" CARDIFF CITY MANAGER RUSSELL SLADE "

The Russell Slade Q&A: Cardiff City boss speaks out on the future of Mats Daehli, Ravel Morrison, and a top six target

Wednesday Nov 19th 2014.

By Terry Phillips



' Cardiff City manager Russell Slade '

Q: How do you feel about the possibility of Bruno Manga missing five games due to Africa Cup of Nations commitments in January and February?

Russell Slade: That is frustrating. It’s also frustrating that he isn’t back from international duty yet. We have a match on Friday, but Bruno and Kenwyne Jones are still on their way back to Wales.

We suggested he didn’t go away during this international break because he had an injury which would potentially keep him out for between seven and 10 days. That covered the whole period he has been away.

It’s no surprise to us that he has not played for Gabon and that’s good in one way because he hasn’t done any further damage to the injury he had.

We won’t know exactly how he is until he arrives back with us and we will have 24 hours to assess him before deciding whether he is fit enough to start, be among the substitutes or is not fit enough to take part against Reading at all.

Thankfully we have quality options in Ben Turner, Sean Morrison, Matt Connolly and Danny Gabbidon.





Q: What is the Cardiff City future for Ravel Morrison, who has a little over a month and five matches left in his loan spell from West Ham?

RS: It’s been a bit stop-start with Rav. He has had a knee injury which has plagued him.

Whenever he has opened his knee up it caused him a problem, but he has trained a little more consistently recently. That won’t do him any harm. There is no question he is in my plans for the remaining matches.

He has about a month left on his loan and we will make a decision when that spell is coming to an end.







Q: What is happening with Mats Daehli? He has been brilliant for Norway, but seems to have been snubbed at Championship level?

RS: Mats went away on international duty. He had a slight injury problem, but played for Norway and we took that as a good sign. He was involved for just under an hour in each of their matches.

He has played football and come through without problems. That helps us.

I have spoken to both Mats and his agent, The lad wants to play football and that’s great. He has missed out on the matchday squad of 18 because he hasn’t been 100 per cent fit.

The key for him now is to get his head down and be ready. If anything materialises in the future in terms of the club letting him move on then fine, but if he moves on it will only be at the right price.

On the other hand, though, if he works hard he will get himself into that main group. There is no doubt about that because he is a quality player.

Mats Daehli has struggled for game time under Russell Slade




Q:There has been criticism that Cardiff City don’t have a plan B. What are your thoughts?

RS: When we were losing at Bolton we went to a diamond to try and do something different. I have tweaked the system.

On performances and results so far what would be the point of changing at home? We’ve had three away games and were much more solid at Birmingham on our last trip. In my mind we should have nicked it at St Andrew’s and maybe we should have after having two one-on-ones in the same half.

At Millwall we should have got something, although against Bolton our performance did not deserve anything.

No plan B? I’m not sure where that’s coming from if I’m honest.

If you are not getting results where you want them – and we aren’t getting them away so let’s concentrate on that for now - then we have to change personell or look at our game plan a little more closely to see what we have to do in order pick up a few more points away. I am well aware of that of course.

Over the years I have often used all sorts of formations. In terms of 4-4-2 I use either 4-4-1-1, 4-4-2 or a lopsided 4-4-2. There is flexibility within that and it’s different when defending or attacking. It’s how you construe that. At Millwall we put one of our strikers onto their sitting midfield player (Shaun Williams) and at that stage we were very much playing 4-2-3-1 with Macheda and two wide players in midfield roles. It’s how you see i






Q: Why ignore Javi Guerra, who scored as many goals in La Liga as Gareth Bale last season?

RS: Being fair to Javi maybe Championship football is a completely different style and not a division which enhances his qualities and his game.

I watched him play in a behind-closed-doors friendly at Swansea City, in a development match at home and in the Capital One Cup against AFC Bournemouth. I haven’t seen him score.

Surely when he is playing those games Javi must do something to say I must put him in. If I see a player who, through his performance in matches and training, is saying ‘gaffer don’t leave me out, this is what I am about’ then I will sit up and take notice.

I will take notice of any player in Cardiff’s squad who is performing and training well. That includes anybody and everybody.

He scored as many La Liga goals as Gareth Bale last season... so why can't Javi Guerra get in the Cardiff City side?





Q: What is your main focus looking towards the match against Reading on Friday?

RS: I don’t foresee too many changes. Yes, I would have liked one or two players back a little bit earlier form international duty because I won’t be able to finalise my squad yet. I need to see how they are after all the travelling.

In terms of the match it will all be about our attitude. I watch the players carefully during training. They are like racehorses and you have to watch who is training well, who is really on it and strong. Experience helps you see when somebody is looking on top of their game Monday to Friday.

