Why are the Media so Anti-Villa?

[Chris Smith]

He talks about the "biggest clubs" and despite their recent struggles Liverpool still are and we aren't so his argument wouldn't apply. I'm not sure I agree with him but your response does strike me as slightly paranoid, Monty, looking for a perceived slight that isn't there.

[Monty]

I'm not trying to use it as claim of a grand conspiracy against the Villa, the Midlands, Randy's cat etc, more that it's a nice example of media favouritism. There would be no article of this ilk should Villa sell Ash, there was none when Villa sold Milner and Barry, it was all "small selling club sells best player to big team when it comes knocking" - which is actually what Liverpool are and are doing.

[Chris Smith]

You say that you're not claiming a conspiracy about Villa and then use the rest of the post to do exactly that. All clubs have to sell players from time time, the better ones manage to turn it to their advantage.

We sold Barry, then we sold Milner and it looks like we'll probably sell Young. We make a habit of it and it is hard to argue that, so far, we have benefited although spending the equivalent of what we got for Jimmy on Bent might reverse the trend.

[Monty]

How exactly am I saying there's a conspiracy? I'm just saying we're not one of their favoured clubs, of which there are only a handful. Most clubs wouldn't get the favouritism that Liverpool get. I'm not saying it's anti-Villa, I'm just saying that certain clubs by and large get a pretty easy life from the media, and Liverpool, as a club, are one, and Villa are not.

[Chris Smith]

As I said, I think that's just a touch of paranoia. This is just one man giving his opinion on a specific point about selling prize assets. Earlier in the season when they were struggling under Woy they were getting all the same sort of negative headlines that we were.

[Clampy]

I can see what Monty is saying. The press did'nt bat an eyelid when Liverpool paid £18m for Glenn Johnson. We pay for the same for a prolific goalscorer and it gets frowned upon by the media.

[Monty]

I can see what Monty is saying. The press did'nt bat an eyelid when Liverpool paid £18m for Glenn Johnson. We pay for the same for a prolific goalscorer and it gets frowned upon by the media.

Well, they batted an eyelid but not much more. And like you say, they got nothing like the grief we got for Bent. I repeat, I don't think this is a product of some orchestrated campaign against the Villa, more that some clubs generally get a lot more favour from the press than others for a variety of reasons - other than that, negativity always sells more.

[TheSandman]

If we are claiming that they do this because of a trend of us selling better players I do not recall any criticism in the media when Spurs sold Carrick and Berbatov.

[Monty]

If we are claiming that they do this because of a trend of us selling better players I do not recall any criticism in the media when Spurs sold Carrick and Berbatov.

I believe the phrase "good business by shrewd Levy" or similar became something of a cliche.

[Chris Smith]

If we are claiming that they do this because of a trend of us selling better players I do not recall any criticism in the media when Spurs sold Carrick and Berbatov.

Did you read the press as closely? Did you spend hours disecting each and every article for details of bias? I bet if you are sad enough to trawl the forums of other clubs you'll find similar threads.

[Dave Cooper please]

The one thing that has struck me over the past couple of weeks is not some sort of bias against Villa, more the incredulity from many quarters that if Villa had all this money to spend, why didn't they give it to Martin O'Neill?

Meanwhile hardly a single one of them has bothered to think of a reason for themselves, one of the obvius ones being that if Bent was bought using the Milner cash then O'Neill didn't get the money because he fucked off before Milner did!

[cdbearsfan]

Villa never gave any money to O'Neill. FACT.

He did brilliantly to get Villa to sixth which is the highest they've finished in their history. FACT.

Darren Bent only signed for Villa as he is a mercenary. It can't be because Villa are a big club because they're not, see above. FACT.

Villa can't afford to pay for Bent so they must be selling Ashley Young, Albrighton, the Trinity Road Stand and Aston Hall. FACT.

[Chris Smith]

When did you all turn into Albion fans?

It ay fair, they'm all pickin' on us.

[Monty]

When did you all turn into Albion fans?

It ay fair, they'm all pickin' on us.

Chris, I'll be crystal clear: I do NOT think they are picking on us, the Villa, specifically; I DO think that we are not among the favoured clubs (ie, the most widely supported clubs, ones for whom giving them positive press would be good for selling papers), so are more likely to receive the kind of negative press that sells more among fans of other clubs.

[Rip Van We Go Again]

When did you all turn into Albion fans?

It ay fair, they'm all pickin' on us.

What's going on Chris?

You used to be one of the first ones jumping up and down if somebody put the club down.

The thread tiltle is
'Why are the media so Anti-Villa?'

It should be
'Why are the media so anti-anything to do with Villa now O'Neill isn't here'