' Cardiff City, why not go to Malaysia? '

Why Cardiff City should have gone on a pre-season tour to Malaysia rather than Austria

Tuesday 29th July 2014.

BY SCOTTJOHNSON
Our Cardiff City blogger Scott Johnson takes a look at the Bluebirds' pre-season tour and suggests why they should have gone further afield.

Vincent Tan wants to build the Cardiff City brand in Malaysia

A pre-season tour of Malaysia is long overdue for Cardiff City.

Dave Jones favoured Spain, Malky Mackay was rather fond of Switzerland and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer opted for a brief Austrian sojourn. But with an owner hell bent on breaking the Asian market, surely a pre-season tour of Malaysia is long overdue?

The idea was first floated as the 2009/10 campaign drew to a close and Jones headed out to Malaysia to survey the potential surroundings. The plan was to stay in Kuala Lumpur and play a prestigious friendly against the national side, but the idea was ultimately shelved.

“After a great trip to Malaysia, we can see that the opportunities and benefits to the club would be much bigger if we have the tour next year,” he revealed at the time.

The idea was recycled when Mackay’s 2012/13 vintage stormed towards the Championship title, to compliment their annual Swiss jaunt. Concerns over the air quality at the time saw the trip once again cancelled. It did not appear to be on the agenda this summer, as the Bluebirds tumbled out of the top flight, allowing Solskjaer to set up camp in Austria.



Vincent Tan has often demonstrated a bullish approach in his attempt to make the club more appealing to a potential Malaysia fan base. Some ideas made sense, like broadcasting games on Malaysian television and a shirt sponsor featuring the name of the country. Others were ham-fisted and misguided, like rebranding the club, disregarding the club’s heritage and dividing supporters in the process. But surely a tour of the country he is attempting to reach out to would be the most effective option available to him. His reluctance to do so is baffling.

Tan is keen to emulate the established elite of the English game, who are household names throughout Asia, but there is a number of reasons for this status. Ironically, one of their most appealing traits would be their respective legacies. The likes of Liverpool and Arsenal have struck a chord because they have enjoyed sustained success, not because they play in a lucky colour. More importantly, they have also peddled their wares in person.

Manchester United first toured the country in 2007, whilst 2011 saw Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool head to Malaysia for a high profile friendly tournament. Last summer Barcelona headed out there, smog or no smog, as Cardiff missed out on the chance to rub shoulders with the biggest club in the world as the country celebrated their 50th anniversary.

Cardiff’s ties with Malaysia could have been a source of strength and something to enjoy, but it will forever be associated with the club’s rebrand. Fans would have accepted an annual tour and various forms of related sponsorship, but the club instead cut corners by changing the colour rather than taking their product to the people. The suggestion that a red kit would make them more appealing remains as patronising to the Asian market as it is offensive to the locals.


Until Cardiff actually tour Malaysia, they are wasting a tremendous opportunity and subsequently the rebrand will continue to be seen as nothing more than a rich man’s whim.

or rather just another way to have a swipe at Tan!

My nephew works in KL, it is the most unpleasant place to be at this time of year - our players would need oxygen and masks.

We're not a massive brand anywhere outside South Wales - so unlike top Premier teams, it isn't worth our while schlepping out there, in my opinion.

If we do get promoted next year, prior to 15/16 premier league season, the club should do a trip to Malaysia or far east before the premier league starts! Cardiff City should be more recognised by then since we already been in premier league last year, which hopefully brings more commercial income, awareness and supporters!

There was talk of going to Malaysia had we stayed in the Premiership.... But not to be.

What a stupid post by a stupid person. We're noway near a big enough club, not to mention our manager and squad would be in a place they barely know.

We managed to take mostly all of our squad of around 38 players to Austria, whereas in Malaysia, we'd have only been allowed to have taken around 22? Our players would have been incredibly fatigued and it would have been stressful. MAYBE go there if we get promoted. Look at LVG moaning about United's participation in the USA.

Have a darn site worse injury problems if they flew Malaysian Airlines

Why Cardiff City should have gone on a pre-season tour to Malaysia rather than Austria

Tuesday 29th July 2014.

BY SCOTTJOHNSON
Our Cardiff City blogger Scott Johnson takes a look at the Bluebirds' pre-season tour and suggests why they should have gone further afield.

Vincent Tan wants to build the Cardiff City brand in Malaysia

A pre-season tour of Malaysia is long overdue for Cardiff City.

Dave Jones favoured Spain, Malky Mackay was rather fond of Switzerland and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer opted for a brief Austrian sojourn. But with an owner hell bent on breaking the Asian market, surely a pre-season tour of Malaysia is long overdue?

The idea was first floated as the 2009/10 campaign drew to a close and Jones headed out to Malaysia to survey the potential surroundings. The plan was to stay in Kuala Lumpur and play a prestigious friendly against the national side, but the idea was ultimately shelved.

“After a great trip to Malaysia, we can see that the opportunities and benefits to the club would be much bigger if we have the tour next year,” he revealed at the time.

The idea was recycled when Mackay’s 2012/13 vintage stormed towards the Championship title, to compliment their annual Swiss jaunt. Concerns over the air quality at the time saw the trip once again cancelled. It did not appear to be on the agenda this summer, as the Bluebirds tumbled out of the top flight, allowing Solskjaer to set up camp in Austria.



Vincent Tan has often demonstrated a bullish approach in his attempt to make the club more appealing to a potential Malaysia fan base. Some ideas made sense, like broadcasting games on Malaysian television and a shirt sponsor featuring the name of the country. Others were ham-fisted and misguided, like rebranding the club, disregarding the club’s heritage and dividing supporters in the process. But surely a tour of the country he is attempting to reach out to would be the most effective option available to him. His reluctance to do so is baffling.

Tan is keen to emulate the established elite of the English game, who are household names throughout Asia, but there is a number of reasons for this status. Ironically, one of their most appealing traits would be their respective legacies. The likes of Liverpool and Arsenal have struck a chord because they have enjoyed sustained success, not because they play in a lucky colour. More importantly, they have also peddled their wares in person.

Manchester United first toured the country in 2007, whilst 2011 saw Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool head to Malaysia for a high profile friendly tournament. Last summer Barcelona headed out there, smog or no smog, as Cardiff missed out on the chance to rub shoulders with the biggest club in the world as the country celebrated their 50th anniversary.

Cardiff’s ties with Malaysia could have been a source of strength and something to enjoy, but it will forever be associated with the club’s rebrand. Fans would have accepted an annual tour and various forms of related sponsorship, but the club instead cut corners by changing the colour rather than taking their product to the people. The suggestion that a red kit would make them more appealing remains as patronising to the Asian market as it is offensive to the locals.


Until Cardiff actually tour Malaysia, they are wasting a tremendous opportunity and subsequently the rebrand will continue to be seen as nothing more than a rich man’s whim.

It would be an embarrassment as about 3k would turn up . No one in Malaysia gives a shit about city and they never will in any numbers . Our fan base in and around cardiff is big enough , the club should focus on that . They won't however as it's run by cunts

Have a darn site worse injury problems if they flew Malaysian Airlines

I tend to agree with you..! Would anyone fly with these are the moment? I certainly wouldn't

Stupid in reality.

Unless we was still Prem it would make sense, impossible to brand the club out there without any clue what the Championship is.

At the end of the day its about fitness, bonding and working on new things for Ole, so a camp out of the way was a positive thing.

All been good reviews about the time in Austria so silly saying that now.