Sideways Sammy

A statement signing in January, Matt Grimes has changed elements of this Coventry City team with his impact, just how positive that impact has been is a matter of debate. Brought in to be both the conductor in midfield and as an experienced leader to help cut out sloppiness, Grimes has been more successful in the former of those intentions than the latter. While the Sky Blues aren’t exactly recording over 60% in every game these days, Grimes has brought a greater element of control and composure on the ball. As a leader, his impact looks, from the outside, to have been more muted.

Matt Grimes has pretty much been exactly the kind of player for Coventry City that he was expected to be. He is someone who is very comfortable on the ball and will generally look to keep the play moving by dropping in alongside the centre-backs and aiming to wrack up around 90 passes a game. That precise tendency of Grimes to drop so deep in possession has baffled a number of Sky Blues fans, who expect a talented passer to play closer to the opposing goal. The challenge has been getting the best out of someone who wants to sit at the base of midfield and is neither a tough tackler nor an outright playmaker. The search for the right midfield set-up around Grimes has been the key concern since his arrival, with Jamie Allen generally looking to be Grimes’ best partner as someone who can supply energy and tackling to help him get on the ball.

The concern with signing Matt Grimes remains that the money spent on him suggests a ‘win now’ mentality, whereas the player himself is more focused on a calmer, more patient approach. There’s a lingering worry with Grimes that he is the kind of player Coventry City fans will find it hard to warm to if the team doesn’t achieve much while he’s here. Grimes remains in a bedding-in period where he is still being sussed out as much by the fan-base as the manager and coaching staff.