I know this is going to be contentious. I know it will stir

Paul Abbandonato states: " I have no problem with City playing in red "
Media Wales

24th Jan 2013

Right, I know this is going to be contentious. I know it will stir the pot, that the pro-blue brigade will probably vilify me for my stance.

But I’m going to say the words anyway.

" I have no problems any more with Cardiff City playing in red. None whatsoever. "

There, that’s out in the open, although, let me emphasise right from the outset, that this is a personal view and most certainly not a formal stance from the Echo sports desk.

But please, before you automatically holler in my direction, at least permit me to put forward my arguments.

It was back at the beginning of June when the Bluebirds board of directors took this newspaper into their confidence about the impending and highly controversial change of colour.

I won’t break any secrets about the detail of what was said behind closed doors. Suffice to say that the Malaysians, clearly concerned about the inevitable fans’ backlash, asked for what they dubbed ‘fair reporting.’

Not that, as the local paper, we would do anything other, of course.

A stark choice was presented. Stick with blue and the club’s very future was clearly going to be at stake. Knowing the debts which had been accumulated, that was a doomsday scenario for Welsh sport given Cardiff City FC are as big a brand name as you will get here.

Change to red, on the other hand, and Vincent Tan promised huge sums of money in the transfer market with which Malky Mackay could build a promotion-winning team.

Can anyone deny Tan has been good to his word on that? Right up to the point this week where Fraizer Campbell was brought in to deliver the goals which should pretty much guarantee the 10-points-clear Bluebirds finally reaching Premier League dreamland this spring.

No-one needs to tell me about the forceful views Tan’s decision has evoked. The MediaWales sports desk telephone, e-mails and WalesOnline forums have been inundated with those wishing to express an opinion.

And this, it appears, on one man’s whim to change to a supposedly lucky kit, which, of course, would also be more marketable in the huge Asian market where red is viewed as a strong and vibrant colour.

The Bluebirds’ heritage was blue. That was being ripped apart in one fell swoop by an outsider who didn’t fully comprehend what the colour meant to some City fans.

But, like a handful of hardy others, I’ve been there through the bad old days of Hartlepool United, Lincoln City, Torquay and Rochdale in front of gates of just over 3,000 at Ninian Park.

For me, the Premier League dream for the Bluebirds over-rides anything else right at this moment in time.

And I agree with Neil Warnock on this. If Tan demanded Cardiff City FC played in yellow shirts with purple polka dots, but in return he would provide the funds to ensure the Bluebirds met Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool, then I would accept it.

Of course, probably like every single one of you, I would prefer to see Cardiff City paying in blue.

But, for the time being, that is not part of the deal. And the more the season has gone on, the more I have become accustomed to, and accepting of, the new red kit.

I don’t just speak as a member of the Press who gets so-called free tickets to games, either.

Yes, I attend some matches in a professional capacity, but I also buy four season tickets every year. Which, I guess, entitles me to my viewpoint as much as any other Cardiff City follower.

For the first few matches of the 2012-13 campaign, I had to do a double take as the team wearing blue broke to the ‘wrong’ end of the ground after the customary hand-shakes.

Yes, it took a few seconds to realise the Bluebirds were actually wearing red and heading in their traditional direction towards the Canton Stand.

Despite the enormous publicity the issue had generated, it took two months of believing what you were actually seeing with your own eyes, Somewhat surreal, really.

But these days it is second nature to see Cardiff in red and I’m not the slightest bit uncomfortable with it, any more.

Not while success is being achieved, anyway.

For me, the biggest marketing exercise possible for the red strip came in that FA Cup horror show at Macclesfield earlier this month.

That, we should quickly be reminded, was where Cardiff City had come from just a few years earlier. The bad old days, if you like.

The golden rainbow direction in which they are heading is one which sees Robin van Persie, Luis Suarez, Juan Mata. Jack Wilshere, Sergio Aguero and Gareth Bale on the horizon.

I don’t know about you, but I’m licking my lips at the prospect of seeing how big Ben Turner, Peter Whittingham and Andrew Taylor, the most improved player at the club, fare against that little lot.

Every team in the Championship has played in the Premier League bar Brighton, Millwall, Huddersfield, Bristol City, Peterborough ... and Cardiff.

Damn it, even Barnsley have been there.

While arch-rivals Swansea quite rightly earn plaudits for their splendid top-flight exploits, Wales’ capital city and biggest club are still only dreaming.

Well, if a change of kit is the driver of that being fulfilled, then count me in as a backer of it.

That doesn’t mean I don’t totally respect and fully understand the views of those who are still staunchly opposed.

A few have voted with their feet and refused to attend even a single match this season, including friends of mine, who have been there through the days of Barnet, Grimsby and Mansfield.

Strangely, Vincent Tan’s change of colour has finally cured them of a Cardiff City addiction which stretches back decades.

