Former Sheffield Wednesday man Carlton Palmer has tipped Coventry City to go one better than last season, if they can keep hold of their top players.
The Sky Blues narrowly missed out on the top six in the previous campaign, with a poor end to the season seeing them falter at the final hurdle in the race for the end-of-season lottery.
That followed a remarkable run to the FA Cup semi-final, in which they took Manchester United all the way to penalties, having come so close to winning the tie but for a VAR decision to rule out Victor Torp’s potential late winner at Wembley.
The likes of Ben Sheaf, Torp, Haji Wright and Ellis Simms were all influential in that astounding run, and Palmer believes if the nucleus of that squad can be kept together, City boss Mark Robins can lead them to the promised land next season.
Carlton Palmer believes Coventry City have what it takes to reach Championship playoffs if key players are retained
Of all the standout players for the Sky Blues in the previous campaign, none have gathered quite as much transfer interest as Ben Sheaf, with the influential midfielder said to be of interest to a number of Premier League sides this summer.
Top flight new boys Ipswich Town are one of the side’s said to be considering a bid for the £10 million-rated star, while Marco Silva’s Fulham side are also reportedly keeping tabs on the City star.
Sheaf’s presence in the middle of the park was a huge factor in the Midlands side’s impressive showings in the previous campaign, with the former Arsenal man covering every blade of grass during his time on the pitch.
Whether he was breaking up play or creating chances at the other end, Sheaf proved to be a key part of the side that went toe-to-toe with the Red Devils on the hallowed Wembley turf, and the Sky Blues will be doing everything they can to keep hold of him this summer.
Having sold key assets in Viktor Gyokeres and Gus Hamer last summer for a reported combined sum of £35 million, City will be in a stronger position in terms of negotiations this summer, and Palmer believes that can hold them in good stead for the following 12 months.
Speaking exclusively to FLW, Palmer said: “Coventry City are in a really good position for this season, it’s a luxury that Mark Robins has not had for some time.
“There’s some stability in the boardroom with the owners, he’s not had to sell players in the summer that he hasn’t wanted to sell.
| Ben Sheaf’s 2023/24 campaign at Coventry City | |
|---|---|
| (Sofascore statistics – league games only) | |
| Appearances | 31 |
| Goals | 3 |
| Passing accuracy | 85% |
| Tackles per game | 3.4 |
| Balls recovered per game | 7.1 |
| Total duels won | 55% |
“Previously with players like Viktor Gyokeres and Gus Hamer, it’s been out of his control as to whether these players will be staying at the football club or not, so he’s not rebuilding.
“One player that has taken a lot of interest and people are looking at is Ben Sheaf, but Coventry have stood firm and said that if they don’t get the money they want then he’s not going anywhere.
“So I’m saying if Coventry City are able to hold on to their players – which they will do, they’ll hold on to the majority of their players – and they can keep the likes of Ben Sheaf, then I believe they can make the play-offs or better.”
Palmer: Manchester United FA Cup disappointment hampered Coventry City’s Championship run-in
Palmer went on to say that he believes City’s heroic run to the FA Cup semi-finals looked to have a detrimental effect on the side’s final few matches in the Championship last season, with a place in the top six slipping from their grasp.
Five defeats in their last six league matches of the season saw the Sky Blues finish nine points outside the playoffs in the previous campaign, with Palmer thinking the effect of that agonising defeat to the eventual winners playing on their mind as the season drew to a close.
But with a summer to put that behind them, City can start the new season afresh, and have already got to work in the transfer window, with Jack Rudoni [pictured] in a reported £5 million from Huddersfield Town, while defender Luis Binks joins from Bologna.
Palmer believes it is City’s work in the transfer market that has set them apart from other sides in recent years, and has backed them to bounce back in the best possible way in the year to come.
He continued: “Mark Robins has recruited really well over the years and that’s been key to the success that he has had at Coventry City, and if they can recruit well again this summer I think they can be a playoff side.
“I thought they would have been in the playoffs last season, but the FA Cup can be a benefit for you sometimes and sometimes it can’t.
“With Coventry City going all the way to the semi-final, maybe the disappointment of not getting through that could have had a knock-on effect.
“I definitely think Coventry City will be there or thereabouts around the playoffs next season.”
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