Monday, December 29, 2008

The Pieman's Blog for 30 December


Bizarre. Stoke striker Ricardo Fuller is sent off for slapping his team-mate Andy Griffin. You could not invent it, could you? Hardly fair play, mate for boshing one of your own! Stoke, now in the relegation zone, lose 2-1 at West Ham. I bet the coach journey home was worth witnessing.........

Bizarre. Hull City manager Phil Brown decides with his team 4 nil down at Manchester City to hold his half-time team talk on the pitch in front of the 4000 travelling Hull Fans. Hardly fair play, Phil mate, even if the team had played badly, for a host of reasons. These players have over-achieved for Brown until then. One very bad day at the office and he treats them like school kids and humiliates them in front of their own fans. Never been done before in the Premier League and should never be done again! The dressing room is the only place to sort it out. Brown's reasons, including trying to appease his supporters, were not good enough. It’s a bad gimmick, however he sees it. I hope it does not rebound on him and the club in the next few games. That coach journey home would have been interesting as well!

Liverpool, without their star striker Fernando Torres for the moment, continue to lead the Premier League. They extended their lead to three points with a crushing 5-1 win at Newcastle. It would have been more but for a great display of goalkeeping by Ireland's Shay Given. Liverpool's best player Steven Gerrard scored twice in another awesome display.

Chelsea let slip a 2-1 lead at Fulham by conceding a last minute goal and so passed on two points. I know Chelsea have injuries but there is something not quite right with manager Phil Scolari and this Chelsea season. Fair play though to Frank Lampard for another fine display and another two goals.

Liverpool may prove me wrong but I still fancy Manchester United to just retain the Premier League title - providing they can keep winning during their punishing January schedule. They have the best squad and the strongest set of attacking forwards.

Arsenal hiccupped their way back into fourth spot. They have injury problems as well but everyone is urging manager Arsene Wenger to get extra players in January. If they don't finish in the top four they will miss out on the European Champions League for the first time in 11 years. That will make the natives even more restless. Much may depend on who cash-rich Aston Villa add - much talk about striker Emile Heskey who is also wanted by Liverpool. 

It’s all making life difficult for Portsmouth manager Tony Adams whose side are in danger of sinking fast - now just one win above the drop zone. Fair play mate, Harry Redknapp is a difficult act to follow, there are several injuries and the best players are being sold or appear to be preparing to be sold as Portsmouth hit money problems. But Tony knew the score when he took the job. Now he has to prove he can be a successful number one. The jury is out!

West Brom are hanging in there. They beat Spurs two nil at home but are still bottom! However, they have closed the gap to two points and have given themselves a chance. Spurs can thank goal difference for currently keeping them out of the drop zone but it is so tight down there that nothing can be taken. There will be a surprise or two come May!

Manchester City grabbed a late, late point at Blackburn. Boxing Day also produced a late 2-2 thriller between Aston Villa and Arsenal. Yes, as we turn into the New Year it’s going to continue to be a great season in the Premier League.

I'd like to wish you all a Happy New Year. My next blog will have some of the funnies of 2008 and my predictions for what 2009 will bring....hey, and we haven't even mentioned England manager Fabio Capello......what a start he has had as England manager.

Stay with the Pieman as we reveal some exciting new plans.........

Monday, December 22, 2008

The Pieman's Blog for 22 December


Happy Christmas everyone. Get plenty of pie and football down you!

Big Sam Allardyce started celebrating early! He takes the Blackburn job after Paul Ince got the tin tack. Rovers had gone 11 games without a win. Wham, bam, thank you Sam as they smash Stoke City with three first half goals... Meanwhile oil rich, cash rich Manchester City are in a bit of bother. The new Arab owner, one of the world's most seriously wedged up men, will not be happy that City are in the bottom three and lost at the bottom club West Bromwich Albion who had not won since October.
City were awful and played like a crusty stale pie, urgh! I cannot think of anything worse... so let’s hope Mark Hughes can get some Pukka Pies type signings in and change the results. He will need to if he wants to keep the manager's job. I rate Hughes but the game is about results. The latest manager to lose his job by the way is Gary McAllister after Leeds lost their fifth successive match at the weekend. He had been in the job 11 months. McAllister will be 44 on Christmas Day. Leeds chairman Ken Bates looks like Father Christmas but the only card in his sack was Gary's P45! In fairness, Leeds are 15 points behind the League One leaders Leicester and five points outside the play-off positions............

One serious candidate for the Sunderland job is caretaker boss Rick Spragia . He has been in charge for three matches since Roy Keane quit. Sunderland had an honourable 1 nil defeat before enjoying successive four goal victories - the latest being 4-1 at Hull.... The Pieman says fair play mate! Give Ricky the job until the end of this season and then access it.
Joe Kinnear has lifted Newcastle to 12th spot. Joe has got the manager's job until the end of the season. Maybe longer if owner Mike Ashley does not find a seller. Joe has done an excellent job but I doubt if he holds onto Michael Owen for longer than the summer.......

