The General C. Krulak Thread XV

[dave.woodhall]

There's a manager thread to discuss managers.

[ckrulak]

General Krulak here:

1.  I find it somewhat disconcerting to discover that after all the good moves made by the Club over the past few years (and here I mean the entire Club NOT just Randy and the Board...but all the people who have put their hearts and souls into the Club) that somehow we are now rudderless, leaderless, etc. etc.  Are we in a tough spot right now?  Absolutely!  Do we recognize that fact?  Absolutely!  Are we working to correct it?  Absolutely!  One of the problems is that you want me to come on the site and say, "Here is the list of people we are looking at...here is who we think we want...here is where we are on the negotiations...and here is when we expect him on site."  Don't you see that I cannot do that...that it would make absolutely ZERO sense!  Our previous manager left us 5 days before the kickoff of the season...5 days.  No warning...he and Randy had talked on Saturday and Randy had flown back to the US secure in the knowledge that all was fine...only to learn on Monday that the man had resigned.  Randy immediately flew back to the UK...completed theMilner/Ireland deal...put KM in charge as the interim manager and began to bring advisors in re. the choice of the next manager.  The lads played a fine game against West Ham and took an away goal at Rapid Vienna...they came back and went to Newcastle and had a howler...we ALL know that.  How many quality managers do you think are out there right now waiting on their couches at home..waiting for a call from the Villa?  How many have currently just signed contracts and cannot get out of them?  This is NOT some simple task of just going out and throwing money at someone and having them just pick up and leave their Club.  People say that KM is ambivalent about the position...no, he is doing what many would do in his place...he is giving it a think.  Does that make him a bad person?  A week ago many fans were saying, "Give it to Kevin"...now, one game later, it is throw him out.  Let's get serious here...we are working this issue hard but we need to do it right...I just cannot come on this site and sgive the details you want.  Each of you already know that whatever I say that might be "newsworthy" will automatically get in the papers.  Why would you want me to do that?

2.  I absolutely know you are frustrated!  Randy knows it!  We care deeply about the Club and are as concerned as any out there.  I make sure your comments are heard...ALL of them.  I attempt to provide as much info as I can but I also need to be circumspect in what I say because it won't help the cause to be too outspoken.

3.  There is a rumor out there re. Curtis Davis and playing and his contract.  Total nonsense.

[eastie]

Thank you general for making things a bit clearer- clearly martin leaving like he did has done us no favours but I'm sure with the right appointment we will look back in time at his leaving as a blessing in disguise.

[richard moore]

"Waiting for a call from THE Villa" General. It is always 'THE' in capital letters....otherwise top rant!

[PaulWinch again]

Yes thank you for the clear up General and also putting the Curtis Davies rumour to bed.

[dave.woodhall]

Thanks, general. Now can we please stop the backbiting, at least on this thread.

[levico]

Well said General - you are absolutely right in everything you say.




Please don't appoint Bob Bradley though!!

[Toronto Villa]

General, sir. Top marks for that response. This is a hell of task that you and the rest of the board have. We all need to cool down, because this appointment will shape Villa for the next few years. The next few games as important as they are will pale into insignificance if we cannot get this appointment right.

[TimTheVillain]

Shall we all have a drink to the General tonight a) to relax and b) to him - he doesn't have to come here to post, and at the moment he's kind of fighting against the fans with whom there is tremendous 2 way respect.

Cheers everyone, and relax while Randy & Co sort things out.

ps. I'm not being a sycophant !

[tonyh]

General, no need to take this advice but now that MON has gone why don't you take the lads to one side and give them one of your 'pep' talks.

KM would appreciate it, I would appreciate, and so would the Hearts and souls of the club.

We need leadership, you've got proven leadership, so use your skills to gel the club, the players and the fans together, just in case it gets a bit too frenzied.

[jembob]

General Krulak

I agree with the sentiment of your post. Few things in life are as bad as the Villa getting hammered, particularly by the like of Newcastle, however probably the worst part of a bad defeat is reading some of the garbage that appears on this site (others too probably). People do need to vent their frustration but some of the knee jerk stuff I've read here over the past couple of days are just sad. Surely people can handle their disappointment in a more mature way by beating up their wife or perhaps driving under the influence! It always works for me.

Thanks for your patience in the face of some pretty absurd accusations pointed at the Club.

