General Krulak pt 4 - Q & A (No transfer Questions)

[sellyoakvilla]

General.

I am not going to talk about the game or the violence yesterday because that is plain for all to see.

What I will say is can we please stop playing in the claret shirt/short combination. If the white shorts are a problem, play in the away kit... or play in blue shorts... not claret shorts. We always lose when we play in them - just an observation, but not an excuse, or me blaming the loss on the shorts (!?)

A few examples:

Man City away for every season I can remember (apart from MON's first season in charge)

Blackburn away this season

Birmingham away yesterday.

[Villa5shitty1-down-u-go]

Said at the time - ill say it now .... GH is a joke of a appointment , could of been done 2 weeks after MON had gone .. was it? NO .... we waited till the transfer window had shut and sell Milner for a profit of £18mil , 2 wins for gh 1 at home two a 2nd blackpool side and 1 away to a team who are going down .... we will prob lose monday and that will be 4 on the spin - we are in for a hard hard season.

[barry'sboots]

Apologies for the abuse that you appear to be getting this morning. I'm sure that you can understand the emotional feelings that most Villa fans have today. Indeed, I am sure that you and Randy are also feeling gutted this morning and that that feeling would have been made ten times worse by having to watch that clown Egg Foo Yeung jumping up and down in his roadkill coat.

I have a few points that I would like to make.

Firstly, I think Ged appears to be making some strange selections at the minute. Pires and Carew starting on Saturday (we all witnessed the visible improvement on the introduction of the Fonz and Ireland) and Bannan on the right last night when Ash could have played there and wee Barry in his natural position in CM and Collins and Dunne retaining their partnership in spite of poor form. I am wondering if Ged has a touch of the Cappellos and doesn't want to upset our big names/highest earners. I feel a bit more communication/clarification on some of these selections would be really helpful to us as fans to understand what Ged is trying achieve.

Secondly, on Ged's appointment. He wouldn't have been my first choice but I can understand the rationale and I will support him, unless, that is, he keeps making these strange selections! However, I found the comments at the time - i.e. that we would not take another manager from an employed position - to be a little naive. The best managers tend to be employed, for the most part, unless you are lucky with timing which Mr O'Neill made sure we weren't. We all know that there is a chance that, just like a player, a successful manager may move on in search of bigger and better things and, whilst this can be frustrating, I don't think this should have stopped us looking at people in employment like Hughes and Jol etc.. I applaud your moralistic stance, if that was the driver, but think it can be hard to be the only kid with any morals in the playground!

My third point relates to the violence last night. I find this really frustrating that we all knew it was coming and certain clubs - Birmingham, Cardiff, Leeds, Millwall and a few others - consistently deliver this sort of atmosphere and intimidation without any seeming real punishment. I think it is about time that the other clubs pushed the FA/PL to deal with these clubs once and for all and get this out of the game. All clubs have their idiots but some clubs seem to revel in it and this can encourage the worst elements in their opposition's support as we witnessed last night.

My fourth point also relates to last night's violence and the consistent poor policing of the derby games. I would have thought, by now, we would have established a national and dedicated team to deal with such matches, of which there are probably 20 or so a year, that would work with local forces for those games and ensure consistency and that best practice (from around the world) is followed at all times. I am sure that the premier league and FA could afford to fund this central team - maybe instead of paying such ludicrous amounts to the part timer, Mr Cappello? - if the government couldn't suffer the burden. I would hope that this point would be worth raising with the powers that be and I am sure that you are in a much better position than I to do so.

We, i.e. football, need to get a grip on this violence before the knuckledraggers and their mates deter the good fans from going to games.

Rant over. Best of luck for the rest of the season. :winkold:

[The_Rev]

I was at the match last night. My first and certainly last visit to St. Andrews. What can be done in the future to ensure the fans' security?

After the 200 yard police escort to McDonalds many fans, myself included, were jumped by Birmingham City fans. It was a complete joke. Police helicopters above doing absolutely positively 0.

