"Doug King has said in the past" - Coventry City transfer frustrations revealed | OneFootball

The Sky Blues' transfer window was somewhat frustrating despite a strong start to the season

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

After finishing in the play-offs in two out of the past three campaigns, Coventry City supporters are hoping a return to the Premier League isn't too far away.

The Sky Blues suffered defeat in last season's Championship play-off semi-finals against Sunderland in dramatic fashion, but have started Frank Lampard's first full season at the CBS Arena in barnstorming fashion in front of goal, only increasing the optimism that a lengthy hiatus from the top-flight will come to an end.

Despite a relatively strong start to the campaign which has seen 8 points accrued, and 14 goals scored in four league games, it was somewhat of a frustrating transfer window for supporters, with all the transfer activity bolstering City's defensive department despite Lampard's admission that the club were actively looking for further firepower in the final days of the summer transfer window.

Coventry City's transfer window analysed and promotion chances discussed

Lampard only saw four new signings move to this part of the West Midlands in the transfer window, with Carl Rushworth, Kaine Kesler-Hayden, Miguel Angel Brau and Luke Woolfenden joining from Brighton and Hove Albion, Aston Villa, Granada and Ipswich Town respectively.

All these additions have certainly improved areas of the squad which needed strengthening after last season's near miss. Yet despite scoring a bagful of goals, in particular against Derby County and Queens Park Rangers, in the opening months of the new season, the club opted not to add further depth and quality, arguably weakening their creative and attacking options with some intriguing calls on Deadline Day which saw Raphael Borges Rodrigues and Norman Bassette loaned out to Wigan Athletic and Stade de Reims.

As a result, Football League World's Sky Blues fan pundit, Chris Deez, still likes the majority of the options at Lampard's disposal across the squad, but was also frustrated by some of the club's decisions in the window as they target promotion.

"I wasn't worried about our firepower until Deadline Day." Deez told FLW. "A couple of days leading up to it, Lampard said that he was hoping to bring in a new winger. Everybody was excited by that, a few decent names and free agents linked to us as well so it looked really promising.

"Then the club decided to loan out Raphael to Wigan. Don't get me wrong, I think Raphael isn't the finished product. He's not a top-class winger yet, but he's skillful, fast, plays the ball forward rather than backwards like so many of our players like to do, and he was still a decent option off the bench. He'd looked good the few times we'd seen him," our fan pundit explained.

"I'm pleased that he's going to get some experience at Wigan, so I'm hoping the next four months (he) is going to develop him into a player that's ready to play for us, and maybe we could recall him in January if we need to. Obviously, injuries will play a big part in that.

"If we can keep Haji Wright fit and firing on all cylinders, then he's an incredible asset to have. Sakamoto's by far my favourite Coventry player, he always puts in a shift, chips in with goals and assists and terrorises defenders. Mason-Clark's had a good start to the season and looks as electric as he did last season.

"Brau, the new left-back, seems to be playing at left-wing a little bit. But, Jay Dasilva might be injured at the moment, so Brau might need to cover him at left-back.

"It's a little bit of a mess," Deez claimed. "We didn't have a great Deadline Day. Great that we brought in and strengthened in defence with Luke Woolfenden, but it left a lot to be desired. Especially with the fact that Lampard came out publicly and said we were hoping to bring somebody in.

"Doug King has said in the past that he doesn't like relying on loans, so I doubt we're going to go into the loan market. Fingers crossed we'll have a look at the free agents out there in the next couple of weeks.

"Having Ellis Simms as a back-up to Haji (Wright) isn't the worst option to have. I'm not a fan of Simms, but we've had a lot worse options in the past. It was also disappointing to see Norman Bassette loaned out to the French second-tier, where I think he'll do well and develop really well.

"Lampard has praised him and talked so highly of him in these last seven-eight months. It was a really disappointing one to see him go out on loan," Deez concluded.

As Deez alluded to, some of City's decisions late in the window proved to be slightly bizarre, especially as Lampard looked to bolster his wide options as both Mason-Clark and Sakamoto have suffered previous injury issues.

Simms is yet to fully rekindle the form he showcased during the latter months of his first season at the club under Mark Robins, although Lampard will hope that changes if he requires the 24-year-old to start games as the campaign progresses.

However, supporters will be delighted that Jack Rudoni and Milan van Ewijk have remained at the club following Monday's transfer deadline, such is their importance in an attacking and defensive sense, as well as adding new blood to their rearguard.

All things considered, like every fanbase, City supporters will always be left wanting more out of the transfer window, but they still have reason to be optimistic regarding their end-of-season aims.