#mankind Darwin and economic migrants

The other day I caught 5 minutes of a programme about tricks of the trade of running a restaurant. They described one ploy used that works every time. This is how it goes :

The kitchen has an excess of a particular course - say it is "ham hock" or "fish pie"!

An instruction goes out to front of house who are taking the orders. The instruction is - tell the ordering customers the "fish pie" is running out fast or there are only 3 "ham hocks" left.

Almost always the numbers ordered of these dishes increase.

Why is that - what does it say about human nature?

My own view is this is just another (albeit a simple ) example of the correctness of Darwinian theory - the survival of the fittest. Life is a competition. The driver - mankind is essentially greedy in nature - part of mankind's DNA. Take the opportunity while you can. People are ultimately driven by a motive not to miss out - to grab it for themselves or offspring.

Here is a suggestion. Clearly there are many refugees fleeing war zones and seeking a place of safety (they justify our help and support). However there are more and more "economic" migrants trying to get to the West too. I am suggesting the motivation of these economic migrants is the same sort of base human motivation that the restaurateurs are tapping into. My neighbour is off to the West. I might miss out. I am going too. And so the numbers swell and grow and grow until a crowd mass hysteria develops.

The UK government is right. Let in the economic migrants at Calais for instance and the numbers trying to get in are bound to increase. Ask Germany. Look at what their stance has actually created. It won't be long before half the world is trying to get to Europe if it is not planning it already. The answer needs to be there are NO "ham hocks" left - in fact the restaurant is closed! This might seem uncaring, unsympathetic towards the needs of our fellow man. However the reality is he wants what you have and he will take it at your expense if you let him. This is the harsh truth - we are all animals after all.

#London The British Library and St Pancras

Just back from an early morning bike ride by the sea. A really beautiful morning - clear, crisp and quiet. However I have London on my mind. From time to time I have a day out in London. Yesterday was one of them.

Yesterday was a grim weather day. Wet, dank and uninspiring - so the perfect day to be inspired indoors - ha! I caught the 6.47 Catamaran from Ryde Pier Head for the connection to London. The Cat is full of commuters off to work off the Island. Quite a number are in cycling gear - so they can get to work in the environs of Portsmouth (as Norman Tebbitt - literally got on their bike to find work). My thought is hats off to these people. It is tough being a commuter day to day. They are making a real effort. Many look tired before their day gets underway. I am not going to get all political now but these people will be quite heavily taxed on their earnings. There are plenty of people on the Island and elsewhere who could work but don't have the same resolve or self respect as my fellow travellers on this morning. They idle on benefits and successive governments have let them get away with it. The taxes paid by these hard working commuters is too often flitted away by welfare benefits for the undeserving indolent and feckless (and it is wrong - well done the Tory government for trying to reel it in). (I digress!).

The plan is to go to the British Library. The BL was rehoused in a brand new purpose built building in 1997! I have been meaning to go there since then! I finally made it. This is the opening wiki entry for the BL at St Pancras :

The British Library is the national library of the United Kingdom and the largest library in the world by number of items catalogued. A Grade I listed building, the library is a major research library, holding around 170 million items from many countries, in many languages and in many formats, both print and digital: books, manuscripts, journals, newspapers, magazines, sound and music recordings, videos, play-scripts, patents, databases, maps, stamps, prints, drawings. The Library's collections include around 14 million books, along with substantial holdings of manuscripts and historical items dating back as far as 2000 BC.

In the end I spent about 4 hours in the BL. I really enjoyed it. It was great. First of all the ambience. The public spaces have a special atmosphere. Formal and informal - conforming. Quiet but whispering. Reading and socialising. Ernest and relaxed. Everything is done well. It is not in anyway ostentatious but it is big and modern and well and purposefully utilised.

First of all an explore of the building and sight of the many reading rooms - then proper coffee in one of the cafes (free wi fi.) I felt - sat there - that I was part of something good. It was a good place to be - a worthwhile place to enjoy and appreciate. The opportunity for reading and learning is a wonderful privilege of course, one to value and not take for granted. It is a truly world class facility and evidently there are people here from all parts of the world.

My plan was to go to see the (free) Sir John Ritblat "Treasures" Gallery exhibition. Here is a link to give you more information : http://www.bl.uk/events/treasures-of-the-british-library

I spent over two absorbing hours in the gallery looking around. Time flew. It was special and I would highly commend it.

This is from the promotional web site :

The Sir John Ritblat Treasures of the British Library Gallery hosts more than 200 beautiful and fascinating items: magnificent hand-painted books from many faiths, maps and views, early printed books, literary, historical, scientific and musical works from over the centuries and around the world. Here are just a few of the objects you can see: Gutenberg's Bible of 1455, Magna Carta, The Lindisfarne Gospels, Magna Carta Codex Sinaiticus, Leonardo da Vinci's notebook, Shakespeare's First Folio, Diamond Sutra - the world's earliest dated printed book, Handel's Messiah - in the composer's hand, Celestial globe 110cm across and handwritten lyrics by the Beatles.

What I found so wonderful about the exhibition is while each item is of course behind glass you can rest your elbows and actually read the book - your nose inches from it. For instance - just me reading a letter written by Charles 1 while imprisioned at Carisbrooke Castle on the Isle of Wight describing how his plan to escape was thwarted because "my body is too thick for the bredth of the widest window.