[Fergal]

General Krulak here:

1.  I find it somewhat disconcerting to discover that after all the good moves made by the Club over the past few years (and here I mean the entire Club NOT just Randy and the Board...but all the people who have put their hearts and souls into the Club) that somehow we are now rudderless, leaderless, etc. etc.  Are we in a tough spot right now?  Absolutely!  Do we recognize that fact?  Absolutely!  Are we working to correct it?  Absolutely!  One of the problems is that you want me to come on the site and say, "Here is the list of people we are looking at...here is who we think we want...here is where we are on the negotiations...and here is when we expect him on site."  Don't you see that I cannot do that...that it would make absolutely ZERO sense!  Our previous manager left us 5 days before the kickoff of the season...5 days.  No warning...he and Randy had talked on Saturday and Randy had flown back to the US secure in the knowledge that all was fine...only to learn on Monday that the man had resigned.  Randy immediately flew back to the UK...completed theMilner/Ireland deal...put KM in charge as the interim manager and began to bring advisors in re. the choice of the next manager.  The lads played a fine game against West Ham and took an away goal at Rapid Vienna...they came back and went to Newcastle and had a howler...we ALL know that.  How many quality managers do you think are out there right now waiting on their couches at home..waiting for a call from the Villa?  How many have currently just signed contracts and cannot get out of them?  This is NOT some simple task of just going out and throwing money at someone and having them just pick up and leave their Club.  People say that KM is ambivalent about the position...no, he is doing what many would do in his place...he is giving it a think.  Does that make him a bad person?  A week ago many fans were saying, "Give it to Kevin"...now, one game later, it is throw him out.  Let's get serious here...we are working this issue hard but we need to do it right...I just cannot come on this site and sgive the details you want.  Each of you already know that whatever I say that might be "newsworthy" will automatically get in the papers.  Why would you want me to do that?

2.  I absolutely know you are frustrated!  Randy knows it!  We care deeply about the Club and are as concerned as any out there.  I make sure your comments are heard...ALL of them.  I attempt to provide as much info as I can but I also need to be circumspect in what I say because it won't help the cause to be too outspoken.

3.  There is a rumor out there re. Curtis Davis and playing and his contract.  Total nonsense.

General, just remember that the comments on here are made by people who love the Villa and are hurting.  A couple of weeks ago I posted that I was not feeling the same connection to the club or football that I have felt in the past.  This result has hurt me a lot and is a bitter pill to swallow. So please understand that some comments made are just people lashing out in anger/pain at seeing our club humiliated in such a way.  At least it has proved to me that I still feel the same about the Villa as I always have done and always will do, just like every true Villa supporter.

[Claret trim]

1.  I find it somewhat disconcerting to discover that after all the good moves made by the Club over the past few years (and here I mean the entire Club NOT just Randy and the Board...but all the people who have put their hearts and souls into the Club) that somehow we are now rudderless, leaderless, etc. etc.  Are we in a tough spot right now?  Absolutely!  Do we recognize that fact?  Absolutely!  Are we working to correct it?  Absolutely!

Hello General. Thanks for posting a response. I don't think anyone is doubting that we are working towards a solution (and in any case, how could we know otherwise?) but you will know from your military days that decisive leadership at critical times is important in terms of the message that is being sent out to the troops, so to speak. If you look at it from the fans' (or players') point of view, I reckon it would be hard to deny that we are lacking in that leadership and direction right now. We don't look like we know which path we should take and that we are lacking in experience. Obviously, I hope events prove me wrong.

Your comments re MON's resignation are interesting and his abysmal timing means that he has forfeited a good deal, if not all, the goodwill he was afforded as manager. Nevertheless, it is the job of those who lead to maanage that risk and, failing that, esnsure that there is a plan B in place. There really doesn't look like we have one. In addition, while I suppose that this is all water under the bridge, your comments suggest that MON had dealings with someone other than RL between the Saturday and the Monday and that (assuming that MON and RL had an "understanding") this had something to do with his resignation. Like I say, all water under the bridge I guess.

Finally, I don't think you should read into that a lack of gratitude at the progress the club has made over recent years. It isn't that, but more like a show of concern that that progress is in danger of being frittered away.

[pmk1981]

Thanks General for a great post !!!  I for one am behind kevin mac 1000000 % and even more so for him coming on National Tv and admitting he was WRONG and it was his fault and that i respect the chap.  Never seen a manager do that before.  Sunday was a freak and a learning curve for Kevin,  he will learn from that and it will help him move on and help in the motivation of the players for the coming games.  After all it is only 3 points lost and we can bounce back in the leagiue on sunday.  I admit i may of been wrong posting earlier about bob bradley not being wanted here, but im sure you guys will make the right decision.

[SashasGrandad]

Shall we all have a drink to the General tonight a) to relax and b) to him - he doesn't have to come here to post, and at the moment he's kind of fighting against the fans with whom there is tremendous 2 way respect.

Cheers everyone, and relax while Randy & Co sort things out.

ps. I'm not being a sycophant !

I like your suggestion.  I'm going to pour another glass! 

Don't forget it looks like at the end of tonight we will be 2 pts ahead of the bindippers with a similar goal difference so things can't all be that bad.