Why are the Media so Anti-Villa?

[Chris Smith]

Let it go for fucks sake, this is turning into one long self pitying whine. Yes some journalists have written some crap things over the last couple of weeks but it makes us look really small time to keep going on about it. It will be someone elses turn next week and we'll be moaning because they ignore us.

[Merv]

It's highly annoying, but the likes of Holt and Winter clearly also have an agenda and I don't think they'd change their opinions even after a 24-hour exclusive interview with Randy. I've just properly read Winter's piece. Bemusing. Can't see how O'Neill's stock has risen, personally. Still without a job, of course - why didn't Liverpool get him in after Roy? And as for his honour and integrity in turning down West Ham's approach... did he? Because I read he was on the verge of accepting the job, while Grant hadn't yet been dismissed, until it was leaked to the media and then he publicly distanced himself.

I just think it's sad the Villa have taken such a battering in the last week - not just the written press, but radio journalists, pundits, everyone's been piling in. I hope it settles down and we can move on.

[Brend'Watkins]

I don't mind the media criticising Villa when we've done something wrong. But what have we done this time? Shown a bit of ambition and signed a player who a fortnight ago nobody would have thought we'd get anywhere near.

I still think they are in "Where did that come from" mode.

So convinced were they that we had this "Sell to buy policy".  So convinced were they that we couldn't attract a Darren Bent.  So convinced that we're not a big club.

We've upset their apple cart.   

[pauliewalnuts]

Let it go for fucks sake, this is turning into one long self pitying whine. Yes some journalists have written some crap things over the last couple of weeks but it makes us look really small time to keep going on about it. It will be someone elses turn next week and we'll be moaning because they ignore us.

It is naive to expect people not to react after the adverse coverage of the last week or two, and I say that as one who doesn't believe for a moment that stuff about "it's because we're not in London or the North West" stuff we usually hear.

It's also throwing up some interesting debate about the way some sections of the press see MON and the way we do, so it's hardly all just "whining" as you seem to be implying.

[Rip Van We Go Again]

Let it go for fucks sake, this is turning into one long self pitying whine. Yes some journalists have written some crap things over the last couple of weeks but it makes us look really small time to keep going on about it. It will be someone elses turn next week and we'll be moaning because they ignore us.

It is naive to expect people not to react after the adverse coverage of the last week or two, and I say that as one who doesn't believe for a moment that stuff about "it's because we're not in London or the North West" stuff we usually hear.

It's also throwing up some interesting debate about the way some sections of the press see MON and the way we do, so it's hardly all just "whining" as you seem to be implying.

It cetainly isn't 'whining' Chris.
If somebody takes the piss out of our club, they'll get it back in spades.
Be it rival supporters or some ill informed hack with a Deity complex about O'Neill.

[dave.woodhall]

I don't mind the media criticising Villa when we've done something wrong. But what have we done this time? Shown a bit of ambition and signed a player who a fortnight ago nobody would have thought we'd get anywhere near.

I still think they are in "Where did that come from" mode.

So convinced were they that we had this "Sell to buy policy".  So convinced were they that we couldn't attract a Darren Bent.  So convinced that we're not a big club.

We've upset their apple cart.   

Without a doubt.

[Hookeysmith]

I don't mind the media criticising Villa when we've done something wrong. But what have we done this time? Shown a bit of ambition and signed a player who a fortnight ago nobody would have thought we'd get anywhere near.

I still think they are in "Where did that come from" mode.

So convinced were they that we had this "Sell to buy policy".  So convinced were they that we couldn't attract a Darren Bent.  So convinced that we're not a big club.

We've upset their apple cart.   

To admit that we were not a selling club was to admit that MON was a wanker  / bottler for walking out - for them to be positive now would mean a huge "we got it wrong" and lets face it they aint never gonna do that

[Dave]

On the other side of the coin, Philippe Auclair (who is quite close to Houllier) speaking on Football Weekly has pointed out how daft everyone in the media is being. Said that the money had always been there for Houllier to spend and that it was made available as part of the arrangement that made him join back in September. And that there was never any thought on the part of the board to get rid of Houllier.

Also said regarding Makoun that it was interesting that Lyon to allowed him to join. Apparently the deal was more or less agreed ages ago, he then came back into the Lyon side and was playing extremely well for them, leading to quite a good run of form. Hence it being a surprise that they honoured the agreement that had already been made.

He then mentioned that there are a couple of deals already lined up for the summer.

[paulcomben]

Darren Bent, scorer of more FAPL goals than any player except Drogba or Rooney, signs for Villa for £18m rising to £24m. The media are incredulous, even though Spurs paid £16.5m for him 3.5 years earlier. That desperate red Scouse team pays £23m for the totally unproven ex-Dutch league player Luis Suarez. No questions asked from hackdom.

[paulcomben]

According to the media, Ian Holloway is utterly marvellous. The Michael McIntyre of the FAPL. Holloway himself loves every other team and manager, bar Villa & Houllier for reasons unknown. Once shunned on a Brizzol boys stag do by a Digbeth night lady of French origin, perhaps? Why do they support him for fielding a weak team at Villa Park? Why do they forgive him for pumping up the Adams fee at Villa's expense, even after it is found that he is on a percentage?

[Pete3206]

*Cough*

http://www.heroesandvillains.info/forumv3/index.php?topic=41928.0

[gervilla]

Who cares. Fcuk em.
We pissed on their "tractor boys are champions" fairytale in '81 and they wont let it go.

[paulcomben]

*Cough*

http://www.heroesandvillains.info/forumv3/index.php?topic=41928.0

Pre: Holloway is in fact flawed evidence, though.

[olaftab]

I think this has been discussed to nth degree on another thread.

[Monty]

Not being all paranoid, but this is an example:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/blog/2011/jan/30/liverpool-fernando-torres-paul-hayward

Apparently if Liverpool sell Torres it'll be good because it'll 'show that the club is bigger than the player'. Fine, but I wonder if they'll say that if/when we sell Ash. They certainly didn't say it when we sold Barry or Milner. Makes you wonder.