General Krulak (part 2) and *STILL NO TRANSFER QUESTIONS*

[Razor]

General is it true we are expecting around 40k tonight?!

[AndyM3000]

General is it true we are expecting around 40k tonight?!

He said 28k if the weather is good a few days ago so it will be between 25-30k.

[Laursen1977]

1 - Bosingwas 'assault' on a Liverpool player and not being punished

Linesman saw it, nothing the FA can do.

[ianrobo1]

went to the Holte Pub today General on the e-mail competition and enjoyed it a lot,nice speckled Hen till it ran out !!!

[dappadan]

1 - Bosingwas 'assault' on a Liverpool player and not being punished

Linesman saw it, nothing the FA can do.

But then the ref sees Lampards gives him the red and the FA can change it?

It does not make sense that they cannot do anything.

Hope all is well general?

When will we see you in the Holte end next?

[Fuse]

General Krulak here:

4. Fuse: With all due respect to Sky Sports, they have muddled the interview with MON. Simply put, MON and Randy Lerner continue to be absolutely on the same sheet of music. MON knows he has the support of Randy and Randy's complete trust and confidence. There is no question that the economic situation is impacting everyone...the man and woman on the street as well as those who are a tad better off. That does NOT mean that money has dried up for the Villa. As I have said many times over, MON knows what the team needs and he knows who is available and he knows what a "correct" price for talent is in the market. Neither Randy nor MON is going to throw money at a player who will not produce on the Pitch for MON at the level of the asking price. MON and the Club picked up Hes at a fair price and he has already proven the wisdom of MON's choice. To start listening to Sky Sports interpretation of a MON interview is something I will not do. I trust MON...I believe in him...I believe in what he is doing with the Club and I believe he acts in the Club's best interests. Obviously, I feel the same way about Randy Lerner. Speaking strictly as a Fan and not a Board Member, I give both men my total support and trust.

Thanks for clearing it up for me and it is good to her that the great working relationship is still very much in place.

It is great to have access to your good self to get to the bottom pf confusions such as this.

Cheers

[flashingqwerty]

Hi General,

i appreciate what you say about sky rearranging the interview, but MON has been quoted as saying that we couldnt compete in the transfer market - not that we wouldn't - but that we couldn't. Knowing MON as we do then we know this isnt an irresponsible mistake but a well thought out comment so that leads me to believe he's telling the truth.

it doesnt bother me as we are still al ong way off competeing with a great many top clubs, but it does disturb me a little that on one hand we have yourself and the club saying that the money is there and MON has full backing etc and on the other MON quoted as saying that we couldnt compete to sign players due to high prices - the two things dont match up.

but hey signings or none we're in a great position and long may it continue!!

[sellyoakvilla]

Hi gen. Pleased we are through to round 5.

Thought I'd raise the point - how do you feel we can raise attendances for games such as these? Efforts so far are appreciated with the UEFA programmes and flags,etc, but how do you feel the club can market and commercialise the tickets to make attendances for games that are not in the Premiership? I've seen other clubs doing deals such as, you can only buy a ticket for _______ at home in the Premiership, if you buy a ticket for the up and coming FA cup game against __________ (lower league team at low prices)

Not asking for lower prices or asking for anything free or begging, just seeing your opinion on how YOU think it would be best to increase attendances for future games, and sometimes even for Premiership games (not so much,though)

Thanks

[MYSTERYMAN]

General Krulak here:

1. Actions by other Clubs: Obviously there are people looking into each of these issues. The fact that a Club or Clubs have not vocally and publically raised the issues does not mean that the issues are not being raised and addressed.

2. MYSTERMAN: The reason I did not answer (although it sounds like a real possibility) is that you did not provide any info other than a "Club in Hamburg"...not much to go on when looking for entertainment.

Apologies will get pm you the full details just wanted to see if there was any merit in it first .

[NASTY_LEE]

Hi General,

I'm sure this must have been mentioned in the past, I'd be shocked if it hasn't - What are the plans regarding the PA system at VP? I sit in the Holte and any announcements are completely inaudible, which can be a tad annoying but also poses a safety concern.

