Well this is one guy who wants to stay... http://www.calcionews24.com/parma-munari-dispiace-ma-voglio-restare-al-watford-443306.html Translates to: "I'm sorry for what has happened in Parma, I find it inexplicable and painful. However, this should not affect my desire, which is to stay here at Watford"
http://www.itv.com/news/2015-06-02/...help-watford-become-premier-league-mainstays/ So what do people think about this article? Read well until the dreaded 'loophole' word was used.
Does anyone think that Newcastle or a similar traditional northern "giant" would attract the same criticism for adopting such an intelligent model? It's interesting - if you read most contributions on here everyone's pretty sensible and realistic about pretty much everything but I reckon 80% or upwards of regulars on here think there's some sort of agenda against us. We can't all be imagining it can we?
I'm not sure I buy into the "agenda against us" view - I rarely indulge in conspiracy theories - but the BBC and Daily Mail have consistently either ignored us, bad mouthed us or printed stories with at least a few half truths and more lies
Decent article that actually delves into the reasons of our success a bit more than the norm Not fussed about what the Mail says either. I think in general most football fans put their level of reporting to that of TalkSport - sensationalise most stuff to get a reaction and page hits. No-one really takes what they say too seriously.
Both fair comments and the "agenda against us" point was probably a bit lazy / strong. It just gets tiresome to be always criticised and never really getting the credit I think we sometimes deserve.
It's an excellent article. I don't believe that there is an "agenda" against us, but a lot of poor and lazy hacks who can quickly knock up a load of ****e rather than spend a couple of hours doing some research and thinking through the further implications. Lets them focus on the Bournemouth story whilst we establish ourselves!
Actually never saw your comment so wasn't really commenting on any kind of 'agenda' so apologies if it seemed like that You do have to wonder why we don't get as much positive press as some of the other teams. They seem to view the likes of Bournemouth as the 'underdog' and we're the mean club, 'sacking' all those managers, employing all those foreigners - how dare a small club act like that! Is there still a certain amount of xenophobia in the British media, especially when it comes to smaller clubs...
No it didn't seem like that at all I think the media do pick up on clubs getting ideas above their station though - unless they're really small and then it's a fairy tale
The Mail and others seemed to take a dislike us when GT dared to take us above our lowly station in life. The Long Ball criticism was similar to the Loan Players or Sack Managers issues. Jeff Powell of the Mail really hated us and I don't think the Mail has ever changed from then.
At last a journalist that can see the bigger picture! http://www.itv.com/news/2015-06-02/...help-watford-become-premier-league-mainstays/
Most of the media is caught up in the Premier League marketing hype. Consequently they are only really interested in the top few clubs. They don't understand the others, or know anything about them. How often is anything written about Stoke, for example. Aston Villa are the club the owners can't sell ("and that's because they are crap, Ha! Ha!) Non top four clubs are only of interest if something unusual happens, or they have eccentric owners - Hull Tigers, Vincent Tan etc. Sometimes a plucky outsider does well against all the odds, such as Bournemouth. The media will turn on Bournemouth soon enough, particularly if they upset the Premier League model. from memory (though I may be wrong) the media only turned against Watford when we did well in our first season in The First Division. Before that we were a novelty because of Elton John. I don't believe that there is a conspiracy against us. What there is is a bunch of hacks who are so wrapped up in the Premier League hype that they don't feel the need to actually look at what is happening beyond the contenders for the title. They have no more idea of what is happening at Watford (or Bournemouth, or Norwich) than does anybody else who does not support those clubs. Why bother to make an effort when the marketing people of the EPL give you all you need anyway? They write in short-hand. "I don't understand this way of doing things, so it can't be right." "Don't know much about Hull but their owners want to change their name. Who cares anyway? They are going down." "Sky have paid x millions for the EPL. It must be the best League in the World." "Why bother with the also rans. We will write about the best teams in the best league (that's right Mr Marketer?)" "I don't understand what Watford are doing. It hasn't been explained to us. It must be wrong, the top clubs don't do it that way." Occasionally there is an interesting piece written, but it is very rare. Football is too neatly packaged to keep the masses entertained. The established order is there to be maintained.
For what it's worth, the Daily Mail hatred ( j Powell) stems from the appt of GT when he was all set to announce ( scoop) that Bobby Moore would be our mgr- something he had helped to engineer. When the directors persuaded EJ to think again, Powell was very upset. Vendetta ever since-it's how the media work. It's all in Lionel birnie's book ( Enjoy the game), if I'm wrong , please correct me. Anyway, who cares ? We have the best CLUB in England, what's to get upset about ? COYH
I read JT's post and was about to say I had just written that! Only to find it still in the post box .... the vagaries of kindle fire... so here it is below. Yup, we'll be allowed our afternoon in the sun but if we stray too far from the gutter from which the Pozzo's have rescued is from then they will soon turn on us... just like in 1982-83. So's you know, Jeff Powell was the poison pen in chief during those days and he has never forgiven Watford's board for appointing a journeyman fullback as manager over his mate and England world cup winning captain Bobby Moore. He's now sports editor at the mail if I'm not mistaken. Conspiracy? Well it's hard not to think otherwise
http://www.watfordfc.com/news/article/150604-watford-fc-giedrius-arlauskis-signs-2482793.aspx Another tongue-twister for Derek Payne joins...
