Slade Says he now has a stronger squad than before/Plus many

Russell Slade Says he now has a stronger squad than before/Plus many more questions answered


The Cardiff City boss fielded questions on a range of topics ahead of this weekend's match against Derby and Monday's transfer deadline.

By Steve Tucker.

Saturday 31st Jan 2015.

What’s the injury situation?

The biggest one is Ben Turner. We’ve had the results of the scan and he’s done more damage than we anticipated in terms of the ligament coming away from the ankle bone. The important thing is he’s going to be out for 10 to 12 weeks. It’s a major blow. He’s been a leader and we’ve not got many of those. That news has been difficult. He’s devastated. He worked so hard to get over the double ankle surgery he had in the summer. He’s very down at the minute. Hopefully we can pick him up and get him back to where he needs to be. He’s ruled out for most of the season, probably all of it. We shall see.

Does that have implications for Bruno Manga, who is returning from the Africa Cup of Nations?

He’s back. It does take a long time to get them back. We were hoping he would train yesterday, but that was not the case. But he’s back, we’ll take a look at him and see how he is. I think his last game was last Saturday, so he has not done an awful lot since then. We’ve brought him in before like that, so we’ll take a look.

Does Ben Turner’s injury have implications for you in transfer market?

We have been looking for a leader- type in the window, anyway. With Ben going it probably makes it more vital that we try to search for somebody who can play that role for us. One or two more players should come in before Monday. We are waiting on a decision today for one player and the others could go to the wire. Failing that, we don’t need to panic because we’ve got the 93 day loan period after that which would take us to the end of the season.

Do you expect anyone to leave before Monday?

No, not that I’m aware of.

Do you believe your squad now is stronger than it was at the start of the window?

I would like to think so, yes. We’ve lost 10 players in total, which in terms of reducing the wage bill has been quite significant. But yes, I’d like to think it is stronger. I would say we have a better balance in the squad now. When players are not playing and know they are not in your plans, sometimes they can lose a bit of interest, it would be fair to say. The previous manager did not play too many of those that I’ve let go, either. We move on. We are going through a period of transition where we are losing players and trying to build a team at the same time. We need to fund that restructuring.

You need a win now?

Of course we do. Obviously there is an element of concern, but there is an element of concern every day as a football manager. Whether you are wheeling and dealing it’s a concern or whether you are trying to win a match, it’s a concern. We are desperate for a win. The fixtures have not been kind to us. We’ve not come out the right side in terms of our results against the top teams. That’s an indication of where we are at right now. Reading was a cup game, it’s out the way now. It was an adequate performance first half and inadequate in the second. We are playing the league leaders next and that will be a different kettle of fish. I’ll be looking for a response.

What about Derby?

They are going to be as big a test as we have had so far. They’ve got a marvellous chance of promotion. It’s never one thing that leads to that. It’s an accumulation of things. It’s a group of players which has been together for a long time. The nucleus has played together for a good while. They came so close last season and arguably could have gone up in the play-off final. In terms of form, at the time they were probably the best team in the Championship at the death, but it did not quite happen for them at Wembley. To be fair, they’ve re-galvanised themselves. There’s been very few changes. They know each other’s play so well. They do have a stability we crave here absolutely.

Tell us about new signing Stuart O’Keefe

He played a big part when Crystal Palace stayed in the Premier League last season under Tony Pulis. I think he played in 13 of their remaining 17 games. He’s very athletic. He understands and has a good knowledge of the game. He’ll bring something to the table for us. You are looking for energy and power, but not so much pace with Stuart, as he’s not a flyer, but he will bring the other two elements, for sure. You want the attitude to be infectious. You want everyone to catch it in the team. There’s a possibility he will start against Derby.

Tell us about Lee Peltier

He’s a tough-tackling defender who sees danger which is important. He’s a good type, you know what you are going to get with him. He’s very honest and capable.

You say they are both ‘tough-tackling’. Was the squad a bit soft?