Arsene Wenger went Christmas crackers after top referee Howard Webb sent off the Arsenal striker Emmanuel Adebayor for two yellows in the 1-1 draw with leaders Liverpool. I thought, watching Sky Sports, that the first caution was correct; the second not so. The first called by the linesman Darren Cann (involved in the same player's red card in the 2007 Carling Cup final), the second by Webb who does not have slow-motion replay and gave what he saw. Arsenal played better after being down to 10 men. Liverpool were too cautious, and manager Rafa Benitez (issuing mobile phone orders to his staff from his homeside sofa as he recovers from a kidney stones operation) had goalscorer and biggest threat Robbie Keane substituted in the 82nd minute. Staggering against 10 men. From Arsenal's point of view a decent, battling point in the circumstances but the injury to their skipper and midfield star Cese Fabregas is a big blow for the next three weeks. Arsenal, without a trophy for three years, will not win the Premier League this season while Liverpool are drawing too many matches.

The dark horses are Aston Villa. The Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson tipped Martin O'Neill’s team as the only club likely to break into the top four other than the normal Big Four. They are now 3rd after winning at West Ham. They host Arsenal on Boxing Day and are a real threat to the Gunners for the 4th spot. Villa have some great young players, regularly praised in this blog, but what's happening in the striking department. O'Neill has the money backing from American billionaire owner Randy Lerner to spend next month and he will.

Meanwhile Manchester United, double champions in the Premier League and the European Champions League, have added the World Club championship. Now they are back in the UK to try and make up points with their two games in hand over the others. Most good judges are convinced that the Premier League title in May will go to either Chelsea or Manchester United. I believe that United's attacking strength will edge it for them. Didier Drogba is terrific and Nicholas Anelka is the League's top scorer. But after that and allowing for injuries….? Frank Lampard and Joe Cole are class. But United's Wayne Rooney, Christiano Ronaldo, Carlos Tevez, Dimitar Berbatov and Ryan Giggs plus the likes of Michael Carrick, Darren Fletcher, Paul Scholes,Anderson, Nani and so on.....The Reds to pip the Blues........

Have a wonderful Christmas. I wish you everything you wish your team.
My next blog will be next Tuesday after the Xmas football.
Fair play mate is the name of the game!

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

The Pieman's Blog for 16 December


Poor old Paul Ince. He might have even been sacked by the time you read this. I hope he gets longer but I don't expect so. It’s not a Father Christmas sack the Blackburn Board probably have in mind. It’s the p45 version. Oh dear! It’s almost enough to put you off your pie (only joking, but it’s no joke for Mincey!). Paul Ince, a fine player, had cut his teeth on management in the lower leagues with Macclesfield and MK Dons. The boy done well but it wasn't quite that easy at Blackburn where Paul Ince signed a three year contract to be manager. But probs straight away.
Star winger David Bentley was sold to Spurs and top goalie Brad Friedal was allowed to join Aston Villa. The previous manager Mark Hughes had probably taken the modern Blackburn as far as they can realistically go post Jack Walker. Ince, now six months into his tenure, has seen his team suffer their sixth successive defeat in the Premier League where they are five points adrift from safety. His Board were all present at the three nil away defeat at Wigan and one report had them locked into a lengthy after-match discussion. Once the media start the speculation and you keep losing and the chairman refuses to comment (nearly as bad as a vote of confidence only more honest most of the time!) you are on the slippery slope to exit doors. The chairman attended his son's wedding the day after the Wigan game - one wedding and a funeral? We will see before the weekend's tricky match with Stoke City.........

Wayne Rooney was headlines after an alleged stamp on Danish midfielder Kasper Risgard in last week's European Champions League 2-2 match with Aalborg. Risgard claimed Rooney jumped on his chest and left him with bruises. UEFA watched the TV evidence and stated no charges. Rooney's manager Sir Alex Ferguson refused to comment except to accuse the Press of causing UEFA to need to look at it! The TV replays looked bad but everyone now needs to get on with it. But Rooney has to be careful. He is a great player but he does chance it at times................

Why can Chelsea set up a Premier League record of 11 successive away wins but keep drawing or losing at home? They have only won 3 of their 9 Premier League home matches. That does mean they have dropped 14 points at home. This from a club previously unbeaten in the Premier League at home for 4 years! It’s enough to give their manager Luiz Felipe Scolari a massive headache. As it is, he spent Saturday night in hospital with kidney stone problems. Very painful........... must be catching because 24 hours later the Liverpool manager Rafa Benitz is taken to hospital with exactly the same complaint, and Rafa had a minor operation on Monday. Heard the painful one about the Brazilian and the Spaniard? We wish them both a speedy recovery...

