Seven talking points from Stevenage v Coventry City

The record books will show a 3-1 defeat, Dan Phillips putting Boro in front on two minutes but goals from Justin Obikwu, a penalty, Bobby Thomas and Fabio Tavares left the Championship side winners by half-time.

Pre-season though is all about work and prototype formations and blooding players. There was plenty of that in this clash at the Lamex Stadium.

Here's a few of the talking points that came to me as I watched on.

1.Individually good, collectively must do better

Ah the old 'see me' in red pen on your homework. You know you've done something wrong and you have a fair idea what it is.

Stevenage players would have had that feeling at half-time and probably got it again at the final whistle.

There were many good bits to this performance but collectively is where they have to improve.

With a good chunk of the squad having played last season, you would have hoped the cohesion would have been there but perhaps the little tinkerings, the gradual switch from Evans ball to the Rev-olution, the formation, perhaps all of that is taking a few moments to bed in.

The counter argument is Coventry are a very good side and they are, don't look beyond them for promotion from the Championship this season.

But Boro gifted them opportunities and it proved, once again, you can't do that against good opposition.

There will be plenty of them coming up in the weeks and months to come so the next few days and the next week are going to need to see Boro knuckle down and cut these mistakes out pronto.

2.Shocking goals to concede

You know me. Pele could actually do 'this, this, this, this, this, this, goal. Easy' and I'd still be like, 'ah yes but what the hell was the German defence doing'?

Mind, these three conceded were all due to easily avoidable errors.

A blunder penalty, a near-post header where the marker was probably daydreaming about whether he's left the cooker on, and breakaway following a Boro corner, all after a soft challenge had still allowed Coventry to pinch the ball.

Of all three, it was the second one that annoyed me the most. Stevenage have built a reputation at set-pieces, whether that is attacking ones of defending ones.

That should be it for the season for that type of goal. If that hasn't focused the mind somewhat, shock the mistake out early as they say, then some players need to have a serious word with themselves.

It better be. Don't want to be getting grumpy too often this season. I'm grumpy enough as it is.

3.Kane Smith, the Lewis Freestone experiment and a new left-back

That leads on to this. Now, I could be reading more into this than is actually there but is Lewis Freestone becoming a bit of a scapegoat?

I'd heard stories that Revs was less than pleased with him in Jersey and hear he gets pulled at half-time. 

Now that have been the plan all along. A half for him and a half for Kane Smith. Someone has to play at left back on the opening day as Dan Butler is suspended.

I don't think Freestone has been particular bad in the two games I've seen, but he doesn't feel a natural left-back. In fact, I would quite like to see him play 90 minutes as centre-half in his next game, whether that is against Braintree Town or Chelsea's kids. I think he'll really shine there.

Smith was a bundle of energy when he came on. Not a natural on the left side, he is a natural full-back so the fit feels a little bit more organic.

And when he went forward, he looked like he could make things happen.

The problem was he was often caught out defensively when he did that and Tatsuhiro Sakamoto got in behind way too much.

* Little aside, first time I'd seen the diminutive Japanese winger. I can see why Coventry fans adore him.

I'm becoming more and more convinced that a genuine back-up left-back is still needed. Seems like a perfect opportunity for a loan signing, a youngster from the Premier League or Championship.

Barring that, is Nesta Guinness-Walker still available?  

4.Dan Phillips as an attacking midfielder - who knew?

The first thing I noticed about Dan Phillips when he signed was his arms. Bigger than both my weedy stone-flingers put together.

Then the rest of the physique comes into view and you think that boy is a natural rugby player. Built like an outdoor netty.

In football terms, a holding midfielder would be just about perfect for him, or so you would think.

But here he was, striding around behind the striker and being a real positive influence on the game.

Even when Coventry wrestled the game from Boro, Phillips was still getting a foot in, trying to disrupt the Sky Blues defence and get Stevenage going again.

He's not needed there, Jordan Roberts and Dan Kemp are the two designated attacking midfielders in the squad, but there could be a definite rethink going on among the Boro management team.

And with options at DM including Louis Thompson and Harvey White, seemingly now considered perhaps to be the Boro quarterback, the pivot in the middle, setting the tone as a deep-lying playmaker, Phillips has the opportunity to get further forward.

I'd like to see him against Chelsea in that position. That might seal his place and position in the starting XI for Shrewsbury.

5.A renaissance year for Harvey White?

