c-krulak

Geneeral Krulak here: 1. paulanddonnya: I checked with our ticketing folks to see if you are right about the ST sales to youth. According to our statistics, we have not seen any reduction in ST sales to youth...I will did into this a bit deeper to see if we can verify your point. Our ticket prices are lower than other Clubs and I am not sure that the recent increase is having the negative effect you stated. BUT, I will dig deeper into this issue. 2. atalbot01: I have passed your comments on to the security folks...it is not satisfactory to have that sort of conduct in a family section. As for the situation re. the hospitality...food, drink etc. We have worked long and hard to increase the speed and quality of service. As I have mentioned many times before, our biggest problem is the concourses themselves. They are tight, do not allow for a fluid queue and ease of "resupply" of the food distribution points. I am not making excuses, just stating the facts. Until and unless we can do something re. the infrastructure, we will always be nipping away at the edges of the problem. We are trying to nip as much as we can. 3. razor: I am unaware of the "return fee" but will check with John Greenfiled about it. 4. I did not get a chance to speak with GH after his first training session with the lads...I would imagine that it was a cobination of training and setting expectations. 5. rob182: I will see what I can do...shouldn't be too difficult. 6. NRC: It is not smart for me to discuss specific players or plans. I will say that I am a fan of NRC. He has an "engine" that won't quit and I like that a good deal. 7. Traffic: As you said, we have no control over the police and their actions. Our security manager meets with the police before each game and lays out our concerns and our wishes...but what happens is out of our hands. Sometimes it is simply a matter of how many police are available to help on game day. Again, we don't even know the numbers until they show up. 8. villarocker: Yes, the Club is sending a condolence card to the family. My feelings towards our Club have not changed one iota...and neither has Randy's. Yes, it has been a hard summer...I would be lying to you if I said something different. At the same time, you can draw strength from adversity and I think that is what happened with our Club...at least with the people who work at Villa Park and Bodymoor Heath. They have come together and have worked even harder to make the best of the situation. Randy has been totally dedicated to the Club as has the entire Board. One of the reasons I have been unable to get to all my pm's is because of the amount of time I was spending on other aspects of what has been going on. For those who think that the Club was slow to react or did not move with more alacrity...nothing could be further from the truth. From day 1, ALL that was important was the health of the Club. Do I love the Villa? Absolutely! I know that I have only been involved for 4+ years and for some that is just a drop in the bucket....but that doesn't mean that I am any less passionate or care less about the Club. When you are on the Board...and when you are communicating almost daily on three sites...it is impossible NOT to be passionate about the Club. I am a Aston Villa Football Club Fan...pure and simple!!

General Krulak here: 1. The game: I am sure that my feelings mirrored most fans. I thought we started off brightly but then lost the sharpness and movement that characterized the first of the game. I was gutted by the result because we are a better team than that...but we didn't show it. I believe we have the lads to do the job but we need to be consistent. GH saw everything that you saw and I am sure took note of what he saw. 2. Catering: I have passed all comments on to the Head of Catering Although some feel we have made little progress in this area, I can promise you we have made great strides. Our problem remains the same as we have had since we arrived...the infrastructure of our facility is so tight that the ability to get people into concourses in a timely manner is difficult. We recognize this fact and have taken steps to expedite the movement of food and drink but there is only so much that can be done in the space and time allotted. 3. "pm's": For those who have pm'd me (39 in the queue right now) and have not received an answer...I promise I will get to you. I pass on all major issues immediately to the Club so it i not that action hasn't been taken. The issue is simple: I have been so busy answering issues re. the Manager, kit, etc. that taking time to answer pm's has been difficult to say the least. 4. Re. the attendance: Yes, I would imagine that the play of the team and the issues of the summer have impacted on the attendance...I am not sure what the Club can do about it at this point in time. We need to win games, simple as that. What I would hope is that the Fans continue to support the Club and get behind GH. We have a long season ahead of us and we can still do good things. Our goal and ambition remains!! Randy will support GH.

