked Morrison who dropped to his knees in exasperation when he saw Basso tip his downward header onto the upright. My friend turned to me and said "Sums up the day really." Frankly, it sums up Coventry City. We are that goal bound shot that is finger tipped at the very last second onto the post before being scrambled away for a throw in. Not even a corner mind, a throw in.

A third goal for the visitors - deep into injury time - rubbed salt into the wounds and gave the game a one sided score-line that hardly reflected its pattern. It was one of those cold shower games, a game that makes you realise the intense frustrations of watching your club flail around in the cloying quagmire that is life in the championship. Its predictability as ever is its unpredictability.

I caught Gary Johnson on Sky trying to play it cool school but his smugness played across his lips highlighting his growing arrogance. And as the interviewer caressed his flaccid ego into a full blown erection I'm sure it took all of his tubby little frame to suppress a little jig and shout "How good am I?" into the camera.

You have to hand it to the guy though - even through gritted teeth - that he has turned a jumbled jigsaw of an average second division side into championship heavyweights in a very short period of time. Banished to his lofty perch in the stand the watching Chris Coleman knows that he is clearly missing a couple of key pieces to complete his big picture. Let's hope they turn up before the end of the month.

The Respect Agenda - it's about time Coventry City was shown some

2008-08-18T22:36:32Z

I noticed the "Respect the Ref" initiative instigated in conjunction with the kick off of the Premier League season this weekend with a wry smile. I couldn't help feeling that the Sky Blues - currently sitting pretty at the top of the championship, very early days I know - have been afforded very little respect by the managers of the sides we have beaten.

For example I've read a number of weekend papers as well as the Barnsley fans' forums and the Monday morning reviews and in the main the majority have confirmed Alan Poole's report in the CT that Barnsley started well and the City found themselves lucky to be ahead. Barnsley restored parity deservedly at the break before - in the second half - City edged ahead and on the balance of play deserved the win, and could have added to their tally late in the game, but Davey believes the home team were denied a clear penalty in the first half, according to an interview in The Yorkshire Post.

"Coventry scored against the run of play" he whined, which is true by all accounts "but I felt that we did well to get back into it. We had chances and we know that we are a good team but we have to start winning games."

"I do not want to comment on the sending off," he continued "because I want to see the challenge again on the video. We had a definite penalty not given in the first half. I saw that one on the video at half time and there was no nudge by Darren Moore."
Oh right Mr Davey you were quick enough to use TV evidence to try and claim the unjustness of the supposed "penalty". But clearly couldn't be bothered to check on the dismissal of Ian Hume in the 80th minute.
"We're a good side" Mr Davey repeats like a mantra until he almost believes it himself. If you have so much faith in your side's ability Mr Davey then why instigate the ploy of watering only the one half of the pitch at half-time?
Wind the clock back a week to the opening game of the season and you could be listening - virtually word for word - to Norwich Boss Glenn Roeder. He appeared to spend most of last weekend bleating to all and sundry about refereeing decisions, penalties that were and weren't. Both interviews carried a total lack of grace or credit to the victors.
Sadly this trend seems to be spreading among other championship bosses. Mick McCarthy, Neil Warnock and Dave Jones also fall into the category of managers who proffer grudging praise through teeth containing more grit than the M1 after it has just been snow ploughed along its entire length.
They could all take a leaf out of Chris Coleman's book. The current City supremo appears cool, calm and balanced when he appears in the media so much so that it's hard to tell the outcome of the game.
Gary Johnson - the manager of the Sky Blues next opponents - seems to be displaying the smugness of one who is starting to believe his own publicity. I noticed toward the end of last season a John Gregory type smirk playing across his lips as the media stroked his ego while the Robins strived for Premiership status. I admire Johnson and think he could be destined for a career managing at a higher level. But let's hope he becomes the next manager to be scrambling around looking for excuses at twenty to five on Saturday.

Lost in France

2008-08-15T11:02:25Z

There I am stood outside the small newsagents, bar, tabac, post office, come bakers that serves as the focal point for everyone in the small French village that La Famile Coyle has chosen as their holiday destination this year. Loitering like a sweaty palmed, spotty faced, pre-pubescent, testosterone filled young teen plucking up the courage to reach up and purchase his first ever copy of "Big-ones Monthly" and ferret it away before one of the neighbours came in and spotted him. Damn, I wish I'd paid more attention to my French teacher at school. But then I was a sweaty palmed, pre-pubescent, young teen trying my best to look down her cleavage every time she bent forward. Happy days.

