" Like him or Loathe him "
Wed Mar 02, 2016 7:10 pm
" Like him or Loathe him "
By Scott Johnson
Wednesday 2nd March 2016
Like him or loathe him, Slade is undoubtedly undertaking an unenviable task at present and the least he deserves is the backing of the man who appointed him.
The release of season ticket prices for next year was also a pleasant surprise, with savings across the board plus significant reductions for children and students.
There is also a two-year price freeze if you renew early enough.
The combination of these three announcements has certainly put a spring in the step of supporters, but the key question is whether all this will result in more bums on seats.
I’m not so sure.
The two things that tend to inspire a spike in attendances is challenging for promotion or a star signing.
Cardiff are sort of flirting with the play-offs, but they do not appear equipped to achieve the consistency of the league’s big spenders.
Neither are they in a position to match them in the transfer market. Plus, there is the Slade factor.
Some object to the mere presence of Slade, while even his greatest supporters will probably concede that Cardiff are likely to remain outsiders for promotion on his watch.
His contract is up in the summer and the club will soon have a decision to make.
No, they're too inconsistent
The populist move would be to replace him, but that would be an expensive exercise.
The alternative is to extend his tenure, which would be asking for trouble but should not dissuade them if they feel it is the right decision.
I’m sceptical as to whether a new manager alone would see a rise in attendances, but we may soon find out.
All of these developments are undoubtedly positive, but distrust remains and that is the one thing that cannot be fixed with the wave of a magic wand.
It needs to be earned over time. This all helps, yet there is always the sense that there will always be a sting in the tail.
Cardiff City Stadium
RELATED: David Marshall is irreplaceable, he should not be sold to Everton at any price
The sale of Joe Mason was seemingly necessitated by the transfer ban imposed during the January transfer window.
The fear is that there may be further sales in the summer.
All Championship clubs are loss-making enterprises and the recently released accounts for the last financial year highlighted improvements, but the club is still a long way from becoming anywhere near sustainable.
In terms of improving attendances, I wonder if the cuts in ticket prices went deep enough.
For example, Huddersfield have just announced they will be offering £179 adult tickets for their first 10,000 applicants.
That represents headline news and is sure to generate substantial demand and goodwill, as would offering free children’s tickets.
Similarly, QPR wrote off their £180m debt in one hit, affording them the opportunity to start from a clean slate immediately.
Now that the ship has been steadied, we know where Cardiff are not going. Now we need to know where they are going.
What is the plan for the next 12 months, two years, five years and beyond?
They need to forge some sort of identity, on and off the pitch, that fans can identify and get on board with.
How do they plan on returning to the top flight before parachute payments run out, while the competition are spending more than ever before?
That sort of stuff.
The fact that Cardiff have given themselves a platform from which they can address these issues is fantastic, but the real hard work starts here.
They’re finally getting it right behind the scenes, hopefully the focus can now be on getting it right where it matters most: on the pitch.
By Scott Johnson
Wednesday 2nd March 2016
Like him or loathe him, Slade is undoubtedly undertaking an unenviable task at present and the least he deserves is the backing of the man who appointed him.
The release of season ticket prices for next year was also a pleasant surprise, with savings across the board plus significant reductions for children and students.
There is also a two-year price freeze if you renew early enough.
The combination of these three announcements has certainly put a spring in the step of supporters, but the key question is whether all this will result in more bums on seats.
I’m not so sure.
The two things that tend to inspire a spike in attendances is challenging for promotion or a star signing.
Cardiff are sort of flirting with the play-offs, but they do not appear equipped to achieve the consistency of the league’s big spenders.
Neither are they in a position to match them in the transfer market. Plus, there is the Slade factor.
Some object to the mere presence of Slade, while even his greatest supporters will probably concede that Cardiff are likely to remain outsiders for promotion on his watch.
His contract is up in the summer and the club will soon have a decision to make.
No, they're too inconsistent
The populist move would be to replace him, but that would be an expensive exercise.
The alternative is to extend his tenure, which would be asking for trouble but should not dissuade them if they feel it is the right decision.
I’m sceptical as to whether a new manager alone would see a rise in attendances, but we may soon find out.
All of these developments are undoubtedly positive, but distrust remains and that is the one thing that cannot be fixed with the wave of a magic wand.
It needs to be earned over time. This all helps, yet there is always the sense that there will always be a sting in the tail.
Cardiff City Stadium
RELATED: David Marshall is irreplaceable, he should not be sold to Everton at any price
The sale of Joe Mason was seemingly necessitated by the transfer ban imposed during the January transfer window.
The fear is that there may be further sales in the summer.
All Championship clubs are loss-making enterprises and the recently released accounts for the last financial year highlighted improvements, but the club is still a long way from becoming anywhere near sustainable.
In terms of improving attendances, I wonder if the cuts in ticket prices went deep enough.
For example, Huddersfield have just announced they will be offering £179 adult tickets for their first 10,000 applicants.
That represents headline news and is sure to generate substantial demand and goodwill, as would offering free children’s tickets.
