brommy

Make it quick General, we don't want yet another 'speculation' thread on Villatalk! :winkold:

General, a measured but significant response on behalf of our club. Thank you for your continued demonstration of professionalism and passion. Believe me after such a long time it is appreciated.

General, If Barry wants to leave Villa, surely it is difficult for Villa to 'put us out of our misery soon', until a bid, acceptable to MON, has be made by another club? Do you think we should accept a low bid just to get it over with or wait a few weeks and get closer to what Barry is really worth? I know you don't comment directly on transfers, so the questions above may end up as a statement (such as the recent comments on this thread), but it would be interesting to read your opinion on financial negotiations. Have you ever sold anything at significantly lower than its true value just so you can move on in life?

Any talk of their right to a 55,000 seater stadium?

Not if you'd saved up the £400 or budgeted for the £400 and didn't have any more to spare. Comparitive to other clubs it really does sound like some have taken the previously low prices for granted then. In an age where many blokes (and women) claim to drink numerous pints on a night out, we are talking about one less pint a fortnight! When the food basket is 15% up from last year and gas and electricity prices are up 15% since the start of this year, I think it is a bit rum (pardon the pun ) to concentrate on 'binge drinking' to justify the increase. Perhaps the increases in other things (e.g. gas, electric, fuel and food) have already put paid to going out for a fair few people. So the 'cutting down' on a luxury that they already might not be able to afford is not a possibility. If people are down to the bare bones and can't reduce their expenditure by drinking one pint less a fortnight OR cancel the sunday paper OR smoke one less cigarette per day OR something similar, then I'd be very surprised. Even changing one's driving style could save enough money in petrol alone! I've had a season ticket for 20 years now. I can't be sure that a fan in 1988 didn't decide that he could no longer afford it then. Is the club expected to ignore inflation and football economics in order to attract the 1988 fan back?

Not if you'd saved up the £400 or budgeted for the £400 and didn't have any more to spare. Comparitive to other clubs it really does sound like some have taken the previously low prices for granted then. In an age where many blokes (and women) claim to drink numerous pints on a night out, we are talking about one less pint a fortnight!

I don't mind mine at all at 7%. The 30% is a disgrace for Junior Tickets An £85 increase is a disgrace as well. Does the actual cost not matter more than the increase? If I saw a big Sony TV advertised for £400 (between £200 and £400 cheaper than elsewhere), but when I went to buy it had gone up to £485, I'd still be pleased with the cost.

Well that might explain it, then. THIS IS NOT A DISCUSSION THREAD FOR POSTERS TO DEBATE WITH EACH OTHER. There is a long thread on ticket prices already. All views are allowed. none are censored for their views. Posts not adhering to the site rules will be deleted and posters carded if you can't help the site run smoothly and respect our requests. Contact a mod if you have a problem. Blandy

sorry general in the whole season ticket debate this may have got missed... can you advise please?? Cheers sir!! From memory, I think the General has already answered most of the above, so I have added the answers in BOLD CAPITALS. The last answer is purely my opinion. There will always be a few hundred people who cannot renew (personal or financial reasons). Your best bet would be to be near the top of the list for the season tickets that are vacated.

General, here is my honest take purely on the season ticket price increases. This is in isolation of the great work done so far by Randy, yourself and the rest of the 'behind the scenes' team. My wife and I = 2 x £450. Up 5.9% in two years. 9 out of 10 My ten year old son = 1 x £165. Up 32% in two years. Admittedly from a low base, but as an increase 4 out of 10 :| Total = £1065. Up 9.2% in two years. 7 out of 10 I am aware of most issues surrounding the econonics of football and the comparisons to be made against other clubs offering a similar 'product'. So, whilst we would all like cheaper or even free(!) tickets, my assessment of the total season ticket price for my 'Villa family' is 8 out of 10. Hopefully this will give you some balance against some of the more extreme and in my opinion, unrealistic posts on this issue. Keep up the good work!

