Watching the fans' sites this weekend is eye-opening, with Villa rants against the Birmingham Mail for telling how General Krulak referred to David Gold as a 'pig in mud'. They seem offended that we should report what he said... yet earlier, when he said it on villatalk.com, some 'hope the papers run this great quote'. More interesting is Villa fans' rants that this means the Mail is definitely a 'Blue-nose' paper (a polite version of what was said). But anyone reading yesterday's Mail will have seen that the splash (p1 lead) was a report from Cardiff Crown Court of five Blues fans being jailed for violence at a match. And as a result some Blues fans on their websites shout that the Mail is unfair to them!
So is the Mail a Blues or Villa paper?
The truth, of course, is that we are for both, but seek to print accurate reports from on and off the field. On occasions, this may be a story that shows Blues in a bad light. At other times, Villa. As a result, there are a few from both sets of fans that say we are against their team.
The majority, I suspect, realise that we are simply reporting what is out there, without fear or favour from either side.
The number of fans from both sides who call or write over the years to tell us we are biased is almost reassuring... in that they are fairly equal in numbers. We must be getting something right.
Yesterday's paper was a great example of what we do... it had accurate reports in the same edition which provoked 'ranters' from both clubs to say was unfair. Again, most will see it for what it is... accuracy, whatever and whoever is the subject. We are, after all, not a club programme.
Comments (7)
I unerstand what you are trying to say... or rather how you are trying to defend your paper.
But Saturday's Mail was publishing different reports about the two clubs.
The Blues report was from court, and I'm sure the Mail would do the same whether it was Blues, VIlla, West Brom or whoever. Fact in court cannot lie and the Mail would be in trouble if they did.
But the Krulak story was your interpretation of what was said. Krulak made some knock-about comments about mud-fighting... OK. But the who;le subject was about Blues' outrageous ticket prices for the derby (whether that was £45 or £55, both prices outrageous).
And what does the Mail do? Go for the headline grabbing 'pig in mud' line, letting Blues get away with murder on the ticket prices.
So... do I think the Mail is biased? Well, in fairness, I don't think you as a whole paper intend to be, but I think some of your writers are. And in this case, whether you meant it or not, I feel that the resulting flavour of the Krulak story was biased against Villa.
Posted by Sarah Bernard | September 23, 2007 12:19 PM
Posted on September 23, 2007 12:19
I personaly find you biased against my club *albion* in favor of blues and villa.
Ask any villa fan above the age of 25 about the real West Mids derby - it isn't Villa v Blues but Villa v Albion, the 2 biggest clubs in the region.
Posted by Lee | September 23, 2007 10:22 PM
Posted on September 23, 2007 22:22
Just to add, you should get out there and find out who suports who in the region. You will be amazed how many people suport Albion and Wolves south of Handsworth. Time you reflected that
Posted by Lee | September 23, 2007 10:25 PM
Posted on September 23, 2007 22:25
lee the albion fan does make me laugh albion bigger than blues?come on! i,m over 25 there has been,and will ever be,the biggest midlands derby,and those two clubs are from the city of birmingham!i suggest you look at the history of this fixture,it will be the same this season,stick to what ya know, wolverhampton!!!
Posted by s.hobday | September 24, 2007 3:18 PM
Posted on September 24, 2007 15:18
Villa - Albion the biggest derby? Don't make me laugh. Blues are bigger than Albion and have fans all over the world. Saying that, you do tend to ignore the Baggies and suck up to O'Neill and chief petty officer Kolpak
Posted by Dave Hollis | September 27, 2007 9:33 PM
Posted on September 27, 2007 21:33
Whats hodbay on about? The biggest derby in the Midlands is us versus the Dingles. Blues and villa is hardly even as villa are so much bigger than blues (and I hate villa). Wolves and Albion are the most evenly matched rivals in the country.
That said, Villa wouldn't know rivalry if it hit them on the head.
Posted by Baggie Dave | September 27, 2007 11:02 PM
Posted on September 27, 2007 23:02
"Villa wouldn't know rivalry if it hit them on the head"
You're right there Baggie Dave, because we don't have a local 'rival' that warrants the tag for about 20 years now.
Posted by Brian | October 3, 2007 1:01 PM
Posted on October 3, 2007 13:01