Interesting view by Leyton Orient fan on Russell Slade

Russell Slade
http://www.cardiffcityforum.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=148090
by OrientFan » Sun Sep 21, 2014 12:41 am(From this Forum).

Given James Masters has reported that there’s interest from both our ends I would take that as gospel, was bang on the money about our pre season signings and the first to report Slade was not being sacked after our draw at Notts County.

Slade has done a good job here at Orient. Saved us from the drop when he came in, and in three of his four full seasons we’ve achieved a top ten finish, working with a relatively small squad and without spending a transfer fee. The football in general has been attractive, last season we got to the play off final playing some fantastic stuff.

He seems to excel at man management, a trademark of his Orient teams has been a fantastic team spirit – he was meticulous with his signings this season, trying to bring in players who will compliment the team spirit.

True, we have not started off as well as we’d have liked, but his record this season in all competitions reads W. 4, D.5, L.2, including a win at Villa Park; hardly sack worthy. The fans, and the squad it would seem are 100% behind him, the only reason for a managerial change is that we have been taken over by Francesco Becchetti, a billionaire who in all likelihood wants his own man in charge. The fact we’re talking about sacking Slade is ludicrous.

A few seasons ago Barnsley came in for him when they sacked Robins, but Barry Hearn turned down the approach. The only reason he hasn’t managed in the Championship is that he hasn’t had the opportunity, in my mind he would be more than fine. League One manager of the season twice, taking us and Yeovil to play off finals when in reality we were both competing against teams with larger budgets around us; it comes down to fine lines. If we’ve beaten Rotherham on penalties in the play off final last season, he’d be a Championship manager. If Yeovil had beaten Blackpool (after they knocked out Forest in two legs), he’d be a Championship manager.

I hope he doesn’t go to Cardiff, he is statistically our best manager in the last 40 years and the most popular I have seen. If he does best of luck to him and yourselves for the season, I think he has earned a shot at the Championship.