|
Irish Hammer 9:49 Fri Dec 3
Conor Coventry on ‘special’ captain Noble, Peterborough loan, and why it’s good to be shouted at by
|
|
I like articles like this, hope you enjoy also.
⚒️
Conor Coventry on ‘special’ captain Noble, Peterborough loan, and why it’s good to be shouted at by Moyes
LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 07: West Han United's Conor Coventry during the Betway Cup match between West Ham United and Atalanta at London Stadium on August 7, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Rob Newell - CameraSport via Getty Images)
By Roshane Thomas Dec 3, 2021 4
“After the pre-season game against Reading, Mark Noble went through my clips with me and Billy McKinlay. I always do the clips with the coaches and Nobes just said, ‘I’m coming in.’ I was buzzing because I’ve always looked up to him. The knowledge he has is ridiculous.”
The special journey to see Conor Coventry was not unusual for West Ham United’s captain, who is known to be a mentor for many young players and his fellow midfielder, currently on a season-long loan at Peterborough United, appreciated the advice.
“Nobes is a special captain and I haven’t really seen anyone like him,” Coventry tells The Athletic. “He’s the first person that will give you stick, banter and he really makes you feel part of the team. I can go to him for advice about football, or if there was something going on in my life I know he’d help me. I had a good chat with Nobes before I joined Peterborough.”
Coventry joined the Championship side in August, although the deal includes a break clause in January. The 21-year-old featured heavily in pre-season and impressed in games against Northampton Town, Reading, Celtic and Brentford. With Coventry seizing his opportunity, it seemed he would become part of David Moyes’s squad for the back end of the season.
The quality has been evident for some time, however, with Coventry scoring seven goals in 20 games the under-23s last season and receiving the Dylan Tombides Award in 2017-18. It led to the deep-lying midfielder making his senior debut in the 8-0 EFL Cup third-round win over Macclesfield Town in September 2018.
This season he was an unused substitute in the first three league games against Newcastle United, Leicester City and Crystal Palace. But following Alex Kral’s arrival on loan from Russian side Spartak Moscow, the Republic of Ireland under-21 international no longer featured in Moyes’ first-team plans.
“At the start of pre-season, I was set on going out on loan to play more games,” says Coventry. “But pre-season went well and I pretty much played every game. Then my situation changed and I felt more part of the first team. Some of the staff were saying I should stay. Mark Noble and a few of the players were saying it would be better for me to stay and maybe break into the team this year.
Coventry in action against Colchester United’s Paris Cowan-Hall for West Ham Under-21s (Photo: John Walton/PA Images via Getty Images)
“It was a great experience (travelling with the squad) and I was just thinking, ‘Please bring me on’. But I try and learn because you don’t often get to sit that close and be involved in a Premier League game. I try and pick up what players do in my position at West Ham and other teams.
“I spoke to the manager and he very much put it in my hands. He said, ‘I think it would be good for you to stay, but I also think it would be good for you to play in the Championship’. When Alex Kral and Nikola Vlasic joined the club, I felt it was best for me to go and come back next season with the intention of playing for West Ham.”
Coventry has made 10 league appearances for Peterborough, who are embroiled in a relegation battle. He has started four of those fixtures. He was an unused substitute in games against Middlesbrough, Swansea City, Huddersfield Town, Fulham and Stoke City. The midfielder has learnt the value of patience from his loan spell at League One side Lincoln City, with regular game time — Coventry made seven appearances during the curtailed 2019-20 season — hard to come by under manager Michael Appleton.
“Lincoln is roughly three hours from home and I was all over the place,” he adds. “I just turned 19 and it was tough. I played a few games, then I was out of the team a little bit and I had never experienced that before. But it made me a stronger person and I always felt a lot more grown up after that. I got through it in the end and I got into the team. It was tough but it’s something players have to deal with. I feel better from that experience.
“So far at Peterborough, I’ve spoken to Kevin Nolan a few times. We’ve gone through clips from some of my games. Stuart Pearce and Billy McKinlay have phoned me. The fitness coaches like Josh Ewens have been checking in on me too. Lori (Hedman-Nice, performance psychology and player well-being officer) has also done a lot for me at the academy and everyone appreciates what she does. So I have regular contact with people at West Ham.”
