' IT'S DOWN TO TAN - GETTING BORING '

By Nathan Blake

Monday Dec 7th


I’m not sure about you, but I find the question about Russell Slade and Cardiff City is starting to get rather monotonous.

Doubts over whether the Bluebirds’ boss is the right man for the job have been evident ever since he joined the club back in October 2014.

A lot of people did not want him here at all, saying he was not up to the job, not experienced enough at the right level.

I would estimate 70 per cent want him sacked right now, but why waste precious time on all that right now?

It is an unnecessary distraction as far as I am concerned, only one man will make the decision on Russell Slade and that is Bluebirds’ owner Vincent Tan.

He appointed him and he will decide what the future holds for the manager.

Others can slate Slade as much as they want, but it will make no difference.

For me I can see plus and minuses to the job Slade is doing and they were on display in Cardiff’s win at bottom club Bolton on the weekend.

There are still the questions about Slade’s tactics, his choice of personnel and the style of play his team has been delivering ever since he took charge.

It’s hard to disagree with most of them for sure.

On the other hand, right now, there is no denying there has been an improvement, although there had to be really, and the Bluebirds are picking up results.

Let’s not forget the dreadful situation that Slade had to take on when he did come in anyway.

And the biggest factor right now is that Slade has got Cardiff into a play-off place and, even if you believe they should be riding even higher with the quality of players they have, then there must still be agreement that Slade, for now, deserves to be in the job.

Look, everyone wanted Tony Pulis to take over at the time just because he is a big name, that is just human nature, but Pulis’ football in the end is not that far away from what Cardiff are playing now under Slade.

Let’s try to give the matter a rest just for the moment.

I thought the Bluebirds were lucky to come away with the three points at my former club on the weekend if I am being honest.

Wanderers, whose situation right now pains me, created more than enough chances to win the game and the Bluebirds had to rely on a bit of good fortune.

But Cardiff did at least stick to their task. They showed some guts, another thing you could say has been installed by Slade.

Slade too is getting closer to knowing his best Cardiff side which is to his credit even if it has in a way been forced upon him.

The midfield seems to have been transformed, particularly in the centre and in the modern game that is where matches are effectively won and lost.

With Joe Ralls, Cardiff now have some young legs in there and a bit of quality too. You need that energy in the middle of the park or you are just going to get overrun as the Bluebirds have been in the past.

Peter Whittingham was just not able to bring that in there. It’s no slight on Whittingham. He will know that himself, it comes to us all in the end.

Not that I want to see Whittingham banished to the bench for good. He remains the most technically gifted player the Bluebirds have.

And this is where I do find fault with Slade to be honest. He just does not come up within enough different options and variations in his team selection.

There is a way to play Whittingham in that side and to get the very best from him.

Whittingham could thrive with three in the middle there, he would get some protection to do what he does best and that is to pick out a pass because he is excellent at that.

It’s what Liverpool did with Steven Gerrard near the end of his time with the club.

Cardiff need various formations at their disposal, that is part of the modern game too and still they just do not really have that under Slade.

The Bluebirds have a big match at home against Sheffield Wednesday up next, a massive game really with both teams level on points in sixth and seventh.

It should be a great occasion, but again I worry about the crowds.

I still believe not enough is being done to entice supporters back to the Cardiff City Stadium and efforts must be redoubled to address it.

There must a focus group on the 14,000 who do turn up to discover how the match day experience can be improved for them and another group looking at the 10,000 who are missing.

Some will say it is just down to the way Cardiff have been playing under Slade, but I don’t believe all the blame can simply be put at the manager’s door.

For me, you don’t go there to support the manager, the chairman, the owner or even the individual players, you go down there to support ‘City’ themselves and there is no finer sight than our fans on their feet chanting and singing.

It is really is a wonderful sight.

Forget the distractions, do it through gritted teeth if you must, but I implore fans to get down there on the weekend and support our Bluebirds irrespective of who is manager right now.

I like Blakey's articles and agree with 80% of it.

However I have to disagree on finding a system just to accommodate one player. It's a team game and sadly Whittingham's best days seem to be behind him. In the pecking order he is now probably 4th behind Gunnars, Ralls and Dikgacoi.

I'm also not sure about Focus groups as the only proven way to attract more supporters is to win matches.

Where he is absolutely correct is Slade's future will be decided by Tan and no-one else. Also there is a responsibility on us to get behind the manager and stop moaning about our own personal preferences. Come on Tony Pulis was never going to happen.

I like Blakey's articles and agree with 80% of it.

However I have to disagree on finding a system just to accommodate one player. It's a team game and sadly Whittingham's best days seem to be behind him. In the pecking order he is now probably 4th behind Gunnars, Ralls and Dikgacoi.

I'm also not sure about Focus groups as the only proven way to attract more supporters is to win matches.

Where he is absolutely correct is Slade's future will be decided by Tan and no-one else. Also there is a responsibility on us to get behind the manager and stop moaning about our own personal preferences. Come on Tony Pulis was never going to happen.

I agree with you and would like to add that it's easier for pundits to say support the team!

They get paid to go and watch come what may whereas others have to find the money and most of all want to be entertained after a week in work.


It's not all about winning anymore, the love for the Club, the day, the atmosphere, the craic and the build up has gone.

Tan maybe a rich man but he has underestimated the Welsh people, someone should tell him he is not in Asia.

RS maybe a great bloke but all anyone sees is a Tan man and he can never lose it, come what may.

Blakey should donate his seasons pay to helping out fans who cannot genuinely afford it and then go and watch when it's out of his pocket and time

The only part of Blakey's analysis I agree with is thst Slade should be more flexible with his formations dependent upon the circumstances and opposition. I think Digkacoi could be an effective inclusion in a 4-5-1 in away games.

Decent article from Blake.

I pretty much agree with all that from Blake for a change

Has someone had a word with him? Good article to be fair.

Looks like he just read the decent threads on here (again)

I hope we never lose again but we will play a modern team set up to play 4231 or 451 and get over run in the middle even with Joe and Gunnars athleticism and we won't be able to blame Whitts, but will Slade have an alternative system in his locker. Can he get his extra sticker to be of worth ?

Wednesday played 442 on Sunday so I am quietly confident for Saturday