docblackrock

Ok my unbiased (as possible ) roundup on the major players.... Ape - I'm sure your beloved Arsenal will do better than last year (I mean, PSV, for god's sake ), and you've already come through the first test with a good result against a shell-shocked Sevilla (Puerta's death has clearly had a massive effect on the club). However, a lot will depend on what state your 3 key African players return in from the Cup of Nations before the KO phases begin, although regardless I don't think there's enough experience to go past the QF but I could be wrong. Liverpool. A couple of early season lacklustre performances (no losses mind) doesn't change the fact that for the last two months, we've been intimidating other teams, sharp ruthless and incisive. The new American owners have brought investment (amazing new stadium and squad funding) of which Torres and Voronin look like being a strike partnership that will do the business. Babel will prove to be the best buy of all given time, a future superstar. Also we now officially have "the best midfield in the world™" (and that's NOT even including our new Brazilian wonderkid, Lucas) and although I think the law of averages is against it, I can honestly see us making a 3rd final in 4 years. Hopefully, a 6th triumph to make up for the one that got away in Athens AC Milan. Outplayed and neutered in last season's Athens' Final by Liverpool, they still managed to scrape a seventh win in 'revenge' for the Miracle of Istanbul two years previously. No complaints, they took their chances, we didn't. Luck smiled on them, despite their club's involvement and conviction for bribing referees. I guess it helps having Berlusconi the dodgy ex-PM of Italy as your chairman . Anyway, the backbone of their team is again as old as Methusulah, but that brings experience, winning experience at that, so you can NEVER rule them out. But everything relies on Kaka, the best player in the world at this time. Let him run free as Man Utd did, and he will humiliate you. Nullify him, as Mascherano did in Athens, and Milan are there to be beaten. Not every team has a Mascherano though, so another SF at least looms for the Milanese. Scumchester United. Once again will flatter to deceive, their problem being they think they're better than they actually are . One good result against an incredibly poor Roma and they were talking like they'd already won it last year. That is, until an ageing Milan came along and absolutely ripped them to shreds. This year they have Tevez to line up alongside Rooney, who together with Neville and Ferdinand, gives them officially "the ugliest players in the world™" but scare tactics won't work alone. They've also lost one of their most influential defenders in Heinze, a player so desperate to leave Old Trafford and come to Liverpool, he took legal proceeedings to secure his escape. Of course, the Scum did the honourable thing and threatened to ruin his career and so he left for Real Madrid instead. If only they would be bold and pension off their manager, then they would present a real threat, but for now the sour old drunk is like a bad gambler doubling his stakes after losing time after time, in the vain hope that "no I'll do it THIS time I just know it". No you won't Alex. Failure again looms. Possibly even before the QFs. No great loss given the way their so-called fans 'greeted' Roma fans in last year's QF Internazionale. Many people's dark horse have already taken a group stage beating, although no doubt they'll recover before yet again failing when it matters most in the QFs. I wonder if Moratti will bring in Mourinho in January, after the latter was sacked...sorry "left by mutual consent"....by Chelsea last week. Who knows. But then Jose has a bit of a problem getting past SF's these last few years Real Madrid. Gracefully accepted Barca's handing them La Liga on a silver plate in June, and with some overrated deadwood (Beckham) out of the club the future looks better than ever before. They've spent like a greedy drunken sailor buying anyone they could get their hands on, the good buys were snatching Sneijder, Drenthe and Heinze from Liverpool's grasp, although Chelsea's Robben will prove a waste of money, such is his injury record and tendency to dive theatrically. But having sacked Capello and again failed (three times of asking now) to get the manager they REALLY want (Liverpool's Benitez) they now have a unproven German coach in charge. Early season results look good, but then last year showed how poor a barometer that can be. And that spending? Chelse-esque and we saw how Shevchenko and Ballack worked out for them Verdict? SF if they're lucky. Barcelona. The addition of Henry to an already talented squad was a big boost, as is the emergence (finally) of their Mexican wonderkid Dos Santos (one to watch ). However, the latter's opportunity has only come due to the loss of Eto'o with another long-term injury. They will be fired up this year, after being knocked out by Liverpool in last year's first KO round, which included a beating in the home leg at the Nou Camp. Still some question marks remain over the coach Rijkaard and his ability to tactically outmaneouvre quality opposition (they've been beaten by Liverpool and Chelsea in the CL in the last two years) as well as control the dressing room. The queue of players who have 'fallen out' with the Dutchman is a long and starry one. My thoughts? Finalists. Valencia. Darker than usual dark horses, I felt last year was their year, yet they choked against a below-par Chelsea. They've held onto the imperious David Villa (Liverpool's new striker after this season ) and with Silva and the highly experienced (and ex-Red) Morientes on board, they'll do well. According to Villa, "history owes us a triumph" aftert their back-to-back Final losses a few years ago - well I'm not sure it quite works like that David but I still would back them to reach the QF this season. Sevilla. Normally a real favourite this year. Having won back-to-back UEFA Cups (poor mans' CL) playing some great football, they look a very dangerous team. Unfortunately, that momentum seems to have been lost recently, due to the tragic death last month of one of their most popular players, Antonio Puerta (RIP). Folliowing that event, a meaningless loss against Milan in the Super Cup and a beating by Arsenal in the first CL game, show they have yet to recover psychologically from this tragedy. I hope they do and show what they're capable of. Verdict? Either fail to progress beyond group stages or QF if they get their act together in time. So, did I leave anyone out?

