' This could be a Greater Achievement than '

If Russell Slade leads Cardiff City to play-offs after all he has had to contend with, it will be remarkable

13/02/16

BY SCOTT JOHNSON

Scott Johnson says it reaching the play-offs this season could constitute a greater achievement than the last time they were there under Malky Mackay


So much time has been spent dissecting and highlighting the failings of Russell Slade and his charges, that I think it’s only fair that we take time out to consider the prospect of him actually succeeding in his stated target.

All things considered, should he lead Cardiff to the play-offs, it would be a remarkable achievement.

Not as impressive in relative terms as Leicester qualifying for the Champions League or if Aston Villa were to escape relegation, but no mean feat all the same. There are a number of reasons for this, first and foremost being the unwavering negativity that surrounds Slade.

Some of the criticism levelled at him has been valid, some borders on the ridiculous while some has just been abuse, which is neither constructive nor fair. At the end of the day, Slade did not employ himself.



The club selected him and it should not be forgotten that they were rebuffed three times by Leyton Orient , before Slade resigned in order to take up the role.

Maybe Slade is not up to the challenge, I’ve certainly written in the past that I feel like Cardiff are treading water with him in charge, but he’s also making the best of a bad job. Yes, Cardiff have a talented squad that probably should be further up the table, but they are also under a transfer ban and have had strict limitations imposed on their recent spending. The club is not exactly built for success.

Slade’s relatively meagre salary has been well documented. It pales in comparison to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and the eye-watering sums he earned, yet the Norwegian fared no better.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's reign was disastrous

Slade has had to contend with a drastic reduction in both spending and ambition, in the process becoming the poster boy for a more frugal, uninspiring Cardiff.

The reality of the situation is that Slade may still be in a job because of these factors. He may not be solely responsible for the drop in attendances, but enough people are citing him as part of the problem and ordinarily you would expect him to lose his job under those circumstances.



But it is possible, likely even, that Cardiff cannot afford to sack him, pay him off, potentially pay compensation for a replacement and then furnish them with spending money. Under the current circumstances, Cardiff are not exactly the most enticing prospect for managers either.

Last season, Slade had his prospects hampered by the club loaning out Matthew Connolly and Kenwyne Jones to title chasing Watford and Bournemouth. They were regular first-team players and finances dictated that Slade would have to do without them. This year, he revealed in a morning press conference that the club were signing Tony Watt, only to see the club hit with a transfer ban in the afternoon.

He has also seen pretty much all of his strikers depart and most have been replaced by loan signings.

Not many managers would put up with these circumstances in such good grace. He may appear a bit thin-skinned at times, but that is hardly surprising. Slade was brought in as Vincent Tan’s man, then left to fend for himself as the club’s absent owner maintained both silence and distance.



It’s true that Slade may not be the most progressive of managers, wedded to the safety blanket of a 4-4-2 formation and conservative with his substitutions. Presumably the club already knew this though, when conducting due diligence on their prospective new manager while he was still at Orient.

Every manager has their principles and if Slade’s are not a good fit for Cardiff, that is hardly his fault either.

These circumstances are set against unprecedented spending in the second tier this season, with clubs pushing the boat out to catch the Premier League gravy train before it disappears over the horizon.

Cardiff may have bought their way out of the division under Malky Mackay, but the amount they invested back then looks rather tame compared to the likes of Derby and Middlesbrough this year.

Spending by Cardiff City's Championship rivals
£25m
Derby

£24m
Middlesbrough

£19m
Burnley

If Cardiff are to make the play-offs, they will likely join Derby, who have spent around £25m, Middlesbrough (£24m), Burnley (£19m) and Brighton (£8m). Hull have reinforced a Premier League squad that they have managed to keep largely intact while adding a further £7m of talent.

Sheffield Wednesday have also spent £8m, while overachievers Birmingham and Ipswich also currently stand in Cardiff’s way.

In contrast, Cardiff have made nearly £3m in profit and their squad is getting gradually weaker.

This is understandable with the amount of debt they have accrued in recent years, but if the big spending clubs all prosper this season, it is likely to become something of a template for aspiring clubs for the foreseeable future.

'He's so much better than our last two managers!'

Spending usually enables success, but it has not been the only way out of The Championship in recent years.

Yet the days of relatively low spending sides like Blackpool and Crystal Palace achieving promotion may soon be consigned to the past. Cardiff currently sit in 9th position, five points off the play-offs and in my opinion, that is about right in terms of their current level.


Slade’s contract expires in the summer and we are heading towards that stage in the season when we need to decide what would constitute success or failure this term. The last time Cardiff made the play-offs, they had exceeded all expectations in Malky Mackay’s first season in charge and were promptly dumped out by West Ham.

