" Russell Slade refusing to become obessed by fans "

Cardiff City boss Russell Slade refusing to become obsessed by fans' expectation of top six finish

Wed 3rd June 2015

By Steve Tucker

"I cannot get caught up in the idea of the top six," says Cardiff manager as he focuses upon bringing in new players to strengthen team


Cardiff City boss Russell Slade is refusing to become obsessed by the challenge of a Championship top six finish nest season.

The Bluebirds boss knows the pressure will be on him from day one with fans expecting a promotion challenge.

But Slade insists he just wants to focus on bringing in new players this summer to make his Cardiff team stronger than in 2014-15.

Under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and then Slade, the Bluebirds had a desperately disappointing campaign and many fans have been demanding a change at the helm.


But Slade maintains he has been given the go-ahead by owner Vincent Tan to bring in up to four new faces, with the wheels already in motion when it comes to signing the men he has identified.

Slade is keeping his cards close to his chest on targets, but, WalesOnline understands Ipswich striker Daryl Murphy heads the hit list.

Murphy was the Championship’s top-scorer last term and Slade is determined to bring more firepower to his side.

Slade is also looking at the midfield and for a new wide-man, believing his defensive options are already in place.

The Cardiff boss recently returned from face-to-face talks with Tan out in Bosnia as the billionaire businessman saw another of his clubs, FK Sarajevo, secure the title and Champions League football next term in the process.


Slade will next head out to Tan’s native Malaysia on Thursday for promotional work and further discussions, but he insists his Bluebirds owner is still very much focused on delivering success in the Welsh capital.

Cardiff supporters who saw their side fail miserably to bounce back to the Premier League last term are hoping Slade can conjure up at least a play-off position for the Bluebirds during 2015-16 after an 11th place finish last season.

But the manager himself claims he is not being distracted by that at this point in the pre-season, instead he is simply focused on ensuring the side that runs out in August is better than the one which trooped off the pitch back in May.

He has urged patience, saying: “Of course we have ambitions, but before we can think about the top six we need to look at how we can make the group itself stronger.

“We need to see an improvement on last season firstly and then take things from there. We can’t get ahead of ourselves. We know there is expectation on us, that’s fine, that’s understandable, but I cannot get caught up in the idea of the top six.

“I need to just go about my work and make sure we are better prepared and a better unit as a whole than we were before.




Vincent Tan takes the adulation of the fans in Sarajevo


“I spoke to Vincent and we talked about three or four players of the right quality we do need and I’ve been given the go-ahead. The work has started of course, but this is quite a quiet time.

“You are seeing a few signings, but even the agents are telling us it is quiet.

“But we’ve got one or two indications already that the players we are looking at might be interested in working with us so we will see what develops there.

“I think towards the end of June things will start to pick up, it usually does, but I’m not saying we will not sign anyway before then.

“We might get someone sooner, the wheels might turn quicker than expected, but we can assure everyone that we are working towards a stronger Cardiff City for next season, that’s for certain.”

When it comes to which areas supporters can expect to see the Bluebirds strengthen over the summer Slade leaves no doubt.

The Cardiff boss will look to supplement his current stable of strikers for certain, with Murphy the prime target, and then the focus is firmly on the midfield, the area that proved a problem department last term.



Daryl Murphy was the Championship's top scorer


Cardiff barely managed to win a midfield battle last season with the preferred pairing of Peter Whittingham and Aron Gunnarsson, who inked a new two-year-deal at the club Tuesday, often not preforming to the required standard despite their manager’s confidence.

Slade admits too he is looking to bring in more options out wide, but believes that his defensive options right are more than adequate for the battles to come.

“In defence I think we’ve got a good group,” said Slade, whose preferred pairing in the centre last season was Bruno Manga and Sean Morrison.

“When you look at the centre-halves we’ve got Ben Turner there and Matthew Connolly is an asset for us. Midfield we will be looking at and a winger too, just to give us options out there.

“The aim is very much to being in quality and by doing that we should make sure we are stronger as a squad and as a team than we were last season.”











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Useless prick just getting his excuses in early.

Last season he was spouting bollocks about us getting into the top 6 when it was obvious even to Stevie Wonder and the bloke out of Peters and Lee that we were never going to get near it.

Then at the end of the season he talks about a promotion challenge next season.

Now he seems to be saying that he wants to do better than last season - so if we finish 10th next season Slade will be happy will he?

And he'll expect us to be happy too?

Honestly,

Last edited by davids on Wed Jun 03, 2015 8:39 pm, edited 1 time in total.

If we are not aiming for top 6 we may as well not bother

We will be no where near top 6 next season imo.

Wonder why season ticket sales are down; ok Russ lets hope we stay up and we will all be happy

All hail Russell

Obsessed? Reaching the top 6 takes a methodical approach with his playing material. Compare it to his opposition playing style and lay down a plan to reach the clubs ambition. Premier league! Nothing more and nothing less! Have some ambitions why don't you? Ffs he will play the underdog if we are up against Wigan..

when is uncle fester going to stop treating us like dummys and stop spouting off the crap all the time, contradiction must be his middle name. He said not so long ago that we are aiming for a top 6 finish next season and now he is saying that he can't get caught up in what the fans want, ffs you can't make this shit up, of course we want a top 6 finish so we have a chance of promotion, he's so inept its unbelievable. Already making excuses for when he fails. Don't get me wrong I really hope he proves me wrong but I just can't see it.
Best thing he can do is to keep his trap shut.

He needs to deliver a top6 Finnish. It's as simple as that

He's just a useless prick.

Is this interview for real? If your aspiration is for mid-table mediocrity then it smacks of self preservation or has VT told RS he's happy with a 'holding position' whilst he's off on his CL adventure on the cheap with Sarejevo's adoring 'Uncle' fans?. The club need to give a clear statement of intention as VT has apparently commented on ambition of a PL return whilst RS appears to be happy with just getting paid and wearing a tracksuit. Give us a clue please City?

If the man cant strive for a top 6 finish then he shows what most fans think HE SHOULD NOT BE THE MANAGER

Lack of ambition is shocking.

All out transfer targets are players from lower leauges or average players at championship level. There is no way we are making the playoffs and Slade is just setting expectations early.

I know I've said slade in the past but this takes the piss excuses before the season starts no ambition at all remember we were favourites last season to win the championship but we're closer on the odds to relegation

Slade must go,sooner than later