h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Good morning tickle,yes you are right of course.


I sat watching the online match report for V versus QPR two goals down again and another nail biting draw in the end with Newcastle next.

What about Forest tickle have they given up already?

Hi Rikii, Forest have let Wes Morgan go to Leicester, so it certainly looks as if they've given up. I daresay Cotterill would have got the chop by now if they hadn't already sacked a manager this season. It's the Derby derby on Sunday, which may be the final humiliation. They've got a few new players in on loan, but I'm not optimistic.

I take it Villa are settling for mid-table obscurity. They could probably do with a new manager, as well - not all Scots have the golden touch.

Hi tickle,sad news again for Forest fans.

Hi Rikii. I went to Nottm on Friday for my sister's funeral - she died very suddenly a couple of weeks back. Indeed, most of my visits there these days seem to be for the purpose of attending a funeral, which prompted me to comment that the next one would probably be Forest's. I wasn't so far out, it seems - although I won't be attending Mr Doughty's funeral.

He supposedly invested about £100 million in the club over the last decade or so. There doesn't seem much to show for it. I think there's a quote, although I can't remember it, about the easiest way to lose a fortune being to buy a football club.

Hi tickle,Im saddened by the loss of your Sister,as you know I lost my youger brother just two years ago and I still cant get used to it.
BTW I see the FA are giving Capello a hard time now over the JT incident,the Italian IMO is absolutely right as JT's case hasn't even been heard yet.
It seems our freedom of speech here has been sacrificed by the many to profit the few,democracy = History.
What next? footballers wearing gags?

Hi all,still no sign of Foldrol. (come GF!)

Pretty quiet here, what? I had a gander at Sin's board last night and see that old Folly has gone awol, possibly on account of falling out with Sin. But it's a different MO to when New-Improved-Graham quit the MC board: on that occasion he announced his decision and the reason - he'd had enough of AHL - on almost every thread. So perhaps he hasn't gone for good. And maybe there is some other reason. It was half term this week, so he could be in Spain at the moment, anyway. Of course, you could always write to him, or email him at Stevington PC - such details are available on the net.

Bon weekend a tous.

Hi tickle and thanks for that

Hi tickle,I guess sadly that Folderol has by now either left the PB as yourself or is rather ill either way he's gone for now.I do hope all's well with you Forest bashed the blues the other week and that made my day the Villa have a massive game against Blackburn next and that burke manager we have could still get us relegated with Bent out until next season.Our club registered a 53 mill loss for the 2011 season and Randy bunged 25 mil out of his own pocket last season (Bent I'd guess)as for the England job I dont know why they just dont capitulate and give the job to a winner like Dave Beckham OK he's never been a manager but he knows the score and what's he got to lose?
Redknapp was always too old and realisically who's left?
Whoever it is is gonna have to do some titivating and give 'em all a serious tickling.

I see you're having a bit of a crisis with your lad, Rikii. Sorry about that, hope things work out ok in the end.

Still no sign of Folly, then - or Polly, come to that. I guess they've both given up on us. I don't think Folly is ill, as he posted something on the Stevington PC website on 9 Feb, which was two or three weeks after he flounced out of Sin's place, I believe.

I don't quite know what qualities are required of the England manager, other than a very thick skin. Motivational skills? Tactical nous? Psycho may have the former, but perhaps not the latter. If the FA want continuity, as they say, then Psycho might be a good choice, but I think he would need an adviser. What about el Tel?

Personally, I think a German would be the best bet: they play a similar style, but usually to greater effect. Pity Klinsmann isn't available.

Hi tickle,yes it's hitting the fan big time.I suppose at my age it should be absorbed easier but it aint,I've stopped posting about his condition because folks dont need a guilt trip and I'm just taking it one day at a time but I can only hope for the best and expect the worst at the moment.They (his care team) managed to get him to take a few supported steps to the exercise bike today where he managed a few gruelling minutes but he cant form sentences and gets frustated and angry with every failure,it's killing me to watch him but hey when your swimming in it,up is still the only way.

