The General C. Krulak Thread XVI

[sfx412]

General Krulak here:

1.  sfx412:  I am not sure about the "ghost of MON"...but I can honestly say the following:  The spirit of the men and women working at Villa Park and Bodymoor Heath is VERY high.  If it weren't , I just would not comment because it would be a headline in the morning papers.  I mean it when I say that people are excited and pleased with where we are heading.  Are we happy with the tables right now?  Absolutely NOT!!!  But looking at where we were in the summer, we believe strongly that we are on the right track.  In many ways, we are coming out stronger than where we were.  I know that the Fans may not feel that way but...I can PROMISE you that the spirit and excitement around the Club is palpable.  To a degree it is akin to what is happening at the Browns...where the team is coming out of a tough time and beginning to see real success.  It took a new hire to get things going.

Thanks
Encouraging to hear you say so General, and whilst I can see the potential for such excitement I have yet to feel and to construe from viewing comments on this and other sites that that such optimism has passed its way down the tree, much yet.
Understandable perhaps, GH has a decent track record, but still needs to prove some things, and its now winter always a dismal time anyway

[peter w]

General Krulak here:

 It took a new hire to get things going.

Wasn't that the $50m quarterback?

[FrankyH]

Hello General,

my children got their shirts in the post today(both season ticket holders).Phoned the shop to ask about free printing,to be told it doesn't apply to online orders-only shop bought shirts.Doesn't seem fair ,especially with the delay.

UTV

[eamonn]

Vulcan mind-meld...what a fantastic phrase.

[ckrulak]

General Krulak here:

1.  sfx412:  Not sure what needs to be done to cause "excitement" down the tree.  I see a brand of football and a willingness to give players a chance that I have not seen at Villa Park before.  I see youngsters and more experienced players out on the Pitch giving 110%...I see them passing (note the beautiful pass that set up the goal on Saturday), working the ball forward, substituting when necessary...etc. etc.  You put that all together and then add the players we have out injured...Delph, Gabby, Heskey, etc. and I think we have much to be excited about.  We still have a long season ahead...don't give up.

[MarkM]

Hi General,

I think for many supporters we feel that the club continually goes through the same cycles:

Despair
Rebuild
Promise
A good spell [usually one season but sometimes more]
decline
and then back to the top again

With MON we were at the pinacle of his and his teams ability and now were are back in the rebuild phase.

This season we will finish around 7th, and then dependant on transfers and the performance of other clubs will finish around there again next season, and hopefully a cup run during that time.

This may sound pessimistic but we have been here before:

Saunders / Barton
Taylor
Atkinson
Little / Gregory
MON

The thing that has changed is the ownership of the club, lets hope that that can be the deciding factor in breaking our pattern

Fingers crossed

Mark

[Lucky Eddie]

Hi General,

I think for many supporters we feel that the club continually goes through the same cycles:

Despair
Rebuild
Promise
A good spell [usually one season but sometimes more]
decline
and then back to the top again

With MON we were at the pinacle of his and his teams ability and now were are back in the rebuild phase.

This season we will finish around 7th, and then dependant on transfers and the performance of other clubs will finish around there again next season, and hopefully a cup run during that time.

This may sound pessimistic but we have been here before:

Saunders / Barton
Taylor
Atkinson
Little / Gregory
MON

The thing that has changed is the ownership of the club, lets hope that that can be the deciding factor in breaking our pattern

Fingers crossed

Mark

Every single club in English football perpetually lives within this cycle, the only difference today is that two clubs are  enjoying the extended period you call 'a good spell'.....and one of their fans still aren't at all happy!

[Fergal]

I would rather rebuild from where MoN left us than from where DoL left us.  The main difference is how the current chairman runs the club as opposed to the old chairman.

[sfx412]

General Krulak here:

1.  sfx412:  Not sure what needs to be done to cause "excitement" down the tree.  I see a brand of football and a willingness to give players a chance that I have not seen at Villa Park before.  I see youngsters and more experienced players out on the Pitch giving 110%...I see them passing (note the beautiful pass that set up the goal on Saturday), working the ball forward, substituting when necessary...etc. etc.  You put that all together and then add the players we have out injured...Delph, Gabby, Heskey, etc. and I think we have much to be excited about.  We still have a long season ahead...don't give up.

