The General C. Krulak Thread XV

[pmk1981]

houllier as director as football and kev mac as manager ?

[peter w]

So, General, what's our business plan for the next 5 years?

[ClaretAndBlueBlood]

Do managers normally get appointed without speaking to their new clubs?

No, but the bigger clubs tend to identify ONE manager and go and try get him, if they cant you move onto the next ONE on your list.

Not normally the way that you need to interview 5 or so managers that aren't good enough to currently be in employment

[Monty]

Do managers normally get appointed without speaking to their new clubs?

No, but the bigger clubs tend to identify ONE manager and go and try get him, if they cant you move onto the next ONE on your list.

Not normally the way that you need to interview 5 or so managers that aren't good enough to currently be in employment

And how many managers end up sacking the ONE they went for after 18 months anyway?

There's an awful lot of conventional wisdom about how to do things in football, and it never seems to work. I agree with the board's strategy and process, other than the mystifying 'Premier League experience' thing, but that's another debate.

[ckrulak]

Genera Krulak here:

1.  Wow, I go away for two days and the long knives are out in force.  Let me try and set a few things straight.  We have looked and are looking at many Managers.  We have certainly looked at Managers active with other Clubs, active in other locations, not active with other Clubs and within the UK.  We are doing JUST what ALL Fans would expect of a Club.  There are some who believe that we can go into any Club we want, throw a wad of money at the Manager and he just picks up his bag and moves...NOT quite like that!  Seriously, Fans MUST realize that things are not as easy as they believe and that we are absolutely leaving no stone unturned.  You can believe me or not...that is your option.  I might also add that any Manager worth his salt is going to do some due diligence on the Club...he may even look at Fan blog to see who is being looked at and who is rated by the Fans.  I am not sure that slagging some of these men while they are simply names in the media is real smart.  But that is just one man's opinion.  Comments about Randy not willing to spend money are just plain absurd and I will not comment on those again.  He has more than bought this Club three times over...not many Clubs can make a statement like that!!  Again, I am not sure what I can say to make people feel better...when everything I say is consider BS or PR.  For those Fans who have stuck with us during these times, thank you very much.  For those who have complaints, I am sorry.  BUT, to somehow think that we are not taking this seriously or have lowered our sights...that is pure crap. 

[paul_e]

Hi General

Seeing as you're back.  Without naming anyone can you tell us where we are in the process and how the interview stage is going, is there likely to be an announcement soon or is there still quite a bit to be done?

A lot of websites and press have reported this as a done deal with Houllier late last night but that nothing has been stated to make that official by now makes me think maybe it's a case of them getting a sniff and running with it.

Like many others I've been on this and other sites most of the day trying to find out what's happening, a statement from you that meant I could concentrate on my job would be really appreciated, mainly by my boss!

[sfx412]

General thanks very much, great to see, most enjoyable, where will the conspiracists go now.

Not one to comment on unknowns, like yet to be appointed managers, I can see your point about those slagging off when they have no clue about the likely candidates, but to be honest if a bloke is going to be put off by a few opinions, misguided as they may be on here or any other fan site, he's no good in the job.

No idea who RL has in mind, but do your best to make sure the final decision puts all the doubting Thomas' with their long knives back in the box please.

Is it possible the new man will have some time at least to bed in before the Stoke game, or will it be going to the line again.

[Irreverent ad]

Hi General,

I think we all know that we are in this together and that Randy and the board have done so much. The problem is down to frustration...the frustration that MON left us when he did, the frustration of the negative reporting on Villa, the frustration of the Newcastle result, the frustration of Europe, the frustration of transfers etc

This gets to everyone INCLUDING yourself and Randy I am sure. Some people show these frustrations, some don't. Some people have faith in the board, some don't.

Randy has been nothing but good to this club and DESERVES his choice and deserves our faith. There are thousands (i think) of people on this board and the fact that only 20 or so have made comments I think is pretty good. I think it shows the majority trust Randy and his vision.

I think it is important for you to realise that 95% of the supports trusts what is happening it is just the 5% vocalise it. It is important we stay as one moving forward and that you guys see that the vast majority support you. In a way it is the amount that is not written that is important.
Up the Villa

[Toronto Villa]

we all want what is best for Villa, but we all handle our frustrations differently. Opinions are what makes football fans special, and whoever the board appoint it will never make everyone happy. Unless we can somehow prise Mourinho away from Real Madrid that is. We just need to trust the board, because in my opinion they have not given us any reason to doubt that they have the best intentions of the club at heart in whatever they do. We also need to give the new manager/DOF whatever he is, a chance to succeed. After all, we all want that.

[Irreverent ad]

Hi General,

A serious question with no hidden agenda....

You made a comment before that maybe fans don't understand the difficulties of finding a manager. I accept that.

Bearing in mind this was the first full managerial appointment that the current board has made, was it more difficult than you guys imagined?

and was Randy able to draw on similar experiences from the Browns? If so is the process very similar?

Many thanks

[stuart r]

General Krulak its good that you've vented your spleen, and thats what this forum is about... And I am one of the ones that sometimes thinks your posts are just PR (never BS, but sometimes PR) but I wouldn't say your last post was PR. Its right that you can get as frustrated by all this as we are. Its a passionate game aint it?

You said "I am not sure what I can say to make people feel better" I'm less interested in what you say and more concerned with what you do.

Good luck and as this is a questions for the general thread I should ask one. Can you employ McLeish as our next manager?

[WarszaVillan]

General - so you say that managers reading negative posts on this blog may be put off? -  Curblishley you're shite!

[garyshawsknee]

Cheers General for your words,we are a strange bread though us Villa fans,and football fans in general,all it takes is a nonsense headline from a lazy journo and we all panic like its Armageddon!

[eastie]

Nice to have you back general , I'm sure nobody thinks you are talking bs ,we respect you sir!

Could you give us an indication if an appointment is imminent over the next day or so or are we looking at early next week?

[mrshnn]

nobody deserves to be slagged off general,that we all agree i just think we maybe need to go the extra mile to get the right person in.
look again at your original wish list,if the new manager is not on that list then we are settling for 2nd best.
good luck and up the villa