" INSIDE CARDIFF CITY'S TRAINING CAMP "

" Inside Cardiff City's training camp as Russell Slade's boys aim to build togetherness ahead of new campaign "

7 JULY 2015

BY STEVE TUCKER

Slade has taken his side to Leicestershire ahead of their pre-season fixtures before the start of their Championship bid

The Cardiff City players have been told to get on their bikes and look for Premier League promotion next season.

Boss Russell Slade has taken his men to Champneys Health Spa in leafy Leicestershire for a pre-season boot camp aimed at building the ‘togetherness’ that will provide the platform for the club’s push for promotion.

The luxury resort’s website informs us it offers exotic treatments, such as ‘Russian honey massage, reiki and personally blended aromatherapy’.

The literature goes on to explain that as well as the ‘pleasures of gym, swim, whirlpool and steam’ that await the players, the spa also has a ‘new external Canadian cedarwood hot tub to ensure maximum relaxation throughout’ their stay.

But relaxation could be at a minimum for the Bluebirds squad in truth, as Slade looks to get his players up to speed for the start of their Championship campaign.

Most importantly, as far as Slade and his staff are concerned, the resort offers a football pitch too and the Cardiff manager, a former PE teacher himself, is not stinting when it comes to putting his men through their paces.

The Cardiff squad, which has been joined by David Marshall, Aron Gunnarsson and Bruno Manga, after their extended leave following their international exploits, has also been boosted by the arrival of winger Sammy Ameobi from Newcastle on a season-long loan deal.

Their regime at Champneys subjects them to three gruelling training sessions a day, with Slade admitting he was unimpressed by fitness levels when he took over at the club back in October.

But apart from the football aspect of their stay, Slade has been keen to add some more ‘off-the -wall’ elements to his players’ preparations.

The likes of Peter Whittingham, Craig Noone and Lee Peltier have indulged in a mystery team-building project, as Slade looks for unity within the ranks, while a bit of high-octane karting action and the Cardiff boss’ surprise package, extremely early bike rides, have provided bonding opportunities away from the training pitch.

“The facilities are very good here,” said Slade.

“The training facilities, the pitch, the pool and the bikes.

“The lads went out on their bikes at 7.30 in the morning.

“It’s not easy to do that when they are travelling in every day, so we are all together.

“We are working morning, afternoon and evening. It gives us the chance to stick together, get a bit of togetherness, a bit of bonding.

“We’ve put a variety of things together which hopefully will benefit the boys. There is all sorts involved and it’s designed to get the players running, thinking and working together.”

The Cardiff City players have a lot of work to do to improve on last season

In a sure sign the new Championship season looms ever closer, the Bluebirds begin their pre-season schedule next week with a trip to Conference side Forest Green Rovers on the Wednesday, followed by a friendly at Shrewsbury on the Saturday.

They then fly out to Holland the following day for their pre-season tour.

The club have confirmed their fixture schedule for the Dutch trip. They will face former Israeli champions Hapoel Ironi Kiryat Shmona followed by a clash with Sparta Rotterdam, which will be played behind closed doors.

But Slade, ever the innovator, also has a surprise for his men planned when they arrive at their training base just outside Amsterdam.

The Cardiff players will be sent out to do some orienteering, having to find their way through the Dutch countryside with just a map and a compass.

It is more team-building work for the Bluebirds, but Slade will surely be hoping all his men find their way back before the new Championship season kicks off in the Welsh capital with the visit of Fulham on Saturday, August 8.

On the Dutch trip, the difficulties of organising it and that orienteering excursion, Slade commented: “We have a number of team-bonding sessions and we will get the players out running and navigating their course with a compass.

“They will also be building something on the way round. The Holland trip was about who we were going to play and that changed a couple of times on the second fixture, but we have managed to get that in place and we are delighted about that.”

This is all looking very promising Slade is working the socks off those players and the team building is pleasing to hear Slade is going to turn things around I just know it.

This is all looking very promising Slade is working the socks off those players and the team building is pleasing to hear Slade is going to turn things around I just know it.

I appreciate Slade's interest and commitment but I can't see him turning things around - he's not experienced enough for this league unfortunately!

