Friday 5 April 2013

Cardiff... it's been a while.

We've had several brilliant blog posts from some top contributors over the past month, but now ForzaSwansea editor CHRIS CARRA returns with a post of his own, discussing the likelihood of Swansea City's biggest rivals making the leap into the Premier League


There is no point hiding the fact that most Swansea City fans have been keeping a close eye on the Championship table recently and not for nostalgic reasons. It's about time we addressed the possibility of sharing the Premier League with another Welsh team next season.

We've seen how many times Cardiff have thrown away the opportunity to propel themselves to the top flight, usually in the most painful way - the play-offs. However this season it looks almost inevitable that they will finally be successful in their attempt.

With seven games to go, the Red Dragons are seven points clear at the top of the table and have a game in hand. The teams that can stop them all seem to be slipping up. This year seems to be the year Swansea City's greatest rivals will shake off the bluebottles label. But is it a bad thing?

Instantly I would say yes. It is ingrained in Swansea fans that we do not want Cardiff to succeed. They don't want Swansea to succeed. How many Cardiff fans were cheering us on in the play-off final? How many were willing us to beat Man City, Arsenal and Chelsea? None (or a very few odd ones). Yes, the rivalry between the clubs and the fans is historically mental.

However Cardiff being promoted would see the return of the South Wales derby which is certainly one to be celebrated, and is up there with the best 90 minute rivalries in the world - Italy vs. Brazil, Real Madrid vs. Barcelona and Shenzhen Xiangxue Eisiti vs. Guangzhou Pharmaceutical F.C. (I've discussed this before - it is an actual derby, albeit less media friendly as others).

It's been a while since the last one - we have to go back to February 6th, 2011 when Brendan Rodgers was still wooing us with David Brent-isms and Yves Ma-Kalambay was making an impact on the bench. Cardiff came down to the Liberty Stadium and won 1-0 in a match where they were hungrier for the win (though a few poor refereeing decisions helped their case). We were close to witnessing a South Wales derby in the play-off final later that season but thankfully that was an M4 bubble match that didn't happen.

And this time around the derby will be on the biggest stage - probably a Super Sunday 3D affair! The whole world will have the opportunity to watch, including the newer fans that Swansea have collected over the last few seasons.

Some may say Cardiff's promotion is good for Welsh football but I don't fully buy into it. Unless it's a team bursting with Welshmen it won't do that much good - not as good as Swansea's promotion anyway. Apart from Craig Bellamy, Cardiff don't have much Welsh talent to brag about and less to develop. Yes some of the younger reserve players may fall into the same category as Ashley Williams, Ben Davies, Joe Allen, Neil Taylor, but with only Bellamy in the first team it won't be groundbreaking move.

Ultimately if Cardiff do achieve promotion they deserve it. They've played well enough throughout the season and look to be making the step up as champions of the second tier. While no-one in Swansea will applaud, no one should really begrudge.

Besides, they will probably be relegated anyway.

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Aus readers who fancy football tipping should have a look at TABs footy tipping website.

14 comments:

  1. Hahah an amusing post...YeAh am a cardiff fan and yes i wished you doom n gloom when you got promoted..But as i watched you not get thrashed over the months,and saw the style of footy you have been playing,i applaud you and not begrudgingly as well. You have done the business well.
    Cant see us beating you in our first derby as we bed in to the premier,with our current championship team,but that will probably change as i see our premier squad build,,
    Be great to beat you on a world stage,and can have a bigger gloat,coz the world will see it as well.

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    1. Ha fair enough - it's one of the best derbies in the world and I can imagine the atmosphere as it's played out on the world stage will be electric. See you next season then!

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  2. I hear tickets for the derby are already pre sold to 'new fans' wearing the red of Cardiff ;-)

    I've seen a few of their games this season and have not been overly impressed with the standard of football dished out by Malky's boys, much improvement is necessary for survival methinks!

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  3. C u sn scumsea we r the pride of Wales and don't forget. Ur glory hunting fans that have amazingly wouldn't come wen u were a championship side can now c what our loyal fans r like and maybe wen u go bk down they can support man u again hahaha .... Where cardiff city we will always be blue

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    1. Ha, only a Cardiff fan can write as bad as you!

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    2. pride of wales lol you should be a comedian we will always be blue should tell your chairman that lol how many people around the globe have heard of Cardiff city I mean Cardiff dragons lol not many so see you next season unless you bottle it again and we all apologise here at swansea for moving from the sea front we all know how much you all loved to jump in for a swim but don't worry u can all jump in the tawe instead so don't forget your RED speedos.forgot to say we will send you all a postcard when in Europe :-)

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    3. Ohhhh r you a Liverpool fan that realized its easier to watch Swansea than liverpool just remember we get better attendances in the championship than u get in prem hahhahahha glory fans up always be until u get relegated then bk to ur 13 thousand fans again loooosers

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    4. if you do make it to the prem which I hope u do easy 6 points for us,u will have to get rid of all your players because they are not premier league class....and having so many new players takes time to gel and in the prem you aint got time for that so you will be in the championship again very soon.the liberty will be 32,500 soon and that still aint big enough for the jack army you go on about attendances but we have been in the prem for the last 2 seasons and going to be next year too your just a championship club and always will be.enjoy the prem while it lasts because you will be losing to Peterborough again very soon

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    5. I thought you was a Liverpool fan or did you get mixed up because they play in the same colours,and yes I have been to anfield this season to watch the fast flowing football we played when we knocked Liverpool out of the cup.the last time you won something everything was in black and white lol

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  4. SWANSEA TOWN, SWANSEA TOWN, 6 FINGER SWANSEA TOWN. Do you really think you can beat us next year. with 25m to spend we will take the prem by storm blooooooobirdssssssss!!!!!!!

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    1. don't forget to pay all your debts first and its the dragons not bluebirds you p@?<k

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  5. Spending money is the key to success in the prem, just ask QPR

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  6. WE ARE THE CAPITAL OF WALES WE ARE THE PRIDE OF WALES WE WILL DOMINATE PREMIER LEAGUE WE ARE CARDIFF CITY SO YOU SWANSEA/ENGLISH/SPANISH TEAM CAN GET LOST AND GET RELEGATED NEXT SEASON ITS ALL ABOUT SPENDING IN THE PREM CMON CARDIFF.

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    1. you have been spending for years and your still in the championship....if you are that good why not in prem now? keep dreaming boy and if you do make it, make the most of it you will b back playing championship football after next season

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