' Russell Slades New Role & His First Task '

' Russell Slades New Role & His First Task '

By Steve Tucker

Sunday 8th May 2016

Russell Slade moves into his new role as Head of Football now and his first task will be to work out what the hell his role is anyway?

Following the Birmingham game, Slade himself seemed to have little clue as to what it will entail, the new head coach, who will oversee the first team next campaign, will not report to him, so what will Slade’s purpose be?


Slade sort of hinted he would be heavily involved in the recruiting of new players, but that seems utterly ludicrous. Of all the talents Slade has, like motivating players and setting up teams to be hard to beat, the signing of fresh talent seems to be the thing he is actually worst at, based on his time in Cardiff. We are talking about a guy who bought Alex Revell and not only that, he played Revell, loads of times as if having no notion of the old truism that the definitive sign of madness is to keep doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.

You can’t help feeling Slade is being put out to pasture really, it’s as if Vincent Tan is so indebted to the financial prudence Slade has brought in that he can’t actually bring himself to get rid.


I fail to see why that should be the case. Slade’s time at Cardiff, while hardly a thrill a minute, will not have harmed his reputation. In fact, it will have enhanced it, so why does he not look to become manager elsewhere?

One gets the feeling that if a job does come up that suits Slade, the Bluebirds might not have a Head of Football for too long.

And what of the new Head Coach?
Sure, working under a director of football or something is not that unusual, but who wants to come into Cardiff and work under Slade? Indeed, who wants to come to Cardiff and work under Tan, more to the point? Perhaps Slade’s role will be to act as a buffer between new man and owner and, if that’s the case, he might actually be very good at it.


What is hoped is the new man brings at least some levels of excitement and verve to Cardiff. Let’s be honest, you would not exactly describe Slade’s time in charge as a roller coaster ride, more a steady trip on a pedalo over a calm, flat lake of mediocrity.

When you look at the side itself, the new man will surely need to make some major adjustments. The good news is the transfer embargo has been lifted, but what is not known is if there will actually be any money to spend in the summer anyway.


A striker, two strikers, indeed, are needed. Real ones who can put the ball in the net and don’t disappear on loan to Port Vale within two months. But surely the real area that needs attention is midfield. In the middle of the park the Bluebirds have never really convinced, another legacy from Slade to be noted in the history books and hopefully put right.

This appointment now is critical, the right man, at the right club at the right time. The record of the Bluebirds’ hierarchy in appointing new managers is far from impressive, so this time they have to get things perfect.

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That was a brilliant article, why o why did he have to spoil it with the striker/loaned out/2months/Port Vale part

Typical Tucker hyperbole.

The head coach does not report to the head of football, its the CEO like the head of football.

The head of football is not in charge of recruitment, the committee is, which i guess the head coach is part of.

My guess is Slade has numerous roles but will be part of the seal the deal team with the CEO. This is where Vinnny has been stiffed before, two trusted lieutenants.

Our youth system or scouting network needs organising. IMO this is the head of footballs main role. It doesn't matter if you are a 1980's footballing luddite, when you see a 10 year potential Rambo you need him in the system and the parents on side. 99% of our kids don't make it, but if you can get the quality up that may drop to 97% and that makes us fortunes.

There is a role for Russ. I agree with the article above.
The youth setup needs sorting,as does the scouting system.
Newport County have produced more quality young players than we have in the last couple years.
It is time for change ,however lets not forget we got to 8th with no strikers.
The transfer embargo cost us big time.
The one striker Russ signed who looked decent was Tony Watt and he got away.

RS first task is to move players out Choo says this in his interview and he said this process has already started. Slade may be gone, or moved sideways is more accurate, but austerity is still ongoing at Cardiff City.

Does raise the question "How many are going to be sold and what happens to the money raised".

RS first task is to move players out Choo says this in his interview and he said this process has already started. Slade may be gone, or moved sideways is more accurate, but austerity is still ongoing at Cardiff City.

Does raise the question "How many are going to be sold and what happens to the money raised".

With hardly any of the big earners out of contract, a load of players coming back off loan and another £8m coming off the budget with the parachute payments being cut, it's a bigger and more important job than most realise.

There needs to be a lot shipped out before any come in.

Big summer.