[bakerbob]

Hi General.

Having paid a subscription for AVTV for several years the system is getting worse.

I have been trying to get the interviews from last night match but the interviews are very slow stopping all the time. As simular on Sky is fine whats up?

The commentary on the match was terrible last night with rubbish been spoken by the presenters and not describing the match.

This is not good value for money.

[GaztonVilla]

Hi General.

Having paid a subscription for AVTV for several years the system is getting worse.

I have been trying to get the interviews from last night match but the interviews are very slow stopping all the time. As simular on Sky is fine whats up?

The commentary on the match was terrible last night with rubbish been spoken by the presenters and not describing the match.

This is not good value for money.

On this note General, I'd like to commend the club on the text commentary on the website. Really enjoyable.

[sellyoakvilla]

General, I know I've posted on here a lot of late but one more thing.

I have sent this email to Villa in re. the Paul Birch Tribute Day vs. Chelsea on 21st February. Would you be so kind to PM me with any email addresses of anyone who can help specifically with this?

This is the email I have sent.

Dear Sir/Madam,

I'm an Aston Villa season ticket holder and over the past several days I have been helping to organise a Paul Birch tribute day for the game vs. Chelsea.

We have agreed to make Chelsea the game as it will be a sell out and will be on television so the whole footballing world can see we have a place in our hearts for Paul Birch. The idea was to hold shirts and scarves aloft to make a sea of claret and blue - but more specifically, shirts that have "Birch 7" printed on them.

Just so you don't think this is a waste of time, I have contacts within the local media and they have reported on this as well, see the following link:

http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-sport/aston-villa-fc/aston-villa-news/2009/02/04/aston-villa-fans-to-dedicate-three-matches-to-paul-birch-97319-22852720/ .

In order for this to be a huge-hit and for all fans to hear about this we feel that it will need to be published on the official site for all fans to take note. I have made a a leaflet for this, which I will be handing out at Blackburn away on Saturday, and Moscow at home three days before the Chelsea game to try and make as many fans aware as possible.

I hope that co-operation in this matter is something that can be reached as this is something that all Villa fans worldwide have been touched by.

RIP Paul.

Yours faithfully,

Richard Franks.

As you can see we are looking for this to be published on the official site for it to be successful. If you can help in any way possible we would all be extremely greatful.

Kind regards Gen, hope we can get this the publicity it deserves.

[tvillian]

Hi gen. Pleased we are through to round 5.

Thought I'd raise the point - how do you feel we can raise attendances for games such as these? Efforts so far are appreciated with the UEFA programmes and flags,etc, but how do you feel the club can market and commercialise the tickets to make attendances for games that are not in the Premiership? I've seen other clubs doing deals such as, you can only buy a ticket for _______ at home in the Premiership, if you buy a ticket for the up and coming FA cup game against __________ (lower league team at low prices)

Not asking for lower prices or asking for anything free or begging, just seeing your opinion on how YOU think it would be best to increase attendances for future games, and sometimes even for Premiership games (not so much,though)

Thanks

General this is a really bad idea, please don't go down this line,

I live in Ireland and used to attend most Rep of Ireland games,until they brought in this system. "Package Deals" they called it. Ticket's for friendlies with Brazil and China or italy and andorra. It results in the A game perhaps not selling out fully and the B game still half empty cause people still wont go even if they have a ticket.

[sellyoakvilla]

I wasn't asking him to do it, I was asking for his view and using a comparison.

[imavillan]

General, I know I've posted on here a lot of late but one more thing.

I have sent this email to Villa in re. the Paul Birch Tribute Day vs. Chelsea on 21st February. Would you be so kind to PM me with any email addresses of anyone who can help specifically with this?

This is the email I have sent.

Dear Sir/Madam,

I'm an Aston Villa season ticket holder and over the past several days I have been helping to organise a Paul Birch tribute day for the game vs. Chelsea.

