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

Hi tickle,there's not much choice out there as most of the potenial managers have nearly all failed,nowadays modern clubs only want a spokesperson as their board want to make all the decisions regarding the club and new players etc and then blame the manager when it all goes pear shaped.
When Taylor was at the club he ran everything,he even had the player's wives in the office while they were signing their contracts as in those days players had to move by their club and not do all the commuting that they do these days.
Thats why IMO Redknap didn't get the England job because he didn't want to move to the England HQ which is based in Staffod which would have meant a daily commute of about 400m from his millionares style home which I think is around Bournemouth plus his wife don't want to move either,end of.
Redknap though is by far the best manager in England ,I mean look where Spurs were in the league plus he'd always managed on a tight budget at West Ham,that's the premiership dream I guess a manager who can win stuff without the blank cheque.
Great news that Man City won but at a cost of 1 billion? imagine Cloughie with that kind of wonga or the England job?
I guess it's the England squad whoever they pick that's just not up to the job,city and united both out of the CL and not a Spanish side in the Final,I'd like Chelsea to win that for Matteo,we know he still wont get that job but what a bonus for him?
Still it's all over now and no footie for three months,at least my nails will grow back

That's one helluva contentious post, Rikii. Harry's quite a lovable old rogue, but the best manager in England? Not by a long chalk. Spurs were a top team before he took over, having finished 5th twice in the previous four seasons. So, he's got them up to 4th, big deal. I'm not really au fait with his achievements at West Ham, but rumbaba, a Hammers fan, doesn't seem too impressed. He may have some claim to being the best English manager in England - there aren't many of them afterall - but I don't think his achieements come anywhere near those of, for instance, Paul Lambert - who is one of the bookies' favourites to succeed McLeish.

No footie for three months! Apart from the CL final, the FL play-offs, the Euros and the Olympics, I suppose not. That seems more than enough to me, but I guess you're right that it won't involve any nail-biting.

Hi tickle,king Kenny RIP,we'll never know about Harry now will we? My local news was discussing Mick Maccarthy for the Villa job but thank goodness he's gone down from 2-1 to 12-1 with the bookies round here.I'd like Platty but I suspect he's far to well paid and comfy at man city to entertain that idea.
No Villa boys in the England squad,mind you they dont deserve to be either,I still think the FA ruined Harry's season announcing him as a candidate Spurs were red hot up until that announcement,btw I thought Spurs were near the relegation zone when he took 'em on,
Quite a tasty pome you put on the hip thread about the moon,I was just word playing as the old grey box seems to have stagnated,Polly was quite good at tilting me in the right direction but either she's still unwell or pooterless or worse still both.Folderol has gone I did send him an email to that luton place Stevenage or whatever but sadly got no response,still he was always rather busy with his golf and Spanish retreat. Anyway tickle keep the faith and I'll catch ya later.Regards.Rick.

Tottenham Hotspur





Redknapp interviewed by daughter-in-law Louise Redknapp during Soccer Aid 2008.
In October 2008, following the sacking of Juande Ramos by Tottenham Hotspur, the club announced that Redknapp had agreed to take over as the new manager at Spurs.[41] Tottenham paid £5 million in compensation to Portsmouth for letting Redknapp go.[42] Spurs had secured only two points from the first eight games of the season prior to Redknapp's arrival and lay bottom of the league, but in his first two weeks in charge he took the club out of the relegation zone, winning ten out of the twelve points available with wins against Bolton Wanderers, Liverpool and Manchester City and a remarkable 4–4 draw against North London rivals Arsenal. In January 2009, Redknapp signed five new players in order to add quality and much-needed depth to his squad. He brought back Jermain Defoe from his old club Portsmouth for £15.75 million and Honduran midfielder Wilson Palacios from Wigan Athletic for £12 million. Long-serving Chelsea keeper Carlo Cudicini also joined on a free transfer, former Spurs player Pascal Chimbonda returned to White Hart Lane from Sunderland for a fee in the region of £3 million and Robbie Keane, who like Chimbonda and Defoe had only left Spurs within the last year, re-joined after an unsuccessful spell at Liverpool for an initial fee of £12 million.