Seen as the General could be 'off air' until Monday, I thought I would repeat a line from the General on H & V. I actually think this might be a good thing. Should the worst happen on Sunday, it could really sour fans reaction to the first introduction of the flag - a bad omen or something. Not being negative, just noting a minimal risk!

General, How will you convey our huge gratitude to Randy over his latest gift to our club? Perhaps he will take pride by knowing that beauty of these mosaics will last beyond the life of us all?

With all respect to the General, you may get a more experienced response if you post this question in the current pre-match thread.

I know you were responsing to someone commenting on your comment for the General, but please, there's already a thread for discussing the standing/seating issue. This is one is ONLY for comments/questions for General Krulak. Thanks. Blandy

General, My original concern was that the Council COULD interpret 'moments of excitement' as just being after a goal was scored. If this was the case either fans would stop attending games or the club would have to 'take the hit'. IF the Council interprets 'moments of excitement' the same as your post as above, my family and I will be fine. We sit in row 12 of K5 and usually stand for corners, free kicks direct on goal, and to celebrate goals (plus a few other moments, such as when Ashley Young has the ball!). Most of our standing is prompted by those in front getting to their feet during what I would class as genuine 'moments of excitement'. I hope that the persistent standers take notice of your request and 'play the game'. It would appear that even if they spent 50% of the time standing, so long as this was based on jumping to their feet to watch certain events of the game, followed by sitting down again for a minute or two, and so on, they will be fine. Unfortunately, getting some of the lads at the back of the Holte to comply will be tricky. Perhaps an A5 sized simply worded leaflet handed out at the Upper Holte turnstiles might help? I’m sure you are aware that stopping the away fans from standing for 90 minutes WILL be more than just tricky. Leaflets saying that Villa will be fined if they do not sit, are more likely to make them stand from the first to last whistle. I pity the poor stewards (and police surely?) that will attempt to enforce this. EXPECT trouble. Congratulations on your 600th post on this site alone! Keep up the great work, it IS appreciated!

I agree entirely. I urge all fans (home and away) who are not excited by the game, to remain seated. Failure to do so contravenes the regulation and the Council has indicated their wish to penalize the club should contravention(s) of the regulation occur. This cannot be allowed to happen. I don't think the General is urging us not to get excited by the game though. During these moments of excitement there is no restriction on standing. General, how will the Villa stewards and Council officials decide which individuals are standing and excited (permitted by the regulation as an acceptable risk), and which individuals are just standing (not permitted by the regulation as an acceptable risk)? Unless the fans are aware of these criteria, how are we expected to comply?

It is great to hear that you and Randy are passionate about our club. I think most of us already knew this and continue to appreciate it. Your point that you and many others are excited about a 90 minute Villa game is EXACTLY what allows us to stand for the duration of the game. The regulation specifically PERMITS STANDING during moments of EXCITEMENT. Why should fans who choose to stand when they are excited (be it for 90 seconds or 90 minutes), be instructed to sit down, when they are in full compliance with the regulation? If a fan is excited, he or she is entitled to stand. Unless Birmingham City council can produce an 'excitometer' to prove otherwise, the fans (and therefore the club), are doing nothing wrong by standing. After all, it is in the regulation! If the club ensures that Birmingham City Council enforces the regulation CORRECTLY we will be fine.

General, Please don't take these questions as being flippant or facetious for the sake of it. They are genuine and I would like the club to ask Birmingham council for the answers. The regulation permits standing up at certain times including 'moments of excitement'. How are these moments defined? What if everyone who was standing claimed to be excited by the game, be it attacking, defending or a midfield battle? Indeed I would claim that the whole game represents a ‘moment of excitement’ to me and I challenge anyone to prove otherwise. If standing presents such a risk, why is it permitted at all? What makes standing up for 90 minutes so much more dangerous than the permitted standing for 'moments of excitement'? If the act of walking involves standing upright with the increased risk of movement, how do fans even get to their seats without incurring such a risk? Why is walking permitted, yet standing stationary in front of one's seat isn't (except during moments of excitement!)? The regulation makes no sense and I can't but help think that, over time, the strictest interpretation of the regulation has been taken and not the originally intended meaning. Is it not time for our club to challenge the legality and/or lack of common sense that the regulation poses? Or, at the very least ask Birmingham council to produce rational answers to questions, such as the above, before they take action?