These of some of the other documents I looked at (I will admit to sensing some sort of personal connection now with some of the writers). This feeling suprises me - without going all "luvvy" - moves me a little - seems rather incredible! I think the explanation might be that the documents I have been reading on my own are handwritten and therefore highly personalised. It feels something like I have had a one to one conversation I suppose.)

Anyway I looked at :-

A hand written note from Michelangelo to a nephew advising that he felt birth, health and disposition of a future partner was more important than wealth and beauty.

A note book written in the small and careful hand of Captain Scott of the Antartic.

A report written by Florence Nightingale from the Crimea about nurses.

A letter written by Karl Marks (appropriately) in a small left leaning hand.

An unfinished letter written by Nelson to his Lady Hamilton. In the letter he says the French have been spotted off Cape Trafalgar and that he will finish the letter on his return! Should I mention Nelson was killed at the battle of Trafalgar.

Notes written by Alexander Fleming relating to his discovery of penicillin.

A signed typed letter written by Winston Churchill during the war about how steps can be taken to protect our national treasures.

A letter written by Guy Burgess the notorious Cambridge 5 spy.

Letters written by the Suffragette leadership.

A letter written by Elizabeth 1 regarding Ann Boleyn.

One thing that was not there - no plays written by Shakespeare's own hand now exist.

There were also fantastic manuscripts and books - for instance :-

Sheet music penned by the great composers - Beethoven, Mozart and Chopin and many more.

Leonardo da Vinci note books showing calculations and experiments in meticulous small writing.

One of my favourites is a letter written by Galileo in 1633 outlining why he adopted the Copernican theory that the earth was not a fixed star but a planet orbiting the sun.

There are unbelievably detailed ancient hand drawn maps and calligraphy as well as a huge globe. The man hours involved in their production must be mind boggling and all done without electric light!

One of the 4 original copies of the Magna Carta granted by King John. In a nutshell it states all men including the King are equal under the law. It was written in Latin on sheep skin in 1215 so it was impossible to read. The writing just seemed like one long sentence - no breaks or paragraphs. We all recognise Magna Carta - one of the world's most famous documents and which now has worldwide significance as a symbol of justice and freedom under the law. It was a great thing to see.

Next to it is the Papal Bull - the document issued by the then Pope in an attempt to revoke Magna Carta.

There are quite incredible hand written books - hand illuminated - that must have taken scribes life times to produce. Gold leaf everywhere. Many 6 7 8 hundred years old and absolutely beautiful and priceless. Standout ones were the Lindisfarne Gospels and a copy of Homers Illiad produced in Venice in 1466.  Most have religious connections or are religious books. There are books representing every major faith. Incredible Bibles, Torahs, Koran's, and Hindu and Buddhist books.

One the most famous documents on show is a Gutenburg Bible produced in 1455 I think. It is a deeply significant document because the Gutenberg Bibles (there were 180 printed) were the first major books produced by moveable printing type. The world was never the same again. One Bishop observed 3 printers for 3 months could produce more leafs than 3 scribes working for a life time. Books gradually became affordable and available to the masses.

You can tell I enjoyed it!

After I left I realised I inadvertently missed the Beatles documents - stuff written by the hand of Lennon and McCartney I guess. It is clearly appropriate that Beatles related articles are there. Their song writing and lyrics are landmark. I acknowledge the Beatles as great - their song catalogue truly outstanding. I have seen Paul McCartney perform live. I do not hesitate in acknowledging he put on a fantastic personal show. However having said all that it is the Rolling Stones that do it for me - and I am not too bothered I missed the Beatles stuff - ha!

One other thing to mention the lunch time food at the BL is great - and good value.

One final thought - I wonder whose E Mails will make the Treasures Gallery in a few hundred years time - there certainly won't be any handwritten letters to display!

As a bonus the trip to the British Library takes you to King's Cross and St Pancras railway stations.

King's Cross railway station is a major London railway terminus which opened in 1852 on the northern edge of central London. King's Cross is the southern terminus of the East Coast Main Line, providing high speed inter-city services to Yorkshire, the North East and Scotland. Virgin Trains East Coast is the main inter-city operator with destinations including Leeds, Newcastle and Edinburgh. Other inter-city operators serving the station include Hull Trains and Grand Central.
King's Cross is also a terminus for Great Northern which provides commuter services to North London, Hertfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire and Norfolk.

Immediately to the west across Pancras Road is St Pancras International, the London terminus of Eurostar services to continental Europe. The two stations share King's Cross St. Pancras tube station on the London Underground network and taken together form one of Britain's biggest transport hubs. The station is 820 yards (750 m) north-east of Euston, the southern terminus for the West Coast Main Line.

What is incredible about both these stations is they have both been modernised and upgraded. They are both spectacular and worth a look at if you get a chance.

Finally a beer was a good idea. I love going to old London pubs. Yesterday it was The Cock Inn in Great Portland Street off Oxford Circus. A Samuel Smith's house. £2.90 for a fantastic pint of real ale in a pub that has not changed that much in a 100 years.

A brilliant day out!