Rafa has got a home result problem as well. Liverpool lead the Premier League by just a point from Chelsea but they have drawn 4 of their 9 home games. Three of those were goalless against Stoke, Fulham and West Ham while last weekend they drew 2-2 with Hull after being 2 nil down before Captain Marvel Steven Gerrard scored both goals...again! The reason I do not think Liverpool will be champions is that they rely too much on Steven Gerrard and the injured Fernando Torres. Alright, I know they beat Manchester United without them but that is the exception not the rule.........

Why did Rafa not bring on £20.3 million substitute Robbie Keane? I know he can't score at present but he is class and the goals will come…instead Rafa uses three other subs…Nabil El Zhar, Ryan Babel and Lucas Leiva to no avail. Potty, or whatever that is in Spanish?....

Newcastle out of the bottom three at last after their 3 nil win at Pompey. Manager Joe Kinnear ( till the end of the season at least!) wants to keep captain Michael Owen who has been offered a new contract. Will he accept it or walk elsewhere at the end of the season...?
Aston Villa up to fourth spot after their 4-2 home win over Bolton. Gabriel Agbonlahor and Ashley Young are simply brilliant. Both are showing consistent England class. Gabby drives a white £180,000 Lamborghini (he thinks credit crunch is a new biscuit!) and now wears lime-green boots! He is playing so well he can wear whatever colour boots he wants!
Pieman tears for Danny Wilson, a top manager who has been shown the door by League One Hartlepool after 6 matches without a win (aka Paul Ince). Danny got them promoted two years ago and they have slipped all the way to mid-table!....

Finally some quotes from the legendary manager:

Bill Shankly: "I was the best manager in Britain because I was never devious or cheated anyone. I'd break my wife's legs if I played against her but I'd never cheat her!"

Ron Atkinson: "It's bloody tough being a legend!"

Brian Clough: "I could manage England part-time and still walk the dog."

Jamaica coach Rene Simoes: "We are the Cinderellas of the World Cup. Our mission is to postpone midnight for as long as possible."

Ken Brown, when manager of Norwich: "With our luck, one of our players must be bonking a witch!"

Brian Horton, when Manchester City manager: "Right now if I robbed a bank I would be mugged on the way out!"

… and finally Ron Atkinson again: "Women should be in the kitchen, the discotheque and the boutique, but not in football."

That was in 1989. Big Ron has been in enough trouble since then..........
More on my blog very soon.
Have fun and play fair,
The Pieman

Monday, December 8, 2008

The Pieman's Blog for 8 December


The managers are feeling a bit peakish; one quit, one on the verge of the sack and the other too tired to attend the aftermatch news conference (used to be called press conference but hey, with the Pieman just the latest electronic commentator on the block it’s an outdated phrase so put that in your Pie and munch it!)

Roy Keane walks out at Sunderland, Paul Ince faces the chop at Blackburn after ten Premier League matches without a win and Phil Scolari can't face the after-Chelsea match chat because he is knackered from the pressure and whacked trying to speak English properly. I know the feeling, Big Phil! Try a Pukka Pie...........
Keane has always been different. Outspoken, a loner and at times intolerant! A brilliant player but hardly managerial material with his characteristics. Sunderland's classy chairman Niall Quinn has gone to great lengths to praise Keane for his contribution to Sunderland. Accepted, but he has not confirmed that for the most part they conducted business by text. Strange on Keane's part who is also believed to have resigned by text to Quinn who also talks about Keane unable to attend the club every day. Strange way of trying to do a difficult job in the first place.

What has not been said yet is that top footballers make so much money that they can afford never to work again. It makes walking out on a job much easier than in the past! I doubt if Keane will be back. I don't like quitters! And Keane spent £80 million of Sunderland's money to provide players Keane wanted. I am sorry but I think he owed it to them to at least see out his contract.

I feel sorry for Paul Ince because he wants to stay at Blackburn. I do think they should give him longer because the Premier League table is so tight it is not certain yet which three teams will go down. Much is being made about Ince being the first British black Premier League manager and a vendetta (Ince makes this claim) against former Manchester United players who become managers. I do not hold with either claim. It is nothing to do with either. It’s a results business. We also do not know what the relation is with his chairman John Williams. It may be great or it may be poor. We will soon find out. Personally, I think Ince is struggling to survive there but I would hope they will give him a bit longer. Clubs talk about the transfer window next month and Blackburn look set to lose a couple of key players but by and large it is difficult to sign quality. Loan deals are best for January. Clubs argue a new manager will be better placed to pick longterm players. It does not often work in January....

So where is Emile Heskey going? Many expect the Wigan and England striker to join Spurs. It won't happen. The Pieman predicts that Heskey will join his old Leicester manager Martin O'Neill. It would be a great move for all three - player, manager and club but it would cost quite a few million which Villa do have to spend. The losers would be Wigan and manager Steve Bruce, big time..........

