' Russell Slade answers the big matchday questions '
Sat Oct 18, 2014 7:11 am
Russell Slade will take charge of his first Championship game today when he leads Cardiff City out to face high fliers Nottingham Forest. But first he took the chance to tell us how the last fortnight has gone.
1: Some City fans were not convinced by you appointment initially. Is the match against Forest a chance to win them over?
RS: “Everybody is entitled to their opinion on any manager appointed at any club. The international break has allowed me to work with the players and get to know them. I talk about togetherness and when I do that does include the supporters. We all need to pull in the same direction and let’s hope going forward it’s a joint venture. That would give us a better chance of being successful.
“I want to see work ethic and desire within the squad and a game plan we stick to. It’s important we get the fundamentals right.
“I’d like to think there will be an improvement. It’s not going to be off the cuff. I’m very strong on being organised and my teams knowing what they’re about.”
2: You are looking for signs of impact and at areas of the team where Cardiff need to improve. Is there one area you are targeting in particular?
RS: “I want to see those qualities I preach - work ethic, desire, character and togetherness. Those four things. I also want to see some method, a game plan the players stick to and go for.
“We need to get the basics right and we have worked on those.
“Part of my philosophy is that I am strong on those qualities, being organised and having a team knowing exactly what they are about. The opposition must know it will not be easy against my teams.”
3: Were you surprised when you were appointed that some players were short of fitness in October?
RS: “Yes, I have been. You can identify individual problems. Craig Noone, Ben Turner and Matthew Connolly are not fit for a reason, which is that they have been injured.
“But professional athletes have to be at their peak week in and week out. Statistically we were not and that was something I felt we needed strongly to address as I do not want to sit off teams, I want to go and press teams and if you do not have that ability because you are not fit enough then that is a problem. The levels have to be a lot higher and we are making progress towards putting that right."
4: You have more than 30 players here, but could you still bring players in on loan?
RS: “This is a huge squad with another seven out on loan at other clubs. If we want to talk about togetherness and a collective mentality then I believe that our group has to be smaller.
“I might add players in, though, absolutely, and I have the option of bringing people back from loans. I would not hesitate to do so and we are monitoring all of our players who are out with other clubs.
“I would not hesitate. Kevin McNaughton and Joe Mason have done well at Bolton so we will monitor them. But some of those loans will be until January and that is the problem. It may not be possible to get some of those players back, but just because they are on loan does not mean they are out of my plans.”
5: How have the last couple of weeks been since you became Cardiff City manager?
RS: “I’ve got my feet under the table a little bit more, got to know the players a little bit more. The frustrating bit has not been having all the players available with eight away on international duty.”
“Some have had more minutes than others. Pilks (Anthony Pilkington) has had very few, while Kenwyne (Jones) has had three games. Some have come back more weary than others.
“If you’re asking me if I know my starting lineup the answer is no. Am I close to knowing it? Probably yes.
Have you ruled out Bruno Manga, who arrived back late on Friday?
RS: “He’s a big part of the club going forward, but we will have to see what shape he’s in. On top of that we have one or two problems with injuries to defenders at this moment in time. So we’ll have to weigh the situation up. He may have to be thrown in.”
7: Manga has just arrived back from Africa. Do you have worries about the Africa Cup of Nations and the Ebola outbreak?
RS: “We did a little bit of research to ensure Bruno was safe enough. You can’t safeguard it 100 per cent, but looking at the regions he was in we felt he was very safe. But we will ensure he’s fit and healthy the moment he arrives.
“You would expect Fifa to ensure it would be safe to stage the ACON finals early next year. If there’s any doubt at all then they are going to have to take the right measures and not risk any footballers coming into contact with that kind of disease because we all know how fatal it can be. It’s something football has not faced and the sooner it’s resolved the better.”
8: What is your view on the challenge against Nottingham Forest? They haven’t won in their last five league and cup matches.
