The General C. Krulak Thread XV

[hilts_coolerking]

General Krulak here:

1.  DazVillan:  I feel exactly the same way you do.  It was a bitter pill to swallow today...and I didn't have a good lager to wash it down with.  NO ONE is happy!!!  NO ONE!!!  Without going into any details, we are working hard on the Manager issue...as you would expect.  Randy is not afraid to get the right man...that has been demonstrated in the way he went after the current manager of the Browns.  When we get there, it will be announced.  At the same time, I think it might be a tad unfair to KM to have everyone turn on him as a result of one performance by the lads.  Again, one game doesn't make a season...whether it is an exciting win or a dreadful loss.

Ordinarily I would agree with your last sentence General, but the manner of the defeat and the performance which brought it about was so dreadful that it can have a serious impact on morale and confidence, particularly with a relatively young side such as ours.  It wasn't just a defeat, it was a humiliation.  So while you're right in that one defeat doesn't necessarily wreck your entire season, a really bad defeat can set the tone.

[The Situation]

General Krulak here:

1.  Like everyone else, I was terribly disappointed in today's result.  It was NOT what was expected and it certainly was a low point!!  Rest assured, NO ONE is happy about the result...not the owner, not the manager, not the Board and not the players.  Believe me, there is not a single player on the squad who wanted a result like that.  They are professionals and want to do a professional job.

2.  The idea that we must run out and get a manager just to say we have a manager does not make sense to me.  To mention a specific name and expect that specific person to show up on monday does not make any sense.  To hint that Randy will not name a manager until the window is closed because he wants to save money is pure nonsense!  To claim that Randy won't spend money is pure nonsense.  All one has to do is look at what he has spent...he is not cheap.

3.  I wish I could answer all your comments and address all your concerns.  I wish I could say we have the world's best manager and he will be at Bodymoor Heath on Monday.  I wish I could say that Messi will be on the Pitch for us next week.  I wish I could say alot of things but I can't.  What I can say is that we are NOT as bad as we showed today....and that we have better days coming.  One good game....one bad game....does NOT a season make.

Hi General, fair play to you for coming on tonight... I know I wouldn't if I was in your shoes haha.

Just to address question 1&2.

1. I think most Villa fans are bewildered at the team selection today... first of all, is it true Curtis Davies didn't play today because they're was some sort of 'clause' in his contract? I don't who decided that Clark should play instead of Davies, but whoever did made a joke decision. Clark looked lost and bewildered today, Davies is the more experienced and better player... just baffling. The decision to play such a lightweight midfield was bad also, Reo-Coker and Petrov should of played together in the holding midfield position with Ireland just playing off Carew with Young and Downing playing on the wings.

2. I'm pleased to hear you're saying Randy isn't going to zip up his wallet and not spend anymore money because it's plainly obvious we need a top midfielder who can play with Petrov. We're crying out for someone like Flamini, Scott Parker or Diarra who will keep the ball and give our central-midfield some 'steel' (Ireland is not a central midfielder, he is an attacking midfielder). Villa fans will be deeply disappointed if we don't sign one of the three players I've just noted... what's stopping us from getting a fantastic player like Flamini for only £5 million who is out of the Milan team and will make our midfield so much better. Randy now has the chance which will take our team to a new level... he must take this chance, it's vital.

[barrysleftfoot]

 Fair play for answering today General.

 To be fair, we appreciate you can't say a great deal, but we feel that the right appointment is essential for us to build on the foundations you have laid.

  We are a big club, we should'nt be going for experimental managers, we should be appointing successful managers from smaller clubs, or big name managers, in between jobs.Anything else, in my eyes would severely effect the club.

[MoetVillan]

General, thanks for posting.  I think thats a tough thing to do on a day that ended so disappointingly.  Three games is no time at all to make any rash decisions, so I remain more concerned about you getting the right man in for the long term.  We have a good squad.  No one man makes so much of a difference (MON or Milner), and we still have virtually the same squad that made wembley twice, and sixth in the league, with arguably only City making big changes.  I had a bad feeling about how much Newcastle would be up for it, and but for a poor penalty, a different decision on Ashley Youngs handball, things could have been very different.  That it wasnt, just means we pick ourselves up, and go and take wins over Rapid and Everton.  Id rather you (RL) be slow and right, than fast and wrong in your decision, and pleasingly thats what you seem to think to. 