The plaza in front of The British Library

Paulozzi's massive Newton bronze in the plaza

Cameras are not permitted inside!

Kings Cross station

Amazing Kings Cross roof - like a waterfall in reverse.

Part of the adjacent St Pancras Building. Part hotel part Eurostar staion 

Beautifully clean quiet and upmarket!

There are several items of art on display to the public at St Pancras. At the south end of the upper level, a 9-metre (29.5 ft) high 20-tonne (19.7-long-ton; 22.0-short-ton) bronze statue named The Meeting Place stands beneath the station clock. Designed by British artist Paul Day, it is intended to evoke the romance of travel through the depiction of a couple locked in an amorous embrace.^[25]

Paul Day's sculpture The Meeting Place

Controversy was caused by Day's 2008 addition of a bronze relief frieze around the plinth.^[26] depicting a commuter falling into the path of an Underground train driven by the Grim Reaper. Day revised the frieze before the final version was installed

The Cock Inn Great Portland street before it started to fill. The original floors and ceilings are wonderful

#ManchesterUnited the case for Mark Hughes

It is a very wet and windy afternoon - remnants of the US snowstorm Jonas apparently. I have done a lot of useful stuff today and just back from a second bout of fresh air from biking into Ryde along the sea wall. The tide is up - waves are crashing - the hovercraft is stopped. Invigorating stuff.

My bike rides are a bit like meditating. Mind wanders. Sometimes it is deep and meaningful - today I ended up thinking about Man United's managerial dilemma! What to do. In half an hour I have solved it - ha! This is what I would do!

First of all the problem. Van Gaal might limp to the end of the season but it looks increasingly likely he will not. He certainly won't be there next season.

United need a new manager. What to do. I shall start with what not to do.

I cannot believe they would be daft enough to appoint Mourinho. In my opinion he is a spent force. People have seen through him. The bubble has burst. If he did get United going well you know what to expect - the Mourinho ego show - and that always ends in tears.

I wouldn't give it to Ryan Giggs. Reason - he has been nowhere else to find out who he is. Given the chance I think it is most likely he will try and do it as Sir Alex did it and he is not Sir Alex Ferguson.

So what would I do. I would jump at signing Mark Hughes. Why?

• MH had a stellar Man U career - one of their best strikers ever. He won a host of medals during his playing career, including two Premier League title medals, four FA Cups, three League Cups and two European Cup Winners' Cups. He also collected an FA Cup runners-up medal and a League Cup runners-up medal. Hughes was the first player to win the PFA Players' Player of the Year award twice, in 1989 and 1991. He also had spells at Barcelona and Bayern Munich as well as several other big clubs. While having an exceptional playing career is not an essential requirement for top management it is certainly not a hindrance. MH commands respect.
• MH is a competitor and a winner - but he is modest - no ego - just fierce, quiet determination. No histrionics. I remember a centre half (although I am struggling to remember who it was) being asked who his hardest opponent was. He said without doubt Mark Hughes. He said if you kicked Mark he wouldn't complain - he wouldn't lose it - but you would never beat him - he always came out on top. This is an aside - but it sums MH up.
• There are 2 reasons not to give MH the job as far as I can see. 1) his managerial record 2) he is not foreign! The second first. Yes it is fashionable to choose a foreign manager. Maybe the fans demand glamour - something more exotic than home grown. Personally I think it is rubbish especially as MH has played abroad and been an international manager for 4 years. A manager does not need to be "continental" to be successful - ask Sir Alec.
• OK MH's managerial record. It depends how you interpret it. First of all unlike Giggs he has worked under many top managers. Unlike Giggs he has had european club experience. He has seen a range of managers work. MH was never in doubt he wanted to be a top manager and while I have not heard him say it I am sure the pinnacle for him would be MU. Once there you can be sure of his total loyalty and fierce determination to get success for his Club - and MH knows what it takes because he has done it as a player.
• MH had 4 successful years as Wales manager so a lot of valuable experience of managing against foreign opposition. He is universally regarded to have done an excellent job with Wales and many feel he layed the bedrock for their current success.
• From Wales he went to Blackburn. (extract from Wiki)-
  

  Blackburn Rovers

  Hughes quit the Welsh national side in September 2004 to take charge of Blackburn Rovers in the FA Premier League, the last club he had played for.^[16] His key aim was to keep Blackburn clear of relegation, which he succeeded in doing, whilst also taking the club to an FA Cup semi-final for the first time in over 40 years.^[17]
  In his second season, Blackburn surprised even the most optimistic supporters by finishing inside the top six of the Premier League and qualifying for the UEFA Cup, beating teams such as Chelsea, Manchester United (twice) and Arsenal along the way. After just missing out on the League Cup final, his team sealed their spot in Europe by defeating champions Chelsea 1–0 at home.^[18] On 4 May 2006, Hughes and assistant Mark Bowen signed new three-year contracts to remain at Blackburn until the summer of 2009.^[19]
  Hughes then set about creating a formidable side at Ewood Park. He entered the transfer market, bringing in players such as Benni McCarthy (£2 million), David Bentley (£500,000), Ryan Nelsen (free), Stephen Warnock (£1.5 million), Roque Santa Cruz (£3.5 million), and Christopher Samba (£400,000). Rovers finished 10th in the Premier League in 2006–07, and reached the UEFA Cup round of 32, where they were knocked out by Bayer Leverkusen 3–2 on aggregate.^[20] Rovers faced Chelsea in the FA Cup semi-final, their third consecutive semi-final since Hughes took charge. The match ended in defeat 2–1.^[21] He won the Premier League Manager of the Month award for October 2007,^[22] and eventually led Blackburn to a league finish of 7th in 2007–08, Hughes's final season in charge at Ewood Park.
• MANCHESTER CITY I think MH was sacked because of a run of draws. It was a very unsettled time at City. They wanted to spend big. Many players came in. Most proved to be successful. The City job has proved to be handful for everyone. I think MU was successful at city and would have learned an awful lot. (below is the wiki summary)

