Are you bothered?

[Rock_Flock_of_Five]

Re: Are you bothered?

Same here. Not bothered at all.

Yesterday evening I went to watch Trethomas Bluebirds play Cambrian and Clydach with my lad. Nice welcome when I bought my ticket and said we'd never been there before. Coffee and crisps at half time for around £6 for us both. It was a relatively drab 0-0 in the end but as a complete neutral it was a more enjoyable watch than many a City game has been for years.

You described it as being "relatively drab". With that in mind, and given the fact that you had no emotional attachment to either side, what made it an enjoyable watch for you?

[Eric the Half a Bee]

Re: Are you bothered?

You described it as being "relatively drab". With that in mind, and given the fact that you had no emotional attachment to either side, what made it an enjoyable watch for you?

Interesting question and one that deserves thinking about and a decent answer.

The game itself was pretty bereft of goal mouth action, I don't think either keeper had more than a routine save to make, and there weren't many of those. So what made such a game a relatively enjoyable one? I've been to dozens of Welsh league games over the years, hardly a regular but I know roughly what to expect. I've seen some really dire stuff amongst all of that!

I think the lack of attachment is one thing. No getting wound up when players make basic mistakes. No feeling of needing to win. No feeling of "here we go again".

Both sides had a go at each other and tried to play football. Yes, they're not Championship footballers but, all things being relative, there was enough skill on display, some excellent passing, pace in attack, just it was one of those games where neither side could quite find the final ball. Trethomas played some quite intricate football at times but were let down by a misplaced pass at times. Cambrian were more direct at times but both kept the ball on the floor without much passing just for the sake of it. Both sides tried to get players forward as much as they could. No theatrics, no cheating. One thing I notice about football at this level is how much you can hear the players instructing each other. Cambrian's captain kept yelling encouragement to his team throughout the second half. Of course the football is never going to be of the standard of a football league game, but that's never been something that's bothered me much.

One of my favourite non league moments was in Fraserburgh a few years ago. Their assistant used the F word between virtually every other word and kept telling their players they were crap throughout the game. At one point Fraserburgh had an attack and someone had the ball about 30 yards from goal. This assistant yells to tell the player not to shoot, but this is ignored by the player. The assistant calls him a wanker and kicks over trays of water bottles. Meanwhile, the long range effort finds the top corner!

[Rock_Flock_of_Five]

Re: Are you bothered?

Interesting question and one that deserves thinking about and a decent answer.

The game itself was pretty bereft of goal mouth action, I don't think either keeper had more than a routine save to make, and there weren't many of those. So what made such a game a relatively enjoyable one? I've been to dozens of Welsh league games over the years, hardly a regular but I know roughly what to expect. I've seen some really dire stuff amongst all of that!

I think the lack of attachment is one thing. No getting wound up when players make basic mistakes. No feeling of needing to win. No feeling of "here we go again".

Both sides had a go at each other and tried to play football. Yes, they're not Championship footballers but, all things being relative, there was enough skill on display, some excellent passing, pace in attack, just it was one of those games where neither side could quite find the final ball. Trethomas played some quite intricate football at times but were let down by a misplaced pass at times. Cambrian were more direct at times but both kept the ball on the floor without much passing just for the sake of it. Both sides tried to get players forward as much as they could. No theatrics, no cheating. One thing I notice about football at this level is how much you can hear the players instructing each other. Cambrian's captain kept yelling encouragement to his team throughout the second half. Of course the football is never going to be of the standard of a football league game, but that's never been something that's bothered me much.

One of my favourite non league moments was in Fraserburgh a few years ago. Their assistant used the F word between virtually every other word and kept telling their players they were crap throughout the game. At one point Fraserburgh had an attack and someone had the ball about 30 yards from goal. This assistant yells to tell the player not to shoot, but this is ignored by the player. The assistant calls him a wanker and kicks over trays of water bottles. Meanwhile, the long range effort finds the top corner!

