The General C. Krulak Thread XVI

[Mark H]

I also saw the incident from the lower holte and must add my support in the strongest terms against the heavy handed inappropriate stewarding - surely common sense has to provail but I fear like stewarding at other clubs some of these guys are on hairline triggers to find something to over react to to make themselves feel better.

It seems a long long time since I stood on the Holte End and we knew the stewards as they stood there every week and seemed to do a great job without needing to "take on the world" to prove themselves.

[jembob]

Hi General
We also witnessed the incident from the Upper Holte. The guy was walking along  - where he is allowed to do so - and the ball came at him.  He headed it back and fell over the hoarding, getting up again with some embarrassment.  We also could not believe the stewards were ejecting him from the ground for inadvertently falling over the hoarding.  Over zealous stewarding would be an under statement.  I hope the club will not compound this over reaction by penalising the fan any further - an apology would be more in order

From what I could see that chap came back into the stadium after a minute or so - I'm pretty sure it was him. The stewards certainly don't do themselves any favours at VP, as they are either nowhere to be seen or go over the top. Today's sense of humour failure was really poor and totally uncalled for. If anything they should have been helping one of their customers back to his feet and making sure he was OK before some Health & Safety fascist turned up and banned the advertising signs for being too dangerous.

[villajk]

General.

In light of the poblems before and after the game today have the club considered doing a 'bubble match' for the cup game at Sty Andrews?

Sorry if you're not aware of this, but what it means is every away fan only gets given their match ticket as they arrive at the ground after travelling by official travel to the game. In light of the fact it is an evening midweek kick off and idiots from both sides can spend the afternoon drinking surely this would show Villa are trying to do something to limit the possibility of trouble.

Although this sounds like a good idea, there will be problems attached to it.  My other half will have to travel from London to Knowle to pick me up then drive virtually past the sty to get to VP to get a coach.  If this was to be feasible, coaches would need to be travelling from different locations for convenience and to get approximately 5,000 there and back.

[lovejoy]

There's something wrong with society if it has come to this.

[BannedUserIAT]

General, the thing that struck me about the abovementioned incident - watching it on TV - was that it wasn't just one steward getting high and mighty...there looked to be quite a few of them. For so many of them to have gotten their decision making so very wrong says to me that instructions had come from the top to turf out anyone who even remotely looks out order. Don't think about it, don't use common sense. Just get rid of them.

Given the opposition of the day, I can understand the need to be watchful of trouble. But when reports of coin throwing and toilet destruction are coming in, it seems that whoever was in charge of security got it wrong.

Now, in regard to that damage to the toilets, you could maybe get a handful of bluenoses in when it comes to demolishing the North Stand. A bit of free labour?

[PaulMcGrathsNo5Shirt]

General.

In light of the poblems before and after the game today have the club considered doing a 'bubble match' for the cup game at Sty Andrews?

Sorry if you're not aware of this, but what it means is every away fan only gets given their match ticket as they arrive at the ground after travelling by official travel to the game. In light of the fact it is an evening midweek kick off and idiots from both sides can spend the afternoon drinking surely this would show Villa are trying to do something to limit the possibility of trouble.

Although this sounds like a good idea, there will be problems attached to it.  My other half will have to travel from London to Knowle to pick me up then drive virtually past the sty to get to VP to get a coach.  If this was to be feasible, coaches would need to be travelling from different locations for convenience and to get approximately 5,000 there and back.

I'm not suggesting it is 'right' and in normal circumstances I would suggest this as a no-no. I think people could park relatively safely at Villa Park and a police escort takes us to their cesspit of a ground and brings us back without problem. It is a shame that as human beings we can't attend a game of football, but lets remember - the vast majority of that lot are no more civilised than some kind of pond life.

[adrenachrome]

This is a unique opportunity to speak directly with a shareholder of a Premier League Club.

The Man did not have to volunteer for the "stocks". (he might not understand that) and be subjected to the vegetable or verbal-  detritus thrown by the masses whilst tied on a wooden cross as in previous centuries.

I am sure does understand now.

Please respect the fact that a Director of our Club allowed himself to be as open as he can within the confines of legal fudiciary obligations. Cannot we please direct questions on a level cognisent with his station. Ie: the guy cannot give us the comparitive price of pies or beer.

IMHO some questions are fine but on this particular thread: keep it mature.

The General isn't a shareholder, he's a non-executive director.  He also doesn't have any fiduciary responsibilities.

Yeah, but is he cognisent of his fudiciary obligations?

[villajk]

General.

In light of the poblems before and after the game today have the club considered doing a 'bubble match' for the cup game at Sty Andrews?

Sorry if you're not aware of this, but what it means is every away fan only gets given their match ticket as they arrive at the ground after travelling by official travel to the game. In light of the fact it is an evening midweek kick off and idiots from both sides can spend the afternoon drinking surely this would show Villa are trying to do something to limit the possibility of trouble.

Although this sounds like a good idea, there will be problems attached to it.  My other half will have to travel from London to Knowle to pick me up then drive virtually past the sty to get to VP to get a coach.  If this was to be feasible, coaches would need to be travelling from different locations for convenience and to get approximately 5,000 there and back.

I'm not suggesting it is 'right' and in normal circumstances I would suggest this as a no-no. I think people could park relatively safely at Villa Park and a police escort takes us to their cesspit of a ground and brings us back without problem. It is a shame that as human beings we can't attend a game of football, but lets remember - the vast majority of that lot are no more civilised than some kind of pond life.

I'm not disagreeing with you but  just pointing out that getting to and back from Villa Park could be very difficult for some and suggesting that maybe if  this were to happen, different starting point should be considered.

[tonyh]

I am sure a cup game was switched to a sunday once, but really the trouble today was minimal. But at their shit hole it needs consideration because even though we have some ragamuffins amongst our lot, their lot really are a nasty blot on the landscape

[TimTheVillain]

The Stewards in the Upper Trinity looked in stern mood today.

I see them as 'plastic' policemen myself, 'copper wannabes'.

They should go about their duties with more dignity, empathy and thought for the fans who have paid hard earned money to watch their team.

If a situation needs diffusing, certainly, that's a job they should be capable of doing, but how do they judge a situation ?

So my question to The General is, what training do they get to perform their task ?

[CJ]

Hi General

Going back to the fan who was ejected for falling over the hoarding - they've just shown it on Match of the Day so you can catch it on iplayer if interested. They agreed it was a bit OTT to eject the fan

[villajk]

and not having noticed it at the game and seeing it for the first time on MoTD2, it was 100% over the top by the stewards.

[The Situation]

I just watched that too. Complete moronic behaviour by the stewards - what were they thinking? He didn't touch a blade of grass as well. It was a bit of fun, nothing silly or illegal was done and the stewards decide to throw him out? It's not just Political Correctness that has gone mad, Stewarding at Villa Park has gone mad!

[KevinGage]

They (the stewards) were even mocked on national TV.

Lawro and Kevin Phillips also asked why it needed five of the beggars to go all Robocop on that fan.

Well done to all concerned!

[Vancouver]

Didn't see the incident on TV from Canada. Is there a video link to the replay somewhere?

Since when have stewards changed from helping the customers to a private police force anyway? I go to a hockey game and a lovely gentleman or lady (usually a little older) directs me to my seat in a very curtious manner. I do agree though that we need some security at the game to avoid trouble. A fine balance needs to be struck.