I still haven't heard anything concrete on the England job but I see Spurs are shying away from their third spot and the Baggies manager is poised in a no lose situation IMO if Redknapp takes the England job he'll be in line for Spurs or England if Redknapp declines.
Still...tickle all my best regard to you and yours and I( get the feeling GF wont like his own company that much and if by any chance he's reading this,GF you are being missed.

With Villa losing to Bolton tonight, I bet you're starting to get twitchy, Rikii. Don't worry, they're too good to go down...

It's hard to know what the FA are up to. I presume they'll go for Redknapp even though his halo is slipping. Can't see Spurs going for Hodgson, though: didn't his experience at Liverpool suggest he isn't a 'big club' manager?

How is your lad getting on?

Hi tickle,re the Villa I wish I had your confidence,WBA Saturday they've already got rid of the Wolves manager.My lad is out of the wheelchair and is making steady progress,he still cant articulate his wrist/hand enough to write at all but his other motor skills are improving inasmuchas if he falls over he can now get back up again on his own.Hecant wash himself properly or put his own clothes on by himself but apart from the odd moody days most times he's upbeat. I'm still trying to get his post office account details so I can pay the rent on his unsuitable accomodation at the moment,I've already paid 800quid in rent on it and my funds are depleting with his bills my extra fuel costs and all the gear I have had to cough up for while he's in the rehab unit.Still it'll all sort it'self our or get worse,so...it's all suck it and see at the mo'.Thanks for asking anyway tickle and maybe it was worth your NFC losing to see reading in the P L next season.Good luck and best wishes w4at to all you and yours because I believe we could both do with a big slice of wedge at the mo'

Glad to hear the lad is making progress, Rikii, even if it's slower than you might hope for.

Good point for Villa yesterday, probably enough to keep them up. There's no realistic chance of Blackburn going above them now, which means that Bolton, Wigan and QPR would all have to overtake them for them to go down. Bolton and Wigan might conceivably do so, but not, I think, QPR, whose last game is at Man City. But what chance McLeish still being there next season?

Cheers,

Hi tickle,hard game tomorrow Tottenham with a secured Redknap are too good for us even Norwich who held Arsenal to a 3-3 are a bridge to far we just cant score and dont really deserve a place in the finest league do we?
I did like the rain pome you put out by Grace 11 I only wish I'd had a fine person to tickle my thoughts when I was a sprog which as I'm being sent to Coventry by my poorly lad at the moment aint the best news in my life at the moment,we had a row about an excercise bike and he wont let it go.Still...I guess it's what dads do,I mean we dont bull and sometimes the truth hurts and thinking back...my old man weren't always right but but if he couldn't do me a good turn he wouldn't do me a bad one? (maybe I'm turning Larkinesque?)

Well, Rikii, another point for the Villa and they're safe now. I know strange things happen in football, but there's no chance of Bolton making up a 17 goal deficit in one match, so you can rest easy now.

Had an interesting chat with Grace2 on skype tonight, in the course of which she sang us her latest song. She's just got a busker's permit in Lausanne and did her first busking session yesterday - made about £50 apparently. Just as well, as she doesn't have much other income. She enjoyed it too, and is planning on making it a weekly event. You gotta follow that dream...

Nice quote by Alex McLeish:-

"I have taken a lot of weight on my shoulders this season. I was happy to take pressure off the players.

"I am not going to next season though. They better get their finger out."

I reckon Villa will sack him and bring in Steve Kean.

Hi tickle,I tried to reply earlier but the board was on the blink,I am glad I predicted wrongly about the Villa but Mcleish is refusing to go I'm not sure about Lerner either,it's like he wants the publicity and his money.I see Chelsea are going to sponsor an F1 car while our club like Rangers is debt too.I read somewhere that man u are 300m in debt but some clubs are too big to let go bump.Our last game this season is Norwich but the points make no difference to our league position. so it's QPR or Bolton? I cant stand Hughsy

I'm not sure who is worse, Hughes or Coyle - who did the dirty on Burnley, don't forget. According to Wiki, Coyle's middle name is Columba: he deserves to go down just for that. It's a pity Blackburn have been relegated: Steve Kean may be a useless manager, but at least he has some dignity.

So, McLeish has gone - there's a surprise. Who do you think will replace him, Rikii? Oddschecker.com quotes prices on about 70 managers, but there's no mention of Steve Kean!