The trick is for players to transfer that to the match. Some are able to do that better than others, but I like to see players on it in training. I am certainly a manager who likes to see players really on their game through the week.







Q: Where do you believe Cardiff City can finish this season?

RS: When we got to the last international break we were 17th in the table. We had fitness issues and game plan issues.

Now we are 12th, fitness levels have improved and we have a game plan now. Cardiff City are looking up and we have identified a group to go forward with, a nucleus. We are in better shape than we were. The next step is to push on and get into the top six.

The work has been put in on the training ground and the players have responded magnificently. It’s not easy to claw back fitness when the season has started. Pre-season is where the work is done.

The response from the players has been such that statistically we are an awful lot better than we were. We can prove that.

In terms of fitness we could say we are around mid-table now. That is a terrific improvement from where we were. The stats showed we were rank bottom at one stage.

Speaking as if he doesn't mind losing Matts... I don't like it.

Ohh dear.. Keep lying about Mats even, thats no surprise.. But that confirmed my suspicions on the fitness debate we had a while back. He used running stats in matches, and not fitness tests to determine the fitness levels. This one will bite him further in the ass with injuries, no doubt. Ohh dear..

Not very impressed with his comments.

Talking through his rectum with regards to Daehli - fairly basic politically correct "club" answer. Not reality. There is no doubt something is going on.

Slade would be better off being upfront and getting straight to the point - "There are contract discussion issues with Matts! There we are I said it for him".

It is obvious Guerra needs a bit of love.
He is living in a foreign country, he delivered in La Liga, he hasn't played, for sure his confidence is down a bit. He is used to a difference environment, Slade should try to help him adapt. Slade needs to use a different man-management style.

Slade's job should be to get 100% out of all his players. Some will need a different motivational style than others.

More of Macheda ducking from goal kicks and generally hiding

He is not good enough and he knows it.

What is the "right price" for a 3/4 th choice mid table championship winger these days Slade? 1, maybe 2, even 3 million?
Or are we asking 5 to 10 million? And how do you think other potential talent will look at our club? A good place to develop?
Save your money on the academy Tan

Guessed that there wouldn't be many changes for reading game especially as 100% record. But let's hope for a decent bench and get behind the players it's 3 points needed thats the main thing

Nothing new then.

What is the "right price" a 3/4 th choice mid table championship winger these days Slade? 1, maybe 2, even 3 million?
Or are we asking 5 to 10 million? And how do you think other potential talent will look at our club? A good place to develop?
Save your money on the academy Tan

As been mentioned on here tan is fully funding academy! No cut backs there, So hopefully kids will come thru in not to distant future!!

What is the "right price" a 3/4 th choice mid table championship winger these days Slade? 1, maybe 2, even 3 million?
Or are we asking 5 to 10 million? And how do you think other potential talent will look at our club? A good place to develop?
Save your money on the academy Tan

As been mentioned on here tan is fully funding academy! No cut backs there, So hopefully kids will come thru in not to distant future!!

There are two routes to a successful academy Allan. There is developing very young kids witch take 10 - 15 years each player.
Then there is signing young talent and developing them through DVP games and first team experience. Ive read Slade amateur comments a couple of times the past few weeks on Wales online, and read about Daehli in a few european newspapers to. You do the math on how that translate on the clubs reputation developing players and how much money you should invest to make it sustainable. Its laughing stock from top to bottom! Who would be stupid enough with premier league talent to sign for this club?

What is the "right price" a 3/4 th choice mid table championship winger these days Slade? 1, maybe 2, even 3 million?
Or are we asking 5 to 10 million? And how do you think other potential talent will look at our club? A good place to develop?
Save your money on the academy Tan

As been mentioned on here tan is fully funding academy! No cut backs there, So hopefully kids will come thru in not to distant future!!

There are two routes to a successful academy Allan. There is developing very young kids witch take 10 - 15 years each player.
Then there is signing young talent and developing them through DVP games and first team experience. Ive read Slade amateur comments a couple of times the past few weeks on Wales online, and read about Daehli in a few european newspapers to. You do the math on how that translate on the clubs reputation developing players and how much money you should invest to make it sustainable. Its laughing stock from top to bottom! Who would be stupid enough with premier league talent to sign for this club?

Your problem is you are victor meldew in disguise! And base your opinions on a man in the job 6 wks!! Hardly fair is it? But then i don't think that matters to you, also previous managers haven't done much regarding young talent either! Also I get pissed off with so called city fans calling us a joke! There are More worse run clubs than ours!

What is the "right price" a 3/4 th choice mid table championship winger these days Slade? 1, maybe 2, even 3 million?
Or are we asking 5 to 10 million? And how do you think other potential talent will look at our club? A good place to develop?
Save your money on the academy Tan

As been mentioned on here tan is fully funding academy! No cut backs there, So hopefully kids will come thru in not to distant future!!

