Sun Nov 09, 2014 5:16 pm
Sun Nov 09, 2014 5:25 pm
Sun Nov 09, 2014 5:51 pm
Sun Nov 09, 2014 6:01 pm
Tonteg Bluebird wrote:A lot of doom and gloom merchants on this forum following our performance yesterday, which I can't understand to be honest.
Gary Rowett has taken over Birmingham, got them organised and their form has picked up. They beat Watford last Tuesday, yet people are still not satisfied we only drew 0-0 with them. Personally, I thought we could have perhaps nicked the win yesterday, but a point and clean sheet after our 3-0 Bolton defeat shows Slade was right to make changes and the changes worked. I don't care how boring an away game is, people are moaning why Slade didn't use more creative players, but we went down that road with Ole and look where it got us! Fans were moaning about Malky's negative tactics after we ONLY drew away to Stoke 0-0 and wanted him sacked. Look where that has got us!
Every away game in the Championship requires the team to stand up, battle and be counted. We didn't do this at Millwall and Slade identified a "soft under belly" at Bolton. So Slade made changes yesterday, brought in some players with character like Turner and Connolly and we kept a clean sheet. People can talk about Birmingham being the lowest scorers this season all they like, Gary Rowett has made a difference there already and they're a different proposition now, as Watford found out. Overall, a point and clean sheet at an improving Birmingham team lifted by Gary Rowett and brimming with confidence after beating Watford who were top last Tuesday is a decent enough result. If we can keep winning at home and keep more clean sheets away, we will be definite promotion contenders.
I think Slade is getting a lot of unnecessary criticism already. He's inherited Ole's squad and has a lot of dead wood to clear so he can bring his own players in, and he says he's already started that process. Slade hasn't had a pre season, he's only had an international break to really get to know the players, and that's only the players who weren't on international duty. Slade has a 100% winning record at home and although we've only taken one point away so far, Slade hasn't had the opportunity to REALLY get to know the players. He's starting too though following the Bolton defeat, you can't really get to know your players until you go to places like Bolton. That's when you really see if certain players are up for the fight. Slade made changes following Bolton and the response from Gary Rowett after yesterdays game was "Out of my 3 games, Cardiff were the most physical team we've come up against". I LOVE this comment, as this is how we need to be away from home. We must put it about, we must be more streetwise, we must stop the home team playing. Then when we win the battle, we can play our game.
I'm not saying Slade is the perfect manager, I would have selected different line ups to him, I wouldn't have put 3 centre backs on the bench at Bolton, I wouldn't keep selecting the lazy Macheda who I feel contributes very little to our team, particularly away from home when you need a willing runner up front to take the pressure off. But what I am saying is thus far, Slade hasn't done too badly at all. He must be doing a lot of things right, as 10 points out of 18 is a more than good enough start considering the mess he's inherited. We are climbing the table and if we can improve our away form with more boring, clean sheet performances, the future will look promising under Slade. We have to stick with him and give him a few transfer windows to bring in his own players before we can fairly judge him. Let's see what Slade can do in the January transfer window. He can take Leyton Orient to a League 1 playoff final with 30 free transfers, so he may well be able to use the January transfer window to take us from mid table to the play offs, or even the automatic positions!
Sun Nov 09, 2014 6:09 pm
Sun Nov 09, 2014 6:12 pm
Sun Nov 09, 2014 6:33 pm
Sun Nov 09, 2014 6:42 pm
Skewett wrote:Tonteg Bluebird wrote:A lot of doom and gloom merchants on this forum following our performance yesterday, which I can't understand to be honest.
Gary Rowett has taken over Birmingham, got them organised and their form has picked up. They beat Watford last Tuesday, yet people are still not satisfied we only drew 0-0 with them. Personally, I thought we could have perhaps nicked the win yesterday, but a point and clean sheet after our 3-0 Bolton defeat shows Slade was right to make changes and the changes worked. I don't care how boring an away game is, people are moaning why Slade didn't use more creative players, but we went down that road with Ole and look where it got us! Fans were moaning about Malky's negative tactics after we ONLY drew away to Stoke 0-0 and wanted him sacked. Look where that has got us!