Chelsea need to beat Cluj at home on Tuesday to secure a place in the European Champions League knock-out stage. One way or another they will join Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal in the next stage. Poor old Phil, key players injured; the club saying no loot for the new players he needs (the Russian owner is starting to feel the credit crunch poor lad and previously he thought credit crunch was a new biscuit!); and he is worn out with the pressure and the difficulty of learning English. When you are on millions a year - guaranteed by the way with a large pay-off if it goes belly up! - I get fed up with pressure and tiredness. That should be reserved for being skint, not knowing how to pay the bills and not having a job!

Finally for now, my favourite Sebastian Coe (now Lord Coe) story. The former Olympic great who brought the next Olympics to London is a mad Chelsea supporter. Years ago the then Chelsea chairman Ken Bates always used to leave Seb two Directors Box tickets home and away when he could make it. He turned up at the old Oxford United stadium where they had the worst "Jobsworth" of all time.

"Name, Sir", says Jobsworth to Coe.
"Coe".
"No tickets for a Mr Coe, Sir, and it’s more than my job is worth to let anyone into the Directors’ Room and Box at Oxford United without the right tickets."
A now frustrated Coe, a modest man, says reluctantly, "I don't think you understand. I am Sebastian Coe and I am with Chelsea".
To which the Jobsworth retorts, "The Chelsea hooligans, Sir, are the other side of the ground and if you say who you are, Sir, it should not take you too long to get round to that side!"

That's all for now, folks - enjoy your pies and keep those emails coming...
Have fun!
The Pieman

Monday, December 1, 2008

The Pieman's Blog for Monday, 1 December




I’ve had it up to here with the top managers blaming refs for their teams shortcoming. The Respect the Refs campaign is floundering. The Pieman wants to introduce his Fair Play, mate code!
If those managers want the refs to be perfect, unlike their players! - and want to name and shame them then they also, under the Pieman's fair play mate code, have to publically name and shame their players who miss great scoring chances, make bad passes, mess up in defence, show dissent and cheat. By the way, there is as much chance of that happening as West Bromwich Albion winning the Premier League title...extremely slim and right now in both cases slim is out of town!

The latest manager to jump on the "the ref's to blame"- “It’s not my fault, guv" is the Chelsea boss Phil Scolari. He wants an apology from referee Mike Dean claiming Dean cost Chelsea a win over Arsenal. Chelsea lost 2-1. Scolari blamed Dean and lines man Simon Beck for failing to call Robin van Persie offside when he scored Arsenal's equaliser. In fairness they got it wrong but they don’t have action replays and called the way they saw it. Football bosses do not allow technology so mistakes will be made. Funnily enough the Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, a serial moaner at refs during and after matches, did not complain! And the managers complain about referees being inconsistent!. Scolari said, "Never before at Chelsea have I said anything about the referee”. But today is different, only for him to look at the TV, see he was wrong and say sorry. Tell the assessor to ask the referee to do both sides, not one side. Arsenal scored a goal that was one metre ahead of our player, then the same linesman gave a decision against Kalou that was never offside. They made a mistake. They are not bad, I understand that. I don't want three points, I just want "sorry" because they made a mistake.

Well, Mr Scolari, perhaps you can say sorry for the fact that Chelsea only had one shot on target and how could you be sure that if he had not been ruled offside that Kalou would have scored. After all he has only netted two goals this season!
Its all a smokescreen, used regularly by Monsieur Wenger and Sir Alex Ferguson to cover, in Chelsea's case the 12 points dropped at home including taking just the one point at home against the three other BIG FOUR teams, Liverpool, Manchester United and Arsenal.
The Pieman is steaming! It’s getting boring. Managers blaming refs for everything. The matches last a minimum of 90 minutes and like you and your players the officials are not always perfect............

The Premier League table is so tight at all issues that it’s fair play to knee-jerk for many people. But not the Pieman, I say the real fair play, mate, is to be patient. Let’s get through to Easter time and see how it all shapes up then. Take Arsenal who have not won a major trophy for three years. Even some of their own fans are saying Arsene Wenger has lost the plot. Cobblers. Arsenal has done a great job for them in the past. He doesn’t lose it overnight.
Let’s have it right. Arsenal have qualified for the knock-out stage of the European Champions League with a game to spare; they are fourth in the Premier League and they are in the quarter finals of the Carling Cup when their brilliant youngsters take the field at Burnley. They have drawn Plymouth Argyle at home in the FA Cup and recently they have beaten both Manchester United and Chelsea but this has been masked by defeats at home to Aston Villa and away to Manchester City. Sir Alex was being doubted a couple of seasons ago when he didn't win a trophy (blow me how fickle and stupid can you get, doubting Sir Alex?) and Rafa has been under the cosh at Liverpool for only winning the European Champions League and FA Cup (only !)....its all crackers, mates. Fair play no one is really doubting either now and nor should they with Arsene!........

