The Brad and the good...
Brad Friedel was finally unveiled to the media yesterday at Bodymoor, although his planned 11.30am press conference took place at around 1.40pm (if only the club had bothered to ask him when he thought he might have finished training, then there would have been rather less sour faces and probably more tea and biscuits left on the tray).
A good talker he appears too, and a thoroughly decent chap.
He'd already done an interview on Saturday for the club web-site, which they put out on Sunday, then a second interview on Monday, which they put out on Tuesday morning, and a third interview on Tuesday lunch-time which they put out in the form of two stories on Tuesday afternoon.
It's all about balance. Dare I suggest that things are not a bed of roses between the press and the club at the moment? You could say that.
Half of the senior players appear to have been given a few days off to recuperate after the hectic training schedule leading up to the Odense tie.
They will return to work tomorrow ahead of Saturday's friendly at Reading. I'm taking the day off having been offered the chance of a day at Edgbaston.
But a few players were there yesterday, including Gareth Barry who must be wondering where on earth all this latest speculation will lead. One national radio station was even suggesting he was having a medical at Arsenal today.
Shaun Maloney and Stiliyan Petrov were there- as was Curtis Davies, who we are all hoping can get back playing again soon. Villa have missed him, and you wouldn't have expected to say that after his debut against Leicester.
Thanks for your emails and comments, good and bad, over the last week since my "internet geeks" blog.
Apart from the really grotesque bile that will always come forth there were some genuinely interesting responses. Thanks Gary Rowe. I have noted your comments inparticular.
I've not managed to look at the message boards since last week but a couple of emails stood out and were worthy of comment.
Firstly this from Jonathan Fear, someone who came from nowhere to launch a personal tirade against Doug Ellis whenever the chance arose and for that basis, and that basis alone, was ignored on many occasions by the Evening Mail by not entirely ignored.
Fear- who may, or may not, now attend the odd away match- has a chip on his shoulder large enough to feed a small African country.
He says: "Would much rather be a geek than a disrespectful hack Bill. How you remain the Villa correspondent when you clearly have no interest in the club baffles me, there again the view from the bar is by far the best eh? Strange how you are able to notice when season ticket sales are slightly down but missed it a few years ago when thousands of Villa fans were marching against your chum Ellis. Is balance something that escapes you or are you just a clueless hack?"
Well, I don't remember thousands of marchers. Dozens maybe. I don't recall the Evening Mail's editor of the time, Ian Dowell, falling off his chair having missed that story.
Fear's problem is that Ellis was allowed to leave gracefully under his own steam on his own terms, and since his exit there is precious little to have a gripe at (the board and manager are loved by fans)- that is apart from the local reporter.
His "view from the bar" remark, by the way, was a comment I made to the Post's Lisa Smith last Tuesday night at Walsall (so it's good to know where he gets his information) after I had watched the second half from behind the glass at the Banks' Stadium.
Three reasons for that: one, our Walsall man Nick Pullen was writing the match report, two, my brother-in-law is a Villa fan and was keen to finish his half-time pint, and thirdly, Ian Taylor was having a pint of orange squash away from the crowd and it was a chance to have a word.
Alternatively, I could have waited for Taylor to be interviewed by Sky or by the papers and then cut and pasted his comments on a message board, ala Fear.
Far more constructive would be for Fear to ask himself this question, or to start a thread on his message board: "What did Doug Ellis do right for Aston Villa?"
I pose the question because 99 per cent of fans on his boards would suggest "very little, if anything" and I dare say any comments would be written in Anglo Saxon.
But I received this text from a very close Villa source the other day and am keen to know what people think.
He says: "Doug got a lot of stick, some fair but a lot unfair. He gave the like of John Gregory fortunes and never got the success he craved. His big mistake was not going for a manager in that period after the (share) flotation. We were neck and neck with Arsenal at the time. They appointed Wenger, we appointed Gregory, the rest is history. Doug was an easy target back then- nothing for detractors now."
Still, at least Fear has the grace to add his name to his email.
One poster, AV33, believes local papers should only employ writers who support the club.
He says: "I personally think that the Evening Mail's Villa representative should be somebody who loves the club through and through, maybe an ex-player who has stayed loyal and turned media or maybe one of the guys who tirelessly run one of the fan blogs that you so effortlessly condemn as "internet geeks"."
Incidentally, the Editor of our paper is a Villa fan, the sports editor too, and his assistant...and yet we are often blamed for a negative outlook on the club because the local reporter supports the Albion?
