Well, they've both had crap starts to the season.
Hammam building his Real Madrid
By Tony Francis
Welcome to Cardiff City football club. For ticket office press one. For football in the community press two. For an audience with the Prophet, go to sponsor's lounge and keep your fingers crossed. I did as I was told. Sure enough, Sam Hammam materialised bearing a plate of cheese sandwiches. It was his way of saying sorry for being late.
He cupped his ear in the direction of the stand above us where supporters were warming up for the clash with Leeds United which ended in a 0-0 draw. "Do you hear that? They're singing Men of Harlech. It proves my point. This isn't a football club, it's an entity. A nation." Um, a Lebanese Londoner with Wales in his blood takes some getting used to.
I'd crossed the Severn Bridge to find out how deep the crisis was at Ninian Park. Seven defeats in the first 11 games suggested the play-offs were already out of reach. Half-an-hour with Hammam rendered such thoughts superfluous.
"Whether we get promoted or relegated this season doesn't matter. I have a 20-year plan and we are only four years into it." What plan was that? "To make Cardiff as big as Manchester United or Real Madrid. The trees have been planted, the forest will grow. Have another sandwich."
Couldn't he short-circuit the system like Roman Abramovich? "We're not in a position to do that. We don't have Chelsea Village behind us. We don't have a proper stadium. We haven't harnessed all the energy out there. It takes time."
It could take for ever if Andy Campbell treats penalties the way he did against Leeds. Even without Neil Sullivan in goal it would have struggled to cross the line. There is no doubt Cardiff have stiffened their resolve, Gary O'Neil looks a good acquisition and Jobi McAnuff will have a big influence.
The trouble is, when you have only scored two goals at home you don't know where the next one is coming from. The chairman hovered between the dugout and directors' box, resisting the temptation to walk around the pitch and fraternise with his public. Not after what happened last time these teams met in the FA Cup.
He did, however, give Cardiff substitute, Cameron Jerome a bear-hug before he made his first team debut late in the game. Still raw and only 17, Jerome represents a future Hammam understands: "We can't afford Ronaldo or Zidane but we can manufacture our own."
As if to echo that, Cardiff Under-18s beat Arsenal and Chelsea last week. Shades of Wimbledon again. When Hammam stumbled into football by accident, it was Dario Gradi who convinced him that youth was the only sensible investment. It created £40 million at Plough Lane. To an astute businessman, that was a sweet symphony.
Sweeter than the chant which replaced "Men of Harlech" before the game was 10 minutes old. Hammam had warned me about nationalistic fervour. He has encouraged it by redesigning the club logo to include the flag of St David. Even so it was surprising to hear the crowd sing "Stand up if you hate England."
This Welsh desire to announce themselves excited Hammam. He sees a parallel between Cardiff City and Barcelona who are a conduit for the Catalans. He feels passionately for his adopted homeland: "Historically we were driven to the extremities by the English. We have a Prince of Wales who supports England. What sense does that make?
"We've hit an oil well here. We have to extract it and purify it but just you wait." The bottom-of-the-table confrontation with Rotherham next week seemed trivial to bring up.
Hammam building his Real Madrid
By Tony Francis
Welcome to Cardiff City football club. For ticket office press one. For football in the community press two. For an audience with the Prophet, go to sponsor's lounge and keep your fingers crossed. I did as I was told. Sure enough, Sam Hammam materialised bearing a plate of cheese sandwiches. It was his way of saying sorry for being late.
He cupped his ear in the direction of the stand above us where supporters were warming up for the clash with Leeds United which ended in a 0-0 draw. "Do you hear that? They're singing Men of Harlech. It proves my point. This isn't a football club, it's an entity. A nation." Um, a Lebanese Londoner with Wales in his blood takes some getting used to.
I'd crossed the Severn Bridge to find out how deep the crisis was at Ninian Park. Seven defeats in the first 11 games suggested the play-offs were already out of reach. Half-an-hour with Hammam rendered such thoughts superfluous.
"Whether we get promoted or relegated this season doesn't matter. I have a 20-year plan and we are only four years into it." What plan was that? "To make Cardiff as big as Manchester United or Real Madrid. The trees have been planted, the forest will grow. Have another sandwich."
Couldn't he short-circuit the system like Roman Abramovich? "We're not in a position to do that. We don't have Chelsea Village behind us. We don't have a proper stadium. We haven't harnessed all the energy out there. It takes time."
It could take for ever if Andy Campbell treats penalties the way he did against Leeds. Even without Neil Sullivan in goal it would have struggled to cross the line. There is no doubt Cardiff have stiffened their resolve, Gary O'Neil looks a good acquisition and Jobi McAnuff will have a big influence.
The trouble is, when you have only scored two goals at home you don't know where the next one is coming from. The chairman hovered between the dugout and directors' box, resisting the temptation to walk around the pitch and fraternise with his public. Not after what happened last time these teams met in the FA Cup.
He did, however, give Cardiff substitute, Cameron Jerome a bear-hug before he made his first team debut late in the game. Still raw and only 17, Jerome represents a future Hammam understands: "We can't afford Ronaldo or Zidane but we can manufacture our own."
As if to echo that, Cardiff Under-18s beat Arsenal and Chelsea last week. Shades of Wimbledon again. When Hammam stumbled into football by accident, it was Dario Gradi who convinced him that youth was the only sensible investment. It created £40 million at Plough Lane. To an astute businessman, that was a sweet symphony.
Sweeter than the chant which replaced "Men of Harlech" before the game was 10 minutes old. Hammam had warned me about nationalistic fervour. He has encouraged it by redesigning the club logo to include the flag of St David. Even so it was surprising to hear the crowd sing "Stand up if you hate England."
This Welsh desire to announce themselves excited Hammam. He sees a parallel between Cardiff City and Barcelona who are a conduit for the Catalans. He feels passionately for his adopted homeland: "Historically we were driven to the extremities by the English. We have a Prince of Wales who supports England. What sense does that make?
"We've hit an oil well here. We have to extract it and purify it but just you wait." The bottom-of-the-table confrontation with Rotherham next week seemed trivial to bring up.
