' A Month in to Slades Reign at Cardiff City '
Mon Nov 10, 2014 10:34 am
' A Month in to Slades Reign at Cardiff City '
A month into Russell Slade’s reign at Cardiff City and it really is a classic case of trying to work out if the glass is half full or half empty.
by Steve Tucker
Monday 11th Nov 2014
Those who only watch the Bluebirds in the Welsh capital probably think the new man is some form of genius with three wins out of three and the likes of Nottingham Forest and Ipswich humbled in that run.
Those, however, who venture out on the road, and there were 2,000 of them at a rain-sodden Birmingham, will have seen a completely different side to the story.
Out-muscled at Millwall, banished by Bolton, their side finally earned the new manager his first point away from home thanks to a battling showing that perhaps embodied most accurately what Slade has brought with him to his new club.
Following this stalemate Slade was keen to talk up his players and it was interesting to note it was about acknowledging their fighting spirit and character in the face of adversity. Slade liked the dogged determination his Bluebirds had shown.
There was little room for talk of creativity or flair partly because this war of attrition was basically devoid of it, but also because you get the impression those are things not at the top of Slade’s list of priorities right at this moment in time.
Birmingham vs Cardiff City viewtopic.php?f=2&t=150240
That the Bluebirds cannot buy a away from home is, of course, not something solely down to the new boss.
In their last 25 away games Cardiff have won just once, a 1-0 triumph at Southampton back on April 12. Three points on the road might not have been expected back in the Premier League, but in the Championship, if Cardiff are to have any hope at all of being promoted they need to be picking up victories on the road.
Reflecting on his first month at the club Slade himself is more than aware of the dichotomy he has presided over thus far, but he believes this pretty ugly draw in the Midlands could well act as the catalyst for an improvement in away form.
“There’s room for improvement obviously,” said the new Bluebirds boss. “At home I’ve been delighted. We’ve won our games and been very strong.
“It’s a little bit more deep-rooted away from home. It’s been some time. There’s been about two away wins in 18 months. So we have to deal with it.
' Building togetherness '
“The players have to know, and I think they did after this match when I looked at their faces in the changing room, they have to put in a shift.
“There were some great blocks, we put our bodies on the line when we had to in a ten minute spell after half-time.
“They are going to have to get used to that. We are getting fit enough to deal with it and also we have to be mentally tough enough to deal with that.
“We are trying to build a togetherness, a desire and a strong work ethic. We want show character when things are going against us.
“They have to be there for each other out on the pitch and I thought they did that here. I saw positive signs against Birmingham.”
As for the game itself, well, suffice to say, on the way up, WalesOnline was reporting a pitch inspection would take place before kick-off due to a deluge the Midlands had endured over the previous 24 hours.
Highlights viewtopic.php?f=2&t=150240
Suffice to say by the end of this game you kind of wished it had rained just a little bit more and the whole thing had been called off.
This was poor fare indeed, kick and rush at times and if anyone did anything of quality, well, I must have been snoozing at the time.
The two looked deeply mediocre, as if destined for a nice mid-table finish in the Championship. Birmingham would probably take that right at this moment under new man Gary Rowett, but the Bluebirds ambitions are greater than that, aren’t they?
A wise-cracking Brummie said to me afterwards: ‘Don’t worry mate Cardiff won’t be relegated.’ And he was only half joking I think.
' Misfiring forwards '
Looking at this game the idea of the Bluebirds getting promoted seems as farcical as Slade playing the lead in the Royal Ballet’s production of The Nutcracker over Christmas.
The trouble is the Bluebirds can’t seem to get the complete team performance required together. Defensively they were impressive against the Blues, but their forwards, when needed, didn’t deliver.
In truth Cardiff should have taken the three points, they had the best chances to score particularly in the first-half. When the excellent Aron Gunnarsson slipped Adam Le Fondre through the striker should have netted. That he let Birmingham shot-stopper Darren Randolph make the stop was a sign of how poor the effort was.
But Federico Macheda was as culpable. In a similar position his tepid effort enabled Randolph to excel again. It was no wonder Slade looked perplexed as he reflected on the two opportunities.
Room for optimism? How is the Bluebirds' glass under Russell Slade?
Half-full
Half-empty
Defensively though as we say Cardiff held firm against a Birmingham side under Rowett who have had a bit of an upward swing and who beat high-fliers Watford just days earlier.
The visitors’ rear-guard action was more impressive when you factor in that fact that the back four had effectively been ripped up and put back together.
Only Sean Morrison was in his usual role. Fabio was the scapegoat for the humbling at Bolton and Matthew Connolly came in at right-back with John Brayford switching to the left. Connolly must wonder what he need to do to nail down a regular starting place, but his good showing here will surely have helped.
Turner return
The big boost though was a first start of the season for Ben Turner after his ankle surgery as he stepped in and excelled in place of the injured Bruno Manga.
So the Bluebirds defended resiliently particularly in the second-half as the home side sensed victory, but that was one of the very few positives to be drawn on an inauspicious day.
It was a divided team performance from the Bluebirds by a team divided by its home and away form.