General- thank you for reinforcing the standard. My fellow VillaTalkers - perhaps we should use the General's comment as a reminder to respect ALL others.

Or c) Non of the above.

From memory, the General has already answered the same question posted a few weeks ago. His answer was along the lines of no, the current American financial 'crisis' will NOT have a knock on effect to AVFC. I guess this means Randy won't need to sell any U.S. property or shares in order to financially support the club. Nice! 8)

In the early days of Randy's bid and subsequent acquisition I did some light research (mostly on the internet, so it must be true :winkold: ) on the man that was buying our beloved club. There are many aspects to Randy that most people are unaware of due to his modesty. Randy is an extremely rare breed - an astute businessman with a conscience. He doesn't brag about the good causes he supports. I get the impression he doesn't take his wealth for granted and likes to make life better for others. As a Villa fan I can honestly say I feel enriched by his ownership of our football club.

Nice one! See... your club DOES care. Really pleased to see you happy again. Well done Villa.

Thank you for noting and forwarding my experience of the Holte. A few minor tweaks will elevate a visit from very good to great. I have received a detailed letter from Claire Peakman which explained why the problems with the Pantomime occurred and apologised for any inconvenience. Despite the fact that the faults were outside of Villa's control, I find it very commendable that Villa took ownership of this relatively minor matter and I have now received a full refund. Please pass on my family's thanks for handling the issue in such a fair and professional manner. If my guess at completing the North stand for August 2010 is 'a tad ambitious', it doesn't leave much time for completion and use before the 2012 Olympics (maybe August 2011 to spring 2012?). Does the use of Villa Park for the Olympics have any influence on the reconstruction of the North Stand?

Happy new year General. I hope you and your family had a good festive season and it is good to read your back is better. I took my wife, children, mother and father for a meal at the Holte on Friday 28th December before watching the panto in the Holte Suite. It was my father's first visit to Villa Park as he is a more of a country sports fan. He was impressed with the quality of the stadium, the new signage, rotating screens etcetera. He was even more impressed with the Holte itself. The quality of construction, materials used, stained glass windows and mosaic floor tiles was first class. Even though the bar was understaffed and it took a few minutes to be served the woman behind the bar was professinal and friendly. The food was good value and we all enjoyed our meals. On a slight down note, I phoned the day before to reserve a table for 6. My name was taken and the reservation confirmed. When we arrived there was no knowledge of my reservation and a table was only arranged when I requested it. The process of ordering the food was also not clear. I would suggest a couple of wall signs and adding 'choose a table, pay for food at bar, hand over receipt when collecting food' to the menu sheets. Also the layout is more like a large house than a pub or restaurant. I guess this is because of its origins as a guest house and the building restrictions due to its protected status. The panto was poor! It started more than half an hour late (nearly 5 hours late for those expecting the morning performance!) and whilst it was reasonably cheap at £3 for adults and £6.50 for children, it was very amateurish. Due to its late start, we had to leave before the end. We were promised a refund but I'm not sure how this will be handled, its not back on my card yet. Overall though, it was a positive experience for my parents. My father has since been spreading the word that our club is a quality outfit going places. Regarding a thread discussing the increasing attendances at Villa Park and the need for expansion, I posted the following - My guess would be: Summer 2008 - plans released for consultation with fans, planning authorities and local residents. Summer 2009 - work starts. August 2010 - Work complete for start of 2010/11 season. Villa Park now seats 52000 fans. How far from the truth is my guess? Also, what are the latest plans and timescale for the Holte End signage/exterior refurbishment? I'd like to thank the Villa board and staff for all of the great work completed to date.