" CARDIFF CITY FOOTBALL CLUB MUST BANISH ANY TALK "

Cardiff City must banish any talk of Premier League while Russell Slade finds a system that works -
By Nathan Blake


Monday Dec 22, 2014



After watching Cardiff City's horror 3-2 defeat against Brentford, former terrace hero Nathan Blake says Russell Slade needs to go back to the drawing board and devise a system that works to save the Bluebirds' season.


" Brentford had so much possession and controlled the game. "

Adam Le Fondre is one of a number of Cardiff City players who look devoid of confidenceAdam Le Fondre is a striker and he'll be judged on goals, says Nathan Blake

My advice to Cardiff City after watching their defeat to Brentford on Saturday is to right now forget any talk of making the Championship play-offs.

Everything must be focussed on finding two systems of play they can adapt to during a game so they can at least have an equal share of possession.

It’s going to be a difficult season and there is no doubt in my mind that possession will go a long way to helping Cardiff win football matches.

And after back-to-back defeats to high-flying Bournemouth and Brentford, it’s not going to get any easier next match out on Boxing Day at Charlton.

The Londoners are flying and their Valley stadium is something of a fortress – but Cardiff need a result, big time!

The conclusion I drew from Saturday was that the Bluebirds couldn’t get any worse than their first-half performance.


Yes, there was an improvement in the second half and you have to take hat off to the Cardiff players for getting back into game and being positive, but it was a desperate situation by then.

When you analyse Cardiff’s goals in the second half it was a case one player, Kenwyne Jones, going on and making a difference. He changed the flow of the game.

Kenwyne gave City a physical presence up front. Why didn’t he start? Federico Macheda has been hit and miss all season, while Le Fondre works incredibly hard, but he will know, as any striker knows, that players are judged on goals.

He getting opportunities and not taking them,

Overall, City didn’t deserve anything from the match. They were second best for 60 minutes and Brentford dominated. I enjoyed watching them play.

Jota on the right for them is gifted, whlle Pritchard was always finding little pockets and holes in Cardiff’s formation. Gray, in attack, produced a sublime finish for his goal. They are a well organised team, while Cardiff don’t have the legs in midfield to compete with teams like Brentford on equal terms.


Opposing teams outnumber Cardiff three to two through the middle. We can’t afford that, Cardiff must put an extra player in there.

The only way to play 4-4-2 is to have two runners through the middle, maybe Tom Adeyemi and Aron Gunnarsson.

I would go for Gunnarsson sitting with Adeyemi and Whittingham, or maybe Joe Ralls, in front of him. In away games it’s a good idea to shore up midfield and play with one up top.

They have the ideal attacking foil in Jones. With a five man midfield two players can break beyond the main striker or up with him.

I didn’t understand why Cardiff didn’t change things at half-time. Tactically City had to respond and change.

But the only change in formation was for Kadeem Harris to move inside and pushed on behind the front two, while Whittingham played wide left. That clearly wasn’t a system Cardiff have a lot of work to be done. They have to be able to adapt and maybe play 4-3-3 or four with two holding. Maybe a diamond shape.

It was a pleasure to watch Brentford and the match had goals, but Cardiff were outplayed,


They need to move to a higher level of performance and on what we’ve seen so far that isn’t there. The Bluebirds are struggling for confidence and that’s a problem. The only thing that will get Cardiff on track is to play well and win, That is not the case right now.

Yet player for player Cardiff have a better squad than many of the leading teams, Work must be done on the training ground.

Brentford had so much possession and controlled the game. Kenwyne Jones made a difference and Cardiff did pick up more second balls and had a bit of pressure.

Cardiff only had the edge over Brentford in the last 15 minutes or so. Overall it was probably 60-40 in Brentford’s favour.

A positive note was the introduction of Harris. I’ve been calling for pace in the team and he is the only player I know of in the squad with kind of speed you need to threaten defences.

He had a decent game and was threatening on the ball. Harris warrants holding down a place in the first team squad at least until end of this season. He was selected for a team low on confidence and that is difficult for a young player. You can get sucked into the way they are playing instead of lifting those around you.

it all boil down to one thing ..... slade has not got a clue... as I have said Previously at 53 if he was amy good he would have been in the championship years ago.. he is out of his depth and Young is worse... we have gone back 10 years Under TAN in a very short time...Well done TAN WHAT AN ACHIEVEMENT

Blake has said exactly the same thing as fans have been saying for weeks. We are being destroyed in midfield, if Blake can see it and fans can see it, why can't Slade?

Slade can't see it as he's a managerial dinosaur, and he's probably taking orders from that c**t Young

Slade can't see it as he's a managerial dinosaur, and he's probably taking orders from that c**t Young

I know he's not looked at as the most skilled coach but to call an ex club captain who has given his life to Cardiff city a c*nt just sums up some of our fans really. Same ones who turned on Bellamy when things weren't going well. You mate are an absolute embarrassment.

Slade can't see it as he's a managerial dinosaur, and he's probably taking orders from that c**t Young

I know he's not looked at as the most skilled coach but to call an ex club captain who has given his life to Cardiff city a c*nt just sums up some of our fans really. Same ones who turned on Bellamy when things weren't going well. You mate are an absolute embarrassment.

Well said mate and sums up fans and society!! Shocking!

Behave you plebs, listen to the Neanderthal speak, it's cringeworthy, he isn't a City legend either, guy was shit!!!

End of day riding on folklore, hope he gets sacked and signs on the dole the sponging c**t

FFS! Scott young cant live on the back of his Leeds goal forever.... He may well be cardiff through but he's no championship no.2. Happy for him to be involved with the youngsters, perfect role model , but tactician and coach he is far from and way out of his depth...

He hasn't stated anything earth shattering and anyone with a small understanding of football would realise that were constantly outmanoeuvred in the middle of the park and therefore struggle on the possession front. Other than when slade first took over whitts and gunnarsson have been outplayed by their direct opposites and look flat footed to say the least. Just don't think the two of them compliment each other and whilst their together we will try to play this slow tempo old fashioned tripe we've witnessed of late. One tidy game plan will do me let alone two.

Ever since the Blackburn match (no actually in pre season) some of us could see that our midfield is dire and contains no quality. Its slow, ponderous and lacking tenacity, vision and bite. We are likely to finish the season in mid table. I just hope there's a mass clear out in the summer. This club needs fresh blood badly