' The Other Bob Wilson speaks out against " Tan's Folly " '

Weekly review 29/6/14.
by
The Other Bob Wilson



Another quiet week with most of the news being made by “Tan’s Folly”. That’s the name I’ve given to the extension to the Ninian Stand which is being built during the summer, thereby increasing the capacity of the stadium to over 33,000 at a time when all of the indications are that there will be something in the region of 20/21 thousand at games next season. In the absence of the debt to equity conversion that was supposed to be “imminent” over two years ago, this development is only pushing the amount the club owe to Vincent Tan up by a few more million and, as such, is completely unnecessary at this time.

Anyway, the reason Tan’s Folly made news this week is that there was an article on the club’s website in which Steve Borley answered questions about the development. Now, I try not to use transatlantic corporate speak terms which have crept into use during my adulthood because I tend to think that the language I learned while I was growing up is perfectly adequate already thanks, but I’ll make an exception here because there is a huge elephant in the room represented by the red seats shown in the picture of what the stand will look like when it’s completed – whatever side of the red/blue divide you are on, it seems like a mistake to me for the interview to ignore the fact that the colour used is going to prove highly controversial.

I think putting new red seats into a stadium that has predominantly blue ones just doesn’t look right – it jars. I suppose it’s reasonable to respond “well you would say that, given your dislike of the re-brand”, but the truth is that, although I don’t like to see the red seats, they are a relatively minor matter for me when set against the main priority of seeing the team play in the colours that virtually everyone except for Vincent Tan wants us to wear. If we were to change back to blue after next season, I wouldn’t be losing any sleep about the fact that the stadium would continue to have a block of red seats in it.

Whatever happens, the news that supporters who have purchased season tickets for the wings of the new stand have been told that they will have to relocate to the centre block because poor ticket sales have made the club decide to keep the new seats at either end of the pitch empty means that supporters in other parts of the stadium (plus the television cameras?) will be seeing plenty of empty red seats in Tan’s Folly nest season – if anything sums up the uselessness of the new structure at the present time, then surely it’s this.

One last thing on this subject – “class” was a quality almost completely lacking on and off the pitch at Cardiff City during the season just ended and, after seeing the Ayatollah representations used in the seating design, I note that the malaise is continuing through the summer.

Nothing really to report on the transfer front. The Echo says that Ole is only looking for one more player (a centreback) to complete his rebuilding for the new season and that up to ten players will be leaving the club in the coming months – one of these is almost certainly Fraizer Campbell, but his move to Leicester, which has been reported as if it is was a done deal for the last fortnight or so, is taking a long time to complete and there are now stories appearing that Crystal Palace are preparing a bid for the striker.

Another player almost certain to leave is Steven Caulker who it seems to me has been linked with about fifteen Premier League teams over the past month or so. I hope for his sake that the stuff I’ve read about QPR winning the race for his signature are not true – talk about jumping out of the frying pan into the fire! We inherited the title of Premier League laughing stock of the season from QPR last year by showing total ineptitude off the pitch while spending money like there was no tomorrow on players who, largely, failed to do the business for us – if QPR, already massively in debt and facing fines for breaking Financial Fair Play rules, are really chasing even a quarter of the players they are being linked with this summer, then there is every chance of them regaining their mantle for 14/15.

Whatever happens with the likes of Campbell, Caulker and Gary Medel (again excellent during Chile’s defeat on penalties against Brazil yesterday), it shouldn’t come as a surprise to learn that there are likely to be other departures from the club in the coming weeks – with around forty players with pro contracts on the books, it seems to me that a Championship club should be looking to cut that number by about a quarter. Someone like Tommy Smith barely kicked a ball for the club last season at first or development team level and I can see there being four or five others in the same boat this time around if the club doesn’t have a playing staff which is more in keeping with the size it needs to be at this level.

