CARDIFF CITY & QPR: TWO MALAYSIANS BUT DIFFERING OUTCOMES

This is not a red v blue thread; I simply post this for information and do not expect to reply to subsequent posts.

To the casual observer it might seem strange that two football clubs, both owned by Malaysians, have been run in vastly different ways. Cardiff City's owner has caused a near civil war amongst it's fans whilst the stewardship of QPR's owner has been far more peaceful. Why I wonder?

The difference between Fernandez at QPR [ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Fernandes ] and Tan at CCFC is simple. The former, like TG, is Malaysian and is therefore not into superstition whereas Tan, though he lives in Malaysia, is ethnically Chinese and is wedded to superstition. We, at City, have seen it's results at close quarters eg:

(1) The 'red is lucky,' 'blue is unlucky,' scenario:

The Malaysian Tourist Board happily features blue on their advertising and Malaysian teams play in blue. Why? Colour in Malaysia is simply not viewed in a superstitious way. However for Tan, being ethnically Chinese, colour is vital. Red is regarded as expansive and bringing good fortune. Blue doesn't get mentioned in the Chinese theory of five elements. [ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Color_in_Chinese_culture ] To me the shortcoming of Tan's thinking is self-evident. According to his thinking a poor side playing in red would have been successful. City's PL team of 2013/2014 (assembled at a cost of £30m this last summer despite the majority of PL squads being far superior and assembled at a much greater cost to City's) has to be successful because they play in red. Conversely, by this Chinese mindset, a good team playing in blue would not be successful.

(2) the dragon replacing the bluebird scenario:

(i) To the Chinese the mythical dragon is linked to power [ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_dragon ]. How something mythical can be so responsible for anything is strange to me.

(ii) Furthermore his native tongue is Hokkien [ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hokkien_dialect ]. It is standard practice for those who speak Hokkien to translate English words into their Hokkien dialect meaning, This is why Tan has such a problem with the City bluebird. In Hokkien the English word, 'bluebird,' is given the translation of a derogatory term for the male sexual organ.

There is such a clash of cultures at CCFC that either the Club will be further easternised or Tan will leave and City return to it's traditional colour and crest. Sadly I can see no middle ground and reconciliation; if there was I'd be very surprised indeed but I always live in hope of miracles.


StT.