• On 2 June 2008, Manchester City sacked manager Sven-Göran Eriksson.^[27] Hughes was reported to be the first choice of City owner Thaksin Shinawatra to replace Eriksson.^[28] However, interest was also reported from Chelsea, who had recently sacked their manager, Avram Grant.^[29] Blackburn Rovers confirmed on 2 June that they had agreed to allow Hughes to talk to Manchester City.^[30] The following day, Blackburn agreed to a then-world record compensation package for Hughes to take over as manager of Manchester City, and he was appointed as head coach on 4 June 2008 on a three-year contract.^[31]Following the appointment, Manchester City's executive chairman Garry Cook stated that "The Club intends to invest in new players as well as securing the long term services of key members of the current first team squad. Mark has already identified some of the players and backroom staff that he wants to see here at City, and we will begin the process of recruiting them immediately."^[32] The players who did arrive were Jo, Tal Ben Haim, Vincent Kompany, Shaun Wright-Phillips returning from Chelsea and Pablo Zabaleta. Hughes's first game in charge resulted in a 4–2 loss at Villa Park but was followed up with 3–0 wins against West Ham United and Sunderland.On 1 September 2008 Manchester City were taken over by the Abu Dhabi United investment group,^[33] who made large amounts of transfer funds available to Hughes, allowing City to break the British transfer record and sign Robinho from Real Madrid for £32.5 million.^[34] Hughes was very active in the January 2009 transfer window, signing Wayne Bridge from Chelsea, Craig Bellamy from West Ham United, and Shay Given from Newcastle United, as well as Nigel de Jong from Hamburg. City finished 10th in Hughes's first season with the club, as well as reaching the quarter-finals of the UEFA Cup. City's home form was among the best in the league, but their away form was among the worst.In the summer of 2009, Hughes added the likes of Gareth Barry from Aston Villa, Roque Santa Cruz from Blackburn Rovers, Emmanuel Adebayor and Kolo Touré from Arsenal to his squad, while Carlos Tevez also joined after his two-year deal with Manchester United expired. In addition, he also signed defenders Joleon Lescott from Everton for a reported £22 million, and Sylvinho, a former Arsenal and double Champions League winner with Barcelona, on a free transfer.^[35]Hughes started the 2009–10 campaign with a 2–0 away win at his former club Blackburn Rovers.^[36] A further 1–0 win against another former club Barcelona in the Joan Gamper Trophy at a capacity Camp Nou.^[37] was followed up by a 1–0 win against Wolverhampton Wanderers at Eastlands.^[38] Hughes's team then beat Crystal Palace in the League Cup 2–0 and Portsmouth 1–0 to maintain a 100% clean sheet start to the season.^[39] City continued in good form, beating Arsenal 4–2 and West Ham 3–1 either side of a 4–3 derby day defeat to Manchester United. City would then, however, go on a run of seven straight draws.^[40]Manchester City beat Scunthorpe United 5–1 and Arsenal 3–0 in the League Cup to reach their first semi-final since 1981. Hughes then led City to their first victory over his former club Chelsea for five years with a 2–1 victory. That last victory was one of only two wins in eleven successive Premier League matches, and Hughes left City before their League Cup two-legged semi-final against Manchester United. He was sacked on 19 December 2009 and replaced by Roberto Mancini.
• FULHAM MH was a success at Fulham. He left because of ambition. It was not his greatest move. (see Wicki below).O
• On 29 July 2010, Hughes became the new manager of Fulham, following the departure of Roy Hodgson to Liverpool. Hughes agreed a two-year contract with the London side and was officially unveiled to the media on 3 August 2010, before his first game as manager on 7 August against Werder Bremen. Hughes was joined at Fulham by his backroom team of Eddie Niedzwiecki, Mark Bowen and Kevin Hitchcock.^[42][43] His first league game in charge of the Cottagers came exactly a week later, when they drew 0–0 at Bolton Wanderers on the opening day of the Premier League season, followed by a resolute display against Manchester United in a 2–2 draw at Craven Cottage.^[44]
• Draws followed in four of Fulham's next five Premier League games against Blackpool, Blackburn Rovers, Everton and West Ham United, with a solitary 2–1 home win over Wolverhampton Wanderers. This meant that at that stage – including the 7-draw streak at Manchester City before his dismissal the season before – all but two (86%) of Hughes' last fifteen Premiership games had been drawn. The bizarre run, exclusively made up of draws or 2–1 results, continued with 2–1 defeats to Tottenham Hotspur and West Bromwich Albion in the second half of October 2010. At the end of the 2010–2011 season, Hughes led Fulham to an 8th-placed finish in the league and UEFA Europa League qualification through the Fair Play league.
  Hughes resigned as manager of Fulham on 2 June 2011, having spent less than 11 months at the club. Following his departure, he said, "As a young, ambitious manager I wish to move on to further my experiences".^[45] Fulham owner Mohamed Al-Fayed hit back at Hughes for questioning the club's ambition; Al Fayed called Hughes a "strange man" and a "flop" and says he rescued him from becoming a forgotten man after being sacked by Manchester City.^[46] In September 2013, Hughes admitted he made a mistake in leaving Fulham when he did.
• QPR it was a mad time at QPR. The Club wanted instant success but didn't really have the name or status to attract really top players. It was all done in a rush and too much to dovetail into a team. I think MH probably felt he wanted to prove Man City wrong for his sacking and maybe got a bit carried away. I can understand that and he must have learned an awful lot about himself and what it takes to build a team. (Here is wiki)