At least youv'e something to bitch about thanks to Tan saving our club from oblivion.If it wasn't for him all you would have to talk about is the history of a club that ceased to exist.You may be better able to express yourself better than most on here but you share the total lack of forethought when it comes to explaining how we could survive without Tans cash as some of the other muppets on here that speak of getting rid of Tan without explaining how we would exist going forward.You and your ilk might even be held responsible,now that would be interesting-Hmmmm

I really hate articles [or posts made on here by members in fact] where little digs are made about the fact we are expanding our capacity at a time when we are obviously going to have lower attendances. Who gives a f*** that our attendances are going to be lower? The new stand has been built as a part of our development plan, and leaves us with an extra 5k seats should be [fingers crossed] succeed in returning to the Premier League and then establish ourselves as a top flight regular. I'd rather see that happen with us having a 33k sweater that could be expanded even further, than do it again with a 28k seater.

Little digs like that just really rub me up the wrong way. Why do some people not see that the stand was added for our plan for the future, and not just for the 14/15 season?

I really hate articles [or posts made on here by members in fact] where little digs are made about the fact we are expanding our capacity at a time when we are obviously going to have lower attendances. Who gives a f*** that our attendances are going to be lower? The new stand has been built as a part of our development plan, and leaves us with an extra 5k seats should be [fingers crossed] succeed in returning to the Premier League and then establish ourselves as a top flight regular. I'd rather see that happen with us having a 33k sweater that could be expanded even further, than do it again with a 28k seater.

Little digs like that just really rub me up the wrong way. Why do some people not see that the stand was added for our plan for the future, and not just for the 14/15 season?

Other than the Red seats, I am more than happy that our stadium will be now bigger for the future

Another anti Cardiff city sticky I sometimes wonder why some fans bother with the club

Another anti Cardiff city sticky I sometimes wonder why some fans bother with the club

you tell them red boy we want positive posts for Sir Tan and positive posts for the red made stickies

Another anti Cardiff city sticky I sometimes wonder why some fans bother with the club

you tell them red boy we want positive posts for Sir Tan and positive posts for the red made stickies

Not red but pro Cardiff city ,the club expand the stadium planing for t be future and some people just want to have a pop ,getting really boring now

Other than the Red seats, I am more than happy that our stadium will be now bigger for the future

Agreed Annis, but sadly the red is what it is and even if we do get the blue shirts back one day, I suspect those red seats will still be there for a number of years after - can't see a new owner bothering to put money into replacing them (not as a priority, anyway).

Do you not find the little digs about increased capacity vs lower ticket sales to be somewhat short sighted though? I see them made time and time again, and it does my head in.

I don't know, regardless of what colour the seats are, etc, I'm just happy to see the club taking steps toward its long term vision, rather than just winging it from season to season.

Other than the Red seats, I am more than happy that our stadium will be now bigger for the future

Agreed Annis, but sadly the red is what it is and even if we do get the blue shirts back one day, I suspect those red seats will still be there for a number of years after - can't see a new owner bothering to put money into replacing them (not as a priority, anyway).

Do you not find the little digs about increased capacity vs lower ticket sales to be somewhat short sighted though? I see them made time and time again, and it does my head in.

I don't know, regardless of what colour the seats are, etc, I'm just happy to see the club taking steps toward its long term vision, rather than just winging it from season to season.

Deep down I can live with the Red seats, to me our identity is much much more important

I agree, I am for the stadium being increased, its the only way if we ever want to compete in the future, but I would of closed it until the crowds are bigger, 14,000 approx season ticket holders, i would of opened it up for big games, only my opinion

A good piece I thought. Disagree about not having the expansion done yet but still a good read.

To Annis: Somewhat agree with you on that point. Be curious to see if the club try to push match day ticket office sales to the new stand, but I'm not even sure how they could really manage that without charging much less per game than what the current season ticket holders will be paying up there (was it £580 or was it higher?). Either way, if I was a season ticket holder on that stand, I'd be keeping an eye on how much the club are charging people to sit there each week, personally.

To Annis: Somewhat agree with you on that point. Be curious to see if the club try to push match day ticket office sales to the new stand, but I'm not even sure how they could really manage that without charging much less per game than what the current season ticket holders will be paying up there (was it £580 or was it higher?). Either way, if I was a season ticket holder on that stand, I'd be keeping an eye on how much the club are charging people to sit there each week, personally.

Because City have increased the price of season tickets, match day tickets are going to be expensive for Championship football and that worries me.

