RUSSELL SLADE IS SHOWING A LACK OF RESPECT/DENTED THE BELIEF

Football News Kenwyne Jones
Nathan Blake: I'm amazed at the way Cardiff City have treated Kenwyne Jones, it's shown a complete lack of respect to our best striker!


Monday 24 August 2015

By Nathan Blake

WalesOnline columnist Blake says the Bluebirds and boss Russell Slade have dented Jones' belief by not showing full confidence in his ability.


I’m amazed by the lack of respect Cardiff City have shown striker Kenwyne Jones.

The guy is head and shoulders above any other frontman currently at the club and, as a former striker myself, I know you should treat your No.1 just like that, as your No.1 player.




The way Jones has been treated by the Bluebirds, I believe, has been in danger of affecting him psychologically.

Strikers thrive off confidence and it seems a lot has been done at Cardiff to dent that belief. That is the worst thing you can do.

It was to his credit then that Jones got his first start of the season against Wolves and responded with the opening goal and an all-round performance that gave the Bluebirds a threat up front they simply lack when he is not on the pitch.

Jones came off injured against Wolves but was a real handful on the pitch

Keeping the guy happy is, for me, the most important thing right now. Make sure he is aware of his importance at the club and everything else will fall into place. He will get the club goals.

How the club can drop him to the bench is ridiculous as far as I am concerned. You start him. Jones has been treated poorly, never knowing if he will be picked or shunted out on loan.

I can’t think of a club where a star striker has been treated in such a manner.

Your main striker is the most important player at the club and must be treated accordingly.

Kenwyhe Jones is the best striker at Cardiff City, says Nathan Blake


Short of what seem to be financial considerations, I don’t think anyone who watches the Bluebirds regularly can even understand why Jones is not the club’s No.9.

Given that kind of support, Jones could get close to 30 goals for the Bluebirds this season.

I’m not sure the rest of the forwards all added together could even get to that number between them.

Joe Mason, for me, could get you 20 if he has a very good season, but Jones is another level.

The guy is an international striker, a Premier League striker, respect where it is due please Cardiff!

He brought a new dimension to the Bluebirds’ play against Wolves in a match where I thought things were much better all-round for Russell Slade’s side.

Jones did what he does best, keeping the ball nicely, little lay-offs to Kagisho Dikgacoi, who seems to be improving every game, little balls swept out-wide to Anthony Pilkington or little passes round the back where Mason was willing to do the running.

There was that typical goal from Jones to enjoy too.


It was unfortunate he went off injured, but when Sammy Ameobi came on he kind of continued where Jones had left off, albeit asking different questions of the Wolves’ defence.

He used his pace to run in behind and scored a cracking goal too.

Now, for me, what is the point of having all these wonderful weapons at your disposal if you are not going to use them?

Why use your most dangerous weapons for 10 minutes at the end?

Utilise your best players for 60, 70, 80 minutes. It is simple enough, but does not seem to have been happening at Cardiff City.

Don’t cut off your nose to spite your face, there’s no point in trying to prove a point.

Simply play your best players and you will be rewarded as Slade was against Wolves.


With that in mind, Ameobi should be starting. As for where he fits into things, well, that is what Slade is getting paid to decide.

There’s the making of a very good side at Cardiff now, as long as no one is let go.

I believe there is a very good spine to the side. David Marshall in goal, Bruno Manga, who is nearing fitness, at the back and Jones up-front.

Things are starting to look a bit more promising which is nice to say and something we have not really been able to say in quite a while about the Bluebirds.

The first-half never really got going against Wolves. In truth, not a lot happened at all until Jones got the goal.

The game was played between the two 18-yard boxes and when the action got into the danger areas, I thought both sides lacked composure and quality, but the second-half very much belonged to the Bluebirds.



The good thing now is that there’s real competition for places too.

I thought Fabio was fantastic against Wolves. He is a player who always gives 100% and refuses to accept defeat.

He has a winning attitude and I think that mindset can permeate throughout the whole squad.

On the other hand, Scott Malone, who was absent with illness, has had a good start to the season too so there is a potential headache for Slade right there and that is exactly what you want.

OK, so it was just one match, just three points, but it was as good a performance as Cardiff have put in for a while.

The signs are positive and, with the right team selection, things could get even better for the Bluebirds now moving forward.

