" Russell Slade and the season ahead "
Fri Jul 31, 2015 12:13 pm
In the sixth of a series of pre-season reports, Harry assesses the mood around the Championship clubs
Cardiff City - Hoping Slade Proves Us Wrong
Friday 31st July 2015
“We had the players last year to mount a promotion challenge. Sadly Ole Gunnar Solskjaer under prepared them, destroyed morale and left them unfit. Russell Slade has done a lot better and with the emphasis on fitness in a proper pre-season, I think we now see an improved side.”
“I think we should put last season down to a bad one and wipe the slate clean.” After a drab end to a campaign which saw the Bluebirds finish mid-table, fans are upbeat after recording a 2-1 friendly win over now-promoted Watford on Tuesday in what many felt was a bright display.
“The players look more confident and are playing together as a team”, “We signed lots of quality last year. It didn’t get us anywhere. It’s all about unity, team spirit, fitness and using what we have got now”, “We have too many average players and not enough quality to mount a serious challenge.”
“Maybe the next couple of seasons should be about consolidation, setting our sights on longer term goals, keeping within our income stream and improving year-on-year. Next time we get promoted we might just be ready to stay there”, “Spot on about building a strong squad for the longer term.”
Russell Slade
“I will give Slade my full backing for the start of the season. He always blamed the fitness of the players last season, so now he has had a full pre-season with the squad he has no excuses now”, “His team is coming together. Fans calling him clueless - give him a chance because he’s getting it right.”
“I hope he proves me wrong and does well.” This comment highlights the ambivalence Bluebirds feel towards their manager. They are highly impressed by the way pre-season work has taken shape but still carry memories of “the terrible football to watch” which they witnessed last season.”
“Forget ‘Slade out’ - it’s pointless”, “We need to keep faith with Slade and give him a chance, Judge after the first six or seven games. If after that we are looking poor and have not collected many points then fair enough, but we shouldn’t get on his back the minute we lose a match.”
Transfer Dealings
“So far I’m unimpressed at the lack of signings. This current squad won’t challenge for a top two finish and won’t be in the top six either”, “Yeah, balls to the FFP rules. Let’s bring in another clutch of overpaid players and keep the deadwood we have in the squad”, “It worked well last season.”
“We are supporters who have very divided opinions.” Some Bluebirds believe that there is sufficient quality in their squad to catapult them back up to the top flight with three or four high-profile signings but most prefer longer term squad building.
Six players have left the club this summer and two more are free to depart if the right club appears. Defenders Kevin McNaughton, Danny Gabbidon and striker Nicky Maynard are still unattached while defender Kevin Theophile-Catherine has joined St Etienne and Josh Yorwerth is now playing for us.
Uruguay U20 defender Maximiliano Amondarain has had his contract terminated. Strikers Javi Guerra and Adam Le Fondre both played in a Cardiff City XI which drew at Cheltenham Town on Wednesday but the club has intimated that it will not stand in the way of their departures.
Two young centre-backs have arrived, 21-year-old Semi Ajayi from Arsenal (who featured on loan with the Bluebirds last season having been briefly on trial at Town) and 19-year-old Jordan Blaise from Bordeaux. Winger Sami Ameobi is the highest profile arrival, the 23-year-old arriving from Newcastle on a season long loan.
Sammy Ameobi
“Can Ameobi play up front? If so, I wouldn’t mind seeing him start the season there as he adds something different to any of the other forwards we have - pace”, “Last season we were so one-dimensional and didn’t have anyone to stretch the pitch and force defenders to drop deeper.”
Many Bluebirds see “Malky’s midfield” reappearing this coming season, not using natural wingers but playing strikers in and using Ameobi’s pace. Others are less convinced that the former England U21 player is a natural striker and would prefer to see him operating out wide.
“Ameobi and Mason could be a brilliant pairing up front as they give us so much movement and pressing”, “I’m not so sure. He struggled with his back to goal when played as a striker and his control let him down. He looks a massive threat with the ball at his feet running at the defence.”
Joe Mason
“Joe Mason - wow, he’s on form. Look out”, “His movement and positioning are top class as is his finishing but he is not quick. I have seen milk curdle faster than him”, “He has an eye for goal and a finisher’s instinct. He has the knack of finding space between defensive and midfield lines.”
The 24-year-old earned rave reviews from Bluebirds for his two-goal performance against Watford. “Mason is a strange player, a very good finisher with little pace or strength. If Slade wants to play him as one of our main men, the midfield will have to supply to his feet.”
Cardiff City - Hoping Slade Proves Us Wrong
Friday 31st July 2015
“We had the players last year to mount a promotion challenge. Sadly Ole Gunnar Solskjaer under prepared them, destroyed morale and left them unfit. Russell Slade has done a lot better and with the emphasis on fitness in a proper pre-season, I think we now see an improved side.”
“I think we should put last season down to a bad one and wipe the slate clean.” After a drab end to a campaign which saw the Bluebirds finish mid-table, fans are upbeat after recording a 2-1 friendly win over now-promoted Watford on Tuesday in what many felt was a bright display.
