Playing the fortune teller a bit here and setting myself up, but what the hell, here goes. I wonder which will be put forward as the cause when we get turned over by Rotherham on Tuesday - and I've a feeling we will be. We'll doubtless be told by Slade how much we missed Whitts on the night, others will say we're just missing the wit of a competent manager. I don't get this guy at all. It's not just the bland figure he cuts in interviews, it's his non acceptance of the problems we can all see and his reluctance (inability?) to change. That particularly applies during a game, but our shape on the pitch is always defined by the players he sends out to start. What's worse is that when things aren't working, he insists on changing players rather than the system. It's been said many times before, this guy can't think on his feet and has no plan B. The Wigan win was another false dawn like the Fulham game after which we suffered 4 defeats on the bounce including the Reading cup game. Those two wins bought him some breathing space at the time but to be brutal, I reckon we barely deserved a point at Wigan let alone all 3. I doubt Slade will last beyond the end of the season, though sadly I think we're stuck with him until then. The belief that we seem unlikely to suffer relegation because of other poor sides in the division will allow him to see the season out. I just hope a loss at Rotherham or even two with the Charlton game coming up as well, doesn't make that "3 other worse clubs" safety assumption look flawed.
DJ was berated for his persistence with 442, but he made it work more often than not. MM was also stubborn, but both had more n their little finger than Slade. Switching my focus to the oval ball for an hour or two now.
Let's see how we go at Rotherham without Whittingham. A chance for someone to take his position, and do well to ensure that Whittingham spends some time on the bench.
While accepting Whitts has not been the player he was, both for this and much of last season, my concern with his absence is that we have no one else with his ball retention and passing skills. The obvious replacements, Adeyemi and Ralls, are different types of players. I agree we performed with more purpose after his red Saturday but in reality we were just hoofing the ball forward and chasing after it. If Slade wants that then go for it but surely that style has been something we have all been moaning about this season and quite rightly. Yes, we will get more effort from Adeyemi but I have reservations regarding his skill levels and Ralls looks okay from time to time but fades in games and has no real pace. He seems to get lost in no mans' land quite often. In fact, I see Ralls coming through in the position he played at Wigan, left back. I think he can make his mark there where I do not see it elsewhere. As ever I hope I am wrong as that will be for the good of the team but I have to call it as I see it. I would go for a 4 - 5 - 1 at Rotherham with Gunnar, Ralls and Adeyemi and Noone (who didn't have a bad game Saturday) and Kennedy or McAleny on the other side - or even Kadeem Harris if fit. KWJ up top to start with Doyle (who must score soon for all our sakes) and Revell off the bench.
You cant beat a bit of experience in the side like whitts. He may be coming to the end of his time but he can still do the business...
I realise I'm saying this with the perspective of us having appointed a complete rookie, but when I saw that Russell Slade was appointed as your manager, it felt a bit like a lack of ambition. That said, people can step up to the mark, but recent results are not encouraging. He really needs to get the players organised or there's a real risk of the current form continuing.
20-20 hindsight is wonderful, but Monk does seem to have been an inspired choice. However, your complete rookie was known to the management and had the swans ethos instilled in him so was a calculated risk. Our highly experienced manager (700+ games at the helm) had a proven track record of joining clubs in the lower leagues and keeping them there! Continued shrewd stewardship by the swans board, usual erratic choices in Cardiff.
Looks like Jones to be rested and Revell up front. Too much to ask to play Mcelny and Doyle and try to pass it on the deck i suppose. I think id rather Phil Neal back.
Yes - it looks like Slade is going to "unleash" Revell on them tonight. As far as passing it on the deck is concerned, Slade hasn't got to page 2 of the manual yet.