I do however, in my opinion, agree with some of you that the Blues board get off lightly. Part of the reason for that is that they are so pro-active in the media.
Villa's American board do not feel it is necessary to communicate more than once a year. And no, my job does not have to bend one iota because of the General's message board.
I've rarely dipped in there... well, I did twice...around the time of his Pigs in Mud remark which the news hounds picked up and then again when I was told by a national reporter that I had been called a "liar"- unnecessary and without class.
Interestingly, at Villa Park, the press officer is a Brighton fan, his assistant Arsenal, the programme editor Albion, his writer Albion too, the web-site editor Bolton and the Villa TV commentator Sheffield Wednesday.
The stadium manager is Everton, the former Chief Executive Hibs... the security guard at Bodymoor was a Blues fan.
If I were following your logic therefore, I would ask for the lot to be sacked.
The press core who report on Villa in this region are a mix of clubs. One of the chief writers in this area, and a good friend, is a Blues supporter who regularly writes on Villa. Another good friend is a Villa fan.
I don't recall ever being questioned about who I supported until April 2006 when David O'Leary announced it so.
When Villa fans read my match report of the infamous Villa 2 Albion 1 game in December 2002, when Thomas Hitzlsperger scored with an injury time shot, did they write in to the Mail saying: "This is biased..."
Of course not.
And by the way, Thomas is still a good friend. And I named my youngest, now nearly one, after him.
The Mail, by the way, have been looking for regular contributors to blog on Villa for a new web-site.
Perhaps such a venture might give even the Mail's harshest critics the opportunity to see how difficult life can be on the other side of the fence.
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Bill Howell
Mail man Bill Howell’s view of what’s going on at Aston Villa FC.
The problem is Bill that a local reporter should be getting stories from the club that the nationals don't get due to having a close working relationship. Following your printed lies you don't have a good relationship with the board or management at Villa as you have admitted. Therefore all you can do is repeat stories from the morning newspapers. What use is that? I have stopped buying the Mail now as the coverage of Villa is at best old news and unreliable.
Bill, I give it out and I take back with no problem at all, so whatever you want to say about is fine and dandy BUT what you say about Lisa is TOTALLY out of order and totally wrong. Proves my point that you are a hack as you say what you want without checking your facts. Last time I spoke with Lisa was at the Merse evening June 25. Contrary to what you might like to believe (!) you don't come up in conversation! I'm fair game, but remove or apologise for the Lisa comment. My dig was nothing at all to do with the Walsall game.
It was never personal between Doug and myself, we exchanged letters, we met and never did it get nasty. We did agree we'd never agree. He was at pains in the documentary about him that he had death threats etc during his time AND STRESSED not from the last lot (us). He didn't agree but knew where we were coming from. Ok, some of my rants on my own site might have been over angry but the VFC and Aston Villa Shareholders stuff was always done as professionally as possible, not always easy because by their very nature they were negative and got repetitive. Trust me, no one was happier to disband it all than those involved, hence our very quick actions to end the AVSHA (going since pre-war) and especially the VFC stuff.
Fair enough coming from nowhere, I was a web editor and got involved with the VFC and then Shareholders, it would have looked at the time that I'd an ego doing what was done, so I can accept that, it was a relief when it was all finished and I'll run and hide if anyone ever has another campaign!
As for the march, blah blah blah basically, really doesn't matter to me and I'm sure it doesn't matter to you as you seem to have very little respect in how you report things about Villa, maybe if you'd watched the Central News, Midlands Today and Sky Sports News coverage, you'd have realised there were a good few thousand. Strange the nationals were able to pick up on it. Still, with the lack of coverage there, the Mail had more space for Blues articles.
I'm not looking or needing to vent against anyone, life is much too good at Villa and elsewhere to have that requirement, I was simply biting back from your negativity aimed at the 'geeks'. You are the Villa correspondent and that reflects on the paper that many Villa fans now boycott. You seem to have no affinity with Villa at all and come over as disliking the club quite often, so guess what, some fans aren't going to like that.
Might shock you from what you say above that I partly agree, part of Doug's problem (not that I'm wanting to open up the Doug debate again, that has been done, he has moved aside and I wish him a very long and healthy retirement) was in choosing the wrong manager at the wrong time OR choosing the right one and not keeping him. If you look at the figures for what was spent in relation to what was sold, they aren't the fortunes some talk about, but fair enough, some was spent. There were good things just like any boss, if you go on too long things go stale and towards the end things were very stale and he was becoming a sad sight as he was no longer the strong,bolshy, bouncy character of old. Happens to us all unfortunately. Lets face it, he's done better out of the club than most, so no need to be too sad for him is there? From what I can gather, he is quite enjoying his time there now.
