Comments on: Inside Chelsea’s Propaganda Machine http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2008/06/16/inside-chelseas-propaganda-machine/ Exploring football culture around the world. Thu, 20 Nov 2008 17:29:47 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Avram Grunt http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2008/06/16/inside-chelseas-propaganda-machine/#comment-5864 Avram Grunt Tue, 09 Sep 2008 10:18:28 +0000 http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2008/06/16/inside-chelseas-propaganda-machine/#comment-5864 I worked for the company that produces Chelsea's publications back when the glossy magazine/new programme format was first launched. I ended up walking out on them after three months such was my dissatisfaction with the company and anger at the petty nonsense foisted upon us by the CFC hierarchy. Sounds like the situation hasn't changed much. I worked for the company that produces Chelsea’s publications back when the glossy magazine/new programme format was first launched. I ended up walking out on them after three months such was my dissatisfaction with the company and anger at the petty nonsense foisted upon us by the CFC hierarchy. Sounds like the situation hasn’t changed much.

]]> By: Jennifer Doyle http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2008/06/16/inside-chelseas-propaganda-machine/#comment-5263 Jennifer Doyle Tue, 08 Jul 2008 20:24:09 +0000 http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2008/06/16/inside-chelseas-propaganda-machine/#comment-5263 Thank you - great read, great article! Thank you - great read, great article!

]]> By: ursus arctos http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2008/06/16/inside-chelseas-propaganda-machine/#comment-5261 ursus arctos Tue, 08 Jul 2008 18:00:06 +0000 http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2008/06/16/inside-chelseas-propaganda-machine/#comment-5261 Stowe, as someone who grew up in the US but has followed European football for more than 30 years and has lived here for almost a decade, I think that what you need to keep in mind is that this kind of no-holds-barred, "on message" commercialisation (or commercialization) of club communications is relatively new in the English context (though as I noted above, the big Italian clubs have been at it for a while, but then propaganda is an Italian word). The people who preceded Terry at Chelsea may not have had Woodward and Bernstein levels of editorial autonomy, but they were nowhere near as shackled as he was. Stowe, as someone who grew up in the US but has followed European football for more than 30 years and has lived here for almost a decade, I think that what you need to keep in mind is that this kind of no-holds-barred, “on message” commercialisation (or commercialization) of club communications is relatively new in the English context (though as I noted above, the big Italian clubs have been at it for a while, but then propaganda is an Italian word).

The people who preceded Terry at Chelsea may not have had Woodward and Bernstein levels of editorial autonomy, but they were nowhere near as shackled as he was.

]]> By: The Liquidator http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2008/06/16/inside-chelseas-propaganda-machine/#comment-5259 The Liquidator Tue, 08 Jul 2008 08:26:44 +0000 http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2008/06/16/inside-chelseas-propaganda-machine/#comment-5259 <I>Just like you wouldn't go to Chelsea TV for a balanced view or any real insightful analysis. Right?</I> I wouldn't watch Chelsea TV if you paid me, frankly. Just like you wouldn’t go to Chelsea TV for a balanced view or any real insightful analysis. Right?

I wouldn’t watch Chelsea TV if you paid me, frankly.

