Frank Lampard explains exactly what Coventry City are getting from 'dynamic' first signing Matt Grimes
Frank Lampard has explained exactly what he feels Coventry City are getting with his first signing, Matt Grimes – a player he’s admired since his days as manager of Derby County six or seven years ago.
The Sky Blues boss also revealed that the 29-year-old – who has signed a three-and-a-half year contract for an undisclosed fee (reported to be between £3.5m-£4m) from Swansea – has been on the club’s recruitment radar for a while, and comes as a “robust” and “ready-made” dynamic central midfielder.
“He’s a very good player,” said the City head coach. “We’ve admired him for a long time. He’s got good experience, great technical ability and he understands the league and is one of the best midfield players in the league, in my opinion. And he’s a good lad, he feels like a leader in the dressing room already, so I am very pleased to have him with us.”
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Asked if his experience and leadership was much-needed, Lampard said: “I think it’s always a balance of a team to try to have experience within it – people who know what it takes and who can help the younger players in the team alongside them and help them improve; help us improve. So I think that’s always a bonus. Most strong teams have that nice blend of youth and experience, and we have a bit of that already but it’s nice to have brought that in.”
Grimes played 50 games last season and has been ever present for Swansea this term. Asked if it’s good to have someone who plays so many matches, Lampard said: “Yeah it is and it’s testament to him and how he looks after himself and those things. He has a robust nature to be able to do that and he’s done that for quite a long time there where he’s been a regular player, so obviously we hope that continues with us. But yeah, of course it’s a good sign when you’re bringing someone in.”
As for the fact that he’s a ready-made Championship performer who can hit the ground running, the City boss said: “When you’re bringing in people in January, mid-season, of course the idea that they can hit the ground running is a great thing to help us here and now. At times you might look for more of a development player or have some time for a player to feel their way in. I think those cases are one by one and when we looked at the squad we thought very carefully about Matt, and I know he’s been of interest at his club.
“We’re all very happy to have him here and he in himself adds up to a very positive signing for us to help us now and going forward. And, as I say, he will help the younger players who come in and maybe have to acclimatise. But at the moment we’re not in a bad place so I just think hopefully it’s a good addition for us.”
Asked how far back his admiration of the player stretches, Lampard revealed: “I was aware of him, I’m aware of players, watch a lot of football but at Derby I was aware of him. It was the year Graham Potter was at Swansea and we played them twice and I was aware of his abilities.
“I watch a lot of the Championship and he’s obviously been a consistent performer for them and a style of player I really like, and one that I think can help us and help the players around him.”
Grimes has played a deeper, holding position for the Swans this season, but are the Sky Blues getting a dynamic, all-round midfielder from a player who can also play further forward?
“Yeah, I think so,” he said. “I know how he plays for Swansea and he is so important to their game and I’ll work with him with things that I can hopefully help him and help us. And some of that can be deeper in terms of helping our build and helping us move the ball up from lower areas of the pitch.
“But I also think he’s got good qualities to be higher up and to be finding passes higher up the pitch, and getting in more aggressive positions with those qualities for people that want to run behind the defensive line and break lines. Those are important things for us in how we want to be, and that’s one of his strengths, whether he’s deeper or higher up, I’d say.”
The timing of the fixture is not ideal and Lampard confirmed that Grimes won’t feature this weekend, saying: “No he won’t be and I think that’s understandable because he’s been there a long time. I think he’s been very respectful about how he’s left the club, and understandably so, and I think the feeling towards him, without telling anyone how to feel, will under understand the input he’s had at that club for a long period of time. And now he moves on for another challenge.
“So I think in terms of the timing of the game, it’s a twist of fate and I think probably the respectful thing for everybody is that he starts with us after that.”
His absence from Swansea’s team will, inevitably, weaken the home side but asked if he thinks it might also galvanise the dressing room even more and work against the Sky Blues on the day, he said: “Maybe... Maybe. It’s hard to quantify those ones isn’t it? I’m not considering that in terms of how they might lose a good player for a game. Are they still a good team? Yes. Are they one of the top possession teams in the league? Yeah, so we know the threats and it’s never about one player.”
