' Terry Phillips looks at what we've learned from win '
Sat Jan 03, 2015 2:47 pm
Saturday 3rd January 2014
By Terry Phillips
Ben Tuner should be Cardiff City captain... and just what has gone wrong with Federico Macheda?
Football correspondent Terry Phillips looks at what we learned from Cardiff City's FA Cup win over Colchester
- Give the gaffer a chance
Russell Slade was appointed Bluebirds manager less than three months ago. He has had 14 matches in charge.
Slade inherited a near impossible situation with 38 senior players in a squad which lacked balance and included too many who simply didn’t want to be at the club.
Mats Daehli was one of those and his representatives made it clear he wanted to leave during a face-to-face meeting with Slade. The talented young Norwegian has signed for German club Freiburg in a £2m deal and good luck to him. That was the right decision because the lad had come to Cardiff to play under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
But I still hear fans saying ‘Slade doesn’t know what he’s doing’ or ‘he doesn’t have the experience’.
Another comment has been: “He’ll only sign players from Orient in January. What’s the point of that?”
I haven’t seen evidence of City making a move for any Orient players.
Slade has been a first team Football League manager in almost 700 matches over 20 years. You never know, he may well have learned a bit in that time.
Invariably the people having a go at the manager have absolutely no experience of management themselves and would be completely lost if confronted with a group of 30-odd players and told: “Lead them to promotion.”
Slade must be judged, but now is not the right time. It is only fair to wait and see what he does in January and where he can get the Bluebirds come the end of the season.
- Big Ben the Bluebirds captain
David Marshall is City skipper, but I’m not sure it works to have a goalkeeper as captain. He isn’t involved in the thick of the action and Cardiff appear a team that lacks leadership right now.
Ben Turner wore the armband against Colchester and did a decent job. There aren’t many candidates in the City squad, but Turner fits the bill.
Marshall is, like Mark Hudson before him, an ideal guy to be club captain. Personally, I still don’t understand why Hudson was allowed to leave, but that’s another argument.
Scotland’s number one will always be a Bluebirds hero after his exploits in Championship and Premier League but perhaps Turner should be handed the captaincy.
It’s a tough decision, but Marshall is experienced enough to take it.
- Matt Connolly must play against Fulham
Cardiff’s most consistent defender was given his chance at centre-half against Colchester. It was the first time he has played in the centre under Slade and he looked good alongside Turner.
Bruno Manga is now on Africa Cup of Nations duty, while Sean Morrison has not been convincing enough to nail down a regular starting place. For me, Turner and Connolly is the best combination.
Having played centre-back in helping Queens Park Rangers, Reading and Cardiff to promotion from the Championship, Connolly must have something going for him at this level.
I’d like to see Slade give Turner and Connolly a good run in the team, starting with Fulham on Saturday.
- Macheda simply has to improve
Federico Macheda looked the part in pre-season. He has genuine ability and showed the desire to succeed for Cardiff.
I watched Kiko train every day during City’s pre-season tour to Austria. He worked hard, showed a hunger and looked a terrific signing.
He did the same again when Slade took over, making a positive impression on the new manager that saw him given his chance in the starting XI.
Since then, it has been downhill at an alarming pace.
Macheda has been anonymous and almost disinterested in recent weeks and once again failed to impress against Colchester.
Slade hauled him off in the second-half on Friday night and it proved an inspired decision with Kenwyne Jones scoring with his first touch.
That was Jones’ 10th goal of the season. Macheda, for the record, has five in 20 appearances.
I’ll admit I sang Macheda’s praises earlier this season but it seems I might have been wrong.
- Adeyemi and Ralls are ready to play a leading role
Slade made several changes for the FA Cup tie, the most significant of which was a tactical switch to 4-5-1 that allowed Tom Adeyemi and Joe Ralls to patrol midfield behind Peter Whittingham.
Adeyemi, full of energy and desire, could have scored a couple of goals after runs which opened up the Colchester defence, while Ralls, neat, tidy and effective, got better and better as the game went on.
Cardiff’s major problem this season has been in the middle of the park where they have been overrun on several occasions but this set-up certainly had a more solid look, albeit against League One opposition.
It’s also worth mentioning winger Kadeem Harris, who made his mark with a lively display and a lovely goal to top things off. He certainly has the type of raw pace Slade undoubtedly needs to add to his starting XI.
By Terry Phillips
Ben Tuner should be Cardiff City captain... and just what has gone wrong with Federico Macheda?
Football correspondent Terry Phillips looks at what we learned from Cardiff City's FA Cup win over Colchester
- Give the gaffer a chance
Russell Slade was appointed Bluebirds manager less than three months ago. He has had 14 matches in charge.
Slade inherited a near impossible situation with 38 senior players in a squad which lacked balance and included too many who simply didn’t want to be at the club.
Mats Daehli was one of those and his representatives made it clear he wanted to leave during a face-to-face meeting with Slade. The talented young Norwegian has signed for German club Freiburg in a £2m deal and good luck to him. That was the right decision because the lad had come to Cardiff to play under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
But I still hear fans saying ‘Slade doesn’t know what he’s doing’ or ‘he doesn’t have the experience’.
Another comment has been: “He’ll only sign players from Orient in January. What’s the point of that?”
I haven’t seen evidence of City making a move for any Orient players.
Slade has been a first team Football League manager in almost 700 matches over 20 years. You never know, he may well have learned a bit in that time.