Yes, I think so. There was not enough substance to the group. You have to have a group who are together in everything you do. Who believe in everything they do. A group that takes ownership and that are going to deliver the results long term. Everywhere I’ve been, I’ve tried to build that in the group without big resources usually. I hope here if we can do that and add a bit of quality as well then the football club will be in a much better place off and on the field.

Do you think you have improved the quality of your side?

To date we have not replaced Adam, but the fact Lee (Peltier) has been captain at two clubs, played 300-odd games and had a £1m move before is excellent business. It’s outstanding that he’s come to Cardiff City on a free and I think he’s an outstanding player.

Could the loan of Adam Le Fondre to Bolton come back to bite you?

I don’t think it will come back to bite us. He’s still our player. I played him every single week, staying with him in terms of him getting goals for us. That never materialised. He got himself in a bit of a rut so he’s got the opportunity to get games elsewhere. We are hoping that will do him good and that he could play a big part in the future here. Just because he’s gone on loan does not mean we’ve dismissed him. That’s not the case.

Where do you focus right now?

It’s important now we focus entirely on the next game and look for improvement and signs of positivity. It’s short-term, little goals at the moment, let’s just improve on that last performance against Reading because it was dire in the second period. We need to put it to bed and build a platform.

What happens if you have a substantial bid for David Marshall?

No-one at this club wants to sell David Marshall, not even the owner. But at virtually every club in the country every player has a value, but it would probably have to be something that would blow us away if you like. I actually don’t see that happening at all. David is very happy here and there have been no enquiries on my desk. To have him fit and back in the group would be a big bonus. He’s probably 10 days from fitness. The surgery was very good and we are hoping he will recover more quickly than usual considering the groin operation he has had. We are very happy. He’s on the bike and doing things. It’s encouraging.

So Slade believes his squad is now stronger than before he arrived,interesting.

I will give him some credit Annis,he's got rid of most of the deadwood Macheda apart. The problem is, the man is totally out of his depth in terms of managing the football side of the job... Win or lose today I want him sacked.

Lewis
Brayford
Cala
Nugent
Bergstaller
Ekrem
Kim
Daehli
Guerra
Le Fondre
Morrison

That's not a bad team

I will give him some credit Annis,he's got rid of most of the deadwood Macheda apart. The problem is, the man is totally out of his depth in terms of managing the football side of the job... Win or lose today I want him sacked.

I agree he has got rid of some dead wood, but I honestly dont believe Daehli,Guerra and Brayford were dead wood,in my eyes they were quality players

But if he feels he now has a better squad than before,now all Slade has to do is just get his team to perform

Got no excuses for a loss today then!

Mike Bassett is so deluded and out of his depth it's scary!

I couldn't stand Mackay's park the bus anti football shite but this clown is making that look like watching Brazil!
It's shocking how everybody in the ground can see whitts and Gunnar get murdered in the middle every game yet he changes everything besides them two. That is the slowest, most lethargic middle in this division.
Until we have a proper manager we are in free fall.

I will give him some credit Annis,he's got rid of most of the deadwood Macheda apart. The problem is, the man is totally out of his depth in terms of managing the football side of the job... Win or lose today I want him sacked.

I agree he has got rid of some dead wood, but I honestly dont believe Daehli,Guerra and Brayford were dead wood,in my eyes they were quality players

But if he feels he now has a better squad than before,now all Slade has to do is just get his team to perform

Daehli did'nt have much of an end product in my opinion, BUT he's still very young and that would have got better in time ?
double blue scarfs today, it's gonna be a cold one

Got no excuses for a loss today then!

Cal, Rem we play like Real Madrid

You say they are both ‘tough-tackling’. Was the squad a bit soft?

Yes, I think so. There was not enough substance to the group. You have to have a group who are together in everything you do. Who believe in everything they do. A group that takes ownership and that are going to deliver the results long term. Everywhere I’ve been, I’ve tried to build that in the group without big resources usually. I hope here if we can do that and add a bit of quality as well then the football club will be in a much better place off and on the field.


This is the key to me. Ole just bought players who were good, no thinking about the mental side of things or about getting a balance.

Mlalky looked for a nucleus of strong hard workers... look a the ones he brought in Hudson, Turner, Cowie, Conway, Gunnar, Helguson, Campbell... I could go on. These were all either leaders or guys who would run into the ground for him.

