trekka

I'm sure Liverpool feel worse anyway, they've been given the spot of Old Kent Road on the new UK Monopoly (err, sorry Bicks).

Hi General, We've heard today that the club are to blast up images of the new away kit on the back of the Holte End via lighting effects. It's a fantastic idea and Richard Fitzgerald should be congratulated. I'm looking forward to seeing it but are there any plans to use the lighting system in the future for evening games...maybe blast up a few images of past Villa legends? It would look something special I think and if only in the meantime while the commissioned mural gets designed and completed. Many thanks.

No doubt he has lots of up-close shots too. Very nice work.

VILLA fans fully appreciate your comments General and indeed...fully celebrate and act upon them. Whether or not a local paper decides to take one "decision" in regards to the stance does not matter one jot - what matters is what OUR club takes and what response we take in regards to protecting OUR fans. Whether or not a paper comes out and prints one side of the story does NOT matter - what matters is that the comments made by ANYONE from the club are made in good intentions and with the well-being of Villa fans at heart. I would rather the General come out fighting our corner than the likes of Mr Gold pretending to be the Saviour of the fans if I'm honest.

4 straight 10 finishes with Leicester perhaps and two trophies. Whisper it quietly but they're actually the most successful midlands club of the last 10 years. And judging MON after one season ffs. Last season we actually gained more points than we had in 3 of the previous 4 seasons. Well said mate. Mourinho is a fantastic manager, no doubt about it but would I swap him for MON? Not on your nelly! MON is a builder that builds continuing success, not a flash in the pan turn players into winners but unsure what to do when those said players have reached their peak type manager. Not knocking Mourinho here as I do really respect the guy but he doesn't have a history of building for continued success. He did well at Porto sure, but then he got a better offer and jumped ship. Not the manager I would want here IMO. I want a manager who builds the profile of the club for 5 years+ and turns our club into a club of reaching our potential...not a manager who can turn a club into reaching it's potential for a few years and judging by his record goes wrong after that. That said, I do believe I would be ecstatic if he took the England job as if there's anyone who can bring us glory in that platform it's this guy. BUT! We've had too many false dawns at Villa and I for one believe the dawn of MON is a dawn that will reach it's daytime and it's full sunny goodness! EDIT: Oh look, Villa shown in the main BBC 10PM news for Mourinho leaving

Fantastic. Maybe one large balloon floating above VP if that isn't feasible?

Love that pic!

Cracking article Brian, you put a lot of effort into that and it's a very good read! Ace!

General, I agree with paulanddonya on this point, it would be a great idea if we could do a sort of "fan swap" so that we send a small contingent of fans to the US to see behind the scenes of the Browns, catch a few games and take it all in and vice-versa with Browns fans taking in the whole Villa experience. Would be a great bit of PR for the club and I'm sure if a package could be sorted out it would be very popular. Thanks.

Welcome home Zat.

I disagree. I think it illustrates the rose tinted (or claret and blue tinted) spectacles we wear. Lots of people saying give him a chance and wait until he is playing for villa until you slag him off etc. Well a players ability doesn't change based on the colour of his shirt. If a player is poor at one club then the chances are he'll be poor at another especially if he is not changing leagues or countries. Too many poeple get jumped on for saying a player we are about to sign is, in their opinion, of a poor quality by people who's opinion on the same player has changed just because he has been linked with/joined Villa. Note: This is not a dig at any particular poster just a general comment on our bias as villa fans (I include myself in that). A player's perceived ability can change with a change of team though. Take Raul Bravo for example, world class defender in his time who joined Leeds from Real Madrid. Now, his performances at Leeds were absolutely diabolical and if looking at him for the first time in that team many would believe he's absolute wank. Put him in the Real Madrid team and he looks solid and classy. Not saying it's right that people who vigorously slated a player when looked to be joining sha change their minds but players can surprise a lot of people in more ways than one - both good or bad given a change of team. Also don't think it right that a witch hunt goes on for a change of opinion and I agree with OF on this occasion.

The moderators of this site confirm that the General is General Krulak. Please keep this thread for questions, comments and info to and from the general. Thanks, Blandy (edit: I was only confirming it was the General and is probably not the "done thing" to question his integrity and insult the man...might not look that way with the mod edit )

Agreed (and apologies as I know this isn't the thread for it...but it's something which needs response imo). How the board and even right down to Randy can be blamed is naive at best. Is it the fault of Randy that MON has been (thus far) reluctant to spend the money? It's worth pointing out that there is time left in this window so I don't actually follow that train of thought at all. As they say, patience is a virtue and I suspect we'll all be better for it come Sept 1st. I recommend you read this thread.

Sounds familar does doesn't it.

Cor blimey, any thread eh?

Yes, I would echo that and whoever had the idea of the "AVFC the Obsession" banner should be very proud of themselves. Is there any other such banners that the club initiates in the pipeline? The LCD boards were hugely impressive also and really underlined what a fantastic stadium we have.

Fantastic poll!! Always loved Only Fools and is probably my favourite series of all time. Definitely Albert. As much as Grandad was a great character, and loved every moment he was in it (changing the chandeliers episode was absolutely fantastic "one more turn Del!") - the amount of fun and stories they've pulled from the "Old Navy Hero" is priceless..."During the War...." etc. Buster Merryfield is a legend.

I would like to echo that point if I may. We're all extremely grateful and (as I'm sure you probably realize!) it is from the same select group of fans that constantly criticise no matter what the outcome is and by no means represents any part of the Villa faithful. It's worth noting the new fans survey (I believe in the Mail) which certainly refutes any suggestions of discontent and long may it continue.

