Really? Russians are wealthier than at any time in the last 20 years, particularly Russians who play professional football.

All the Russians I've shown round here have said something similar about their frustration that shops close at 8pm. 'why are they so miserable, why can't they come and watch me spending my money' kind of thing.

Indeed, I'm with the Comrade on this one.

Controlling for lousy translations and the usual sensationalising of quotes, I really don't find it hard to see him having said something along those lines at all.

It sounds to be that he might have been happier at Bryan Robson's Man Utd, assuming that they would let him sing maudlin songs after every 10 pints.

the average rainfall in the uzice region is 700-800 mm per annum, The average rainfall in manchester is......806mm.

Yeah but it's distribution innit. The overall rainfall in Vancouver is the same as most parts of the UK, but most of it falls over the winter. The summer is generally clear blue skies (though today makes a liar out of me.) In Britain you've got cloud cover and the possibility of rain almost everyday. That's what makes it seem depressing to people from elsewhere I think.

But he wasn't talking about footballers. He was talking about 'normal folk'. How many footballers do you know work all week, and wait for the weekend off?

I was under the impression that all this new wealth in Russia was concentrated among a distinct minority of the population, and that life was still hard for most people.

The average annual salary in Russia last year was $6,500, which isn't great.

Hieronymus of Hesselink wrote:

QUOTE:
I was under the impression that all this new wealth in Russia was concentrated among a distinct minority of the population, and that life was still hard for most people.

The average annual salary in Russia last year was $6,500, which isn't great.

I think you're underestimating just how miserable the 1990s were for most Russians. They're doing a lot better than they were. There's also quite a big geographical disparity in income distribution, with Moscow and St petersburg pretty well off with a growing middle class, and Murmansk and Kamchatka not doing very well at all.

But still, the basic point about stuff being open late applies to all of them, whether they're buying knock-off dvds or Armani suits.

Hieronymus of Hesselink wrote:

QUOTE:
I was under the impression that all this new wealth in Russia was concentrated among a distinct minority of the population, and that life was still hard for most people.

The average annual salary in Russia last year was $6,500, which isn't great.

I thought that too but having come back from a holiday in the south of France I was surprised at how many people were speaking Russian. Some restaurants we went to had menus in French and Russian only. Though of course this doesn't disprove what you say about the minority.

Back to Vidic - I would have a bit more of this joy of life stuff if I had the salary and the hours of a Premiership footballer. Roll in at ten knock off at twelve with nothing to do all day but worry about my next tattoo

I don't doubt for a second that there are a good deal more rich Russians than there were in the 1990s -- I saw a fair few of them enjoying their wealth in southern Spain when I lived there for a few months in 2002. I'm still not convinced that they are in anything like the majority within Russia itself.

That salary figure translates as just 85 euro a week, and bear in mind the figure is being skewed upwards by the aforementioned people who are on serious megabucks.

Mind you, the previous year, the average Russian was earning just US$350 a month (i.e €55 a week), so onwards and upwards.

a de c,

This is the chart for belgrade. It rains at least two inches a month except for the summer when it rises to four inches a month. (Belgrade has a rainfall and temperatures more in keeping with london)
this is the neighbouring big town. Uzice is the area immediately under it on the map. there it rains almost as much as manchester, all year around. It might be a bit sunnier in the summer, but its not as cold in winter. but otherwise it would appear that climatewise, he's right at home.

it chucked it down for 2 days when i was in belgrade. then a day of seville like sunshine

I doubt that Vidic has any conception of what life is like for the vast majority of Russians outside of Moscow, or even that of the majority of Muscovites.

But I don't see what that has to do with him preferring the social life in Moscow or Belgrade to that in Manchester.

This is exactly why I love discussing football on the internet.

Where else would it feel natural to include observations about the average rainfall in Belgrade?

well it's just that taking those comments on face value, it would seem that he is some sun kissed hydrophobe (yes I know) rather than someone who grew up in a less temperate version of the same climate.

And I am the Life wrote:

QUOTE:
well it's just that taking those comments on face value, it would seem that he is some sun kissed hydrophobe (yes I know) rather than someone who grew up in a less temperate version of the same climate.

Exactly. I always think the same when you see a Scandinavian or Eastern European wearing fucking gloves in September

When playing football or just, you know, walking down the street?

Harri Saer wrote:

QUOTE:
When playing football or just, you know, walking down the street?

Both