Maybe if you choose your words more carefully, you'd actually get the message you want to portray over, or are you just proving my point that you are a hack? The response appears so.
Been fun Bill, shame you didn't agree years ago to a meeting to at least here the other side before formulating your opinion on us personal tirading geeks eh?!
All a bit unseemly this though, I regret posting on your blog, just can't stand seeing name calling thrown Villa fans ways, as a non Villa fan, you'll not understand that! :o)
Internet geeks, then has a blog...... :-P
What a load of nonsense has been spouted on the issue of who Bill supports. What really counts is that a journalist is professional, impartial and credible. I would not want my teams correspondent to be some sycophant brainwashed by the club who can never saying a negative word about how things are going.
Things are generally going very well at the club in terms of how the board and management are doing. Certainly we have had much harder times, but it doesn't mean that they cannot be questioned.
I personally think it is an asset that Bill doesn't support Villa. He clearly comes across as having an interest without having his judgement clouded by personalities at the club. I couldn't be that impartial and I am sure I am not alone.
If people want a fans opinion visit fanzine websites such as H&V or VT. I would rather the printed media be based more on impartial analysis.
Quite frankly I find it tiresome how much stick comes Bill's way. It is no accident it usually comes from self-important and self-appointed "supporters representatives" who's main purpose in life ended once Doug left the boardroom. Seems like you are the new bogey-man Bill.
put a sock in it, u ugly prat.
Bill
You're not going to get anywhere fast by naming and shaming. If you're not getting what you want from the club go out and find it.
I appreciate it's not easy but it's your job and as such doors will open for you.
But it does appear that you get your snippets from the web. I think it winds a few people up ...
Nice to see this open discussion. I still think we get a more balanced view from a non toady reporter, to add to ones own.
By the way, given that you cornered Ian Taylor on his own, and Ian works for Alex Black, can we assume you know what Garreth Barry will be advised to do now ?
Bill, whether you support Villa, Albion or any other team is irrelevant. The problem is that you show yourself time and again as simply a bad journo. Oh, and this 'look at me, I know everyone at Villa' spiel is as dull as it is dumb. Please try and get a life, and ideally a new job - I'm sure that won't be too difficult, the nationals must be banging on your door eh?
Bill to be respected as a journalist it would help if you understood the basics of the language you are paid to write in.
Your blog of 30th included the following 'The press core who report on Villa in this region are a mix of clubs'.
I assume you mean press CORPS?
I remember reading that Bill was named Midlands Journalist of the Year last year.
Now who's the better judge of his professional capabilities?
A specially appointed panel of media experts or a bunch of sad, attention-seeking and envious Villa fans.
I wonder............
Thank God someone's stuck it Jonathan Fear, a man who revelled in creating his own sense of personality, when he is, in fact, the 'editor' of a two-bob website visited only by his cronies and the yes-brigade who follow him (I notice Dennis B made an appearance - there's a shock. I wonder whether 'runaway with an internet lover man' will also appear soon to offer his views?!)
Spokesman for Villa fans? Says who? Get a grip Fear and perhaps try putting yourself in perspective in the food chain.
Bill,
Please don't get into a slanging match with fear. Over the years i have had enough of hearing what he has to say. He does not represent villa fans, never has never will. The sooner he shuts and gets over the fact that he isnt important the better.
Colin
Mr Howell was voted Midland sports journalist of the year recently?
Well it seems standards must have really slipped.
Oh for the days of Rob Bishop (who was a WBA fan I believe) and Leon Hickman, when the Mail used to be a respected paper with quality journalists, nowadays it's just a local version of it's red top daddy.Their sales circulation proves the point, and I bet messers Bishop and Hickman wouldn't degrade themselves by name calling and mud-slinging on an internet blog.
Grow up.
Get a grip RM. Are you saying it's wrong for a newspaper reporter to defend himself? He's a local hack, not a member of the Royal Family for pity's sake. I bet Leon Hickman and Rob Bishop would be doing exactly the same were they still at the Mail now that there's the technology in place to write blogs and the like. I'm enjoying reading Bill's blogs - I'm not saying I agree with everything that's in there but it gives an idea to us punters about what it's like to cover Villa and a few titbits as to what goes on behind the scenes.