Getting boring now, some fans think they are better than others,

To Annis: Somewhat agree with you on that point. Be curious to see if the club try to push match day ticket office sales to the new stand, but I'm not even sure how they could really manage that without charging much less per game than what the current season ticket holders will be paying up there (was it £580 or was it higher?). Either way, if I was a season ticket holder on that stand, I'd be keeping an eye on how much the club are charging people to sit there each week, personally.

Because City have increased the price of season tickets, match day tickets are going to be expensive for Championship football and that worries me.

worries me too.............i honestly thought they might have made an adjustment to price, i might be wrong,but dont think it would have cost a lot to lower the price and do refunds to those already bought.....id have thought the vast majority are on price freeze anyway

To Annis: Somewhat agree with you on that point. Be curious to see if the club try to push match day ticket office sales to the new stand, but I'm not even sure how they could really manage that without charging much less per game than what the current season ticket holders will be paying up there (was it £580 or was it higher?). Either way, if I was a season ticket holder on that stand, I'd be keeping an eye on how much the club are charging people to sit there each week, personally.

Because City have increased the price of season tickets, match day tickets are going to be expensive for Championship football and that worries me.

worries me too.............i honestly thought they might have made an adjustment to price, i might be wrong,but dont think it would have cost a lot to lower the price and do refunds to those already bought.....id have thought the vast majority are on price freeze anyway

City got this one wrong big time in my opinion, South Wales is not a rich area and it is Championship football.

Weekly review 29/6/14.
by
The Other Bob Wilson



Another quiet week with most of the news being made by “Tan’s Folly”. That’s the name I’ve given to the extension to the Ninian Stand which is being built during the summer, thereby increasing the capacity of the stadium to over 33,000 at a time when all of the indications are that there will be something in the region of 20/21 thousand at games next season. In the absence of the debt to equity conversion that was supposed to be “imminent” over two years ago, this development is only pushing the amount the club owe to Vincent Tan up by a few more million and, as such, is completely unnecessary at this time.

Anyway, the reason Tan’s Folly made news this week is that there was an article on the club’s website in which Steve Borley answered questions about the development. Now, I try not to use transatlantic corporate speak terms which have crept into use during my adulthood because I tend to think that the language I learned while I was growing up is perfectly adequate already thanks, but I’ll make an exception here because there is a huge elephant in the room represented by the red seats shown in the picture of what the stand will look like when it’s completed – whatever side of the red/blue divide you are on, it seems like a mistake to me for the interview to ignore the fact that the colour used is going to prove highly controversial.

I think putting new red seats into a stadium that has predominantly blue ones just doesn’t look right – it jars. I suppose it’s reasonable to respond “well you would say that, given your dislike of the re-brand”, but the truth is that, although I don’t like to see the red seats, they are a relatively minor matter for me when set against the main priority of seeing the team play in the colours that virtually everyone except for Vincent Tan wants us to wear. If we were to change back to blue after next season, I wouldn’t be losing any sleep about the fact that the stadium would continue to have a block of red seats in it.

Whatever happens, the news that supporters who have purchased season tickets for the wings of the new stand have been told that they will have to relocate to the centre block because poor ticket sales have made the club decide to keep the new seats at either end of the pitch empty means that supporters in other parts of the stadium (plus the television cameras?) will be seeing plenty of empty red seats in Tan’s Folly nest season – if anything sums up the uselessness of the new structure at the present time, then surely it’s this.

One last thing on this subject – “class” was a quality almost completely lacking on and off the pitch at Cardiff City during the season just ended and, after seeing the Ayatollah representations used in the seating design, I note that the malaise is continuing through the summer.

Nothing really to report on the transfer front. The Echo says that Ole is only looking for one more player (a centreback) to complete his rebuilding for the new season and that up to ten players will be leaving the club in the coming months – one of these is almost certainly Fraizer Campbell, but his move to Leicester, which has been reported as if it is was a done deal for the last fortnight or so, is taking a long time to complete and there are now stories appearing that Crystal Palace are preparing a bid for the striker.