No, that's "you'll never queue again" given Chelsea's embarrassing 25,000 EMPTY seats at last week's Champions League opener

:drunk: (I'll forgive the inappropriate use of the word 'hooligan' due to cultural misunderstanding, but your heart's in the right place )

Brave words in the absence of JTB - no doubt he'll dig that slur out on his return and give you some grief Although I must admit I fear last year's exertions may have got the better of the Bhoys, witness the spanking they got in the Ukraine last week

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: *splunk* (sound of sides splitting)

Well obviously you ruined it with the 'body' shot I was really just baiting you (successfully) with the Panerai *check* comment but you've got to admit, there's seems to be a little *ahem* excess of testosterone evident in the facial features

Hmmm..... Brow lift *check* Lantern jaw *check* Adam's apple *check* Panerai *check* Dude, that chick's a DUDE!!!"

*drum roll......*

Please don't. Charmless despicable snidey chav . I dread to think what he wears. Something to match the gold sovereign rings no doubt.

All good things come to those who wait Ah but these are old pre-service pics, surely this baby is worthy of a new 'welcome home' shoot? Did you install the superdome you got from Andy?

Oh stop with the false modesty Time to spoil the surprise, mwahahah...... (several fur-clad bearded men enter room armed with sharpened frozen salmon steaks) It's a genuine doub....*ARRGGHHH!*

Quite the coincidence And my birthday coming up too *hint hint, nudge, wink* I know what it is. The Holy Grail. And it couldn't have a more deserving new home. Aaargh, you are one lucky b'astard

Long weekend for me

One final thing, I'm a little confused VB - you clearly love your Pams (so much even to the point of putting some of us to shame ), you continually reaffirm it's all about having confidence (of which you clearly lack none), wrist size or not, and with the possible exception of a pink-gatored Fiddy, good taste is good taste, and gender is irrelevant. So I admit I'm curious then as to why you started this thread in the first place, with its questioning title. Seeking reassurance? Curious as to attitudes out there? Why do you care? You shouldn't. YOU like wearing Panerai. That should be enough. A reminder perhaps that my only original thought on the subject was to merely post a pic of Heidi Klum as conclusive evidence. Nothing more worth adding IMO.