General Krulak here: 1. Steve Stride asked to leave the Club. I am not sure of his exact reasoning but I would imagine he just felt it was time for him to go. I very much like Steve. He has a place just up the road from me in Florida and he and his family have been out to dinner with us on more than on occasion. A very good man. 2. Obviously I am not going to go into any details re. KM other than to say that no one was guaranteed a position within the Club. KM is very well liked by Randy and the Board...is a very good man and served selflessly when MON left. We absolutely want him to remain with the Club and believe that he will. He does a superb job and is an integral part of our Club. 3. GH and his timing. I am not sure how many times I have to answer this question. We made an agreement with him based on what he felt he needed to do to meet his obligations. I understand that some don't agree....but we felt it was important that he do what he felt was right. 4. Oaks: Sorry all of this took too long in your opinion...as I have said many times, it just wasn't as easy as most fans would imagine. Obviously you don't believe that...but it is a fact. Just look at the timing of the departure of MON and where other Managers were in their own seasons and perhaps you might get a sense of the beginning of the timing issues.

General Krulak: ....after we have a chance to review the contract, we will be charting our path forward. 2. We currently have no formal agreements with MLS or Australian League 3. "...doc 2000: as I indicated, our legal folks are working this right now. 4. We are aware of contract timing! 5. Risso: ????? I think I have answered this multiple times. GH is our Manager. We have agreed that he complete his obligations and respect him for his desire to do so. 6. Very tough loss yesterday. Not much I can say that hasn't already been said.

General Krulak here: 1. Poodle: I can assure you that there is no lack of "courage and integrity" at our Club!!! The issue is with our contract and as I have mentioned, we currently have our legal people looking at that. Aft

General Krulak here: 1. Marketing the brand: Yes, we are very interested in moving our brand world-wide...and have been focusing on doing that ever since we teamed with Nike. Obviously, we need to do our part...which is that part that we all want...to win!! BUT, I can say that I do a good deal of traveling and I have been seeing Villa shirts more than ever. Anything like ManU? No! 2. I am not sure what we will be doing with the shirts next year. Obviously this incident is going to cause some reevaluation. I have not reviewed our contract but I am sure our legal people are doing that. Although some feel that we are not discounting our mechandise enough, there does have to be a margin that is acceptable in business terms. I hope most would recognize that fact. 3. If I have missed questions over the past weeks, please forgive me. We have had some pretty major issues going and I tried to focus on them.

General Krulak here: 1. Obviously, the Club is HUGELY disappointed with the issue of the new kit. As best that I can suss out, the initial kit produced by Nike had too large a weave and thus was prone to snagging and eventually ripping. Rather than put out a substandard product, we now are waiting until we can get a good product. This is not the fault of AVFC but, rather, a problem with Nike. We have certainly indicated our displeasure at this turn of events. Nike will make some monetary adjustments but the simple fact is that our Fans will not have the chance to purchase a new kit until November and that is not good...for the Fans or for the Club. Simply put, we are not happy about this. We have one year remaining on our contract. 2. As a fan, I can "feel the pain" of the past couple of months....it seems like a roller coaster. As the eternal optimist, I continue to look for the bright spot...Up the Villa!! A new Manager and a continued focus will get us where we want to be.

General Krulak here: 1. I understand that there are Fans who are upset that GH will not be on the sidelines for the upcoming game. The key point to understand is that it is NOT because he does not want to be on the sidelines, it is because he has obligations that he feels he must fulfill. I respect him for that!! It is a long season and he will be here...I am not worried. Again, I respect a man who meets his obligations...that is the way I was raised. 2. I think we all owe a debt of gratitude to KM. At a very difficult time and in a very difficult situation, he selflessly manned the ramparts and did a fine job. There is NO ONE at the Club who doesn't have huge respect for the man...from Randy and the Board down to the people serving food at Bodymoor Heath...we all respect him. We absolutely want him to continue to be part of the Club and we believe he will. He is a very good man. 3. steve_afvc: You are absolutely right. GH is a good man who is personable, knowledgeable, dedicated, understands the ethos and traditions of our Club, wants us to succeed and is dedicated to seeing us succeed. Again, he realizes that he is not a miracle worker but he does sincerely believe that if we all pull together, we can be hugely successful. I am very happy with his arrival and look to a bright future.

General Krulak here: 1. Having spent a good deal of time trying to keep Fans up to date on the current situation at the Club...and having many of my comments end up in the Press (normally out of context or simply misquoted and wrong)...and having some on the site either 1) not believe me or 2) continue to say the same things after being provided the best facts I can give, I have decided to drop off this site until things have settled down a bit. It is unfair to the Club to have me misquoted in the paper...and it is unfair to the Fans. As I have said all along, Randy will do the best he can to get the "right" man for the job. There is not much more I can say.

