Hiya Chaps. Coventry City fan here... Bored on my lunch break and thought I would check how an old mate Martin Cranie is doing? I knew him fairly well when he was at our place as absolutely gutted when he couldnt agree terms. I hear he has been playing in the middle of the park?
Last couple of games we've played in him in a defensive midfield role sat just in front of the defence. He's looked first class. Our manager described him as a Rolls Royce player, but he's a bit mad.
Looks **** hot. Best player on the pitch v Blackburn in midfield. Set up a goal playing at right back, will end up our centre half when players are back and fit. Good luck anyway with Robins - hope he does well. Just get ready for a loan or signing or 12.
haha im that pissed off with my own team I didnt even think about mentioning Robins. I think he'll steady the ship but we'll see. If you keep Cranie off the drink he'l be your player of the season, he loves a good swig haha! A few times all players had a day off apart from him as he had to show his face at the training ground to prove he hadn't been on the lash the night before! haha genius
Crainie is shaping up to be one of the signings of the season - proper quality in midfield from what I've seen so far. What do you think to your new manager? You'll get quite a few opinions on here about him. Good luck for the season just get used to watching paint dry.
Aye back end of last season we watched paint, undercoat, stainer and varnish drying. But thats all forgot now, cant bash the present manager cos he aint feckin left yet.
I duno what I think about Robins pal, weve tried big name managers and they havent delivered, I'm willing to give him a chance, the way we have been playing is dreadful, ever feel like you could play the standard is that bad? ha Have a good season lads
Robins apparently left over a disagreement over funds. But who knows what he can do on a shoestring again - as he did that at Rotherham. Cranie has been a great signing and I hope he is offered an extension before Christmas. Excellent in the middle of the park, and we know he is a quality defender too. Mr utility.
I for one really rated Robins and thought that, when he was appointed, he was the only applicant who looked likely to be able to develop the team on the shoestring budget we had. He had worked miracles at Rotherham - remember they went into administration, were deducted points, had no stadium and yet he used all of that to motivate the players close to promotion places. He brought John Breckin with him as coach and they proved to be a good unit together. He seemed to prefer playing a 4-2-3-1 formation with the wingers coming in as additional strikers. We certainly played some very attractive stuff under him and the only reason he left was disputing the lack of funds to further develop the team with the owner. This should not concern you, as he had put us close to promotion (certainly play-off) standard and a little further strengthening would, in my opinion, have put us in the promotion mix. If he has to work on a shoestring again, as at Rotherham (and us to a degree), he has shown he is capable of doing so. He never smiles, by the way, but this does not mean he is not passionately engaged with the team's performances. He was good at responding to 'give us a wave,' so try that one. Sir Alex Ferguson owes him plenty, as Robins scored the goal which kept Alex in a job at Man U, so watch out for some Man U loanees coming in. Has good contacts elsewhere in the top divisions from his playing days with Man U, Norwich, Leicester and, if you are really hard up, Rotherham! Good appointment. Did very little wrong whilst here in my opinion, other than throw his toys out of the pram when he resigned. Genuinely hope that he and your team do well under him. "Things can only get better" is the mantra for Robins and the Sky Blues, so plenty of it, mate. All the best for the rest of the season and no more Shrewsburys!!
There is the age old debate whether the goal v Oldham stopped SAF getting the sack. No one will ever know but we like to think it helps when we have a former MUFC player in the ranks.
He has been different class so far, in midfield. Can see him as our cb though once we have a fit squad, that is where he is needed. We might end up missing him in midfield though, he has been that good. Signing of the summer, along with Cywka who has also been class. Longer contracts needed for both.
Sorry to be pedantic, but I'm pretty sure the goal that "saved" Fergie (supposedly) was against Forest - I was there that day, as I was at Uni in Manchester and you could walk up to O.T. and pay on the gate in those days. There were chants of "Fergie out" throughout the game until Robins scored. He did score a vital goal for United against Oldham in an FA Cup semi, if memory serves me right.
Saw him play at the weekend for the first time, and again against Blackburn on tuesday, and I must say I was very impressed. Played in a defensive midfield role and did an unbelievable job. Was moved to fullback late on because of an injury to Stones, and what happened, Blackburn ripped straight through the middle of us to score the winner. My biggest worry is that we only have him on a years contract, wages being the stumbling block by the sounds (same old).
