" NOTHING TO LOSE "

" NOTHING TO LOSE "

It might not seem like it, but Russell Slade is the manager with nothing to lose going into the new Championship season.

City players viewtopic.php?f=2&t=144783

By Chris Wathan

City's fixtures viewtopic.php?f=2&t=142949

Sunday 2nd August 2015

It seems daft to suggest such a thing given Slade ended the last campaign with question marks looming large above his head.

And it feels at times no matter what the former Leyton Orient boss does then there are plenty who do not see him lasting in the Bluebirds’ hot-seat, with Vincent Tan’s comparisons to Arsene Wenger’s length of service at Arsenal readied to be reproduced every time a call comes for his exit.

For some it is a matter of when, not if – and yet Cardiff must hope Slade can use that as his strength.

Slight upturn

Indeed, an old saying suggests is easier for someone with nothing to lose to “take risks and to chase his dreams” which is what many Bluebirds followers have been crying out for.

Having laboured over watching a team that switched between being steady and sloppy, sluggish and short of ideas, supporters ended the campaign desperately clinging to the slim suggestions of hope from a slight upturn in results and performances at the tail-end.

Slade has since suggested it was top-six form but few are convinced that the play-offs are anything to be talked about this season.

Again, that may be no bad thing for Slade.



He saw how his predecessor buckled under promotion pressure and should note how Malky Mackay best thrived on a limited enough budget in his first year when Cardiff could take up the underdog role, managing a play-off place at the end of it.

Because if few are expecting top-six under Slade, he may just have the cushion to go for it.

To do so, though, there has to be the signs of progress and a pattern of play that will bring with it a good will to accept defeats along the way.

Greater feeling of shape and understanding

It was badly lacking last year, the absence of a seemingly cohesive plan arguably more of a worry than the results that at one stage threatened to dip them towards a relegation battle.

From the limited evidence of pre-season, and going off the back of some late showings last season, there may be one coming.

Coincidence or not, the arrival of Paul Trollope has helped and there are greater positive signs to Cardiff inching forward. The tendency to look too long, too often has been limited and there is a greater feeling of shape and understanding to the team.

In pre-season, Slade appeared touchy about his team’s use of 4-4-2 – or a variation of it – and yet it is how a play teams in a system rather than the system itself and with Joe Ralls’ emergence as a talented midfield option and Anthony Pilkington’s return from injury the midfield looks far more aware of its purpose.




Similarly, having tried and tried again to find a frontman worth playing around for the past two years, Joe Mason has pressed his case to become an unlikely hero.

He may not have a goal-record that would breed utmost confidence in a promotion push, but his intelligent running can bring others into play and give the Bluebirds the kind of creative movement they seemed bereft of at times last year.

The presence of Kagisho Dikgacoi is intriguing, an undoubted talent who can protect and offer safe passes if he can reach proper fitness that, in turn, may well return Peter Whittingham’s ability to prominence.




Ameobi incentive

And while there is still some debate just where he is best utilised, Sammy Ameobi is a player who can make things happen and should have the desire to do so at this level if he has any hopes of returning from his loan to Newcastle a Premier League player.

Throw in the fact much has been made of the fitness side to pre-season after issues surrounding the squad’s conditioning last year and there should be hope for more than just being thankful for mid-table.

Can the Bluebirds make the top six in the Championship in 2015/16?



The easy option for Slade, of course, is to return to some of the ‘stop the rot’ tactics of last year where the big man would be aimed for, the loose balls chased and the flanks used.

But given he has little to lose, he might just find the answer in taking something of a risk and looking for more from a side who still have the quality to push themselves into the chase for the top six.

Late signings may be needed to fully identify them as a threat to those positions and an opening month or so will be an early indicator of just what type of season this will be for the team and its manager.



Nothing to lose

But there is still genuine ability at Cardiff City Stadium if it can be encouraged and worse sides have made their presence felt at this level by harnessing the unity players have claimed is back in his squad after even a rookie such as Matty Kennedy claimed the dressing room he walked into last year was one of doom and gloom.