General Krulak here: 1. "Vipers"???????????????????? Not sure I recall that one. Don't suppose you could refer me to where I said that...and please don't refer me to a newspaper article.

General krulak here: 1. Good post. 2. Harry: I "slagged off" MON??? You mean by saying what I felt...and many others felt? By answering the questions posed on this Board re. "what happened?" Amazing! Because I talked about the fact that no one is bigger than the Club? Me, Randy, etc? Not sure I would call that slagging anyone. I answered a question as honestly as I could...would you rather I 1) not answer, 2) not answer honestly or 3) not tell the truth as I see/know it?

General Krulak here. 1. jackbauer24: I guess if you look at the micro view of decisions made, then the lack of Fan consultation over the Trinity Road renovation was one of our biggest mistakes. We should have definitely spent time getting a sense of what the Fans thought of the move of seating. It was something that we could have done easily and should have done but just failed to "think things through." We have made other mistakes...internally as well as externally...but you asked for one and I gave you one.

General Krulak here: 1. I am not sure what "naming names" will do...now or after the choice has been made. What I will say is that there is not a single name that I have heard that hasn't been the brunt of VERY serious discussion. Simply put, we have discussed every name I have read on this Board and have done more than discussed with the VAST majority of them. Some Fans seem to have the impression that for the last 20-30 days we have been doing nothing...that we have just be waiting around for a miracle. Nothing could be further from the truth. We have interviewed and met with a significant number of people...spoken, written, etc. To think that we have only looked at two or three people is simply dead wrong. 2. briny_ear: I love it. I gave you my view of what happened and you simply say that my comments "don't apply in your view." How in the name of anything am I to deal with a comment like that??? You asked me what I thought happened and I gave you the best answer I could and you arbitrarily blow it off. So what am I to do now? Make up an answer that I hope will satisfy you? Seriously, put yourself in my situation and ask yourself how you would answer a comment such as you made. I gave you my opinion...I gave you the best rundown I could of what took place...leading up to the day when MON resigned. I am not a mind reader...I can only give you what I think.

General Krulak here: 1. Markavfc40: I did not have a go at MON, I simply stated a fact. He did leave us 5 days before the beginning of the season which has put us into this current position. I have said nothing that isn't true. I doubt if there is a fan alive that would agree that the timing was poor. As for piciata's comment that we lost a "quality manager and no one knows why", I think I have been pretty specific as to why I think he left...you might want to go back and read some of my posts. 2. poodle: "childish, condescending, and disappointing reply in my opinion"....yet it is fine to say that Randy and I cannot handle criticism with "dignity and composure". My entire point, over the whole time I have posted on Villa Talk and the other sites is that I have NO, ZERO problem with criticism...I call it the "good, bad, and ugly." What I do have a problem with is criticism that is personal and insulting. You can get your points across without resorting to a meaness of spirit...and your points are always forwarded up...even if not given in a way that shows any respect. Put yourself in my shoes for just a second...I have multiple things to do every day (just like each of you), I am not retired and I am not some weathy bloke who has nothing better to do that play golf. Yet almost daily, I am on this site trying to keep a civil conversation going between the Club and the Fans...and ofter responding as a Fan myself. I can get frustrated just like you all!!

