latviaman

Well all you guys, as you know I live in Latvia , now officially the poorest country in Europe. I have been here for a number of years now, and from personal experience I can with hand on heart can say I have never met more welcoming kind people. Of course we have problems with wee nutters here too, but the police seem rather more "hands on" and any hassle/ problems are knocked in the bud. Altough the police suffered a 20% pay cut this year, they still seem to be doing the job. As to the Irish thing, when Latvia played Northern Ireland a load of Irish came over and the crack was great, we played against a supporters team, I think they were on the beer as we won , I lost count after 6. But no animosity they all had a great time, in fact some came back with there wives to see Latvia and not the bars this year.

I won 100 lats on the latvian lottery, how many shares can that get

I read all the various threads comments etc about management, and now realise what I have got myself into, managing a small team of expats here in Latvia, Phone calls, sorting out transport, making sure the kit is washed and for what? Well out of 6 games played we have won 4 and drawn two. so carry on regardless!! Small time management such as I am involved is not easy, it takes up a lot of time, as I am away Mrs L is now unofficial unpaid sec, sorting out all the c**p from the Lva, they are unbelievable, one step forward three steps back. We have one player who is coloured, he didn't make the team photo for the cup comp,as he was ill, the Lva said give us 50 GBP and he can play!! The old backhand game!! I also spoke to a friend of Pavels last night,who said, he liked Invss. money was not a problem it was MM. So apart from Latvia going bankrupt , things can only get better!!!

Leave the D of F alone, see my previous posts, the man is ruining the club

Talking about money/ re transport, I work from Riga airport so I travel home at weird hours of the night, I get stopped regularly by the police, probably because I drive a Mercedes. There is a corner called the money corner and the local police fight to be there,( they get 200 GBP oer month) so that is where I must pass to get home, I carry a 10 lat note in my licence, which is near enough a tenner, last month I paid 50 lats and all I want to do is go home! When Mrs L and I were last in Invss, met at the airport by a very nice taxi driver, she asked in her broken english for the Lochardil Hotel, after a guided tour of the outskirts of Sneck eventually found the Hotel and said 40 pounds, I gave him 10 pounds and told him to buy a map

I caught the earlier thread about the Old paper ' football times wasn't it printed below the old BB practice hall in Eastgate??// My big brother used to run for Scoop I remember, if the Jags were playing he used to run to the telephone box outside the Crown school; phone in , after deciphering Scoops writings and it appeared that night

Its a lot better than Aviemore. Beautiful scenery, good roads that get cleared in the winter, friendly people, even found a bar done out in tartan, and in the winter brilliant snow and night life and was really cheap when I was there. The local food is a mixture of French and Spanish(Catalan). Snails and Quails night was excellent. It is a small country, the people are friendly, so what if they can't play football against, highly overated / overpaeid players, at least they tried, but must admit it was painful watching I also switched betweem Finland/ Russian\ game Arshavin was awesome should have been 6-0 to russia I think they are the team to watch

At least , now I read it I got some things back to front. My point was picking/ choosing a team is not easy, all my/ our players are EXPATS so it costs me money re' emails phonecalls etc to contact them. I do not have the luxury of sitting in an office being paid to do what i do, What qualifications does GB have???/

We were having a few libations one evening and someone said, the guy who managed , has gone back to UK , who wants the job!! The team is comprised of Spaniards, Latvians, Turks, Swedes, English, Scots (ME) and Neil and one American, since I took over we have not, lost a game, but see the emails they send me, , in various languages!! Now my question is am I a director of football, I do it for the love of the game, why do you need / pay for such???? what expertise do you need aka qualifications??? I would hate to think how much of my free time has been devoted to help run the team. But as they say Hey ho and on we go :

what the ? is Paypal can I send a cheque????

To add a bit of meat to the event, Murd was the trainer at the time and ran at great speed on to the park to treat Titchie, with his bag of 'magic' and then seeing McGrain, who by now was returning to the scene of his crime to offer apologies, he ran past poor Titch and upended McGrain. He then attended to Tich and was sent off by the referee!! Maybe the only trainer to get sent off! This is a question for the oracle AKA CB butch sinclair was he , ever a footballer? I remember my older brother talking about him when they played football at the Crown School, long gone? (the school!) and also Clyne I think he was involved with 3rd BB's dementia gone today

spot on , my thoughts exactly. where is IHE when you need him???/

Just thought I would throw my hat in and ask, Foran, going nowhere as was Morais till Mr PR resurrected their career, so where do we look for new players? I know Pavels liked Invss but TB didn't like him (ask TB) money was NOt his prime concern and also he was in the Latvian National Team How do you drop an International?? So now, do we look to the lower leagues find a few journeymen whose legs haven't given out, and hope to scrape back into the SPL at our first attempt. I doubt that will happen, looking at TB's impressive management record as with MM's coaching credentials, I honestly cannot see it I know this sounds very negative , but would like to hear other peoples views. I know a team tries harder with a new manager but in the end he talks a good talk but didn't deliver

hey Scotty do you take Lats??? count me in

I,m in Latvia and relying on text and sinking beers fast

The first Caley keeper I remember was Jim "Jammy James" Smith - a real cracker. Andy Beattie was amazing for such a small bloke, as was Kenny MacKenzie. I don't know if Rod "Romeo" MacKie is still alive but I do remember that he was seriously assaulted in Fairfiled Rd some years back and his confidence was shattered after that. A really nice guy and a better goalie than most gave him credit for. Wasn't there a goalie for Thistle called Murdo Urqahart

Question for the oracle from Invss, did Colin marry a hairdresser called Lillian, she worked with my Mother, and when I wa shome last, she said yes he played Rugby and kicked your Brother in the eye

is that a mathematical certainty is results go that way? havent worked out the permutations..... Hence my earlier post, even if we had won ONLY three games much earlier in the season we would not be having this conversation

I find it all confusing working out the various permutations regarding us staying up. But at the risk of being controversial, if the team had got rid of Brewster earlier, or not reappointed him , we wouldn't be doing our heads in working out what Iffs sorry if I offend anyone

The latter!! Inverness looked good today, thought the crowd were very vocal

Well watched the game here in Latvia , perfect picture, but thought against 10 men they could have got another goal!! Lionel was *rap in first half, don't know what TB sees in Mcbain ,on too long, thought Munro was average , Proctor wasn't inspiring and I thought Roscoe had killed Cerny but enjoyed it. By the way the team I manage won 3-1 last night

No!! dinnae want to go to Liberia, no sun beds there!!!!!

Excellent result!! but it was agony!! and my team won 3-2 yesterday as well GREAT Bank holiday!!!

I am now involved with a local football club and they have said it would be good to play against someone other than Russians!!! So if there is anyone out there who runs a team, can get a squad together, I can assure you of a good, welcome, great social life,but do not tell your partners!!! so come to :Latvia, free entry to certain clubs. So it is all down to Ryan Air, get to Riga and the rest is down to us.... three nights B&b two matches, one on artificial pitch and the other on Skonto ground. 190 euros from arrival to departure. well done eh

Listened to the whole match here, thought the first half they were dire, what does TB say at half time??? sounded a different team, missed Pavels tho'