  Queens Park Rangers

  On 10 January 2012, Hughes agreed terms with Queens Park Rangers and signed a two-and-a-half-year contract as their new manager, replacing the recently sacked Neil Warnock.^[48] Hughes's first game in charge of QPR came on 15 January 2012, a 1–0 defeat away to Newcastle United.^[49] Hughes's first win as QPR manager came on 17 January 2012, a 1–0 victory over MK Dons in a FA Cup third round replay at Loftus Road.^[50] His first Premier League victory was on 21 January 2012, QPR beating Wigan 3–1 at home.^[51] In January 2012 Hughes brought in two defenders Nedum Onuoha and Taye Taiwo and two strikers, Djibril Cissé and Bobby Zamora.^{[52][53][54][55]} Cissé made an immediate impact scoring on his debut against Aston Villa.^[56] However defeats against Wolves, Blackburn and Fulham prevented QPR from pulling themselves away from relegation trouble.^[57] Victories over Liverpool, Arsenal, Stoke City, Swansea City and Tottenham Hotspur meant that they went into the final match of the season two points ahead of Bolton Wanderers.^[58] They faced Hughes's former club Manchester City at the City of Manchester Stadium who needed a win to secure the Premier League title. Despite scoring twice through Cissé and Jamie Mackie two late goals from Edin Džeko and Sergio Agüero earned Man City a dramatic victory.^[59] However Bolton's failure to beat Stoke meant that QPR survived in the Premier League.^[60]
  In the summer of 2012 QPR brought a large number of high-profile signings with the intent of establishing themselves as a Premier League club. In came Kieron Dyer, Ryan Nelsen, Andrew Johnson, Robert Green, Samba Diakité, Fábio, Park Ji-Sung and Junior Hoilett all before the start of the season.^[61] However Rangers's new look squad got off to an awful start as they crashed to a 5–0 home defeat against Swansea City on the opening day of the season.^[62] Hughes branded his players performance as "embarrassing".^[63] Hughes then signed José Bosingwa, Júlio César and Esteban Granero but saw no improvement in results going twelve matches without victory.^[64] He was sacked as manager on 23 November 2012 after the team suffered a 3–1 home defeat to Southampton six days earlier and replaced by Harry Redknapp.^[2][65][66] 

STOKE CITY - the story goes on. It is widely regarded that MH has done an excellent job at Stoke. He has changed the Pullis culture - not easy to do. He has not had masses to spend - he has been shrewd - sold well and signed a lot of misfit or loan players that he has subsequently done very well with. Stoke play attractive and direct football and the term Stokealona is being used. They are hard to beat. MH has made some shrewd signings and it is very unusual for Stoke teams not to give it everything - which reflects very well on MH. He has also shown he can get the best out of complex personalities and has again shown he is capeable of building year on year and improving his squad. (here is wiki)

Stoke City 

2013–14

Hughes was appointed manager of Stoke City on 30 May 2013 signing a three-year contract taking over from fellow Welshman Tony Pulis.^[67][68] Speaking after being announced as Stoke's new manager, Hughes admitted that he had a point to prove following his disappointing spell at QPR.^[69][70] Hughes's first task was to release Rory Delap, Mamady Sidibe, Matthew Upson, Dean Whitehead, Carlo Nash and Matty Lund, at the same time giving Jermaine Pennant a new contract.^[71][72] He made his first signing on 28 June 2013 with Dutch international left-back Erik Pieters arriving from PSV Eindhoven for a fee of €3.6 million (£3 million).^[73][74] Hughes's first match in charge of Stoke on 17 August 2013 ended in a 1–0 defeat at Liverpool.^[75] Hughes's first win as Stoke manager came in his next match as Stoke beat Crystal Palace 2–1 at the Britannia Stadium.^[76] This was followed up by a 1–0 win away at West Ham United.^[77] On 2 September 2013, transfer deadline day Hughes brought in Austrian forward Marko Arnautović from Werder Bremen and Stephen Ireland on loan from Aston Villa.^[78][79] Meanwhile, Michael Kightly, Cameron Jerome and Ryan Shotton all departed the club on long-term loans.^[80][81][82]
Stoke soon lost their early form however and they went through September and October without a league win, picking up just two points and scoring only three goals.^[83] Stoke improved in November and December going a run of one defeat in seven matches including a 3–2 win over Chelsea on 7 December 2013.^[84] December ended badly for Stoke and Hughes though as they were on the receiving end of a 5–1 defeat at Newcastle United in which Stoke were reduced to nine men and Hughes himself was sent off.^[85] Stoke went through January 2014 in poor form and managed to pick up just a point and a 1–0 defeat at Sunderland on 29 January left Stoke just above the relegation zone.^[86] The one piece of transfer activity Hughes did was to swap Kenwyne Jones for Peter Odemwingie in a player-exchange deal with Cardiff City.^[87] The arrival of Odemwingie enabled Hughes to alter his tactics and formation and it immediately paid off with a 2–1 victory over Manchester United.^[88] Stoke's form continued to improve and they went through March unbeaten with wins over Arsenal, West Ham United, Aston Villa and Hull City. Stoke proceeded to end the season strongly with wins over Newcastle United, Fulham and a 2–1 win against West Bromwich Albion on the final day of the season saw Stoke finish in 9th position, their best finish since 1974–75.^[89]

