An article from Pompeytim looking at our former FA cup final opponents Cardiff, what with them going through some strange times! Who is really better off? Read on for more.
A few years ago two teams met in the FA Cup final. Portsmouth were the Premier League side packed full of stars & very much the favourites to beat the Championship side, Cardiff. And they did.
Fast forward to a cold December in 2013 & the scene has changed. Portsmouth’s stars have long since left town. The club now plays Accrington Stanley & are looking worriedly at the table due to fears of yet another relegation to the Conference. The club still plays in the “characterful” Fratton Park & rents its training ground. It is not allowed to pay a fee for any players & makes do on freebies & loans.
Meanwhile Cardiff, in their shiny new stadium, sit outside the relegation places in the Premier League. They have recently spent £11m on one player as part of a £50m strengthening.
So, it’s a no-brainer. Cardiff are in the better position. No doubt.
Or is there?
The price of the investment from their benefactor Vincent Tan is complete obedience. Tan wanted to break with a century of tradition & change the club colours from Blue to Red. What Tan wants, he gets.
Tan decides that a much respected manager, MacKay, is spending too much money so sacks the head scout & replaces him with a friend of his son.
Tan decides that MacKay has said too much so now faces the sack despite cup success, promotion & a decent chance of first year Premier League survival.
Pompey on the other hand are owned by the fans & slow but sure steps are being taken to rebuild trust & integrity. There is no chance of a red home kit any time soon.
So, the question is, who really is better off? Would you swap Pompey’s lot for Cardiff’s?
Written by Pompeytim and originally posted in the VP forum – click here…
The views within this article are the views of the individual who wrote and submitted this piece, sometimes solely theirs. They are not necessarily shared by the Vital Pompey Site Journalists.
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