Every away game in the Championship requires the team to stand up, battle and be counted. We didn't do this at Millwall and Slade identified a "soft under belly" at Bolton. So Slade made changes yesterday, brought in some players with character like Turner and Connolly and we kept a clean sheet. People can talk about Birmingham being the lowest scorers this season all they like, Gary Rowett has made a difference there already and they're a different proposition now, as Watford found out. Overall, a point and clean sheet at an improving Birmingham team lifted by Gary Rowett and brimming with confidence after beating Watford who were top last Tuesday is a decent enough result. If we can keep winning at home and keep more clean sheets away, we will be definite promotion contenders.
I think Slade is getting a lot of unnecessary criticism already. He's inherited Ole's squad and has a lot of dead wood to clear so he can bring his own players in, and he says he's already started that process. Slade hasn't had a pre season, he's only had an international break to really get to know the players, and that's only the players who weren't on international duty. Slade has a 100% winning record at home and although we've only taken one point away so far, Slade hasn't had the opportunity to REALLY get to know the players. He's starting too though following the Bolton defeat, you can't really get to know your players until you go to places like Bolton. That's when you really see if certain players are up for the fight. Slade made changes following Bolton and the response from Gary Rowett after yesterdays game was "Out of my 3 games, Cardiff were the most physical team we've come up against". I LOVE this comment, as this is how we need to be away from home. We must put it about, we must be more streetwise, we must stop the home team playing. Then when we win the battle, we can play our game.
I'm not saying Slade is the perfect manager, I would have selected different line ups to him, I wouldn't have put 3 centre backs on the bench at Bolton, I wouldn't keep selecting the lazy Macheda who I feel contributes very little to our team, particularly away from home when you need a willing runner up front to take the pressure off. But what I am saying is thus far, Slade hasn't done too badly at all. He must be doing a lot of things right, as 10 points out of 18 is a more than good enough start considering the mess he's inherited. We are climbing the table and if we can improve our away form with more boring, clean sheet performances, the future will look promising under Slade. We have to stick with him and give him a few transfer windows to bring in his own players before we can fairly judge him. Let's see what Slade can do in the January transfer window. He can take Leyton Orient to a League 1 playoff final with 30 free transfers, so he may well be able to use the January transfer window to take us from mid table to the play offs, or even the automatic positions!
Slade did inherit Ole's squad but that was supposed to be 'the best ever Championship Squad'. Slade was supposed to come in and make it work, not clear everyone out and start again. It's crap to suggest that he can have free licence until he can get his own players in.
I thought we'd changed our manager early doors to get someone who could get the best out of this group of players.
It certainly isn't OK for the team to pick up one point from 12 against the worst 4 sides in the division and not to score any goals against them.
I'm not anto Slade but i bet I've shelled out well over £500 to watch those 4 matches. I'd like to have been entertained just a bit and to at least seen my team having a go and my manager picking a bench that might be able to change a game. If we'd have gone a goal down yesterday we'd have been sunk and no amount of positive spin could have made that look good.
I'm not being negative, just telling it as it is.
Sun Nov 09, 2014 6:53 pm
Sun Nov 09, 2014 7:01 pm
Sun Nov 09, 2014 7:02 pm
gwentbluebirds wrote:I am not anti slade either and definitely don't want to talk about sacking. But what I and I believe others are saying is that his bench has no options especially creative options. Yesterday kim or maynard imo would not be game changers or big threats if we had gone 1 down
Sun Nov 09, 2014 7:08 pm
Tonteg Bluebird wrote:A lot of doom and gloom merchants on this forum following our performance yesterday, which I can't understand to be honest.