Talking of Harvey White, it looks like he could be in line for a potentially breakout year.

We all know the talent is there, the technical ability, the range of passing, but he was marginalised for whatever reason last year.

Steve Evans often spoke of the need for more consistency in his performances, both in games and in training.

And it appears that the change in manager has been a godsend for him.

His performance against Coventry was especially pleasing. This was more like we expected when he signed from Spurs, this was a young man playing with a bit of freedom.

There was one excellent moment in the first half. The move ended with a Jordan Roberts shot being blocked but it all began after bits of passing between Luther Wildin and Dan Sweeney sent the ball to White.

A little drop of the shoulder sent him away from a Coventry tackler and then the first thought was positive, how can I send this forward? How can I engineer an attacking move?

The pass, obviously for a kid like him, was inch perfect and suddenly Boro were off and running, Coventry running back towards their own goal.

It's what Revs wants, talking after the Watford game and the need to be better with decision making when on the ball, the boss had said "can we find a path forward rather than accepting going backwards or find a 10 or find a striker". 

White did just that in that one particular moment and there were plenty of others.

I for one will be delighted if this year sees Harvey White suddenly spread his wings and fly.

* second aside, I had the chance to speak to Harvey after the game, first time I've done that. Found him to be a very driven young man with some very forthright views. I liked that too. Interviews will be coming on Comet Sport very soon.

6.Bright sparks

Some of the individual performances were excellent and some of the standout performers have been mentioned above.

But there were two others especially who deserve recognition too - Louis Appere and Jordan Roberts.

Roberts has looked back to his brilliant best all through pre-season so far. I always say that when he is on his game and he is pressing high up the pitch and tackling with venom and delight, Boro tick. The entire team ticks.

He was doing it again here as well as finding space in between defenders, midfielders and indeed anyone in sky blue.

But he might have a foil this season in Appere.

A first start for the summer signing from Northampton Town, he is definitely worth another look for 60 to 65 minutes, if not more.

Far taller than I realised when he signed, standing 6'1 apparently although he looks bigger, he can hold the ball up better than anyone since Luke Norris, and perhaps even more so than the Boro hero.

But he does more. Like Roberts he is remarkably good at the press, able to snake a foot in and winkle the ball out of there. A few times a long leg was the catalyst for a bright Stevenage attack.

He needs more goals, same goes for Roberts, and perhaps the question is how will he co-exist with Jamie Reid when the top scorer is fit again.

For now though, give him another go, and maybe look at him for the opening day of the season against Shrewsbury Town.

7. Boro's preferred formation

Deary me, not a clue is the answer to this question.

I couldn't make head nor tails of the one against Coventry and perhaps that's the point, keep the opposition guessing.

It was certainly very fluid, both in structure and in personnel, with players in the attacking third seemingly altering their starting points on every attack.

It was also without doubt entertaining, certainly those first 20 minutes or so when Boro threatened to run rampant.

Revell did switch to a five at the back after the substitutions but a back four seems to be the way forward for him.

It's what is in front where the perception gets murky. A diamond? One DM and four across the middle, a 4-1-4-1 thing? Is it a 4-3-3 or a Christmas tree 4-3-2-1?

My one worry is that while having plenty of back-up plans is a good thing, having a formation that people know is definitely plan A is the way to go.

That might well be the case, this is pre-season after all and you have to try things, but from August 10 onwards, I'll be looking to see a more structured and consistent approach.

Match facts v Coventry City

FT: Stevenage (1) 1 Coventry City (3) 3

Stevenage: trialist, Wildin (Cochrane 84), Piergianni, Sweeney, Freeman (N.Thompson 66), Appere (List 66), Kemp (trialist 66), Roberts (B.Thompson 66), Freestone (Smith 46), White (Hicks 84), Phillips (Doherty 77).

Subs (not used): Mitchell, Vancooten, Evans.

Goal: Phillips 2

Coventry City: Collins (Wilson 66), DaSilva (Binks 66), Thomas (Sheaf 66, Howley 77), Allen (Bidwell 66), Kitching (Rudoni 66), Eccles (Van Ewijk 66), Tavares (Sakamoto 61), Burroughs (Latibeaudiere 66), Obikwu (Simms 66), Andrews (Palmer 66), Dausch (Mason-Clark 66).

Subs: all used

Goals: Obikwu (pen) 19, Thomas 22, Taveres 43

Referee: Will Davis (Stockport)