Interesting, and a good reply!

After I'd been to my first City game back in '68, I never really attended any kind of grassroots games, not similar to the experience you had visiting a Cymru South fixture, for sure.
But I remember in the 70s, City's away game at Bolton Wanderers was called off just as we arrived outside the stadium.
We ended up attending Rochdale vs Darlington in the old Fourth Division.
Naturally, the 400 or so City supporters there that day had no affinity to either side.
Nevertheless, it was an interesting experience. Being able to walk freely around all four sides of the ground, hearing the players shouting for the ball (as you said), large weeds growing from the cracks in the terraces, the pitifully small floodlights (City's were amongst the biggest in the league) and, despite our presence, a noticeable lack of police.
The whole experience was rather 'homely' and chilled.
Of course, City were to get first-hand experience of this themselves when they later slipped into the basement.

[Kerkyra Blue]

Re: Are you bothered?

Fu@k me ! What a bunch of miserable old gits . It's a game !!! Enjoy the good moments . Be a little positive . We have some really promising young players in the squad and more coming through . I would be very disappointed IF we go down but I will still watch every single game , unfortunately on the TV as I have moved abroad . My car is plastered with city stickers and have persuaded many locals to take an interest . I'm like a missionary

[Bluebirdman Of Alcathays]

Re: Are you bothered?

Que sera sera. I might be a tad bothered when we sell Ashford and Colwill to Wrexham.

[City123]

Re: Are you bothered?

It'd be pretty embarrassing being overtaken by Wrexham

[Tuerto]

Re: Are you bothered?

It'd be pretty embarrassing being overtaken by Wrexham

Would it be 'Good for Welsh football' i'm confused....

[NYCBlue]

Re: Are you bothered?

Would it be 'Good for Welsh football' i'm confused....

[FormerlyJohnnyBreadhead]

Re: Are you bothered?

It'd be pretty embarrassing being overtaken by Wrexham

When I first started going to watch City in the mid 90s they were usually in the division above us, so it feels like the natural order being restored to me

Like others have said, I'm not as arsed as I would have been 15 years ago, and I think there are a number of reasons for that.

The most obvious is that, if we do stay up, it'll continue to be exactly the same again next year. The same culture of mediocrity and apathy, the same hope that there's 3 worse teams than us, and probably another drop of 2k or 3k on the gate. The same idiots making the same bad decisions like clockwork. Some fans will cling to the hope that a corner is being turned, but most of us know something drastic needs to happen to break that cycle.

It's not just the club, though. As I get older and I have other responsibilities, other passions, other things in my life, the City just feel a lot less... important than they used to. They don't make or break my weekend any more. Wins don't feel that high, defeats don't feel so low. Don't get me wrong, I still watch all our matches - and I still will (regardless of what division we're in) - but more as a dutiful spouse than because there's any real spark there.

I also think that, in football in general, people are craving a different experience. Someone mentioned going to watch Trethomas; in other threads people have talked about going to watch Merthyr. After COVID, I got into groundhopping and I've had some great experiences going to smaller grounds at home and abroad. This is more of a general trend (if you look at the figures, non-league attendances across the UK have been steadily growing for a while), but when you couple it with what City have been offering up the last 4 years, it's no surprise that people are becoming disengaged and looking for something more authentic and less stressful.

Finally, for me at least, in the grand perspective of things, it's just not that big a deal. The club will still exist. We might be stuck there for 10 years, we might go straight back up. Frankly, there are more important things going on in the world. Even in purely football terms, it's not the pits. Almost everyone on this board has seen us finish 21st in the fourth tier, and get pumped by the likes of Enfield and Barry Town. It would be nowhere near our lowest point. Just as playing in the Premier League - our supposedly highest - wasn't all it was cracked up to be either.

So no, I'm not that bothered. Life will go on.

[North Cardiff Blue]

Re: Are you bothered?

