I only made a few signings this month, I think we're raring to go because the friendlies went pretty damn well for a club like this.
Transfers
IN
CA:
PA:
Position(s): GK
Nation:
Our backup keeper was rubbish, and with Murphy on high wages it was sensible to bring in a decent backup. This was our choice.
CA:
PA:
Position(s): GK
Nation:
Again, with Murphy on high wages I wasn't really sure if we'd get to keep him. If he'd left then we would have needed to have two keepers as a minimum, hence Kardum was brought in on loan until the end of the season.
CA:
PA:
Position(s): GK
Nation:
Yet another goalkeeper, Miles Bastock was shockingly released by Norwich. After impressing us on trial day, I was quick to dish out a contract to Miles before other clubs came in for him. He has the potential to go a long way in this game, and I hope he stars for England in the future.
OUT
Andy Webster was on monster wages for his ability. There was no doubt that he was good, but I had to release him for the long-term benefit of this club.
The friendly fixtures went really well this season, the result against QPR was decent, we outplayed them but lost due to goals from set pieces which prompted me to sign a new goalkeeper:
Here are the fixtures for next month, we start away to Crawley before heading into the Capital One Cup 2nd Round against Brentford:
Author's Notes
We had a brilliant pre-season, and I'm ready ready to experience management for the first time... This is it!
We've had a great start to League One, I was very surprised at how the boys responded to the half-time team talks but it was awesome:
We had a splendid month in League One and I hope we can carry this on for the rest of the year:
Crawley Town 0-6 Coventry City (A)
Sky Bet League 1
John Fleck (21', 82') Danny Seaborne (40') Carl Baker (61') Callum Wilson (73') Franck Moussa (81')
John Fleck (Coventry City) -- 9.5
Match Review What could be a better start to one's managerial career than this? It was a SUPERB win for everyone that played, even for the fans because I was expecting them to scrape it 1-0 or something but this completely blew my mind.
Coventry City 2-1 Brentford (H)
Capital One Cup 1st Round
Denzel Slager (22') Carl Baker (60') Harlee Dean (64')
Ryan Haynes (Coventry City) -- 7.6
Match Review Shit weather conditions but an awesome match altogether, with Coventry grabbing yet another surprise win. Ryan Haynes stepped up when needed, and the 17 year-old left-back won the man of the match award.
Coventry City 2-1 Bristol City (H)
Sky Bet League 1
Cyrus Christie (1') Tyrone Barnett (3') Ryan Haynes (42')
Cyrus Christie (Coventry City) -- 7.9
Match Review We continued our strong bid to escape the relegation zone, and these three points were vital. It was a good match, with our defenders scoring both goals.
Carlisle 3-4 Coventry City (A)
Sky Bet League 1
Lee Miller (8') David Amoo (27') Franck Moussa (55') Pascal Chimbonda (58') Nathan Delfouneso (64') Danny Seaborne (86') Conor Thomas (90+3')
Conor Thomas (Coventry City) -- 8.1
Match Review We were heavy underdogs in this match, and we were deservedly losing 3-2 until the 85th minute. However, this is football and anything can happen. ANYTHING, like scoring two late goals and winning the match in added time. Yep, that can happen too .
Coventry City 1-1 Preston (H)
Sky Bet League 1
Nathan Delfouneso (27') Craig Davies (58')
Jack King (Preston) -- 7.2
Match Review A very good result, we were leading at half time and conceded after the break, but we managed to withstand the storm of an attack that Preston had in this match, we were lucky to draw in my opinion.
West Brom 4-1 Coventry City (A)
Capital One Cup 2nd Round
Stéphane Sessegnon (11') Craig Dawson (32') Matej Vydra (33') Carl Baker (46') Chris Brunt (88')
Stéphane Sessegnon (West Brom) -- 9.0
Match Review We were outplayed by West Brom, no doubt about that. This was my first defeat as a manager but at least it was at the hands of a much bigger team. Don't worry West Brom, we'll get you back next time.
Shrewsbury 1-4 Coventry City (A)
Sky Bet League 1
Jaime Peters (o.g. 17') Callum Wilson (55') Jon Taylor (71') Franck Moussa (85') Danny Seaborne (90')
Franck Moussa (Coventry City) -- 8.8
Match Review A very good match, we were supposed to draw with this team but we managed to give them a bit of a shocker by upping our game in the second half and it gave us the three points we needed to climb out of the relegation zone.