Similarly, QPR wrote off their £180m debt in one hit, affording them the opportunity to start from a clean slate immediately.
Now that the ship has been steadied, we know where Cardiff are not going. Now we need to know where they are going.
What is the plan for the next 12 months, two years, five years and beyond?
They need to forge some sort of identity, on and off the pitch, that fans can identify and get on board with.
How do they plan on returning to the top flight before parachute payments run out, while the competition are spending more than ever before?
That sort of stuff.
The fact that Cardiff have given themselves a platform from which they can address these issues is fantastic, but the real hard work starts here.
They’re finally getting it right behind the scenes, hopefully the focus can now be on getting it right where it matters most: on the pitch.
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Re: " Like him or Loathe him "
Wed Mar 02, 2016 7:40 pm
Noted, no mention of Tan's input in any of the above! 
As for Slade, I respect where we are in the league, however I'm not a fan and I don't believe in the long run we will get anywhere with him in charge.
As for Slade, I respect where we are in the league, however I'm not a fan and I don't believe in the long run we will get anywhere with him in charge.
Re: " Like him or Loathe him "
Wed Mar 02, 2016 7:50 pm
Interesting read, but I'm not sure why anyone would (quote Scott Johnson) "loathe" Russell Slade; he always comes across as a decent man
And whilst we might beat his coaching prowess (in my case, his substitutions late in games) I don't believe there is still the level of vehemence towards him 'as a coach' that there once was, so (IMHO) that makes Scott Johnson's statement (quote): "The alternative is to extend his tenure, which would be asking for trouble" a little out of date!
What cannot be argued though, is that Cardiff City FC are at a crossroads and supporters need to know what the future holds for them in order to entice the so-called 'missing thousands' back and (I feel) the club are starting to that in spades!
No offence to a good Northern club, but he (Scott Johnson) mentioned Huddersfield Town's season ticket pricing; but please, please tell me Cardiff City FC are more ambitious than they are?
He (Scott Johnson) also mentioned Malaysian-owned QPR as an example of a club ridding itself of debt (might that have been the catalyst for our own Malaysian connection's surprise but welcome movements of late? ) and being 'allowed' to move on
Well, I just looked at The Championship table and (as I thought) QPR are below us in that table by 8 points; so does that mean we now have more 'room to move on' than they do? Or does it actually re-inforce the decent job that Russell Slade has actually done for Cardiff City FC in reality?
For me (and I would have laughed at the thought prior to his public rant a few weeks ago!) it is the latter. Russell Slade may well deserve another season after the stuff he's had to put up with (from hierarchy and fans) and I no longer think there would be the resistance that there would once have been!
Which, IMHO, leaves the author of the article running a little behind the state of play and possibly raising questions about whether certain questions are designed to influence/create 'outcomes' at clubs they have little or no real affinity to in order to create 'stories' that will make big news for their specific corporations
And whilst we might beat his coaching prowess (in my case, his substitutions late in games) I don't believe there is still the level of vehemence towards him 'as a coach' that there once was, so (IMHO) that makes Scott Johnson's statement (quote): "The alternative is to extend his tenure, which would be asking for trouble" a little out of date!
What cannot be argued though, is that Cardiff City FC are at a crossroads and supporters need to know what the future holds for them in order to entice the so-called 'missing thousands' back and (I feel) the club are starting to that in spades!
No offence to a good Northern club, but he (Scott Johnson) mentioned Huddersfield Town's season ticket pricing; but please, please tell me Cardiff City FC are more ambitious than they are?
He (Scott Johnson) also mentioned Malaysian-owned QPR as an example of a club ridding itself of debt (might that have been the catalyst for our own Malaysian connection's surprise but welcome movements of late?
) and being 'allowed' to move onWell, I just looked at The Championship table and (as I thought) QPR are below us in that table by 8 points; so does that mean we now have more 'room to move on' than they do? Or does it actually re-inforce the decent job that Russell Slade has actually done for Cardiff City FC in reality?
For me (and I would have laughed at the thought prior to his public rant a few weeks ago!) it is the latter. Russell Slade may well deserve another season after the stuff he's had to put up with (from hierarchy and fans) and I no longer think there would be the resistance that there would once have been!
Which, IMHO, leaves the author of the article running a little behind the state of play and possibly raising questions about whether certain questions are designed to influence/create 'outcomes' at clubs they have little or no real affinity to in order to create 'stories' that will make big news for their specific corporations
Re: " Like him or Loathe him "
Wed Mar 02, 2016 7:59 pm
Losing three strikers in Jan, having to replace them on a minuscule budget and having performances improve should get the respect of most sensible minded fans.
Re: " Like him or Loathe him "
Wed Mar 02, 2016 10:07 pm
Stopped reading at 'Scott Johnson'. 
Re: " Like him or Loathe him "
Wed Mar 02, 2016 10:26 pm
How can anyone loathe him? He's had all his strikers sold or loaned out, been managing with little support from the stands yet he's got us near the play-offs.
