Reasons to be cheerful
IF you take away the U-turn on the statement that should never have been issued, and then the messageboard nonesense from someone who should know better it has been the perfect fortnight for Aston Villa.
Martin O'Neill was made to look a little foolish at revealing his delight at Gareth Barry apparently set to stay at the club and then three days later was uttering a complete reversal.
Liverpool, it appears, now have all the time in the world.
Then General Krulak says the club are prepared to pay £30 million for a player and then wonders quite why there was such a fuss in some newspapers whose journalists have been made to search through the internet for their stories, such is the lack of information coming out of the club.
Villa should be bigger than this.
Do you see the Glazers, Tom Hick or George Gillette feeding soundbites through the internet?
Of course not.
But leaving those two errors of judgement aside Villa fans have every right to be content with how events have transpired over the last few days.
First we had Curtis Davies' sudden return from injury a month or so ahead of schedule.
Then we had the arrivals of Brad Friedel and Brad Guzan- one for now and one for tomorrow in the goalkeeping department.
Then today the club are set to beat off fierce competition for Nicky Shorey and Luke Young.
That's the back five sorted and now all Villa need is a right-sided midfielder, a striker and some defensive cover. Easier said than done, but with the season still ten days away the horizon is now much, much brighter.
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Mat Kendrick - is the Birmingham Mail's man at Villa.
Bill, is your Sports Editor concerned by the way that you seem to copy and paste articles from the Villa website, into your pieces in the Mail, on such a regular basis?
Gordon Bennett, Bill, no offence but the swipe at GK really does smack a tinge of bitterness that he's considered as an official conduit for passing info from club to fans, bypassing the local papers on occasion. He apologised for it as well, but frankly all he was doing was responded a bit passionately to a few irskome hypochondriacs. Not his fault for not having quite enough cynicism to assume the papers would pick up on it and take it completely out of context as journalists are want to do.
Not going to dispute the second half mind, it is indeed a much brighter affair at VP now, and Curtis Davies' return is possibly one of the best pieces of news too imo.
"Do you see the Glazers, Tom Hick or George Gillette feeding soundbites through the internet?"
Your clearly trying to get us Villa fans to bite back, are you under some sort of pressure to make this blog popular?
I'm not even going to give you the satisfaction of going into why we would never swap Lerner for any of the above. Or that the General was clearly not "feeding soundbites".
What the General said is that Villa would be prepared to spend £30 million on a player if the manager decided that such a player was the right thing for the club at the time. I realise that journalism bears little relationship to reality, but you might at least try to report the real meaning of what people say, rather than version of it twisted to suit your commercial ends. Time was when journalism was a respected profession. No wonder it is now on a par with estate agents and politicians.
You have a very strange way of portraying Aston Villa 'news' considering you are the Villa correspondent in a local Birmingham paper. Strange to the point that you never seem to have any 'news' but copy and paste from official sources (as stated above) and twist them to give a negative slant on the Club. Then you wander why no-one from the Club will speak to the media?! It's not that difficult to work out really is it? If the local journo is going to twist everything that is said (or not said on some occasions) then why bother speaking to anyone.
Bill,
Is there another job you could be doing, as I really feel your not quite cut out for this job of covering the Villa. I really feel you have launch a sly attack on anything the club does. Is nothing ever going to please you, are you not ever going to show support for the club you are suppose to be following.
Find another job Bill and do all the REAL VILLA fans a favour.
It does Bill you have an issue with the information coming out from Villa.
Can you be honest with us and say whether under Ellis that journo's actually got a lot of stuff from the board (normall called unnamed sources) and since Randy came in this has stopped ?
Don't you think it is great that Villa is the only club in the land that has a direct feed into the owner a feed which has proved to be very beneficial both ways ?
Many ideas (and the club took me up on one of mine) have been implemented through this line of communication.
Times have changed Bill, unofrtuantly for you the club do not need to communicate through the local press (Pat Murphy was bemoaning this as well) as there are now other channels.
As a Villa fan of some 25 years I have never been so close or so informed about the club.
cheers,
Ian
To be honest Bill, the sooner you sling your hook from reporting on the villa the quicker the mails numbers will rise. The fans think your a joke and articles like this reinforce it.
If your trying to get people to bite, well done! But i fear your really too thick for that.
Please go away and let someone with a ounce of sense take your role.
Bye
Bill, I missed this off another blog entry
"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."
partly true but that was the whole problem with Ellis, he never took the final step to secure success he always backed away from it. The difference is clear this summer. We have got in quality players for problem areas, you and I both know that we will get more in, that is the difference.