I saunter casually in and respond with a confident "Bonjour" to the owner's mumbled greeting therefore expending my full French vocabulary repertoire in one single utterance. Stopping at the newspaper display I frantically scan the back pages and inside back pages of two day old British papers for any crumb - and knowing the type of coverage the City are afforded by the country's media that's all it would be - of City news before the surly, unshaven Gaulois smoking proprietor mumbled unintelligibly something along the lines of "Are you gonna buy that paper mate, or what?" and I shuffled away disgruntled. Muttering under my breath "not paying three Euros for yesterday's news"

Unanswered questions rage through my mind; how did we get on in the friendlies? Did we put Cambridge United to the sword? Crush Kilmarnock with open, expansive, one-touch, technical football the like of which the world hasn't seen since Brazil circa 1970? Or were we humbled? Beaten back by wave after wave of marauding Scottish attacks raping and pillaging as our young defence melted away like an ice-cream on a hot summer day? Has Eastwood opened his Sky Blue account yet? Has Clinton Morrison signed? What about Stephen Wright? How are Westwood and the other new signings bedding in? Has RR flashed the cheque book and brought in the final few pieces to Chris Coleman's football jigsaw? I was truly lost in France.

My mobile bounces around in my pocket, its services hi-jacked by some foreign network with a spurious sounding name who charge me the gross domestic product of Sweden to receive a message and a sum roughly akin to the total third world debt to reply to it. "An internet café, an internet café, my Kingdom for an internet café." I cry in frustration. Just for the chance to scan the GMK or LAST forums, or the Coventry Telegraph website. This must be akin to a junkie going cold turkey.

Relief at being back in England is tempered with frustration that the Brittany Ferries loading schedule, the English Channel and the good old British weather, not to mention our nation's clogged up roads and ever watchful speed cameras conspire to prevent me from making a headlong dash "up country" in an effort to make the kick off, or even catch the second half for that matter even though we land in rain-soaked Poole at a teasingly tempting 12:30.

So, there we are trapped in the pouring rain on the A350, crawling behind a caravan, cursing the Beeb for not having upgraded five live to an FM stereo signal. Five live commentator and expert summariser Steve Stone wittered through a dull opening half between last year's Premiership whipping boys, Derby County and Doncaster Rovers the surprise play-off final conquerors of Leeds United.

And is it me? But why does it feel like when they go round the grounds the visit to the Ricoh is always last? In fact on Saturday they squeezed in a trip to a couple of games in the SPL, wittered on about the Olympics, then the Charity Shield, then a totally unnecessary trip to Arlo White at the Oval to be told that it was still raining - no? Really? - before deciding to pop down to the Ricoh, naturally just as I am going through a valley in the Dorset hills where between whistles and crackling hiss I managed to decipher "....two poor sides.....disjointed....Norwich....on...top.....Lupoli...the man most likely".... And that was it. Not a word about Coventry, you know the team that Norwich happened to be playing. So footy is back and so sadly was the media's raging apathy toward our beloved club. Half Time; Coventry City 0 Norwich City 0.

A break is called for as we roll into the services on the M40. In a well known burger chain I happen across a discarded newspaper while I munch away. I lap it up as if I've stumbled across a copy of the Dead Sea scrolls. In truth it's a short, run of the mill piece with quotes from Chris Coleman answering a mundane question on whether the Sky Blues can achieve promotion this year. Ordinarily it would rile me "Of course we can achieve promotion, you stupid lazy, Fleet St hack" but this is manna from heaven. My first piece of City related news for over a fortnight, and, it has a picture. I soak up every word like as sponge as my kids tuck into their burger and fries.

