Andy Townsend

[rob_bridge]

I always thought on co-comms a bit like Andy Gray that they expected more of Villa and judged us harder than other teams.  Ironically the one I always found even handed with us was Trevor Francis.

As with everything that’s a personal view

Francis was a total bluenose, nothing unexpected there. Unlike 90% of them he didn't have a pathological hatred of Villa bordering on insanity and thought him even-handed - seemed to be a big fan of Yorkie IIRC.

His claim of Blues having as many fans as Villa in the City was always an imagined fairytale.

[Deano's Mullet]

Never heard Townsend ever speak of us either anything less than 100% affection. Dean Saunders too.

[cdward]

I have often confused Andy Townsend on commentary with Matt Holland, the two sound very similar to each other.
I only realised half way through one particular game, when the other co-commentator called him Matt.
It explained why i thought he (Andy Townsend) wasn't very supportive of us during commentary.

[astonvilla82]

Disagree with some of the sentiments here. He always seems complimentary about us on TalkSport and I believe he still lives in the area, if I’m not mistaken.

I was sat next to him at Ask, Sutton, about ten years ago. He was very polite to the waiting staff and left a generous tip.

He's been down as a good bloke in my book since then.

Yes I got the same view, even though he played at Birmingham,he didn't have that DVB attitude like some of those other former Birmingham players, perhaps because he knew how to play football and appreciated good football teams

[Footy-Vill]

I have often confused Andy Townsend on commentary with Matt Holland, the two sound very similar to each other.
I only realised half way through one particular game, when the other co-commentator called him Matt.
It explained why i thought he (Andy Townsend) wasn't very supportive of us during commentary.

I always have a little joke that Andros Townsend was actually asked to do punditry by mistake as the media people were really trying to get hold of Andy.

I mean Andros still in playing career was co-commentating on games.

[saunders_heroes]

Another strange one, a bit like Platt. Great player for us, but seems disengaged from us as a club, a shame really as he seems a nice fella, but doesn't feel like he is part of the 'Villa family'..if you know what I mean?

I've never had that impression at all. He always seems to be complimentary about the Villa. I remember him saying once that his son is a season ticket holder at Villa as well.

[Brend'Watkins]

Another strange one, a bit like Platt. Great player for us, but seems disengaged from us as a club, a shame really as he seems a nice fella, but doesn't feel like he is part of the 'Villa family'..if you know what I mean?

I've never had that impression at all. He always seems to be complimentary about the Villa. I remember him saying once that his son is a season ticket holder at Villa as well.

Same here.  I guess when he's doing the media thing he has to appear impartial. I think he does well in this respect as he reports on the football in front of him not his loyalty for one of the clubs he's played for. That's fine by me.

[dcdavecollett]

You're right, Rob, the 'boro match was a Sunday TV game.

It was three days after Yorke pissed off to the Theatre of Debt on transfer deadline day. The match sponsors were Yorkie Bars...

Still won 3-1, though (Joachim, Charles and Thompson)!

[SoccerHQ]

I always thought he'd make a good manager. Obviously there was more money in TV.

He pretty much joined ITV straight after retiring in 2000 given that tactics truck thing was in September 2001. A decade later and he was their lead co-commentator on their CL coverage so would've comfortably made more than playing in the 90s. Was also on Talksport regularly in that period.

I think it's harsh anyone thinking he has it in for us as I always feel he wants us to do well in games he covers for the world feed. Perhaps the perception is he commentated loads on Chelsea in the 2000s when they were serious contenders in CL and FA Cup. Marginally made more appearances for us than Chelsea.

[SoccerHQ]

Another strange one, a bit like Platt. Great player for us, but seems disengaged from us as a club, a shame really as he seems a nice fella, but doesn't feel like he is part of the 'Villa family'..if you know what I mean?

One thing I would always say on that is do we do enough to get the old players back frequently at VP and make them part of matchday?

I used to go to Arsenal games 2-3 times a season (the Mother supporting them) and they'd always have someone from 80s giving out a supporters award pre match and interviewing them at half time.

Half time now seems to consist of a ten second check of premier league scores and then the competition of trying to kick it towards the centre circle.

In recent times all I can remember coming back were Laursen, Carew and Angel and pretty sure those were the championship seasons.

That possibly leads to detachment compared to other clubs keeping their old players involved more but then I don't really get that sense from Townsend. For most of last season he was saying this group we had were good enough to win a trophy and he would know.

[dcdavecollett]

The on-pitch interview with Jed Steer before the Brighton game was a good demonstration of how to do it.

[Holte L2]

You're right, Rob, the 'boro match was a Sunday TV game.

It was three days after Yorke pissed off to the Theatre of Debt on transfer deadline day. The match sponsors were Yorkie Bars...

Still won 3-1, though (Joachim, Charles and Thompson)!

With a centre forward pairing of Riccardo Scimeca and Julian Joachim!  It absolutely pissed it down.

We started splashing the Yorke cash the following week with Paul Merson from Boro!

[VillaTim]

Never heard Townsend ever speak of us either anything less than 100% affection. Dean Saunders too.

Same as .
Unlike alan smith (alleged villa fan) who seems to harbor a weird grudge against us whenever he does our games.