This would NEVER happen at an American sporting event. You get the drunken morons, just like last night, but the policing is 1000000x better. It's embarassing, as I'm new to England and this was my first experience sitting in the Away End. Why should I go again?

I'm not sure how qualified the General is to answer this one. Speaking as somebody who has been to more away games than he cares to remember, you shouldn't compare Blues away in midweek to anything else you will ever experience.

I'm sure you are well aware of just how intense the rivalry between the two clubs is (it might not be the most glamorous derby in the country but it is probably the most heated) and there is a reason that league games between the clubs are played on a Sunday at 12 noon, its so people cant spend the entire day in the pub before heading to the match and cause the kind of trouble that tends to happen when a load of drunk people get together. Unfortunately for everybody, the cup game had to be played on an evening in the middle of the week which would have led to hundreds if not thousands of people booking the day off work and spending it getting drunk before the match. Trouble was always going to happen, the fact that there was a late goal probably amplified it somewhat, as was the fact that the Blues ended their worst run of results against us in their entire history with the win. Emotions were high, judgements were clouded by alcohol and 30,000 people heading in a dozen different directions is almost impossible to police.

Its a shitty experience, but to let it put you off going to other away games is foolish. You have inadvertently picked the worst possible game to make your first away trip. You could see every away game for the next ten years and not see that kind of behaviour again. Blues away in midweek is not typical of an away game in England.

[nick76]

I would like to say General that despite only 2 wins in 10 I am happy that GH is our manager, with a few more players and the style of play he is playing it will only be a matter of time that we will start seeing the benefits. Happy with his appointment.

[villanwesty88]

Hi General,

Now that England has lost the World Cup bid does this mean that we will not increase the capacity at Villa Park as previously planned?

[c-krulak]

General Krulak here:

1. I said this was a huge game that we needed to win and I meant it. We didn't win it and I am gutted...literally sick. Granted I have not been a Fan for as long as most but...it still hurts like hell.

2. paulanddonya: Your rant makes zero sense to me. We have spent millions upon millions on players...to somehow indicate that Randy has not supported this Club is pure insanity!! I have no idea where you can arrive at the statements you made...they are just not accurate when it comes to the owner.

3. Big_John_10: It is the "boards fault for what happened this summer." I wish I knew how you arrived at this conclusion without knowing or understanding what happened this summer. I spent over 3 weeks this summer laying out the events as they were happening...trying to keep everyone up to speed as best I could. At the end of the day, I don't think any of us will ever really know what went through our previous Manager's mind when he made his decision...certainly you and I won't. You may want to go back and review what was said during those critical days to get a better idea of what transpired and the actions of the owner and board. I think you might have a different view of life if you did.

4. barrysboot: I continue to believe that GH was a fine appointment and that he will get us where we want to be. Your comment that the Club did not look at any Managers that were currently employed is totally inaccurate. At the end of the day, we picked GH because we felt he was the right man for the job. That feeling has NOT changed. Each fan has the right to question our call...and you have chosen to do so. That is your right. BUT, your feelings are not shared by the Club.

5. Albrighton, Hogg, NRC, Beye, Sidwell, Heskey, Cuellar, Weimann,Delph, Petrov....all are at some stage of recovery. Some of these lads are key components to our Club...others are great supporting players. When you start pointing fingers at the Manager, it might be worthwhile to understand fully what he is dealing with and the decisions he has been required to make due to the lads who are injured.

[barry'sboots]

barrysboot: I continue to believe that GH was a fine appointment and that he will get us where we want to be. Your comment that the Club did not look at any Managers that were currently employed is totally inaccurate. At the end of the day, we picked GH because we felt he was the right man for the job. That feeling has NOT changed. Each fan has the right to question our call...and you have chosen to do so. That is your right. BUT, your feelings are not shared by the Club.

