If we go for Rowberry or Nicholson etc

[thehumblegringo]

Then I believe the club are just looking for someone they can control.

It will show me that we have learned nothing as a club and are in for more heartache.

If the club are going down the continental route then they need to hire a proper director of football who oversee the running of the football side of the club.

There is no way Slade or Dalman or Choo are capable of forwarding a vision for this football club.

I would love to see Glenn Hoddle in this role. I think his understanding of the game has always been one step ahead of this country.

Failing that I'd like to see Osian Roberts given the role.

There are some great candidates available for us as manager at present and I hope our club don't do the inevitable and **** it up as usual.

[CCFC CASUAL]

My old man, who is not a city fan, was taking the piss out of Ken Choo earlier.
He said "Who's that bloke running Cardiff. He hasn't got a clue" he said he was on the radio Tuesday night and said we will only sign players who can run fast and anyone who cannot run fast will be sold. I don't know if this is true or not and wether he did say it. I thought he was just winding me up cos he knows I'm a Whitts fan.
However I've just seen a thread on the dark side saying the same thing?!??

I'm all for injecting some pace in the team but they have to be able to play as well.
Not every position needs blistering pace. Joey Barton has been top class for Burnley this year and he isn't going to break any sprinting records.

[Trigger]

I see what Ken Choo is getting at, all about pace abusing like in Fifa.

[Blue in the Face]

Hoddle or Roberts in the DOF role would be the dream. I've been thinking that perhaps Roberts might have had a say in the past about coaches coming to our club as a couple have been tutored by him. Though I would want someone separate, a specialist, negotiating transfers, fees and contracts etc.

It might be that some other club will offer Slade a manager opportunity at some point. I think he's thought more highly of by people who aren't Cardiff fans. Keeping him for the short term will go some way to repair our image as a fair employer. Nobody came out well with the Malky sacking and the investigations into private messages.

I really haven't been at all impressed by Nicholson in interviews. Seems to talk in cliches and he needs to learn to be his own man. He won't be our next head coach anyway I'm sure.

The Rowberry press leak is likely a tactic to help negotiate good terms for the candidate we really want. This rumour though has raised his profile and could bode well for his Cardiff future further down the line.

[the other bob wilson]

Jason Perry spoke of Osian Roberts a lot last night and I couldn't help but agree with him because, when you think about it, he's involved with Wales at senior level all the way down to the Under 15s. He also said that bringing a Warnock or a Pulis in would mean that you'd have a manager who might be good for getting us promoted, but would put very little emphasis on youth development (which we are told will be a requirement under the new system). Jason said that need not be a problem if someone was in place committed to bringing through young players who could be presented to the manager every now and again as being ready for first team football - he said the lack of young players breaking into the first team in recent years has to be down to one of two things;-
1. The players aren't good enough.
or
2. The system is failing.

[Lawnmower]

My old man, who is not a city fan, was taking the piss out of Ken Choo earlier.
He said "Who's that bloke running Cardiff. He hasn't got a clue" he said he was on the radio Tuesday night and said we will only sign players who can run fast and anyone who cannot run fast will be sold. I don't know if this is true or not and wether he did say it. I thought he was just winding me up cos he knows I'm a Whitts fan.
However I've just seen a thread on the dark side saying the same thing?!??

I'm all for injecting some pace in the team but they have to be able to play as well.
Not every position needs blistering pace. Joey Barton has been top class for Burnley this year and he isn't going to break any sprinting records.

Was this alleged comment before or after we announced the permanent signing of lightning Immers ?

[Lawnmower]

Then I believe the club are just looking for someone they can control.

It will show me that we have learned nothing as a club and are in for more heartache.

If the club are going down the continental route then they need to hire a proper director of football who oversee the running of the football side of the club.

There is no way Slade or Dalman or Choo are capable of forwarding a vision for this football club.

I would love to see Glenn Hoddle in this role. I think his understanding of the game has always been one step ahead of this country.

Failing that I'd like to see Osian Roberts given the role.

There are some great candidates available for us as manager at present and I hope our club don't do the inevitable and **** it up as usual.

I thought you'd be pleased that coaches who are likely to have some knowledge and interest in our youth set up are in the frame ?

[surge]

I don't think we should dismiss any manager based on their name and league when we've recently seen an ex-physio get promoted to the premier league, an ex-youth manager survive in the top division playing some of the most attractive football and a man sacked after losing to the Faroe Islands winning the thing. There are indicators (which may be misleading) of how good a fit the person may be but there were reasons Slade wasn't right beyond the fact that he came from a lower league.

Am I the only one who would rather see Osian Roberts stay in the Welsh system rather than come over to the club side where 3 years makes you one of the longest serving?

[Ray McStay]

My old man, who is not a city fan, was taking the piss out of Ken Choo earlier.
He said "Who's that bloke running Cardiff. He hasn't got a clue" he said he was on the radio Tuesday night and said we will only sign players who can run fast and anyone who cannot run fast will be sold. I don't know if this is true or not and wether he did say it. I thought he was just winding me up cos he knows I'm a Whitts fan.
However I've just seen a thread on the dark side saying the same thing?!??

