maccadooby

General,

Just a bit of feedback for you.

I emailed the club regarding the bus services which run to games. The problem I had was I knew where the bus picked up passengers (Olton Station in my case) but not when - the OS just said 'two hours before kick off', which is pretty vague when the bus is stopping at three points quite far apart.

I put this in my email, and I received a prompt response from a guy called Lee Preece I think who also telephoned me. Now, I am still non the wiser when I can actually catch the bus without standing at a bus stop for up to about an hour I would guess, but the main thing is I got a call back and was thanked for my feedback, so well done to the club and Lee.

Lee has said they will be trying to build up estimated times of how long journeys take depending on when the kick off time is to give a better estimate of when buses arrive/leave certain stops. I look forward to this so I can start to use the bus service, which I think is great initiative by the way.

Cheers!

General can i just bring your attention to some appalling customer service i received at the club shop villa village.

the website told us we could pre-order the shirts ONLY by going into the club shop (this was before they were available online) i went all the way into villa village to do this, but the manager simply replied nah mate not yet.

when i questioned him about what was said on the website he look disinterested, so i asked if he could please check this with someone as it definitley said this on the website and i have come all the way over specifically.

he point blank refused to phone anybody until i threatened to complain, at which point he picked up the phone walked to the other end of the shop so i couldnt hear and pretended to have a conversation with someone that lasted less than 30 seconds, came back and told me no it wasnt available turned his back and walked off!

i then went into new street and ordered it no problem! this despite the person he was supposed to of been calling being the new street store!

to say i was furious to say the least was an understatement!

Reading that has just made my blood boil - I despise people like that, whether what he was saying was true or not he didn't offer any courtesy by the sounds of it. Sounds like he didn't know what he was talking about anyway.

Just to say General, I think most of us are aware this is becoming less common in recent times - used to be par for the course.

.....and i love doug for selling to you!

I second that. There's no harsher critic of Doug Ellis than me, but if he did one great thing for Villa in his time there, it was sell to Randy and your team. To think who's hands we could have been in.

The 15 minutes you spent with Randy looking at an empty Villa Park sound pretty special - you deserve to savour every minute.

AND, thanks for all your kind words, they're VERY much appreciated.

General Krulak here:

1. I will look into Bike Locks but the answer will probably end up on "priorities"...with all the issues we have around the stadium, would a special location, totally secure, be something listed as a high priority. We will get there...just not sure it will be this year.

5. We are absolutely looking at the issue of providing healthy foods.

Thanks General, I think we all realise there is a lot for you and the staff at Villa Park to get through, but good to know these issues are on "priorities"

Hi General

I'd appreciate it if you could spare a few moments to look at this short article:Arsenal Bike Parking

I think I read somewhere that we have an area to leave bikes, but is it secure? I'd be tempted to use my bike BUT not in an unsecure area, the frame may be safe via a good lock, but the thief will still take parts off the bike(forks, mechs etc.) or simply vandalise it.

Have we a secure area for bikes? If not are there any plans for one?It would certainly help the congestion on matchday if you could get as many people as possible using a bike.

Thanks General.

without wanting to steal the Generals thunder, there are bike parking places at the end of the TRS as you walk towards the Villa Village (big hooks on the wall that you would chain your bike to)

Fair enough for the above, General. But we're asking about something more secure. God knows what would happen to a bunch of bikes chained up against a wall most of the fans stroll past. These hooks don't really get used probably for this reason, security.

Just read the link posted above and think this is a GREAT idea. I would definitely use something like this, as long as it was secure. Hope something like this is feasible, General.

Tried Guardian Football Weekly?

Just noticed this thread at the top followed by two appropriate others, making it read like a new and very valid question:

Who is more evil?

Christiano Ronaldo

The Mercat

Wow, that's a tough 'n. I genuinely can't decide.

That pole vaulting girl on the lovely ladies thread

Just to add, General, to previous posts about sponsorship on shirts. I would definitely buy a replica home and away shirt without a sponsor on in preference to with a sponsor, even if this meant it was a little more expensive. And I know a lot of people who feel the same.

Would ANY sponsor agree to this in your opinion? Be great if they would.

There has also been a lot said about such 'subliminal' advertising like this before too, simply because this can actually highlight the missing sponsor name on a shirt and actually increase awareness. Purely speculative theory but a train of thought a lot of people in advertising hold.

General,

Just heard the news that all 20 Premier League teams have agreed to look in to extra games every season played abroad for each club.

Do you know who has agreed to look into it? Why have we agreed to look into it?

Who the **** are Arctic Monkeys - Arctic Monkeys

Oh.. just changed to Burn this Disco Out - Michael Jackson

ITunes shuffle throws up some weird combo's - and makes me look again at how strange my taste range is. :?

Hi General,

Just to get an update on your intention to sample the 'local' traditional english food.

I recommended a couple of curry houses in Birmingham before Christmas - have you had a chance to sample a balti or curry yet? If so where did you go?

Hi General,

If you're stopping in the city I can highly recommend The Maharaja in the Chinese Quarter or The Raj Doot on the edge of Hockley.

Well done for all that's been achieved since you, Randy and RF cam on board. Keep it up!