MM and CB launch charm offensive on the malaysian market

Cardiff City’s assault on the Asian football market will move up a gear this month as manager Malky Mackay and star striker Craig Bellamy fly out to Malaysia.

The pair, along with skipper Mark Hudson and assistant manager David Kerslake, will launch a charm offensive in the home nation of the Bluebirds’ billionaire-backer Vincent Tan.
Plans to fly out the entire squad for some friendly matches have been shelved, with Mackay not convinced it was the right preparation for his side’s forthcoming campaign in the Premier League.Instead, Mackay and Kerslake are planning to take some training camps for football coaches and the delegation will also visit schools in the country.The group will also visit the 1Malaysia Cardiff City initiative which has been set up to encourage links between the Asian country and the Welsh capital.
The trip will also see Mackay and Bellamy making public appearances alongside Tan.


The Bluebirds’ main shareholder is keen to promote the club in Malaysia and last season Cardiff’s home games were transmitted live there.Tan also forced through a controversial re-brand of the club’s home colours from blue to red believing that would help top sell more shirts in Asia.

A club spokesman said the trip, which takes place from June 27 to July 3, was also a way of the club giving something back to Tan and Malaysia.“The trip is the next logical step,” said the spokesman. “So far, it has been very a much a case of Malaysia coming to Cardiff City, but this will be Cardiff City going to Malaysia.”When it comes to the full squad’s preparations, like last summer, Mackay and his men will hold a training camp in Switzerland next month.
Like last year, no friendly games have been arranged, but it is expected travelling supporters will be welcome to watch Mackay and his staff put the players through their paces in special training sessions.

What a waste of time. A week wasted at a crucial point of our pre-season when Malky should be concentrating on building our team ready for next season. This is the last thing Bellamy needs when he needs to concentrate on getting himself in the best shape possible with his knee, fitness etc.

What a waste of time. A week wasted at a crucial point of our pre-season when Malky should be concentrating on building our team ready for next season. This is the last thing Bellamy needs when he needs to concentrate on getting himself in the best shape possible with his knee, fitness etc.

chill your bean mate it's still off season!

chill your bean mate it's still off season!

It isn't off season the time they're going though is it? They're going from June 27th till July 3rd. The transfer window opens on July 1st! What if one of the players on Malky's list gets targetted during the time he's out there and Malky isn't around? How many players have signed for a team because the manager was there to welcome them to give that extra personal touch to make the difference? We could miss out on players because of this stupid, unnecessary trip. The trip will be tiring mentally and physically. The timing couldn't be any worse!

Charm offensive for Malaysia. Sod the fans who actually go to games.. Why not "charm" them & give them their blue kit back?

Charm offensive for Malaysia. Sod the fans who actually go to games.. Why not "charm" them & give them their blue kit back?

Are you crazy? Our fans are masochists, love a powerful b*stard ignoring them, slapping them in the face with the odd freebie, scarfs, willy wonka style red tickest, parties down the bay. Oh yes Cardiff fans are his bitch and boy do those scarf wavers loves it.

Charm offensive for Malaysia. Sod the fans who actually go to games.. Why not "charm" them & give them their blue kit back?

We are the forgotten few thousand, the game is a global brand and our club has joined in. Money from half way around the world will far outweigh what 26,000 can give on a match day.

As I said then. People abroad are deemed to be more important than the fans of the club who actually attend the games.

Sad times.

All the top Premier League clubs go on the charm offensive pre-season.

Man City and Chelsea even went to the states for a pointless game the week after the season finished.

Its not exclusive to Cardiff City.

All the top Premier League clubs go on the charm offensive pre-season.

Man City and Chelsea even went to the states for a pointless game the week after the season finished.

Its not exclusive to Cardiff City.

Common sense prevails.

Well done to the club. It is easy to bitch and shit stir but some us can see beyond that.

If this rebrand vision is ever going to work then it makes perfect sense to take Cardiff City to the far east.

I have no idea if it will ever pay off (I certainly hope it does) but even if it doesn't then we need to get it out the way before we can ever dream of getting our blue shirt back.

As I said then. People abroad are deemed to be more important than the fans of the club who actually attend the games.

Sad times.

It is a 3 day off season visit to Malaysia which is being describe as a "Charm Offensive'

How can you possibly conclude that Asian fans are more important from that, especially as MM ruled out taking the first team squad?

Also last time I looked the Premier League are still looking play 19 home games at CCS.

Surely they should start nearer to home whats wrong with starting at Bessemer Rd market

What a waste of time. A week wasted at a crucial point of our pre-season when Malky should be concentrating on building our team ready for next season.

And if the stock market float gave the club an extra £100million for investment would that be a waste of time?

What a waste of time. A week wasted at a crucial point of our pre-season when Malky should be concentrating on building our team ready for next season.

And if the stock market float gave the club an extra £100million for investment would that be a waste of time?

But that isn't going to happen with one visit to Malaysia is it?

We could miss out on key signings with Malky being dragged to Malaysia and Bellamy might return from Malaysia mentally and physically tired and jaded. Exactly the type of preparation he doesn't need before starting his pre-season in Switzerland.

What a waste of time. A week wasted at a crucial point of our pre-season when Malky should be concentrating on building our team ready for next season.

And if the stock market float gave the club an extra £100million for investment would that be a waste of time?

But that isn't going to happen with one visit to Malaysia is it?

We could miss out on key signings with Malky being dragged to Malaysia and Bellamy might return from Malaysia mentally and physically tired and jaded. Exactly the type of preparation he doesn't need before starting his pre-season in Switzerland.

Do you seriously believe the shit youve just posted?

What a waste of time. A week wasted at a crucial point of our pre-season when Malky should be concentrating on building our team ready for next season.

And if the stock market float gave the club an extra £100million for investment would that be a waste of time?

But that isn't going to happen with one visit to Malaysia is it?

We could miss out on key signings with Malky being dragged to Malaysia and Bellamy might return from Malaysia mentally and physically tired and jaded. Exactly the type of preparation he doesn't need before starting his pre-season in Switzerland.

Do you seriously believe the shit youve just posted?

Yes, this is an unnecessary distraction. We should be focussing on building our Premiership squad and have every player turning up to pre season refreshed and ready, not having silly distractions like this.