Coventry (H) - 20th September 12:30 KO

[Xen]

Stolarczyk

Hamza - Okoli - Vestergaard - Thomas

Ricardo - JJ - Skipp

Fatawu - Carranza - Mavididi

 

I don't expect we'll see much of Winks in starting lineups anymore (although on ability he'd definitely warrant it). I think both Skipp and Soumare are much improved - though still not ideal - with a competent midfield partner alongside them, and whilst Soumare can be the better of the two, I think he's also more prone to howlers and causing us more problems than he solves. If Winks is going to be part of our plans again then him and JJ in the middle could be something pretty special.

 

Carranza... entirely depends on how Marti sees him in training. If he's ready to lead the line then why not. Fatawu and Mavididi can provide the main threat and Carranza can supposedly drop back in that false-9 role and create space around the box. Wouldn't be opposed to seeing Ayew start and a late change for Carranza. Or even 2 up top and put both Daka and Carranza on together to give defenders something new to think about.

 

Ricardo and Hamza being two of our more established players and able to interchange at RB/CDM gives us a very interesting dynamic that's going to be very difficult for Championship sides to deal with. 

 

 

Suddenly feels like we've got much better balance and more depth in options. 

[Muzzy_no7]

33 minutes ago, FosseSpark said:

Skipp is an abomination of a footballer. He was laughing himself at how shit he was playing against Oxford. Like a competition winner, also has a bit of a simple 'i smile because i have no idea what is going on' look about him. 

Maybe keep Luke McAthomas in the side and move Hamza to midfield? 

[Jazzy_Jeff]

23 minutes ago, Muzzy_no7 said:

Maybe keep Luke McAthomas in the side and move Hamza to midfield? 

I was thinking this earlier - would be tempted to go with:

 

Stolarcyzk

 

Ricardo

Faes

Vestergaard

VK/Thomas

 

Winks

Choudhury

 

Fatawu

James

Mavididi

 

Ayew

 

JJ gets up and down and Hamza call fill in at RB if Ricardo gets forward.

[Ric Flair]

The reason I prefer Hamza as a RB is because his pace helps protect an otherwise cumbersome back four. I also think he switches off in midfield at tracking runners more so than he has when playing RB for us but maybe that theory has not yet fully been evidenced either way.

[Wolfox]

5 hours ago, honeybradger said:

Vestergaard was shockingly bad that game.

 

He has been solid since against Chartlon, Birmingham and Oxford (lower championship opposition) but his weaknesses are easily exploited.

 

Don't be surprised if he drops clangers against any team that has decent attackers.

Ok…. I guess we’ll have to see…

 

Similar to last time, I suspect he’ll come with most of what the championship throws at him…. We’ll see

[TrentFox]

1 hour ago, Ric Flair said:

The reason I prefer Hamza as a RB is because his pace helps protect an otherwise cumbersome back four. I also think he switches off in midfield at tracking runners more so than he has when playing RB for us but maybe that theory has not yet fully been evidenced either way.

And that’s why I’d pick a Faes over Okoli- he has more pace, energy and is better on the ball. Despite the rubbish the anti-Faes brigade in here spout, he’s still our best central defender. 

[Midlands yellow]

I went to watch Norwich at the CBS last Saturday. Should be a great match between the two of on Saturday. The Coventry fans were very loud, best I’ve heard for a few seasons. 

[CrazyKopCorner]

I'd go for quality in the middle of the park 

 

Stolarcyzk

 

Hamza 

Okoli 

Vestergaard

Thomas

 

Ricardo

Winks

 

Fatawu

James

Monga 

 

Ayew

[murphy]

Fun fact, the urban wasteland that is Coventry is 4th in the European crime index. 

 

Leicester doesn't make the top 150.

 

At least they're good at something. 

 

 

[Pliskin]

Our defence concerns me. I’m starting to worry that Okoli and Vestergaard are going to be exposed in games like this. Cov have bags of pace, and this is one of those games where Okoli’s wayward passing may cause us some problems. 

[Richmondfox]

3 hours ago, Pliskin said:

Our defence concerns me. I’m starting to worry that Okoli and Vestergaard are going to be exposed in games like this. Cov have bags of pace, and this is one of those games where Okoli’s wayward passing may cause us some problems. 

And JV is playing the Enzo ball style too often, slowing it down and inviting a press to make space, but the ball to Ayew doesn’t work or to Skipmare. Okoli is shocking at passing and has to think for a week before he passes it sideways.  They will get caught out when we play half decent forwards. 
 

That calmed down once Winks was on the pitch and JV offloaded the ball first time to him. 