General Krulak Here: 1. Back from my trip only to discover that Randy is a bum and lacks ambition, I am a liar and a shill, we've really spent no money on the Club, every possible Manager we have looked at is not wanted at the Club or is a lousy Manager or is an indication of no desire to move forward, that we passed on getting a Manager in order not to spend money during the transfer window, etc. etc. etc. And I am supposed to answer comments/questions that surround those issues??? There is no way I can do it...NOT because I don't have the answers but because no one would believe me...which makes coming on this site pretty much a waste of my time and yours. 2. Randy and the Club have NOT given up. Randy and the Club are daily working to make us better. The idea that Randy hasn't spent money on the Club is simply absurd. In reality, he has bought the Club OVER three times...that is how much money he has put into AVFC. All the Managers we are looking at may not meet your criteria but you aren't tasked with selecting them. You have no idea who we are looking at other than reading the papers...and those that you have guessed correctly, you have something negative to say about all of them. Suppose we happen to pick one of them...or suppose we are trying to get one to come to the Club...I am sure they enjoy reading the blogs to see how our fans react to their names...and rest assured, anyone we would want is smart enough to do some due diligence on the Club and Fan base. Simply put, there are some Fans who have just turned on Randy like pit vipers...turned on the man who has done more for your Club in 4 years than most have done in 40. This summer will pass...it will be a footnote in history before we are all done. I have done all in my power to keep you all informed as to where we are...and there are some that just discount everything I say. I am at a loss as to where to go from here other than to say that we are continuing to work towards a resolution of this issue. WE didn't quit the team 5 days before the start of the season...WE didn't leave the Club high and dry. If you think that it is easy to go find a Manager, think again. You have mentioned some high visibility Managers...do you really believe we haven't spoken to them? You say we should throw money at them and they will up and quit their current Clubs...you know nothing!! For those who understand the issues we are faced and support us...thank you! Fosr those who don't, I would only ask that you try to fathom the depth of the issues and the effort we have been expending since this all started.

General Krulak here: 1. I will be off the site tomorrow and the next day...business.

General Krulak here: 1. Keith Harris is a friend...his attendence at Villa Park had ZERO to do with selling the Club!! "Trawling back his investment in the Club"...again, NOT accurate. As Randy has said, he is COMMITTED to AVFC. He is going nowhere!! 2. Randy will find the "right" Manager for the Club. He cannot and should not react to every thought of every fan or every thought of every Board Member. At the end of the day, he needs to do what he feels is right. Some will agree with his decision, some will not....but it will be his. I can honestly say that names in the media are just that....names in the media.

General Krulak here: 1. jackbauer: If you have been on this site for any time at all, you will know that I do not talk transfers. 2. Bakerbob: Got it.

General Krulak here: 1. I am not going to get into the "who is the right Manager" debate...because who I feel might be "right" may not agree with what you feel is "right." PL experience is, in my opinion, important but many others don't. My rationale is pretty simple...the PL game has changed a wee bit since Sir Alec joined...and knowing that game does, in my humble opinion, make a difference. Is it the ONLY thing...absolutely NOT!!! If you saw the list of those interviewed and to be interviewed, you would realize that we are looking at Managers of "ilk"...my point is that, UNLIKE some of you, that is NOT the big criteria in MY opinion. It is "A" criteria but not the overriding one. Secondly, there are those who seem to think that we can waltz into any Club and get a Manager of "ilk" to leave their Club and come to ours. Did it ever occur to you that I, speaing as a Fan and former Marine who values loyalty, may not want a Manager who would up and desert his Club for additional money? I may well think that such a Manager might not be "right" for our Club. Again, I am NOT saying that is a criteria, I am just saying AS A FAN, NOT A BOARD MEMBER, I am not sure that getting someone who has bailed from their Club is something I would feel comfortable about. It is for this reason that discussing the Manager and the criteria is NOT something I am going to do. There is NO value in such a debate...for the Fans or for me. Randy has said he will announce the name...and I will just wait for that to happen.

General Krulak here: 1. A simple point: A Manager of a certain "ilk" may fire up some fans...the name may be sexy and the reputation and name recognition high...BUT, that does NOT necessarily mean he is the "right" person for the Club. I am not saying that it wouldn't be...I just get worried when fans say they will be gagging if it isn't someone of a certain ilk. What is your ilk may not be the Club's...and visa versa. 2. A hard fought win today. Backs to the wall and the lads did what needed to be done. In many ways, those games show me more than the ones where we win handily. I love to see our players dig in and play their guts out!!!

General Krulak here: 1. Obviously I am pulling for a victory today. It sure would be a welcome event! 2. I believe that Randy and the Club will be putting out a statement either today or tomorrow re. the efforts ongoing to find a Manager. Please don't misunderstand me, I am not saying he will announce a Manager. He does recognize, obviously, the concern of the Fans and will want the Fans to know essentially what he has done and when. As I indicated, he started taking action as soon as MON turned in his resignation and left 5 days before the beginning of the season. Randy has not stopped working the issue since that date. He has refrained from putting out a statement for many reasons...the two key ones are simply 1) that it is not good business to articulate your plans in the media...it causes too many problems and 2) it is not good for the Club to wake up every morning and read another article about another Manager that the owner is interviewing. At the same time, he wants you to know that he hasn't been sitting on his bum...that this is his #1 priority by a LONG shot!!! The simple fact that he has basically been in the UK for the entire time MUST show something...the Browns are into their 3rd pre-season game and Randy is in the UK. 3. Experience in the PL...my sense is that experience in the PL is a plus...not a minus. Obviously it is not the overriding criteria but it would be taken into account.