Player of the Month
In a tightly contested match-up against Murphy who has been very strong between the sticks this month, the PoTM award goes to Franck Moussa for his superb run of form for the team. He scored 3 goals and gave two assists over the past few matches and looks to be in the form of his life right now.
Manager of the Month
I think I deserved the award this month but I lost the game against West Brom heavily, therefore Kenny Jackett won the award. He's done a great job with Wolves this month, but I hope to do an even better one with Coventry next month.
Here are the fixtures for next month:
Author's Notes
What a great start I've enjoyed at Coventry City. The finances are slightly improving and so is our league position. We'll be in the play-off spots in no time if we manage to keep our unbeaten run going.
Unlucky about the loss to WBA but other than that a fantastic month, in particular 6-0 thumping of Crawley! What a game
Of course a brilliantly laid out update as well
I woke up the morning after with a stupid headache, the first of many as a lower-league manager. We had been shocked, if I put it mildly, by a weak-ass Pompey team who were in the league below us. We'd lost 2-1 the day before, a result I'll never forget and one that I certainly won't be proud of. I checked my apartment door, and sure enough, the latest Guardian newspaper was lying on the floor in front of the entrance. I immediately checked the back few pages for the footie results and sure enough there was an article about it...
In what should have been a one-sided match against Portmouth, Coventry came away shell-shocked after a 2-1 defeat at Fratton Park. An error from Coventry's Jordan Clark allowed Pompey man Ryan Taylor to score a tap-in from close range. This would have been start of the end for Coventry in this match, but it did not end there. Franck Moussa allegedly broke his left wrist when he tried to simulate a dive and was forced off by injury in the 61st minute.
John Fleck almost scored an own-goal, with his clearance smashing against the woodwork and bouncing back into the clearing. In the 68th minute however, Pompey appeared to end all Sky Blue hopes by doubling their lead via a superb Jed Wallace header from close range. However, Nathan Delfouneso put Coventry's hopes back up as he scored a great shot from some distance. With minutes left on the clock, Pompey were trying to withstand the barrage that was Coventry City and succeeded. Portsmouth upset the visitors and advanced to the next round of the Johnstone's Trophy.
Within moments after the match had ended, rumours began circulating that Jordan Clark was angry that he had been subbed off in the 45th minute and was about to confront his manager.
I was about to throw my mug of coffee at the wall in rage, but I decided against it. There was no need to take my anger out on inanimate objects... I could deal with the problem directly. I smiled as I thought about what I would do, and set the newspaper on fire with my lighter. I knew exactly what had to be done.
At Sixfields Stadium
I sat at my desk at Sixfields Stadium, planning my next move, planning my tactics for the next match, planning all sorts of things. I rung my assistant, Neil MacFarlane, and asked him to send Jordan Clarke to my office as soon as possible. It was good to know that I could skip training sometimes and hand it over to my assistant, he was a good coach. Moments later, Clarke burst into my room without knocking, slammed the door behind him and jumped into the seat in front of my desk. Baaaaaad move, bro, I thought to myself as I prepared for a confrontation. I picked up another copy of the Guardian on the way here because I'd burnt the other one. I threw it into his face.
"Explain this shit, mate," I said as I cracked my knuckles.
"I was pissed off that you subbed me off during the match yesterday, so obviously I had to vent my anger didn't I?" He said, with utter confidence. Okay Clarke, okay. I smirked.
"You could have spoken to me about it, and anyway, if I want to make changes during the match I'll make them without being scared of a little bitch like you."
"I don't agree, I want an explanation."
"Who's the boss around here? I am, so get your head down boy, and start showing me some respect or you'll be the first to fuck off."
"Part of your job is to keep players happy, you ain't doing that right now are ya?" he shot back.
"Quit being a little bitch Jordan," I yawned. He's putting up a good fight to be honest."Carry on with your football, one more word and I swear to God I'll fine you a fortnight's worth of wages. I mean it pal."
"Do it, see if I give a shit. I want out of this club, I'm not going to work under you anymore after this." He got up and stormed out of the room.
CA: 
CA: 
CA: 
Crawley Town 0-6 Coventry City (A)
John Fleck (Coventry City) -- 9.5
Coventry City 1-1 Preston (H)
West Brom 4-1 Coventry City (A)