]]> By: Stowe http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2008/06/16/inside-chelseas-propaganda-machine/#comment-5258 Stowe Tue, 08 Jul 2008 04:21:53 +0000 http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2008/06/16/inside-chelseas-propaganda-machine/#comment-5258 As an American who has visited Stamford Bridge and, sad to say, bought an official Chelsea Matchday Programme, I have to say it was nothing out of the ordinary for me. Yes it's fawning and over-simplified and no, I don't really care who Shaun Wright Phillips' last big night out was but isn't that par from the course? American sports teams (I am thinking particularly of my local teams, the Carolina Panthers and Charlotte Bobcats who fall all over themselves despite constant mediocrity) are as guilty at least and, because of that, the magazine didn't particularly surprise me. Yes, it'd be nice to get a straight answer or a hard-hitting interview but clubs are about propaganda (or team spirit) and that's just the way things are. Just like you wouldn't go to Chelsea TV for a balanced view or any real insightful analysis. Right? I don't mean to slag off your article in any way though. Enjoyed it immensely and the disconnect you talk about seems pretty rampant at the club these days. Whether it's a lack of communication between coaches and executives, club and fans, etc. Chelsea have a lot of fractures to repair. As an American who has visited Stamford Bridge and, sad to say, bought an official Chelsea Matchday Programme, I have to say it was nothing out of the ordinary for me. Yes it’s fawning and over-simplified and no, I don’t really care who Shaun Wright Phillips’ last big night out was but isn’t that par from the course? American sports teams (I am thinking particularly of my local teams, the Carolina Panthers and Charlotte Bobcats who fall all over themselves despite constant mediocrity) are as guilty at least and, because of that, the magazine didn’t particularly surprise me. Yes, it’d be nice to get a straight answer or a hard-hitting interview but clubs are about propaganda (or team spirit) and that’s just the way things are. Just like you wouldn’t go to Chelsea TV for a balanced view or any real insightful analysis. Right?

I don’t mean to slag off your article in any way though. Enjoyed it immensely and the disconnect you talk about seems pretty rampant at the club these days. Whether it’s a lack of communication between coaches and executives, club and fans, etc. Chelsea have a lot of fractures to repair.

]]> By: Chelsea Ces http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2008/06/16/inside-chelseas-propaganda-machine/#comment-5212 Chelsea Ces Thu, 03 Jul 2008 12:14:53 +0000 http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2008/06/16/inside-chelseas-propaganda-machine/#comment-5212 Alas, the magazine and, to some extent, the matchday programme, are seen purely as marketing vehicles by the Chelsea hierarchy, rather than a method of communicating with the fans. What they fail to realise is that it is the character of the club that attracts new fans (apart from glory hunters) and these grey publications totally obliterate the wit, attitude and warmth that made me fall in love with Chelsea over 30 years ago. It is facile to point to our Russian ownership as the propigator of this sanitisation. We need look no further than the Chief Executive who, in a previous life, brought the world MUTV, which was christened Pravda by the Manchester United supporters. Luckily, the UK version of the official website remains largely untouched by the corporate tyranny. Yes, there are articles on our latest 'branding' exercise, but thanks to Jax, brought in by the old regime to figure out this new fangled web thingy, it remains a vibrant place for communication between the club and the fans and among the fans themselves. Long may it continue! Finally, the standard of copy editing in the magazine is shocking - many spelling mistakes and glaring grammatical errors. I suggest that if CFC wants to appear more professional they insist that their media company lackeys clean up their act. We never had this problem with Onside. Alas, the magazine and, to some extent, the matchday programme, are seen purely as marketing vehicles by the Chelsea hierarchy, rather than a method of communicating with the fans. What they fail to realise is that it is the character of the club that attracts new fans (apart from glory hunters) and these grey publications totally obliterate the wit, attitude and warmth that made me fall in love with Chelsea over 30 years ago.
It is facile to point to our Russian ownership as the propigator of this sanitisation. We need look no further than the Chief Executive who, in a previous life, brought the world MUTV, which was christened Pravda by the Manchester United supporters. Luckily, the UK version of the official website remains largely untouched by the corporate tyranny. Yes, there are articles on our latest ‘branding’ exercise, but thanks to Jax, brought in by the old regime to figure out this new fangled web thingy, it remains a vibrant place for communication between the club and the fans and among the fans themselves. Long may it continue!
Finally, the standard of copy editing in the magazine is shocking - many spelling mistakes and glaring grammatical errors. I suggest that if CFC wants to appear more professional they insist that their media company lackeys clean up their act. We never had this problem with Onside.