“The players look more confident and are playing together as a team”, “We signed lots of quality last year. It didn’t get us anywhere. It’s all about unity, team spirit, fitness and using what we have got now”, “We have too many average players and not enough quality to mount a serious challenge.”
“Maybe the next couple of seasons should be about consolidation, setting our sights on longer term goals, keeping within our income stream and improving year-on-year. Next time we get promoted we might just be ready to stay there”, “Spot on about building a strong squad for the longer term.”
Russell Slade
“I will give Slade my full backing for the start of the season. He always blamed the fitness of the players last season, so now he has had a full pre-season with the squad he has no excuses now”, “His team is coming together. Fans calling him clueless - give him a chance because he’s getting it right.”
“I hope he proves me wrong and does well.” This comment highlights the ambivalence Bluebirds feel towards their manager. They are highly impressed by the way pre-season work has taken shape but still carry memories of “the terrible football to watch” which they witnessed last season.”
“Forget ‘Slade out’ - it’s pointless”, “We need to keep faith with Slade and give him a chance, Judge after the first six or seven games. If after that we are looking poor and have not collected many points then fair enough, but we shouldn’t get on his back the minute we lose a match.”
Transfer Dealings
“So far I’m unimpressed at the lack of signings. This current squad won’t challenge for a top two finish and won’t be in the top six either”, “Yeah, balls to the FFP rules. Let’s bring in another clutch of overpaid players and keep the deadwood we have in the squad”, “It worked well last season.”
“We are supporters who have very divided opinions.” Some Bluebirds believe that there is sufficient quality in their squad to catapult them back up to the top flight with three or four high-profile signings but most prefer longer term squad building.
Six players have left the club this summer and two more are free to depart if the right club appears. Defenders Kevin McNaughton, Danny Gabbidon and striker Nicky Maynard are still unattached while defender Kevin Theophile-Catherine has joined St Etienne and Josh Yorwerth is now playing for us.
Uruguay U20 defender Maximiliano Amondarain has had his contract terminated. Strikers Javi Guerra and Adam Le Fondre both played in a Cardiff City XI which drew at Cheltenham Town on Wednesday but the club has intimated that it will not stand in the way of their departures.
Two young centre-backs have arrived, 21-year-old Semi Ajayi from Arsenal (who featured on loan with the Bluebirds last season having been briefly on trial at Town) and 19-year-old Jordan Blaise from Bordeaux. Winger Sami Ameobi is the highest profile arrival, the 23-year-old arriving from Newcastle on a season long loan.
Sammy Ameobi
“Can Ameobi play up front? If so, I wouldn’t mind seeing him start the season there as he adds something different to any of the other forwards we have - pace”, “Last season we were so one-dimensional and didn’t have anyone to stretch the pitch and force defenders to drop deeper.”
Many Bluebirds see “Malky’s midfield” reappearing this coming season, not using natural wingers but playing strikers in and using Ameobi’s pace. Others are less convinced that the former England U21 player is a natural striker and would prefer to see him operating out wide.
“Ameobi and Mason could be a brilliant pairing up front as they give us so much movement and pressing”, “I’m not so sure. He struggled with his back to goal when played as a striker and his control let him down. He looks a massive threat with the ball at his feet running at the defence.”
Joe Mason
“Joe Mason - wow, he’s on form. Look out”, “His movement and positioning are top class as is his finishing but he is not quick. I have seen milk curdle faster than him”, “He has an eye for goal and a finisher’s instinct. He has the knack of finding space between defensive and midfield lines.”
The 24-year-old earned rave reviews from Bluebirds for his two-goal performance against Watford. “Mason is a strange player, a very good finisher with little pace or strength. If Slade wants to play him as one of our main men, the midfield will have to supply to his feet.”
Re: " Russell Slade and the season ahead "
Fri Jul 31, 2015 12:36 pm
“Maybe the next couple of seasons should be about consolidation, setting our sights on longer term goals, keeping within our income stream and improving year-on-year. Next time we get promoted we might just be ready to stay there"
I sware this is a carbon copy of what troobloo posted in here a few days ago :s
I sware this is a carbon copy of what troobloo posted in here a few days ago :s
Re: " Russell Slade and the season ahead "
Fri Jul 31, 2015 1:17 pm
We need to do things alot differently should we get promotion again, it won't happen til the 16\17 season anyway but in the meantime we are getting stronger 
Re: " Russell Slade and the season ahead "
Fri Jul 31, 2015 5:28 pm
Transfer Dealings
“So far I’m unimpressed at the lack of signings. This current squad won’t challenge for a top two finish and won’t be in the top six either”, “Yeah, balls to the FFP rules. Let’s bring in another clutch of overpaid players and keep the deadwood we have in the squad”, “It worked well last season.”
A Tad Harsh on Slade here.Its been common knowledge for some time that Slade only wanted to bring a couple of players to add to what he's got.He's gone on record saying he's more or less happy with what he's got.I agree this season he needs to start well or the fans will be very quickly on his back but I think now that he got his own coaching team and fitter players I'm allowing myself to be cautiously optimistic.