2014–15[edit]

For the 2014–15 season Hughes signed Sunderland full-back Phil Bardsley, Fulham midfielder Steve Sidwell and Senegalese striker Mame Biram Diouf on free transfers.^[90][91] Also arriving for small fees were Slovakian defender Dionatan Teixeira and Barcelona forward Bojan Krkić whilst wingers Victor Moses and Oussama Assaidi joined on season-long loans.^{[92][93][94][95]} Departing the club were Matthew Etherington, Michael Kightly, Cameron Jerome and Ryan Shotton.^{[96][97][98][99]} Stoke had a mixed start to the 2014–15 season as they lost 1–0 to Aston Villa on the opening day, drew 1–1 with 10-men Hull City and then beat the reigning Premier League champions, Manchester City 1–0.^[100] Stoke's inconsistency continued through the autumn as Stoke managed just three wins beating Newcastle United, Swansea City and Tottenham Hotspur.^{[101][102][103]} Whilst suffering frustrating home defeats against newly promoted Burnley and Leicester City.^[104][105] Stoke found form in December beating Arsenal 3–2, Everton 1–0 and West Bromwich Albion 2–0.^{[106][107][108]}
In January 2015 Hughes began talks with the Stoke board about extending his contract with the club.^[109] Hughes only new arrival in January was that of German centre back Philipp Wollscheid from Bayer Leverkusen.^[110] Stoke suffered a number in injuries to key players in January and February most notably to Shawcross and Bojan.^[111] In February Stoke suffered back to back 4–1 defeats against Manchester City and then in the FA Cup against Blackburn Rovers.^[112] Hughes signed a new contract with Stoke in March 2015, keeping him contracted at Stoke until the summer of 2019.^[113] City then went a run of three wins against Aston Villa, Hull City and Everton and then three defeats against West Bromwich Albion, Crystal Palace and Chelsea. Stoke ended the season strongly with victories over Southampton (2–1), Tottenham Hotspur (3–0) and Liverpool (6–1) ensuring a second consecutive 9th-place finish.^{[114][115][116]}

2015–16

Hughes made a number of alterations to his squad in preparation for the 2015–16 campaign. Leaving the club were the long-serving trio of Asmir Begović, Robert Huth and Steven N'Zonzi with Stoke receiving their record transfer fee in the process.^{[117][118][119]} With the money available Hughes broke Stoke's transfer record paying Inter Milan £12 million for Swiss winger Xherdan Shaqiri.^[120] He also brought in Spanish striker Joselu for £5.75 million, Dutch midfielder Ibrahim Afellay, Shay Given, Jakob Haugaard, Glen Johnson and Marco van Ginkel

Stoke are going well. Hughes is mature and experienced but still relatively young and definitely ambitious. He has had big club political experience. He has one or two blips but he has come back stronger. In interview (and PR is important at a big club) he his thoughtful, intelligent, dignified, honest and loyal. I always get the impression that you wouldn't mess with Mark Hughes. He did a great job with Adebayor, signed talented misfits like Pennant and Ireland and got a lot out of them. I think he is an outstanding candidate and would be a sure bet to sort out MU without spending billions. He is the man United need not some flash harry largely in it for himself.

#SouthAfrica The Three Tenners Part 1

The Three Tenners (me and my brothers Rob and Mike) are going further afield this time. We are going to South Africa for 3 weeks from mid March.

We were looking for somewhere to go to coincide with Rob's big "six O". After a fair bit of research and debate we plumped for South Africa. Truthfully we had initially ruled it out because of the security risks but having looked at it and taken advice we have come to the conclusion that while there are risks of course - risks are everywhere - and the rewards are obvious - South Africa seems a fantastic country.

Broadly us three brothers like doing the same things. The Three Tenners have done walks together and with some wild camping (see earlier blogs) - and we have had annual family camping holidays down in Cornwall for many years. I climbed Kilimanjaro with Mike a while back - so I know we will be good - we just need to keep Rob on the straight and narrow! All three of us are strong personalities but it seems to work - ha! There will be additional challenges in South Africa however - ha again! To start off it is 3 weeks. Not just that it will be 3 weeks in very close proximity. We are travelling by hire car - and sharing hostel accommodation! Our families think it is hilarious!