]]> By: iG - Blogs e Colunistas » Blog Archive » Por dentro da máquina de propaganda do Chelsea http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2008/06/16/inside-chelseas-propaganda-machine/#comment-5179 iG - Blogs e Colunistas » Blog Archive » Por dentro da máquina de propaganda do Chelsea Thu, 26 Jun 2008 19:04:55 +0000 http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2008/06/16/inside-chelseas-propaganda-machine/#comment-5179 [...] não, eu realmente não sei o que aconteceu com o Mourinho. Perguntem ao Brian Woolnough.*Publicado originalmente no site inglês Pitch Invasion, um dos melhores do mundo sobre futebol, e cedido gentilmente para o [...] [...] não, eu realmente não sei o que aconteceu com o Mourinho. Perguntem ao Brian Woolnough.*Publicado originalmente no site inglês Pitch Invasion, um dos melhores do mundo sobre futebol, e cedido gentilmente para o [...]

]]> By: Ben Fawkes http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2008/06/16/inside-chelseas-propaganda-machine/#comment-5137 Ben Fawkes Sun, 22 Jun 2008 11:59:48 +0000 http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2008/06/16/inside-chelseas-propaganda-machine/#comment-5137 Brilliant read, as a Chelsea fan I have seen this turn and have for the most part looked the other way, but everything you say is not surprising and also incredibly disappointing. Part of me always thought working for Chelsea would be sweet. Thanks for the insight. The 'marketing' department really do seem to have their strategy planned completely the wrong way around. All they will create is fair weather fans and ostracize the fans that have been their before we became a 'global brand'. Hope you dont mind, a bit of shameless promotion I am afraid, but my website is having a serious overhaul - its called footballfilter. It was rubbish before but now if you look at the in development new page here I hope you might like it: http://new.footballfilter.com If any of you have any suggestions, criticisms etc I would love to hear them. As I said its not finished yet, the images and video sources will be improved very soon as will the whole lay out, and team specific pags will be made soon, we only have Chelsea and Derby at the moment which is who we support, the others will be up soon - but you get the idea, your comments would be greatly appreciated. Feel free to email me at footballfilter@gmail.com cheers Ben Brilliant read, as a Chelsea fan I have seen this turn and have for the most part looked the other way, but everything you say is not surprising and also incredibly disappointing. Part of me always thought working for Chelsea would be sweet. Thanks for the insight. The ‘marketing’ department really do seem to have their strategy planned completely the wrong way around. All they will create is fair weather fans and ostracize the fans that have been their before we became a ‘global brand’.

Hope you dont mind, a bit of shameless promotion I am afraid, but my website is having a serious overhaul - its called footballfilter. It was rubbish before but now if you look at the in development new page here I hope you might like it:

http://new.footballfilter.com

If any of you have any suggestions, criticisms etc I would love to hear them. As I said its not finished yet, the images and video sources will be improved very soon as will the whole lay out, and team specific pags will be made soon, we only have Chelsea and Derby at the moment which is who we support, the others will be up soon - but you get the idea, your comments would be greatly appreciated. Feel free to email me at footballfilter@gmail.com

cheers
Ben

]]> By: Nick http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2008/06/16/inside-chelseas-propaganda-machine/#comment-5115 Nick Fri, 20 Jun 2008 11:12:42 +0000 http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2008/06/16/inside-chelseas-propaganda-machine/#comment-5115 Still, Chelsea eh? Must be your dream job. And what happened with Mourinho eh? You must know something. Go on, tell us. Happy to hear the Blues season ticket prices have remained frozen unlike many other clubs. Villa increased by over 30% Check out: http://footballssoul.wordpress.com/2008/06/20/fans-pay-the-price-for-ambitious-clubs/ Still, Chelsea eh? Must be your dream job. And what happened with Mourinho eh? You must know something. Go on, tell us.

Happy to hear the Blues season ticket prices have remained frozen unlike many other clubs. Villa increased by over 30%

Check out:
http://footballssoul.wordpress.com/2008/06/20/fans-pay-the-price-for-ambitious-clubs/

]]> By: harry http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2008/06/16/inside-chelseas-propaganda-machine/#comment-5114 harry Fri, 20 Jun 2008 06:49:59 +0000 http://pitchinvasion.net/blog/2008/06/16/inside-chelseas-propaganda-machine/#comment-5114 Yeah but still, Chelsea eh? Yeah but still, Chelsea eh?

]]>