There are two routes to a successful academy Allan. There is developing very young kids witch take 10 - 15 years each player.
Then there is signing young talent and developing them through DVP games and first team experience. Ive read Slade amateur comments a couple of times the past few weeks on Wales online, and read about Daehli in a few european newspapers to. You do the math on how that translate on the clubs reputation developing players and how much money you should invest to make it sustainable. Its laughing stock from top to bottom! Who would be stupid enough with premier league talent to sign for this club?

Your problem is you are victor meldew in disguise! And base your opinions on a man in the job 6 wks!! Hardly fair is it? But then i don't think that matters to you, also previous managers haven't done much regarding young talent either! Also I get pissed off with so called city fans calling us a joke! There are More worse run clubs than ours!

I can only think of one. Leeds...

Slade has a huge job on his hands to offload unwanted players sitting on massive wages / contracts

He knows he has to wheel and deal to bring in his own choice of players and reduce the size of the squad

I think Slade is willing to move Daeli on for probably a good fee to help finance any new players in the January window

I do'nt expect he will get much of a transfer kitty out of the 12 or more players rumoured to be on the way out

If we are around the playoffs in January ...... anyone think Slade will get additional funds to push to get us back up to the

premiership at the first attempt

Cardiff City parachute payment for this season is £23 million , whatever is left after the previous bad management , lets

hope its used wisely

Solskaer was a an absolute disastrous appointment by Dalman / Tan ..... that has cost the club millions

Pisssed off with the whole business

Translation : slade doesn't know how to handle technical flair players or players with a continental playing style.
Also it seems pretty clear Matts is leaving.

I think we have a pretty average manager, who tactically will get found out again and again, mid to bottom of table finish this season if we get a fair bit of luck

On the other hand, though, if he works hard he will get himself into that main group. There is no doubt about that because he is a quality player.

I will take notice of any player in Cardiff’s squad who is performing and training well. That includes anybody and everybody.

Cardiff City are looking up and we have identified a group to go forward with, a nucleus.

Paul McGrath hardly ever trained for Man Utd but was one of their ever present players and strongest of defenders. Is Slade really fooled by players who put "everything" into training then very little into games?

I was overjoyed at the 3 home wins but not really impressed with the quality or some of the tactics adopted by Slade.

Unfortunately I see our current ignoring of our better players as likely to lead to a drop in home form well before an improvement in away performances.

Let's hope I'm wrong but at the moment I'm not inspired and I'm going to home games with a feeling of trepidation.

I think any new manager has to be given time however There is nothing to suggest that Slade is going to be our saviour.
Yes we have 3 wins, a draw and 2 losses but it's what going on in the background is concerning.

I would have thought a new manager would look at all the other previous performances this season to help assess players alongside what he sees in training and in DVP/ friendly games etc. Guerra has been outstanding in the minutes he has had in league games. The impression is that he has very little time for 'flair' players, however I would suggest that you a few to open up time defences & to do something special when the time arises.

He cannot blame players injuries for a lack of game time at Cardiff when Daehli has been outstanding with Norway. After Morrisons performance against Sheffield Weds he should have featured more than he has. Wasted talented sitting on the bench when we have had less than average performances on the road.

Let's hope that some 'flair' players do get a look in under the new manager.

I think we have a pretty average manager, who tactically will get found out again and again, mid to bottom of table finish this season if we get a fair bit of luck

Sounds about right.

He is still pretending Daehli is injured, stop taking fans for idiots.

I think it is not a case of Slade not wanting to keep him more a matter that Matts wants to go, only came here because of Ole, once Ole left I think the player told his agent he wanted out! .why play/ keep a player who is not committed to the club.

More bullshit from slade.
Let's hope he gets us the results we all want this season because he his putting a noose around his neck leaving our most talented players out in the cold.

What's frustrating is I like slade and his ethos with fitness hard work and togetherness in the team but if he added quality to that this team could be outstanding!
Let's see how things go first though I guess and maybe slade can pull it off instead of just being mediocre with leaving out the quality in our squad.

I think it is not a case of Slade not wanting to keep him more a matter that Matts wants to go, only came here because of Ole, once Ole left I think the player told his agent he wanted out! .why play/ keep a player who is not committed to the club.

Maybe that's what the club wants us to think? Makes it easier to sell him without looking bad. We know Matts has good
work ethic and great attitude. His team mates said so but slade keeps saying he needs to work harder or is injured.
I have read it's not uncommon for clubs to put it out there that a player doesn't work hard enough if they want to change the fans perception and avoid a backlash. Jimmy floyd hassellbaink said this happened to him at Leeds. Is that wants happening to matts?