What has Happened

Much to my shame, I have just seen that my last contribution on here was last August! Well, time flies.

Anyway, I just posted what follows on CCMB so I thought I'd put it on here to compare reactions.

By the way, I have been reading posts here on a regular basis - honest!


WHAT HAS HAPPENED

There have been suggestions on this site that Tuesday the 19th February was a turning point in the history of Cardiff City, because the fans wore red.

So that you know where the author of this piece is coming from, I will set out my CV.

First game, at the age of 7, 11th November 1961, Tapscott 2, beat Sheffield Wednesday 2-1. (I have always known the score and the opposition, but I only know the statistics, including the goalscorer, from the books).

I have supported us ever since; I remember my scarf being stolen from around my neck by a Charlton supporter, and being thumped by a Chelsea fan who was being ejected from the ground as he was being taken out, and this was only at Ninian Park! In fact I had my scarf stolen in the Grange End by one of our own "fans" (nasty little boy) when we played Aston Villa, I should think about 1963. I was, though, a complete wimp.

Then I witnessed a period in the history of Cardiff City which was the best until now. Because it culminated in fantastic matches against SV Hamburg, Real Zaragoza, and Real Madrid. (not necessarily in that order!) Cardiff City has nothing to fear against European opposition. It may be where we are at our best!

And after that, everything went wrong. Our chairmen started promising things they didn't deliver. Then they stopped promising things, and didn't deliver anything. And none of us knew what was going on because the way it was then meant that they didn't have to tell us anything, as chairmen of mighty corporations have always done.

Leap forward.

All the real Cardiff City fans that I have known have felt that we have underperformed for years. We may not be a massive club, but we are bigger than Wigan, Swansea, Sunderland, Fulham, West Ham and Southampton. At least.

And if you think that's daft, look at our league at the moment, where we are way ahead of Blackburn, Wolves, Nottingham Forest, Leeds, and Leicester. Let alone poor Coventry City, languishing in League 1.

So why is it that we have this current advantage? It's a combination of factors. Those factors are the de facto owner of the club, Vincent Tan, and the manager, Malky Mackay.

We should play in blue. We don't. I don't understand why. However, the eccentricity of our owner has without coincided with a phenomenal series of great results on the pitch. If he wants to be eccentric, he's paid for it. Statistically, he could stand by his decision and look at a nay-sayer, and say - "So?"

And of course anybody could say "He hasn't paid for it, it's a loan, and it's so much per cent, and the debt is huge,,,," All true, but the same people never worried under Sam Hammam, and he was incapable of funding the same ambition as our current owner. He wanted a rebrand. Some of the people who are really being irritating with a "holier than thou" stance at the moment were disciples of Sam Hammam. If they don't like that description, they can challenge it.

I have watched 20 plus years of garbage at Ninian Park. The football I am watching now, while not perfect, is not only good enough to get us out of the Championship, but good enough to keep us in the Premiership. (Ships - why not just Leagues?)

I believe that one day we will go back to playing in blue. At the moment, I really don't care. Call me a sell-out if you like. I'm not.

I love it when we score.




[u]

Who can argue with that post

hello rich munn,
it was about then when i saw my first match which was city v stoke and a guy by the name of matthews played for the potters. whilst details of the match are hazy can still remember some of those that played. as i was a cricketer in my youth i particulary remember ron nicholls, the gloucestershire opening bat in goal, that dapper little bald-headed middle-aged man running rings around us and receiving applause from a packed house.

don't think anybody here would disagree with your sentiments and would applaud you for articulating them. i do disagree with you when you say that you think we will go back to playing in blue and sincerely hope we don't as it will make the upheavel we went through not worth the while.

as far as sam is concerned, i actually regretted not seeing his last match as chairman. time has taught me differently. he was an out and out crook and i think he would have been happy to see us disappear as he just wanted the ground that the club stood on. when he went he should have taken his entourage with him. rant over. welcome back!

Great post "I love it when we score" is probably the best way to determine whether you are a City fan... too many individuals haunt other boards who love it when we lose... I respect their feelings, whilst feeling they are misguided, they need to move on and let the fans who 'love it when we score' to continue to enjoy watching City...

Well said my good man

My first match was in 1957 and I find it faintly amusing that myself and a lot of my mates of similar age are called plastics/sell outs by blokes who have only been watching the club for a relatively short period of time. Having watched most of our most notable matches in Europe and others such as promotion to the old First Division, I think I'm able to say that our heritage hasn't disappeared - how could it have?
Consequently, i agree with the sentiments of the original poster and found a lot of Tan's statements today very encouraging (see Sport Wales 7pm tonight).
However, two notes of caution - he said he would leave if the fans were very rude which may well increase the noise being made by a tiny minority and secondly, a deal with Langstone might lead to a seat on the board for Scam Hamman. In practical terms I don't think this would mean much because I can't believe they would give him any power. More worrying would be the fact that Sam's cronies would once again have inside knowledge of what is happening at the Club - the loss of which I believe is behind a lot of the current whinging.
Finally, welcome back Rich Munn!

Cyncoedslumdog wrote:My first match was in 1957 and I find it faintly amusing that myself and a lot of my mates of similar age are called plastics/sell outs by blokes who have only been watching the club for a relatively short period of time. Having watched most of our most notable matches in Europe and others such as promotion to the old First Division, I think I'm able to say that our heritage hasn't disappeared - how could it have?
Consequently, i agree with the sentiments of the original poster and found a lot of Tan's statements today very encouraging (see Sport Wales 7pm tonight).
However, two notes of caution - he said he would leave if the fans were very rude which may well increase the noise being made by a tiny minority and secondly, a deal with Langstone might lead to a seat on the board for Scam Hamman. In practical terms I don't think this would mean much because I can't believe they would give him any power. More worrying would be the fact that Sam's cronies would once again have inside knowledge of what is happening at the Club - the loss of which I believe is behind a lot of the current whinging.
Finally, welcome back Rich Munn!

A worrying point regarding Tan leaving if the fans were too rude. Because if he leaves before completing the takeover we will go into administration, meaning the idiots will be watching a team trying to get into the Ryman's Premier every week...and I bet you any money we would not be getting crowds of 24,000 then! And all the bragging rights would be surrendered to the Jacks...

Not as many comments on this as I thought there might be?

welcome rich, Cracking post, cant argue with a word u said, You may b suprised that this board is not like others, we dobt snipe nor bitch etc,