The General C. Krulak Thread XV

[Chris Smith]

General, are you ale to tell us how the club will go about selecting a new manager and whether anyone with a football background will be involved in that process? For all of his qualities and the good job he has done at the club to date it is clear that Mr Lerner does not have great experience in that side of the game and it is therefore inevitable that supporters will be concerned that the right replacement is found.

[VinnieChase84]

Martin Jol please general or David Moyes. Shortlist done for the board now so have a coffee this am instead  :-)

[eastie]

General ,I understand randy spoke with klinsmann before buying villa-will jurgen be consulted about who the the club should appoint?

[Chris Smith]

General ,I understand randy spoke with klinsmann before buying villa-will jurgen be consulted about who the the club should appoint?

Yep, his massive experience of managing a league club would be invaluable.

[Hookeysmith]

General

My thoughts are with you and Randy at this time - it must be very difficult for everyone. I thought a lot of MOn and i especially liked what i thought was his integrity - but as much as he could not change his footballing style it is obvious that he could not change his determination to do everything his own way - a simple fact (written elsewhere on this forum) is that 5 managerial roles and 5 resignations (althought the Celtic one was for very important reasons and no one would have blamed him namley his wifes illness) but i am disgusted that he has used the club to make his own petulant point.

Tell Randy to hold firm, i am sure that Kevin / Sid will be able to steady the ship (you never know the successors maybe under our own noses) we will all be behind the club to get the next appointment right.

I know Randy likes to keep his distance from the media but these are exceptional times and for once he should let the fans know the truth from the horses mouth.

Managers / Owners / players - they will all come and go - being a fan is for life - all of us keep the faith

[Simon Ward]

As usual Hookey speaks sense General in my humble opinion. As do you on your post which I have just read for a second time.

[stevenjos]

Hi General, thanks for coming on and posting. I had a feeling that maybe you wouldnt and i respect you even more for doing so.

As Hookey pointed out, this has to be one of the few times that the board need to directly speak out. I know that it is not in Randy's "style" to be front of camera, but this may be a good time for him to reassure the fans who are mad enough to be doubting him.

In Randy I trust! he's made Villa park feel special again.

[Loxton01]

General,

Thankyou very much for posting.

Over the past three summers Randy has backed Martin to spend alot of money on players in the region of 80-90m. I fully agree with your line where you state it is prudent to sell players who are not playing on the pitch.

I feel this is the key point. The likes of Reo-Coker 8.5m Luke Young 6m Steve Sidwell 5m Nicky Shorey 4m [now left] Curtis Davies 8m Habib Beye 3m have cost this club an absolute fortune and Randy is quite within his rights to ask the manager to explain why these players have not been playing and if their not playing they should be sold before other players are bought in.

These players knew they would not be playing or they would get 5mins here or there or a carling cup match. What does that do to their confidence and hunger for the fight?

Martin O'neill did alot of good for this football club but if you were Randy Lerner would you keep writing the cheques for millions of pounds to then watch the same players averaging less than 7 starts a season.

The timing of this decision is all wrong but it sounds like this was not the Chairman's decision. However we have the nucleus of a very very good squad and if we can get a manager in who can keep the likes of Young, Dunne, Collins and Gabby happy then we can still go places.

Plus we may get a new manager who is prepared to use Randy's money to buy more effectively from Europe and not pay over the odds on August 31st on premiership players.

I am still convinced we have a Bright Future and please convey this message General to Randy and his management team.

[Tony Boucher]

General:

Thanks for putting your side of the story across - hopefully the reasons for Martin's exit will be revealed soon.

Based on what you said about the Ash Young/Friedel stuff being purely rumours, can you confirm that Ashley will not be sold to Spurs (or anyone else) this summer?

[Concrete John]

General,

Firstly, thanks for coming on here and posting in what must be a delicate time concerning what you can and can't say.

I'll be upfront and say that for the first time I am doubting Randy.  Up until this point he's been magnificient for the club, but when a manager as good as Martin walks out over what appears to be transfer dealings, it does raise concerns over the direction of the club.  Although I take your assurances as genuine, I think this is a time when actions will speak louder than words.  Should our better players continue to be sold and limited funds are given to the new manager, then can we say the club is still moving forward and that the vision of 2006 has not changed?

And can I point out that I'm not trying to paint Randy as the villain of the piece and Martin as the hard done by manager, just that if the reasons for him leaving are as reported, then how can we be sure of Randy's continued support and commitment if the boundaries in which the manager was previously working have changed to the extent where he has resigned.