Alos Bill you said
"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."
but that is wrong, in essence you are saying teh local press are paid off to be quite or otherwise 'privledges' would be withdrawn. that position is not tenuable nor in my view morally correct. If any board is wrong the local press have a duty to say this regardless of the consequences.
that is the duty and obligation of a free press
Cheers,
Ian
Bill, good commnets. the Krulak thing was embarrassing. It's bad enough having a member of our board talking on a message board (who fawn over him like some kind of god) without him bringing the club into disrepute about the comments he makes.
He really is being badly advised. In fact the sooner he and lerner are packed off the better.
I wasnt a doug fan but these lot are merely american versions.
As for your reporting, you're doing a top job. Ignore the people who snipe at you. They are usually people who are resentful of the privileged job you have. As a Villa fan, I can assure you that you have the upmost respect of the villa fans I know. Compared to other certain journalists (fans?) on this patch, your work is a breath of fresh air.
The club will soon come running to you bill, when they need to sell season tickets because the fans turn their back on the club because of all the, frankly, rubbish signings.
Keep up the work bill.
Bill,
You know as well as I do (and the majority of Villa fans) that a) General Krulak's statement was made in a particular context and has been misreported by yourself, and b) There is a lot more to the MON supposed 'U-turn' than meets the eye, and which hasn't been reported to the press.
How about you stop being such a clearing in the woods and end this mis-reporting on Villa, start acting like a proper journalist, and report the truth, whether positive or negative?
James
Bill cant win can he? Even theough the General said he shouldnt have said the £30 mill comment people are still on his back. Bill didnt make it up. You lot want to get a life and give the guy a break.
Leaving aside the factual inaccuracies of your comments, it would be interesting to know the reasoning behind your interpretation of events around the Barry saga. In issuing and then retracting the deadline, it seems to me that Villa have finally, and effectively, called Liverpool's bluff.
It is quite easy to 'feed soundbites' to the local media, stating that the deadline was missed by 15 minutes. If so, then why has there been no subsequent acceptable offer? It's one thing to have all the time in the world, quite another to have 18 million pounds in cash to back it up.
As for Hicks and Gillette not communicating via the Internet, is it any wonder considering they barely communicate with each other? As the reporter responsible for covering Villa matches, I assume that you were at Anfield this season. Did it appear that Liverpool fans respected their silence on the running of the club on that night? Perhaps it is they who could learn a thing or two about judgment from Villa's owners.
Bill, isn't it about time you start crediting the websites than you cut and paste all your stories from?
No need for Villa fans to buy the Meaning Evil anymore, we get it straight from the horses mouth now.
The spite and hatred coming from some of our fans is sickening. Get a grip. Bill does a job most of us would love. Do we really need idiots like this supporting our club?
Get a life people and get behind the villa. Some people really have nothing to moan about
ianrobo1 - I agree completely, "get behind the villa" have you mentioned this to our 'Villa correspondent"?
ianrobo1 - I agree completely, "get behind the villa" have you sggested this to our 'Villa correspondent"?
Oh please - Bill Howell writes 'news' with a particular slant, quite deliberately, in order to sell newspapers. He does this consistently and he and his employers deserve every brickbat they get. He has on this occasion taken words that had a meaning which was obvious to everybody with half a brain cell, and 'reported' them in such a way as to completely twist that meaning. If he doesn't want to be 'attacked', I suggest he change his methods or his job. As for 'a job most of us would love', I would rather scrape dead animals off the road with my fingernails than be a 'journalist'.
Wow. You don't sound too bitter in this article Bill.
"...then wonders quite why there was such a fuss in some newspapers whose journalists have been made to search through the internet for their stories, such is the lack of information coming out of the club."
How are you paid to be a journalist if all you do is copy and paste bits from message boards? I really don't understand how you are in a job!
"Do you see the Glazers, Tom Hick or George Gillette feeding soundbites through the internet?"
What is the point of this comment? Are you claiming that Hick and Gillette are doing a better job of running their club that Randy and General Krulak? Hilarious, if so.
Bob the Builder - if you hate the press so much why you here? In case yr not sure where you are the clue is in the name of the website!
Bob the Builder - you carry on doing your job and I'm sure Bill will carry on doing his.
Despite some of the cretins who have posted above.
Obviously all these people are constantly talking to Martin O'Neill, Randy Lerner and all the people in power at the club.