Couldn't agree more General and as I've said before I was there in Div 3 home and away so I'm not a quitter, but its not about me, its about my club.
I could be wrong, its just possible, but I feel many, maybe most supporters feel the club is under a cloud. There is as you have rightly pointed out many reasons for optimism, and yes there are plenty of excuses at the moment but the momentum Randy's ownership generated has been lost and whilst I never did feel Mon was the man to take us on to meet the stated objectives, from this time last year there has been an undercurrent, be it  pessimism, defeatism, or at best dissatisfaction, no doubt fuelled by the loss of Barry, and Milner and then the manner of the departure of Mon aided by the lack of meaningful signings in the summer and I do include Ireland in that.
GH's appointment has not lifted the club enough, and whilst as always I live in hope, at the moment its hard to get too excited.
Maybe a few victories will help.
I know nothing you can say will alter that short term and whilst unquestioning belief is a nice mantra, actions always do speak louder.

[Merv]

General Krulak here:

1.  sfx412:  I see a brand of football and a willingness to give players a chance that I have not seen at Villa Park before.  I see youngsters and more experienced players out on the Pitch giving 110%...I see them passing (note the beautiful pass that set up the goal on Saturday), working the ball forward, substituting when necessary...etc. etc.  You put that all together and then add the players we have out injured...Delph, Gabby, Heskey, etc. and I think we have much to be excited about.  We still have a long season ahead...don't give up.

I feel those are important points, General. The new manager is taking a different approach to the previous manager and many of the issues we generally criticised Martin O'Neill for are now being rectified. I know perhaps some of Houllier's team selection is being steered by the injury problems but he's also prepared to give younger players - and, for example, Barry Bannan is 20 but O'Neill was reluctant to use him - a chance, therefore actually utilising a squad. And, from what I can see, Houllier does pick teams for certain opponents - examples being Clark to strengthen the midfield v Blues, but then Bannan against Fulham's rather more footballing midfield.
For me, there's much more evidence of tactical selection and substitutions under Houllier, something which a lot of us felt was missing under O'Neill. I feel we've got a more flexible, open-minded manager in charge now and so, while results short-term aren't great, I'm looking forward to the second half of the season.

[CambsVilla]

Hi General,
You said a while back that there was an ongoing debate about the shelf life of the new shirt.
As I said before,I am extremely reluctant to buy a shirt which will be out of date by May.
I look forward to buying the new shirt each season but (and I appreciate that the timing was not altogether in the hands of the club) I feel a little aggrieved at having to pay the full price with this limited life.
If it is to be replaced next season then on this occasion I shall go without and snap it up in the end of season sales instead.
Sorry to sound so down about this but value for money goes a long way in this present world of tight finances.


Lower Holte
TT 74

[GullyFoyle]

General, given our injury crises, what do you think of the current transfer window system? If there was a vote in the PL between keeping the current system, or reverting to the old system, which way would the Villa vote?

[Clampy]

Hi General,
You said a while back that there was an ongoing debate about the shelf life of the new shirt.
As I said before,I am extremely reluctant to buy a shirt which will be out of date by May.
I look forward to buying the new shirt each season but (and I appreciate that the timing was not altogether in the hands of the club) I feel a little aggrieved at having to pay the full price with this limited life.
If it is to be replaced next season then on this occasion I shall go without and snap it up in the end of season sales instead.
Sorry to sound so down about this but value for money goes a long way in this present world of tight finances.


Lower Holte
TT 74

Have to agree with the above General i'm afraid and i personally think that the £10 voucher is a bit of a feeble effort, bearing in mind you cannot even spend it on Nike products. Maybe the voucher could been used as £10 off the away shirt?

[Fuse]

General,

Is there any chance that fans could gain access to the Wireless network that exists at Villa Park? Oftne it is very difficult to get any mobile network coverage and yet there are Villa Guest networks available. Could it be a perk you offer season ticket holders? Or even somethign you could offer access for a small fee?

[rutski]

general, a little idea for match days in the holte suite, a corner set up for kids who swap match attax cards. My lad loves collecting these and there a loads of kids in the holte suite who probably do the same who could bring their pile of swaps with them and exchange cards! A bit like your baseball trading cards over there!
Would be free to set up and the kids would love it!