Although this is not an question per se, I do hope you can address some of my concerns.

[peter w]

General

My thoughts are with you and Randy at this time - it must be very difficult for everyone. I thought a lot of MOn and i especially liked what i thought was his integrity - but as much as he could not change his footballing style it is obvious that he could not change his determination to do everything his own way - a simple fact (written elsewhere on this forum) is that 5 managerial roles and 5 resignations (althought the Celtic one was for very important reasons and no one would have blamed him namley his wifes illness) but i am disgusted that he has used the club to make his own petulant point.

Tell Randy to hold firm, i am sure that Kevin / Sid will be able to steady the ship (you never know the successors maybe under our own noses) we will all be behind the club to get the next appointment right.

I know Randy likes to keep his distance from the media but these are exceptional times and for once he should let the fans know the truth from the horses mouth.

Managers / Owners / players - they will all come and go - being a fan is for life - all of us keep the faith

Your thoughts? No-one's died.

General, I'm sure you're aware that there was a growing minority who won't be too distressed by this appointment. however, it may be worthwhile for Randy to issue something to allay the worries of many fans that we aren't going to be rudderless.

The details will come out in time but if a statement is released that we are still have the foundations in the background to keep the club moving forward then any potential unrest in the dressing-room, and any future signings having second thoughts will be quelled.

There is a the media reaction more than anything that will have us prtrayed as a club in turmoil and just like adverse press reports can mnake the stock exchange shaky it may have the same effect on us.

But, overall, I think most trust Randy to do the right thing. Its probably his first serious decision to make though and one we are all watching with a mixture of excitement, fear, worry, and anticipation.

[Corpy]

General Krulak here:
2.  Martin's decision to leave was just that...Martin's decision.  He quit 5 days before the beginning of the season.  He was not pushed out.  Rumors that there was a row between Randy and Martin over the sale of some players (Young and Friedl) are just that...rumors!!!  There is absolutely no substance to the rumors that either player are up for sale!!  Martin's decision was a surprise to the Club.  Randy had spoken to Martin last week and on the weekend and then flown back to the US.  This morning, Randy was informed that Martin had quit and so Randy is now on a plane flying back to the UK.  Martin was fully involved in the Milner deal...every step of the way...from the very beginning.  It is a good move when look at in totality.  We have not suddenly become a "selling Club"...we have a good offer that makes sense.  That does not make us a selling club.  There is no question that if ANY Club has players that are on the payroll but not playing on the pitch...it is prudent to sell them if possible.  As I know I have mentioned MANY times before, a Premiership Club must balance wages against revenue...cutting wages must include the sale of players.  I have also written many times that we are trying to run the Club in a sustainable and sensible manner BUT the amount of money we have spent over the past 4 years should tell everyone that we marry this approach with aggressive ambition!!  Some of the comments I have read are truly amazing!  Randy is NOT broke!  Randy is NOT selling the Villa!  Randy has NOT lost interest!  I have even seen comments about Randy's divorce!  All of this is utter nonsense.  Like all of you, I am not privvy to Martin's thinking when he made his decision to quit.  I am sure we will read enough about it in the media.  My only hope is that whatever comes out, it comes out on both sides.  What I do know is that Randy cares deeply about the Villa!!!  He cares deeply about the Fans!!!  I have not posted thousands of comments on 3 sites without caring about the Club and the Fans!!!  We will all get through this together...we will get the right man and we will continue to move forward.  As I get more info, I will pass it on.

Well From all the interviews MON did he always said he did not know what was going on with milner and it was out of his hands ! so what this points out is that MON was just erm bending the truth *caugh*

Im just going to Chuck this out there Would be a risk but ! Who els would like to see Martin Laursen as the Manager back at the Villa ! Of course it would be a massive risk but he knows how the club runs the players who are there and how they play because he played along side them !

who better then to have somone who already has a great knowledge of the club and player

anyone els agree with me ?

I dont think we would sink with him in place i think most the fans would love to see him back ! and i think he will have all the support around him :-)

?

[BannedUserIAT]

My eyes are bleeding from the underlined bit with the red drop-shadow.

[BannedUserIAT]

General,

The official Villa facebook page has come out with info for season ticket holders. I would hazard a guess that, like a few folks on here, there are some horrible and unnecessary knee-jerk reactions going on at the moment. Probably not the best PR effort to highlight it on a social networking page. Why feed negaitivity?

[Chris Smith]

What coaching badges does Martin Laursen have?