' SLADE IS THE RIGHT MAN '
Sat Dec 13, 2014 9:51 am
The experienced defender says the new Bluebirds boss has improved the team's shape and got them moving in the right direction
Saturday 13th Dec 2014.
Cardiff City defender Matt Connolly says manager Russell Slade is proving the right man to help the Bluebirds progress.
The experienced Connolly, who has been promoted from the Championship with QPR, Reading and Cardiff, says City took too many gambles when Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was in charge and Slade has stabilised things on the pitch.
Norwegian Solskjaer often changed tactics and formations, while he opted for a complete change to the cautious, safety-first approach ex-manager Malky Mackay had adopted.
“We were a bit gung-ho under Solskjaer with full-backs bombing on and we have worked on that,” said Connolly, who was in the team which earned promotion under Mackay.
“The manager has worked hard in training on our shape and that is paying off. Personally, I believe we are moving in the right direction and everybody is buying into what we are doing.
“We have some tough fixtures coming up, but this isn’t a defining period for our season. Yes, these are important matches and we are confident we can earn a decent haul of points, but teams can make late runs like Reading and Crystal Palace have in the last few years.
“Cardiff haven’t done that well so far and it’s been a little stop-start with the change of managers, but we are still up there challenging and that’s a good effort.
“We have a manager who is instilling belief in the team and we look forward with confidence.”
City are at Bournemouth on Saturday before taking on Brentford at home next weekend, Charlton away on Boxing Day and Watford at home two days later.
And Connolly is happy the matches are coming thick and fast, saying: “I love playing over the Christmas period. We will train late on December 25 and then travel to Charlton and stay overnight for our Boxing Day game.
“Right now we are focused solely on the Bournemouth match. That could be similar to the match at Watford in that we may have to wait for our chances.
“Bournemouth are a high energy team who close you down and when they get on the ball they move it quickly. I feel confident we have a team who can earn the result we want.”
Adam Le Fondre’s goal at Watford a fortnight ago earned Cardiff their first Championship away win of the season and Connolly is hopeful that success will see an improvement in fortunes on the road.
“When we went up under Malky Mackay our away form was terrible, but we stuck at it and changed that,” he says. “Away points are crucial to any team hoping to challenge. Our home form is good and we need to pick up points on the road.
“Defensively, it’s been good of late with three clean sheets in four games. We rode our luck at times and David Marshall has been fantastic for us. Overall, it’s been a major team effort. Adam (Le Fondre) works his socks off up front and it starts from there.”
Connolly admits he does fancy a run playing at centre-half, but with Ben Turner and Sean Morrison in solid form plus Bruno Manga fit again, his immediate chances are remote.
“I want to play at centre-half and I have never made a secret of that,” says Connolly. “But it’s an honour to play for Cardiff City and I love playing for this club. My job is to play wherever the manager feels I can do a job and I am happy to do that.”
Saturday 13th Dec 2014.
Cardiff City defender Matt Connolly says manager Russell Slade is proving the right man to help the Bluebirds progress.
The experienced Connolly, who has been promoted from the Championship with QPR, Reading and Cardiff, says City took too many gambles when Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was in charge and Slade has stabilised things on the pitch.
Norwegian Solskjaer often changed tactics and formations, while he opted for a complete change to the cautious, safety-first approach ex-manager Malky Mackay had adopted.
“We were a bit gung-ho under Solskjaer with full-backs bombing on and we have worked on that,” said Connolly, who was in the team which earned promotion under Mackay.
“The manager has worked hard in training on our shape and that is paying off. Personally, I believe we are moving in the right direction and everybody is buying into what we are doing.
“We have some tough fixtures coming up, but this isn’t a defining period for our season. Yes, these are important matches and we are confident we can earn a decent haul of points, but teams can make late runs like Reading and Crystal Palace have in the last few years.
“Cardiff haven’t done that well so far and it’s been a little stop-start with the change of managers, but we are still up there challenging and that’s a good effort.
“We have a manager who is instilling belief in the team and we look forward with confidence.”
