Cardiff City fans protesting against the red At the end of a season where our megalomaniac owner sacked an excellent head of recruitment and then a successful manager....
At the end of a season where we have plummeted from outside the relegation zone under Malky Mackay, to the bottom of the Premier under Ole Gunnar Solskaer....
At the end of a season where we have been divided as never before : between those who boycotted the club, those who only wore blue and the majority (at the season's beginning) who embraced the red....
At the end of such a disastrous season, how is a Bluebird fanatic like myself supposed to be optimistic?
If Solskaer remains (as seems likely) I have serious doubts whether we have any chance of promotion from the Championship, even with the hefty 'parachute' payment.
I don't need to dwell on all his faults, just read Brian Davies's fan's-eye view on Walesonline for a telling analysis.
To summarize, we've moved rapidly backwards and downwards under Ole with poor team selection, tactics, motivation and signings (with the possible exceptions of Daehli and Cala).
Yet, what has happened to our fans this season is remarkable : a total transformation!
Many Cardiff fans have become ardent supporters over recent years. Ninian Park used to average about 13,000, which leaves around 10,000 who have known nothing except success, or the near-thing.
These fans in particular, had bought completely Tan's red dream, their arguments being the same as Bellamy's when he joined us i.e. 'It doesn't matter if we play in pink, as long as we're successful!' (note : Bellers is a Liverpool fan!).
This season, relatively rapidly, as we dropped down the league and after Moody and Malky were jettisoned for no good reason other than the owner's arrogance, our fans have increasingly worn the blue and joined the protests.
Adversity, failure and a dictatorial regime has united us.
The club shop in Cardiff centre sells red produce and is invariably empty ,while shops under the stands sell almost entirely blue and retro scarves are very popular. On 19 minutes 27 seconds, every game they are raised to celebrate that important moment in our club's history.
Even a friend who was once a staunch defender of Tan, actually wore an old jacket with a Bluebirds crest to the last home game.
The CCFC Supporters' Trust has called for Vincent Tan to create a feel -good factor and change back to blue.
I doubt he will. Like getting rid of Solskaer, it would be an admission of defeat and he doesn't operate like that.
He's used to total adulation in Malaysia : witness his mass birthday party and the huge dragon cake the size of Kenwyne Jones's pay packet!
He's more likely to repeat his dictum - ' If you don't like what I'm doing, find another owner!'
Yet his mad plans go ahead, with a 5000-seater stand being built with prices similar to the Grandstand. Chances are it will be empty all next season.
It could be called the Etien Velikonja Stand in honour of the player Tan signed without Malky's knowledge and who has been a very expensive disaster.
The present unity among Bluebirds fans is the most positive aspect of the whole season ( along with Marshall's goalkeeping).
This was symbolized by the March for Blue before the Liverpool home game on March 22nd.
All the supporters' organisations helped to get people there and thousands turned up to parade from Canton to the stadium.
The mood was good-humoured and exhibited the best side of our fans. I couldn't help thinking how many of there had begun the season wearing red.
If fans are so fickle, what's to stop many changing back?
Surely, they can be bought off again by Tan's millions and a degree of success?
Well, I'd like to think there's no turning back. Tan and his entourage look lonely and isolated decked in red and the players must've felt very uneasy.
As to myself, like many others I shall keep on marching and campaigning for our true identity to be restored.
A football club is like a family and our family history has been despoiled. The Bluebird, in all its mystery, must fly again.
MARCHING FOR BLUE
'You shall not pass!'
he boomed, standing in front
of the car with inside adorned
in Liverpool regalia, the occupants
local yet red-shirted,
boy with GERRARD on his back.
'Support your local team!'
another shouted at them,
with even their reg. declaring LFC.
'You shall not pass!'
'Brian Blessed' my friend laughed
and all the way from the Admiral Napier
to our blue and white stadium
we chanted and halted the cars.
Not one red shirt to be seen
and even in the Executive windows
a scarf from the 60s hung
and our owner's 10 per cent
sounded like some politician
inventing stats to save his skin.
We were like a large family
brought together for a ceremony;
on historical 19 minutes 27 seconds
we raised our colours and sang,
after Ali had announced in welcome
ADAR GLEISION once again.
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