General Krulak here: 1. Oaks: I think I have answered your question every which way...the window has NOTHING...ZERO to do with hiring a Manager. As I have just posted, we have been deeply involved in the Manager search since the second MON turned in his resignation...immediately. As for "dog eat dog"...I would say that my reputation is essentially just that. I am not necessarily know to be the most "PC" or pussy cat around!! What you totally misunderstand is that just going into a Club and throwing money around is NOT the answer. What makes a team great is a strong bunch of lads led by a Manager who wants to be at the Club...for a lot more than just money. The "right" Manager for the Villa may not be the "right" Manager in your mind...but he will be the "right" one in the minds of those who are choosing. He needs to know the League, have demonstrated he can win in the League, be a team player who understands the ethos, traditions and values of the Club, be in synch with the leadership of the Club and have the same vision, etc. etc. etc. Finding the "right" person may appear easy to some...but it is not that easy. We have spent MANY hours looking for the person....we have traveled and we have talked...JUST because it isn't spread all over the London Times does not mean that we haven't been working. 2. Again, I know fans are frustrated...you are not alone. We did not ask nor expect to be in this situation....and certainly not done in the timing it was done...5 days before the beginning of the season.

General Krulak here: 1. Sorry to have been off the bpard for the past few days. 2. There are so many comments on the site that rather than try to answer each, let me share with you some thoughts. First off, obviously I was gutted by the game. I am no different that any of you...it hurt and that is the fact Now, to the bigger point...the Manager. When MON left, the Club absolutely made up a list of Managers that we would approach. It would have been insane not to do so. No one has been sitting on their hands. Yes, we had to continue with the season...and so Randy immediately asked KM to move into the position. It was a good move and needed to be done because a new Manager is not something that happens overnight. This was not a permanent appointment...it was an opportunity for someone who has been with the Club, had success with the Club...is liked and admired by the Club..to give it a go. This did not mean that KM had "won" the job or that he even wanted the job...it was simply the recognition that we needed a steady had at the tiller and KM gave us that hand. He is a very good man and has the health of the Club always in mind. At the same time, we did not, in any way, stop the search/effort to research and talk with potential managers. That effort is ongoing. As it proceeds, the Premiership does not go on hold...it continues too. We realize that fact! Sometimes it would seem that the fans think that nothing is happening...that we are just sitting around drinking a beer. Nothing could be further from the truth. Not a day goes by that we are not working this issue. Unfortunately, to many, people think that this effort somehow easy to do. Yes, we could get a Manager in...but we are not interested in "any" Manager, we are interested in the right Manager. It is as simple as that! Does anyone really believe that any owner would purposely let something like this just drag on because he wanted to?? Seriously, does it make any sense for someone who has invested so much money into the Club to purposely let time fly by?? Please think about it. Randy is working VERY hard to sort this. Comments about how often we have attended games...Randy has been at every game this season but one friendly...that is a heck of alot more than he has with the Browns. He is in the UK right now and has been for the entire week. Why? Because he is working the very issue we are talking about. I will be flying over to the UK on Sunday...Randy, Paul and I will be meeting to continue to move this issue forward. NO ONE is just sitting on their hands. For those who believe that "available" is an easy term, think again. 3. I can also tell you that my respect for the Villa Fans has NEVER changed! The idea that I am "slating" the Fans is total BS and I don't know where that came from. Randy and the Board have total regard for each Fan and that has not changed. We fully understand that these are VERY hard days for the Fans...we get it! These are hard days for us!! Right now, we have our heads in the game and are pushing as hard as we can. For those who somehow think we have been laying back, you are wrong.