In the second half of the season, Spurs gradually moved up the league table after a significant improvement in form. In March 2009, Redknapp led Spurs to the League Cup final, which they lost on penalties to Manchester United. Spurs eventually finished in eighth position with 51 points, narrowly missing out on a Europa League place.





Redknapp during pre-season training at Brighton (2011)
Redknapp made significant alterations to the squad in the summer of 2009. Striker Darren Bent was sold to Sunderland for an initial fee of £10 million,[43] while midfielder Didier Zokora departed for Sevilla for £7.75 million.[44] In came England striker Peter Crouch and Croatia midfielder Niko Kranjčar from Portsmouth for £9 million and £2 million respectively[45][46] along with defender Sébastien Bassong from Newcastle United for £8 million.[47]

In 2009–10, his first full campaign with the club, Redknapp guided Spurs to their most successful Premier League season to date. Beginning with four consecutive wins,[48] Spurs went on to finish in fourth place with 70 points, thus gaining the chance to qualify for the Champions League by means of a play-off. As a result of his efforts he won the Premier League Manager of the Year award, only the second manager to do so in a season when his side did not win the title.[49]

On 13 July 2010, it was confirmed that Spurs had extended Redknapp's contract until the end of the 2013 season.[50]

On 25 August 2010, Spurs confirmed their position in the Champions League group stages by overturning a first-leg deficit to defeat Swiss team Young Boys at White Hart Lane in the Champions League play-off.[51] After a surprising run to the quarter-finals, they were knocked out in April 2011, after a 5–0 aggregate defeat to Real Madrid.[52] Spurs ended the 2010–11 Premier League in fifth position with 62 points. Although not enough to secure a second year of Champions League football, this finish instead meant that Redknapp's Spurs qualified for the Europa League.

In the 2011–12 season, Redknapp signed 40-year old goalkeeper Brad Friedel, after his contract expired with Aston Villa. He also made a season-long loan move for Manchester City striker, Emmanuel Adebayor. On transfer deadline day, he signed English midfielder Scott Parker for an undisclosed fee from West Ham United.[53][54] Redknapp then went on to win the Manager of the Month award for September and November.[55][56

Yes, Rikii, I know Spurs made a bad start to the 2008/09 season and Harry got them up to 8th. They made an almost equally bad start to the previous season and brought in Ramos, who got them up to 11th. Likewise in 2006/07 - 4 points from their first 6 games - but on that occasion they managed to finish 5th without changing their manager (Martin Jol, who also guided them to 5th place in 2005/06). TBH, you or I could probably get Spurs into the top 6, so I'm not convinced that getting them to 4th is a massive achievement.

Now, getting England to 4th in the Euros is a different matter. Can Woy do it? What do you reckon to his squad? There are a quite a few ex-Villa players in it, if no current ones. The most surprising omission, to my mind, is Crouch, who is not even on stand-by. I can understand him leaving out Ferdinand, but shouldn't he have left out Terry as well? Or will JT enjoy a golden twilight?

Did anyone else hear that pin drop?

I was toying with the idea of signing back in at Sin's, but, on looking through the window, I see that Lily is as irritating as ever and that the place seems to have been taken over by a very annoying striped parrot. Better out than in, I think.

Hi Tickle,

It would have been lovely to see you back at Sin's place, however....

I usually only pop in under the razor wire for a couple of games and then out again.

Are you still pounding the streets (so to speak)and how are the Graces, all doing well I hope.

We haven't heard from Polly for an absolute age now although I think it's because a) she has a life and b) no 'puter - I really do miss her.

I think I'll just dive in here now and again although I won't have any meaningful contribution to the football chat

Hi all,activity on here? nice to hear from both of you

I really under the cosh at work at the moment and I think that's making me a bit irritable but I'm happy to be getting some in at the moment as this is the time of the year when all my annual bills seem to all come in together.

That ruddy taxman is very quick to take a chunk of me when I'm earning but gives nothing away when I have 12 weeks with no work

I hope all's well for all of you and cant wait for a bit of sunshine around here as the weather's bucketing it down again here.

Hi Toots, hope things are good with you. I'm fine and yes, still pounding the streets. Have more work than I can handle now, and was thinking of giving up one of my contracts, but got chatting with the guy who delivers the Lidl leaflets round here and he's going to help me out with it, so we'll see how that goes.

