Sideways Sammy

With a big rebuild in defence this summer for Coventry City, the versatility of new signing, Joel Latibeaudiere, could prove invaluable as the Sky Blues look to find a new formula at the back. A former Manchester City academy player and an under-17 World Cup winner with England (where he lined up alongside former loanee, Jonathan Panzo), Latibeaudiere has a stellar grounding in the game and already has three seasons of Championship football under his belt. A solid defender who can cover at both centre-back and right-back – and has even played at left-back and central midfield – Latibeaudiere fills a few immediate needs for Coventry City, albeit with a question hanging over him as to whether there is a specific role in which he excels.

A centre-back first and a full/wing-back second, Joel Latibeaudiere has been recruited by Coventry City primarily to operate on the right side of the back three. Quick and good on the ball, Latibeaudiere could prove a useful option for the team if the plan is to transition to a more proactive, possession-heavy style, where his ability to bring the ball out of defence as well as to cover for counter-attacks will be valuable. Standing at under six foot tall, the biggest doubt against Latibeaudiere is his lack of physicality, both in the air and on the ground, which is a key reason why he never quite won the trust at Swansea City to start a run of games at centre-back.

While Joel Latibeaudiere is a promising player who can get better, the suspicion upon his arrival at Coventry City is that he’s being signed for his versatility rather than with a specific role in mind in the starting XI. While his ability to cover a few positions could serve him well for opportunities over the early part of the season, Latibeaudiere will likely have to reach levels he has yet to achieve in his career if he is to command a starting place over the longer term. Signed up for the Sky Blues for the beginning of what could be his prime years as a footballer, the challenge following this move for Joel Latibeaudiere is to translate his potential into consistent performances on the pitch.