Coventry, left, during pre-season (Photo: Rob Newell – CameraSport via Getty Images)
Moyes and his coaching staff spend a lot of time monitoring the developments of academy players. Whether it is attending home and away fixtures, inviting a handful of under-23s players to train with the first team, or providing one-to-one feedback, players are aware if they impress they will get an opportunity. Quite often it is Kevin Nolan who goes the extra mile to find ideal loan destinations for youngsters.
“I felt like I was at a stage in my career and my life where I wanted to try and get a bit more experience and play more games,” says Coventry. “I waited a little while to weigh up my options and Peterborough were most consistent in wanting me to come here, so the belief they had in me was a huge factor behind me joining the club.
“I can’t speak highly enough of the coaches around the gaffer. Kev attends all the games and before I joined Peterborough, he came to watch the matches to see what the club is like. I was off on a Wednesday and I went back to Rush Green and Kev had a lot of the videos he wanted to go through from the games I’ve played so far.
“He would highlight things I could’ve done better. I’ve always been a team player and Kev will say there’s moments I should’ve been a bit more selfish, or have a shot. He’s gone through a lot with me.”
(Photo: Mick Walker – CameraSport via Getty Images)
An area of Coventry’s game which he wants to improve is his final ball. It is something he has worked on in training with Moyes and his coaching staff.
“We spoke a lot about when’s the right time to do killer passes,” he says. “He said to me there’s times when I’m trying to do it too much. Maybe he was right because I was trying to over impress at times. He wasn’t easy on me, if he felt I could have done something better he would tell me. He says it himself, ‘If I don’t shout at you then I’ve lost the will to really help you’. If him shouting at me means he cares and wants to help, then I’m happy with that.”
Coventry is appreciative of the support he has received from fans. “I’ve been at West Ham since I was 10 and all I’ve wanted is to hear the fans say nice things about me,” he says. “That’s what I’ve dreamed of and to have the lads tell me I’m doing well was great too. But I feel like I want more and I want to get to the stage where that’s in the Premier League.
“It’s great and the feedback made me hungry for more. I’m thankful for all the support the fans have given me. I’m one of them and hopefully one day I’ll play in front of them and make them proud.”
|
|
|
Replies - Newest Posts First ( Show In Chronological Order)
AKA ERNIE
11:30 Fri Dec 17
Re: Conor Coventry on ‘special’ captain Noble, Peterborough loan, and why it’s good to be shouted at by
|
No thankfully
|
Mr Kenzo
11:13 Fri Dec 17
Re: Conor Coventry on ‘special’ captain Noble, Peterborough loan, and why it’s good to be shouted at by
|
Is your mate Adrian Durham ?
|
AKA ERNIE
11:11 Fri Dec 17
Re: Conor Coventry on ‘special’ captain Noble, Peterborough loan, and why it’s good to be shouted at by
|
Mate of mi e goes home away with Peterborough recons coventry has been absolute dog shit everytime hes played
|
pdbis
8:34 Fri Dec 17
Re: Conor Coventry on ‘special’ captain Noble, Peterborough loan, and why it’s good to be shouted at by
|
He would've got game time here, pointless going there and not getting games in a struggling team.
|
Thanks Irish
2:10 Sat Dec 4
Re: Conor Coventry on ‘special’ captain Noble, Peterborough loan, and why it’s good to be shouted at by
|
Thanks Irish
|
willswishwellingtons
2:48 Sat Dec 4
Re: Conor Coventry on ‘special’ captain Noble, Peterborough loan, and why it’s good to be shouted at by
|
As always Irish, thanks for posting these.
|
terry-h
1:43 Sat Dec 4
Re: Conor Coventry on ‘special’ captain Noble, Peterborough loan, and why it’s good to be shouted at by
|
Nice one Irish.
Conor says all he's wanted since he's been at West Ham is to hear the fans say nice things about him.
Well after the pre-season games I saw him in, I was very disappointed he was sent out on loan. I reckon he could have been included in the first team squad for the Europa League games.
Good luck Conor. Don't worry, you will have an excellent future in the game in my humble opinion.
|
⚒️
10:11 Fri Dec 3
Re: Conor Coventry on ‘special’ captain Noble, Peterborough loan, and why it’s good to be shouted at by
|
Unfortunately, he barely gets a game for Posh.
Would rather we kept him here, he couldn’t be any worse than Soucek this season.
|
|
|
|
