The new football season starts in earnest this weekend and the Sky Blues travel to Stoke for their opening game of the Championship season.
Expectations are high both within the fanbase and in the wider football community with the Second Tier Podcast tipping City to finish second behind Luton Town. In the last two seasons the Podcast has successfully predicted Luton and Ipswich to be promoted!
The squad has been strengthened with some interesting signings and is now one of the strongest in the division outside of the relegated clubs and we have to hope that the new signings bed in quickly to City’s style of play.
An opening day trip to Stoke brings back memories of a bad defeat at the Potters’ old ground, the Victoria Ground, in 1979. Big summer signings Gary Collier and Dave Jones made their debut in Gordon Milne’s team but Garth Crooks (2) and Viv Busby put the skids under the Sky Blues and the home side led 3-0 just 10 minutes into the second half. A Barry Powell brace restored some pride but the newly-promoted Potters were deserved 3-2 winners.
Collier, a club record £350,000 signing from Bristol City, was made the scapegoat for the defensive disaster and made only one further appearance for the club before joining Portland Timbers in the NASL the following year.
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