Sky Blues reporter Andy Turner responds to fan inquiries regarding the club’s significant formation change and the upcoming transfer window in this edition of Coventry City news from CoventryLive.
As we pause for the most recent international break—which, some feel, has come at a good time for the Sky Blues—a change of formation and the upcoming January transfer window are taking up much of the attention of Coventry City supporters.
Mark Robins’ team secured a good enough point on the weekend to end a four-game losing streak, although many fans were left feeling let down by the number of opportunities lost. But, given that the mid-term transfer window is just over a month away, assistance should not be far off. This is a positive step.
The City manager is awaiting word from owner Doug King regarding what he can and cannot do in terms of trades, but Robins is optimistic that he will have the money to bolster his team, with midfield being the area of greatest need. In this edition of CoventryLive’s Q&A, Sky Blues reporter Andy Turner addresses some of the most pressing queries from supporters.
AT: I have no doubt that MR will stick with it to see how it turns out. He stated over the weekend that it adds another string to City’s bow and that it’s encouraging to see a clean sheet from a 4 and plenty of good chances created, even though there were none scored. MR prioritises a CM for January.
AT: Mark Robins is still a very self-assured person. In the hopes of signing at least two players, he is awaiting word from Doug King regarding the precise number of players he can sign. However, the manager has stated several times that he will be addressing the position and that a central midfielder is the priority. This January is different because, in theory, City should have some money to spend, but you’re correct—it’s a challenging time to do business.
AT: That’s what I would have predicted, and hopefully in January, City will be a little higher on the standings. Nevertheless, putting performance and standings aside, the team is well known for developing players under excellent coaching and for producing visually appealing football in front of sizable crowds at a state-of-the-art stadium. With its lofty goals, this club would be a very alluring choice for prospective targets.
Has MR always thought of using the 4,3,3 formation, or is this a last-minute decision motivated by the results? The acquisition of Tatsu, a natural winger, has led me to believe that he may have considered using this as an opportunity to change the formation we use at the team. Tatsu playing on the left in a front three, as Mcsheffrey did with Stern John and Adebola in the mid-noughties, seems like a good idea in my opinion.
AT: It’s not a panicked move, in my opinion. Adi Viveash is a very progressive coach, so I’m sure City has had it in mind for a while—even back in the summer. I just believe that’s how the game is developing; most Premier League and many Championship teams now play with a back four and a variety of forward systems. For the time being, I believe it will come down to suitability against a specific opponent and whether it is at home or away. In the end, though, everything will depend on how well City performs with the players they currently have. Regarding Tatsu, I would have assumed that his more appropriate role would
Andy, you mention they considered playing 4-3-3 during the summer; why is there not a wide player up front? It doesn’t support your idea to play two centre forwards out wide, does it?
AT: Tats has the ability to play wide, and O’Hare and Allen may be able to play outside of a front three as well. and using two banks of three isn’t the only option. A back four has probably been considered for some time as a potential future option, especially since Fadz isn’t getting any younger. When discussing possible summer defensive targets with me in the summer, Mark Robins made sure he had the flexibility to switch between the two and mentioned it as a possibility.
Do you think MR will return to a 3/5 when Fadz is available, or should we assume he will continue to use a back 4 going forward?
AT: As I mentioned earlier, I believe he will be fairly flexible about it and it will just come down to selecting the formation and system that will work best against the particular opposition. A lot, I suppose, will depend on how well it goes in the upcoming weeks, presuming he sticks with the same or a comparable squad after last weekend’s clean sheet and respectable number of chances created, albeit not taken. Given how much Fadz contributes, I don’t think we’ve seen the last of a three-man lineup with wingbacks.