There's no pressure on us which can often work in a team's favour and news of the debt reduction and cheap season tickets makes it a good time to be a City fan.
What are people moaning about ffs?
There's no pressure on us which can often work in a team's favour and news of the debt reduction and cheap season tickets makes it a good time to be a City fan.
What are people moaning about ffs?
Re: " Like him or Loathe him "
Wed Mar 02, 2016 11:17 pm
Bluemellons wrote:How can anyone loathe him? He's had all his strikers sold or loaned out, been managing with little support from the stands yet he's got us near the play-offs.
There's no pressure on us which can often work in a team's favour and news of the debt reduction and cheap season tickets makes it a good time to be a City fan.
What are people moaning about ffs?
Exactly!
Other than Scott Johnson being a little behind the times, I don't see where they are moaning, which is precisely my point above!
Re: " Like him or Loathe him "
Thu Mar 03, 2016 2:09 am
I've yet to read an article by Scott Johnson that I agree with. Lazy journalism always looking to sensationalise the problems at the club.
For my money the best best commentator on all things Cardiff City is The Other Bob Wilson http://mauveandyellowarmy.net/ who offers a balanced view and is so far ahead of writers like Johnson et al
For my money the best best commentator on all things Cardiff City is The Other Bob Wilson http://mauveandyellowarmy.net/ who offers a balanced view and is so far ahead of writers like Johnson et al
Re: " Like him or Loathe him "
Thu Mar 03, 2016 3:56 am
ealing_ayatollah wrote:I've yet to read an article by Scott Johnson that I agree with. Lazy journalism always looking to sensationalise the problems at the club.
For my money the best best commentator on all things Cardiff City is The Other Bob Wilson http://mauveandyellowarmy.net/ who offers a balanced view and is so far ahead of writers like Johnson et al
Just had a look and you're right!
Re: " Like him or Loathe him "
Thu Mar 03, 2016 11:34 am
ealing_ayatollah wrote:I've yet to read an article by Scott Johnson that I agree with. Lazy journalism always looking to sensationalise the problems at the club.
For my money the best best commentator on all things Cardiff City is The Other Bob Wilson http://mauveandyellowarmy.net/ who offers a balanced view and is so far ahead of writers like Johnson et al
I think I'm right that the TOBW used to have his own article in the Echo along with 4 or 5 other City fans including Scott Johnson. They each did an article and had there own allotted day.
I don't know what the reasons where but one by one the others (including TOBW) stopped there articles and Scott Johnson was the last man standing.
It is easy to pick holes in his article but the same can be said of all of us. It's his view of things and it depends on whether that is your cup of tea or not. Personally I like his efforts (indeed I liked all of those used to write for the Echo) but I don't always agree with what he says
Re: " Like him or Loathe him "
Thu Mar 03, 2016 11:38 am
just reads like an absolute mess.
Re: " Like him or Loathe him "
Thu Mar 03, 2016 11:50 am
hes done a great job and no one can say different but I really think he's not the man to take us forward just no consistencyBluemellons wrote:How can anyone loathe him? He's had all his strikers sold or loaned out, been managing with little support from the stands yet he's got us near the play-offs.
There's no pressure on us which can often work in a team's favour and news of the debt reduction and cheap season tickets makes it a good time to be a City fan.
What are people moaning about ffs?
Re: " Like him or Loathe him "
Thu Mar 03, 2016 1:48 pm
RFMH wrote:Losing three strikers in Jan, having to replace them on a minuscule budget and having performances improve should get the respect of most sensible minded fans.
Indeed but thats partly down to his own signings of Doyle and Revell which we paid fees for.
Re: " Like him or Loathe him "
Thu Mar 03, 2016 2:49 pm
what about the money he had to bring his own inRFMH wrote:Losing three strikers in Jan, having to replace them on a minuscule budget and having performances improve should get the respect of most sensible minded fans.
Re: " Like him or Loathe him "
Thu Mar 03, 2016 10:11 pm
ealing_ayatollah wrote:I've yet to read an article by Scott Johnson that I agree with. Lazy journalism always looking to sensationalise the problems at the club.
For my money the best best commentator on all things Cardiff City is The Other Bob Wilson http://mauveandyellowarmy.net/ who offers a balanced view and is so far ahead of writers like Johnson et al
Completely agree. TOBW is always a well informed, balanced & interesting read. Easily the best writer on City and streets ahead of the guys who are actually paid to write copy by the local shitrag.
Re: " Like him or Loathe him "
Fri Mar 04, 2016 9:24 am
2blue2handle wrote:RFMH wrote:Losing three strikers in Jan, having to replace them on a minuscule budget and having performances improve should get the respect of most sensible minded fans.
Indeed but thats partly down to his own signings of Doyle and Revell which we paid fees for.
True, but he had settled on three and he got scuppered with all three of them. The fee and wages for Doyle and Revell would have probably only covered one solid player anyway. Would have been interesting is Saadi hadn't be injured.