I was not questioning "your call", merely the rhetoric at the time - and I believe that it was you that said it (I may be wrong) - that we did not want a manager that was employed as that would mean that he would be leaving a job to join us and may do the same to us at some stage. If this was not said and I am mistaken I apologise, my memory must be playing tricks on me. If it was said, then I was merely stating that I think it is an incorrect stance to take and, if for whatever reason we have to appoint a new manager in the future, then we shouldn't follow this policy.

[markavfc40]

General,

I really am sick to the back teeth of the board taking no responsibility for what happened over the summer and trying to put all the blame at the previous managers door. I am sure you must have an inkling why he left I know I do and I'm not anywhere near as close to the situation as you. You know what though regardless of that s**t happens. He left on the 9th August. Three weeks left in the transfer window where we somehow managed to sell our player of the year with no manager in place but failed to replace him due to, hey ho, having no manager in place. There were 6 weeks between Mr O'Neill leaving and Monsieur Houllier starting. The only reason it could have taken that long is either that Houllier must have been well down the wanted list or he took some bloody persuading. Either way the board have to adapt to circumstances in the manager leaving and react accordingly and swiftly. They didn't.

Please General stop trying to deflect the blame for our current predicament away from the board or the current manager and on to the previous one. It is now wearing thin. I get the impression if we get relegated you'll still be up to the same. The previous managers record speaks for itself. So does this ones. We all realise the many great things the board have done for this great football club but man up for god sake and accept that the board as to take its fair share of the blame for what happened over the summer and the manager and the board are responsible for what's happening now.

Kindest Regards

Mark

[Troglodyte]

General, as an American with close ties to England, what is your reaction to the 2018 and 2022 World Cups being staged in Russia and Qatar respectively, over the likes of England and the USA?

[dudley_villa]

Will anyone be offering there resignation over the cheap clueless appointment of Houllier?

It took a master plan of 3 months to get the man you quoted as "I think that GH has done a remarkable job" and its took him just 3 months to **** it up!

Well done.

[beasley14]

General i am purely going to comment on the behaviour of the Birmingham fans last night and the lack of reaction from the police and their own stewards. During the game we were hit by coins, seats and unbelievably pints of urine from the tier above us.

There are a number of things that angered me, 1) is that they continue to allow the `hardcore` element of theirs fans to sit above the away section, 2) if they still want to do that why they allow them to sit all the way to the front where they can lean over and aim at people 3) That the stewards posted there take no action whatsoever, almost encouraging that action 4) that the police watched in full view all of these things and didnt act at all. They made out they were trying to do something asking us to calm down and wait ( I knew full well they wouldn't as they havent on all me previous visits to their ground) whilst still allowing it to continue. What exactly are they there for if not to deal with situations like that? How long would it have taken to send a few police officers into the top tier to discourage this behaviour, instead we just had to deal with it. Chairs and coins are one thing, they hurt, but hey who hasn't been hurt, pints of piss however is just rediculous. I wonder how the officers would have felt if they had it happen to them, pretty sure they would have moved then. Seen as they are resopsible for our safety as we are in no position to do anything about it ourselves they need to be far more proactive in dealing with things that are in plain view.

I would like you to make a formal complaint to BCFC and to West Midlands police about the incidents and the lack of action. It angered a lot of fans around me and probably added to the hostile sceens at the end of the game as so many people were wound up at been subjected to that throughout the game. Im not holding my breath however as nothing has ever been done before.

[fran_villa]

do you think we are in a religation dog fight now General,this whole sorry situation has become a joke.from the time the old manager left,to the boards appointment of Houllier.why couldn''t Randy have brought in a younger manager ie Owen Coyle with a little bit of hunger for the game.Houllier has came in and made this club look like a bloody shambles,all Houllier seems to want to do is slag off his players to the press saying how bad they are playing and so on.why the hell would anyone want to work for such a so called manager eh??.this is the guy that will soon want these players to be fighting a religation battle imo..

