Birmingham Mail and Villa coverage

[Villa in Denmark]

The Birmingham Mail really are setting themselves up as enemies of Villa for some reason.

We can all see it, however when any Villa fans (myself included) point this out to their "journalists" on Twitter, we are patronisingly informed that we've got it all wrong.

Or they just don't answer. Like tonight regarding why a video of a Villa fan with a banner was used when talking about supporters who had banning orders for the Euros

Presumably, the individual in question would have just cause to complain to the PCC as he's incorrectly identified to anyone who knows him as being part of the group of 160 subject to the banning orders and surrender of passports etc?

[Nelly]

If it were a recent thing, sure, maybe we're being overly sensitive, but to my mind their attitude has been like this going back to the days of Lerner coming in - maybe before that too.

It's a really strange, grating strategy by them.

[Villa in Denmark]

If it were a recent thing, sure, maybe we're being overly sensitive, but to my mind their attitude has been like this going back to the days of Lerner coming in - maybe before that too.

It's a really strange, grating strategy by them.

When did they get taken over by Mirror Publishing or whatever they're called these days?

[damon loves JT]

I wanted to post a comment under that story, but they wanted so much of my personal data in exchange for the privilege - I couldn't be arsed

[PeterWithesShin]

Former coach doesn't see Villa bouncing back

Wilkins: Two to return - but Villa not one of them

Former Villa boss Ray Wilkins admits he can see an immediate return to the Premier League for Norwich and Newcastle - but not so for the claret and blues.

Speaking to Sky Sports News, the ex-Jordan boss thinks the Canaries and Magpies are well placed to bounce back.

“I think there could be two,” he said.

“I think Norwich are well equipped to get themselves back out of it.

“Newcastle, I’m sure Benitez will add some good British blood to it, and I think they could bounce straight back too.”

[Jimbo]

The Mail is a trolling outfit. This isn't an insult from a disgruntled Villa fan, it's basically what their business model has become. They know the paper has a limited lifespan, and probably won't see out the decade, so their sole purpose is to generate revenue from online traffic while they can.

The best way to do that where the city's biggest football club is concerned is to stir up shit. It gets traffic from all sides - disgruntled Villa fans and obsessed knuckledraggers/bitters alike. Win-win. It does what measured, considered, objective journalism will never achieve. It winds people up, and that is as good a call to action as any in this cluttered media landscape, especially when you haven't got the resources or calibre of staff to do anything more substantial.   

[dave.woodhall]

Almost as high on the Mail's trolling list is the demonisation of local hate figures. White Dee, Sam Barton, the fake lottery ticket woman and now her on benefits with eight kids. The story is planted (usually by "manager Barry Tomes") that they're somehow in line for a fortune from the reality shows they're in negotiations with and the hate mail begins. The TV offers never materialise, the money never arrives and the circus moves on to another unsuspecting victim.

[Hookeysmith]

I don't like to criticise fellow journalists for earning a living, but the coverage of Villa in the Mail is a world away from what you read in the Newcastle Chronicle or the Liverpool Echo about their teams. And as a long-term business proposition, it's not a brilliant look. It comes across as trolling.

And considering most of the local Newcastle press are still banned from the stadium and training facilities that's pretty good
Maybe we should do the same

[kippaxvilla2]

Exciting news everyone this just in....a q and a session with our very own Greg.

Why are the football authorities dragging their feet over the takeover?

It’s been a busy old time at Aston Villa since the season ended with a new manager and backroom team and a prospective new owner.

Our Villa writer Gregg Evans provides an update on the big claret and blue issues by attempting to shed light on questions the Birmingham Mail has received from supporters.

Gregg: The situation is that they are constantly asking Aston Villa for information regarding Tony Xia and Recon Group. Xia and his advisors are responding and they are simply waiting now.

These checks are very thorough. The Football League have been burnt in the past in situations at Birmingham and Leeds, where the owners have fallen into financial problems, and they don’t want a repeat of that. Tony Xia is a businessman not many people have heard of so will need investigating very heavily.

