http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/cardiff-city-boss-russell-slade-8951740 So Slade has identified his targets, will be looking to shed more high earners, but will/does have a budget. First thing I take from that is they've accepted this years 'performance' as good enough to leave Slade in place. Not surprising, perhaps, but the fact he knows a budget and is actively planning suggests he's had his position for next season pretty much confirmed. In fairness there has been an improvement of sorts in recent weeks so maybe it would be harsh to sack him after letting him survive the terrible run of results and form we suffered under him. The big earners will be interesting, Dikagcoi, has already be quite correctly highlighted but unless Slim fast are looking for a new before/after project I can't see many queuing up to take on his wages. It's more likely to be the high earners we actually want to keep (from a football pov) that will be in demand. Manga, Marshall, Whitts, Macheda (..........), Alf, Pilks are probably some of the better paid members of the squad. They're also the players we need to keep if we're going to challenge the top end of the table next season. I've worked on the assumption KWJ has already left. Lose them and replace with budget replacements and we could be in all sorts of trouble. However if we can only lose 1 or 2 whilst adding more along the lines of Kennedy on a budget and we could be challenging for the playoffs as Slade suggests. That leads me onto...... Here we are 1 year on from relegation from the richest league in the world. All the money from that 1 season plus parachute payments in the 'kitty' (I'm more than aware of our massive debt issues). Should we be in a position where we're rebuilding in attempt to challenge the play off positions? Who's to blame? Finally if it plays out the way Slade is suggesting and we lose a few, gain a few cheaper replacements do you think we'll be contenders next season?
All more or less as expected with Slade being VT's appointment and relegation again having been avoided. Whether or not we become contenders next season depends very much on which of our better players we keep, the quality of whoever comes in and the ability of the management to provide the tactics, motivation and bollockings where needed. The fans can also be a major help. Start well, with football to encourage us and they will have our backing. new season, fresh start, clean sheet and all that. With KWJ gone, the last 7 games of this season must surely be a great opportunity for the whole squad to show their commitment by finishing well and gaining a top 10 finish that a few months ago we were thinking would never happen. The likes of Ralls, Kennedy, Adeyemi, Harris, Mason and Healey must push for starting places and demonstrate they can be part of a much better 2015/16. Btw, I've renewed my st for next season.
Still can't understand why there was a such a dramatic change of direction at the club when Solskjaer went after just 7 league games. It was far too early to give up on this year, and the investment made in the close season on players like the £10M on Manga and Morrison in particular, and also refusing to sell Marshall for less than our valuation would suggest we were all set to go for it. Then 7 games in it all kicked off. Ole actually walked if you believe the transcripts - should that actually tell us something of Tan's real intent? Then we had a bizarre 4 game directionless interlude under Young and Gabbidon who were eventually replaced by Slade after the Blackpool debacle. I suspect Slade was brought in to oversee the conversion of our squad from so called title contenders to Championship also rans through cost cutting measures. I doubt there were many (if any) managers out there, especially Pulis, who would have come here on those terms - no wonder Tan didn't want to speak to him. But why go down that road after so few games having brought in and also kept players of sufficient calibre to challenge for promotion this year? As for Slade himself, I'm not changing my opinion yet despite the recent better results. The Brentford win and Bournemouth draw were battling performances but hardly inspirational. The win over Brum was welcome but they were one of, if not the poorest team I've seen at the CCS this season. Remember the Charlton game that preceded those - what a hopeless managerial performance that was. With these noises being made, there seems no doubt that Slade will start next season, though the summer window will tell us an awful lot about the ambition of the club with or without him.
Sparks - My view is that OGS had lost the plot if he ever had it. He had certainly lost the team who were totally confused by his ideas and tactics - or lack of them. Slade appeared to come in and give some organisation, direction and improved fitness - which was sadly lacking. However, he then started to fall into a black hole and was only pulled out by Trollope's appointment. There does seem to be a bit more about the club over the last month. You are absolutely right in your comments regarding the summer window and with KWJ gone the team and style he uses for the rest of this season may also give us a hint.
the summer buys will hopefully justify buying a season ticket......if not my money will stay in my pocket
How can Slade presume he will be manager next season? The first thing I would do on 3 May is sack him. (I have renewed incidentally)
Steve You can take the boy out of the City but you can't take the City out of the boy. We have all lived through a lot worse than this. It has been brought sharply into focus by our "year in the sun", mis-management on a grand scale and the desire to keep hold of "shiny and precious things". Now where have I heard that last one before? Despite all our concerns and criticisms most of us retain a massive loyalty to the club.
with the way we've treated a lot of our better players (played out of position, suddenly out on loan) I doubt we'll attract any higher end players. More looking down for bargains than looking up for quality. We've been there before and it may suit us better. It does make you wonder what is going on in the board room though.
The interactive seating plan on the City website is interesting - shows the (huge number) of seats available for renewal. But it's confirmed what I already knew................. no room for me to spread out again next season BfB
Surely there are empty seats on Row F where you can go and expand to your heart's content. Perhaps the catering should have a shortage of pies more often!!!