Another player almost certain to leave is Steven Caulker who it seems to me has been linked with about fifteen Premier League teams over the past month or so. I hope for his sake that the stuff I’ve read about QPR winning the race for his signature are not true – talk about jumping out of the frying pan into the fire! We inherited the title of Premier League laughing stock of the season from QPR last year by showing total ineptitude off the pitch while spending money like there was no tomorrow on players who, largely, failed to do the business for us – if QPR, already massively in debt and facing fines for breaking Financial Fair Play rules, are really chasing even a quarter of the players they are being linked with this summer, then there is every chance of them regaining their mantle for 14/15.

Whatever happens with the likes of Campbell, Caulker and Gary Medel (again excellent during Chile’s defeat on penalties against Brazil yesterday), it shouldn’t come as a surprise to learn that there are likely to be other departures from the club in the coming weeks – with around forty players with pro contracts on the books, it seems to me that a Championship club should be looking to cut that number by about a quarter. Someone like Tommy Smith barely kicked a ball for the club last season at first or development team level and I can see there being four or five others in the same boat this time around if the club doesn’t have a playing staff which is more in keeping with the size it needs to be at this level.

Get a grip Bob we wanted the ground expanded before we were relegated, would it be bad if Malky hadn't bought the wrong players and left us in the shit ????

What if we were comfortable in the Premier League and building on the previous season, the ground wouldn't be big enough.....

To Annis: Somewhat agree with you on that point. Be curious to see if the club try to push match day ticket office sales to the new stand, but I'm not even sure how they could really manage that without charging much less per game than what the current season ticket holders will be paying up there (was it £580 or was it higher?). Either way, if I was a season ticket holder on that stand, I'd be keeping an eye on how much the club are charging people to sit there each week, personally.

Because City have increased the price of season tickets, match day tickets are going to be expensive for Championship football and that worries me.

Once relegated he should have reverted the season ticket prices back to last years. An extra £109.00 to watch championship football for some people was to much for them to afford.
In his place I would put season tickets back on sale at last years prices and give the people who have paid the extra money a voucher to the value their seat has gone up off next seasons ticket.

To Annis: Somewhat agree with you on that point. Be curious to see if the club try to push match day ticket office sales to the new stand, but I'm not even sure how they could really manage that without charging much less per game than what the current season ticket holders will be paying up there (was it £580 or was it higher?). Either way, if I was a season ticket holder on that stand, I'd be keeping an eye on how much the club are charging people to sit there each week, personally.

Because City have increased the price of season tickets, match day tickets are going to be expensive for Championship football and that worries me.

Once relegated he should have reverted the season ticket prices back to last years. An extra £109.00 to watch championship football for some people was to much for them to afford.
In his place I would put season tickets back on sale at last years prices and give the people who have paid the extra money a voucher to the value their seat has gone up off next seasons ticket.

Spot on Steve and if u check with Steve Borley you will find it was Tans idea to increase the prices and his alone.

Made that point at the time. Its insanity and smacks of a businessman that really does nit know his field of work. That decision also highlights the lack of "football men" around him.

How many ST's have been sold?

This is the last year of the price freeze yes? I think attendance fanatics will be shuddering should you fail to be promoted this year .

To Annis: Somewhat agree with you on that point. Be curious to see if the club try to push match day ticket office sales to the new stand, but I'm not even sure how they could really manage that without charging much less per game than what the current season ticket holders will be paying up there (was it £580 or was it higher?). Either way, if I was a season ticket holder on that stand, I'd be keeping an eye on how much the club are charging people to sit there each week, personally.

Because City have increased the price of season tickets, match day tickets are going to be expensive for Championship football and that worries me.

worries me too.............i honestly thought they might have made an adjustment to price, i might be wrong,but dont think it would have cost a lot to lower the price and do refunds to those already bought.....id have thought the vast majority are on price freeze anyway

City got this one wrong big time in my opinion, South Wales is not a rich area and it is Championship football.

do you have any idea what the breakdown of STs is.......price freeze..and full price.......i cant imagine much more than 2000 at full price, might be wrong........but a 50 quid refund to 2000 people is £100,000........that would give the club a bit of lee way for match days

Made that point at the time. Its insanity and smacks of a businessman that really does nit know his field of work. That decision also highlights the lack of "football men" around him.

How many ST's have been sold?

piss off on planet swamp roathy

piss off on planet swamp roathy

Good one chubs

Made that point at the time. Its insanity and smacks of a businessman that really does nit know his field of work. That decision also highlights the lack of "football men" around him.