An unpopular appointment in the eyes of some, Slade may well have gone through the worst of it as he tried to shape up – in more ways than one – the bloated squad Ole Gunnar Solskjaer left behind.

But he still has it all to prove.

By the same measure, he has nothing to lose – and he should make the most of that.

Cardiff City Fixtures 2015/16 viewtopic.php?f=2&t=142949

They're saying he's got nothing to lose but when he joined us we had more than capable team of getting into the automatics or playoffs it's not as if he joined a team like wigan or blackpool last season smh!

They're saying he's got nothing to lose but when he joined us we had more than capable team of getting into the automatics or playoffs it's not as if he joined a team like wigan or blackpool last season smh!

Our squad was full of quality/ talent

It still has a lot of quality and should be at least top 6 this season


Yes there were players to get rid off,but there was an abundance of talent.

Usual story will be he inherited a mess,they said that Ole inherited a mess,they will say that about the next manager after Slade.

A good manager can get the best out of a half decent squad,we had a squad with plenty of talent.

I will support Slade this season,but there is no excuses

Im no Slade fan but you only have to look at what the players have been saying at the time he took over - dressing room had no feeling or respect and finally this is coming back!!!

Ole killed us lets face it and who knows this may be a rebuild from now on

They're saying he's got nothing to lose but when he joined us we had more than capable team of getting into the automatics or playoffs it's not as if he joined a team like wigan or blackpool last season smh!

You've got to be effin kidding.I think most people,myself included,underestimated the total disarray he inherited when he came to the club.To his credit he's stopped the rot but I will concede he now has to take the next step.We could have so easily done a Wolves or a Wigan.

They're saying he's got nothing to lose but when he joined us we had more than capable team of getting into the automatics or playoffs it's not as if he joined a team like wigan or blackpool last season smh!

You've got to be effin kidding.I think most people,myself included,underestimated the total disarray he inherited when he came to the club.To his credit he's stopped the rot but I will concede he now has to take the next step.We could have so easily done a Wolves or a Wigan.

Peoples dislike of Slade's appointment as blinded them to the mess he inherited! Yes quality squad but not a quality team or quality set up! You cannot just come in and start producing results with players leaving/coming in way city were doing. Not forgetting backroom staff!

They're saying he's got nothing to lose but when he joined us we had more than capable team of getting into the automatics or playoffs it's not as if he joined a team like wigan or blackpool last season smh!

Yes, the talent was there, however the squad was huge with no spirit and full of square pegs in round holes, plus the atmosphere around the club and no doubt dressing room from the fans caused by the rebrand was toxic. I still believe that Pullis would have turned us around quicker and more effectively, however, he would have cost a hell of a lot more money both in wages and he would have probably demanded some other additions and it looks like Tan by that point had decided enough was enough on the spending front, so that wasn't going to happen.
I don't see Slade as having nothing to lose, if he gets off to a stinker, I have no doubts that Tan will wield the axe

They're saying he's got nothing to lose but when he joined us we had more than capable team of getting into the automatics or playoffs it's not as if he joined a team like wigan or blackpool last season smh!

I totally agree with what you just said but how long has he been here now? He's still going in with 'nothing to lose ' even though he's had 3 quarters of a season and a full pre season I mean Cmon how long does he need

You've got to be effin kidding.I think most people,myself included,underestimated the total disarray he inherited when he came to the club.To his credit he's stopped the rot but I will concede he now has to take the next step.We could have so easily done a Wolves or a Wigan.

They're saying he's got nothing to lose but when he joined us we had more than capable team of getting into the automatics or playoffs it's not as if he joined a team like wigan or blackpool last season smh!

I really do agree with all you said but he's had long enough brought his signings in and he's still saying he's got 'nothing to lose'

Yes, the talent was there, however the squad was huge with no spirit and full of square pegs in round holes, plus the atmosphere around the club and no doubt dressing room from the fans caused by the rebrand was toxic. I still believe that Pullis would have turned us around quicker and more effectively, however, he would have cost a hell of a lot more money both in wages and he would have probably demanded some other additions and it looks like Tan by that point had decided enough was enough on the spending front, so that wasn't going to happen.
I don't see Slade as having nothing to lose, if he gets off to a stinker, I have no doubts that Tan will wield the axe

They're saying he's got nothing to lose but when he joined us we had more than capable team of getting into the automatics or playoffs it's not as if he joined a team like wigan or blackpool last season smh!