If we can move out the majority who aren't contributing, or not justifying their wages and replace them with a handful of quality, hungry players we can do well.

If the only interest is in players we want to keep ( Marshall, Ralls, Pilkington, Connolly for a start) then we are in trouble

One other thing, we need to be doing business early as well, no hanging on until the last minute and ending up having to do deals which don't suit and taking players in who aren't fit .

Get the majority sorted by the end of June

His transfer dealings have been awful, he hasn't once played a youth player and he's blamed his players when his own tactics have been questionable. Really cant see why the glub have given him an advisory role.

He might have managed 700 games but what has he really won in those 700?

Yesterdays team selection is the final straw for me!!

This is a role the club needed for some time and I'm sure Russ will do a good job.

RS first task is to move players out Choo says this in his interview and he said this process has already started. Slade may be gone, or moved sideways is more accurate, but austerity is still ongoing at Cardiff City.

Does raise the question "How many are going to be sold and what happens to the money raised".

With hardly any of the big earners out of contract, a load of players coming back off loan and another £8m coming off the budget with the parachute payments being cut, it's a bigger and more important job than most realise.

There needs to be a lot shipped out before any come in.

Big summer.

If we can move out the majority who aren't contributing, or not justifying their wages and replace them with a handful of quality, hungry players we can do well.

If the only interest is in players we want to keep ( Marshall, Ralls, Pilkington, Connolly for a start) then we are in trouble

Your absolutely right this is going to be a massive summer and if this years squad cost £28m to assemble I wonder what the cost of next seasons will be.

How does it go. Hmmmmmm

RS first task is to move players out Choo says this in his interview and he said this process has already started. Slade may be gone, or moved sideways is more accurate, but austerity is still ongoing at Cardiff City.

Does raise the question "How many are going to be sold and what happens to the money raised".

With hardly any of the big earners out of contract, a load of players coming back off loan and another £8m coming off the budget with the parachute payments being cut, it's a bigger and more important job than most realise.

There needs to be a lot shipped out before any come in.

Big summer.

If we can move out the majority who aren't contributing, or not justifying their wages and replace them with a handful of quality, hungry players we can do well.

If the only interest is in players we want to keep ( Marshall, Ralls, Pilkington, Connolly for a start) then we are in trouble

Excellent posts.

It makes perfect sense IMO to have someone who is charged with cutting the squad size down and getting big earners off the books. Whilst the extra burden on Slade doing this and coaching the first team can't be blamed fully for our play-off failure, it certainly couldn't have helped.

I can see Fabio and Dikgacoi being encouraged to move on for sure.

I'm sure he'll be a success. LOL

This is a role the club needed for some time and I'm sure Russ will do a good job.

Agree - Spot On - Glad to see how things have worked out for Slade.

RS first task is to move players out Choo says this in his interview and he said this process has already started. Slade may be gone, or moved sideways is more accurate, but austerity is still ongoing at Cardiff City.

Does raise the question "How many are going to be sold and what happens to the money raised".

With hardly any of the big earners out of contract, a load of players coming back off loan and another £8m coming off the budget with the parachute payments being cut, it's a bigger and more important job than most realise.

There needs to be a lot shipped out before any come in.

Big summer.

If we can move out the majority who aren't contributing, or not justifying their wages and replace them with a handful of quality, hungry players we can do well.

If the only interest is in players we want to keep ( Marshall, Ralls, Pilkington, Connolly for a start) then we are in trouble

Excellent posts.

It makes perfect sense IMO to have someone who is charged with cutting the squad size down and getting big earners off the books. Whilst the extra burden on Slade doing this and coaching the first team can't be blamed fully for our play-off failure, it certainly couldn't have helped.

I can see Fabio and Dikgacoi being encouraged to move on for sure.

I think it's more important to get rid of the dross that Slade has bought and sent on loan along with the others. Some of these are due back now and a big saving can be made on wages alone.
I've always been one for keeping our best players if we have any ambition of promotion - if that's the case next season - players like Marshall & Manga.

Im hoping its more of a role for Tan to keep face, I read something about him being the link between the sister clubs, seems logical, some kind of link between Tan and the footballing sides of his clubs.

I just hope he has no influence over any of the playing side.
Would be a bit odd him being in charge of scouting and youth as his signings where average and he hardly used any youth players.