RS: “There is no doubt it’s a big game, a huge game for the football club. I’m looking forward to it. It’s a challenge and I’m embracing that. It’s all about the next 90 minutes and at the end of it we’ll deliver what we deserve.
When it comes to their recent run of form it depends which way you spin it. They still haven’t lost in the Championship this season and are second on goal difference. They are in that position for a reason.
“There is a strong togetherness in their unit, they dig in for each other, are difficult to beat and have had a lot of clean sheets. But nobody is invincible. We’ll be looking at ways to undo them in what will be a battle and a tight game.
“Britt Assombalonga is Forest’s top scorer and he has scored against my teams a couple of times. He’s a willing runner, strong and quick, will always attempt to get into a position to score and will keep going. It’s his persistence that characterises his performance because he never stops.”
9: Cardiff are 15th in the table. Have you identified problems - and how long will it take you to sort them out?
RS: “Yes, of course. I am identifying them. There were some areas which I saw needed attention straight away. But the biggest battle for me is not the one for the top six or the top two, it will be the battle for belief and bringing that belief back to the club. That is the biggest battle.
“I am grateful there are so many matches (35) left. It still gives us a good chance of progressing but we need that momentum sooner rather than later which is why belief is so important. If we can get momentum, the togetherness and collective mentality in and around the group that will give us a chance of flying up the table.
“The important thing for me is to get a high level of performance. When Forest players walk off I want them to be saying Cardiff are the best team we’ve played this season.”
10: Do you think Bluebirds fans will want to see your influence as the new manager even in first game?
RS: “Of course they will and if I was a fan I will be wanting to see something, some sort of improvement. That’s what I’ll be asking from the players – improvement. And by that I mean in everything really. I wouldn’t ask them for that if I didn’t think they were capable of it.”
11: Are they fitter now than when you first came in?
RS: “Yes. We’ve increased the intensity of training sessions and the time we’ve spent either on the training ground or in the gym working with the players. Statistically it’s looking better than it was.
“The situation developed before I became manager for various reasons.
“Some players needed the work after injury and still some do, let alone Ben Turner and Matt Connolly coming back to fitness.”
12: You have stepped up from League One Orient to a Championship club. Is this a major test for you?
RS: “I don’t think so, not really. Your management style doesn’t change. You may have more players, more staff, more fans. But the terms of management and the way I do the job won’t change. In terms of what I want from the players and what the game plan is nothing changes.
“I feel strongly about what I do, I know what I want from my players and eventually I’ll get there.
“In some ways it should be easier because I have better players. The quality of players here is a level up. That’s shown by the number of players who went on international duty which is a new one to me. We had eight players away, where normally it’s one and a half for me.
“There is quality within the building. That’s quite clear. Do we have the balance yet? No we don’t. Do we have the chemistry? Probably not. Do we have the partnerships? Probably not. Will we get them? Yes we will. I had the opportunity of going to a championship club 18 months ago, but Barry Hearn (at Orient) wouldn’t let me go. You wait for that opportunity and you hope people see the work you’re doing.
“I left my last football club as the most successful manager in terms of results and broke several records.”
1: Some City fans were not convinced by you appointment initially. Is the match against Forest a chance to win them over?
RS: “Everybody is entitled to their opinion on any manager appointed at any club. The international break has allowed me to work with the players and get to know them. I talk about togetherness and when I do that does include the supporters. We all need to pull in the same direction and let’s hope going forward it’s a joint venture. That would give us a better chance of being successful.
“I want to see work ethic and desire within the squad and a game plan we stick to. It’s important we get the fundamentals right.
“I’d like to think there will be an improvement. It’s not going to be off the cuff. I’m very strong on being organised and my teams knowing what they’re about.”
2: You are looking for signs of impact and at areas of the team where Cardiff need to improve. Is there one area you are targeting in particular?
RS: “I want to see those qualities I preach - work ethic, desire, character and togetherness. Those four things. I also want to see some method, a game plan the players stick to and go for.