Currently Mike is very busy working and Rob is keen to defer so I have been putting together a plan for us. Both bruvs seem happy to go along with what I decide and while that does carry some responsibility I am not complaining (between you and me I prefer it this way - ha!). I have kept them informed with the sort of things I have in mind and all I have had back is enthusiastic yesses so that is great and I shall keep ploughing on!

My broad approach has been the same as the approach I have used when travelling alone. Basically I like to plan well ahead and get things in place. As I have said before this might not be the purest way of travelling - as there is a degree of inflexibility built in. Some people like to go where the mood takes them of course but I have found this can be very inefficient and sometimes potentially dangerous. I also enjoy the process of planning and I think it adds to the rewards that accrue from a trip away.

The other factor is costs. We do not need luxury - we are not aspiring to that. We want to see some of SA - to get out and do some walking etc - so the plan is to move around. We are using backpacking hostels. I have done a lot of this - it is fine - a preference in fact and really hammers the cost down. On the accommodation we could book shared dormitories but private rooms are better - a bit more private and there is the benefit of added security for your belongings. However three is an odd number. Sometimes a designated family room has the bed space but usually it involves a double bed. As much as we might love each other sharing a bed with either of my brothers has no appeal whatsoever and I am sure they feel the same! The solution has been to book one twin room and one in the dorm and we will alternate as necessary (I suspect I will be keen on the dorm knowing the snoring etc that my brothers are capable of!)

So the plan at this stage (flights are booked and paid for - Qatar Airlines in the end) :-

Fly to Johannesburg and gradually move west down the coast to eventually get to Cape Town (from where we will fly back.) We looked at the options for travelling around SA. Trains are not an option in SA. Buses might be - but certainly for 3 of us and based on what we want to do a car hire seems best. The intention is to leave the hostels early in the morning and get to our new base around mid day. That means there should be no night driving which from what I have read can be more problematic from a security point of view.

So :-

3 nights - Johannesburg - planning to visit Soweto and maybe get to the top of the highest building in Africa.

4 nights - Northern Drakensburg Mountains - for some proper trekking. I hope to get to Tugela Falls - the second highest in the world and the highest in Africa. We might also be able to have a day visiting Lesotho.

1 night Durban - for a look around.

3 nights - the Wild Coast National Park - for hiking, bike riding swimming and fishing.

2 nights Cintsa for more of the same.

1 night Port Elizabeth - for sightseeing

3 nights Wilderness National Park for walking etc.

5 nights Cape Town - planning to get to The Cape of Good Hope the Horn of Africa, maybe Robben Island and the top of Table Mountain on Rob's 60th birthday (that would be great!)

So that is the plan - the hostels are booked (total cost each £250) - and it won't be long before we are off. I will post again as things develop and will blog the trip as I go in the way I have done before.

#ExeterCityFC

As you know you don't need to chat to someone for very long before the subject of which team you support comes up.(especially abroad because there is such an international interest in English football). It happens all the time. Of course what most people expect you to say is one of the big Premiership Clubs - Man United, Arsenal, Liverpool - Chelsea! My answer is not straightforward and usually is with proceeded with the line - "you have probably never heard of them". The first team I think of is Exeter City. Exeter is where I was born and brought up. It remains the place I go back to despite living away for perhaps 40 years in all.

To be honest I have never been a fervent Exeter City supporter - but they are my team - The Grecians. They are a hard team to follow - not much glory - but I find it hard to understand how your team can be anything other than your home town team - unless you are a glory hunter of course - as many are - ha!

Tonight was a bit of a walk down memory lane. Exeter City have reached the 3rd round of the FA Cup. That doesn't happen very often - the last time 11 years ago. What is more amazing is the whole match is live on terrestrial TV and Exeter are at home to Liverpool. The whole nation is watching little Exeter against the mighty Liverpool (in the past at least - ha!) - what a Friday night treat. Fantastic! So a couple of pints - fish and chips - comfortable arm chair - lights out - HD screen - here we go!

As usual the BBC did the build up well. They explained the Clubs former bankruptcy and its resurrection in the ownership of its supporters trust ( a great and unusual thing ). But Exeter remain a small club. Still 4th division (although they call it 2nd division now) - but with a club with a distinct history and hopefully a secure future.

The match itself was really entertaining. The pitch was in poor condition - so much rain - but Exeter played well. They went 1 up and 2-1 up. They played good football. The sell out crowd made fantastic noise. It was really exciting. Exeter almost did it - but Liverpool scramble a late equalizer. Not all bad - a replay (very lucrative for stretched club finances) at Anfield! Some real glamour for the players. Brilliant - and the hope they could giant kill again! (and play West Ham at home!)

It was such an enjoyable match - but it really was - and continued to be for a day or two - a walk down memory lane. I couldn't get Exeter City out of my head. So many boyhood memories sparked by seeing St James Park on the telly. They were great warm memories. I shall right a few down here for posterity - why not! They are in no particular order and very random and personal (I apologise!).