Were Cardiff to make the top six this year, it could be argued that it constituted an even greater achievement.

Would that also result in a new deal for Slade, a decision that would go down like the Titanic with the majority of supporters? It would take a great deal of guts or stupidity, depending on your stance.

That is assuming that Slade has any interest in staying of course. Either way, it is sure to become a hot topic in the next few months.

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I will be shocked if we make the play-offs.

I have criticised Russell Slade ever since he came in, but believe it or not if he goes this summer then I now believe he can leave with his head held high. I also think he would come out of the situation better than Cardiff City if he goes after this season - but that's a completely different discussion.

He has had so much to put up with, and somehow we are still in a strong position.

Whatever happens, and I really hope but doubt we will be top six, Russell Slade will be one of the few people in the management of the club who can be proud of their work this season.

I will be shocked if we make the play-offs.

I have criticised Russell Slade ever since he came in, but believe it or not if he goes this summer then I now believe he can leave with his head held high. I also think he would come out of the situation better than Cardiff City if he goes after this season - but that's a completely different discussion.

He has had so much to put up with, and somehow we are still in a strong position.

Whatever happens, and I really hope but doubt we will be top six, Russell Slade will be one of the few people in the management of the club who can be proud of their work this season.

Ned, I will be totally shocked if we make the play-offs and I would be the first to shake Slades hand

I will be shocked if we make the play-offs.

I have criticised Russell Slade ever since he came in, but believe it or not if he goes this summer then I now believe he can leave with his head held high. I also think he would come out of the situation better than Cardiff City if he goes after this season - but that's a completely different discussion.

He has had so much to put up with, and somehow we are still in a strong position.

Whatever happens, and I really hope but doubt we will be top six, Russell Slade will be one of the few people in the management of the club who can be proud of their work this season.

Ned, I will be totally shocked if we make the play-offs and I would be the first to shake Slades hand

I can't see it happening but would be a brilliant achievement if we did make it

Disagree. It's not what I would describe as remarkable. Apart from the big 4 our squad is still as good as anyone's in the division.

There's clubs worse off than us fighting for the play offs.

Gary Rowett at Brum for example has had to use kids and sell his best player and I bet the Birmingham players are on nowhere near what the likes of Marshall, Manga, Whitts, Gunnarson, No one, Ameobi, Pilkington, Fabio.etcetcetc are earning.

People talk about this so called "mess" like its Blackpool last year or Bolton this year. Most of the clubs in the division would love to have the players I've just mentioned in their squads. Apart from Fabio maybe who is a liability.

Out of interest how old is the blogger ?

The whole money spent, big transfer, ITK bollox is born from the massively over hyped Sky football phenomenon.

If Ole had kept the premier league team except Medal and Caulker he would have had to sell 16 million of talent, but still would have had the core of the squad that had promotion sewn up by Easter. Scotty boy would have called him the greatest ever as he had one hand tied behind his back......The logic is mental. Scott look at annual salaries then write this bollox !!!!!!!!

Any chance we can put the author next to the title when its this guy? Does my head in reading his crap

I will be shocked if we make the play-offs

Ned, I will be totally shocked if we make the play-offs and I would be the first to shake Slades hand

With a book in your hand?

If we make the playoffs , it'll be down to Trollope. Great coach and we're lucky to have him. Slade is particularly fortunate. I reckon Lawrence joined us because of his presence. You only showed any shape at all after he joined us. I'm amazed that Slade gets any praise in terms of the coaching.

If he does manage to get us into the playoffs, and right now it's a BIG IF, then he will of achieved the target set for him by the club.


But it will pale in comparison, in my opinion, to the job done by DJ the season we lost in the playoff final. Under a transfer embargo from September that season, one winding up petition after another, golden season ticket scam and players being paid late.

In my opinion that was the best job done by any manager in my 52 years watching the Bluebirds. Pity he was such a miserable sod.

If he does manage to get us into the playoffs, and right now it's a BIG IF, then he will of achieved the target set for him by the club.


But it will pale in comparison, in my opinion, to the job done by DJ the season we lost in the playoff final. Under a transfer embargo from September that season, one winding up petition after another, golden season ticket scam and players being paid late.

In my opinion that was the best job done by any manager in my 52 years watching the Bluebirds. Pity he was such a miserable sod.

Totally agree with your opinion and he managed to have an attacking team, oh those were the days

It would be an achievement and could possibly save Slade's job.

It would be a miracle which is sadly why it won't happen

A good manager with squad we had would of had us safely in playoffs