[Stephen_Evans]

Hi General, just two brief comments, please:

1) Claret shorts do not go with claret shirts. How ridiculous you may say, they're the same colour! Yes, and that's why they don't go. The first principle for Aston Villa is claret shirts with blue sleeves, the second is always to have contrasting shorts. So, white, but if they need to be changed, sky blue. And if that is not possible or permitted for any reason, wear the away kit. If black wouldn't do last night, well, hey there's always white. Sorry to moan, but this is about tradition AND branding. Manchester United and Arsenal would NEVER EVER wear red shorts with their home shirts.

2) Not that you can or should respond, but I wonder privately what you think £8million and £6million respectively should buy in terms of quality of full-backs.

[Brumstopdogs]

I would describe 11 wins in 11 as remarkable

For a new manager I would describe 2 wins in 11 (and probably 12 after a defeat at Anfield) as a disgrace.

I thought one of our goals was to get into the top four?

Have we lost sight of them because it looks like we're accepting mediocrity.

You can't pull the wool over the fans eyes. The team is poor, the manager shouldn't have been appointed and we're in a real mess. It's THIS BOARDS's responsibility to ensure a competitive team on the pitch and I'm afraid to say you've failed miserably to do it this season.

[The_Lions_Roar]

General,

I am keen to know what the club will be doing to ensure that those responsible for last nights scenes after the game are banned? Yes im talking about our so called fans. We all know that the police once again failed, despite this fixture being going for a numbber of years, who makes the decisions that cpnsistantly fail to protect our fans. Keeping our fans back for half an hour, walking them 200 yards down the road and then vanishing, doesnt work, the police have once again failed.

There's a clear video of our 'fans' smashing up the toilets. Will the club be doing anything about this?

I've been to this fixture for the last 2 league games, unfortunately i knew what would happen last night so it was an easy decision not to go. I want to support my team but not at the risk of being in hospital. Was there any communication with BCFC beforehand? Did we mension any of the issues that our fans have faced before at this ground? If so, why were they ignored?

Thanks

[Gabby87thminhero]

You honestly thought top 4 was possible? Stop with this bull and get the whole club out of this apparent transitional stage were in.

[Big_John_10]

3. Big_John_10: It is the "boards fault for what happened this summer." I wish I knew how you arrived at this conclusion without knowing or understanding what happened this summer. I spent over 3 weeks this summer laying out the events as they were happening...trying to keep everyone up to speed as best I could. At the end of the day, I don't think any of us will ever really know what went through our previous Manager's mind when he made his decision...certainly you and I won't. You may want to go back and review what was said during those critical days to get a better idea of what transpired and the actions of the owner and board. I think you might have a different view of life if you did.

So are you telling us there wasn't a sell to buy policy and that MON could have signed players at any point during the summer transfer window?

I only ask as I remember MON talking about it, randy saying it was a sensible business model and you saying MON wasn't willing to address the wage situation, which clearly wasn't true.

So did randy believe that approach was the best way to push on from our best season in years? Does he regret anything about last summer considering the season we are now having?

[Undesirable]

General, i'd just like to say that I and many others are fully behind Gerard Houllier and the team at Villa. We've been plagued by injuries this season which have taken a toll on the team and results since Gerard's appointment but i have every faith that we will start winning mroe games when we have more than half our squad to choose from. No one thought this season would be easy with the events of the summer and it's so far proven to be testing, however i'm sure the gaffer will turn our fortunes round given time and support.

UTV!

[dudevillaisnice]

General, i'd just like to say that I and many others are fully behind Gerard Houllier and the team at Villa. We've been plagued by injuries this season which have taken a toll on the team and results since Gerard's appointment but i have every faith that we will start winning mroe games when we have more than half our squad to choose from. No one thought this season would be easy with the events of the summer and it's so far proven to be testing, however i'm sure the gaffer will turn our fortunes round given time and support.

UTV!

Agree, this person isnt the only one General, i support houllier and will give him time like any other manager, we haven't been lucky with injuries etc.. but things will come good hopefully.

UTV!

P.S - will there be an android app for villa? There is one for IPhone but Android is just as big, so thats worth a look in - i'd be happy to pay £2 for the app and im sure there's other android users that would too.

Thanks.