What is going on with Roy Keane? The Sunderland manager is having a recent bad run of defeats and he is deflecting the pressure by questioning his own future after the weekend's 4-1 home defeat by Bolton. Keane, who has not signed his new contract, said, "I ask myself every day if I'm the right man for Sunderland. I asked myself this morning and said I was. Sunday morning, if the answer's no we'll have to look at it." He went on: "I might wake up on Monday morning and think I am the right man, on Tuesday it might be different."
Steady on Roy, you are making the Pieman giddy. The Sunderland players made a lot of errors and were punished. But it’s a long old season. You have spent £80 million on new players and now you have to trim your playing squad and get rid of some. But you can get out of trouble. Stick by Sunderland. You have a great chairman in Niall Quinn…

The good news update is that today Roy Keane is not quitting and prepares his team for Manchester United away. Four successive home defeats; five defeats in the last six matches is panic time around but keep a cool head in the dressing room.....The question, if the bad results keep happening, will be: do the Board think Roy Keane is the right man? Hopefully it will not come to that.......

What was Ronaldo playing at - handling the ball from the corner at Eastlands, getting a second yellow (rightly) and being sent off. Unlucky on the first caution where I thought he may have had the benefit of the doubt. Second one I don't go with arguments of "heard a (phantom) whistle or "he was protecting his face"...

Little Histon, a Cambridgeshire village that once housed Jam manufacturers Chivers (XMAS puds, Old English Marmalade etc) knock-out once mighty Leeds United in the FA Cup second round. It was great drama on the telly with a postman scoring the only goal .Then it was anti-drama at the third round draw a few minutes later when they get Swansea at home instead of Manchester United. Why can't they go back to the traditional Monday lunchtime slot? Histon savour the win and then expectations of a fantastic draw...only for the players on the live dressing room shots looking like someone who had had their favourite pies badly cooked to a cinder! Hardly fair play mate.............

Too much news this edition. More funnies on the way on my next blog. The Pie Girls and myself are in the recording studios next week in London for our new record. The Pie Girls have asked for several things to be put in their dressing room. I just want some Pukka Pies.

One of the Pie Girls, probably Smita Gupta from Birmingham, will be reading some of your emails and texts on the next show. The Pie Girls are Bella Watson from Manchester, Carmen from Barcelona (no mentions of Manuel's granddaughter!), Ushi from Shanghai, Janet Eriksson (no relation but far better looking) from Southampton with a Swedish father, and Smita. They are right out of the Premier League school. The Pieman would not expect anything less. Fair play mate.

Bill Shankly quotes soon. The legendary Liverpool manager who once said: "Football is not a matter of life or death. It’s far more important than that."..............Stay with the Pieman!

Saturday, November 29, 2008

The Pieman's Blog for Thursday, 27 November



The late great Alan Ball started it with white boots. Now Arsenal's mid-week scoring hero Nicklas Bendtner wears pink boots. What's his game? Does he want an audition to be a Pie Girl? What do you think? The 20 year old Dane has wanted pink boots since he was a kid. I think it was since he was a kid, not 20 months! He doesn't think his teammates will follow suit! Would you wear pink boots, duckie! The only pink the Pieman likes is pink champagne. Pink boots! It’s like the Pieman drinking pink beer!

Chelsea's Frank Lampard sent off for two yellows. Not the sort of player the Pieman associates with Red Cards. He is a proper pro. The Pieman respects Frank. I hope you do, too......Hats off to Steven Gerrard, Liverpool's inspirational skipper and mid-week match-winner. Some nutter throws something at him. In fact, several nutters throw several things at him. He just ignores it. Easier said than done but the right thing to do. It’s dangerous and CCTV needs to punish the throwers. If they were French they should still be dealt with by our courts.

Gerrard's classy response is a sharp contrast to Chelsea's Didier Drogba who recently threw a lighter back at the Burnley fan who hurled it on the Stamford Bridge pitch. Sympathy for Drogba but you must not re-act!..........So Arsenal's manager Arsene Wenger thinks there is a witchhunt by the media against his ex-captain William Gallas? Rubbish. What did the media have to do with the Gallas sulky sit-down on the Birmingham pitch? They didn't prompt Gallas to slag off his team-mates in public and they did not strip him of the Arsenal captaincy and drop him for the next match. It was YOU, Arsene, who did the latter. The Pieman loves Arsene and usually defends him but the spinning that goes on by managers in football does the Pieman's head in! There are more deflections off the pitch than those shots by his defenders on their way into goal!.....

Meet The Pie Girls, Posted Saturday 29 November

To enlarge the image above, click on it and you'll be able to read what the girl's are saying.