But while I would never be presumptuous enough to try to advise those individuals what to do, I can tell them they are missing out on something very magical down at Cardiff City Stadium right at this moment in time.

When the red kit was first announced, the Bluebirds were mocked by national newspaper and broadcast outlets. But those of us with our ear to the ground here in south Wales knew there was a bigger picture.

The Premier League or a freefall down the divisions, one from which the Bluebirds may never have recovered. An idle threat? Possibly. But if so, it wasn’t a risk worth taking, in my eyes.

One day, probably when the next regime come in, the Bluebirds will return to playing in blue. For the time being, like thousands of others I’m enjoying being swept forward on the magic carpet ride of red.

They say Tan has wiped away Cardiff City’s heritage, but aren’t we witnessing the writing of a wonderful new chapter in the club’s history?

Bluebirds season passes for the Premier League are about to become the hottest ticket in Wales.


Read more: Wales Online http://www.walesonline.co.uk/footballna ... z2ItKwZL33

Not going to be arsed to reply to this guy as the subject has been done to death. However just like Nottingham are still referred to as scabs like nearly 30 years later, this guy and many others will be known as sell outs until they go to their graves.

good article

Speechless after some of the things i've just read.

Comfortable with it "while success is being achieved."

Actually speechless. I'm not even gonna get lured into ranting about this again, i just give up on our set of fans...

I don't really care anymore. It is what it is and nobody is going to change a thing. It is too late. I'm just enjoying the football.

Very good article, you don't have to agree with his views but his argument is articulate and logical and I'm sure what most balanced supporters are feeling

there's not much we can do about it now, don't know why it's being wrote about again and again! im enjoying the football atm so i'll just wait until the end of the season to go into it again!

A sell out in my opinion. When it all collapses and we get relegated from the prem , I hope he can sit down and think was it all worth it stripping the club colour, badge, identity, for.....the glory of the prem.

Very good article, you don't have to agree with his views but his argument is articulate and logical and I'm sure what most balanced supporters are feeling

Agreed. It was a good read.

Actually speechless. I'm not even gonna get lured into ranting about this again

Thank god for that

2 things.........first who is paul abbandonato..??????
and second,is he more concerned with cardiff city or premiership football..????

A sell out in my opinion. When it all collapses and we get relegated from the prem , I hope he can sit down and think was it all worth it stripping the club colour, badge, identity, for.....the glory of the prem.

You seem to be suggesting that its inevitable we will get relegated back down to the championship, i'm sure that if small clubs like Swansea can easily stay up then surely so can we. You also seem to suggest that should we get relegated "it all collapses" not sure what you mean with that comment? Promotion and its financial windfall will surely provide an avenue to finally turn the majority of any debt into equity and so a largely debt free club. Far from collapsing, this promotion can put the club on its most stable footing in it's history.

A sell out in my opinion. When it all collapses and we get relegated from the prem , I hope he can sit down and think was it all worth it stripping the club colour, badge, identity, for.....the glory of the prem.

Evo, how can you call him a sell out when you still go to the matches yourself?

A sell out in my opinion. When it all collapses and we get relegated from the prem , I hope he can sit down and think was it all worth it stripping the club colour, badge, identity, for.....the glory of the prem.

Evo, how can you call him a sell out when you still go to the matches yourself?

Jesus though his crusade inside the synogue.

A sell out in my opinion. When it all collapses and we get relegated from the prem , I hope he can sit down and think was it all worth it stripping the club colour, badge, identity, for.....the glory of the prem.

Evo, how can you call him a sell out when you still go to the matches yourself?

Jesus though his crusade inside the synogue.

Are you Swansealad in disguise!

A sell out in my opinion. When it all collapses and we get relegated from the prem , I hope he can sit down and think was it all worth it stripping the club colour, badge, identity, for.....the glory of the prem.

Evo, how can you call him a sell out when you still go to the matches yourself?

Jesus though his crusade inside the synogue.

ive seen Evo down the matches and he is loving the football like everyonelse on this journey

A sell out in my opinion. When it all collapses and we get relegated from the prem , I hope he can sit down and think was it all worth it stripping the club colour, badge, identity, for.....the glory of the prem.

Evo, how can you call him a sell out when you still go to the matches yourself?

Jesus though his crusade inside the synogue.

ive seen Evo down the matches and he is loving the football like everyonelse on this journey

Got to admit the only time I can get this rebrand out of my head is during the 90 minutes of football. After the final whistle the ghosts come back and a win just dampens their flight but a lose strangly I end up dancing with them. Its really doing my head in.

A sell out in my opinion. When it all collapses and we get relegated from the prem , I hope he can sit down and think was it all worth it stripping the club colour, badge, identity, for.....the glory of the prem.

Evo, how can you call him a sell out when you still go to the matches yourself?

