Coventry Home First Game of the Season

[gurru991]

I would much prefer Souttar to be starting ahead of Vestergard but I still see Leicester taking all three points.

[gurru991]

I would much prefer Souttar to be starting ahead of Vestergard but I still see Leicester taking all three points.

[The Year Of The Fox]

This has an away win all over it I think 

[Pliskin]

Coventry will be bang up for this, the question I have is will we? I highly doubt we will…

[LcFc_Smiv]

I think many of you are still wrapped up in the negativity of last season to actually look at this in any other light. I appreciate the past 24 months have been a shit show but you really can’t hang your hat on any result. There’s no indication whatsoever that we will get turned over, out fought or that the players won’t be up for it, just your opinions based on the horror show of last year and the previous regime. It’s a new season, a new manager in a different league. We are largely an unknown quantity, sit back and enjoy it and stop getting so worked up.

 

[The Year Of The Fox]

6 minutes ago, LcFc_Smiv said:

I think many of you are still wrapped up in the negativity of last season to actually look at this in any other light. I appreciate the past 24 months have been a shit show but you really can’t hang your hat on any result. There’s no indication whatsoever that we will get turned over, out fought or that the players won’t be up for it, just your opinions based on the horror show of last year and the previous regime. It’s a new season, a new manager in a different league. We are largely an unknown quantity, sit back and enjoy it and stop getting so worked up.

 

I don’t think that’s particularly the case

 

Forgetting last season, we’ve a brand new manager, have we actually won a pre season game? And we’re currently the other side of the world with 6 days to go until our first game. 
 

I reckon with those above points alone, we’d be most clubs fans preferred opening fixture, should they had the ability to pick who they chose to play

[Wasyls Pec Deck]

My one major concern going into this game is our pre season. Despite an impressive first 30 mins against Liverpool, has Enzo been given a good enough pre season? 
 

Is the squad in a good enough shape? We’ve all got concerns, particularly involving wingers. I was really quite impressed with McAteer who looks much better than the few first team games he’s had to date - but the extent of his experience is with Forest Green and Wimbledon so surely he’ll be a squad player. 

[Wasyls Pec Deck]

1 minute ago, The Year Of The Fox said:

I don’t think that’s particularly the case

 

Forgetting last season, we’ve a brand new manager, have we actually won a pre season game? And we’re currently the other side of the world with 6 days to go until our first game. 
 

I reckon with those above points alone, we’d be most clubs fans preferred opening fixture, should they had the ability to pick who they chose to play

Yes

[LcFc_Smiv]

1 minute ago, The Year Of The Fox said:

I don’t think that’s particularly the case

 

Forgetting last season, we’ve a brand new manager, have we actually won a pre season game? And we’re currently the other side of the world with 6 days to go until our first game. 
 

I reckon with those above points alone, we’d be most clubs fans preferred opening fixture, should they had the ability to pick who they chose to play

You can read nothing into preseason, as hard as people want to look at it into style of play, lineups, results you really can’t take anything from it. The majority of all the work being done will be on the training ground.

 

Dragging them across to the otherside of the world wasn’t ideal, we knew it was going to happen. They still get to train, regardless of whether it’s in another country or not, their training. It’s not a jolly up as many on here would like to make it out to be as because they take issue with the club.

 

We will be most club’s preferred fixture because they know this is probably going to be our weakest point of the season. It is for many teams. 
 

Don’t mistake my comment for being overly positive or confident, my point is, as fans, there are too many unknowns, as much as we think we have an idea or an insight, we really don’t have a clue. Just let it be, look forward to the return of football and watching Leicester at home. And if it all goes to shit, you can come back and say I told you so, but until then there’s to much unknown for us to be writing us off against these already.

[The Year Of The Fox]

1 minute ago, LcFc_Smiv said:

You can read nothing into preseason, as hard as people want to look at it into style of play, lineups, results you really can’t take anything from it. The majority of all the work being done will be on the training ground.

 

Dragging them across to the otherside of the world wasn’t ideal, we knew it was going to happen. They still get to train, regardless of whether it’s in another country or not, their training. It’s not a jolly up as many on here would like to make it out to be as because they take issue with the club.

 

We will be most club’s preferred fixture because they know this is probably going to be our weakest point of the season. It is for many teams. 
 

Don’t mistake my comment for being overly positive or confident, my point is, as fans, there are too many unknowns, as much as we think we have an idea or an insight, we really don’t have a clue. Just let it be, look forward to the return of football and watching Leicester at home. And if it all goes to shit, you can come back and say I told you so, but until then there’s to much unknown for us to be writing us off against these already.

I don’t read anything into pre seasons myself. I genuinely didn’t know we’d won a game 

 

I just have a bad feeling for Sunday, that’s all

[Daggers]

23 minutes ago, LcFc_Smiv said:

…They still get to train, regardless of whether it’s in another country or not, their training. It’s not a jolly up as many on here would like to make it out to be as because they take issue with the club.