Invariably the people having a go at the manager have absolutely no experience of management themselves and would be completely lost if confronted with a group of 30-odd players and told: “Lead them to promotion.”
Slade must be judged, but now is not the right time. It is only fair to wait and see what he does in January and where he can get the Bluebirds come the end of the season.
- Big Ben the Bluebirds captain
David Marshall is City skipper, but I’m not sure it works to have a goalkeeper as captain. He isn’t involved in the thick of the action and Cardiff appear a team that lacks leadership right now.
Ben Turner wore the armband against Colchester and did a decent job. There aren’t many candidates in the City squad, but Turner fits the bill.
Marshall is, like Mark Hudson before him, an ideal guy to be club captain. Personally, I still don’t understand why Hudson was allowed to leave, but that’s another argument.
Scotland’s number one will always be a Bluebirds hero after his exploits in Championship and Premier League but perhaps Turner should be handed the captaincy.
It’s a tough decision, but Marshall is experienced enough to take it.
- Matt Connolly must play against Fulham
Cardiff’s most consistent defender was given his chance at centre-half against Colchester. It was the first time he has played in the centre under Slade and he looked good alongside Turner.
Bruno Manga is now on Africa Cup of Nations duty, while Sean Morrison has not been convincing enough to nail down a regular starting place. For me, Turner and Connolly is the best combination.
Having played centre-back in helping Queens Park Rangers, Reading and Cardiff to promotion from the Championship, Connolly must have something going for him at this level.
I’d like to see Slade give Turner and Connolly a good run in the team, starting with Fulham on Saturday.
- Macheda simply has to improve
Federico Macheda looked the part in pre-season. He has genuine ability and showed the desire to succeed for Cardiff.
I watched Kiko train every day during City’s pre-season tour to Austria. He worked hard, showed a hunger and looked a terrific signing.
He did the same again when Slade took over, making a positive impression on the new manager that saw him given his chance in the starting XI.
Since then, it has been downhill at an alarming pace.
Macheda has been anonymous and almost disinterested in recent weeks and once again failed to impress against Colchester.
Slade hauled him off in the second-half on Friday night and it proved an inspired decision with Kenwyne Jones scoring with his first touch.
That was Jones’ 10th goal of the season. Macheda, for the record, has five in 20 appearances.
I’ll admit I sang Macheda’s praises earlier this season but it seems I might have been wrong.
- Adeyemi and Ralls are ready to play a leading role
Slade made several changes for the FA Cup tie, the most significant of which was a tactical switch to 4-5-1 that allowed Tom Adeyemi and Joe Ralls to patrol midfield behind Peter Whittingham.
Adeyemi, full of energy and desire, could have scored a couple of goals after runs which opened up the Colchester defence, while Ralls, neat, tidy and effective, got better and better as the game went on.
Cardiff’s major problem this season has been in the middle of the park where they have been overrun on several occasions but this set-up certainly had a more solid look, albeit against League One opposition.
It’s also worth mentioning winger Kadeem Harris, who made his mark with a lively display and a lovely goal to top things off. He certainly has the type of raw pace Slade undoubtedly needs to add to his starting XI.
Re: ' Terry Phillips looks at what we've learned from win '
Sat Jan 03, 2015 5:42 pm
I would not play Macheda no more he is just not interested and just not a striker we thought he would be! Kenwyne Jones has to play every game from now on because when he plays we are likely to score with him on the field! Adeyemi and Ralls has to play instead of whitts and gunnarsson where they can break up attacks from the opposition, plus Kadeem Harris as I saw last night is a counter attacking player and will get better every time he plays and can be our spark we have been crying for 
, and I agree with Turner being captain because he's probably our only candidate and leader on the pitch!
, and I agree with Turner being captain because he's probably our only candidate and leader on the pitch!
Re: ' Terry Phillips looks at what we've learned from win '
Sat Jan 03, 2015 6:28 pm
Macheda is a disgrace to his profession..I hate footballers who don't even try..never seen him break into a sweat..sums up what is wrong with our club at the moment 
Re: ' Terry Phillips looks at what we've learned from win '
Sat Jan 03, 2015 9:48 pm
oohahhPaulMillar wrote:Macheda is a disgrace to his profession..I hate footballers who don't even try..never seen him break into a sweat..sums up what is wrong with our club at the moment
He's not Paul millar mate, he gave his all. Your totally correct.
Re: ' Terry Phillips looks at what we've learned from win '
Sat Jan 03, 2015 9:50 pm
f**k me Colchester we beat, not alot to learn from that is there.
Re: ' Terry Phillips looks at what we've learned from win '
Sun Jan 04, 2015 1:32 pm
Wop wrote:fme Colchester we beat, not alot to learn from that is there.
Does it matter who it was? all games can learn things from! for instance learned 451 is better than 442, as we were better before switched back to 442
Re: ' Terry Phillips looks at what we've learned from win '
Sun Jan 04, 2015 4:33 pm
Glad to see the change to 451 with Tom and Joe in their, near the end did get a bit concerned with them breaking through and getting a few changes which they score 1 off.
You can say its only "xxxxx" in the cup, but dont forget that the lower teams are always fired up vs bigger opposition and if you look at most results, they give a good challenge.
Tonight for example look at Sheff W and Yeovil. Man U and Man C got pretty strong teams out
You can say its only "xxxxx" in the cup, but dont forget that the lower teams are always fired up vs bigger opposition and if you look at most results, they give a good challenge.
Tonight for example look at Sheff W and Yeovil. Man U and Man C got pretty strong teams out