Some of the responses on here really do make me cringe. Some of you lot probably want a reporter who's won the Nobel Peace Prize let alone is a Holte End Season Ticket Holder.
Why do a lot my fellow Villa fans labour under the illusion that we could challenge the top four this season ?
By his own admission Martin O'neill believes that we needed to address our lack of guile and creativity.
While he talked about it, Tottenham added the best midfield player in euro 2008(Modrij),have just added Bentley and are about to land Arshavin.
On top of that,we now have no fullbacks at all and will be starting with Zat Knight as a first choice centre back !
How O'neill can manage a club with only 1 fullback for 18 months is totally beyond me.
The rest of the league must be petrified.
have mr howell and mr fear ever considered auditioning for big brother? this is great stuff(albeit extremely unprofessional and quite childish) keep it up guys!!! i don't like either of you but entertainment wise...:P
I was thinking more like Gladiators myself...
Bill Howell is spot on. People like Fear are up their own backsides and full of their own self importance, getting the kleenex out to all hail to General Napalm Death. Give me Bill any day over Lisa Smith who is considered an embarrassment and a joke by other journalists from what I have been told and people at Villa for that matter. just because he doesn't support Villa doesn't mean he can't do a better job, certainly than the self apppointed internet gods who cannot see through O'Neill and his limitations for starters
Ross said:
"What really counts is that a journalist is professional, impartial and credible."
Ross, Bill is not any of these, that is why he is such a bad journalist!
Keef - given that you've already said you've stopped reading the Mail how do you know about Bill's 'qualities'.
Also, interested as to what your credentials are regarding judging a journalist's performance? Are you a lecturer or something? Have you worked for a newspaper?
Serious question.
Forget Fear. Keep socking it to 'em, Bill!
Two things immediately occur after reading your stern defence of your position Bill. Given all the abuse you recieve, you cannot be insensitive that there might be a growing suspiscion amongst many of us, that you do not in fact have the best interests of the club at heart. And secondly, given all the recent antagonism you seem to have generated amongst many the same said Villa fans, I wonder in fact, if this is not in fact precisely your agenda.
Reading your latest blog for instance, I detect more than a whiff of sarcasm and dare I say another deliberate attempt to have a little dig at the club again.
Now I'm sure they can take it. I personally have become used to much of this over the years with things like: "sources close to the club might indicate all is not well etc...etc" malarky that has plagued Villa since I was a lad. Too often we have faced antagonistic forces 'percieved' or 'real' that at worst appear hell bent in knocking us off course or at best making life around the club appear a little less than harmonious.
The Media in general in this country Bill, are to my mind, a bunch of mischief makers most of the time in any case. As with much else that gets reported on in this country they are forever seeking to portray situations in a rather negative light. A lot of your takes on the Villa fall into that category, I'm afraid. Truth or not, they are, rather less than helpful and in fact contribute (as with so much else that clubs in Villa's position have to deal with), to a sense that it is always going to have fight an uphill battle to get anywhere.
All I suspect a lot of Villa fans would like from a local journalist is a little less of your world weary cynicism and a tad more concrete support. I would ask this, not just for the Villa, but for ALL our local clubs.
The National Media, if you can really call them that, have for years dismissed the Midlands as an irrelavance in many areas. I'm afraid we don't need our local media aiding and abetting their Metropolitan colleagues in forever dissing local institutions.
I think the local media have a duty to support the regions clubs. We have to put up with the national media putting them down or, more often, not even reporting on them at all.
I am biased and blinkered for the Villa, that's what die hard supporters are like. If local journalists knock the club and it's supporters, then they can expect to receive a barrage of abuse, and a slump in sales.
Jim - yes I have worked as a journalist. Have you?
Any local journalist would be interviewing MON to ask about the lack of signings and the likelihood of new players arriving shortly. However, as MON will not speak to Bill, he is worthless as a local reporter.
Fair enough Keef, if you have worked as a journalist then perhaps you have an informed opinion.
But for someone who has "stopped buying the Mail" you seem to know a lot about what Bill is or isn't writing.
I haven't been a journalist, however I know someone who works at Villa that says MON and Bill get on reasonably well and have regular media chats.
Have you not perhaps thought that there are certain things going on which Bill has been asked not to report or that MON is good at controlling the information he puts out so as not to jinx any potential signings?