I gun the engine back to life and the radio instantly kicks in with an excited shout "Another goal at the Ricoh..." My heart races "ANOTHER GOAL!...What do you mean ANOTHER goal?" I shout back. "Yep it's all over here now a second goal has secured all three points for..........................................................Coventry"
"GET IN!" I shout, fists pumping the air as I turn up the radio and bask in the commentator's description as the faithful roar in the background. Leon McKenzie has tapped in after Clinton Morrison hit the bar. "We've signed Clinton Morrison" I exclaim as I talk to the radio." Who scored the first one?" I ask expecting an instant reply, but the radio monologues on City not quite deserving it, but the second half had provided more entertainment etc. I didn't care we'd won 2-0 AND we'd signed Clinton Morrison. The rain stopped and the sun came out. Footy was back and I was home.

"I would love it, love it" if we beat Newcastle United

2008-08-15T10:54:19Z

Supping in The Maudslay after our tricky but ultimately comfortable 3-1 win over Aldershot, my vibrating mobile phone informs me that we've drawn the "Toon Army" at home in the next round.

Ah Newcastle United and their much loved Geordie Nation who will no doubt swagger into town with their "Do yer nah who we are like?" big fan base, big club, big ego, well big deal. But hang about what have Newcastle actually won in the last 40 years. They seem to equate big club with big crowds over looking the small but nevertheless relevant point that big clubs - clubs that they align themselves with, the United's, Liverpool's, Arsenals and more latterly Chelsea's of this world - actually win cups and trophies. The size of the much vaunted "Toon Army" being, generally, the main reason for their over-inflated opinion of themselves. Younger City fans need to be reminded that it wasn't always thus and that Newcastle's fans, just like the fans of many another club - with the possible exception of Man City - disappear into the woodwork when times are thin. I remember a famous picture in the Evening Telegraph back in the early 80's showing a sparsely populated away section on the old Spion Kop for a midweek visit of Newcastle. The picture showed that West Midlands finest lining the pen heavily outnumbered the vaunted hordes of the famous toon army, more a toon platoon perhaps in those days.

They haven't won the FA Cup since the mid 1950's, we have, our only success, but a success never the less. They've managed one Championship in the last forty years - Division One Winners in 1993 - a feat we too accomplished in 1967. They've flirted with Europe, but then so have we, they beat Barcelona, and we beat Bayern Munich, so honours pretty even there.

So can we look forward to a host of big name Premier League stars gracing the Ricoh instead of the work-a-day Championship fodder we usually have to suffer? Well let's see; big stars...well, we can forget Michael Owen he'll be injured - as usual. Joey Barton will be inside. That leaves Damien Duff, Alan Smith and Nicky Butt, hardly mouth watering stuff.

The paucity of recent times is highlighted from the fans' poll for last season's "Fave Match" which included such notable victories as a 3 goal home win over relegated Reading or an away win at almost relegated Bolton. We can select from away wins at the home of the Premier League and European Champions Manchester United - third team or not - when was the last time the "Geordie Nation" emerged from Old Trafford victorious. Or the four goal bloody nose we dished out to Blackburn Rovers on their own patch in the cup.

I remember many memorable games at Highfield Road. Hadji and Chippo putting the "Toon Army" to the sword in a thumping 4-1 win on a gloriously sunny day at Highfield Rd. Made even more memorable for a Paul Williams clearance that found its way into the top corner of Shay Given's net. Given of course was the culprit when he'd didn't spot Dion lurking behind him as the big man nodded the ball out of his hands in another memorable fixture between the two clubs. I also remember some heavy defeats too with the likes of Malcolm McDonald and Alan Shearer filling their goal boots at our expense. Sky clearly see an upset on the cards otherwise they wouldn't have selected the tie as the televised match for this round

The real reason I hope we beat Newcastle however stems not from football clashes in years gone by, nor the grating perception of them as a "big" club. It stems from the racist chanting at Highfield Road, a moment where elements showed the true face of the much lauded "Toon Army" which will live with me, and I suspect many others. I remember the growing murmur of stunned disbelief among the Sky Blue faithful that day when the realisation dawned at what was emanating from sections - at least I hope it was a section - of the travelling toon army. For that reason I hope the sky blues are in the hat for the next round.

Those Holiday "Sky" Blues.