City are at Bournemouth on Saturday before taking on Brentford at home next weekend, Charlton away on Boxing Day and Watford at home two days later.
And Connolly is happy the matches are coming thick and fast, saying: “I love playing over the Christmas period. We will train late on December 25 and then travel to Charlton and stay overnight for our Boxing Day game.
“Right now we are focused solely on the Bournemouth match. That could be similar to the match at Watford in that we may have to wait for our chances.
“Bournemouth are a high energy team who close you down and when they get on the ball they move it quickly. I feel confident we have a team who can earn the result we want.”
Adam Le Fondre’s goal at Watford a fortnight ago earned Cardiff their first Championship away win of the season and Connolly is hopeful that success will see an improvement in fortunes on the road.
“When we went up under Malky Mackay our away form was terrible, but we stuck at it and changed that,” he says. “Away points are crucial to any team hoping to challenge. Our home form is good and we need to pick up points on the road.
“Defensively, it’s been good of late with three clean sheets in four games. We rode our luck at times and David Marshall has been fantastic for us. Overall, it’s been a major team effort. Adam (Le Fondre) works his socks off up front and it starts from there.”
Connolly admits he does fancy a run playing at centre-half, but with Ben Turner and Sean Morrison in solid form plus Bruno Manga fit again, his immediate chances are remote.
“I want to play at centre-half and I have never made a secret of that,” says Connolly. “But it’s an honour to play for Cardiff City and I love playing for this club. My job is to play wherever the manager feels I can do a job and I am happy to do that.”
Re: ' SLADE IS THE RIGHT MAN '
Sat Dec 13, 2014 1:10 pm
I like Connely at centre half but for me articles like this are pretty worthless from players who are obvious favourites.
Connely is bound to sing Slades praises when he even gets in the side ahead of a recognised full back.
He's a decent enough defender but offers nothing at all goong forward.
Connely is bound to sing Slades praises when he even gets in the side ahead of a recognised full back.
He's a decent enough defender but offers nothing at all goong forward.
Re: ' SLADE IS THE RIGHT MAN '
Sat Dec 13, 2014 1:24 pm
But...he's capable of getting goals and scored a few excellent ones for us in the promotion season.
Re: ' SLADE IS THE RIGHT MAN '
Sat Dec 13, 2014 2:01 pm
?
Re: ' SLADE IS THE RIGHT MAN '
Sat Dec 13, 2014 2:18 pm
Nah.
Re: ' SLADE IS THE RIGHT MAN '
Sat Dec 13, 2014 2:22 pm
bluemun wrote:But...he's capable of getting goals and scored a few excellent ones for us in the promotion season.
All very well but Slade keeps him back at corners and free kicks for some reason. Can't see him getting any goals in open play.
Re: ' SLADE IS THE RIGHT MAN '
Sat Dec 13, 2014 3:50 pm
Slade is useless & will take us down
Bring back Alan Durban
Bring back Alan Durban
Re: ' SLADE IS THE RIGHT MAN '
Sat Dec 13, 2014 3:53 pm
Time to sack him now, same team stability my arse, real madrid 
Re: ' SLADE IS THE RIGHT MAN '
Sat Dec 13, 2014 4:02 pm
He is so far out of his depth is unbelievable
Merry f*cking Christmas
Merry f*cking Christmas
Re: ' SLADE IS THE RIGHT MAN '
Sat Dec 13, 2014 4:32 pm
It was always going to be a long shot for Slade to make it a success. After a 100 years managing there was obviously a reason why he never managed above league 1 level, that has been confirmed and we are the mugs that have to suffer this billy smarts circus act!
Who's next for the hot seat!
Who's next for the hot seat!
Re: ' SLADE IS THE RIGHT MAN '
Sat Dec 13, 2014 5:58 pm
Connolly only saying this because Slade is choosing him over Fabio !!!!!!! Just ONE of Slades mistakes, jobs to big for him !
Re: ' SLADE IS THE RIGHT MAN '
Sat Dec 13, 2014 9:30 pm
No he f*cking isn't.