You all know precisely what is going on at Villa, as reported on the official website.
I am not talking to those people, and I'm not stupid enough not to be able to think for myself.
And that is why I like to read what Bill says about our club.
Sorry if that's such a crime.
I love you Bill. Your quite funny in your bitterness.
Blimey Bill your having a Howler
Bill you say that journalists are left trawling the internet for stories about the club.
Can I assume that this means that people like yourself used to get convenient leaks from sources in the club before the new ownership took over.
Another point I would like to say is that whilst whenever fan messageboards link to article in the traditional media we are told to make sure we give full credit to the original source yet when the written media lifts quotes from fan message boards as in the case of the "£30 million story" the original source is never given credit by writers like yourself.
I think I have my take on Bill now. He really is the arch-wind-up merchant. He takes these little swipes at the club knowing full well they are going to provoke. May I suggest the way to make him stop is to ignore his Blog. I will in future.
Having spent a few days digging out some of Bill's other stuff about Villa I can say with some certainty that this guy is really not a friend of the club and is in fact only like a lot of what passes for journalism these days: A bit of a self-publicity. I think I have already identified what Bill's next career move will be: PR understudy to Max Clifford. I know a lot of journos admire this man. I'm sure Bill is amongst them.
Bill - in your pieces you say you've got a good relationship with the players - and you often mention Gareth Barry. Might be worth trying to get his views on the Liverpool move now, given it's clear they are unwilling to meet our asking price?
I am interested to know if Richard Barnes is actually a real person, Bill in disguise or a blue nose on the wind-up??
I find it a bit rich that someone who uses the pseudonym 'Wazza' (are you 12 by the way?) would question whether I exist.
Yes I do. No I'm not bill. And Id rather be dead than be a blue nose.
What I do is actually read what Bill writes. I also compare it to the hateful drivel that so many illiterate so-called Villa fans hurl at Bill, just because (shock of shocks) he doesnt wear a claret and blue scarf when he writes his match reports.
Bill is a newspaper journalist, not a fanzine writer. If you want to read drivel then I suggest you try Villa talk where people are now being admonished for being 'disrespectful' to the Krulak if they dare say anything about him. Ive seen behaviour like that before - in the Eastern Block back in the 1950s. And thats before you consider the fact that anyone who defends Bill is considered to be Bill in disguise. Clearly the bad weather is having an affect on these children's activities during the 6 week break.
Some people are so quick to be full of jealousy, spite and hatred towards bill that they dont actually have anything more articulate to say other than use common filthy language. These are the people who you should be aiming your 'blue nose' comments at.
May I remind you all that Bill was the Sports reporter of the Year a few years back. A little bit of respect and humility wouldnt go amiss from you all.
Hear hear Richard. Couldn't agree more.
I have worked as a journalist for a different newspaper and I don't know Bill from Adam.
But some of the lack of understanding of the media industry from some people on here defies belief.
If you want fairytales stick to Hansel and Gretel.
Richard Barnes: Jesus not sure what your relationship with 'Bill' is but I'm guessing your his wife? Could you defend him any more?
Also please read your own post:
"If you want to read drivel then I suggest you try Villa talk where people are now being admonished for being 'disrespectful' to the Krulak if they dare say anything about him"
"Bill was the Sports reporter of the Year a few years back. A little bit of respect and humility wouldnt go amiss from you all."
SO its ok FOR YOU to stick up for 'Bill' but if others stick up for GenK its 'drivel' and we're heading towards an Eastern block level of censorship? Really?
Also I think the general gist is that this *Villa* sports writer, NEVER prints anything other than negative, biased, creatively worded (LIES!) news on the club, all laced with his own personal issues as they don't invite him round for meetings to tell him what they're upto.
Well unfortunately for Bill its NOT acceptable that any journalist prints anything other than the unbiased news, regardless of his opinion or personal viewpoint on the issue. Although these days most journalism is nothing more than rhetoric, sound bites and personal opinion so I guess he's doing fine.
TP: I think your correct, I think there's a general lack of understanding about the media by most intelligent people.
We're not sure when personal opinions, biased viewpoints and nothing more than gossip written to do little more than create emotion became acceptable as 'reporting' or worthy 'news'.
We're not why 'selling' stories and papers is more important than simply telling the 'truth'.
And most of all we're not quite sure how such a conceited, insular, hypocritical and talentless bunch of 'hacks' fail to see why they're reviled so much.