[PaulMcGrathsNo5Shirt]

General -

I don't think anyone will 'turn' on Kevin Mac, he will get the fans support win lose or draw. He is learning at this level and he's doing his best.

We just need more clarity of what is happening, and who will get the job. Aston Villa should NEVER lose 6-0 to Newcastle, irrespective of the manager. It is clear that the players have let us down today on the whole and a large number of them need replacing. The window for transfers shuts soon, is this going to be a season that is going to be written off (or transitional as seems a more favourable media friendly word)  or are we actually going to have a go at sorting the issues out as a matter of urgency?

[luke95]

Luke, Ads...last chance for both of you this evening.

Back to questions for the General please.

Fair enough.

Is there any particular reason why a some of my posts have been deleted ??
I wouldve PM'd you but am unable to for some reason.

[achilles]

Really appreciated you posting, General, can't have been easy!

[tarzansbrother]

General is Randy on a plane back to Villa Park after such a shambolic performance? Kneejerk maybe but IMO we need him at the helm and at Villa Park. These are worrying times and i for one cannot see better times ahead as you said earlier.

[Risso]

Believe me, there is not a single player on the squad who wanted a result like that.  They are professionals and want to do a professional job.

They just gave up today, and that simply is not acceptable.  There wasn't a single "professional" out there today General, not one of them was fit to wear the shirt.

I said a few weeks ago on your thread that things just didn't feel right, and today just reinforces that view.  This isn't how I thought we'd be starting our 5th year of Randy's tenure, not by a long way.  Disappointing is all I'll say.

[peter w]

Nah you can’t ask for a refund, because being a football fan involves being a stupid twat and taking it up the arse off the industry.

You have to take it and lump it just because “its a gamble”. Never mind the fact that you’ve got fuck all money left after a week of following the Villa, never mind the fact you’ve paid for the privilege of being humiliated- you did it out of choice and you have no right to recompense because you're a fucking idiot who should have realised it was a load of shit 20 years ago, but instead of spending your money elsewhere you've pissed it up the wall following the Villa.

Fuck off and die football. It was better when we were kicking the shit out of each other in crumbling shit holes- at least it cost us near enough fuck all then.

Shut up !

If you've spunked all your money away on following the Villa more fool you .

I know I’m a fool, what do you think the fucking comment is about? Its a self reflection that I've just wasted over 20 years fucking around spending money and time following a shower of c***s. Thanks for your input though.

So they've been a shower of c**ts the last 20 years then ??, there has been as many highs as there has been lows .

Get a grip. FFS   

We lose 6-0 at aside that will struggle to finish in the top 15 and you're telling someone to get a grip?

[ozzjim]

I think today puts a huge pressure on getting the right man - who from the way you are talking General appears to have been identified - in as soon as possible, regardless of cost. We need someone to organise and command the troops. I fear, and it is often the case with a great coach, that the players know KM is too nice a guy to be chucking a hot cup of tea, kicking over the physio table and bursting a vein or two in his neck at half time to rectify a poor display. I think players need an element of fear from a manager, to know who is boss. At the moment they don't. Today it showed.... and that is by no means a criticism of KM, who it is imperative has a role to play in the new regime.

It also must be tough for him when a great number of our coaches have also left - so it begs the question of how long we can function with a bare bones coaching staff for a top 6 premiership club.

One thing I would say is any suggestion that Randy is trying to save a few quid and not spend the money etc is scandalous, and has nothing to do with players putting in their all and not allowing the opposition to bully them the way our lads rolled over today. Randy has proved his worth, I hope from the comment re the Browns we have an exciting and strong leader in soon.

[peter w]

General, you say that the idea that we must rush out and get a manager makes no sense and you're right. I may be mistaken but weren't we told that we'd have somebody in by the Everton game? The job is too big to see how it goes in terms of appointing Kevin McDonald. Make a decision and appoint the man because yes it does make a difference when there is calm at the top.

[eamonn]

General, can you say whether any further transfer activity, both in and out of the club, for the remainder of the window is dependent on a full-time manager being appointed within that time?

[BannedUserIAT]

I don't who decided that Clark should play instead of Davies, but whoever did made a joke decision. Clark looked lost and bewildered today, Davies is the more experienced and better player... just baffling.

Wrong.

[cheltenhamlion]

General, can you say whether any further transfer activity, both in and out of the club, for the remainder of the window is dependent on a full-time manager being appointed within that time?

Good question that