Prince Myshkin

I think Hughes had it right to an extent. He wanted to bring in quality players like Bellamy, who he knew would do a job, even though they didn't cost massive amounts (in comparison to the players they did sign). His signing of Santa Cruz was poor since he was a crock at Rovers the season before he signed him but other than that I think he did a decent job when you consider he had the likes of Ireland nearly being sold from under his nose (he demanded the player return and halt his medical at Sunderland and then went on to be one of the key players for them) and forced to sign the likes of Robinho. Chelsea made the step up to league challengers successfully because they improved in steps. They didn't go out and sign the biggest players around, instead they brought in the likes of Mutu, Duff, Robben (hadn't really made it at that point due to his youth), Kezman (flop, but unproven at the top level) and Makalele (had fallen out of the Madrid side). Their biggest signings were probably Crespo, Deco, Veron and Ashley Cole, in terms of names and the former three were certainly not key members of the team. Ranieri helped the club a lot. Only when they were up there with the big boys did they really start to bring in the big guns like Shevchenko (even though he flopped). If you look at their key players they have signed, none of them have been the best in the world. Drogba was unproven at the highest level, Malouda and Kalou were relatively unheard of by those who don't follow football in depth, Essien who cost a lot but was far from the finished article. The likes of Lampard and Cole were clever signings too. Fucking hate Chelsea though. But yeah, Manchester City should try to be a lot more clever with their signings. Their owners are naturally obsessed with commercial wealth and that is found amongst the biggest players, but in order to win fans across the globe they must win trophies, and the way to do that is by moving up gradually.

I've disliked them quite a bit since they turned up to collect the Worthington Cup trophy in 2002 and were shocked when they didn't beat Blackburn. They were bad losers and throughout the buildup were ridiculously arrogant. I was disappointed they got fourth last season, even though it was nice to see Manchester City's millions fail. Harry Redknapp is a very dodgy character.

The Wright Stuff and The Daily Mail? Beautiful.

Yes, I imagine it is. I have been to Stockholm and that was very expensive. If I go to Norway that shall be at the end of the tour and if I have enough money. I've just always wanted to go since being in Sweden. Czech Republic is a good call! Prague is supposed to have some stunning architecture. In fact, Hitler was responsible for the creation of some of this as he planned to have Prague as a 'Circus of the Jews' after he had secured Europe, with part of the city set aside for people to come and visit to marvel at these 'subhumans', as he believed they were, who would have been eradicated elsewhere on the continent. He commissioned quite a lot of building work to be done and some of it that actually got made is beautiful. Sickening of course.

Thank you very much for your contribution. Ghent is a place I have heard of in the past as being a great place to visit. When I get into planning the trip in depth I shall be sure to look into activities like those you suggested. Castles are amaaaazing! I shall be sure to taste their chocolate too :wideeyed: Thank you again :hug:

Yeah, it is a shame when teams get ahead of themselves. Ambition is good but when they look down on others it just makes it all the funnier when they fail. That's how i've viewed the likes of Newcastle (especially in the last couple of years), Tottenham (until last season), Aston Villa and to an extent Liverpool. They all believe they deserve success (which is something nobody does, success is earned), yet seem incapable of living up to their self made hype. It will be a three horse race again this season, providing Arsenal can keep the pace but we won't know that until February/March, even if they storm 8 points clear over the next couple of months. Manchester united should never be written off and I usually back them to win every season (not financially haha). As far as it goes for Rovers I would be hoping for at least a 12/13th place finish, be delighted to break into the top half again, and be reluctantly satisfied with anything above relegation. Incidentally, one player who I feel would have broken Blackburn down this weekend would have been Craig Bellamy. Such a quality player.

OK, so in a years time, I hope to have enough money for about 3-5 months of traveling in Europe before settling in Germany and working for anywhere between 6 months and a couple of years, depending on how much I enjoy it. My preferred work (which I will of course be arranging before I begin my travels) would be to teach English at a school although this is by no means my only option. I am enrolling on a German language refresher course (since I used to speak it quite well though haven't used it for about 6 years). I will be going with at least one other person, although probably two and our aim is to visit the likes of France, Italy, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, maybe a Scandinavian country such as Norway and finally Germany. One of my friends can speak French, one is learning Italian and I will be confident with my German. The reason for me starting this thread is for advice from others who have traveled foreign countries and also for recommendations of places to visit (particularly architecture and cuisine). Also if anybody has any suggestions of other countries I should visit that would be great, although I cannot guarantee I will be able to go as I am traveling with others and we all have to agree.

The bigger teams are always gonna get beat by the smaller ones every so often. Man City have got to gel yet and it will take a few seasons before they are going for the title, that's the way it always goes. United have had possibly a worse start given their ability and expectations. Realistic expectations for City are to break into the top 4 this season and perhaps win a trophy.

Do you like Garth Marenghi's Darkplace?

I do hope you take the above post in the harmless jest which was intended with it Ian :)

http://archive.thisislancashire.co.uk/2002/5/13/617595.html Burnley fans crowned 'dimmest in England'. http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2000/dec/18/match.sport12 Burnley fans smash up their own town after being beaten by Blackburn. And more recently http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-11219349 Burnley get the lowest high school exam results average. Fine, one more. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/1406929.stm Let's not forget the race riots. Haha, sorry, I couldn't help myself, the last two aren't even to do with football :p But yeah, fortunately it doesn't appear that Ian can be grouped in with these neanderthals as he appears to be intelligent. He certainly showed this by choosing not to live in the town :)

Wow, sorry to hear that Ian.

Are you trying to say he looks gay because I honestly can't see what else you could be saying with that 'pun', and if you are that's quite bizarre. I'm sure you aren't though, you might just need to explain it to a fool like myself.

The draw with Manchester City was nice. And as for the Manchester United fan who laughed at them above, can I remind you that you actually got beat by Burnley last season. Fucking Burnley. Who does Ian support? From this page it looks as though it's Burnley. My typing above isn't related to Ian, I'd have typed it regardless, being a Rovers fan.

I signed up to Jobseekers this week.

Of course not.

No it shouldn't. (And if it had you wouldn't have seen it, you only read the Daily Mail, more to the pity)

No it doesn't.

Hey guys, please excuse my ignorance, I do not speak any Turkish language. Last year I met a Turkish author who lives in Stockholm, Sweden. He was a very nice man but I am unsure how well known he is. I don't think anybody will have heard of him. His name is Askin Ozcan. I was just wondering if anybody had read anything by him or heard his name. Peace and love from England. Also Tugay Kerimoglu is a legend! I support Blackburn Rovers and he played for my team for a long time :) We also briefly had Hakan Sukur and Hakan Unsal.

I started a Keith Lemon thread on this board.

I'm the same as you. How come you are great?

Well hello. How are you?

. :p

goodnight

Haha, you make me sound like an alcoholic :p It was good :) Happy Coldplaying Birthday!!!