Grace 2 is currently leading an interesting life in Switzerland. She did a term at Lausanne University and then dropped out, as she prefers the outdoor life. So she has been "working" at an organic vineyard for the last few months (unpaid, I'm afraid) and is due to start an agricultural apprenticeship in August. She'll get paid a modest amount for that as well as getting free board & lodging, so may be able to support herself. She has a few little jobs at the moment: cleaning, child-minding, teaching English and has recently started busking in Lausanne, which brings in a fair few francs. She hangs out with a bunch of Latinos, so gets to speak Spanish as well as French, and is probably learning more than she would at university.

Grace 1 is not so happy: she has two jobs and is working long hours, but what she really wants to do is a PhD. Unfortunately, she hasn't yet managed to get any funding and I'm in no position to finance her.

Grace 3 is in the throes of GCSEs and revising very diligently, although she has had no exams this week. She's planning to follow in G 1's footsteps and do an International Baccalaureate at Henley 6th Form College.

They all lead far more interesting lives than mine, which is very dull - except for the disasters which befall me now and then.

Yes, it's been a long time since we heard from Polly - and now it seems that Folly has given up on us as well. Hopefully they're both too busy getting on with life.

I see Villa have got themselves a decent manager at last, Rikii - but whether even Paul Lambert can do much for them remains to be seen. However, I suspect they'll do better in the Premier League next season than England do at the Euros.

Let's hope it stops raining soon.

I was toying with the idea of signing back in at Sin's, but, on looking through the window, I see that Lily is as irritating as ever and that the place seems to have been taken over by a very annoying striped parrot. Better out than in, I think.

I agree. The board had become extremely irritating and the arrival of the opinionated parrot was just too much for me.

Andy - I'm pleased to know it's not just me.

Hi all,I have not been posting much of late,sorry.I've had a few PC probs of late but I think I've fixed most of them now.
I've been bogged down with work and feel knacke'd most of the time when I do get home.
It's a shame that Andy and tickle have taken the hump at Sin's place as the variety of both your imputs is greatly missed and if I've offended either of you I'll state catergorically now it was unintentional.At work we all goad each other and take the pee and I suppose sometimes I forget a lot of you lot are far better mannered than me.
Still....tickle the footie is back...onwards and upwards

Yes, indeed, the footie is back, Rikii. Onwards, perhaps, but I'm not sure about upwards. I think a fairly quiet season is in prospect for Forest, but mid-table respectability will be a relief after last season. Our new wealthy owners say they're working to a long term strategy and there's no reason to doubt that: I don't think I've heard of any of the players that have been brought in this summer. It's hard to see them challenging for promotion, although they've made a fairly solid start and managed a draw at the Reebok tonight. In fact, they're second in the table at the moment - but only because they've played a game more than everyone else (apart from Bolton) and only Blackpool managed to win both their opening fixtures.

Not such a good start for the Villa. Not content with losing a friendly to Forest, they lost to the Hammers as well. Are you geared up for another relegation battle or do you think Mr Lambert will get them sorted out soon enough?

It doesn't look as if we'll see Polly or Folly again, which is rather a shame, but the same could be said of many others...Madleontes and Old Buffer are another two that I particularly miss. I hope Toots isn't going to disappear as well.

Good Luck with the Toffees.

Hi tickle,it's time again for the old Villa triangle joke again,even under Mcleish we started off with 4 points from the opening 2 games,one reporter claimed last week that Bent only had 3 touches in the whole game agaist the Hammers.There was talk of Defoe but perhaps that was just wind too.
I do miss your input on the proboards tickle most of the very few of us are on the back benches at the moment as Sin has been trying to get a collar on S-C,but it aint working and I'm not too sure why GF/Folderol legged it.
I'm all over the place at the moment workwise ant the working with younger guys is killing me trying to keep up with them,it's the stairs hauling glass up 'em is knackering.Still that's what being self employed is all about,feast or famine.

So what has the old rascal been up to, Rikii? I see he has recently taken to posting on the Radio4forum, albeit using a couple of his alter egos - I think he was banned as Stout Cortez.

From what they showed on MotD, Villa were lucky to get away with a 3-1 defeat, although they did do a bit better in the second half. I'd concentrate on the cricket, if I were you: it looks like Warwicks will win the County Championship this season, unless they're unlucky with the weather.

