Pundit and Media Watch on Aston Villa 24/25

[Monty]

I normally laugh at how paranoid our fan base gets about the press, but saw a Sky clip earlier where they were talking about how last years top 3 got on this weekend.  You honestly couldn't make it up.

3rd place Liverpool finished 9 points behind 1st and 14 ahead of us in 4th. We finished 2 points ahead of fifth. Their goal difference was -17 on the top two - ours was -30 on them.

It's okay to talk about a top 3 from the 23-24 season.

[Olneythelonely]

I normally laugh at how paranoid our fan base gets about the press, but saw a Sky clip earlier where they were talking about how last years top 3 got on this weekend.  You honestly couldn't make it up.

3rd place Liverpool finished 9 points behind 1st and 14 ahead of us in 4th. We finished 2 points ahead of fifth. Their goal difference was -17 on the top two - ours was -30 on them.

It's okay to talk about a top 3 from the 23-24 season.

I get that, but do you think they’d be talking about the “top 3” if we finished 3rd and Liverpool were 4th? I’m not saying they definitely wouldn’t but it seems unlikely.

[Monty]

I normally laugh at how paranoid our fan base gets about the press, but saw a Sky clip earlier where they were talking about how last years top 3 got on this weekend.  You honestly couldn't make it up.

3rd place Liverpool finished 9 points behind 1st and 14 ahead of us in 4th. We finished 2 points ahead of fifth. Their goal difference was -17 on the top two - ours was -30 on them.

It's okay to talk about a top 3 from the 23-24 season.

I get that, but do you think they’d be talking about the “top 3” if we finished 3rd and Liverpool were 4th? I’m not saying they definitely wouldn’t but it seems unlikely.

Maybe not, maybe yes. I'd guess not, but it's wholly hypothetical.

[Accent Guy]

I normally laugh at how paranoid our fan base gets about the press, but saw a Sky clip earlier where they were talking about how last years top 3 got on this weekend.  You honestly couldn't make it up.

3rd place Liverpool finished 9 points behind 1st and 14 ahead of us in 4th. We finished 2 points ahead of fifth. Their goal difference was -17 on the top two - ours was -30 on them.

It's okay to talk about a top 3 from the 23-24 season.

Yep, fine, but how exactly are Spurs and Chelsea getting all the attention across practically all platforms but Villa, who are actually IN the fucking Champions League, are not?

Additionally, since when did  finishing top 4 become irrelevant? Since when did finishing 4th become a reason why a club are automatically disqualified from even a conversation about repeating said feat?

If any other club had finished 4th, the discussion would be about how much further they can go. In our case, it seems our success is a reason why we can't be considered as challengers

It's disrespectful, disingenuous and smacks of a narrative that paranoia, which I agree we all have occasionally, cannot explain.

We are pissing on the chips of the hierarchy and they know it.

Long may it continue. And you never know, if we win the Champions League, we might get a mention in the Express and Star. Maybe.

Rant over. For now. Grrrrr.

[Monty]

They cover the Biggo Clubs more because for many years they've been in a virtuous circle where they get coverage that makes them famous that gets them coverage that makes them famous etc etc.

When we are covered, it strikes me that the pundits are almost tripping over themselves to be nice about us.

[Brazilian Villain]

https://x.com/offtheball/status/1825881721490854327?t=plzKWhJ9Qq0SoKFS5fosGw&s=08

Spot on comments here, calling out the dismissive attitude of pundits towards Villa.

Cheers for posting that. Spot on, as you say.

[Sexual Ealing]

This has been explained before by a country lad with a big heart.

For my own peace of mind, I really, really wish that all the broadcasters would release a joint statement saying something like this: "it's not bias towards the 'big six'. It's naked capitalism. Many more people give a shit about those six clubs. We couldn't give a shit. If your shit club suddenly found loads of new supporters, we'd pander to your petty fucking grievances too (not that you'll be satisfied by that, because that's literally not possible). We don't care about any club. We care about money. Live with it, because it isn't changing until you fucking do."
https://www.si.com/fannation/soccer/futbol/features/premier-league-clubs-ranked-by-social-media-followers

Edit: and while I'm at it, I'd want them to add: "we have no obligation to be impartial. We're not BBC News. We've paid a lot of money to show these games and we'd like to see a fucking return on that investment if that's OK with you? And if you're a fucking Southampton fan, that's your fucking problem, you sad twat. Here's a fucking Spurs match."

[Dave]

Yep, fine, but how exactly are Spurs and Chelsea getting all the attention across practically all platforms but Villa, who are actually IN the fucking Champions League, are not?

Chelsea are getting lots of attention, but it strikes me that it's far more "look at that mad bunch of bastards over there being all mad" attention rather than positive vibes.

And I've not really seen Spurs get much more attention that us in the build up to the season, apart from in the last couple of days. Which I take as due to them having a match on Monday night and us not.

[Accent Guy]

Yep, fine, but how exactly are Spurs and Chelsea getting all the attention across practically all platforms but Villa, who are actually IN the fucking Champions League, are not?

Chelsea are getting lots of attention, but it strikes me that it's far more "look at that mad bunch of bastards over there being all mad" attention rather than positive attention.

And I've not really seen Spurs get much more attention that us in the build up to the season, apart from in the last couple of days. Which I take due to them having a match on Monday night and us not.

606 on Saturday had 2 Spurs callers and no Villa callers.

Do you think that would have happened the other way around if we had been playing on Monday and they had just won away from home literally minutes before the show aired?

Do you think no Villa fans called in?

It's clear media bias and it's not a big step to think that potential sponsors look at media coverage when deciding which clubs to spend their money on.

A self-fulfilling prophecy that keeps us in the financial shadows, at a time when we really need and deserve every penny we can get.

[edgysatsuma89]

This has been explained before by a country lad with a big heart.

For my own peace of mind, I really, really wish that all the broadcasters would release a joint statement saying something like this: "it's not bias towards the 'big six'. It's naked capitalism. Many more people give a shit about those six clubs. We couldn't give a shit. If your shit club suddenly found loads of new supporters, we'd pander to your petty fucking grievances too (not that you'll be satisfied by that, because that's literally not possible). We don't care about any club. We care about money. Live with it, because it isn't changing until you fucking do."
https://www.si.com/fannation/soccer/futbol/features/premier-league-clubs-ranked-by-social-media-followers

Edit: and while I'm at it, I'd want them to add: "we have no obligation to be impartial. We're not BBC News. We've paid a lot of money to show these games and we'd like to see a fucking return on that investment if that's OK with you? And if you're a fucking Southampton fan, that's your fucking problem, you sad twat. Here's a fucking Spurs match."

Something tells me some people still won't 'get it'.

[Accent Guy]

Yes! And whilst they are at it, the likes of 606, (which actually IS on the BBC and was the very show I referenced,) could give the fans of the remaining 86 league clubs, plus countless other irrelevant plebs, a rebate on their TV license and get the Spurs fans to make up the balance along with the other 5 important clubs.

Or, we could hope that our national media coverage makes at least some effort to spare us paupers a few crumbs.

It's not as if we haven't earned it.

(The revolution will not be televised)

[Footy-Vill]

Dan Bardell on Talksport

[Footy-Vill]

Kate Tracey Sky Sports she is the new Villa Tv Presenter. Please no bawdy comments.

[Mister E]

Kate Tracey Sky Sports she is the new Villa Tv Presenter. Please no bawdy comments.

weyhey!!!

[Small Rodent]

It’s worth remembering that Villa finished top of the “Top 4 head to head league”.