We have agreed to make Chelsea the game as it will be a sell out and will be on television so the whole footballing world can see we have a place in our hearts for Paul Birch. The idea was to hold shirts and scarves aloft to make a sea of claret and blue - but more specifically, shirts that have "Birch 7" printed on them.

Just so you don't think this is a waste of time, I have contacts within the local media and they have reported on this as well, see the following link:

http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-sport/aston-villa-fc/aston-villa-news/2009/02/04/aston-villa-fans-to-dedicate-three-matches-to-paul-birch-97319-22852720/ .

In order for this to be a huge-hit and for all fans to hear about this we feel that it will need to be published on the official site for all fans to take note. I have made a a leaflet for this, which I will be handing out at Blackburn away on Saturday, and Moscow at home three days before the Chelsea game to try and make as many fans aware as possible.

I hope that co-operation in this matter is something that can be reached as this is something that all Villa fans worldwide have been touched by.

RIP Paul.

Yours faithfully,

Richard Franks.

As you can see we are looking for this to be published on the official site for it to be successful. If you can help in any way possible we would all be extremely greatful.

Kind regards Gen, hope we can get this the publicity it deserves.

General,

This imo is a really good idea so anything you can do to help promote this would be good.

I was at the Donny game last night and when they announced over the PA the stats of Pauls career i was very impressed. We are talking here about a true Villan. The word genuine is often used in many guises, but here was a man who was true to the word.

The minutes silence held last night was impeccable from both sets of fans, there was not a sound to be heard anywhere. I felt honoured to be part of it. In remembering him It bought a tear to my eyes.

Please help this happen in any way you can.

Thanks.

[Ginge]

Sellyoakvilla Lee Preece is a good bet to contact at Villa, he has been there years and really is one of the good ones left from the old days, always willing to help and not just under this regime but from the past as well. Sure he will help in any way he can.

[Ginge]

Sorry didnt mean to answer for the General but sure he would say the same about Lee Preece anyway!!

[JohnnyM]

General,

As this is my first post to you I'd just like to say a big 'thanks' to yourself, Randy and most importantly Martin for the way you're running the club and team. For numerous reasons I now walk to and away from Villa Park with a huge smile on my face, which in the years before the takeover wasn't the case!

Moving onto my question, I was wondering how a club goes about enforcing a ban? There is thread on this elsewhere, but the gist of this is how would you go about ensuring the coin thrower, now that he has been identified, does not 'sneak' back in with someone else purchasing his ticket? It seems to me and a few others that it is very hard to do this, even with each steward given a photo and a briefing, due to the sheer volume of people through the turnstiles.

Also, I'd just like to say that once again I thought the club dealt with this in exactly the correct manner. No sound bite or retoric in the press, just quietly and efficiently went about finding and banning the individual involved.

[c-krulak]

General Krulak here:

1. flashingqwarty: "we couldn't compete in the transfer market". I think you have taken this out of context. MON was NOT saying that we couldn't compete but that we weren't going to compete when the prices were so outlandish. Believe me, MON and Randy are on the same sheet of music. There comes a point in time when the price of a player in NO way approximates the value of that player. At that point in time, we don't feel it is advisable to "compete in the transfer market." MON has been absolutely brilliant at getting the right players at the right price. Randy is very satisfied with what he is doing. They are on the same page.

2. How do you increase attendence at games? A great question and one that our marketing folks are continually looking at. There are many things we have done and are contemplating doing. I do not think that making one game a quid pro quo for getting a ticket to another game is the way to go. THE best way to get attendence up is to consistently play exciting, winning football. That is what we are trying to do.

3. Yes, we are aware that the PA system is hurting. We looked hard at it last summer and found that it was in worse shape than we believed. We made minor fixes but will need to do some major work soon...but not during this season.

4. AVTV: As I have said before, we recognize we have problems with AVTV and are working to sort them out.

5. sellyoakvilla: Please contact Lee Preece.

6. Enforcing a ban: As you can imagine, this is not the easiest thing to do...PARTICULARLY if a Villa Fan wants to "aid and abet" the individual who has been banned. The obvious methods are just that...obvious.