This is all looking very promising Slade is working the socks off those players and the team building is pleasing to hear Slade is going to turn things around I just know it.

I can't see Slade turning thigs around - he's not experienced enough for this league unfortunately!

I got a feeling he will. :thumbu

This is all looking very promising Slade is working the socks off those players and the team building is pleasing to hear Slade is going to turn things around I just know it.

I can't see Slade turning thigs around - he's not experienced enough for this league unfortunately!

I got a feeling he will. :thumbu

We will soon find out

Am I reading this correctly that the players aren't staying here but commuting daily to be there for a 7:30 bike ride ?

Am I reading this correctly that the players aren't staying here but commuting daily to be there for a 7:30 bike ride ?

No, you need to wipe the steam off your glasses!

This is all looking very promising Slade is working the socks off those players and the team building is pleasing to hear Slade is going to turn things around I just know it.

I can't see Slade turning thigs around - he's not experienced enough for this league unfortunately!

I got a feeling he will. :thumbu

We will soon find out

It's hard enough keeping the 7 players on the bench happy when they're not getting regular game time and given that Slade came to the club when we had a ridiculous amount of senior players in the squad (Reportedly 41 in total), in an environment that must have been quite poisonous outside of the dressing room and he was instructed to trim the squad whilst trying to be competitive in a very difficult league, I think he managed to do quite well and we finished the season in a very positive manner!

Everybody starts somewhere and this season will be Slade's first full season in the Championship, considering where we were when he came to us and how we ended last season, I'm quietly confident that the forthcoming season will be a decent one!

Either way, Slade deserves his chance and I'm hoping that he can prove all his critics to be badly mistaken!

Am I reading this correctly that the players aren't staying here but commuting daily to be there for a 7:30 bike ride ?

No, you need to wipe the steam off your glasses!

So what does Slade mean when he says its difficult as they are travelling in everyday ?

Am I reading this correctly that the players aren't staying here but commuting daily to be there for a 7:30 bike ride ?

No, you need to wipe the steam off your glasses!

So what does Slade mean when he says its difficult as they are travelling in everyday ?

You're misinterpreting what he's saying, but if you read the whole story, it's clear that they're staying in Leicestershire!

I watched his interview on Cardiff City Player and Slade said that it's better that they're all at one training venue, rather than having to travel in from their homes, as it also helps in team bonding!

Am I reading this correctly that the players aren't staying here but commuting daily to be there for a 7:30 bike ride ?

No, you need to wipe the steam off your glasses!

So what does Slade mean when he says its difficult as they are travelling in everyday ?

You're misinterpreting what he's saying, but if you read the whole story, it's clear that they're staying in Leicestershire!

I watched his interview on Cardiff City Player and Slade said that it's better that they're all at one training venue, rather than having to travel in from their homes, as it also helps in team bonding!

This is all looking very promising Slade is working the socks off those players and the team building is pleasing to hear Slade is going to turn things around I just know it.

I can't see Slade turning thigs around - he's not experienced enough for this league unfortunately!

I got a feeling he will. :thumbu

We will soon find out

It's hard enough keeping the 7 players on the bench happy when they're not getting regular game time and given that Slade came to the club when we had a ridiculous amount of senior players in the squad (Reportedly 41 in total), in an environment that must have been quite poisonous outside of the dressing room and he was instructed to trim the squad whilst trying to be competitive in a very difficult league, I think he managed to do quite well and we finished the season in a very positive manner!

Everybody starts somewhere and this season will be Slade's first full season in the Championship, considering where we were when he came to us and how we ended last season, I'm quietly confident that the forthcoming season will be a decent one!

Either way, Slade deserves his chance and I'm hoping that he can prove all his critics to be badly mistaken!

This is all looking very promising Slade is working the socks off those players and the team building is pleasing to hear Slade is going to turn things around I just know it.

Are you sure you are very optimistic

This is all looking very promising Slade is working the socks off those players and the team building is pleasing to hear Slade is going to turn things around I just know it.

Are you sure you are very optimistic

I'm always optimistic you should try it sometime.