I've received a lot of enquiries about The Pie Girls...I had thought that my backroom girls would carry on sorting the emails and texts, doing the books, working on sales and serving the pies and tea (sorry if that sounds a bit un-p.c., but I do my bit in the kitchen!)...however, no - the dizzy world of football reporting, showbiz and internet radio is turning my lovely ladies into virtual celebrities. Next week they're in a recording studio in London recording The Pieman theme song - I wonder if I ought to send our song off to that Simon Cowell fella.

Anyway, the time has come for me to introduce my Pie Girls...

Bella Watson is from Manchester... she's a whizz with all the computers and is our in- house IT-girl, whatever that means. Bella supports Man United (surprise, surprise) and Celtic (her boyfriend's team); also follows the fortunes of the Trinidad and Tobago national team and has seen them play a couple of times with her grandad. Very nifty in the kitchen and is a dab hand at baking sponge cakes! Her favourite Pukka Pie is chicken and Mushroom.

Now, Carmen from Barcelona looks after travel arrangements and handles my appointments - you see I've got all my football 'sources' across Europe and wider afield and I need a linguist like Carmen to manage me. Carmen speaks 5 languages although I sometimes have to correct the odd word for her in English. She supports Spurs, Blackpool (she worked there as an au pair) and FC Barcelona. Carmen prepares a nice tapas (if you'll excuse the expression) and her favourite Pukka Pie is beef and onion.

Ushi from Shanghai is our resident 'brain.' She's just spent a couple of years at a swanky business school in Los Angeles where she used to go and watch LA Galaxy. And when it comes to fitness, Ushi can give me a run for my money - she played loads of that American women's soccer and captained a team in Santa Monica (where they make Baywatch - steady lads!). Ushi supports Sunderland (her brother's working up there) and Reading - also very interested in all the Asian teams; Ushi wants to return to China one day and work on the business side of football. She's just done a business plan for piemanradio.com - it's smashing that I've got a good team behind me 'cause all I want to do is talk about football. Ushi likes her Chinese tea and her favourite Pukka Pie is steak and kidney.

Janet Eriksson is absolutely no relation to you know who!
Janet was born in Southampton where her mum's from but did spend her teenage years in her dad's native Sweden. She came back to Blighty to see if she could get a job as a TV weather girl but I'm delighted that she's come to work for Pieman Radio. Janet is our studio manager - she's quite strict and doesn't allow me to eat any pies by all our posh radio kit. Janet is a fantastic cook and does a lovely Pea Soup from an old Swedish recipe - a marvellous starter before my Pukka Pie. She supports Malmo, Southampton and Leeds United. Janet's favourite Pukka Pie is potato, cheese and onion.

Smita Gupta is from Birmingham where her parents own one of those marvellous Balti restaurants. Smita follows all the Midlands clubs and claims not to have any real favourites - but I've got a sneaking suspicion she has a soft spot for Leicester City - that's where her boyfriend lives. She watches the Villa a lot and plays a bit herself - she's watched Bend it like Beckham 16 times! Smita looks after our marketing and is brilliant on the phone. Her ambition is to be a sports radio producer - well, piemanradio.com is a great place to learn about football and internet radio! Smita's favourite Pukka Pie - you guessed it, Balti.

I'm very proud of my Pie Girls. They work very hard and there's never a cross word in the Pieman studio. Fair play to them!

Monday, November 24, 2008

The Pieman's Blog for 24 November


Harry boy has done it quickly. Harry Redknapp that is. He has taken over Spurs stuck at the bottom of the Premier League and lifted them from 20th to 15th. Fair play mate! But of course they are now still two points above the relegation zone but they are moving in the right direction. They are away in the UEFA cup group stage on Thursday before hosting Everton in the Premier League on Sunday. The pressure is on Harry boy but he’s thriving on it. Confidence and self-belief are the key factors. Darren Bent is a classic example, while pocket pie size Aaron Lennon, who couldn't get a League start under the previous manager, came in for Sunday's home win over Blackburn and was the star of the show. Roman Pavlyuchenko scored the only goal, set to by Lennon............

Wow, give that Brazilian Robinho a big pie. He is signed for way over £30 million by Manchester City and already he is second highest goal-scorer this season in the Premier League with 8. His wonderful chip in the 3-1 home win over Arsenal was real Brazilian flair and had the Pieman reaching for another Pukka Pie!..........

