Only Lost 2 in last 12 games

I'll start this post by saying that I'm a glass half full type of person, always have been, and I've renewed my 3 season tickets.

I'm happy with Slade here and with the job he's doing, and I don't care about the quality or style of football. I'm a Cardiff fan, I'm used to it. I don't care if people think Trollope has been the difference, he hasn't as the football hasn't improved, but the results certainly have and they started before he arrived too, but if he has helped then great I'm happy.

City have only lost 2 of the last 12 league games, garnering 18 points in the process averaging 1.5 points a game, which is knocking on the door of play-off form. That return would get you 69 points over the course of a full season at this level. As we know well over the last few years, a total points haul in the mid 70s is enough for the top 6.

How many of you, hand on heart, can say you actually enjoyed Malky's style of football the year we got promoted ? It was hardly scintillating stuff was it ? He made us tight at the back firstly then we ground out the results. I didn't care, and I'm sure you didnt either, as we were getting the points.

Slade was brought in to reduce the wage bill and stabilise the side, nobody can argue that he hasn't done that. To me, the most remarkable achievement has been to get rid of all those highly-paid, underachieving players in January, while bringing in new, hungrier and undoubtedly cheaper players - those of a more negative disposition here tend to call them lower league players.

Now, anyone who has played any team sport at any level, particularly football, will know that it takes time to mould a team, get to know your teammates' game, how they play, the runs they make. This doesn't happen overnight. Yet, the run (2 defeats in the last 12 games) started immediately after the end of the January transfer window, when all those comings and goings were taking place. Any other manager would have been lauded for that, but not Mr Slade. No, he gets lambasted as being 'clueless' - I heard it again today in Reading.

What about the players he's brought in - Kennedy, McAleny and Peltier have been three good signings by Slade, in my opinion, while the jury's still out on Malone and Doyle. Revell runs his socks off and wins his headers, so I like him for that, as he plays for the shirt, that's all I ask for.

I think the main contention among supporters is that Slade is not a 'name', he has no experience of this league and makes some strange team selections / substitutions. I couldn't care less, these last 12 games have proved to me, we are improving, as we are conceding far fewer goals and are accumulating a decent points total. It doesn't bother me at all that he has no experience in this league, it's the Championship not the Champions League, we are Cardiff City, not Man City. Yes, certain central midfielders could have done with a 'rest', I've agreed on that previously, but Slade has brought Ralls and Harris in to the first team on quite a few occasions this season, while other managers didn't really include them. Tom
James has been on the bench too. To me Declan John going on loan has been the most disappointing, as he and the 'fans favourite' - Fabio - are very alike, as they are both frustrated wingers who struggle to defend, rather than full backs, and I would rather a young Welshman play than an overrated ex Premiership player, who is often a calamity waiting to happen.

We have been spoilt over the last 7 or 8 years, always having something to play for, while this end of season, with a mid table finish, has magnified everything for us as supporters, as some feel empty and let down.

Let's look at the positives, we are on a really good run, I am confident we will beat Bolton on Monday and at least Millwall and Blackpool at home too, which puts us into the early 60s, points wise, which will probably be around 10 to 12 points off the play offs come the season's end, hopefully in 9th or 10th position. That would give us great hope for next year, and another summer transfer window. Yes, we'll probably lose Manga,and maybe Marshall, but it's always been thus.

Come on Bluebirds, it's been a lot worse than this in the past, a lot worse. Let's stop the negativity and look forward to next season !

One of the best Posts of the year so far well said sir!

Very good post, a lot of common sense that will prove too much for some on here to comprehend

Gonna give this post a massive thumbs up, and a boost up the list.

Too sensible and not anti Cardiff enough for some on this board, but something we should all read and take notice of.

My cup spilleth over!

Thats one way of looking at it. Who knows we could do well next season and we have been spoilt compared to many let's be fair and were blue.

Been saying much the same myself for months

Good post sir

Spot on with everything apart from fabio, a very good post and how I see it myself. It's fine lines, we have a platform with the way we limit sides to few chances but we must tweak the midfield and attack which will take us on to the next level.

Yes a very good post. I agreed with nearly all of it except For Declan John. There are many journeyman footballers out of which John is one of them. Slade is obviously not "clueless" as many claim. As we are often told, it is a results business and our recent results have improved. So I am looking forward to 2015/2016 when I believe that we will be contenders for promotion and we will have an exciting season in the very competitive Championship. Season ticket all ready Renewed!

Yes a very good post. I agreed with nearly all of it except For Declan John. There are many journeyman footballers out of which John is one of them. Slade is obviously not "clueless" as many claim. As we are often told, it is a results business and our recent results have improved. So I am looking forward to 2015/2016 when I believe that we will be contenders for promotion and we will have an exciting season in the very competitive Championship. Season ticket all ready Renewed!

I mostly agree with your post, but Declan John a journeyman at 19?

4 Wales U17 caps, 8 Wales U19 caps, 3 Wales U21 & 2 full Wales caps!

One of the best Posts of the year so far well said sir!

Can't remember a better one tbh!

Very good post.
Realistic yet positive.
A bit more positivety from our fans would be a great boost for our club.

Disagree over Fabio and John.
I think Fabio is overall a better player and the loan move is a good one for Declan who still has a lot to learn, but could be an excellent player long term.

I still think that as long as Tan doesn't pull the plug we can push on over the next few seasons. Hopefully with a more stable platform

I think Slade is a football man, but too old fashioned like Jones to take the step to the next level. Malky was young, had the budget but did the job in a canter, it wasn't pretty but we forgot about that on that Charlton game......

To me Slade has proved he understands a player when he see's one. I believe Vinnie should make him the Director of football operations linking the recruitment, scouting and academy. Too many managers or head of recruitment have stiffed Vinnie. Slade could be the link between the new first team coach and Tan.

We do need a different coach...

Yes a very good post. I agreed with nearly all of it except For Declan John. There are many journeyman footballers out of which John is one of them. Slade is obviously not "clueless" as many claim. As we are often told, it is a results business and our recent results have improved. So I am looking forward to 2015/2016 when I believe that we will be contenders for promotion and we will have an exciting season in the very competitive Championship. Season ticket all ready Renewed!

I mostly agree with your post, but Declan John a journeyman at 19?

4 Wales U17 caps, 8 Wales U19 caps, 3 Wales U21 & 2 full Wales caps!

At first I was going to agree with you, maybe I was using the wrong term, but when I checked the definition it fitted better than I thought.
Maybe we shouldn't use industrial and craft terms about a game.


Journeyman
ˈdʒəːnɪmən

noun
1.
a worker or sports player who is reliable but not outstanding.
"a solid journeyman professional"
2.
historical
a trained worker who is employed by someone else.
"a journeyman carpenter"