Most of the ones who Slade has got rid ofg were technically good, but lacked the fight and desire.


Now Slade has to deal with the fact the player's confidence is rock bottom. That is going to be tough. We need a win and Derby are a very good side.
I'd be very surprised if the new players all clicked immediately.

He, the players and the club (if you want us to stay up) could do with some support and patience from us fans today.

Didn't Dave Jones sign Hudson?

Didn't Dave Jones sign Hudson?

Yes he did.

Didn't Dave Jones sign Hudson?

Yep to replace Roger Johnson. He signed Gerrard the same time.
Christ we moaned about them on here at first!


Could do with Halfway Hudson against Derby again today

You say they are both ‘tough-tackling’. Was the squad a bit soft?

Yes, I think so. There was not enough substance to the group. You have to have a group who are together in everything you do. Who believe in everything they do. A group that takes ownership and that are going to deliver the results long term. Everywhere I’ve been, I’ve tried to build that in the group without big resources usually. I hope here if we can do that and add a bit of quality as well then the football club will be in a much better place off and on the field.


This is the key to me. Ole just bought players who were good, no thinking about the mental side of things or about getting a balance.

Mlalky looked for a nucleus of strong hard workers... look a the ones he brought in Hudson, Turner, Cowie, Conway, Gunnar, Helguson, Campbell... I could go on. These were all either leaders or guys who would run into the ground for him.

Most of the ones who Slade has got rid ofg were technically good, but lacked the fight and desire.


Now Slade has to deal with the fact the player's confidence is rock bottom. That is going to be tough. We need a win and Derby are a very good side.
I'd be very surprised if the new players all clicked immediately.

He, the players and the club (if you want us to stay up) could do with some support and patience from us fans today.

Spot on. I'll never forgot the game where Helguson knew he was going to hit the post but didn't flinch and scored the goal...

I will give him some credit Annis,he's got rid of most of the deadwood Macheda apart. The problem is, the man is totally out of his depth in terms of managing the football side of the job... Win or lose today I want him sacked.

I agree he has got rid of some dead wood, but I honestly dont believe Daehli,Guerra and Brayford were dead wood,in my eyes they were quality players

But if he feels he now has a better squad than before,now all Slade has to do is just get his team to perform

Daehli did'nt have much of an end product in my opinion, BUT he's still very young and that would have got better in time ?
double blue scarfs today, it's gonna be a cold one

You keep saying that but did you pay attention to other players end product? Daehli played 5 games and has two assists. Compare that to the rest of the midfielders and you'd find that he has more end product than most of them. Despite having played significantly less minutes His end product was better than noone, le fondre, adeyemi, literally everyone in midfield apart from whitts (and if I am not mistaken pilks), but they both played a lot more.
Also he's been replaced by a midfielder ( o'keeefe) whose stats shows one goal in his whole career. So I don't think it's accurate to say end product is the reason he's no longer at the club. Also as you say he's young you don't get rid of a 19 year old just because he isn't banging in the goals already. More than likely he was sold because city could get 2 mill for him. If slade wasn't gonna play him tan was gonna cash in on him.

Getting rid of Brayford was insane. Could say that about a few of our transfers though.

Getting rid of Brayford was insane. Could say that about a few of our transfers though.

Getting rid of him mid season was just weird. One of the most consistent players this season.

I will give him some credit Annis,he's got rid of most of the deadwood Macheda apart. The problem is, the man is totally out of his depth in terms of managing the football side of the job... Win or lose today I want him sacked.