Players linked with Villa so far this summer

Where do you expect Villa to finish next season?

Gregg: Top two! I think Roberto Di Matteo and Steve Clarke are very good appointments and will work very well together. I am confident they will get enough out of the players to get them back into the Premier League.

Villa have already got half a decent team. There’s five or six players in the current squad that they can start the new season with. They need good signings around them. I think the nucleus is there.

The key is to get a couple of early wins in the first five games to give them positive momentum to build on. It will be interesting to see what the fixture computer throws up when the Championship match list is announced on June 22.

Roberto Di Matteo and Steve Clarke during their time managing Chelsea and West Bromwich Albion respectively
The management
What do you think will happen with the players that stay?

Gregg: There are a lot of players that under-performed last season and they owe a lot to that club. Even in the Championship, and with pay cuts, they are on big money deals.

Some of them would have had 50 per cent reductions but they will still be very well paid compared to other teams.

The talent is there with some of them, but the confidence wasn’t at the end of last season. It was completely shot out of them, so let’s just hope that the players who do stick around can turn their careers around and actually perform well for Villa.

Is Jack Grealish is leaving Villa?

Gregg: It’s a difficult one. His head might have been turned a little bit going into the England Under 21 tournament.

He would have seen the likes of Nathan Redmond, Lewis Baker, and other top young players who will be playing in the Premier League next year and think that he will still want to be a part of that. There are clubs that are interested in him, we know that.

You’ve got the likes of Stoke and Watford and I think other clubs have shown some interest so it could be difficult for Villa to hold on to him, but it’s a decision Grealish will have to make himself.

Aston Villa's Gabby Agbonlahor during the defeat at Manchester City
Any way back for Gabby?
Does Gabby Agbonlahor have a future at Villa?

Gregg: We will wait and see. He’s got two years left on his deal and he earns very big money so I think Gabby would struggle to find another club that would pay him that well.

He might dig his heels in and want to stick around at Villa, but he has got to do something for the cause if he is going to stay because last season was a complete no show from him.

To score just one goal is just not good enough. We all saw the problems towards the back end of the season, so he has got a lot to prove, but I think the Championship will be a lot easier for him.

What about Joleon Lescott?

Gregg: Similar situation. He has clubs interested in him in the MLS and I think Besiktas in Turkey are also looking at him.

Lescott harbours ambitions of going over to America at some point in his career, but he has got a year left on his Villa deal on good money. He might not get that money in America so he might want to stick around.

Norwich City's Patrick Bamford and Manchester City's Fernandinho battle for the ball
Wam Bam - Patrick Bamford is a target
What are Villa’s chances of signing Chelsea striker Patrick Bamford?

Gregg: He wants to leave Chelsea because he wants first team football. Last season was a disappointing one for him he was on loan at Crystal Palace and Norwich and didn’t score one Premier League goal.

He has never scored in the Premier League for that matter, but he is a proven Championship player as we have seen from his spell at Middlesbrough.

From speaking to people close to Bamford it is clear he wants to move on and play regularly this year, Villa will be one of the clubs interested in him. Di Matteo will know all about him from their Chelsea links, so it is one worth monitoring.

[VILLA MOLE]

Exciting news everyone this just in....a q and a session with our very own Greg.

Why are the football authorities dragging their feet over the takeover?

It’s been a busy old time at Aston Villa since the season ended with a new manager and backroom team and a prospective new owner.

Our Villa writer Gregg Evans provides an update on the big claret and blue issues by attempting to shed light on questions the Birmingham Mail has received from supporters.

Gregg: The situation is that they are constantly asking Aston Villa for information regarding Tony Xia and Recon Group. Xia and his advisors are responding and they are simply waiting now.

These checks are very thorough. The Football League have been burnt in the past in situations at Birmingham and Leeds, where the owners have fallen into financial problems, and they don’t want a repeat of that. Tony Xia is a businessman not many people have heard of so will need investigating very heavily.

