' RUSSELL SLADE TODAY SAYS '

Cardiff City manager Russell Slade has given an assessment of his first month at the helm of the Bluebirds, and admitted there is still plenty of improvement to be made.


12/11/14

Appointed in early October, after a lengthy transition from former club Leyton Orient, Slade has endured a mixed start to life in Wales.

The first task for the 53-year-old went perfectly to plan, when his new side handed Nottingham Forest their first defeat of the season during his dugout debut at the Cardiff City Stadium. That result was immediately backed up with a 3-1 win against high-flying Ipswich Town, to cap off a dream opening week.

But Slade’s impressive impact at the club was soon dealt its first blow when Cardiff ventured away from home, losing to Millwall and Bolton Wanderers, before drawing with Birmingham City at St Andrews last time out.
One point from nine on their travels since his appointment, and without a goal, his honeymoon period can now be considered over.

"There's room for improvement, that's obvious," Slade told football-league.co.uk.
"At home I've been delighted; we've won all our games and been very strong. It's a little more deep rooted away from home.”

Cardiff’s away struggles have been very deep rooted indeed. Since April 2013 they’ve triumphed just twice on the road in the league and, during that time, they've won promotion from the Championship and suffered relegation from the Premier League.
Slade, more than aware of the poor run that stretches back way before the beginning of his tenure, believes hard graft is the only way to go about ending their hoodoo as he seeks to build a winning philosophy within the club.
He added: “I was looking and it's about two away wins in 18 months, so we have to deal with that and the players need to realise they need to work hard, which I think they do.
“I look at their faces in the changing room after games and they know they have put in a shift. We are getting fit enough to deal with that, and also mentally I’m seeing positive signs.

"In terms of the physicality, our training sessions are of a higher intensity than they were before. Mentally, we're trying to build an ethos at the football club, a strong work ethic, desire and togetherness and to show a character when things are going against us. All those things help build a mental strength within the group.

"It's a group effort, the players have to make sure they are there for each other out on the pitch and I think they are doing that."
Next up for Slade's Cardiff is the visit of Reading, before they will test themselves on their travels once again, at Watford at the end of the month.

The Bluebirds currently sit mid-table, just five points adrift of the Play-Off places - a remarkably healthy position considering they hold one of the worst away records in the division, and endured a tough run that saw them pick up just one point from 12 towards the end of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s reign.

The project facing Slade is in far better shape than it was a month ago, however further improvements will need to come from all involved to satisfy the manager's hunger for success.

My assessment of Slade:

Below average, can do better, must do better.

It's average, maybe above average, and he has steadied the ship! Don't know what some of you expected, to come in and overnight go on a 6 game winning streak? Living in a fantasy world! Granted questions marks over certain aspects, but aren't all managers questioned! Compared to the shambles under ogs, he's done remarkably well but room for improvement.

Until Tan goes every single manager we have will be heavily and disproportionately criticised by the agenda monkeys on here.

For me Slade has been a big improvement in most areas, with some glaring gaps in some.

CTID

Until Tan goes every single manager we have will be heavily and disproportionately criticised by the agenda monkeys on here.

For me Slade has been a big improvement in most areas, with some glaring gaps in some.



CTID

Can't disagree with that

The body language and behaviour of the players has much improved, especially in home games. Got to acknowledge Slade's part in that.

My assessment,

Not good enough,
Should be pushing for Champions league spot just not good enough at this level.

I am Joking.... BUT and a big but

I do question Tans ambitions, since relegation He seems to be looking for a cost effective solution and
he appears convinced that big spending is not effective (it is) we just fucked up, their is not going to be
a cheap way out of the championship unless we get extremely lucky

Assesment of manager, average, probably doesn't know how to do better

That's more like it Blueboys..spot on

Until Tan goes every single manager we have will be heavily and disproportionately criticised by the agenda monkeys on here.

For me Slade has been a big improvement in most areas, with some glaring gaps in some.



CTID

Can't disagree with that

spot on, Slade has cleaned up a lot of mess, to be honest I think he should be judged more on the coming month than the last, now we will see if he is capable of improving the team even more.

For me Slade is a big improvement even though football is not great at times it is results we need right now and the players have responded to him so we should improve even more in Slade we trust.