2008-08-15T10:50:00Z

The pressures of work, traffic and family life found me hot footing it up the canal path to the shimmering lights of the Ricoh - cloaked as it was in a swirling mist of "light drizzle" - on a late summer evening when I heard the two teams emerge from the tunnel. Late summer evening, that's a laugh, leaden skies, a chill breeze, swirling rain, August, I mused as I pulled my hood closer. Come to England, where it's November all year round. The lengthy queues from the pay on the gate turnstiles did nothing to cheer me, my first game of the season and I was going to miss the kick off.

My mood wasn't helped by the fact that I'd just returned from two glorious weeks in France. Blue skies, golden sandy beaches, lush green countryside, long empty roads, friendly locals, cheap red wine, superb selection of bread and cheeses. Only to return to our wet, grey, overcast, over-weight, over-taxed increasingly over-crowded, grubby little island to the news of gas price rises, electricity price rises, water rates rises and Gareth Barry still hadn't put pen to paper for Liverpool!

Don't get me wrong I love my country and would defend it - verbally anyway - to my very last breath; but I'm not blind to its faults. We do fall out from time to time and today relationships between Britannia and I were somewhat tetchy. Still, it was my first game of the season and buoyed by the win over Norwich and the prospect of seeing the new signings I increased my step through the large puddles forming in the car park and joined the back of the queue as the cheers, "oohs!" and "aahs!" emanating from the bowels of the Ricoh told me the game had started.

You have to love the mentality of the English football fan who will sit in his favourite pre-match boozer until the last possible second squeezing every last conceivable drop out of the pre-match drinking time, before emptying the contents of his bladder and making a wheezy dash for the ground. Only to whinge in beery, B&H exasperation when he spots the length of the queue at two minutes to kick off failing to realise that thousands of others have adopted the same match day approach.

Mind you who can blame them? I've lost count of the number of grounds that I've stood in down the years paying over the odds to drink warm beer from a plastic cup in the bowels of a football stadium under the gaze of yellow coated "little Hitlers" while being captured on the video of the local constabulary in a breeze block and concrete environment that has all the charm and charisma of a B&Q warehouse.

So there I am shuffling forward toward the turnstile wondering why it takes so long for a transaction that involves one person handing over a £20 note to a person who hands back a fiver and three pound coins and a ticket, when suddenly the turnstile door slams firmly shut. A collective groan emanates from the queue, who then trudge to the back of another queue. I ask a steward who informs me that they've run out of tickets at this turnstile and they've gone to print some more.

Ticket, of course! I nip round to the club shop and find that the queue in the ticket office is just a few people deep I tag myself on to the end smug in my self-congratulations. While waiting I was pleased to see that the lady that worked in the recently closed ticket office at the West Orchards Shopping Centre is still gainfully employed by the club. Quite right too, I don't know her name but she is a real asset to this club, friendly face, polite manner and very good at what she does.

The short queue moves steadily forward and I can't help but over hear the conversation of the two teenage girls in front of me who are already developing the uniquely female skill of multi-tasking ie smoking, chewing, texting while holding a conversation all at the same time.
"Ah, but did you see what Daz was wearing, he looked well nice?"
"Ricky though" sighed the other rolling her heavily made up eyes "he's well fit ain't he?"
So there I am standing in the queue behind two giggly teenage age girls when the woman behind the counter offers them a choice.

"Where would you like to sit?"
Lots of "ooing" and "aahing" followed by puzzled looks and blank expressions. "I dunno what do you fink?"
"Don't ask me I dunno do I?"
"Well I ain't bovverred"
Jesus H Christ I've got Vicky Pollard's twin sisters in front of me.
"Well where are Dazza and all them gunna be sitting?"
"I dunno do I, ain't never been 'ere before 'ave I"
"Well text 'im then"
"Ang on I'll fone Ricky"
It's my worst nightmare I'm trapped in an episode of Eastenders when all I want to do is watch Coventry City play football. There must be 20 000 empty sky blue seats in the ground and typical of a woman she can't decide which one she wants. It's bad enough when you offer them the choice of two spaces in a car park!

