' Bluebirds dressing room was the flattest/quietest ever "

' Cardiff City midfielder Matthew Kennedy: 'Bluebirds dressing room was the flattest, quietest one I'd ever been in'

23 JULY 2015

BY STEVE TUCKER

The 20-year-old joined Cardiff City in the January transfer window and has revealed how he was stunned by the lack of atmosphere in the dressing room

Cardiff City wideman Matthew Kennedy has revealed his shock at the dreadful atmosphere he walked into in the Bluebirds’ dressing room last season.

The 20-year-old Scot signed from Everton in early February and was excited by the challenge ahead, but what he found instead was a Cardiff dressing room filled with gloom and despondency and devoid of the usual banter and laughs which fill those at most successful clubs.

This might come as no surprise to supporters, though, as the Bluebirds endured a deeply-disappointing and frustrating campaign.

But now Kennedy, who is currently away with the Bluebirds on their summer pre-season tour in the Netherlands, said manager Russell Slade has managed to produce a complete turnaround on that front.

As the Cardiff manager has whittled down the hefty squad he inherited and brought in his own players, Kennedy said everyone at the club now has a smile back on their faces and are working together ahead of the forthcoming Championship season.

“I couldn’t actually believe it when I first walked into the club, the dressing room was the flattest, quietest one I’d been in ever in my life,” said Kennedy.

“I don’t know, there was just none of the usual banter or noise and jokes, I don’t really know what it was, but it really surprised me.

“The players just went about doing their thing, but I’d not really experienced anything like it before. It came as a bit of a shock for me,” added the 20-year-old.

“I don’t really know why it was like that, I’d just got there myself, but that’s the way it was and obviously I don’t think it was a good thing for anyone.

“The difference now is just massive, now the dressing room is buzzing and a great place to be. There’s a lot of banter flying around. Nooney (Craig Noone) is usually at the centre of it all, for some reason he just cracks me up.

“But I think as the new manager has got the people he wants here, the atmosphere has just got so much better. People are happy around the place now and that can only be good out on the pitch. Coming away for pre-season has helped things, got the lads together, we’ve really been enjoying it, it’s hard work, of course, but the preparations are going really well.”

Born in Irvine, Scotland, Kennedy began his career at Kilmarnock, but in August 2012, aged just 17, he was snapped up by Everton.

However, despite loan spells at Tranmere, MK Dons and Hibernian, he failed to make the breakthrough at Goodison Park and signed a three-and-a-half year contract with the Bluebirds earlier this year.

Kennedy admits now it was his fear he might never see action on Merseyside that prompted the switch.

Under Slade, in the second half of last season, he did make 14 appearances in the Championship, nine of them starts. He is hoping to go on and make even further progress next term, but admits he faces some stiff competition.

“It was a tough decision to leave Everton and then at the same time it wasn’t,” added Kennedy.

“I spoke to my agent for weeks about options and things. I had to decide whether to sign a new contract or move on, so I decided in the end to move. I just really wanted to play football.

"At clubs like Everton and the rest you get guys aged 23 who have played one game, they make their debut and then that’s it for them. I did not really want to see myself in the same situation.

“Of course, I’ve got a fight on my hands for a place here too. I got some chances last season and I think I did OK and it’s up to me now to push things forward.

“Here you’ve got the likes of Nooney, Anthony Pilkington and Kadeem Harris, who is a bit like me in that he’s a younger player.

"The manager has just brought in Sammy Ameobi too, so there’s plenty of competition there. I’m just going to keep working hard, stay positive and if I can get a chance then I will do my best to make sure I take it.”

Shows he is doing things to make us more like a team! Hopefully will see benefits after full pre season.

other than money ,why would any player come to a club that is clearly in turmoil......hopefully that will change this season but im not confident,from a players point how can you win M.O.T.M and get dropped the following week.....

Shows we were right about how bad the club was, now thankfully with a full pre-season behind Slade, his own team, fit team and a happy camp, there can be hopefully at least a top 6 finish this season

So what were the so called loyal senior professionals doing to lift the dressing room
fu.. all thats what oh sorry I forgot they were doing something
counting there wages thats what they were doing
oh and its now turned around
by who
none other than the clueless russel slade
now whos clueless
the idiots on here who wont give slade any respect thats who

It should be Tan getting the slating more than Slade


Slade came to a club that had died.

His task to keep us up and slice the squad.
As a Tan choice he will never be fully accepted. Trouble is. Any manager coming n will be a Tan choice.

Tan has poisoned things while our friends down west continue to grow.

There can be no signings until 3 or 4 more players leave. That is the difficulty Slade has got.
No fan support, no financial support.

There is enough talent there to put it a decent first team. I'd love to see Slade develop but fear he will stick to type and miss
A chance to get this team playing solid attractive football.

(2nd half at FGR was superb to watch)

We must stick together and get behind the team, stop the grizzling in the ground and be a 12th man.
Our club needs us

:sladein:

I thought you might be the first to comment

:sladein:

I thought you might be the first to comment

Slade is turning things around.

:sladein:

I thought you might be the first to comment

Slade is turning things around.

Dont Believe everything you read

:sladein:

I thought you might be the first to comment

Slade is turning things around.

Dont Believe everything you read

Why would he say that then he didn't have to say it.

:sladein:

I thought you might be the first to comment

Slade is turning things around.

Dont Believe everything you read

funny lots people on here believe what players say as it usually against club?

Shows we were right about how bad the club was, now thankfully with a full pre-season behind Slade, his own team, fit team and a happy camp, there can be hopefully at least a top 6 finish this season

yes why not

So what were the so called loyal senior professionals doing to lift the dressing room
fu.. all thats what oh sorry I forgot they were doing something
counting there wages thats what they were doing
oh and its now turned around
by who
none other than the clueless russel slade
now whos clueless
the idiots on here who wont give slade any respect thats who

Do you believe evrything you read

So what were the so called loyal senior professionals doing to lift the dressing room
fu.. all thats what oh sorry I forgot they were doing something
counting there wages thats what they were doing
oh and its now turned around
by who
none other than the clueless russel slade
now whos clueless
the idiots on here who wont give slade any respect thats who

Do you believe evrything you read

Do you
lots on here believe what they read when its negative but dont do positive hmmmm
the people on here are so negative I think most should be on anti depressents

So what were the so called loyal senior professionals doing to lift the dressing room
fu.. all thats what oh sorry I forgot they were doing something
counting there wages thats what they were doing
oh and its now turned around
by who
none other than the clueless russel slade
now whos clueless
the idiots on here who wont give slade any respect thats who

Problem is. Humpty dumpty had been manager for months when Kennedy joined.. It was exactly the same last pre season. A jolly good group of lads in good spirits. Pretty desperate when looking at this as a sign Numpty is turning anything arround
Lets play some football first, and have a look at spirits in Nowember, and if anything has changed..

Im not a Slade fan by any menas BUT it does seem like he inherited dogshyte! Only now is starting to work on things like moral, fitness and upbeat team spirit.

Maybe we have all been too harsh on him - lets see what the next 2 months bring perhaps

I'm not a slade fan at all but at the end of the day he's been given a specific job and he's doing it.

If he was given an end of season review he would meet all his targets.

Slash Wage bill by mutally releasing players - Check

Replce players that have left with other players on much less money - Check

Maintain championship status - Check.