Am I bovered tho

[Captain_Sensible]

Re: Are you bothered?

When I first started going to watch City in the mid 90s they were usually in the division above us, so it feels like the natural order being restored to me

Like others have said, I'm not as arsed as I would have been 15 years ago, and I think there are a number of reasons for that.

The most obvious is that, if we do stay up, it'll continue to be exactly the same again next year. The same culture of mediocrity and apathy, the same hope that there's 3 worse teams than us, and probably another drop of 2k or 3k on the gate. The same idiots making the same bad decisions like clockwork. Some fans will cling to the hope that a corner is being turned, but most of us know something drastic needs to happen to break that cycle.

It's not just the club, though. As I get older and I have other responsibilities, other passions, other things in my life, the City just feel a lot less... important than they used to. They don't make or break my weekend any more. Wins don't feel that high, defeats don't feel so low. Don't get me wrong, I still watch all our matches - and I still will (regardless of what division we're in) - but more as a dutiful spouse than because there's any real spark there.

I also think that, in football in general, people are craving a different experience. Someone mentioned going to watch Trethomas; in other threads people have talked about going to watch Merthyr. After COVID, I got into groundhopping and I've had some great experiences going to smaller grounds at home and abroad. This is more of a general trend (if you look at the figures, non-league attendances across the UK have been steadily growing for a while), but when you couple it with what City have been offering up the last 4 years, it's no surprise that people are becoming disengaged and looking for something more authentic and less stressful.

Finally, for me at least, in the grand perspective of things, it's just not that big a deal. The club will still exist. We might be stuck there for 10 years, we might go straight back up. Frankly, there are more important things going on in the world. Even in purely football terms, it's not the pits. Almost everyone on this board has seen us finish 21st in the fourth tier, and get pumped by the likes of Enfield and Barry Town. It would be nowhere near our lowest point. Just as playing in the Premier League - our supposedly highest - wasn't all it was cracked up to be either.

So no, I'm not that bothered. Life will go on.

Great post. Thank you for this.

[North Cardiff Blue]

Re: Are you bothered?

When I first started going to watch City in the mid 90s they were usually in the division above us, so it feels like the natural order being restored to me

Like others have said, I'm not as arsed as I would have been 15 years ago, and I think there are a number of reasons for that.

The most obvious is that, if we do stay up, it'll continue to be exactly the same again next year. The same culture of mediocrity and apathy, the same hope that there's 3 worse teams than us, and probably another drop of 2k or 3k on the gate. The same idiots making the same bad decisions like clockwork. Some fans will cling to the hope that a corner is being turned, but most of us know something drastic needs to happen to break that cycle.

It's not just the club, though. As I get older and I have other responsibilities, other passions, other things in my life, the City just feel a lot less... important than they used to. They don't make or break my weekend any more. Wins don't feel that high, defeats don't feel so low. Don't get me wrong, I still watch all our matches - and I still will (regardless of what division we're in) - but more as a dutiful spouse than because there's any real spark there.

I also think that, in football in general, people are craving a different experience. Someone mentioned going to watch Trethomas; in other threads people have talked about going to watch Merthyr. After COVID, I got into groundhopping and I've had some great experiences going to smaller grounds at home and abroad. This is more of a general trend (if you look at the figures, non-league attendances across the UK have been steadily growing for a while), but when you couple it with what City have been offering up the last 4 years, it's no surprise that people are becoming disengaged and looking for something more authentic and less stressful.

Finally, for me at least, in the grand perspective of things, it's just not that big a deal. The club will still exist. We might be stuck there for 10 years, we might go straight back up. Frankly, there are more important things going on in the world. Even in purely football terms, it's not the pits. Almost everyone on this board has seen us finish 21st in the fourth tier, and get pumped by the likes of Enfield and Barry Town. It would be nowhere near our lowest point. Just as playing in the Premier League - our supposedly highest - wasn't all it was cracked up to be either.

