Carl Curtis : Small steps to success

http://www.cardiffcityforum.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=149902

Russell Slade must be given credit for what he has achieved in such a short space of time, three wins from four games is better than most could have expected considering how we were playing before Ole left the club.

What Slade has done is not rocket science but nevertheless he has done what we were all calling for, consistency.

Consistency in not just results but consistency in selection, formation and tactics.

The players have belief in what they are doing, it is not going to click overnight and we will not become world beaters with this strategy either but we will be more difficult to beat than previously this season.

The first half was a drab affair with neither side really creating any clear cut chances, we needed to step it up, raise the tempo and get the fans behind the team.

I was surprised to see Pilkington replaced by Joe Ralls at the start of the second half, I don’t remember Pilkington picking up a knock so I can only assume it was a tactical change.

From the kick off in the second half City went at Leeds and were playing the possession football further up the pitch than we did in the first half.

Leeds are a poor team in all honesty, though they did score a very good team goal, but overall the Bluebirds deserved their victory.

Slade has identified the obvious and glaring problems at Cardiff and he has addressed them immediately, fitness levels are improving, we are becoming stronger defensively and we now have consistency to the starting eleven, Macheda is scoring goals and gaining belief, Noone is more effective as each game passes and Le Fondre is working his socks off and is somewhat of an unsung hero.

The biggest improvement is defensively though, we dod not look the shaky outfit we were just a few games ago, Morrison is reading the game and he is not a  talking point of our game which highlights he is going about his business in a quiet but effective manner, he is reading the game and making the challenges with little fuss.

But the stand out player this afternoon and a player who is quickly becoming a fan’s favourite is ‘Frank’ Bruno Manga, he is a wall in the heart of the defence, he looks unfazed by anything that happens, he took his goal superb today and his beaming smile was more evidence of a player and team who are finally enjoying their football.

It is not all done and dusted and there is a whole lot more that this squad can achieve, the football can be better and in the medium to long term I hope that it does improve as City fans will want to see entertaining football as well as positive results but in the short term, Russell Slade has done as much as we could expect any manager to achieve.

Three wins from three at home is the perfect start and a foundation to build from, respect to Slade, the coaches and the players and with two away games at teams struggling near the foot of the table I really do believe we will get our first away win of the season.

Small steps but positive steps are being taken and today, in particular the second half, was as enjoyable as any other this season.

I am looking forward to Tuesday and travelling to Bolton, I expect Slade will freshen it up a little bit, with Kenwyne Jones and Ravel Morrison vying for starting places.