Programme Propaganda Right, I don't nomally write things this long in posts but here goes... I've had this feeling for a while that the matchday programme spouts a load of propaganda. This is really starting to annoy me everytime I read it. This might be a controversial opinion to have, as I can imagine that the offcial program for the club should be positive and optimistic. But I get the feeling it's trying to gloss over loads of things. This you might say is a good thing, but what's the point? Why doesn't it show a bit of realisim for a change, it feels like whoever writes the programme is trying to convince us and themselves that everything is against us and that one day all the victories and good results will arrive as we deserve them! For an example of my point, take today's 'Official Matchday Magazine', and the report on the Wigan game. It stated that we 'dominated literally from the first minute', well ok we played well (better than today) but I wouldn't say we 'literally dominated' this is a bit OTT. It also claims that the 'onslaught continued', the only onslaught that really mattered that day was the rain from the sky! Also the headline for the Fulham match report, "You know they say that luck evens itself out over a season? It's finally started It's still got a lot of catching up to do" Well ok we've been unlucky at times I do admit it, but we're not unlucky 100% of the time as todays game highlighted. There are many more examples of my point but I won't bore you with them. This might sound like a stupid and pointless waffle but it's something that has bugged me over the season and after today I feel the need to vent my frustration with it!!! I don't remember the programme always being like this. I'll be interested to hear what people make of my rahter long winded rant!
The programme seems more in touch with the fans than in the past, if anything a lot is written tongue in cheek.
Its Official stuff written by the WFC Press crew so can we expect anything different? We have had some luck this season (Charlton away anyone?) but the players have caused us a lot fo bad luck through poor misses/silly defending late on.
Programmes are too expensive and contain stuff you can find on the web and a load of adverts. It's £3s worth of tosh and to be quite frank a waste of money. What was the name of the fanzine that was sold on matchdays called ? I know it doesn't sell anymore but the name has gone ??
You've got me thinking now. I agree with you I also think there was another one....but I'm at a loss to think what it is/was.
I understnad your view but TBH the programme is there to big up the club and is a platform for the club to interact with the fans and give them hope when things are down.. the last thing you would want to read is.. "this is a carp season for the club and we are not winning any games and we are going to go down.. the refs are always right and we have to put up or shut up" I agree that at times it is a little unrealistic in its views but i can see the idea behind it also.
"Clap Your Hands, Stamp Your Feet" and "Blind, Stupid and Desperate" amalgamated to create "Look At The Stars"
Yes, £3 worth of tosh, I don't bother wasting my money at the stadium on a programme, its just the same old crap every match, A few profiles on players, half a page about the away side, half a page about Ady Buthroyd, then just full page adverts all over the place. Don't bother. Buy a beer or two.
Was saying the same thing to a mate at half time today using that wigan quote as an example, they do it every weeek
nothing to do with me. I'll have a word. there was a thread on the programme a couple of weeks ago. I hardly ever buy one for the reasons the boy regurgitated. Time was when programmes were different all over the land. Thems were the days.
I though the same after reading the Fulham 3-3 home draw. No honest mention of how the chaps bottled it and self destructed, oh no. The way the prog described was as true grit characters showing their class to come back and never be defeated, etc etc , will be awesome in weeks to come, etc etc, Prem League be afraid etc., showed that either the writer takes very good drugs or watches a different game to me. It has got no better, worse in style I think and I may not buy it anymore if it does not improve.
If you want an honest summary looking in the only mass-marketed mouthpiece the club actually has on a matchday probably isn't the best place
tbh what do you expect from the CLUB programme? of course they are going to view things through rose tinted spectacles!!
i remember a few fanzines there was clap your hands and stamp your feet, the yellow expirence and awal. they are the only ones i can find copys of in my watford box i remeber selling one of them when i was younger and people walking up and asking if it was the offical program! when i was looking i also came aross a newspaper from the 83/84 sesion with a cartoon with the players called the "hornets euro-express" which is a interesting read because the paper is older than i am! its got articals like "europe here we come" and "cally can become tops of the wing parade".
I have been collecting Watford programmes for over 30 years but must admit the current programme is absolute Crap. The worst ones have to be the FA Cup & League Cup they are appaling. There seems to be more adverts in them than on ITV. A really good look back at programmes is the book " Match Day" Post-war to Premiership that covers programmes from every English league member from 1945 to the new Premiership and it contains over 450 Programmes. ISBN978-0-9550061-4-2 An excellent programme down here is the Exeter City programme 60 pages and full of articles you want to read not just another Mercedes-Benz advert. Come on Watford it's not all about money coming in What about the fans ?
when my aunt who lives over there came over (ireland) for crimbo she brought me over 6 or 7 programmes. the hull one was shyte but other ones were quite ok. i liked the 'running man' article on dan shittu
