The General's thread has been locked

[The Gruffalo]

Frankly, my view is that the General has no place on this site.  It was all likely to end in tears with him being on here, you can't please all the people all the time, despite a great 5 year honeymoon period.  The board have acted as is their right,  however for the general and his son to chirp in on independent messageboards toeing the company line etc isn't warranted or needed.  Let us voice our own opinions unhindered, it's therapeutic. 

It's unprofessional on the boards behalf to be doing his anyway, and if they spent as much time and effort in finding us a new manager as they do in monitoring these boards and trying to pacify everyone we probably wouldn't be in this mess.

Ban the general and pelty, and if they have a problem, tell them to email Nicky keye, thats the usual answer isn't it?

[Risso]

Frankly, my view is that the General has no place on this site.  It was all likely to end in tears with him being on here, you can't please all the people all the time, despite a great 5 year honeymoon period.  The board have acted as is their right,  however for the general and his son to chirp in on independent messageboards toeing the company line etc isn't warranted or needed.  Let us voice our own opinions unhindered, it's therapeutic. 

It's unprofessional on the boards behalf to be doing his anyway, and if they spent as much time and effort in finding us a new manager as they do in monitoring these boards and trying to pacify everyone we probably wouldn't be in this mess.

Ban the general and pelty, and if they have a problem, tell them to email Nicky keye, thats the usual answer isn't it?

I like the cut of your jib.  You seem....familiar, somehow.

[PeterWithe]

Just watching David Gold on SSN, he's got a helicopter on his lawn, a helicopter I tells ya.

[mr woo]

And I hear David Sullivan has a little chopper too.

[villa1]

Just watching David Gold on SSN, he's got a helicopter on his lawn, a helicopter I tells ya.

He takes every opportunity available to let us all know too!

[The Gruffalo]

Familiar eh Risso? I'm sure as a mod you know who I am.
It's been a while but given recent events a comeback maybe on the cards...

[1_Pablo_Angel]

Frankly, my view is that the General has no place on this site.  It was all likely to end in tears with him being on here, you can't please all the people all the time, despite a great 5 year honeymoon period.  The board have acted as is their right,  however for the general and his son to chirp in on independent messageboards toeing the company line etc isn't warranted or needed.  Let us voice our own opinions unhindered, it's therapeutic. 

It's unprofessional on the boards behalf to be doing his anyway, and if they spent as much time and effort in finding us a new manager as they do in monitoring these boards and trying to pacify everyone we probably wouldn't be in this mess.

Ban the general and pelty, and if they have a problem, tell them to email Nicky keye, thats the usual answer isn't it?

We can still voice our own opinions unhindered with the General on here.

Given that our board never talk to the media, having a point of contact on here that we can directly engage is absolutely vital.

And the sarcastic comments are unnecessary.

By the by, I don't think I've seen a positive comment from Risso on here for... at least 3 years. Miserable bastard.

[The Gruffalo]

We can still voice our own opinions unhindered with the General on here.

Given that our board never talk to the media, having a point of contact on here that we can directly engage is absolutely vital.

And the sarcastic comments are unnecessary.

By the by, I don't think I've seen a positive comment from Risso on here for... at least 3 years. Miserable bastard.

1_Pablo, what value do you think the General adds by being on here or any Social media sites?  Yes it was exciting at first, another example of what great new owners we have etc.  But now his answers are just a general selection of a stock he has, unless something annoys him, or a criticicm is posted of the board when he goes completely over the top and ends up getting quoted in the papers. Naive in the extreme and the papers just lap it up

Other teams don't have a cheerleader for the chairman acting in this way and they all appear to be better run than us presently.    Until I'm proved wrong then the running of our club seems pretty amateurish at the moment from Randy down. 

[Lee]

I've seen enough of Davies as a Villa Fan.

[1_Pablo_Angel]

We can still voice our own opinions unhindered with the General on here.

Given that our board never talk to the media, having a point of contact on here that we can directly engage is absolutely vital.

And the sarcastic comments are unnecessary.

By the by, I don't think I've seen a positive comment from Risso on here for... at least 3 years. Miserable bastard.

1_Pablo, what value do you think the General adds by being on here or any Social media sites?  Yes it was exciting at first, another example of what great new owners we have etc.  But now his answers are just a general selection of a stock he has, unless something annoys him, or a criticicm is posted of the board when he goes completely over the top and ends up getting quoted in the papers. Naive in the extreme and the papers just lap it up

Other teams don't have a cheerleader for the chairman acting in this way and they all appear to be better run than us presently.    Until I'm proved wrong then the running of our club seems pretty amateurish at the moment from Randy down. 

Now that everyone's pissed off with the board I want him to come on here and front up to the concerns. It might go some way to alleviating the disconnect, and discontent, lots of Villa fans are feeling at the moment.

The alternative is for the club to embark on a new era of openness and cooperation with the press, and I don't see that happening anytime soon.

[Daholteend]

Perhaps it's time to invite Nicola Keye to have a thread on these boards and let her deal directly with the customer related issues.
It doesn't make sense to have a non-Executive Director doing some of her job and taking away from his valuable time which could be spent trying to gain a more informed understanding of English football culture that would allow the Board to make more sensitive decisions.

On the other hand perhaps all the Board need to attend the next Dale Carnegie course of "How to Win Friends and Influence People."

Dale Carnegie Course: Effective Communications & Human Relations/Skills For Success

You'll learn to strengthen interpersonal relationships, manage stress and handle fast-changing workplace conditions. You'll be better equipped to perform as a persuasive communicator, problem-solver and focused leader. And you'll develop a take-charge attitude initiated with confidence and enthusiasm.

To save the General trouble in finding this course here is the Link

[eamonn]

A bit odd that those who are slagging the General/saying he serves no purpose on the site also, I suspect, comprise many of those who use his thread to ask questions. Be honest, it's the thread most of us check first when we see he's posted on it.

[Daholteend]

A bit odd that those who are slagging the General/saying he serves no purpose on the site also, I suspect, comprise many of those who use his thread to ask questions. Be honest, it's the thread most of us check first when we see he's posted on it.

I am not sure if you are referring to me eamonn, but I am not slagging the General. I do think that the board need to be more sensitive to what the paying customers think however.

I can easily understand how the General may find posting on these boards to be a thankless task. There is no doubt that some posters are extremely rude. They were that way even before the McLeish story broke.

To be honest, I may be an exception but visiting the General's thread is not something I do on a regular basis because I find many of the posts to the General to be offensive, but that's just my take on it.

[Dave Cooper please]

What happened with regards to The General's thread is exactly what I predicted, everyone was happy to ask questions and have banter with him when things were going well but as soon as the board did a few things the genral support didn't agree with, rather than carry on the respectful dialogue it descended into abuse. And then when he didn't immediately appear to answer your abuse he got even more with some people even branding him, a highly decorated Vietnam veteran Marine Corp Officer, a coward!

We had something almost unique in football, certainly unique in The Premier League, an insight into the workings of the board and a conduit to senior figures in the club, and you abused it and have now lost it - as predicted.

[PaulTheVillan]

I would like to ask the general what his initial thoughts were when someone mentioned McLeish when talking about new managers.

Doubt I'd get the honest answer.