I agree he has got rid of some dead wood, but I honestly dont believe Daehli,Guerra and Brayford were dead wood,in my eyes they were quality players

But if he feels he now has a better squad than before,now all Slade has to do is just get his team to perform

Daehli did'nt have much of an end product in my opinion, BUT he's still very young and that would have got better in time ?
double blue scarfs today, it's gonna be a cold one

You keep saying that but did you pay attention to other players end product? Daehli played 5 games and has two assists. Compare that to the rest of the midfielders and you'd find that he has more end product than most of them. Despite having played significantly less minutes His end product was better than noone, le fondre, adeyemi, literally everyone in midfield apart from whitts (and if I am not mistaken pilks), but they both played a lot more.
Also he's been replaced by a midfielder ( o'keeefe) whose stats shows one goal in his whole career. So I don't think it's accurate to say end product is the reason he's no longer at the club. Also as you say he's young you don't get rid of a 19 year old just because he isn't banging in the goals already. More than likely he was sold because city could get 2 mill for him. If slade wasn't gonna play him tan was gonna cash in on him.

Spot on mate. A lot of people on here can't see the wood for the trees.
No end product, too lightweight - laughable. We should have started preparing to build a team around a talent like his.

Getting rid of Brayford was insane. Could say that about a few of our transfers though.

He didn't really 'get rid' of him.
Brayford wanted to go. He's made that clear.

Listening to what Slade has been saying it seems Brayford and le Fondre were not players he was expecting to leave.

He's replaced Brayford quickly enough and has now got to replace Le Fondre in the next couple of days. This will be a key one for him. get that right and we will stay up. Get it wrong and it will be a struggle.

I will give him some credit Annis,he's got rid of most of the deadwood Macheda apart. The problem is, the man is totally out of his depth in terms of managing the football side of the job... Win or lose today I want him sacked.

I agree he has got rid of some dead wood, but I honestly dont believe Daehli,Guerra and Brayford were dead wood,in my eyes they were quality players

But if he feels he now has a better squad than before,now all Slade has to do is just get his team to perform

Daehli did'nt have much of an end product in my opinion, BUT he's still very young and that would have got better in time ?
double blue scarfs today, it's gonna be a cold one

You keep saying that but did you pay attention to other players end product? Daehli played 5 games and has two assists. Compare that to the rest of the midfielders and you'd find that he has more end product than most of them. Despite having played significantly less minutes His end product was better than noone, le fondre, adeyemi, literally everyone in midfield apart from whitts (and if I am not mistaken pilks), but they both played a lot more.
Also he's been replaced by a midfielder ( o'keeefe) whose stats shows one goal in his whole career. So I don't think it's accurate to say end product is the reason he's no longer at the club. Also as you say he's young you don't get rid of a 19 year old just because he isn't banging in the goals already. More than likely he was sold because city could get 2 mill for him. If slade wasn't gonna play him tan was gonna cash in on him.

Spot on mate. A lot of people on here can't see the wood for the trees.
No end product, too lightweight - laughable. We should have started preparing to build a team around a talent like his.

You have a point but to build around him he needs to be in the first team every week, but that is surely not going to happen as champ is to physical for such a slight build of a player? Given time yes but time is a luxury Slade doesn't seem to have?

For me that's a rubbish statement. We have 10 less players and we've got shot of loads of Internationals.

How can that be stronger.

We'll see!

Presume he basically talking about mentally and physically stronger?

I will give him some credit Annis,he's got rid of most of the deadwood Macheda apart. The problem is, the man is totally out of his depth in terms of managing the football side of the job... Win or lose today I want him sacked.

I agree he has got rid of some dead wood, but I honestly dont believe Daehli,Guerra and Brayford were dead wood,in my eyes they were quality players

But if he feels he now has a better squad than before,now all Slade has to do is just get his team to perform

Daehli did'nt have much of an end product in my opinion, BUT he's still very young and that would have got better in time ?
double blue scarfs today, it's gonna be a cold one

You keep saying that but did you pay attention to other players end product? Daehli played 5 games and has two assists. Compare that to the rest of the midfielders and you'd find that he has more end product than most of them. Despite having played significantly less minutes His end product was better than noone, le fondre, adeyemi, literally everyone in midfield apart from whitts (and if I am not mistaken pilks), but they both played a lot more.
Also he's been replaced by a midfielder ( o'keeefe) whose stats shows one goal in his whole career. So I don't think it's accurate to say end product is the reason he's no longer at the club. Also as you say he's young you don't get rid of a 19 year old just because he isn't banging in the goals already. More than likely he was sold because city could get 2 mill for him. If slade wasn't gonna play him tan was gonna cash in on him.