Edited 16 September 2025 by Richmondfox

[suffolk fox]

37 minutes ago, murphy said:

Fun fact, the urban wasteland that is Coventry is 4th in the European crime index. 

 

Leicester doesn't make the top 150.

 

At least they're good at something. 

 

 

you never win owt for coming 4th!!  Sums Cov up...........lol............

[Richmondfox]

Winks, JJ and Ricardo in midfield with Hamza offering cover when they push up.

 

Faes for JV. 

 

If Thomas and Hamza continue to offer nothing going forwards, we need as much help in midfield.  Stop playing 2 CDM that are proven donkeys. 

 

Avoid Ayew in any build up and just get him to goal hang. 
 

Hopefully Marti finally makes the changes to midfield and stop handicapping the team from the start. No excuses and copes now. We have the players. Stop playing the shit in the same way as the last two idiots. 

[ClaphamFox]

20 minutes ago, Richmondfox said:

Winks, JJ and Ricardo in midfield with Hamza offering cover when they push up.

 

Faes for JV. 

 

If Thomas and Hamza continue to offer nothing going forwards, we need as much help in midfield.  Stop playing 2 CDM that are proven donkeys. 

 

Avoid Ayew in any build up and just get him to goal hang. 
 

Hopefully Marti finally makes the changes to midfield and stop handicapping the team from the start. No excuses and copes now. We have the players. Stop playing the shit in the same way as the last two idiots. 

Now that James has had the chance to train with his teammates and Winks seems to have cheered up a bit, we will hopefully never see the Soumare/Skipp combination ever again. 

[OntarioFox]

Important one for anyone who was planning to get the train in - engineering works at Syston this weekend so rail replacement buses for anyone in Barrow, Sileby & Syston. Imagine it's going to be chocka so probably wise to make other plans since the bastard council still haven't restored a proper bus service to the city.

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckg2rxdr88zo

Edited 16 September 2025 by OntarioFox

[RonnieTodger]

Seem to remember Haji Wright giving Vestergaard the runaround in this fixture last time. 

[Jabfox]

Quite nervous for this one I must say 

[supernuk]

16 minutes ago, Jabfox said:

Quite nervous for this one I must say 

They have had back to back draws in the league. As long as we are tight at the back (easier said than done I know) no reason why we can't nick this one. 

[LVFox]

This will be a belter of a game, no idea which way it will go.

 

                  Stolarczyk

Hamza Okoli Vestegaard Ricardo

            James    Winks

Fatawu.      Page.         Mavididi

                     Ayew

 

Page to do a job on Matt Grimes, press him relentlessly which is perfectly in his game. Big game for the young lad.

[Corbee]

I think this will be another draw. Quite possibly 2-2 or 3-3 

 

 

[filbertway]

19 minutes ago, supernuk said:

They have had back to back draws in the league. As long as we are tight at the back (easier said than done I know) no reason why we can't nick this one. 

Their results don't match their performances though, they've been unlucky to only pick up 2 points from the last 3.

 

Will be interesting to see if they can create a similar number of chances against us as they have been doing.

 

In theory it should be a very entertaining game if they approach it how they have been, we'll have no choice but to attack as well.

[Trav Le Bleu]

2 hours ago, murphy said:

Fun fact, the urban wasteland that is Coventry is 4th in the European crime index. 

 

Leicester doesn't make the top 150.

 

At least they're good at something. 

 

 

Not in the top 150 European crime index, you'll never sing that!

[Jabfox]

34 minutes ago, supernuk said:

They have had back to back draws in the league. As long as we are tight at the back (easier said than done I know) no reason why we can't nick this one. 

Fingers crossed mate, can't stand them so the thought of a loss is haunting me 🤣

[SafewayFox]

On 15/09/2025 at 13:23, FosseSpark said:

Skipp is an abomination of a footballer. He was laughing himself at how shit he was playing against Oxford. Like a competition winner, also has a bit of a simple 'i smile because i have no idea what is going on' look about him. 

Skipp is less of a risk than Bouba at CM.

 

Neither are my type of footballers but Skipp ran his socks off in the second half and if we went for a robust 3 of Winks, Skipp and James.

 

Skipp in that midfield is less of a liability than the lump that is Bouba.

Edited 16 September 2025 by SafewayFox

[Muzzy_no7]

For me it’s absolutely crucial that both Ricardo and Winks start. 
 

Covs gameplan is to try and control the game as much as possible and have pot shots from anywhere. They don’t tend to create many big chances and rather have a shoot on site approach from anywhere. 
 

We need to control this game.

 

I fear for LT against these. 

 

Jakub

 

Riccy P

Okoli

Vesty

Hamza

 

Winks

Skipp

James

Fatawu

Monga

 

Ayew