FAO Mad Lady
Look sweetheart, you've got it wrong. Actually the role of a journalist is not only to report news (which Bill does, Im sure, to the best of his ability), but to also offer comment and his slant on things. Like it or not, as the mails villa correspondent, Bill's voice carries weight among all things villa. That might upset the wannabes who wish he was in his privileged position but thats fact. He knows more than you, he has a relationship with those at the club and he has access to the club that you or I dream of.
Thats what so many people dont understand. Bill has more insight than most just as colin tatum does at those lot down the road and just as Chriswiththefunnyname does with the boggies.
So dear, you will need to learn to live with that
Bill,
You really are a loser.
Baggie Bill cutting and poasting from Villatalk - oh dear you are so thick.
You also have a face that looks like it needs punching.
UTV
Richard Baines are you Bill's mom?
You seem very precious when it comes to people criticising little William.
Richard Barnes: "sweetheart" nice! I won't bother talking about how that might be seen as a 'disrespectful' comment - which you seem so set against in your earlier posts! ho-hum eh!
With regards to Bill knowing 'more' than me - I *very* much doubt it... really... but with regards to the Villa you would hope so - it is his job!
And with regards to a journalist putting 'his slant on things' - no that's not journalism.
"The writer or journalist is expected to use facts to describe events, ideas, or issues that are relevant to the public."
"Commentators or columnists also interpret the news or offer opinions and analysis to readers, viewers, or listeners."
So Bill 'comments' and it's usually nothing more than 2nd hand gossip and speculation - if you want to read his personally biased gossip go for it! I've got better things to do. As do most other Villa fans it seems.
Also I'm not at all upset about Bills having 'access' to the club (although read his post - he would seem to disagree about how much access!) - I'm quite happy for the professionals at the club to run it and for me to support the team come Sat 3pm.
And no I wouldn't want his 'job' either. It's a parasitic existence.
I prefer creating and designing over reporting.
Richard Barnes: "sweetheart" nice! I won't bother talking about how that might be seen as a 'disrespectful' comment - which you seem so set against in your earlier posts! ho-hum eh!
With regards to Bill knowing 'more' than me - I *very* much doubt it... really... but with regards to the Villa you would hope so - it is his job!
And with regards to a journalist putting 'his slant on things' - no that's not journalism.
"The writer or journalist is expected to use facts to describe events, ideas, or issues that are relevant to the public."
"Commentators or columnists also interpret the news or offer opinions and analysis to readers, viewers, or listeners."
So Bill 'comments' and it's usually nothing more than 2nd hand gossip and speculation - if you want to read his personally biased gossip go for it! I've got better things to do. As do most other Villa fans it seems.
Also I'm not at all upset about Bills having 'access' to the club (although read his post - he would seem to disagree about how much access!) - I'm quite happy for the professionals at the club to run it and for me to support the team come Sat 3pm.
And no I wouldn't want his 'job' either. It's a parasitic existence.
I prefer creating and designing over 'commenting'.
I'm 12 and a half actually Dicky
I'll make this quick because Mummy is cooking me some alphabetti spaghetti with toasted soldiers (no crusts) and then running me a nice bubbly bath.
I think your comments clearly show your lack of understanding on this issue. Quite how can you claim Bill has a relationship with people at the club 'we can only dream of' is beyond me, when Bill himself is admitting to trawling the fansites for news! And as for his words 'carrying weight on all things Villa', that's about as believable as Ellis when he used to say the manager would have 'significant funds' to spend on players!
On a totally unrelated note, I was at the VP ticket office around lunch time on the Friday before the Odense game. As i was about to leave there was a middle aged plonker in a ridiculous pair of shorts, leaning up against a silver Merc and wittering on down the phone about being banned from Villa Talk. I listened for a minute or so and the guy was a tool of the highest order. You write like he spoke - please tell me it was you Dicky?!
anonymous. I don't respond to people who dont leave their name.
And no that wasnt me.
Anyway, pass on my regards to Karen and the 2 davids. I dont deal with blue noses.
"Do you see the Glazers, Tom Hick or George Gillette feeding soundbites through the internet?"
I would like to suggest that l'pool's recent internet-aired comment re. G. Barry's price was fed by Gillett-Hicks.
40 comments - I'd say Mr Howell has got you lot hook, line and sinker.
I see Bill hasnt posted any replys. It would be great IMO moved to a different part of the mail and we got a new 'reporter' How about the mail does an online poll about this subject as almost everyone i know wants bill out of the job. I also dont buy the paper anymore in protest about the way he reports drivel and its free on here anyway!