The boys weren't chuffed to hear they'd drawn The Magic Numbers in the celebrity tug-rope competition...

We talk to Phil, The Twang's resident Villain...

As anyone who knows their music knows, any band whose name begins with the word “The” are immediately granted cool status. So it's no surprise that Midlands scoundrels The Twang are deemed as such. The only surprise is that they agreed to speak to us. A mix of West Brom, Birmingham and Villa fans, we got all elitist and spoke to lead singer Phil, the Villa fan, just before the new season kicked off.

Alright Phil, hows tricks?

We're just trying to find a Lebanese restaurant in London at the moment, it's been recommended!

Sounds nice. Busy summer then?

We've been doing a few festivals and stuff and the record is finished so it's good to get that out. It's just all kicking off for us again. It's good man.

Nice one. How happy are you with the album?

Really excited. We put everything in to this, from a personal point of view I wanted to make sure I was completely happy with the album, and we are now.

So who do you chaps all follow?

I'm a Villa fan. Saunders the other singer is a Blues fan, and the other three are Baggies fans. It's like the United Colours of Benetton advert!

Does that cause the odd bit of bother within the band at times?

It can do, but the Villa are far superior so they don't really argue with me! Plus not all the lads go to the games. There's only really me and the guitarist who go to the games, so I'm not taking any stick from armchair supporters!

Plus it seems that West Brom and Birmingham tend to swap places in the Premier League an awful lot...

Yeah but I want them all up there. Guaranteed twelve points! The Villa need them up there, you need that rivalry. It's great to have all the Midlands team in the Premier League, the last time Villa were great when they were all there. It's good for the Midlands though, joking aside.

Why did you start supporting Villa then?

I had absolutely no choice! And I'm glad. My dad started taking me to games when I was a kid and I've been to some great games. I love them!

Do you remember your first game?

I don't remember my first game. I  was young and I'm sure we won! I remember the Inter Milan game, Bergkamp was playing for Inter.

Who's your favourite player?

Bar McGrath, it's Paul Merson, easily. If we had a young Merson now we'd be up there. We need a creative midfielder. Maybe we'll move Milner into midfield. But Merson was genius, magic. I've got a signed picture of him on my wall at home.

So is Milner your current favourite?

No! Milner can't get the ball over the head of the first defender! I love Young, I don't want to lose him. Young's worth the entrance fee.

Do you think there's a chance he'll leave following Downing's arrival?

He won't go anywhere, that's just how O'Neill plays. Unless someone offered silly money. But the way O'Neill plays with Milner and Young at the moment is that they swap through the game, and I think what the plan is with Downing and Young, and move Milner in the middle. Because I think Milner could potentially become that creative midfield player. But O'Neill knows what he's doing, Harry Potter, he's a legend!

Even after last season's UEFA Cup shenanigans?

I was pissed off about the UEFA Cup thing, I didn't understand it. It's a side of football I don't understand, I can't see why you don't want to win silverware ahead of trying to get in the Champions League. It's just bollocks, because the year before when we missed out we went into the Intertoto just to get there! A final would've been a great final for the Villa, he should never throw something like that again.

And your League form dipped from then on too...

One of the main things was losing Laursen, he was a genius and he'll be really hard to replace. Particularly if it was 0-0 late on he could pop up from a corner.

What did you make of Gareth Barry's departure?

I don't blame him, for the money they were offering. It's not as if he didn't serve the club. What a great player. He was slow as f*ck, but still!

So do you think he'll get a good reception?

No I think they'll boo him, they already boo everyone anyway! You want to sit where my dad sits, they just shout shit all game!

Like Agbonlahor...

Yeah. But I don't want to say it, but I'm not feeling Gabby man, his first touch is just not good enough. But I said this at the beginning of last season and by Christm as he'd scored like ten goals and I had to eat my words, but in the end he never scored again! I just don't think he's good enough, but I don't dislike him. He's rapid and he's got the best Villa song [cue a rousing rendition of: “Gabby Gabby Gabby Gabby Agbonlahor – he's fast as f*ck!”].

What about cult heroes?

Milosevic was a cult hero, he had a great touch. He was just being played wrong, I thought he should've been just behind the forwards, I remember that goal against Leeds at Wembley in '96, it was ridiculous! Have that! Thirty yards, bedlam!

He got loads of stick, then left for Spain and...

He scored loads didn't he!? He was a great player.

How often do you get to games then?

I go when I can, with my dad it's nice to see him. I made about six or seven games last season. You've got to, Villa Park is amazing.

Have you had any players come to your gigs?

No but I bumped into Gabby in HMV once! He looked at me funny. But I'd love to have a drink with Merson.

We're not sure that'd be a good idea mind...

I'm sure he'd love it after a couple!


The new album "Jewellery Quarter” is out now on B-Unique Records.