Gary Rowett has taken over Birmingham, got them organised and their form has picked up. They beat Watford last Tuesday, yet people are still not satisfied we only drew 0-0 with them. Personally, I thought we could have perhaps nicked the win yesterday, but a point and clean sheet after our 3-0 Bolton defeat shows Slade was right to make changes and the changes worked. I don't care how boring an away game is, people are moaning why Slade didn't use more creative players, but we went down that road with Ole and look where it got us! Fans were moaning about Malky's negative tactics after we ONLY drew away to Stoke 0-0 and wanted him sacked. Look where that has got us!
Every away game in the Championship requires the team to stand up, battle and be counted. We didn't do this at Millwall and Slade identified a "soft under belly" at Bolton. So Slade made changes yesterday, brought in some players with character like Turner and Connolly and we kept a clean sheet. People can talk about Birmingham being the lowest scorers this season all they like, Gary Rowett has made a difference there already and they're a different proposition now, as Watford found out. Overall, a point and clean sheet at an improving Birmingham team lifted by Gary Rowett and brimming with confidence after beating Watford who were top last Tuesday is a decent enough result. If we can keep winning at home and keep more clean sheets away, we will be definite promotion contenders.
I think Slade is getting a lot of unnecessary criticism already. He's inherited Ole's squad and has a lot of dead wood to clear so he can bring his own players in, and he says he's already started that process. Slade hasn't had a pre season, he's only had an international break to really get to know the players, and that's only the players who weren't on international duty. Slade has a 100% winning record at home and although we've only taken one point away so far, Slade hasn't had the opportunity to REALLY get to know the players. He's starting too though following the Bolton defeat, you can't really get to know your players until you go to places like Bolton. That's when you really see if certain players are up for the fight. Slade made changes following Bolton and the response from Gary Rowett after yesterdays game was "Out of my 3 games, Cardiff were the most physical team we've come up against". I LOVE this comment, as this is how we need to be away from home. We must put it about, we must be more streetwise, we must stop the home team playing. Then when we win the battle, we can play our game.
I'm not saying Slade is the perfect manager, I would have selected different line ups to him, I wouldn't have put 3 centre backs on the bench at Bolton, I wouldn't keep selecting the lazy Macheda who I feel contributes very little to our team, particularly away from home when you need a willing runner up front to take the pressure off. But what I am saying is thus far, Slade hasn't done too badly at all. He must be doing a lot of things right, as 10 points out of 18 is a more than good enough start considering the mess he's inherited. We are climbing the table and if we can improve our away form with more boring, clean sheet performances, the future will look promising under Slade. We have to stick with him and give him a few transfer windows to bring in his own players before we can fairly judge him. Let's see what Slade can do in the January transfer window. He can take Leyton Orient to a League 1 playoff final with 30 free transfers, so he may well be able to use the January transfer window to take us from mid table to the play offs, or even the automatic positions!
Sun Nov 09, 2014 7:14 pm
Tonteg Bluebird wrote:A lot of doom and gloom merchants on this forum following our performance yesterday, which I can't understand to be honest.
Gary Rowett has taken over Birmingham, got them organised and their form has picked up. They beat Watford last Tuesday, yet people are still not satisfied we only drew 0-0 with them. Personally, I thought we could have perhaps nicked the win yesterday, but a point and clean sheet after our 3-0 Bolton defeat shows Slade was right to make changes and the changes worked. I don't care how boring an away game is, people are moaning why Slade didn't use more creative players, but we went down that road with Ole and look where it got us! Fans were moaning about Malky's negative tactics after we ONLY drew away to Stoke 0-0 and wanted him sacked. Look where that has got us!
Every away game in the Championship requires the team to stand up, battle and be counted. We didn't do this at Millwall and Slade identified a "soft under belly" at Bolton. So Slade made changes yesterday, brought in some players with character like Turner and Connolly and we kept a clean sheet. People can talk about Birmingham being the lowest scorers this season all they like, Gary Rowett has made a difference there already and they're a different proposition now, as Watford found out. Overall, a point and clean sheet at an improving Birmingham team lifted by Gary Rowett and brimming with confidence after beating Watford who were top last Tuesday is a decent enough result. If we can keep winning at home and keep more clean sheets away, we will be definite promotion contenders.