Oh please, did I say anything about modern-day sexuality? The Madonna reference? I already said that was about pure attention-seeking, like you wearing a Panerai is, consciously or not, about making a fashion statement. Which is all about confidence, as you say yourself. I actually meant relevant in terms of the reference to Bond girls and the attitudes illustrated by both someone of Fleming's generation and the times he was writing in. The thread is after all, about girls and big watches (ok Panerai specifically but only because they typify the most obvious and overtly 'men's' watch), and the evolution of attitudes and tastes since. I mean adorning Ms Blackman with a GMT? Subtle but at the same time, so overt. I'm interested only in a historical sense and as a Bond aficionado - I wasn't even born in the '60s. Apologies then for straying 'off topic', I thought it an interesting tangent - tell you what, let's just get back to sticking resolutely on-topic and have multiple posts saying "yeah big watches on chicks look cooool".

Actually quite a relevant point, and one that reminds me of another of Fleming's creations, the one and only Pussy Galore, played by the husky-voiced Honor Blackman in Goldfinger. Of course, both the book and film left little to the imagination that Pussy, did, in fact, "bat for the other side", her all-female troupe of acrobats/pilots, her seeming imperviousness to Bond's charm, etc. But what clinched it was Blackman's sporting none other than a Rolex GMT 6542 in her guise as Goldfinger's pilot. In every way, unconscionable in the '60s. Of course, eventually Bond "cured" her.

Yes common sense, and whilst I accept the disclaimer, IMO there is a definite implication here Stephane, considering the title of the thread and member it's aimed at. To use the words 'scammer' in this thread is inappropriate. I understand some people's frustration, but that's way out of order where Tommy's concerned. Likewise I would make no comment on the FP situation as I have never dealt with him and so any comment from me is neither relevant nor constructive.

"...Easy like Sunday morning... Somnetimes the old classics are the best

Animal print I assume?

VW, nice to see an old face from the past. Tommy's been AWOL for a little while - last I heard from him was June, he'd relocated job, city, personal life, major life changes. Otherwise seemed fine. But I figured he was due some time away from modding in the circumstances. Having said that, I have sent a couple of emails recently, non-watch related which he hasn't got back to, which is NOT like him at all

No, please by all means, do elaborate on the 'wow'! An ironic 'wow' perhaps? As you said yourself, girls like nice shiney sparkly things, the F1 diamonds is the epitome of that, whilst remaining just the right side of the line in terms of overstatement. Unlike a Fiddy on pink gator. Unless you have a problem with Tags per se? You're not alone although as a Heuer fan in general, I do tire of that misplaced snobbery, not that I'm suggesting that's the case here. The Swatch? Fun, inexpensive and, well she is a creative after all Each to their own I suppose.

Another month?!!! Euno >>>>>> Pug >>>>>> Time for this boys?

Actually I must admit I see where Dani's coming from. Nothing to do with all that psychobabble about masculinity, it just looks awkward and out of proportion, ironically the reason most people comment on seeing a woman wear such a watch. 40mm is passable, 44 depends on the woman and the wrist (Heidi can pull it off but then she can most things) but 47 is just wrong IMO. Call me a caveman all you like but I'm talking about aesthetic sense only. A woman wearing a Panerai is wearing it to make "a fashion statement" more than anything else. Like Madonna wearing a bloke's suit and smoking a big stogie. Deny it all you want, but it is male attention-seeking in its purest form. My GF really likes my 'chunky, manly' PAMs but on my wrist only. She will very occasionally 'borrow' one of my Rollies or Tags now and again, but essentially her own watch 'collection' consists merely of two, one for 'smart/work' and one for 'play', both aesthetically attractive but in an understated, proportional, and dare I say it, feminine sense....

Yep should be, as long as you do inner and outer. PM me the figs, will have a check tomorrow morning (evening here, on my way out) and let you know.

Maybe you should stick to just one per day Anyway, I DID tell you to keep the Lempicka, but did you listen?