I'm all for injecting some pace in the team but they have to be able to play as well.
Not every position needs blistering pace. Joey Barton has been top class for Burnley this year and he isn't going to break any sprinting records.

Yes, he 100% did say that (I think it was on last Friday when Chris Wathan was on there). Choo basically saying he wants to copy Leicester with fast players and lots of energy. And the said, anyone who can't run to a certain level 'will be out'.

[the other bob wilson]

I don't think we should dismiss any manager based on their name and league when we've recently seen an ex-physio get promoted to the premier league, an ex-youth manager survive in the top division playing some of the most attractive football and a man sacked after losing to the Faroe Islands winning the thing. There are indicators (which may be misleading) of how good a fit the person may be but there were reasons Slade wasn't right beyond the fact that he came from a lower league.

Am I the only one who would rather see Osian Roberts stay in the Welsh system rather than come over to the club side where 3 years makes you one of the longest serving?

Agree completely. Although I would say that I've always felt that Slade displayed what I'll call a lower league mentality at times which surfaced because he had doubts himself, in his first season especially, as to whether he truly belonged at this level. However, I'm sure there'd be other managers from League One and Two (or lower) who would feel they belonged in the Championship right from day one and would rise to the challenge rather than back away from it - it would have more to do with the character of the individual rather than the level they've managed at.

I can see where you're coming from with Osian Roberts, but, if Wales do well in the Euros, I think both he and Chris Coleman will be in demand when it comes to club football and, that being the case, I think he'd be an ideal fit for City.

[Vindec]

Encouraging youth would be the ideal scenario but grooming players from a young age to form the majority of a first team rarely works. The occasional player might get into the first team but rarely will you see a team made up of players who have been with a club since their pre teen years.

The reality is that supporters are more interested in performance and results. As soon as a team full of players developed by a club begins losing there will be those decrying the club for not spending money and lacking ambition. And what manager will hold onto his job by developing a team made up mainly of youngsters that keeps losing?

We haven't many self developed players who have made it into the first team on a regular or semi regular basis. Many posters on here keep going on about Declan John asking why he isn't in the first team and that he is better than current incumbents. Really? He was loaned out to Barnsley and Chesterfield and didn't exactly excel. John is not a good defender, is not quick and is easily knocked off the ball. Frankly he is not good enough but the fact he is young and developed by the club seems to have generated a following amongst some supporters. If our ambitions are to groom players and a team only good enough for League 1 where does that leave us? Certainly not challenging for promotion to the Premier League which is the only way Tan will recover his massive investment.

It seems to me that the ownership of the club wants the unachievable. Will a young manager who can develop local talent really get us into the Premier League in a timescale that will ensure the owner can get some of his money back which surely is the ultimate aim for Vincent Tan? Some clear thinking is required. In my view young players with a young manager will not get us there in the foreseeable future and certainly not in a timescale within the natural life of any manager. If Vincent Tan wants his money back he will have a better chance with experienced players guided by an experienced manager who has operated at a higher level than Slade or has at least had some success in his career unlike the present incumbent.

We have experimented with a rookie manager in the form of OGS and with a lower league manager in the form of Slade who supposedly could pick up bargains from Leagues 1 and 2 and both have failed. What next? Frankly I don't know but to pick a manager because he is young and is likely to be easily manipulated by the owner and Chief Executive is not necessarily the way to go if promotion is a requirement. An experienced and older manager would have the ability to stand up to those who control the club (who we know have little experience of football) and at least get across the fact that self developed players could not form the nucleus of a squad and would in any case take many years to achieve.

[the other bob wilson]

Encouraging youth would be the ideal scenario but grooming players from a young age to form the majority of a first team rarely works. The occasional player might get into the first team but rarely will you see a team made up of players who have been with a club since their pre teen years.

The reality is that supporters are more interested in performance and results. As soon as a team full of players developed by a club begins losing there will be those decrying the club for not spending money and lacking ambition. And what manager will hold onto his job by developing a team made up mainly of youngsters that keeps losing?

We haven't many self developed players who have made it into the first team on a regular or semi regular basis. Many posters on here keep going on about Declan John asking why he isn't in the first team and that he is better than current incumbents. Really? He was loaned out to Barnsley and Chesterfield and didn't exactly excel. John is not a good defender, is not quick and is easily knocked off the ball. Frankly he is not good enough but the fact he is young and developed by the club seems to have generated a following amongst some supporters. If our ambitions are to groom players and a team only good enough for League 1 where does that leave us? Certainly not challenging for promotion to the Premier League which is the only way Tan will recover his massive investment.