Arsenal slip out of the top four. They were 13 points better off this time last season. They have lost 5 times in this season's Premier League....Fulham, Hull, Stoke, Aston Villa and now Manchester City. This time last season they were unbeaten and top of the table. Pieman suggests better leadership, some experienced top flight defenders and mid-field in the transfer window. Arsene Wenger has done a brilliant job but he needs to adapt a little. Listen, Arsene is one of the best.... he doesn't listen to many for advice but he might take note of the Pieman! Don't write Arsene or Arsenal off but they will not WIN the TITLE. I still believe that will eventually be between Chelsea and Manchester United, although the reigning Champions have a bit to do to catch Chelsea even with a game in hand... United are third - eight points behind the joint leaders Chelsea and Liverpool. What about Liverpool for their first title since 1990? Not for the Pieman, and they certainly have to keep Steve Gerrard and Fernando Torres fit. They will enjoy their best season though for some time. Fair play, lads.......

Alan Pardew gets the tin-tack at Charlton...... not that long since he was booted out of West Ham. Ironicallly the Pieman hears that Alan Curbishley, Charlton's long term manager who quit and then replaced Pardew at West Ham, would like to return to the Valley to replace Pardew! It is looking a bit like "Death" Valley with Charlton's 5-2 home defeat to Sheffield United pushing Charlton into the relegation zone. It finished with the home crowd booing Pardew before the Board sacked him. Merry Christmas mate!....

The Championship race is very interesting: Wolves have a six points lead over West Midlands rivals Birmingham and lo and behold they meet at the Molineaux on Saturday (12.30 pm) live on Sky Sports. Both teams won over the weekend but third place Reading surprisingly lost at home to Southampton. Two of those three clubs will be automatic promotion candidates. It’s a tough call which of the two Reading are at home to Coventry City on Monday (December 1) at 8 pm live on Sky Sports...............

The Pie Girls, who love to handle your emails and texts (details on my website) want to know about Histon. Do you know about Histon? Fair play mate, it’s a village (quite developed) that years ago was the home of Chivers jam, Christmas Puds and Ole English Marmalade (still the best I have ever eaten). The football team used to be Mickey Mouse in a Donald Duck league. Now with a nice little ground they are better than their rivals Cambridge United, sit top of the Blue Square Premier (top team is promoted to the Football League at the end of the season) and on Sunday they are at home to Leeds United in the second round of the FA Cup (12.15 pm live to the nation on ITV 1). They beat Oxford United 5-2 at home on Saturday in front of a 1,242 crowd and lead Burton Albion (manager Nigel Clough) on goal difference....... What a story, Piegirls, and a fairytale if they beat Leeds. What if Histon were in the third round of the FA Cup with the big boys (at home to Manchester United is always the Pie in the Sky wish list!).......

Quotes this week are from Big Ron Atkinson, great managerial character and TV co-commentator who blotted his copybook with an off camera racist comment.
His RON-English as it was known was very popular with a lot of viewers such as describing incidents, passes and plays during a match using phrases such as lollipops, full gun, early doors, spotters badge and Hollywood ball. There was more:

"I think that was a moment of cool panic there."
"That boy throws a ball further than I go on holiday."
"Beckenbauer has already gambled all his eggs."
"If Glenn Hoddle has said one word to his team at half-time it was concentration AND focus."
"They must go at it now as they have nothing to lose but the match."
"Some-one in the England team will have to grab the ball by the horns."
"And Peter Schmeichel (Manchester United goalkeeper) extends and grows even bigger than he is."
"Zero-Zero is a big score."
"He must be lightening slow."
"Well, Clive, it’s all about the two Ms - movement and position."

Good old Big Ron. Pity he said that stupid word.

Try and catch the latest show (Tuesday, 25 November) and join in with the next one.

Fair play, mate.....
THE PIEMAN

Friday, November 21, 2008

The Pieman's Blog for Friday, 21 November


The Pieman has to eat humble pie this week. I have not changed my mind about International friendlies because although we stuck it up the Germans it doesn't mean pie-all until we beat them in competition. No, where I got it wrong was that Fabio Capello, our beloved Italian now Head Coach of England, actually got the national team pressurising, closing down, playing at a high tempo and at long last using the Aston Villa youngsters in form, Gabriel Agbonlahor and Ashley Young. Gabby, as his club call him, has terrific pace and was a good addition. Young came on late.

The result was excellent, the performance pretty good, but the Pieman thinks everyone has gone too much overboard. There was nothing at stake.
Can't argue about Capello's excellent 100% start and you can only beat the opposition you are drawn against. There will be such a relief when England qualify but the real test comes in South Africa. The £6 million a year salary will only be worth it if England do the business then. What Capello has done is seize control, instil discipline and create competition for places. No one can assume anything under this geezer and about time too.

Did goalie Scott Carson call for the ball in the defensive mix-up with skipper John Terry that led to the German goal in the second half? That is the question I have not seen asked or answered. Has the Pieman missed that? It was very noble of Terry to take the blame. He has just scored the winner and his spot is pretty secure. Not so Carson. Two blips. Will Capello give him a third chance? You would like to think so, but..............

What sort of captain is William Gallas at Arsenal? What will his manager Arsene Wenger do now?

