' RUSSELL SLADE '

Russell Slade's Cardiff City reign truly starts against Fulham as he shapes Bluebirds squad

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Friday Jan 09, 2015

By Chris Wathan


Following his first moves in the transfer market, Slade will hope a result against the Cottagers can truly herald the start of his era in charge



The arrival of a new manager at a football club is not always the start of a new era.

Indeed, most bosses tend to wait until after their first transfer window before they can start laying claim to the side they pick being ‘their team’. So it seems we could be seeing the start of the Russell Slade era in earnest after the Cardiff City manager made his first forays into the transfer market.

Rightly or wrongly, the signing of Scott Malone and potential arrival of Alex Revell have underwhelmed in the same manner that, in the eyes of some, Slade’s time in charge has.

Perhaps that is unfair both on the boss and the players, but it has to be placed into context of what has gone before at Cardiff.

The Bluebirds have not been shy in coming forward when it comes to headline-grabbing transfers over the past decade or so. Forget the Premier League signings and focus on those charged with helping the team into it over the years; without thinking too long or hard about it, the names of Craig Bellamy, Aaron Ramsey, Michael Chopra, Robbie Fowler, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Trevor Sinclair spring to mind. Go back further and the costly cult heroes Graham Kavanagh and Peter Thorne were destined to become idols on the Ninian Park terraces

Harsh or not, Millwall’s Malone and Rotherham’s Revell – whose deal is yet to be confirmed – have not got that same star quality and thus don’t offer the same hope and excitement.

But, just as some of the big names didn’t pay off, neither does the lower status of Slade’s first signings mean that they won’t be just what his team needs.

There is little wrong in going back to what you know and Malone has earned a hat-tip from plenty for his performances.

At 23, and bought relatively cheaply with his contract due to expire, the left-back could yet to prove a useful investment. Given that Cardiff seemingly had Fabio, Declan John, John Brayford all operating at left-back this year, you would assume it’s more of an investment than a priority.

Action Images / Matthew ChildsAlex Revell celebrates scoring for Rotherham
Still, having turned down advances from Sheffield United for the naturally right-sided Brayford, Slade seemingly knows what he wants at the back and simply must find a firmer back five to which to build the rest upon, with Malone part of that.

It is up front where Slade has looked to next. Revell, Slade knows well, both from his time at Orient and for the Rotherham goal that beat the O’s in last year’s play-off final. But, at 31, arriving via a host of non-league and lower league clubs, it can be claimed that it is more about Slade seeing a hole in his front line he needs to fill.

If it works, if Revell gets the goals – and it will need to be better than the 28 in 150 games for the Millers he managed – then few will be complaining of not knowing all about him beforehand.

But, through constraints or by choice, Slade is making his mark on this side, with Fulham the end of the beginning of his time in charge.

Further additions – and undoubtedly exits – will have to wait for now as Fulham come to town, a side that have faced their own problems since Premier relegation and are on their second manager of the season, former Wales defender Kit Symons in charge after Felix Magath’s ill-fated spell ended.

In a test of defensive improvements, the Cottagers have failed to score in their last three matches, so a shut-out seems achievable as City seek to end a dismal run of Championship form that has seen them earn just two points from the last five matches.

The Cardiff City Stadium win over Fulham last season failed to spark the run the side needed as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer failed to make his mark.

As Slade’s era starts to begin properly, the hope is that things can be different.

Seen Malone a few times and he seems to be a solid defender who will suit Slade's 4-4-2 system. Revel on the other hand is a hard working if not prolific striker, a proper team player.

After all the euphoria regarding the possible change to blue , Slade really needs a win and an energetic exciting performance on the pitch to get the fans support else I fear the mood will change dramatically.

"#No blue no renew" won't mean a thing to season ticket sales if we play like we have over past month or so!

fans have done there bit, time for the team to do theres

fans have done there bit, time for the team to do theres

I don't think so. I think we have sleepwalked into this. If we were winning this wouldn't have happened.

Get behind the team regardless.

fans have done there bit, time for the team to do theres

Don't be silly. Fans have only succeeded away from the pitch. It's now time to produce an atmosphere which boosts our players and intimidates the oppositions'.

fans have done there bit, time for the team to do theres

I don't think so. I think we have sleepwalked into this. If we were winning this wouldn't have happened.

Get behind the team regardless.

Slade lets hope it kick starts your season.

A certain Heidar Helguson comes to mind when I think of Revell not proflic but a team player and could be exactly what this team needs a hard worker and a lot of them

Not only has he not had "his" players. But also he hasn't really had the crowd behind him at all.

Let's all be honest, the city stadium has been pretty quiet for a year or two now (barring when we're winning against big teams)

BUT hopefully with what's happened tomorrow's game will be absolutely buzzing and it won't just be the Canton end making noise.



Win lose or draw, let's just enjoy being blue at home and being able to be proud of our team again.

Not only has he not had "his" players. But also he hasn't really had the crowd behind him at all.

Let's all be honest, the city stadium has been pretty quiet for a year or two now (barring when we're winning against big teams)

BUT hopefully with what's happened tomorrow's game will be absolutely buzzing and it won't just be the Canton end making noise.



Win lose or draw, let's just enjoy being blue at home and being able to be proud of our team again.

Should be bouncing hopefully but believe me if the football continues to be long ball, uninspiring, boring, losing & lack of effort it won't last long.
I hope Slade can turn it around but I'm far from convinced.

Slade deserves a lot of credit because he played an influence in our Return to Blue.

Not only has he not had "his" players. But also he hasn't really had the crowd behind him at all.

Let's all be honest, the city stadium has been pretty quiet for a year or two now (barring when we're winning against big teams)

BUT hopefully with what's happened tomorrow's game will be absolutely buzzing and it won't just be the Canton end making noise.



Win lose or draw, let's just enjoy being blue at home and being able to be proud of our team again.

Should be bouncing hopefully but believe me if the football continues to be long ball, uninspiring, boring, losing & lack of effort it won't last long.
I hope Slade can turn it around but I'm far from convinced.

I'm hopeful. But I'm also a BIG believer in the 12th man (without Delia's WHEEaaarr ArrreeEE YooooUU drunken chants) and getting the fans behind the team will (hopefully) spur us on to bigger and better

I'll be there either way.

fans have done there bit, time for the team to do theres

as ive said before...

fans have done there bit, time for the team to do theres

as ive said before...

Fans did sod all yesterday. We only had 11 men, they had 12. Such loud away support and fair play to them for it.