Having struggled to find an adequate back-up at left-back for the majority of the season, to turn to a 28 year-old with over 300 Championship appearances to his name is a more than adequate solution. Through spells with Brentford, Queens Park Rangers and Swansea City, Jake Bidwell has had periods where he has been among one of the best players in his position at this level, he is a calibre of player that the club simply would not have had a chance of signing in previous years. While he has been allowed to leave for free by another club in this division, Jake Bidwell is an experienced player of a good age, underlining Coventry City’s development into an established Championship outfit.
Playing the majority of his career as either a left-back or left-wing-back, Bidwell has occasionally played a little further forward, as well as on the left of a back three. Strongest in a left wing-back role, where his natural energy levels come to the fore without the burden of positional discipline, Bidwell should be a good fit for the system that this Coventry City side currently plays. Not the quickest and a player who can tend to be short of an end product, there are better left wing-backs currently playing in the Championship, but Bidwell is a solid performer who knows the position well and may be capable of better than that if he can get a consistent run in the team.
Contracted to the club until 2025, the permanent signing of Jake Bidwell leaves Mark Robins with something of a quandary at left wing-back for the remainder of the campaign – provided that Ian Maatsen is available over the same period. It potentially leaves a choice for the manager between playing a talented young loan player or someone less exciting, but permanently contracted and important to integrate, at left wing-back. Beyond this season, Jake Bidwell will provide stability in a position the club hasn’t had a permanent solution in for two years, which makes him a positive and much-needed addition to the squad.
Sideways Sammy 