“We need to get the basics right and we have worked on those.
“Part of my philosophy is that I am strong on those qualities, being organised and having a team knowing exactly what they are about. The opposition must know it will not be easy against my teams.”
3: Were you surprised when you were appointed that some players were short of fitness in October?
RS: “Yes, I have been. You can identify individual problems. Craig Noone, Ben Turner and Matthew Connolly are not fit for a reason, which is that they have been injured.
“But professional athletes have to be at their peak week in and week out. Statistically we were not and that was something I felt we needed strongly to address as I do not want to sit off teams, I want to go and press teams and if you do not have that ability because you are not fit enough then that is a problem. The levels have to be a lot higher and we are making progress towards putting that right."
4: You have more than 30 players here, but could you still bring players in on loan?
RS: “This is a huge squad with another seven out on loan at other clubs. If we want to talk about togetherness and a collective mentality then I believe that our group has to be smaller.
“I might add players in, though, absolutely, and I have the option of bringing people back from loans. I would not hesitate to do so and we are monitoring all of our players who are out with other clubs.
“I would not hesitate. Kevin McNaughton and Joe Mason have done well at Bolton so we will monitor them. But some of those loans will be until January and that is the problem. It may not be possible to get some of those players back, but just because they are on loan does not mean they are out of my plans.”
5: How have the last couple of weeks been since you became Cardiff City manager?
RS: “I’ve got my feet under the table a little bit more, got to know the players a little bit more. The frustrating bit has not been having all the players available with eight away on international duty.”
“Some have had more minutes than others. Pilks (Anthony Pilkington) has had very few, while Kenwyne (Jones) has had three games. Some have come back more weary than others.
“If you’re asking me if I know my starting lineup the answer is no. Am I close to knowing it? Probably yes.
Have you ruled out Bruno Manga, who arrived back late on Friday?
RS: “He’s a big part of the club going forward, but we will have to see what shape he’s in. On top of that we have one or two problems with injuries to defenders at this moment in time. So we’ll have to weigh the situation up. He may have to be thrown in.”
7: Manga has just arrived back from Africa. Do you have worries about the Africa Cup of Nations and the Ebola outbreak?
RS: “We did a little bit of research to ensure Bruno was safe enough. You can’t safeguard it 100 per cent, but looking at the regions he was in we felt he was very safe. But we will ensure he’s fit and healthy the moment he arrives.
“You would expect Fifa to ensure it would be safe to stage the ACON finals early next year. If there’s any doubt at all then they are going to have to take the right measures and not risk any footballers coming into contact with that kind of disease because we all know how fatal it can be. It’s something football has not faced and the sooner it’s resolved the better.”
8: What is your view on the challenge against Nottingham Forest? They haven’t won in their last five league and cup matches.
RS: “There is no doubt it’s a big game, a huge game for the football club. I’m looking forward to it. It’s a challenge and I’m embracing that. It’s all about the next 90 minutes and at the end of it we’ll deliver what we deserve.
When it comes to their recent run of form it depends which way you spin it. They still haven’t lost in the Championship this season and are second on goal difference. They are in that position for a reason.
“There is a strong togetherness in their unit, they dig in for each other, are difficult to beat and have had a lot of clean sheets. But nobody is invincible. We’ll be looking at ways to undo them in what will be a battle and a tight game.
“Britt Assombalonga is Forest’s top scorer and he has scored against my teams a couple of times. He’s a willing runner, strong and quick, will always attempt to get into a position to score and will keep going. It’s his persistence that characterises his performance because he never stops.”
9: Cardiff are 15th in the table. Have you identified problems - and how long will it take you to sort them out?
RS: “Yes, of course. I am identifying them. There were some areas which I saw needed attention straight away. But the biggest battle for me is not the one for the top six or the top two, it will be the battle for belief and bringing that belief back to the club. That is the biggest battle.
