Week 13

Bluebird99 · Cult Status

Week 13

messiah · Cult Status

Watford top

Watford against West Bromwich was going to be an exciting and close game. Both managers had similar fortunes last season and a move away from Southampton has created a close run battle this season again. Walker was delighted with the win.

"We have room to slip up now. Four points above of them does not allow us to ease up but it allows for a mistake and will not cost us our position. It was important for us to play well to show we are capable of premier league football but I was hoping for a draw. When the last goal went in I was jumping around.

Paul Harrington will say all the normal things. It was not a surprise he was playing himself down before the game. West Bromwich is a team big enough to be in the premier league. Forget about them versus us for a minute they are big enough to be in the premier league. We have improved from last season just like Coventry but I could not say with the same confidence before this game if we were ready for that level.

I am pleased with the win but I do not want to use the result against their manager. He deserves some credit for the good team they have and it was an enjoyable match to watch. I want to say well done to him. I think West Bromwich will take one of the automatic spots this season.

If the result had gone against us would he have been gracious in victory? We will not know now but from his words before the game I expected him to hold it over us if they won. But we are not West Bromwich and I am not him. We have Norwich and Cardiff next and I hope we can grab another six points from those games but Norwich are an improving team and are fighting for their survival. It will not be easy."

Spartikus47 · Cult Status

Defender pens deal as Coventry continue recruitment drive

Coventry City manager Mark Rollings spoke today about rumours that the high profile manager was about to add yet another professional to his books at The Ricoh Arena. The unnamed player, thought to be a defender, will travel with the squad to Reading this weekend, before being officially unveiled to press after full time. However, when quizzed on the identity of his latest acquisition, Rollings remained tight lipped.

'We have come to an agreement with an unnamed Premiership club in a deal which will see Andrew Whing finally fulfil his potential and move into the Premier League. Its sad to see Whingy go, and we wish him all the best. He is the only player still here from when I took over which shows you the transformation we have had. Coming in we have an established and exciting full back who will offer a potent attacking threat. This deal represents another step up in quality of my team.'

And it seemed as though Rollings isnt likely to stop there, and sources at the club suggested another deal had been agreed to bring an exciting and prolific young marksmen to the club for the remainder of the season. The details of such a deal still seem to be a bit hazy, but it is believed Rollings is keen to maintain a fresh squad for the rest of the season. As per usual the manager failed to produce any names of incoming recruits.

'I have been in negotiations this week with another manager about taking one of his younger lads on loan for the rest of the season. I think I have got the lad, and we spoke at length today. He is keen to play regular football and I have no doubt he would be an outstanding addition. There are some intricacies of the deal which need to be ironed out, and it may be that we have to sacrifice someone, but I am confident that it is the right deal for this football club.'

The revolving door at the Ricoh Arena looks set to continue, with Rollings determined to make his squad as competitive as possible over the remainder of the season.

-- Edited by Spartikus47 at 08:40, 2008-09-16

Spartikus47 · Cult Status

Rollings pleads for fans patience

Some would consider a plea for patience from a manager who has guided his newly promoted team to fourth in The Championship table somewhat of a strange admission but Coventry manager Mark Rollings today opened up on the myriad of transfer dealings that were due to ravage his first team selection over the coming games. The mecurial welsh manager faces a month of juggling and tinkering as he attempts to ready his men for a potential play-off campaign at the end of the season, and with many of Coventry's edler statesmen already looking jaded Rollings has asked fans to remain realistic within the foreseeable future.

'We face a troublesome month I fear and I have to ask the Coventry fans to understand that we may find it hard to continue such an impressive run of results as we have had so far. We tried desperately to bring players in on loan but at this stage of the season teams are wary of letting players go and as such we have had to make sacrifices. We lose Diego Forlan this week on a loan to a Premiership club who would only let their boy come here if a replacement could be found. Then Joey (Barton) will move next week in a similar arrangement to free up another target. Sadly part of that deal means I only have Joey for one of the next two games and with three points essential this week against Reading it looks like he will be forced to sit out against West Brom next week.'

'It is difficult enough facing West Brom without such worries, and we just have to hope the new system enforced on us, and loss of quality doesn't affect us too much. I am really disappointed because we didn't do ourselves justice against them (WBA) earlier this season and I wanted to show we were better than that. But I have to think long term, and the deals arranged should help us towards the end of the season.'

With expectations rising amongst fans that their team could sustain their push towards the upper escealons of The Championship Rollings' words serve as a warning to those getting carried away about Coventry's prospects this season.

-- Edited by Spartikus47 at 23:33, 2008-09-16

Bluebird99 · Cult Status

Davies-Evans confirms Cagliari exit!

Steve DaviesEvans has left Cagliari fans in a state of shock by confirming that he will be leaving the Italian Serie B club to head back to England next season. It was reported that Davies-Evans had been speaking to the board at Sheffield Wednesday and now the charasmatic Welshman has confirmed that he will be taking up the reigns at Hillsborough next season.

"I would like to take this oppertunity to confirm that I will be leaving Cagliari at the end of the season. I was approached by the Sheffield Wednesday board and after short negotiations, they made me an offer that was just too good to turn down. It doesn't mean that it was an easy choice to leave Cagliari and I will miss this club as I have had some great times here and I will be staying on until the end of the season to hopefully take them up into a division where they belong.

I hope that the fans here will understand that it isn't about money and that it came down to managing back in England and being that bit closer to my young family. I wish Cagliari all the best aftr my departure and until then - I will 100% commited in taking this club up."

When speaking about his new employers - Davies-Evans stated that he hasn't under-estimated the task ahead.

"It's going to be a challenge but anyone who knows me will know that this is the sort of situation that I thrive on. It's not too disimilar to the situation I came to at Cagliari and I have full faith in my ability to turn Wednesday into a top side. I will continue my link up with Arsenal and will hopefully be able to bring some good attacking football to the Wednesday fans".

This is a big shock to the Cagliari fans who have also seen Davies-Evans apply for the Cardiff City job recently. We caught up with the Cagliari supporters trust spokesman Luigi Torrini - "We are obviously disappointed that Steve has decided to go as we felt he has started doing a good job, But life goes on and I hope that the board will appoint someone that will continue the good work".

-- Edited by Bluebird99 at 15:22, 2008-09-18