I think Slade is getting a lot of unnecessary criticism already. He's inherited Ole's squad and has a lot of dead wood to clear so he can bring his own players in, and he says he's already started that process. Slade hasn't had a pre season, he's only had an international break to really get to know the players, and that's only the players who weren't on international duty. Slade has a 100% winning record at home and although we've only taken one point away so far, Slade hasn't had the opportunity to REALLY get to know the players. He's starting too though following the Bolton defeat, you can't really get to know your players until you go to places like Bolton. That's when you really see if certain players are up for the fight. Slade made changes following Bolton and the response from Gary Rowett after yesterdays game was "Out of my 3 games, Cardiff were the most physical team we've come up against". I LOVE this comment, as this is how we need to be away from home. We must put it about, we must be more streetwise, we must stop the home team playing. Then when we win the battle, we can play our game.
I'm not saying Slade is the perfect manager, I would have selected different line ups to him, I wouldn't have put 3 centre backs on the bench at Bolton, I wouldn't keep selecting the lazy Macheda who I feel contributes very little to our team, particularly away from home when you need a willing runner up front to take the pressure off. But what I am saying is thus far, Slade hasn't done too badly at all. He must be doing a lot of things right, as 10 points out of 18 is a more than good enough start considering the mess he's inherited. We are climbing the table and if we can improve our away form with more boring, clean sheet performances, the future will look promising under Slade. We have to stick with him and give him a few transfer windows to bring in his own players before we can fairly judge him. Let's see what Slade can do in the January transfer window. He can take Leyton Orient to a League 1 playoff final with 30 free transfers, so he may well be able to use the January transfer window to take us from mid table to the play offs, or even the automatic positions!
Sun Nov 09, 2014 7:21 pm
Sun Nov 09, 2014 7:37 pm
Sun Nov 09, 2014 8:50 pm
RYANBLUE wrote:I thought we played ok yesterday tbh - enjoyed the spells we put together.
We lack quality - simple as. For me the biggest omission (I know he is away but not preferred anyway) is Kewwyn. The guy is a lump but scares defences. Was first name on my team sheet til Slade took over. Id have him and Guerra upfront anyday. Cant understand why no Ravel yesterday, and did feel it may have been a game for Kim to show his worth.
Gotto remember thats our first clean sheet away in 21 games - Stoke away a fkin year ago so at least we have done slightly better
Sun Nov 09, 2014 8:58 pm
Sun Nov 09, 2014 9:18 pm
Sun Nov 09, 2014 9:19 pm
Sun Nov 09, 2014 10:12 pm
davids wrote:I agree to some extent but what concerns me is the fact that he has a large squad to choose from but is limiting himself to only picking from 20 or so players.
The OP rightly says that Slade has only had an international break to train with the players and that he hasn't had the opportunity to REALLY get to know the players.
Yet he has already seen enough in training apparently to decide that certain players have no future at the club and need to be moved on. Have those players been given a proper chance under the new manager?
As he hasn't had the opportunity to REALLY get to know the players, how can he make a judgement so quickly on almost a third of his squad, without having even seen them play in a competetive match?
Sun Nov 09, 2014 10:28 pm
Sun Nov 09, 2014 10:33 pm
Tonteg Bluebird wrote:A lot of doom and gloom merchants on this forum following our performance yesterday, which I can't understand to be honest.
Gary Rowett has taken over Birmingham, got them organised and their form has picked up. They beat Watford last Tuesday, yet people are still not satisfied we only drew 0-0 with them. Personally, I thought we could have perhaps nicked the win yesterday, but a point and clean sheet after our 3-0 Bolton defeat shows Slade was right to make changes and the changes worked. I don't care how boring an away game is, people are moaning why Slade didn't use more creative players, but we went down that road with Ole and look where it got us! Fans were moaning about Malky's negative tactics after we ONLY drew away to Stoke 0-0 and wanted him sacked. Look where that has got us!