August is a blank month for me workwise. At least, it should be: in fact I didn't finish my July workload until about 10 Aug. We went to Butlins for a few days the following week, since when I've been dossing around as usual - well, not quite as much as usual, because Mrs T has been off work as well. August apart, I have loads of work scheduled, and will probably have to pass some of it on to my newly-acquired subcontractor: I'm not really up to the job these days.

Hi Tickle, I've not really gone anywhere and don't intend to. However Mr Toots had a fairly major op on his spine a fortnight ago and two days before the op my Mum died after three weeks in hospital following a fall. Not really felt like posting anywhere really for the past five weeks. I've had three weeks off work (two planned to be at home/hospital with Mr Toots and one week unplanned, mostly up at the hospital) and now I'm only working mornings.

Perhaps once the funeral has taken place I feel as though I'm back on planet earth (but that's not for another 2 weeks, don't ask, nightmare getting everything in place; not least of which was all the hotels in the area being fully booked for the original date because of an event so the relatives couldn't find anywhere to stay).

Keep well yourself Tickle and family.

Toots.

So sorry to hear your news, Toots. It's amazing how dangerous falling becomes in later life. One of my aunts died in similar circumstances a few years ago - mind you, she was 99!

Best wishes to Mr Toots for a speedy recovery.

Hi Tickle, been a bit off-line recently, only popping into Sin's Place off and on. Mr Toots op went very well although he has been back into hospital for cortezone injections in another part of his back which was hampering his recovery. Work is a bit shaky at the moment but I keep being told that I'm not going to be made redundant although several of my colleagues have, I would have put my hand up when they offered voluntary redundancy but I was told to forget it; it's nice to be wanted but I would have been happy to go, although after 19 years I guess I'm a bit expensive to get rid of unless absolutely necessary.

I like to wish you and yours a very happy Christmas, you know it would be lovely to see you back at Sin's even if only very occasionally but I dare say you have better things to do; however we do miss you.

Very best wishes
Toots.

Hi Toots, thanks for your good wishes. Hope you had a nice Christmas and that Mr Toots' recovery is continuing apace. Sorry you couldn't get that voluntary redundancy, but it always seems to be the case that those who'd be happy to go are retained while the ones who want to stay are dispensed with.

We've had a pleasant family Christmas with all three Graces at home. Two of them - 1 & 3 - live here anyway, and Grace 2 is home from Switzerland for a couple of weeks. We had a family outing to see "The Hobbit" today (Boxing Day). There weren't many people there, perhaps on account of bad reviews, but we enjoyed it anyway. Thursday is Grace 1's birthday, so we're all going out for lunch - somewhere cheap and cheerful - and then Mrs Tickle and I are going to take Grace 1 and her friend to the Harry Potter Studio near Watford. We hope to meet up with an old friend of mine while they do the tour. Just hope the car holds out - it sounds a bit ropey at the moment.

Been having a lurk at Sin's: things seem fairly ropey there as well just now. Still, I daresay Sin will be back once she's calmed down a bit.

Big game for the Villa on Saturday, Rikii - they need to bounce back and beat Wigan after two heavy defeats. I see you're not over-impressed with Lambert at the moment, but I reckon he'll do a good job for you if Villa stick with him.

Happy New Year to the pair of you - and anyone else who happens to be looking in. (It looks as if we've seen the last of Polly and Folly, more's the pity.)

Hi Tickle, We had a nice,sort of quiet, Christmas. We did the usual "cook the turkey and dash" around to No. 2 Son and family, we had 11 on Christmas Day and 9 on New Year's Day; did I just hear "glutton for punishment"

Mr Toots is progressing well and is keeping up the walking and exercise programme.

I spent the best part of three days over the holidays clearing out Mum's flat with several trips to the charity shop, the tip and our house. The problem is you can only integrate so much stuff into your own home, especially after almost 41 years' of marriage, it's a problem to know what to do with some of it. We have a local hospice which has a shop in the High Street selling donated furniture, so they will be getting a call early next week.

I'm looking forward to seeing The Hobbit as I have read the book many times, I it true that this is only the first part of the story?

I'd like to wish you a Happy New Year, and I agree it looks as though we have lost Polly and Folly I miss both of them.