The General C. Krulak Thread XVII

[The Situation]

I had my flask in my bag on saturday, I am 40, and didn't get searched in the north stand. Not sure how many plastic bottle related crimes we had before we banned the bottle tops, me being cynical thinks it's more to do with flogging over priced drinks in the ground.

It's like going to the cricket and being banned from taking alcohol in but you can drink yourself to death at £4 a pint.

I think you can bring your own plastic bottles into the ground, but the stewards at the turnstiles will ask you to take it off and put it in the bin. I see loads of people hiding stuff under their jackets or jumpers so they don't have to be hassled over something pointless. No-one wants to spend something silly like £2 for a bottle of pop.

[levico]

Incredible - things are falling apart on the pitch, a relegation battle looks increasingly likely and here we are talking about getting searched and scoreboards!!

I know, I know - I'll find another thread!!!

[SoccerHQ]

Speaking of getting searched and bags getting searched... why is it that you have to take a small plastic top off a plastic bottle? It's one of the most strangest things I've ever have to do, do Health and Safety really think a tiny plastic cap is going to injure someone if a person throws it? I see a man who's allowed to bring his metal flask into the ground which could REALLY injure someone. I find that rule very odd and genuinely would like to know the answer to.

Just have a spare bottle top in your coat pocket.

[Vancouver]

General,

Do people in the states moan about trivial items like we do? Do you also have to tell them the same answer a hundred times?

On a serious note, are there any suggestion that you have taken from H&V, used them at the Villa, then thought that they were good enough to impliment into the match day experience for the Browns?

[sfx412]

any chance of an official update on the injuries General ?

[PaulTheVillan]

Speaking of getting searched and bags getting searched... why is it that you have to take a small plastic top off a plastic bottle? It's one of the most strangest things I've ever have to do, do Health and Safety really think a tiny plastic cap is going to injure someone if a person throws it? I see a man who's allowed to bring his metal flask into the ground which could REALLY injure someone. I find that rule very odd and genuinely would like to know the answer to.

Just have a spare bottle top in your coat pocket.

Or just drink the drink and throw the bottle. That'll do more damage than the top.

[Rico]

General, Rico here. Long time Villa fan, but newbie on this site. General you've obviously had a long and distnguished career in the Marines. I'm interested to know what your opinion is of the modern sports star/athlete. Also interested to know what your opinion is of the current injury situation at the club and how does the physical fitness of a premier league footballer compare to a proffessional soldier who ultimately may have to go out and kill or be killed, and are there any training tips or solutions that could be brought from the armed forces to Bodymoor Heath. I for one think it would be hilarious for some of our pampered stars to have a drill sargeant giving them a beasting, and if it toughens them up a little then so much the bettter.

Cheers. Rico.

[ckrulak]

General Krulak here:

1.  Support to the Academy:  The Club certainly recognizes the importance of the Academy...and it has become even more apparent this year.  We have continually raised the budget of the Academy to meet the needs of the Club and will continue to do so.

2.  The duration of the shirt has been posted on the OS...it will be for this year only.

3.  Searches:  I understand that there are concerns about the searches.  There are several reasons for conducting the searches and all of them, for the most part, are tied to safety or security.  As someone indicated, a bottle with a cap on it...in the hands of an individual who may have had too much to drink...can become a heat-seeking missile.  Who would have ever thought a coin could have caused the damage it did.  Obviously, the searches are not going to turn up an explosive that is hidden in someone's shorts but...random searches can help overall security and safety.  We live in a crazy world and we need to understand that fact.

4.  Invest:  As you know, I do not talk about players, windows, etc.  Suffice it to say that Randy has never backed away from investing in the Club.  He will depend heavily on GH and his view of what needs to be done.  As we all know, the winter is not the best window...every Club is in the midst of their season and are looking to keep their good players.  GH has a good scouting system going and we have faith that he will do what needs to be done.

[peter w]

You're right General, we do live in a crazy world. Thanks, George Bush, you crazy war-mongering, hlf-witted, jumped-up, election stealing, corrupt buffoon. Anyway, this may be something already answered and known but how long is the manager's contract? How many of the current staff are tied into his stay at Villa?

[CambsVilla]

Thanks for the reply re the longevity of the shirt General. Much appreciated.

I don't agree with the policy of changing it next season or the fact that this current one is full price despite having only recently been released.
Sorry to say that this customer will be not buying something which is not value for money.
This is a cock up by Nike and Villa have apparantley not demanded any recompense.To say that the price has been frozen from last season isn't good enough as it is already an expensive enough item.

Although Mr Lerner has been more supporter friendly than any other chairman in living memory,I don't feel that this issue has been addressed enough and as usual the fans are the ones who suffer.It is bad enough that the season ticket is no longer the value for money it once was with the continued price drops for matchday tickets.

This may only be a small issue for the club but I feel a little let down by it all.

Lower Holte
TT 74

[nodge]

General

I bought half season tickets in October.  I had planned to come to the Villa shop this weekend to do some Christmas shopping and obviously use the 10% discount available to season ticket holders.  I've been told by the ticket office that they think the new system in the shop means you have to have your season card with you to get the discount but the half season ticket cards haven't been sent out yet.  They've given me the club shop number but that goes to a voicemail for mail orders.  Is there a contact at the club who can confirm the shop's system please?
I would have thought you could take advantage of the discount as soon as the club have your money?
I asked the ticket office if they couldn't just use my client reference number as proof I'd bought a season ticket but they didn't seem to think they would do that in the shop.
Incidentally, does anyone know if the free printing on new shirts is available still?

Thanks in advance.

[PeterWithe]

Use the receipt from your ST purchase to show the checkout staff to get your 10%

[nodge]

Use the receipt from your ST purchase to show the checkout staff to get your 10%

I haven't got one, booked them over the phone.  The ticket office said they think the shop has to actually swipe your season card on the new system they are using.  That's what I'm trying to find out but can't get through to the shop.  If it was just a case of showing a receipt then surely they could just bring up my client code on the system.

[sfx412]

Aha looks like questions concerning injury updates won't be answered either. Anyone any contacts at WiKi Leaks.

[Salsa Party Animal]

Been watching Barcelona V Real Madrid tonight and they had 9 out of 11 players developed from Academy and they use Cryuff's beliefs and methods to produce players.  Our Academy is good, but would like to see our method be similar to Barcelona. I would like to see our academy staff to go to Barcelona and have a look at their method to see if we can learn from them.  As obviously buying lot of players doesn't work.