Every away game in the Championship requires the team to stand up, battle and be counted. We didn't do this at Millwall and Slade identified a "soft under belly" at Bolton. So Slade made changes yesterday, brought in some players with character like Turner and Connolly and we kept a clean sheet. People can talk about Birmingham being the lowest scorers this season all they like, Gary Rowett has made a difference there already and they're a different proposition now, as Watford found out. Overall, a point and clean sheet at an improving Birmingham team lifted by Gary Rowett and brimming with confidence after beating Watford who were top last Tuesday is a decent enough result. If we can keep winning at home and keep more clean sheets away, we will be definite promotion contenders.
I think Slade is getting a lot of unnecessary criticism already. He's inherited Ole's squad and has a lot of dead wood to clear so he can bring his own players in, and he says he's already started that process. Slade hasn't had a pre season, he's only had an international break to really get to know the players, and that's only the players who weren't on international duty. Slade has a 100% winning record at home and although we've only taken one point away so far, Slade hasn't had the opportunity to REALLY get to know the players. He's starting too though following the Bolton defeat, you can't really get to know your players until you go to places like Bolton. That's when you really see if certain players are up for the fight. Slade made changes following Bolton and the response from Gary Rowett after yesterdays game was "Out of my 3 games, Cardiff were the most physical team we've come up against". I LOVE this comment, as this is how we need to be away from home. We must put it about, we must be more streetwise, we must stop the home team playing. Then when we win the battle, we can play our game.
I'm not saying Slade is the perfect manager, I would have selected different line ups to him, I wouldn't have put 3 centre backs on the bench at Bolton, I wouldn't keep selecting the lazy Macheda who I feel contributes very little to our team, particularly away from home when you need a willing runner up front to take the pressure off. But what I am saying is thus far, Slade hasn't done too badly at all. He must be doing a lot of things right, as 10 points out of 18 is a more than good enough start considering the mess he's inherited. We are climbing the table and if we can improve our away form with more boring, clean sheet performances, the future will look promising under Slade. We have to stick with him and give him a few transfer windows to bring in his own players before we can fairly judge him. Let's see what Slade can do in the January transfer window. He can take Leyton Orient to a League 1 playoff final with 30 free transfers, so he may well be able to use the January transfer window to take us from mid table to the play offs, or even the automatic positions!
Sun Nov 09, 2014 10:41 pm
Carpe Diem wrote:We are no closer to automatic promotion or the playoffs now than we were when slade took over.
Sun Nov 09, 2014 10:48 pm
Tonteg Bluebird wrote:Carpe Diem wrote:We are no closer to automatic promotion or the playoffs now than we were when slade took over.
We haven't really slid any further away either, which shows Slade has stopped the rot Ole caused.
Sun Nov 09, 2014 10:51 pm
Carpe Diem wrote:Tonteg Bluebird wrote:Carpe Diem wrote:We are no closer to automatic promotion or the playoffs now than we were when slade took over.
We haven't really slid any further away either, which shows Slade has stopped the rot Ole caused.
But can we push on? I've not seen anything the suggests we will.
Sun Nov 09, 2014 10:55 pm
Sun Nov 09, 2014 11:13 pm
Tonteg Bluebird wrote:Carpe Diem wrote:Tonteg Bluebird wrote:Carpe Diem wrote:We are no closer to automatic promotion or the playoffs now than we were when slade took over.
We haven't really slid any further away either, which shows Slade has stopped the rot Ole caused.
But can we push on? I've not seen anything the suggests we will.
Like I said, a clean sheet away from home will hopefully give us the platform to improved away performances. If we can put that together with our home form, I believe we will start pushing on, especially if Slade does well in the January transfer window.
Mon Nov 10, 2014 9:16 am
Tonteg Bluebird wrote:Carpe Diem wrote:We are no closer to automatic promotion or the playoffs now than we were when slade took over.
We haven't really slid any further away either, which shows Slade has stopped the rot Ole caused.
Mon Nov 10, 2014 10:51 am
Mon Nov 10, 2014 12:01 pm