Jesus though his crusade inside the synogue.

ive seen Evo down the matches and he is loving the football like everyonelse on this journey

My views have been well documented. I was appalled at the rebrand. Joined KCB, that collapsed. I publically vowed to walk away.....didnt renew season ticket for first time in donkey years. Personal circumstance mother nearly died, reality check in hospital "its only a game" "its only a colour" family puts things into perspective. Yes I have now been back down for 3 games Millwall the last one. Do I enjoy it I enjoy meeting the forum posters and having a pint more than the actual game itself and the banter on here. I dont like the rebrand, RED/Black the lack of passion atmosphere. However "im still cardiff" its in the blood. I hope we still win every game but......Unlike the journalist I will never embrace the rebrand, dont like it, hate red., Its all about opinions Abbando got his but im opposite to his views.

A sell out in my opinion. When it all collapses and we get relegated from the prem , I hope he can sit down and think was it all worth it stripping the club colour, badge, identity, for.....the glory of the prem.

Evo, how can you call him a sell out when you still go to the matches yourself?

Sunbuteo man was one of the main noises behind KCB, set up a web site that had a total of ten members and collapsed, then tried to set about setting up and starting a Rival team for the supporters of blue shirts in opposition to Cardiff City, and when it all fell on it's face he crawls back and pays his money every week, and he calls other people who have stuck to their principles sell out, you couldn't make it up.

Always thought he was the worst Walesonline journo. Now I know why

A sell out in my opinion. When it all collapses and we get relegated from the prem , I hope he can sit down and think was it all worth it stripping the club colour, badge, identity, for.....the glory of the prem.

Evo, how can you call him a sell out when you still go to the matches yourself?

Sunbuteo man was one of the main noises behind KCB, set up a web site that had a total of ten members and collapsed, then tried to set about setting up and starting a Rival team for the supporters of blue shirts in opposition to Cardiff City, and when it all fell on it's face he crawls back and pays his money every week, and he calls other people who have stuck to their principles sell out, you couldn't make it up.

Well lets just welcome him (and all the others back). I don't like the red, but still go, must be an addiction.

All this name calling is bad for the fans and atmosphere. Treat the returning fans as prodigal sons, as I would prefer them than the newbies just coming because we are doing well.

.........first who is paul abbandonato..??????

You know who Paul is, that well known journalist and self proclaimed massive Cardiff City fan, even though he thinks that, given the choice, we start every game attacking the Canton Stand.

Yes, it took a few seconds to realise the Bluebirds were actually wearing red and heading in their traditional direction towards the Canton Stand.

Still the weirdest thing when a club comes to the CCS and play in outr clue against us

I think its the first time I've ever agreed with him.

If a new regime comes in, we may go back to blue. Until then we play in red.

Simples.

A sell out in my opinion. When it all collapses and we get relegated from the prem , I hope he can sit down and think was it all worth it stripping the club colour, badge, identity, for.....the glory of the prem.

Evo, how can you call him a sell out when you still go to the matches yourself?

Sunbuteo man was one of the main noises behind KCB, set up a web site that had a total of ten members and collapsed, then tried to set about setting up and starting a Rival team for the supporters of blue shirts in opposition to Cardiff City, and when it all fell on it's face he crawls back and pays his money every week, and he calls other people who have stuck to their principles sell out, you couldn't make it up.

off the mark there Gwyn, As per my post on Sept 21 10.25 in response to a question from you : "Hiya Gwyn, well a couple of points here in regards that it was a chap from London Scott I think his name is who set up the "official" kcb website and he was the chap at the Muni club chairing the meeting. I think his website/campaign is still there. Dazzy T then created an unoffical KCB forum for like minded fans which never really took off had around 70 members but only around 5 members posting so I think it is safe to say that is the end of that"

As for setting up a rival team for bluebird fans not started by myself either so wrong there again Gwyn. I havent crawled away anywhere just stated been down several times this season.

dont see why this needs to be rehashed for the umpteenth time.

No-one wants us playing in Red but inexchange for £100m+ and Premiership football its acceptable.

Whilst others can't get their heads around not playing in Blue, I personally can't get my head around why everyone doesn't want what is best for the club in terms of progressing to the next level.

After all no-one supports a team because they want them to fail, or do they?

dont see why this needs to be rehashed for the umpteenth time.

Because it is a very emotive subject.

IM NOT A SELL OUT
I support cardiff city my club through thick and thin the good times and bad.

No-one wants us playing in Red but inexchange for £100m+ and Premiership football its acceptable.

Whilst others can't get their heads around not playing in Blue, I personally can't get my head around why everyone doesn't want what is best for the club in terms of progressing to the next level.

After all no-one supports a team because they want them to fail, or do they?

we havnt failed,,,and what £100 million investment.....to me people are selling out for premiership,,and nothing else matters,but hey...just my opinion