liv4now website - Page 2
FEBRUARY 2001:
I sat at my keyboard, writing how I feared who was on GS's `new' list of targets now the potential signing of John Hartson was dead and buried (A list that included such nightmare scenarios as the return of John Gayle, Kevin Drinkell, Graham Withey, or any of the other goal-shy fops that once (dis-)graced Highfield Road), and how Tottenham were amongst the relegation candidates as they were unable to find the net, and what happens? Within hours, JH is parading his new colours, and Spurs rout Charlton in a mad 10-minute scoring spree! So I scrapped my second contribution to this site, and moved onto the third - and here it is....!
Unless one of the mid-table teams enjoys a slump of Mount Everest proportions, it already looks as though there are only five teams left in danger of being relegated - Middlesboro (Presuming `El Tel's' Honeymoon Period ends soon), Derby, Manchester City, Bradford, and CCFC (Though having visited their website after CCFC's thoroughly deserved 1-1 draw, West Ham fans seem to believe they are in trouble too, having plenty of gifted players, who cannot find the net....).
It doesn't take Albert Einstein to work out that CCFC are in real trouble. Most CCFC players and management are able to talk a good game (If Paul Williams could play like he talks, he would be wearing the Sky Blue of Lazio, not CCFC!), but as for doing it on the pitch.... They always say the right things, but just haven't performed this season. I'm fed up of hearing how `all the players are behind the manager' (most without knives!), or `how well the lads did on the training ground this week' (maybe we should play in yellow bibs on Saturdays!). And I'm fed up of hearing that bloody cliche, `We've got 14, 13 12, etc., Cup Finals to play....' - even if it is true!
We've looked more solid recently (since the disgrace that was CCFC v Everton), to the point where even Alan Hansen has been impressed!, and with Hartson finally here, we look as if we have a clue up front again - now if the FA would only stop selecting visually impaired match officials to take charge of our matches! I still haven't found anybody that believes JH's debut goal wasn't, and when even the opposition manager and the player that commits the foul says you should have had a penalty, you know that you've been robbed. Should CCFC be relegated because of Dermot Gallacher's failure to give that last gasp penalty versus WHU, CCFC should sue for loss of earnings!
GS might well turn things round and save us from the drop, and maybe that bloke that's trying to send himself into space with a rocket he designed himself will succeed too! (No sarcasm intended here - both things COULD happen....!). GS needs help, and like the win that GS claims will turn our season around (Since he actually said that, CCFC have beaten Leicester and Everton .... and still we find ourselves adrift, and second from bottom), he needs it yesterday! I have said for years that GS will not appoint a decent number two because he knows he will be replaced to easily if we enjoy(?) the sort of slump we are currently on .... Swallow your pride and save the club, Gordon - appoint somebody now!
JANUARY 2001:
I was quite surprised when I came across the liv4now site to see that they never had a Coventry City section, then I watched CCFC v Everton, and presumed that most people thought: `If the players can't be bothered, neither can I....' To those of you who don't know about CCFC, we are famous for doing nothing, except escaping relegation on the final day of the season. That was until this season, when it looks like it's finally going to happen....
2000/1: THE STORY SO FAR....
Under-achievement on a grand-scale. Failing to sign some decent looking players, after telling the world their signatures were `in the bag'. Of our star players - who shone so brightly last season - most of them look as if they would rather be anywhere but Coventry this season. Team selection appears to be made the same way as the cup draws - everybodies name is put on a ball, placed in a bag, then drawn out .... surprised we've never had two keepers selected though.
THE PROBLEM(S)....
Our defenders don't know how to defend, and our forwards don't know where the goal is. Giving the captaincy to Hadji seemed like a great idea at the time, but he has hardly led by example this season (time for a change, me thinks). Our midfield took 20 games to create a chance for our forwards, and most of them seem almost incapable of having a shot themselves (with the exception of David Thompson) - last time Paul Telfer had a shot, John Major was still in power. Nobody wanted Paul Williams when he was available, so we kept him, and unfortunately we let him play. Apart from that, we're Championship material....!
THE SOLUTION(S)....
Well, buying John Hartson would have been a good start! Most CCFC fans haven't got over the shock of us actually being linked with a player who has actually scored goals in the Premiership (and a player over 4'6" too!), so when it finally sinks in that we've lost him, expect tears before bed-time! The Non-English players have admitted that they are struggling to learn the language, and trying to understand Strachan's version is making things even more difficult for them! An interpreter for GS might help....
THE NEW STADIUM....
Much like CCFC's team i'm afraid. It looks great on paper, and were the plans to reach fruition, we would have something to be proud of. The reality is, it looks as far away as Cedric Roussel's first hat-trick! Some progress has been made recently though - the club managed to buy 100 packets of grass-seeds at a bargain price in the sales. The rumour is that CCFC are set to tie-up a new sponsorship deal with the `Big Issue', and we might need their help in a year-or-two when we become homeless....
It's never been easy being a CCFC fan, but on the plus side, none of will ever go to hell. When we signed up we were told that by the time we die, we will have suffered enough! More soon....
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