Sideways Sammy

Brought in to add competition in wide areas, Romain Esse has made an impact without quite bringing in the headlines that some of the loftier expectations around him had hoped for. One of those maverick presences on a football pitch who looks to try things other players won’t, Esse has provided moments of delight and frustration in his short time at Coventry City. That has helped provide an element of unpredictability to an attacking unit that had become a little one-note when Esse arrived at the club. However, the biggest impact of Romain Esse’s addition to the ranks has been the improvement that his competition has brought out in Tatsuhiro Sakamoto on the right wing, which has seen the former larger contained to a bench or rotation role.

It has been clear from the minutes that Romain Esse has had at Coventry City thus far that he is someone who delights in producing little moments of skill, almost seeming to value producing tricks and flicks over any tangible end result. For many Sky Blues fans, it is proved highly frustrating to see someone so regularly attempt the complex when the simple will do, however, the value Esse brings to the team is in being that player who will try the impossible. The biggest critique of Esse thus far is that he lacks composure and technique when it comes to finishing chances, which would be the kind of thing that would elevate him from being a fun, talented player to a genuine match-winner worth building a team around. What he can’t be accused of is a lack of effort and willingness, both in his risk-taking and in his defensive duties, which are really positive qualities in a flair player of his age.

There is a lot to like and some scope for improvement in Romain Esse but, overall, he has been an impactful January signing, even if he’s somewhere below being a season-defining addition. Esse was brought in to add something different to the team, which has been an element in the team’s turnaround in form from February, without the player himself being absolutely integral. Romain Esse is a talented but inexperienced player who probably needs a year or two more at this level to become the decisive presence he has the ability to become.