By CovSid67
August 5 2005

The wait is over, and Coventry City are ready to charge up the Championship table! Micky Adams has spent ... erm ... almost nothing, but who needs new signings when you've got Hughes, McSheffrey, and John?! Bring it on.... While pre-season is supposedly all about gaining match fitness, with results seemingly irrelevant, there wasn't a lot for those that watched Micky Adams side to get excited about (I confess! Due to work commitments, I failed to make any matches. The choice of whether or not to go to Ibiza was taken out of my hands hours before the plane was due to take off....).

Defeats against QPR (2-3, in the Copa De Ibiza Cup Final), Athlone (0-1), Rushden "Kickers" (1-2), Port Vale (1-3), and Walsall (0-2), plus uninspiring victories over Huddersfield (1-0) and Galway (1-0), will have done little to encourage supporters, or to suggest that we are likely to escape the Championship - unless it's down to League One! (Not going to happen - relax).

The names of James Scowcroft, Matt Heath, Clayton Ince, and Stephen Bywater, were added to the squad over the summer, but have probably done little to boost season ticket sales (Richard Duffy has also re-signed on a season long loan, and has suggested that the move might become permanent). They are as good as we can expect with the current financial restraints, and are possibly better players than those they have replaced (All four are a better option than TB, despite the fact two of them are keepers!).

Paul Watson has also spent most of the summer with Coventry City, so seems highly likely to be taken on (Having followed Micky Adams from club-to-club), and some of those youngsters that might just make the grade were given run-outs in the pre-season friendlies (I use the term loosely where R&D are concerned....), including: Liam Davis, Kevin Thornton, and Luke Webb - in the event of an injury crisis, one or two of these players might just make the bench this season. If Watson does become the second signing this week, we are still three short of the "five" Adams said he wanted to bring in....

"Coventry Kid" Craig Pead left for Walsall, and the much maligned Scott Shearer signed on at Bristol Rovers. Trevor Benjamin opted for Peterboro (Having originally said he would stay on at Coventry City), while Steve Staunton simply never bothered turning up for the first day of pre-season training, and has since joined Walsall. The latter two clubs' gain certainly isn't our loss (Their wages would be far better spent keeping the Academy alive).

Graham Barrett and Neil Wood, both deemed surplus to requirements at the club, failed to find another club, so might end up staying at the club by default. Both have something to offer (Arsenal and Manchester United don't take on many "duffers"), but as of yet have failed to convince anybody at Highfield Road of their qualities. It sometimes seems that Woods defence splitting passes are simply to intelligent for the players we have at our disposal!

While we might not quite be Real Madrid(!), there is quality in the side, with Stephen Hughes, Stern John, and Gary McSheffrey all capable of producing match-winning moments, and Richard Duffy and Robert Page about as good as it gets in defence in the Championship. If these five can stay clear of injuries and suspensions, we're in with a chance of a Top 10 finish. There's always an "if", isn't there....?

As one of the few players that actually cost Coventry City, much better things will be expected of Stern John this season - glimpses of his undoubted quality is not enough! And once again how we do this season could depend on the goals of Gary McSheffrey. Some people on Coventry City Message Boards seem to forget just how young he still is - he will be 23 on the 13th of August!! He is far from the finished article, but is far better than some people seem to give him credit for.

Alongside Hughes, the Michael Doyle under Adams' leadership was a massive improvement on the Michael Doyle we saw when Peter Reid was in charge - long may that improved form continue! And Andy Morrell, one of the eight that opted to stay with Coventry City rather than leave (Despite rumours linking him with a move to Swansea), will hopefully NOT be played in a midfield position again! That option failed massively last season, and is unlikely to work this season....

As disappointing as our pre-season form, the news that the new Arena wouldn't be open on time was a massive blow - giving promotion favourites Norwich home advantage in the first match of the season is a decision Coventry City could be left to rue later in the year (Though I suppose getting the trickiest away fixture out of the way first means life becomes easy after that!). Huckerby's pace, as always, is a concern....

The Arena (When it finally opens "properly") HAS to become a fortress - sadly the cost of ticket and parking prices on the day might mean supporters have two seats each. The Derby game at the end of last season was how football matches should be: packed out, and backing your club throughout every minute.

And while Coventry City might be a good few years away from qualifying for a place in Europe, it's nice to know a little piece of us will be there this season - Rhyl have borrowed some seats from the now (Probably!) defunct Highfield Road, in a bid to boost the capacity for their match versus FK Viking!