The problem is things are going too nicely on the pitch. We've got pretty decent results against good sides. It's taken a few managers but slade looks like the one that is actually going to make us play it on the floor. But as I said, things are going too well on the pitch for some so they better get their negative jibes in somewhere. He's played in every game that he's been available. He hasn't started some.... so what? The moment u start guaranteeing first team places is the time players start dropping their standards because they know their position is nailed on.

Totally agree with him, Jones should play he causes problems and wins every header, and Ameobi would have the pace to cause different problems, they should be given a run of games to develop an understanding........

Everyone is a football psychic football manager .We never see the training sessions,dressing room or doctor's/physio's reports.Perhaps our manager and coach just might know a bit more than all the experts.

Hasnt Jones been rested because of a calf strain!

Given that he went off on Saturday who know how long he will be out for?

I agree a fully fit Jones should be first pick, but only a fully fit Jones!

Mr Blake does spout some rubbish to justify his existence as a so-called pundit with the local Beano comic. Jones had no pre-season with the club, returned and picked up a calf injury so that is Russell Slade showing lack of respect. That is why Mr Blake only managed a Welsh League division 3 team for one season!

I think if you read his article he is on about last year as well where jones was loaned out and not played...I agree he has been suffering with a calf strain this year....but Slade doe not fill me with enthusiasm over some of his selections...Doyle should be given a run...whats going on with Noone...why is whitts played when he isn t playing well what the hell is Morrison doing as captain

Marshall is captain, and Jones has had a calf strain, and was not 100% fit. Blakey wants to get his facts right before spouting off

I think Blake is just crying out for the argument here (the more sensational, the more hits/sales his rag gets)
3 points I have to make....

unless he has no interest in Cardiff City, he should know Jones came back injured with a calf strain ( he wasn't fit enough to play the full 90 on saturday anyway, he just came off earlier than expected)

He was loaned out at the back end of last season as we knew we weren't gonna make the top 6, saves money and gives Jones a challenge.

He is wearing the number 9 shirt this season, do you give that to a player you have no interest in using?

Blake writes complete and utter bollocks every week

How's this clown still writing for the echo as stated above he has had no pre season with the club, had no summer break and been injured Blake really is a clown

Slades the manager and he will pick who he wants to at the end of the day, results will dictate if he is right or not. Better players like Fabio and Jones play and we won. Team selection was correct.

Marshall is captain, and Jones has had a calf strain, and was not 100% fit. Blakey wants to get his facts right before spouting off

Agreed

Everyone is a football psychic football manager .We never see the training sessions,dressing room or doctor's/physio's reports.Perhaps our manager and coach just might know a bit more than all the experts.

Fair comment!

What don't people understand about the fact he hasn't been fully fit so far this season?

I think Blake is just crying out for the argument here (the more sensational, the more hits/sales his rag gets)
3 points I have to make....

unless he has no interest in Cardiff City, he should know Jones came back injured with a calf strain ( he wasn't fit enough to play the full 90 on saturday anyway, he just came off earlier than expected)

He was loaned out at the back end of last season as we knew we weren't gonna make the top 6, saves money and gives Jones a challenge.

He is wearing the number 9 shirt this season, do you give that to a player you have no interest in using?

Spot on.

Through his career Kenwyn has shown disrespect to club and Fans. When he wants to play he is pure class but when he can't be bothered then he has no problem in not making any effort. And that is frustrating. Had he been fully committed I feel he would of played for one of the top 4 clubs. He played well on Saturday but will soon infuriate our fans with a complete no show, that is the real Kenwyn Jones. And he gave Nukes the finger how dare he

I think Blake is just crying out for the argument here (the more sensational, the more hits/sales his rag gets)
3 points I have to make....

unless he has no interest in Cardiff City, he should know Jones came back injured with a calf strain ( he wasn't fit enough to play the full 90 on saturday anyway, he just came off earlier than expected)

He was loaned out at the back end of last season as we knew we weren't gonna make the top 6, saves money and gives Jones a challenge.

He is wearing the number 9 shirt this season, do you give that to a player you have no interest in using?

Exactly

Say what you want about Russ

Hes OUR MANAGER , whether you like it ir not there is no way Tan is going to listen to us as fans and sack him

So we best get used to it in the long run, Slade is in no way a shite manager he just plays odd teams and uses bad tactics

IF slade gets his act together I think he could be a good manager for us

After listening to the BBC Radio Wales commentary with Nathan Blake while watching the game from the Canton Stand I realised that Blake while entitled to his opinion, he was a better player than he is a pundit.