• I cannot think of Exeter City without thinking about dear Grandad Brown. Grandad has been dead for years now. He still makes me smile. Grandad - Fred - my mums dad - was the one that took me to Exeter City as a young boy. (Obviously now you realise St James Park is a small ground - maximum capacity just over 8000 - but match days were big events and floodlit games especially seemed so amazing.) Crowds might have only been 3 or 4 thousand but it was a huge event for a young boy. What do I remember about Fred. Well everyone seemed to know granddad - alright Fred - alright Fred! What will they do today!? Lots of laughs and banter. Standing on the rail at the front. Hot Bovril at half time or was it Oxo and a pastie in tissue paper from a rickety old hut in the corner next to the Cow Shed. I remember how nice the crowd were to a small boy.
• I remember Arnold Mitchell. Bald. City's captain, And Keith Harvey. Banksy - the great Alan Banks with his barrel chest. What a goal scorer. Other names over the years - Johnny Mitten, George Ley, Fred Binney, Lammie Robertson and Tony Kellow.
• Fred later took me to Plymouth in 1966 after England had won the World Cup. The Football League (with most of the world cup stars playing) played the Irish League in front of 40000. That was a special memory.
• I could banter with Grandad. I said to him once - granddad haven't you got a big nose. He said "son when god made us there was only 2 noses left - and I chose mine!" chuckling now!
• Grandad had a bottle green Ford Classic (like an Anglia but bigger ) for years - with a weird inward sloping black window. (eventually he gave me that car - and I tried to hand paint it white and orange with domestic paint and a brush!)
• I remember dancing around Whipton Barton primary school playground with the other kids. Exeter City had won promotion to the 3rd division. Four teams went up - Gillingham and Shrewsbury come to mind and maybe Brentford. That must have been in the early 60's!
• When my parents were first married they lived with my nan (Vi - Violet) and granddad Brown in their house in Union Road - very close to St James Park. Later nan and granddad bought the corner shop right opposite the main grandstand in Wells Street. It was called Crescent Stores. Exeter FC had an account at the shop. The laundry lady would come over for soap powder to wash the kit - and the tea ladies for milk and sugar etc - all on the "tally". Grandad obviously got to know some of the players. On match days the shop would be very busy. Grandad would serve in the shop until almost kick off and then rush over the road for the whistle.
• Have you ever heard of Cliff Bastin. Cliff was a local lad - a goal scoring winger that moved from Exeter to play for the great Arsenal side in the 1930's. Cliff is a legend in the English football hall of fame. Anyway the story goes my Nan Brown's (Vi's) brother - uncle Frank Brooks went to Ladysmith School with Cliff and played in the same football team. Apparently they were a dynamic goal scoring partnership with uncle Frank feeding Cliff Bastin!. I am sure this is right - Uncle Frank was a lovely quiet man. We remember he owned the fruit and veg shop in Magdalen Road with auntie Hilda and their son Tony and his wife Jackie. Things are going full circle now. My eldest granddaughter will start at Ladysmith school in September!
• Back to Exeter City and St James Park. I remember the main grandstand off Well's Street - that remains unchanged it seems. The big bank remains the same - standing room only. The main change seems to be the Cow Shed opposite the main stand has become the main entrance and stand and my old boxing club building has been acquired by City for offices and hospitality. However seeing it on the TV against Liverpool nothing much seems to have changed. It is still small and atmospheric and noisy with a full house. (I was nervous the flood lights would fail as they so often used to do!). The pitch is a big flat pitch - a great pitch to play on - but on this night it was in a state through heavy rain (and apparently because the grass had been re-laid for the first time for many years - and it has been problematic - typical!)
• One final indulgence - as I am talking about Liverpool - as teenager I played football for Heavitree FC at Wingfield Park and then a bit later for Dawlish Town. It was quite normal for us to have pre season friendlies and one year we played Plymouth Argyle. I was playing right back. The Argle left winger - so who I marked - was the great ex Liverpool winger Brian Hall. Brian had had fantastic success as a key part the great Liverpool side of the 1970's under Shankly and Paisley. Liverpool were league and European cup winners on more than one occasion. He was one of the famous duo (university graduates) of speedy tricky wingers - Heighway and Hall that alternated down either side of Liverpool's attacking flanks to deliver crosses for the likes of Toshack and Keegan. Brian - towards the end of his career was bought by Argyle for £45000 - a lot of money. My recollection was Brian didn't want to come anywhere near me - he hugged the touch line. But I have tackled Brian Hall - a big smile! He died recently - rest in peace - you were a great ambassador for the game Brian Hall.

So almost a week has gone by and the replay is at Anfield tomorrow. Fantastic - come on city. The draw has been made - IF Exeter beat Liverpool they have West Ham at home! Happy days.

I was down at Exeter last weekend. I enclose below some photos taken off the TV and the ground from the outside as now.

Come on the Grecians!!

PS - Exeter were beaten 3-0 in the replay at Anfield - but they played well and should be proud of the account they gave of themselves. There is always next year - ha!

  

A sell out at St James Park!

Exeter City meet Liverpool

Look what the have done to granddad's Crescent Store in Wells Street. It's been bricked up!

Union Road - close to St James Park where I live as a toddler!

The commanding sight of City's Grandstand entrance in Wells Street taken from Crescent Stores!