Thankfully one of the other ticket office staff becomes available and I rush forward.
"Hello Sir, where would you like to sit?"
"Anywhere" said I
"Block 28?"
"Yep"
"Halfway up?"
"Yep"
"Row Z?"
"Yep"
"Seat 35"
"Yep"
"That'll be £12"
I proffer my twenty pound note, collect my ticket and change and I'm out of the shop, past the cash queue which is still slowly shuffling forward in the rain and into the wide open spaces of the concourse. Two bounds later and I'm up the steps and in my seat. Football is back.

Here Comes the Summer...triffic

2008-05-08T17:59:55Z

(Cue the slowly speaking woman with the sexy voice and the slide trombone) Beaded bubbles blinking on the brim of a tall glass of iced Pimm's sweetened with a dash of lemonade, sprinkled with a slice of zesty lemon peel. Juicy red strawberries topped with a dollop of thick Cornish cream and a dusting of finely grained caster sugar. This isn't just summer, this is .......

Oh sorry, don't know what came over me their. Hands up who hates the Summer with it's gentrified, lightweight sports. Cricket, tennis, golf.....give me strength! Cricket, blokes in pyjamas waving a piece of wood about; Golf, blokes smacking a ball as hard as they can then walking after it. Tennis, women grunting a lot. I suppose all the courts at the Memorial Park will be filled for a fortnight again by fat, forty year old Federer's. Pathetic. Bit of rain and they all dash for the club house.

God; long, hot Saturday's with nothing to do but broil in your own juices, take the kids to the park or drag the lawn mower out of the shed and give the garden a short back and sides. Theirs always DIY I suppose, but then theirs always DIY.

How can a footy fan fill this void? And don't mention Euro 2008, we're still in a huff about that. I suppose the Olympics will while away a few evenings watching to see which nation can produce the fittest junkies on the face of the planet. Women's volleyball will be worth a look I suppose. Theirs always the end of season DVD but frankly the title "Coventry City FC 2007/08 - a 101 great thrown-ins" hardly peaks the imagination.

Nope, when the sun cracks the stones the only thing for a pasty faced footy fan to do is withdraw to his bedroom, shut the curtains, huddle around his PC and hit the net - something the sky blues couldn't manage much last season - and peruse the forums and gossip websites scanning for transfer rumours. The circus has already started and below is a selection of the more juicer revelations plus a few pointers on where CC and RR might be flashing the SISU cash this summer.

Keepers
Kasper Schmeichel. He wants to come. He likes the manager, the style of play. His Dad wants him to come. We want him here, a deal has been agreed in principle with him and Manchester City. It all sounds very promising......ah, but is his agent happy with his cut? What's the betting it doesn't happen?
Hopefully the deal will be done quite quickly and with a fit and healthy Andy Marshall restored to the ranks competition between two fine keepers coached by the legend that is Steve Ogrizovic should ensure we have strength in depth in this position. All of which will allow you Aussie Danny Ireland to continue his development.

Right Back
If David McKnackered knee could stay fit this area wouldn't be a problem as most city fans have seen enough to know that he is a real asset to the side. Sadly injuries have plagued the Scot since his arrival and young Isaac Osbourne has had to step in as emergency cover. As ably as he has performed the youngster is not a long term answer to the solution, so an orthodox right back is required. Rumours have circulated that one of the potential targets could be young Oldham Athletic right back and team captain Neal Eardley. A product of the grater Manchester clubs youth system the young Welsh man has already earned a senior cap for his native country and notched six goals last season.

Midfielders
A former old boy appears to be in the frame initially. Coventry born Gary McSheffrey is strongly rumoured to be one of the players targeted by Coleman and Ranson, much will depend upon whether the Aston Villa's Reserves can retain their premiership status. People close to "Little Sheff" say he is unhappy in Birmingham (who wouldn't be) and a move back to civilisation where they don't throw rocks at the moon would suit the former England U21 and fans favourite who amassed 162 appearances and an impressive 53 goals in his time in sky blue. His return would be seen as a bit of a coup for the new regime.

Would the sky blues face competition from other clubs though? Steve Bruce may fancy taking Sheff to Wigan. The promoted sides may be interested also. A proven threat at this level "little Sheff"- who has struggled to make the much vaunted step up - can play wide left, behind the strikers or as a partner in a twin strike force.