“I am grateful there are so many matches (35) left. It still gives us a good chance of progressing but we need that momentum sooner rather than later which is why belief is so important. If we can get momentum, the togetherness and collective mentality in and around the group that will give us a chance of flying up the table.
“The important thing for me is to get a high level of performance. When Forest players walk off I want them to be saying Cardiff are the best team we’ve played this season.”
10: Do you think Bluebirds fans will want to see your influence as the new manager even in first game?
RS: “Of course they will and if I was a fan I will be wanting to see something, some sort of improvement. That’s what I’ll be asking from the players – improvement. And by that I mean in everything really. I wouldn’t ask them for that if I didn’t think they were capable of it.”
11: Are they fitter now than when you first came in?
RS: “Yes. We’ve increased the intensity of training sessions and the time we’ve spent either on the training ground or in the gym working with the players. Statistically it’s looking better than it was.
“The situation developed before I became manager for various reasons.
“Some players needed the work after injury and still some do, let alone Ben Turner and Matt Connolly coming back to fitness.”
12: You have stepped up from League One Orient to a Championship club. Is this a major test for you?
RS: “I don’t think so, not really. Your management style doesn’t change. You may have more players, more staff, more fans. But the terms of management and the way I do the job won’t change. In terms of what I want from the players and what the game plan is nothing changes.
“I feel strongly about what I do, I know what I want from my players and eventually I’ll get there.
“In some ways it should be easier because I have better players. The quality of players here is a level up. That’s shown by the number of players who went on international duty which is a new one to me. We had eight players away, where normally it’s one and a half for me.
“There is quality within the building. That’s quite clear. Do we have the balance yet? No we don’t. Do we have the chemistry? Probably not. Do we have the partnerships? Probably not. Will we get them? Yes we will. I had the opportunity of going to a championship club 18 months ago, but Barry Hearn (at Orient) wouldn’t let me go. You wait for that opportunity and you hope people see the work you’re doing.
“I left my last football club as the most successful manager in terms of results and broke several records.”
Re: ' Russell Slade answers the big matchday questions '
Sat Oct 18, 2014 7:20 am
I've really taken to this guy.i want him to succeed because in I like the guy, as well as the fact that he's the manager of my team. 
Re: ' Russell Slade answers the big matchday questions '
Sat Oct 18, 2014 7:27 am
I - like many others - wasn't convinced by his appointment, but he seems to talk the talk.
Hopefully the fans will get behind him and we can get a result on the pitch.
Hopefully the fans will get behind him and we can get a result on the pitch.
Re: ' Russell Slade answers the big matchday questions '
Sat Oct 18, 2014 7:38 am
Let's not all get on his back if we lose today, let's look at the performance of the players, if we can see more effort and commitment from them and some semblance of a system then he's already made progress imo.
Re: ' Russell Slade answers the big matchday questions '
Sat Oct 18, 2014 8:07 am
All sounds positive and Russell is saying all the right things and seems very confident, he comes across very well when giving interviews and has definite expectations. Although I wanted TP as our manager I am warming to Russell and am more than willing to give him a chance as I am sure every other City fan will too. Let's get right behind the team today and I am confident we will beat Forest today Bloooooobirds 
Bloooooobirds
Re: ' Russell Slade answers the big matchday questions '
Sat Oct 18, 2014 9:14 am
We want to press teams up the park .. Thank f**k we have a manager who wants us to pose a threat. Come on Sladey, this is your time son
Re: ' Russell Slade answers the big matchday questions '
Sat Oct 18, 2014 10:04 am
bringing SuperKev back would be a master-stroke in the popularity stakes for Slade. Shrewd if he does as it could be a win-win-win situation for Cardiff City, the fans & Slade
Re: ' Russell Slade answers the big matchday questions '
Sat Oct 18, 2014 10:26 am
Liking this guy more and more. Couldn't give a f**k that he's come from League One, if you've got the ability you've got the ability, end of the day.