The Bluebirds’ glass half full or half empty under Slade’s watch thus far? Judge as you see fit, I guess.
A month into Russell Slade’s reign at Cardiff City and it really is a classic case of trying to work out if the glass is half full or half empty.
by Steve Tucker
Monday 11th Nov 2014
Those who only watch the Bluebirds in the Welsh capital probably think the new man is some form of genius with three wins out of three and the likes of Nottingham Forest and Ipswich humbled in that run.
Those, however, who venture out on the road, and there were 2,000 of them at a rain-sodden Birmingham, will have seen a completely different side to the story.
Out-muscled at Millwall, banished by Bolton, their side finally earned the new manager his first point away from home thanks to a battling showing that perhaps embodied most accurately what Slade has brought with him to his new club.
Following this stalemate Slade was keen to talk up his players and it was interesting to note it was about acknowledging their fighting spirit and character in the face of adversity. Slade liked the dogged determination his Bluebirds had shown.
There was little room for talk of creativity or flair partly because this war of attrition was basically devoid of it, but also because you get the impression those are things not at the top of Slade’s list of priorities right at this moment in time.
Birmingham vs Cardiff City viewtopic.php?f=2&t=150240
That the Bluebirds cannot buy a away from home is, of course, not something solely down to the new boss.
In their last 25 away games Cardiff have won just once, a 1-0 triumph at Southampton back on April 12. Three points on the road might not have been expected back in the Premier League, but in the Championship, if Cardiff are to have any hope at all of being promoted they need to be picking up victories on the road.
Reflecting on his first month at the club Slade himself is more than aware of the dichotomy he has presided over thus far, but he believes this pretty ugly draw in the Midlands could well act as the catalyst for an improvement in away form.
“There’s room for improvement obviously,” said the new Bluebirds boss. “At home I’ve been delighted. We’ve won our games and been very strong.
“It’s a little bit more deep-rooted away from home. It’s been some time. There’s been about two away wins in 18 months. So we have to deal with it.
' Building togetherness '
“The players have to know, and I think they did after this match when I looked at their faces in the changing room, they have to put in a shift.
“There were some great blocks, we put our bodies on the line when we had to in a ten minute spell after half-time.
“They are going to have to get used to that. We are getting fit enough to deal with it and also we have to be mentally tough enough to deal with that.
“We are trying to build a togetherness, a desire and a strong work ethic. We want show character when things are going against us.
“They have to be there for each other out on the pitch and I thought they did that here. I saw positive signs against Birmingham.”
As for the game itself, well, suffice to say, on the way up, WalesOnline was reporting a pitch inspection would take place before kick-off due to a deluge the Midlands had endured over the previous 24 hours.
Highlights viewtopic.php?f=2&t=150240
Suffice to say by the end of this game you kind of wished it had rained just a little bit more and the whole thing had been called off.
This was poor fare indeed, kick and rush at times and if anyone did anything of quality, well, I must have been snoozing at the time.
The two looked deeply mediocre, as if destined for a nice mid-table finish in the Championship. Birmingham would probably take that right at this moment under new man Gary Rowett, but the Bluebirds ambitions are greater than that, aren’t they?
A wise-cracking Brummie said to me afterwards: ‘Don’t worry mate Cardiff won’t be relegated.’ And he was only half joking I think.
' Misfiring forwards '
Looking at this game the idea of the Bluebirds getting promoted seems as farcical as Slade playing the lead in the Royal Ballet’s production of The Nutcracker over Christmas.
The trouble is the Bluebirds can’t seem to get the complete team performance required together. Defensively they were impressive against the Blues, but their forwards, when needed, didn’t deliver.
In truth Cardiff should have taken the three points, they had the best chances to score particularly in the first-half. When the excellent Aron Gunnarsson slipped Adam Le Fondre through the striker should have netted. That he let Birmingham shot-stopper Darren Randolph make the stop was a sign of how poor the effort was.
But Federico Macheda was as culpable. In a similar position his tepid effort enabled Randolph to excel again. It was no wonder Slade looked perplexed as he reflected on the two opportunities.
Room for optimism? How is the Bluebirds' glass under Russell Slade?
Half-full
Half-empty
Defensively though as we say Cardiff held firm against a Birmingham side under Rowett who have had a bit of an upward swing and who beat high-fliers Watford just days earlier.
The visitors’ rear-guard action was more impressive when you factor in that fact that the back four had effectively been ripped up and put back together.
Only Sean Morrison was in his usual role. Fabio was the scapegoat for the humbling at Bolton and Matthew Connolly came in at right-back with John Brayford switching to the left. Connolly must wonder what he need to do to nail down a regular starting place, but his good showing here will surely have helped.
Turner return
The big boost though was a first start of the season for Ben Turner after his ankle surgery as he stepped in and excelled in place of the injured Bruno Manga.
So the Bluebirds defended resiliently particularly in the second-half as the home side sensed victory, but that was one of the very few positives to be drawn on an inauspicious day.
It was a divided team performance from the Bluebirds by a team divided by its home and away form.
The Bluebirds’ glass half full or half empty under Slade’s watch thus far? Judge as you see fit, I guess.