It was interesting to hear Chris Coleman recently talk of plundering the ranks of clubs with financial issues for new players to bolster his squad ahead of next season. Could one of those clubs be Cardiff City? The bluebirds have several striking/attacking midfielder options that may have caught the sky blue boss's eye. Nuneaton born former Aston Villa youngster Peter Whittingham could be one of those potential targets. The 24 year old arrived at Ninian Park as an unknown quantity but has firmly established himself making 19 appearances in the 2006/07 season and a further 25 starts this term in what has been an injury hit season. Impressively he has notched 9 goals in those 44 games including a stunning strike away at Premiership Middlesborough on the Bluebirds route to this year's FA Cup Final.

Paul Parry and Joe Ledley may also have attracted Coleman's eye. Both have reached double figures this season in front of goal as well as being at the top end of the assists statistics. Former Hereford United midfielder Parry plays wide left while Cardiff born Ledley - linked with a move away from the Welsh club in the January window - can play as an out and out striker also.

Yet another Welsh international has also been linked with a move to the Ricoh. Former Crewe Alexandre midfielder David Vaughan - A £300 000 capture for Real Sociedad by Coleman last summer - has been linked with a return to these shores. Vaughan always caught the eye with his performances for the Alex in the Championship before the Cheshire club were relegated. Coleman may also look to renew his recent interest in Derby County's Stephen Pearson. The former Celtic and Motherwell midfielder spent the last few weeks of this season on loan at Stoke City helping the Potters reach the Premiership. The only fly in the ointment here is that Scottish six footer may fancy a return to the top flight should Potters supremo Tony Pulis want to make the loan move permanent. The Rams may well be tempted as they cut the cloth accordingly ahead of a return to Championship football next season. They may also be interested in unloading another Welsh man in Robert Earnshaw another striker who has struggled to make the jump but whom we all know can score for fun in the championship. Talking of which...

Strikers
The Eastwood from Wolves rumours have already started, did they ever go away? Is this yet another example of Chris Coleman using his Welsh connections or again is that pure coincidence. Will we have Leon McKenzie storming out of Ryton doing what is known in Sky Blue circles as a Regis Genaux. Only blaming the "Welsh mafia" this time and not the Scottish equivalent that the Belgian fullback alluded to under Strachan.

Is Fredy (yes it is spelt with one R) Eastwood the answer though? Still a bit of an unknown quantity at Championship level following his stop/start season at The Molineux. And is he physically imposing enough should the manager what to continue with the 4-5-1 system and employ a lone striker? Like wise David Healy, another rumoured target. Undoubtedly a proven goalscorer at Championship level the Ulster man also knows where the bag of the net is at international level and it seems a tad strange that he is not getting more of a look in at Craven Cottage in Fulham's battle with relegation. Also would The Cottagers want to sell should the worst come to the worst. Healy - at 5' 8" is however a little on the small side a la Mifsud.

And while size - as my wife will tell you - isn't everything, I'm afraid, at this level of football frankly, it is. Stoke City are a case in point all hustle and muscle last season, it wasn't pretty but it certainly proved effective.

But what about other potential targets loitering around the lower reaches of the championship or below. Former Charlton Athletic youngster Kevin Lisbie could be an option to tempt Ranson to open the purse strings. The Colchester United front man notched an impressive 17 goals for the struggling Layer Road outfit proving that the 28 year old knows where the goal is at this level. Scunthorpe United front man Martin Paterson may also be worth a look. The former Stoke City youth team player joined the Irons on a two year contract last summer on the back of an excellent loan spell at Grimsby where he notched 6 times in 15 starts. The Lincolnshire outfit struggled in the Championship - and like Colchester were relegated - but Paterson proved a handful with 14 goals in just 24 starts.

Oldham Athletic's Chris Porter has caught the eye again this season with some impressive stats to show that his prolific form last season was no fluke. Despite injury the youngster notched 12 goals in 30 games backing up his 22 strikes from 36 starts last season. Financially troubled AFC Bournemouth may be forced to listen to offers for young Sam Vokes who burst onto the scene attracting interest from the Premiership. The 19 year old Welshman notched a dozen goals in 30 appearances this season and at 6' 1" can certainly handle himself.
Interesting months ahead. Right I'm off to find my peep-toe wellies and my 'muda shorts and get some colour on my legs and await the news that Ray and Chris have unlocked the SISU vaults and hauled in the five or six quality players that will mean days like last Sunday will become a distant memory.