So no, I'm not that bothered. Life will go on.

Great post, good perspective

[Undercoverinwurzelland]

Re: Are you bothered?

I started watching Cardiff City in the early 90s. For most of the time until our promotion in 2003 we were shite, but we did have the one thing that keeps most football fans going - hope. No matter what crap was going on, on and off the pitch, there was always next season and things might be better.
Now though, whether we stay up or go down, very few of us can see anything improving, as long as Vincent Tan owns the club and Dalman and Choo are "running" it. That's why we I think, many of us aren't bothered about possible relegation, and why some of us are watching non-league football instead.
Until Tan, Dalman and Choo go, the hope won't come back.

[Eric the Half a Bee]

Re: Are you bothered?

Just as playing in the Premier League - our supposedly highest - wasn't all it was cracked up to be either.

Thought all of your post was spot on, but this particularly struck me. I wonder sometimes if we'd have stayed up and given the league a bit of a go if we'd think differently in retrospect. I bet, for example, Swansea fans would have a much higher opinion of their time in that division. For several seasons we knocked on the door, failed several times to get in, but I think we were hungry to get into the PL, especially after Swansea made it before us. Now we've seen just about everything - all 4 divisions, FA and league cup finals, there aren't many grounds we haven't visited or teams we haven't played in the English league. That obviously doesn't apply to younger fans, of which there aren't many on here (when I say younger, I'm thinking in their 20s). It would be interesting to see how the younger generation see things and their view on where we are, where they'd like us to be and so on. It's an interesting perspective to think that I was 25 when we beat QPR in the playoff final. Then, promotion to the second tier seemed like a dream come true - I'd never known us as high as that in the pyramid before. Now I realise the second tier isn't all it's cracked up to be, neither is the PL. It certainly seems to matter less as I've got older.

[Don Corleone]

Re: Are you bothered?

Thought all of your post was spot on, but this particularly struck me. I wonder sometimes if we'd have stayed up and given the league a bit of a go if we'd think differently in retrospect. I bet, for example, Swansea fans would have a much higher opinion of their time in that division. For several seasons we knocked on the door, failed several times to get in, but I think we were hungry to get into the PL, especially after Swansea made it before us. Now we've seen just about everything - all 4 divisions, FA and league cup finals, there aren't many grounds we haven't visited or teams we haven't played in the English league. That obviously doesn't apply to younger fans, of which there aren't many on here (when I say younger, I'm thinking in their 20s). It would be interesting to see how the younger generation see things and their view on where we are, where they'd like us to be and so on. It's an interesting perspective to think that I was 25 when we beat QPR in the playoff final. Then, promotion to the second tier seemed like a dream come true - I'd never known us as high as that in the pyramid before. Now I realise the second tier isn't all it's cracked up to be, neither is the PL. It certainly seems to matter less as I've got older.

All fell apart with the Blackpool final defeat! Up to that point we were all aboard the Cardiff city train, each season was getting better, we had a front 3 of Bothroyd Chopra and McCormack with the likes of Whittingham , McPhail and Lesley behind them. It was an exciting journey up the leagues , especially for those of us who had followed through the depressing 70s /80s and we all would have loved to have seen that team in the Premier league, it would have been a blast, probably a messy blast but fun nonetheless.

The defeat to Blackpool knocked all of us hard then Uncle Vince turned us red and from there on in , despite a one season oasis with promotion under Warnock back in blue with a bunch of very hard working players, it’s all been pretty miserable fayre and now I think it’s very hard for any of us to regain the “innocence” of those days before Tan .

It’s not beyond hope that someone with enthusiasm takes over the club, re-engages with the fans with a progressive manager and we have a team peppered with exciting ex academy players that might re-ignite the fuse within our dwindling passion for the club but that all seems some distance off right now.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m desperate to see us stay up and will celebrate enthusiastically if we do but that all consuming passion has certainly waned a lot in recent times!