Fully appreciate your post, except this point.

 

Because what is the point of Seagrave if it isn’t the best resource for pre-season training? Why on earth would the team spurn cryochambers for cold water buckets? 

 

It’s not taking issue with the club, it’s taking issue with what was a vanity trip. There’s no sound business or squad reason for having gone and the argument that everyone else does something similar falls flat when you consider where we came from last season and the work that needed to be done over ten weeks to arrest the dramatic decline in physical and mental acuity.

 

Sure, the team could luck out and overcome this problem - but it doesn’t take away from the fact that the trip is yet another ridiculous error of judgement from a senior management team that now specialises in them.

[LcFc_Smiv]

12 minutes ago, Daggers said:

Fully appreciate your post, except this point.

 

Because what is the point of Seagrave if it isn’t the best resource for pre-season training? Why on earth would the team spurn cryochambers for cold water buckets? 

 

It’s not taking issue with the club, it’s taking issue with what was a vanity trip. There’s no sound business or squad reason for having gone and the argument that everyone else does something similar falls flat when you consider where we came from last season and the work that needed to be done over ten weeks to arrest the dramatic decline in physical and mental acuity.

 

Sure, the team could luck out and overcome this problem - but it doesn’t take away from the fact that the trip is yet another ridiculous error of judgement from a senior management team that now specialises in them.

I think preseason can definitely have been planned better, I don’t think you have to stay at Seagrave to achieve that.

I agree, the trip makes no sound sense from a footballing side. I can’t comment on the business side because I don’t have the first clue. But, we are still on the training pitch, whether it’s world class Seagrave or a dog and duck park, we’re still going to be spending time on the pitch where he will be getting his finer points across. I don’t think we are out over there spending all our time visiting historic sites and pleasing the Thai fans who may actually be King Power employees. I’m sure that he’s made the best of a bad hand.

[Daggers]

1 minute ago, LcFc_Smiv said:

I think preseason can definitely have been planned better, I don’t think you have to stay at Seagrave to achieve that.

I agree, the trip makes no sound sense from a footballing side. I can’t comment on the business side because I don’t have the first clue. But, we are still on the training pitch, whether it’s world class Seagrave or a dog and duck park, we’re still going to be spending time on the pitch where he will be getting his finer points across. I don’t think we are out over there spending all our time visiting historic sites and pleasing the Thai fans who may actually be King Power employees. I’m sure that he’s made the best of a bad hand.

Agreed, I don’t doubt Maresca’s professionalism in making a good fist of it for a second, he has a lot to prove. 

[Jimbo]

5 hours ago, gurru991 said:

I would much prefer Souttar to be starting ahead of Vestergard but I still see Leicester taking all three points.

 

5 hours ago, gurru991 said:

I would much prefer Souttar to be starting ahead of Vestergard but I still see Leicester taking all three points.

You can say that again

[FosseSpark]

Hermansen 

Souttar Faes Doyle

JJ Pereira Winks Kristiansen

KDH Mavididi

Daka

[MGLCFC]

It's difficult to access how Sunday will play out. A new manager with a new style of play. Win, draw or lose what I expect to see is total commitment, better fitness levels and a revival of our motto 'Foxes Never Quit' (particularly when we fall behind). These qualities were sadly lacking for the most part last season and contributed as much to our relegation as Rodgers' refusal to change tactics or play his best team. 

I hope as fans we can show patience, it's not going to click straight away, somewhat like learning to drive a car for most, and support the players if indeed they show the qualities mentioned above. A couple of seasons ago, I believe Arsenal were bottom of the league after 6 games and had only acquired a few points. There were calls for Arteta to go - look what can be achieved with support and a bit of patience. 

However, the key is support, not just the fans but the financial backing by the board, so the right type of players can be integrated into the squad sooner rather than later. 

I am looking forward to the game on Sunday, not with dread like I did most of last season, but with optimism that this may be the start of a new era, but I also am realistic and prepared for this evolution to take time.

Edited 31 July 2023 by MGLCFC

[Jimbo]

I can see a draw or an away win. Cov will be up for this and I question the message that could have been put across to the players.

 

That being that we're only at the start of a rebuild, this will be the strongest start that Enzo could probably have faced and won't give us time, and if the result doesn't go out way and the feeling of last season still very fresh in the memory, could put us on the back foot with the feeling in the stands and in the dressing room. This will be a mental test for Enzo and his staff on whether they can get the squad up for this.

 

My fear is, it's a local derby, whether or not you feel that way isn't important, that's what will be put across to the Cov team and fans. I don't want us all billy big testies going into this game as it will only add to the desire of the Cov team to get one over us. 

 

We have the talent, that is clear but what we lack, and was still on show yesterday albeit only in a preseason fixture, is fight. I expect a slow start, but I don't want it to be in this game.

