Who is really deciding ?
‘ WHO IS REALLY DECIDING ON THE LOANS ? ‘
By Carl Curtis
Russell Slade was roundly criticised by fans after the defeat to Derby County on Saturday after claiming in his post match press conference that we were limited in attacking options.
I understand why fans couldn’t believe that Slade had made such a claim when he has a plethora of strikers out on loan at other clubs, or injured or released.
Adam Le Fondre and Eoin Doyle are at Wolves and Preston respectively,
Rhys Healey is on loan at Dundee until January 3rd, 2016 but is currently injured and unlikely to play for the Scottish club again before the loan deal expires.
Etien Velikonja is on a season-long loan deal to Lierse S.K.
Kadeem Harris loan deal at Barnsley ended on Nov 22nd.
Rayo Vallecano signed Javi Guerra after the striker was out of favour at City.
Kiko Macheda is on the road to recovery after a long absence injured.
Idriss Saadi is injured and unlikely to see first team action until after the turn of the year.
Slade’s comments raised questions obviously, especially because Alex Revell was loaned out to Wigan despite the club only having two recognised strikers fit at the time in Kenwyne Jones and Joe Mason.
Even though I think it safe to say that Revell was not a favourite of the fans, he certainly had the backing of Slade, he played him regularly and went in the press to defend Revell earlier this season, claiming fans didn’t understand what the striker brought to the team.
So when Slade made his post match comments of a lack of attacking options I questioned why he made such a remark when you consider the list of players released for loan by the club.
Is Slade that naive to make such a comment ?
I don’t think he is.
I cannot believe that Russell Slade gave up on a striker he obviously rates so easily, I suspect that Slade may have been told to loan Revell out.
So were Slade’s comments an attempt to force the powers that be to back the manager with a signing or two ?
I believe they were.
I cannot accept that anyone would have made those comments without an ulterior motive, I really do think that Russell Slade said it because he was not happy with the situation.