Run Forrest Run!

2008-05-07T08:11:34Z

I learned with more than a tinge of sadness that Darren Huckerby had been released by Norwich City. I caught The "Huckster" now in his early thirties being interviewed on Sky sporting his trademark look of permanent surprise - you know the one, the one he pulled every time the offside flag went up "What me?" - As he revealed that he would be looking for pastures new next season.

I remember the day I heard he'd been sold to a resurgent Leeds United for four million pounds, money used to finance the Robbie Keane deal - I always said we should have sold Noel Whelan back to them instead - and I nearly crashed my car in shock. I think we were the perfect club for someone like Huckerby, the expectation at clubs such as Newcastle, Leeds and Manchester City seemed to be a burden on the shoulders of a lad who - lets be honest - could best be described as uncomplicated, not that he ever purported to be anything else.

The homely air of Highfield Rd, the modest stadium for our family club, with its loyal band of easily pleased supporters seemed the perfect stage for the Huckster to blossom under the guidance of Dion on the pitch and Strachan off it. When his successor Keano left for Inter you felt that the same thing was happening again. A young, uncomplicated lad lured to the bright lights of the big city just a tad too early in his career. Both Hucks and Keano found success at slightly lesser clubs in Norwich City and Spurs where the full glare of the media spotlight maybe isn't quite as blinding as it would be say at Leeds United or Inter of Milan.

Their's a host of memorable moments from Huckerby but three stand out for me;

I travelled to Elland Road to watch Huckerby leave the Leeds defence - and Gary Kelly in particular - in absolute tatters in a superbly entertaining 3-3 draw. I got back from the pub in time to catch it all on Match of the Day and hear Strachan describing Huckerby's display as "world class." Huckerby's third goal that day was an awesome strike. Picking up the ball from the half way line, he set off with that searing pace of his turning Gary Kelly inside and out before leaving the Republic of Ireland full-back on his backside and dispatching the ball into the top corner.

The second memory was of Huckerby returning with his new employers to play his part in another high scoring thriller at Highfield Road notching the winner in a 4-3 thriller. It was a perfunctory rather than spectacular strike notable for the fact that he wasn't quite sure how to celebrate it, or even whether he should celebrate. It also had more than a hint of offside about it too, no surprise their then.

I was struck by his appearance that day. He looked about 2 stone lighter and significantly sharper and leaner than he ever did with us, but he played like a little boy lost. It was as if everyone who advised him had told him that the move to Leeds was the right career move, the right time, the right club, the step up, the chance to win trophies, Europe etc To the extent that he almost believed it himself. Watching him on telly though he never looked settled and I truly don't believe he ever captured the form that he first showed for us as a slightly tubby long haired youngster in the days of Dublin, Whelan, Telfer etc

The final and most lasting memory has to be, can only be, that goal. I can still hear Rob Gurney's commentary now and I still get goose bumps when I hear it. My memory of that goal was watching David Beckham standing in hands on hips disbelief in the middle of the penalty box as Huckerby finished that mazy run and rolled the ball home. It was etched all over golden balls face; "hang on a minute; we're losing to Coventry City."

Funny thing about that goal is that Noel Whelan showed amazing anticipation by running across the Huckster - and almost getting in his way - in a bid to start the celebration with the West Terrace before Huckerby had even rolled the ball into the net. The noise for that goal was surely the loudest ever heard at Highfield Road, it was still rolling round the ground when the final whistle sounded.

Nostalgia is a wonderful thing. I still smile at Strachan's famous Huckerby "world beater, carpet beater" quote, but should you ever go back? Should we make a bid and see the Huckster slip on the old sky blue for one last hurrah? No, I don't think so, in many ways cherished memories can be tarnished, best to leave them be. Good luck Hucks I hope you get a decent move and I hope I get to see you take the pitch at the Ricoh again one day. I've had a rummage around on you tube and found a clip of some of the Huckster's best moments in a city shirt. It's a tad grainy and blocky in places and the backing track is shocking but the memories will be so thick you'll have to swat them like flies. Enjoy. Huckerby moments.