' Cardiff City's Russell Slade is currently not well '

' The Bluebirds boss’ is currently unwell '


The one word I find myself consistently writing about Cardiff City this season is just how INCONSISTENT they are under manager Russell Slade.

24th Jan 2016

The Bluebirds boss’ is currently unwell, he sat in the dug-out for most of this game rather than bouncing around in the technical area as usual, and his condition will not have been helped as he witnessed his side stutter and stumble once more when great things were expected of them.

That Cardiff have only won back-to-back games in the Championship this season once, and that was way back in September, probably tells us all we need to know about their campaign as a whole.

That they remain five points off the play-off places, fortuitously really after other results went in their favour, has been very much down to that inability to string a succession of victories together when needs must.

And boy do the Bluebirds need that now.

The most disappointing thing about this parity with the struggling Millers was that it came off the back of Cardiff’s best performance under Slade, that 3-1 dismissal of Wolves at Molineux last time out.

Here, despite Slade naming an un-changed side, meaning new man Lex Immers started on the bench, the Bluebirds were unable to reach those heights once more against a Rotherham outfit who were rigid and disciplined, but find themselves hovering above the drop-zone because of obvious limitations.

That they remain five points off the play-off places, fortuitously really after other results went in their favour, has been very much down to that inability to string a succession of victories together when needs must.

And boy do the Bluebirds need that now.

The most disappointing thing about this parity with the struggling Millers was that it came off the back of Cardiff’s best performance under Slade, that 3-1 dismissal of Wolves at Molineux last time out.

Here, despite Slade naming an un-changed side, meaning new man Lex Immers started on the bench, the Bluebirds were unable to reach those heights once more against a Rotherham outfit who were rigid and disciplined, but find themselves hovering above the drop-zone because of obvious limitations.

The big surprise Slade pulled out of his top-hat at Molineux was the playing of Anthony Pilkington, seen ostensibly as a winger, up front alongside Joe Mason.

Obviously that trick was repeated here and, in fairness, you cannot say Pilkington did not respond to his new role once more.

He looked lively and dangerous at times.

He scored the opener and the embarrassment leveller.

OK, he put into his own net too, to hand the Millers a shock lead at one point after Joe Newell had brought them level just before the break, but it was all rather unfortunate on the born again frontman.

But if Pilkington again put in an adequate turn there were too many Cardiff players who failed to follow-up their showings against Wolves with anything like the same kind of finesse against Rotherham.

Craig Noone, who had shone in the Midlands, again seemed back in his shell.

He threatened all kinds of danger and excitement, but really failed to deliver.

Stuart O’Keefe had rightly kept his place despite the well-again Aron Gunnarsson being back on the bench, but he failed to make the same impact and with partner Joe Ralls quiet by his excellent standards, it was in the middle of the park that the Bluebirds really lost this important game.

Rotherham were allowed to make it to in or around the Bluebirds’ box without anyone adequately trying to stop them.

Peter Whittingham kept his place too and delivered some fantastic long-range passing and set-piece delivery, classic Whittingham in fact nostalgia fans, but, as has again so often been the case this term, it failed to be dispatched with the necessary aplomb.

Lee Peltier, who was probably rightly sent off late on after two yellows for two industrial challenges, headed wide a fabulous Whittingham free-kick when he really should have buried it.

I don’t think anyone is expecting performances like they produced against Wolves every week from the Bluebirds.

Goodness me, they would be top of the table if that were the case, but supporters can surely demand a certain level of performance, a set standard and, yes, a bit of consistency.

As the season wears on, Slade becomes more and more in danger of becoming some kind of lame duck boss at Cardiff, if he isn’t already.

With his contract up in the summer and it looking increasingly unlikeley he will be offered a new one, if the Bluebirds fall any further from the top six with games slipping through their fingers then one might be left wondering what the point of his tenancy is at all.

Many already are to be fair.

Slade may be unwell but, to be honest, his Bluebirds, on this evidence again, are none too hail and hearty either.

Yesterday was the first time that Ive never seen Slade stand up for the matches and shout etc etc.

Slade, I hope you get your strength back asap

Get well soon Russ.

Bouncing around in the technical area

When has the arm folding bafoon ever bounced around in the area

Looking forward to May when he can move on

When has the arm folding bafoon ever bounced around in the area

Looking forward to May when he can move on

Then come May boom! he has a contract extension.

Get well soon Russell. A bluebird all the same.

He makes me feel sick, most Saturdays at about 5pm

When has the arm folding bafoon ever bounced around in the area

Looking forward to May when he can move on

Then come May boom! he has a contract extension.

Can you imagine the drop in season ticket sales then?

Get well soon Russ.

Agree get well soon but

When has the arm folding bafoon ever bounced around in the area

Looking forward to May when he can move on

Then come May boom! he has a contract extension.

Can you imagine the drop in season ticket sales then?

Yes and that's why he will move on.

I sympathize with him, but Trollope is our strength. We need an experienced manager with Trollope as coach. The sooner both Slade and Young go the better and appointing Bellers at this stage would be a huge mistake.

Doing a cracking job of steadying the ship in choppy waters.

Cold Turkey ?