What Aston Villa supporters learnt from Paul Faulkner this week

On Macron

Often vilified by some Villa supporters for the quality of last season’s kit, when it came to what happened to it when you washed it, from a design point-of-view, at least Macron have tried to do something different, especially when it comes to the away kit design.

Faulkner was keen to impress that the club also has more input when it comes to the design process. “With Macron we now have a lot of input into the kit design, and they have been very open-minded with thoughts around new designs. Personally I think it’s good to have kits that are unique rather than just based off a template that you then also see other clubs wearing.”

Paul Faulkner

He’s on the MOMS wavelength when it comes to the Qatar World Cup

I’ve personally stayed in Qatar for a whole month when I was younger and I have memories of frying eggs outside on the patio floor; it was that hot in the summer. Serious backhanders/financial promises must have been involved in the decision-making process, as it makes no sense for it be held there. It’s as ludicrous as holding it in the North Pole.

When somebody asked Faulkner about the prospect of a winter World Cup, he was refreshingly honest in his skepticism. “I think it would have to raise serious questions as to why FIFA awarded the World Cup there in the first place if hosting a summer World Cup was never going to be realistic.”

Faulkner’s favourite current Villa player?

To be fair to him, he could have dodged that bullet to give an answer. Again, points for being forthright. His answer? “I love watching Ashley Westwood play, as I think he’s a really intelligent footballer, and I’m looking forward to seeing his first goal at Villa Park early in the season!”

He understands the mission of winning the damn FA Cup again

It’s good he is conscious of the wish of most Villa supporters, who joined the earth from 1958-onwards to see Villa win the FA Cup, before they finally depart the planet.

We have a youth feeder club in the USA

It’s not common knowledge to most fans, but we do currently have a partnership with the Pacesetter Club in Ohio – a development team that fields U9 to U19 age groups teams. So far, a few players have made it in the MLS. The results of the venture in terms of what it does for Aston Villa can obviously only be judged over the long-term.

Paul Faulkner will never join Twitter

You can’t blame him for that!