You've got to be effin kidding.I think most people,myself included,underestimated the total disarray he inherited when he came to the club.To his credit he's stopped the rot but I will concede he now has to take the next step.We could have so easily done a Wolves or a Wigan.

You ate spot on here. The recent comments to come out show we had a squad of players in disarray. It takes time to sort these type of issued out. I slade gone towards the end of last season but now will fully support him. He deserves a full press season with his team to show us what he can do. Pre season has shown me improvements already. Bring on the season

They're saying he's got nothing to lose but when he joined us we had more than capable team of getting into the automatics or playoffs it's not as if he joined a team like wigan or blackpool last season smh!

I can see where your coming from last season was a disaster with ole buying whoever he wanted and with us playing in red but this season were back in blue he's brought his own players in and he's still saying he's got nothing to lose can you see where I'm coming from?

You've got to be effin kidding.I think most people,myself included,underestimated the total disarray he inherited when he came to the club.To his credit he's stopped the rot but I will concede he now has to take the next step.We could have so easily done a Wolves or a Wigan.

You ate spot on here. The recent comments to come out show we had a squad of players in disarray. It takes time to sort these type of issued out. I slade gone towards the end of last season but now will fully support him. He deserves a full press season with his team to show us what he can do. Pre season has shown me improvements already. Bring on the season

They're saying he's got nothing to lose but when he joined us we had more than capable team of getting into the automatics or playoffs it's not as if he joined a team like wigan or blackpool last season smh!

Our squad was full of quality/ talent

It still has a lot of quality and should be at least top 6 this season


Yes there were players to get rid off,but there was an abundance of talent.

Usual story will be he inherited a mess,they said that Ole inherited a mess,they will say that about the next manager after Slade.

A good manager can get the best out of a half decent squad,we had a squad with plenty of talent.

I will support Slade this season,but there is no excuses

But he inherited a very unfit and disunited squad. It needed time to solve these issues. Most people weren't prepared to give him a chance. He may still fail but this is the season to judge him...not last season.

A nice refreshing read. Positive in places. Shows what I know. I predict a struggle this season, but having read that I may have to re think it a bit.

Being an under dog is never a bad thing.

A nice refreshing read. Positive in places. Shows what I know. I predict a struggle this season, but having read that I may have to re think it a bit.

Being an under dog is never a bad thing.

being a underdog is one thing but putting yourself out as a.underdog with a team more than capable of promotion is another

They're saying he's got nothing to lose but when he joined us we had more than capable team of getting into the automatics or playoffs

Sorry but this is a complete myth. When he took over we had a team on inflated wages who for the most part had no heart or fight. A lot of them were most certainly not up to the task and we were in a decline. For what its worth, although I do not think Slade is going to take us up, I think so far he has done a fairly decent job at steadying the shit whilst cutting the cloth accordingly. Credit must be given where it is due.

They're saying he's got nothing to lose but when he joined us we had more than capable team of getting into the automatics or playoffs

Sorry but this is a complete myth. When he took over we had a team on inflated wages who for the most part had no heart or fight. A lot of them were most certainly not up to the task and we were in a decline. For what its worth, although I do not think Slade is going to take us up, I think so far he has done a fairly decent job at steadying the shit whilst cutting the cloth accordingly. Credit must be given where it is due.

I fully agree

It's a shame his personality appears like a wet fish
With no Malky inspirational sound bites

The easy option for Slade, of course, is to return to some of the ‘stop the rot’ tactics of last year where the big man would be aimed for, the loose balls chased and the flanks used.

based on the watford game then his hoof tactics are not 'stop the rot' but his philosophy on how to play the game. you can't complain if hoofball gets you results as we did under mackay, but if you lose games playing this way fans will get disgruntled.

oh, and he has a job to lose. he is under pressure, but then again he has been since he took the job as most people on this forum cannot wait for him to be sacked and held that view even before we kicked a ball under him.