Oppo Forum: https://www.skybluestalk.co.uk/forums/coventry-city-general-chat.7/ We got a point. A single point in a home game for the first time in what seems like forever. Our form at the Vic is getting beyond a joke now and this is before our seasonal post-Xmas collapse. However this was set in full effect as Bristol City gave us our usual boxing day spanking. We really need to win at least three more home games this season, but with all the "on paper" easy games now gone and little to show for them, that is more in desperation than hope at this point. So, after slogging it out against a side who also couldn't care in Swansea City we welcome playoff chasing Coventry City to the Vic on what will no doubt be a sold out, packed Vic with the home fans roaring us to victory. Nah, sorry but if last night's actual attendance figures are anything to go by there will be more away fans in the ground than home fans. Could this be a sort of protest by the fans' who are clearly voting with their feet and not attending? Will Gino care? Well maybe not right now, but if attendances continue to fall that means less money spent in the club shop and less fans' buying on the day tickets. It's all revenue the club will be leaking and it's a protest (if it is one) that I fully support. Coventry are having a good season and having got to the playoff final last season only losing to the filth on penalties they are giving it a good go this time around to at least finish in the top six. Automatics seem a bit far off, but they are part of a chasing pack that also includes my personal hatred Norwich City as well as a very upward Hull City. In the reverse fixture it was even stevens in an entertaining 3-3 draw where we lead 3-2 going into the final five minutes but in typical Watford fashion failed to hold on. I'm expecting a totally different game to last nights in terms of opposition. Coventry are a very direct side and will come at us and try to fill the spaces will be undoubtedly leave in the middle of the park. If we can for once get into the break without conceding we might have a chance of changing things and being more on the front foot towards the end of the game. Current standings: Is VI on borrowed time? Unsure and difficult to tell. A heavy defeat to the Sky Blues (and another poor home performance) will surely put the game at Birmingham before the International Break in the spotlight. If we somehow buck the recent trend a win that would mean 4pts from our last six but that still would make dismal reading in the form guide. You would think to avoid a two week managerial change we would have to win our next two which would literally secure our position as a Championship side for next season. Defeat in both however and I really do feel he could be gone. Will TDB play at RB? He better not. However Bachmann and Andrew's double act last night in Swansea's goal will no doubt be playing into team selection. Hamer was (imho) dropped for one poor game when he has been one of our standout players throughout this terrible run of form. Our strikers remain as blunt as Science teachers cardigans however so any goals will be from the middle of the park or any magic Apsrilla can produce, but he was pretty subpar last night as was Sema. Skyla Predicts: Watford 1 Coventry 1
I think we might actually win. Hopefully we'll start Chak, Kone and Andrews. And not TDB. One more win or a couple of draws and we should be safe in the Division I'd think.
5 more points and we will be safe I reckon. Second half performance last night will have hopefully instilled a bit of confidence in the players. Would take another draw out of this game.
0-3... two polar opposite clubs. Coventry building over a number of years, stuck by a solid manager, a team that looks to have been assembled with some thought behind it and an owner with the best interests of the club at heart. Can't say any of that about Watford.
All I want is for us to have a go again. Winning tackles and aerials, forward passing, running the channels, pressing high when possible. We have generally struggled against 3-4-1-2 this season, but I still think we should line up in a 4-3-3 similarly to how we set up for the second half against Swansea and adjust from there. TDB in the no. 6 role. Lewis needs to be dropped and both Livermore and Sema could do with a rest. Bachmann Andrews - Porteous - Hoedt - Morris Kone - TDB - Chakvetadze Asprilla - Bayo - Dennis
And that they’re averaging 1.38 points per game (over their last 8 games) whilst we are averaging 0.63 ppg (second worst in the league).
While I agree that Kayembe is a better player overall I think TDB is much better than Kayembe in the no. 6 position.
TDB was actually not terrible there last night in the second half. His tracking back and tackling worries me though.
If we won all our remaining games (ten) we would end up on 75 points. As unrealistic as that is, on current trends etc, would that even get us into the playoffs? I just put this out there in case there is still the smallest lingering hope of a top six finish.
If we lost half and drew half of our remaining games (ten) we would end up on 50 points. As realistic as that is, on current trends etc, would that even save us from relegation? I just put this out there in case there is still the smallest lingering hope of a top-half finish.
46 should do it. 47 would. 50 should be assured. There's a of teams below us thankfully and they still have to play each other a lot which helps. Top half though, I'm not expecting that.
Yes I don't think TDB is really good enough defensively for the 6, especially against the better sides. I'd much rather Kayembe there if he's fit enough. If Livermore continues to be knackered then I'd even consider Sierralta over TDB for this one actually, keeping in mind that Coventry play with two strikers and a 10, meaning we'll need to stay solid defensively in central areas.
good write up there really wasn’t anymore than 10k-12k there on Wednesday even though the official number, which obv includes non attending ST holders, was 16k doubt it was any form of protest. Watford don’t have the fan base to organise that. Think it’s just pure apathy.
Didn’t we decide earlier in the season that Kayembe was way better as a dynamic advanced midfielder pushing forward than sitting in front of the defence?
The problem is that Livermore is the only genuine deep lying defensive CM we have and he is ancient and clearly needs a break. Other than him it’s always going to be a case of playing someone out of their best position and they won’t be as effective as an in-form Livermore. We saw at home to Mboro how exposed our back 4 are if we don’t take that position/role seriously.
Yes, but Kone and Chak should start one way or another based on their performance against Swansea, and neither of them can play as a 6 whatsoever.
It coincided with both Sema and Kayembe getting injured at the same time (our game with Stoke 29th December). Though having said that, the game before that was the seemingly freak away loss at Bristol City.
They may have to play each other, but two of those teams are on a rich vein of form, Huddersfield have a new manager and Brum aren't doing as badly as I thought they were even considering Mowbray is ill. I'd be surprised if a point a game will be enough, 50 should do it