General Krulak here: 1. First off, I will be off the site until Friday...unfortunately I have a Board Meeting (not AVFC) in Houston and will be traveling and then at the meeting...then back again. I am NOT a coward and I am not skipping out...I just need to make this meeting. 2. 99% of my replies are "off my own back" but obviously, I talk to Randy and Paul about what is said on each site. I pull no punches...they get the unvarnished truth at all times. BUT, when I answer, I use my own words and thoughts...based upon discussions I have had at the Club. 3. Gabby, Cuellar and Collins will all be ready to play this week and this weekend. 4. Pilchard and others: All good comments and all have been taken aboard. I think I have said as much as I can about the manager. OBVIOUSLY we have been looking...we would be idiots not to be out and about. At the same time, it is not as easy as it might appear. As for the continuing lament that we are just waiting for the window to close before we announce a Manager...that is crazy. It may seems like a nefarious plan to some of the fans but nothing could be further from the truth. As for the availability of all the great South American strikers, etc. there is a big difference between fact and fiction. Again, what you read in the papers or what rumors you hear do NOT necessarily comport to reality. As for why we didn't sign anyone from the moment the window opened, you are asking the wrong person...I haven't been in the transfer business since I arrived! I think we ALL know who did the transfers for the Club...and his timing. Additionally, those who continue to say that "time will tell" re. the manager or new players...what is time going to tell? That we didn't rush out and get a manager? That we didn't rush out and spend on a player that really will not help the Club? Is this really the expectation of a knowledgeable fan? 5. What is our goal? What is Randy's goal? It hasn't changed since we arrived on the scene. Even with the change in dynamics of the economy, the new owners in the league, our goal has not changed. We want to play consistent, exciting, winning football. We want to be competitive at all levels. We want to have fans that are proud of the Club and who are thrilled when the lads take the Pitch. This has NOT changed since we arrived.

General Krulak here: 1. ChrisNicholsToe. "Fans that I castigate"??????? I haven't castigated ANY fans. I have no idea of what you are talking about. September 1 is going to somehow "answer all our questions"...or who we pick as Manager is somehow going to say everything? That just doesn't make sense either. If we sign no one...if there is no one out there to sign that 1) will make a difference or 2) is available...then we should sign someone anyhow just to "answer the question" that we are willing to spend??? Are you serious?? Is that how you will measure the intent of the Club? I wish to goodness that things were as simple as you seem to think they are. Hey, just go out and sign someone...quality players are all over the place in the 2nd week of the season. Hey, there are great managers just waiting for us to call....if we pick the "right one", then we will have shown people that we are really serious. Forget the fact that the owner has already spent millions of pounds above the purchase price on the Club...that he has put money against players, the facitlites, etc. The only question that seems to matter is what have you done for me tomorrow??? Pretty shortsighted. Most fans understand the difference between a sprint and a marathon. Many a great business has failed...many a great team has failed...trying to make one "statement" that falls short in the end. 2. Jez_Villa: Yes, Randy will continue to put his money against the Club. Is he a multi-billionaire of the type found in some of the Clubs in the Premiership? No. So expecting him to throw around 100 million pounds like some others is not in the cards. But he has proven his willingness to spend...but it must be on someone who can truly help the Club. 3. C4rvillan: "Don't tell us, show us"???? Again one of those comments that just leaves me shaking my head. What do you want us to show you....that we can run out and buy a player that we don't really value just to say we bought a player. Run out and find a manager that is not what is right for the Club? What do you want us to show you? I would hope and pray that you would want us to show some good business sense, some vision, some dogged determination to get the right person if at all possible, etc. etc. Am I missing something? 4. Again, less than 10 days ago, people were saying that KM was "the man." Our lads came out under him and played inspired football and a brand of football we had not seen in years. We have one howler and it is "chuck him out." If Randy responded to every single twist in the wind, we would never get anywhere. Someone needs to keep focused on the goal and do their very best to achieve that goal...Randy is trying to do just that. 5. AND, oh by the way, all of this questioning about whether or not Randy is willing to spend money is set against a backdrop of lower game ticket sales...not season tickets but just games. It's called "what came first, the chicken or the egg?" The fans want to see exciting football played by talented players...Randy spends the money...we have a howler, and sales drop. Even before Newcastle we saw thousands of empty seats for our first game...and Everton doesn't look that good now. My point is NOT to say that Fans should spend their hard earned money to come see a bad display of football...my point is simply to say that there are always two sides to every argument and that we need to recognize the reality of attendence. Even in the "good old days", attendence drove the ability to move forward...and the ability to move forward drove attendence. Randy is doing his best...he has NOT changed.