Re: ' A Month in to Slades Reign at Cardiff City '
Mon Nov 10, 2014 10:40 am
Most on here its definitely half empty! 
Re: ' A Month in to Slades Reign at Cardiff City '
Mon Nov 10, 2014 10:41 am
pembroke allan wrote:Most on here its definitely half empty!
And for you Allan?
Let me know when your down for the next home game? I wont be missing any games now for months
Re: ' A Month in to Slades Reign at Cardiff City '
Mon Nov 10, 2014 10:47 am
Forever Blue wrote:pembroke allan wrote:Most on here its definitely half empty!
And for you Allan?
Let me know when your down for the next home game? I wont be missing any games now for months
Mines def half full just like life, no other way to be!
Be down soon let you know
Re: ' A Month in to Slades Reign at Cardiff City '
Mon Nov 10, 2014 11:00 am
pembroke allan wrote:Most on here its definitely half empty!
For most on here there's sod all in the glass!
Re: ' A Month in to Slades Reign at Cardiff City '
Mon Nov 10, 2014 11:09 am
OriginalGrangeEndBlue wrote:pembroke allan wrote:Most on here its definitely half empty!
For most on here there's sod all in the glass!
Think they need a stiff brandy to calm their nerves!
Re: ' A Month in to Slades Reign at Cardiff City '
Mon Nov 10, 2014 11:20 am
pembroke allan wrote:OriginalGrangeEndBlue wrote:pembroke allan wrote:Most on here its definitely half empty!
For most on here there's sod all in the glass!
Think they need a stiff brandy to calm their nerves!
Cheers! I'll have a double please lol!
Re: ' A Month in to Slades Reign at Cardiff City '
Mon Nov 10, 2014 11:47 am
City Slicker wrote:pembroke allan wrote:OriginalGrangeEndBlue wrote:pembroke allan wrote:Most on here its definitely half empty!
For most on here there's sod all in the glass!
Think they need a stiff brandy to calm their nerves!
Cheers! I'll have a double please lol!
Re: ' A Month in to Slades Reign at Cardiff City '
Mon Nov 10, 2014 12:04 pm
I'm half empty. I won't get on Slades case and I will back him. I think he's totally out of his depth though. I really hope he proves me wrong, but after Saturday I just can't see him doing anything here.
Re: ' A Month in to Slades Reign at Cardiff City '
Mon Nov 10, 2014 3:00 pm
Ray Bishop wrote:I'm half empty. I won't get on Slades case and I will back him. I think he's totally out of his depth though. I really hope he proves me wrong, but after Saturday I just can't see him doing anything here.
Forest? Ipswich? Leeds? Doesn't seem too out of his depth at the moment. seems a level headed chap who knows how to kick arses into gear
Re: ' A Month in to Slades Reign at Cardiff City '
Mon Nov 10, 2014 3:04 pm
I think the problem lies with our set up. We are in so much debt and you can tell with the quick fire managerial changes and huge amount of player turnover that we are out for quick gains. That being the case its hard to look past the short term and where as other teams have the luxury of being able to build slowly and take each positive as something to build on - we have to have success here and now as thats what our business model requires. So if there is a negative and a positive in a game the negative will always be focused on as we dont have time to build on the positives, we need to go straight back up.
Re: ' A Month in to Slades Reign at Cardiff City '
Mon Nov 10, 2014 3:09 pm
TheRow wrote:I think the problem lies with our set up. We are in so much debt and you can tell with the quick fire managerial changes and huge amount of player turnover that we are out for quick gains. That being the case its hard to look past the short term and where as other teams have the luxury of being able to build slowly and take each positive as something to build on - we have to have success here and now as thats what our business model requires. So if there is a negative and a positive in a game the negative will always be focused on as we dont have time to build on the positives, we need to go straight back up.
I don't think the debt is an issue to slade as tan will just bank roll any players he want a ,the players ole had brought in are under proforming on paper they are good but they just don't seem to have the confidence hopehopefully they will get that back
Re: ' A Month in to Slades Reign at Cardiff City '
Mon Nov 10, 2014 3:20 pm
wez1927 wrote:TheRow wrote:I think the problem lies with our set up. We are in so much debt and you can tell with the quick fire managerial changes and huge amount of player turnover that we are out for quick gains. That being the case its hard to look past the short term and where as other teams have the luxury of being able to build slowly and take each positive as something to build on - we have to have success here and now as thats what our business model requires. So if there is a negative and a positive in a game the negative will always be focused on as we dont have time to build on the positives, we need to go straight back up.
I don't think the debt is an issue to slade as tan will just bank roll any players he want a ,the players ole had brought in are under proforming on paper they are good but they just don't seem to have the confidence hopehopefully they will get that back
No not Salde, the club and the fans. We are all aware of it and we are all aware that every year we are in the championship it increase. A club can only bear so much debt so we are on a time scale to get back up and get that sky money. I was making a point as to why there is a lot of glass half empty types in our fan base. We cant afford to have half a glass full stop which is why people realise taking the positive to build on and ignoring any negative is impossible as we don't have room for mixed results or circumstances.
The worsening the crisis the narrower the margin for error and i think that explains the general negative feeling here.