 

It's well over used, especially on here  but this is a huge game, I just hope that if we don't get the win it doesn't define our season 

[when_you're_smiling]

1 hour ago, LcFc_Smiv said:

I think many of you are still wrapped up in the negativity of last season to actually look at this in any other light. I appreciate the past 24 months have been a shit show but you really can’t hang your hat on any result. There’s no indication whatsoever that we will get turned over, out fought or that the players won’t be up for it, just your opinions based on the horror show of last year and the previous regime. It’s a new season, a new manager in a different league. We are largely an unknown quantity, sit back and enjoy it and stop getting so worked up.

 

I appreciate where you’re coming from, but if Maresca has fixed the defence, sorted out the mentality that doesn’t mean we wilt when things start to go wrong as well as somehow managing to find some creativity after losing so much of it, all in three pre-season games, then he’s a miracle worker. I doubt all of those problems are fixed.

 

The start is key. If we start well, get an early couple of goals, we’ll be fine. If we don’t the ‘here we go again’ mentality we saw so often last season will kick right in.

[mazarron fox]

I may cop some pelters , but I thought we played some lovely football in the first 20 mins and with a bit of look could have been 2 up. Yes we got punished severely and were naive but the championship is not Liverpool. We have new faces to come in this weekk will pretty much determine who’s staying and who’s going.

least we can do is give it a few games to see a settled team and system.

 

Edit: Silly me it’s foxtalk we will give him a half at best

[Fazzer 7]

This pre season has been so disjointed it's difficult for anyone to have much of a clue as to how this opening game will go. Thus far I've seen absolutely nothing to indicate we'll set this league on fire. Now that Madders , Barnes & Tielemans have gone where will the creativity and goals come from? We don't have a decent winger and we don't have a 20+ goal a season striker. 

[Jimbo]

16 minutes ago, mazarron fox said:

I may cop some pelters , but I thought we played some lovely football in the first 20 mins and with a bit of look could have been 2 up. Yes we got punished severely and were naive but the championship is not Liverpool. We have new faces to come in this weekk will pretty much determine who’s staying and who’s going.

least we can do is give it a few games to see a settled team and system.

 

Edit: Silly me it’s foxtalk we will give him a half at best

This is a worry though, that mentality that it's "the championship" there are some decent teams in this league, teams that wouldn't look out of place in the premier league. It's tough, it's long and it's constant. Anyone can beat anyone and if you go on a good run, like we did 8 or 9 years ago, or more recently Burnley did then you keep that going and you pull away. If the opposite happens then it can just feel like it's game after game after game with no time to reset in between and you can quickly fall behind. We see it time and time again in the championship a team will be in 11th place 3 points off playoffs and 8 games left, all of a sudden there's 2 games left and they're 10 points off. It's relentless, the championship isn't Liverpool, but it brings about new tests and I'm not sure we're ready for it 

[volpeazzurro]

47 minutes ago, LcFc_Smiv said:

I think preseason can definitely have been planned better, I don’t think you have to stay at Seagrave to achieve that.

I agree, the trip makes no sound sense from a footballing side. I can’t comment on the business side because I don’t have the first clue. But, we are still on the training pitch, whether it’s world class Seagrave or a dog and duck park, we’re still going to be spending time on the pitch where he will be getting his finer points across. I don’t think we are out over there spending all our time visiting historic sites and pleasing the Thai fans who may actually be King Power employees. I’m sure that he’s made the best of a bad hand.

Absolutely agree and you wonder what vanity there is in taking a relegated team over?

 

Surely it only serves to bear witness to the incompetence of the previous manager, board and absolutely Top himself!

 

On the contrary, they should be to some extent, ashamed to be there and represent failure and incompetence and chose only to return IF and when they've put things right. All they really achieved was a four nil drubbing by Liverpool. Well done Top, another leadership masterclass. 

[Babylon]

2 hours ago, Wasyls Pec Deck said:

My one major concern going into this game is our pre season. Despite an impressive first 30 mins against Liverpool, has Enzo been given a good enough pre season? 
 

Is the squad in a good enough shape? We’ve all got concerns, particularly involving wingers. I was really quite impressed with McAteer who looks much better than the few first team games he’s had to date - but the extent of his experience is with Forest Green and Wimbledon so surely he’ll be a squad player. 

With a totally different setup and style of play, along with the very different looking team, no pre-season would ever be enough. The real growth is going to come over the first dozen games of the season.

 

We're still getting linked with plenty of players, so I'm sure it's likely there will be more to come. Sadly, we are wanting rid of dead wood, and people will leave those negotiations late because it put them in a good position. 

[Babylon]

3 minutes ago, volpeazzurro said:

Absolutely agree and you wonder what vanity there is in taking a relegated team over?

 

Surely it only serves to bear witness to the incompetence of the previous manager, board and absolutely Top himself!

I'd imagine it was agreed and contracts were signed a long time ago. 

[ARM1968]

It took Pep a while. It might take mini Pep longer. Whatever happens, clean slate, let’s rip it up and start again. 
 

COV you scum, let av it.