Players linked with Villa so far this summer

Where do you expect Villa to finish next season?

Gregg: Top two! I think Roberto Di Matteo and Steve Clarke are very good appointments and will work very well together. I am confident they will get enough out of the players to get them back into the Premier League.

Villa have already got half a decent team. There’s five or six players in the current squad that they can start the new season with. They need good signings around them. I think the nucleus is there.

The key is to get a couple of early wins in the first five games to give them positive momentum to build on. It will be interesting to see what the fixture computer throws up when the Championship match list is announced on June 22.

Roberto Di Matteo and Steve Clarke during their time managing Chelsea and West Bromwich Albion respectively
The management
What do you think will happen with the players that stay?

Gregg: There are a lot of players that under-performed last season and they owe a lot to that club. Even in the Championship, and with pay cuts, they are on big money deals.

Some of them would have had 50 per cent reductions but they will still be very well paid compared to other teams.

The talent is there with some of them, but the confidence wasn’t at the end of last season. It was completely shot out of them, so let’s just hope that the players who do stick around can turn their careers around and actually perform well for Villa.

Is Jack Grealish is leaving Villa?

Gregg: It’s a difficult one. His head might have been turned a little bit going into the England Under 21 tournament.

He would have seen the likes of Nathan Redmond, Lewis Baker, and other top young players who will be playing in the Premier League next year and think that he will still want to be a part of that. There are clubs that are interested in him, we know that.

You’ve got the likes of Stoke and Watford and I think other clubs have shown some interest so it could be difficult for Villa to hold on to him, but it’s a decision Grealish will have to make himself.

Aston Villa's Gabby Agbonlahor during the defeat at Manchester City
Any way back for Gabby?
Does Gabby Agbonlahor have a future at Villa?

Gregg: We will wait and see. He’s got two years left on his deal and he earns very big money so I think Gabby would struggle to find another club that would pay him that well.

He might dig his heels in and want to stick around at Villa, but he has got to do something for the cause if he is going to stay because last season was a complete no show from him.

To score just one goal is just not good enough. We all saw the problems towards the back end of the season, so he has got a lot to prove, but I think the Championship will be a lot easier for him.

What about Joleon Lescott?

Gregg: Similar situation. He has clubs interested in him in the MLS and I think Besiktas in Turkey are also looking at him.

Lescott harbours ambitions of going over to America at some point in his career, but he has got a year left on his Villa deal on good money. He might not get that money in America so he might want to stick around.

Norwich City's Patrick Bamford and Manchester City's Fernandinho battle for the ball
Wam Bam - Patrick Bamford is a target
What are Villa’s chances of signing Chelsea striker Patrick Bamford?

Gregg: He wants to leave Chelsea because he wants first team football. Last season was a disappointing one for him he was on loan at Crystal Palace and Norwich and didn’t score one Premier League goal.

He has never scored in the Premier League for that matter, but he is a proven Championship player as we have seen from his spell at Middlesbrough.

From speaking to people close to Bamford it is clear he wants to move on and play regularly this year, Villa will be one of the clubs interested in him. Di Matteo will know all about him from their Chelsea links, so it is one worth monitoring.

He is the Oracle

[damon loves JT]

Is it unfair for me to dislike Gregg Evans so much? The stupid-haired twat

[VILLA MOLE]

Is it unfair for me to dislike Gregg Evans so much? The stupid-haired twat

yes for he is a fountain of inside knowledge ,   I am not sure what he does all day ??

[PeterWithe]

I took a small amount of pleasure in telling the rep that I wouldn't dream of spending a penny advertising with them ever again due to their sports coverage. To be honest she didn't seem at all surprised.

[Clampy]

I thought Gregg did very well there, they were very challenging questions.

[damon loves JT]

I would ask him why he does that crap thing with his hair, and is he trying to grow a moustache