Spot on mate. A lot of people on here can't see the wood for the trees.
No end product, too lightweight - laughable. We should have started preparing to build a team around a talent like his.

You have a point but to build around him he needs to be in the first team every week, but that is surely not going to happen as champ is to physical for such a slight build of a player? Given time yes but time is a luxury Slade doesn't seem to have?

Your right in the fact that he had to start every game to build a team around him that's why I said - 'we should have started preparing ...' He should have been involved most games & it wouldn't have been long before he flourished.
I haven't seen such a talent & prospect in decades down the City & although he's long gone it's a bloody travesty that he was allowed to leave.
Even more so after just witnessing another load of shite this afternoon.

I will give him some credit Annis,he's got rid of most of the deadwood Macheda apart. The problem is, the man is totally out of his depth in terms of managing the football side of the job... Win or lose today I want him sacked.

I agree he has got rid of some dead wood, but I honestly dont believe Daehli,Guerra and Brayford were dead wood,in my eyes they were quality players

But if he feels he now has a better squad than before,now all Slade has to do is just get his team to perform

Daehli did'nt have much of an end product in my opinion, BUT he's still very young and that would have got better in time ?
double blue scarfs today, it's gonna be a cold one

You keep saying that but did you pay attention to other players end product? Daehli played 5 games and has two assists. Compare that to the rest of the midfielders and you'd find that he has more end product than most of them. Despite having played significantly less minutes His end product was better than noone, le fondre, adeyemi, literally everyone in midfield apart from whitts (and if I am not mistaken pilks), but they both played a lot more.
Also he's been replaced by a midfielder ( o'keeefe) whose stats shows one goal in his whole career. So I don't think it's accurate to say end product is the reason he's no longer at the club. Also as you say he's young you don't get rid of a 19 year old just because he isn't banging in the goals already. More than likely he was sold because city could get 2 mill for him. If slade wasn't gonna play him tan was gonna cash in on him.

Spot on mate. A lot of people on here can't see the wood for the trees.
No end product, too lightweight - laughable. We should have started preparing to build a team around a talent like his.

You have a point but to build around him he needs to be in the first team every week, but that is surely not going to happen as champ is to physical for such a slight build of a player? Given time yes but time is a luxury Slade doesn't seem to have?

Your right in the fact that he had to start every game to build a team around him that's why I said - 'we should have started preparing ...' He should have been involved most games & it wouldn't have been long before he flourished.
I haven't seen such a talent & prospect in decades down the City & although he's long gone it's a bloody travesty that he was allowed to leave.
Even more so after just witnessing another load of shite this afternoon.

unfortunately slades agenda is work rate ect whilst daehli is talented he was most definately not in slades plans suspect others who went wasnt either! trouble is all new managers like their own type players good or bad, mind you having saw game online (gave st to son) it was boring in extreme no ideas or game plan? even i say he must go

slade does not have a clue, and must go before its to late.
win rate first 8 games 62%
win rate last 9 games 11.1%
Average points first 8 games = 2
Average points last 9 games = 0.55
If we play as badly in the last 18 game at an average 0.55 = 9.9 points or roughly 44pts

Russell your midfield is crap, only once in 17 games have we had more possesion than the oposition Millwall away.
Did you know Russell that when Witts plays without Gunnarsson our possesion was 49% to us 51% to the oposition,
when they play together its 42% for us 58% to the oposition.
Gunnarsson has lost any pace he had and is totally ineffective.

We couldnt play Manga because he hadnt trained so we played O`Keefe who has played 2 game this season, and he was average and thats being kind, i feel sorry for Adeyemi and Ralls.
Again Malone is Average and not a Championship fullback.
Revel was prolific at Rotherham 4 goals in 26 games not bad for a 32 year old.( what are you playing at Slade)
Great decision to put our top goal scorer on the bench.
I have only missed half a dozen games in the last 23 years at Cardiff and have seen many bad times , but this guy SLADE is the pits.
SLADE MUST GO and please Mr.Tan do not let him buy anymore crap before Monday night.