Simpsons Futurama (shame this never really took off, was a work of genius) Family Guy

Hi General question 1 you say MON says he wants the player and Mr Lerner writes the cheque. You have used Young,Carew and Coker as examples of this. I was under the impression that we did a straight swap/trade with Baros and Carew , are you able to confirm this as it may lead people into thinking that we payed a fee for Carew. Many Thanks Deamie Not trying to speak for the The General but I'm sure I read/heard we paid £3m to Liverpool after distinguishing with Baros' services as part of resale fee in the contract? Could be wrong.

Reo Coker=top player? Get your coat and apologise to your mother when you get home. Being able to run around alot and look busy does not a great player make! Ask: Gerrard/Henry/Scholes/Essien/Giggs etc,etc. Who wants wasteful transfers? There is plenty of good buisness being done out there and non of it by MON. NRC=Overrated and overpriced# Harewouldn't=Just wrong in every possible way. Judging by the poll, I would suggest you're in the minority. Right. :shock: We are entering a season without players for all positions and replacements who made Tommy Mooney and Danny Sonner look decent tonight and aren't good enough for this level. Wake up and take off your MON specs. :shock: I'd rather be wearing MON specs than lead specs to be honest and it seems you still haven't read my posts. I'M WIDE AWAKE THANKS.

So the likes of bringing in Carew, Young, Maloney etc were 'clueless' in a window when traditionally there is literally NOTHING available eh? He often works to the very end of a window and if we don't bring in a further 2 players at least I'll eat my own tongue. Oh, and he's a dickhead too? Don't hold back :shock: Carew??? Where is he? Add to this his goal tally and supreme fitness you have an outstanding buy? Oh sorry i forgot he's a striker who was not bought for his ability to score goals!!! Tell that to Peter Withe! Young? Potential but very little else at present. I can give you a list as long as my arm of players who had potential who never done anything. He's had a couple of good games but for **** sake he's NOT done anything yet. AND MON dropped him last season? I'll await excuses! Maloney?? Just wrong, at present £1mil looks about the right price. WAKE UP FOR **** SAKE NONE of them have done anything to improve our premiership standing as yet. Or am i missing the point is this not what there employed for? And for that matter what has MON/Petrov/Bardsley/Sutton/Agathe done to improve our team either? Answers on a postcard please. UNPREPARED! Err you never gave an address for the postcard? Anyhoo, NONE of them have improved our premiership standing as of yet? Are you looking through a glass made out of lead? I presume you have very short arms too if you're able to look at a list "as long as your arm". Or would you rather have been stuck with Baros and Sutton up front this season? MON is the manager in case you've forgot who improved our team standing from relegation candidates last season to missing out on Europe thanks to an awful run around Christmas time. Oh and I'm wide awake thanks. Oops, I forgot must shout these things. I'M WIDE AWAKE THANKS. Sutton was signed by? Errrrrrrrrrrr..................... well done brains! MON is the manager who if you'd forgot nearly got us relegated last season but for a few shite teams who couldn't care less at the end of the season. Seeing as I'm the 'brains' or 'brain' in this outfit then maybe you're the Pinky (I do love that cartoon ). If you actually bothered to read my post I said (and I do quote, although it's not healthy to quote oneself) "would you rather have been stuck with Baros and Sutton up front this season?" and you haven't answered that question. We improved significantly over the course of the season and you either have to be naive, blind or very very stupid to ignore that fact that we improved quite significantly on our league position if nothing else. And if MON nearly got us relegated last season, what does that make O'Leary or even Taylor before him? Good grief!!

Reo Coker=top player? Get your coat and apologise to your mother when you get home. Being able to run around alot and look busy does not a great player make! Ask: Gerrard/Henry/Scholes/Essien/Giggs etc,etc. Who wants wasteful transfers? There is plenty of good buisness being done out there and non of it by MON. NRC=Overrated and overpriced# Harewouldn't=Just wrong in every possible way. Judging by the poll, I would suggest you're in the minority.

So the likes of bringing in Carew, Young, Maloney etc were 'clueless' in a window when traditionally there is literally NOTHING available eh? He often works to the very end of a window and if we don't bring in a further 2 players at least I'll eat my own tongue. Oh, and he's a dickhead too? Don't hold back :shock: Carew??? Where is he? Add to this his goal tally and supreme fitness you have an outstanding buy? Oh sorry i forgot he's a striker who was not bought for his ability to score goals!!! Tell that to Peter Withe! Young? Potential but very little else at present. I can give you a list as long as my arm of players who had potential who never done anything. He's had a couple of good games but for **** sake he's NOT done anything yet. AND MON dropped him last season? I'll await excuses! Maloney?? Just wrong, at present £1mil looks about the right price. WAKE UP FOR **** SAKE NONE of them have done anything to improve our premiership standing as yet. Or am i missing the point is this not what there employed for? And for that matter what has MON/Petrov/Bardsley/Sutton/Agathe done to improve our team either? Answers on a postcard please. UNPREPARED! Err you never gave an address for the postcard? Anyhoo, NONE of them have improved our premiership standing as of yet? Are you looking through a glass made out of lead? I presume you have very short arms too if you're able to look at a list "as long as your arm". Or would you rather have been stuck with Baros and Sutton up front this season? MON is the manager in case you've forgot who improved our team standing from relegation candidates last season to missing out on Europe thanks to an awful run around Christmas time. Oh and I'm wide awake thanks. Oops, I forgot must shout these things. I'M WIDE AWAKE THANKS.

Love the way you compare us to the likes of Man Utd, Arsenal and the mighty Barcelona Good stuff and your post is something that I think I agree with just about all of 8)