How many ST's have been sold?

This is the last year of the price freeze yes? I think attendance fanatics will be shuddering should you fail to be promoted this year .

how the f**k havent they banned you

To Annis: Somewhat agree with you on that point. Be curious to see if the club try to push match day ticket office sales to the new stand, but I'm not even sure how they could really manage that without charging much less per game than what the current season ticket holders will be paying up there (was it £580 or was it higher?). Either way, if I was a season ticket holder on that stand, I'd be keeping an eye on how much the club are charging people to sit there each week, personally.

Because City have increased the price of season tickets, match day tickets are going to be expensive for Championship football and that worries me.

Once relegated he should have reverted the season ticket prices back to last years. An extra £109.00 to watch championship football for some people was to much for them to afford.
In his place I would put season tickets back on sale at last years prices and give the people who have paid the extra money a voucher to the value their seat has gone up off next seasons ticket.

Spot on Steve and if u check with Steve Borley you will find it was Tans idea to increase the prices and his alone.

Yes I know annis and he put the premier lounge tickets up by 30% as well. In fairness though he would only have put them up after checking " god was willing"

To Annis: Somewhat agree with you on that point. Be curious to see if the club try to push match day ticket office sales to the new stand, but I'm not even sure how they could really manage that without charging much less per game than what the current season ticket holders will be paying up there (was it £580 or was it higher?). Either way, if I was a season ticket holder on that stand, I'd be keeping an eye on how much the club are charging people to sit there each week, personally.

Because City have increased the price of season tickets, match day tickets are going to be expensive for Championship football and that worries me.

worries me too.............i honestly thought they might have made an adjustment to price, i might be wrong,but dont think it would have cost a lot to lower the price and do refunds to those already bought.....id have thought the vast majority are on price freeze anyway

City got this one wrong big time in my opinion, South Wales is not a rich area and it is Championship football.

do you have any idea what the breakdown of STs is.......price freeze..and full price.......i cant imagine much more than 2000 at full price, might be wrong........but a 50 quid refund to 2000 people is £100,000........that would give the club a bit of lee way for match days

I dont, I just know by the end of May it was 14,000 including Premier Seats, but you never know in June more sales? we had new signings.

Made that point at the time. Its insanity and smacks of a businessman that really does nit know his field of work. That decision also highlights the lack of "football men" around him.

How many ST's have been sold?

This is the last year of the price freeze yes? I think attendance fanatics will be shuddering should you fail to be promoted this year .

how the f**k havent they banned you

How haven't who banned me? And for what?

Which part do you disagree with then?

To Annis: Somewhat agree with you on that point. Be curious to see if the club try to push match day ticket office sales to the new stand, but I'm not even sure how they could really manage that without charging much less per game than what the current season ticket holders will be paying up there (was it £580 or was it higher?). Either way, if I was a season ticket holder on that stand, I'd be keeping an eye on how much the club are charging people to sit there each week, personally.

Because City have increased the price of season tickets, match day tickets are going to be expensive for Championship football and that worries me.

Once relegated he should have reverted the season ticket prices back to last years. An extra £109.00 to watch championship football for some people was to much for them to afford.
In his place I would put season tickets back on sale at last years prices and give the people who have paid the extra money a voucher to the value their seat has gone up off next seasons ticket.

or even the money back Steve............

Made that point at the time. Its insanity and smacks of a businessman that really does nit know his field of work. That decision also highlights the lack of "football men" around him.

How many ST's have been sold?

This is the last year of the price freeze yes? I think attendance fanatics will be shuddering should you fail to be promoted this year .

how the f**k havent they banned you

How haven't who banned me? And for what?

Which part do you disagree with then?

calling people peados

Made that point at the time. Its insanity and smacks of a businessman that really does nit know his field of work. That decision also highlights the lack of "football men" around him.

How many ST's have been sold?

This is the last year of the price freeze yes? I think attendance fanatics will be shuddering should you fail to be promoted this year .

how the f**k havent they banned you

How haven't who banned me? And for what?

Which part do you disagree with then?

calling people peados

Read the post again and tell me where i did that

Gave up after the first paragraph as it's mostly inaccurate again!