It seems to me that the ownership of the club wants the unachievable. Will a young manager who can develop local talent really get us into the Premier League in a timescale that will ensure the owner can get some of his money back which surely is the ultimate aim for Vincent Tan? Some clear thinking is required. In my view young players with a young manager will not get us there in the foreseeable future and certainly not in a timescale within the natural life of any manager. If Vincent Tan wants his money back he will have a better chance with experienced players guided by an experienced manager who has operated at a higher level than Slade or has at least had some success in his career unlike the present incumbent.

We have experimented with a rookie manager in the form of OGS and with a lower league manager in the form of Slade who supposedly could pick up bargains from Leagues 1 and 2 and both have failed. What next? Frankly I don't know but to pick a manager because he is young and is likely to be easily manipulated by the owner and Chief Executive is not necessarily the way to go if promotion is a requirement. An experienced and older manager would have the ability to stand up to those who control the club (who we know have little experience of football) and at least get across the fact that self developed players could not form the nucleus of a squad and would in any case take many years to achieve.

I'll never forget Sam Hammam saying that the aim should be to have one Academy player making it into the first team squad per season when it was first opened - there's plenty I'd take issue with him about, but that has always struck me as a sensible approach - I agree that packing a side full of youngsters could be more dangerous than the no youngsters at all Slade philosophy, but it got ridiculous when he was in charge, as in almost everything, the way to go is somewhere between the two extremes.

As for Declan John, I've been watching him regularly at all levels for City for about five years now and he is, undisputedly, quicker than most of the other players in the team he plays for - I think he has good pace, but all I can say for sure is that is that he compares favourably when it comes to pace with some of those who have been picked in front of him in the last two seasons.

Last night at the Trust AGM, Rob Phillips said he has a journalist friend from Sheffield whose paper covers Chesterfield matches and he told Rob that they were very upset that Declan's loan with them was terminated because he was playing so well for them.

When Declan was playing Premier League football for us as a teenager, it was obvious that he could be found out defensively at times, but if you're telling me that this means that he should be virtually ignored at a lower level (and at a time when his game should be developing) for the next two seasons by the manager appointed after the two who had no problems with starting him in the senior team, then I'd disagree with you - Declan's career has gone nowhere while Slade was in charge and the fact that this can be said about plenty of other players of the same age at the club should stand as an indictment against our, thankfully, former manager.

[thehumblegringo]

Encouraging youth would be the ideal scenario but grooming players from a young age to form the majority of a first team rarely works. The occasional player might get into the first team but rarely will you see a team made up of players who have been with a club since their pre teen years.

The reality is that supporters are more interested in performance and results. As soon as a team full of players developed by a club begins losing there will be those decrying the club for not spending money and lacking ambition. And what manager will hold onto his job by developing a team made up mainly of youngsters that keeps losing?

We haven't many self developed players who have made it into the first team on a regular or semi regular basis. Many posters on here keep going on about Declan John asking why he isn't in the first team and that he is better than current incumbents. Really? He was loaned out to Barnsley and Chesterfield and didn't exactly excel. John is not a good defender, is not quick and is easily knocked off the ball. Frankly he is not good enough but the fact he is young and developed by the club seems to have generated a following amongst some supporters. If our ambitions are to groom players and a team only good enough for League 1 where does that leave us? Certainly not challenging for promotion to the Premier League which is the only way Tan will recover his massive investment.

It seems to me that the ownership of the club wants the unachievable. Will a young manager who can develop local talent really get us into the Premier League in a timescale that will ensure the owner can get some of his money back which surely is the ultimate aim for Vincent Tan? Some clear thinking is required. In my view young players with a young manager will not get us there in the foreseeable future and certainly not in a timescale within the natural life of any manager. If Vincent Tan wants his money back he will have a better chance with experienced players guided by an experienced manager who has operated at a higher level than Slade or has at least had some success in his career unlike the present incumbent.

We have experimented with a rookie manager in the form of OGS and with a lower league manager in the form of Slade who supposedly could pick up bargains from Leagues 1 and 2 and both have failed. What next? Frankly I don't know but to pick a manager because he is young and is likely to be easily manipulated by the owner and Chief Executive is not necessarily the way to go if promotion is a requirement. An experienced and older manager would have the ability to stand up to those who control the club (who we know have little experience of football) and at least get across the fact that self developed players could not form the nucleus of a squad and would in any case take many years to achieve.


Though I don't necessarily agree with all your points there mate you do raise some very valid issues.

I agree that we should not be going from one extreme to another but nevertheless I'm a firm believer that if I player is not given an opportunity when he is excelling at a young age you are hampering his development.

Two players I will mention are Tutonda and Oshilaja. These players should at least be given game time against the likes of Shrewsbury in the cup.
They should also be used in pre season to see if they can make the grade.

Unfortunately Slade had no interest in doing this and was only thinking week to week.

Now I think Patten is capable of doing every bit as well as Gunnarsson has done in the last few season for a lot less money too but if he's never given the chance we won't know.

I don't see the point of having an u21s if we're not even gonna attempt to nurture these players.

One other thing I will add is that just cos Ole and Slade failed to come good in securing lower league and young players it doesn't mean we should take the attitude of once bitten twice shy.