Coventry Ciy transfer news from CoventryLive as Sky Blues boss Mark Robins is asked if his thinking has changed on transfers following the upturn in results
Mark Robins is continuing to keep his cards close to his chest when it comes to any imminent business for Coventry City in January. The mid-term transfer window opens on Monday, so with just a few days to go what can Sky Blues fans expect?
Looking back at the tail end of the summer window the manager was keen to recruit a dynamic midfielder to help fill the void left by Gustavo Hamer’s late departure to Sheffield United as well as a left-sided centre-half. In the event he got Liam Kitching, who ticked the defensive box, but was unable to get a proven operator for the middle of the park. And that was soon picked up on by the fans as it became abundantly clear that City were lacking in that department, understandably struggling to adjust to the loss of such an influential performer in the team.
The situation was exacerbated by an early season injury to Ben Sheaf at a time when Jamie Allen and Callum O’Hare were missing, as they continued to work on their returns to full fitness following illness and injury. But with all three now back up to speed and Robins’ new-look side clicking into place, a Hamer replacement doesn’t appear as urgent as it did two months ago when City were on a six-game winless run, including four straight Championship defeats.
At that time the Coventry boss remained adamant that his team needed help further down the line, pointing out that his squad was still light following Hamer’s departure. In early November he revealed that he was due to sit down and discuss exactly what he can do with owner Doug King, saying: “We’re working towards what we can do. We need to get a little bit more clarity around that but, other than that, all the work is going on. So all it needs is for everybody to be in agreement and get aligned and push the button. So all the work that’s been done will hopefully come to fruition because I think there’s still more to do.
“We certainly need to get eyes on one or two, but ultimately it’s ready to go. And yeah, it’s just a case of putting the finishing touches in terms of the decisions on certain individuals. But once that happens, and that will happen pretty quickly now, we’ll just get on and things will start to kick in.”
But asked more recently, Robins has been more vague about the situation. With less than a week to go before trading starts, CoventryLive asked the manager if he’s still hopeful of doing a bit of business.
“I said before that the huge turnover in players (in the summer) means we have to settle everyone in and then wait and see what’s out there, really,” he said, following the 2-0 Boxing Day victory over Sheffield Wednesday.
“I wouldn’t hold out too much for that; I wouldn’t be looking too much for new ones coming in but more to get the others bedded in and better. They are starting to get there now, but let’s wait and see.”
There is clearly a change in emphasis and urgency, but has his thinking on January recruitment changed in recent weeks following the upturn in results and form?
“They weren’t playing poorly before,” he said, slightly on the defensive. They were playing pretty well and it was just getting that bit of luck and confidence from winning games. But also, playing together more often and getting some training into them. And that’s been the difference and we have got some really good results.
“There have been some really good performances but some really good results as well. We are creating some really good openings but there is still loads of work to do if we are going to get to where we want to get to.
“So has my opinion or thoughts changed? No, but we have to wait and see.”
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