Sideways Sammy

Bobby Thomas may not be the centre-back from Burnley that Coventry City fans were expecting to see arrive at the club this summer, but the 22-year-old defender could prove to be a smart investment as part of the Sky Blues’ new backline for both this season and beyond. Off the back of a productive loan spell at Barnsley during the second half of last season where he played a key role in helping the Tykes reach the League One Play-Off Final, one of the most notable things about Thomas’ previous campaign is that his record of seven goals – including four from a stint at Bristol Rovers earlier in the year – is better than several of the attacking players that the Sky Blues deployed last term. While he has yet to experience Championship football, Bobby Thomas is on a positive career trajectory and has more than earned his right to establish himself at this level.

While the threat that Bobby Thomas poses from set-pieces could be a huge boost for Coventry City, there is much more to his game than that. A powerful defender who played with an assurance beyond his years at Barnsley last season, Thomas is also reasonably good on the ball, having been given license to push forward from the back three at his previous loan club. He should fit in with the more possession-oriented style of play that Mark Robins seems to have an eye on implementing this season. Bobby Thomas is likely to slot in on the right side of the Sky Blues’ back three, having played that role well for Barnsley last season, but he has the qualities to eventually move into the center as a replacement for Kyle McFadzean. The main knocks against Thomas right now are his lack of Championship experience and the fact that he was less impressive in his spell at Bristol Rovers last season than he was at Barnsley later in the year. This may suggest that he is someone who needs the right structure and leadership around him to excel.

There are quite a few similarities between Bobby Thomas and Luke McNally, who could well be the player that Thomas is replacing in the Coventry City defence. Not only were they under contract at the same club at the start of the summer, but both played on the right side of a back three after joining a club in the second half of last season that made the playoff final in their respective divisions. Both are impressively aggressive defenders for their age, and both were signed for around £2 million having never played above League One level. If the Sky Blues miss out on McNally, Bobby Thomas arguably represents the closest possible alternative to one of last year’s key loan players. Importantly, Thomas is the club’s own asset, rather than somebody else’s.