This is the basis of the Pie! Gallas launched a savage questioning of his team-mates stomach for a battle revealing rows on and off the pitch. Gallas spilt the beans while on International duty with France claiming that he had to calm things down in the dressing room at half-time in the 4-4 draw with Spurs and mentioned another Premier League game when two team-mates fell out. The problem is that Gallas has undermined Wenger's position as manager, lost the trust surely of his team-mates and should have warned his club that he was intending to go public. Since becoming captain of this famous Club, he has sulked, kicked advertising boards and staged a sit down on the Birmingham City pitch. Is Arsene bothered? We will find out soon.....Fair play mate!...What do you think? Let me know by email or text, details on the website..............

Sven-Goran Eriksson we hear is facing calls to be sacked as Mexico manager. The Mexican sports daily newspaper RECORD writes it will only cost $4 million to pay him off and they say they will pay the first dollar. The Swede must be laughing through the credit crunch. Pay off by England, Manchester City and now probably Mexico. No wonder he keeps smiling! Fair play mate!...............

Andy Anson is the new chief executive of the FA's 2018 World Cup bid. Do you care? About Andy I mean, not the World Cup! Mind you, after the farce of the rising costs of the London Olympics should we even be going down that path again? The Olympics costs are becoming a joke. Even the Minister in charge says if they had known then what was going to happen to the economy now they probably would not have backed it! Great, but now they want to stage a World Cup. Do we really need it or is it the only way we will win the World Cup again? In that case, fair play mate!

What do you think? Should we stage the 2018 World Cup? Please send me your thoughts.

Aston Villa versus Manchester United this Saturday is a cracker. A real meat and veg pie/United 3rd in the Premier League. They are 8 points behind the joint leaders Chelsea and Liverpool with a game in hand. Could be more by the time United-Villa kick off at 5.30 p.m. because Chelsea will have played and probably beaten Newcastle at home and the same can be said for Liverpool who play Fulham at Anfield. United usually win at Villa Park but Aston Villa are making huge strides under manager Martin O'Neill. Villa have recently won at Arsenal who had beaten Manchester United there the previous week. It might be that type of season. Villa are currently fifth - one point behind United!........

The Pieman loves a laugh and in these blogs I will be recalling past and present stories that have made me laugh!

This time it’s Tommy Docherty - one of football's great wits who managed so many different clubs - he joked, "I've had more clubs than Jack Nichlaus (USA golfer)!" ......When he got sacked from Rotherham, Doc declared, "I cannot understand it. I promised the chairman I would take the club out of the second division. I kept my word, we have just been relegated to the third!"...... When he was under pressure job-wise at Aston Villa the chairman Doug Ellis called the press together and stated, "I just want you gentlemen to know that I am right behind our manager Tommy Docherty", to which the Doc said, "With all due respect Mr Chairman, I would rather have you in front of me where I can see you!"... A few days later Mr Ellis sacked him!...........Then when Tommy Docherty was about to go to court on a perjury charge he answered a media question as to whether he was worried about a possible prison sentence. "Not really, the way I look at it is that they are bound to make me manager of the football team and after four bad results they would throw me out!"...... A great character, the Doc!

Thank for being with the Pieman. My next show will be on the website soon. The exact date will be posted!

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

The Pieman' s Blog for Tuesday, 18 November




I do not like friendly football matches - that includes Internationals. Having said that the Pieman can hardly allude to there being more bad POINTS than good POINTS cause there are no points to play for at all.

Take England who play in Berlin against Germany this Wednesday (8pm UK time on ITV). England do not have another competitive game until the end of March. The timing of this week's game is bad. It is a busy time of the season; players are injured and those injured players have to meet up with the FA England team for a second opinion (does the Pieman assume that someone thinks the clubs are telling porky pies or does Senor Capello want to make his stand?). Take Steven Gerrard. Liverpool say he’s injured on Sunday; Gerrard has to join the England squad in the London area on Monday where surprise, surprise, the FA announce - fair play, mate - Gerrard is injured! And the FA expect goodwill from the clubs.

The England starting team that goes out in Berlin will be missing 7 of the expected line-up. Now I know the FA did not know that when the match and date were agreed but heck it happens every time there is a friendly! For Capello it’s a chance to get everyone together although most of the squad will hardly ever play. For the FA it’s revenue and a chance to make TV contracts valuable, particularly for home matches. They can control the rights for overseas friendlies as part of the deal but have no say in away competitive games (The Pieman knows his onions!). Now if this was a world cup qualifier, wow, millions would be rushing home. There will still be a decent TV audience because it’s England and because it’s the Germans!

I will be watching but no doubt I’ll sink a few beers and Pukka pies. Senor Capello will smile afterwards and say how worthwhile it was and the media will go overboard up and down depending on the result. Every time you watch a top club game the England coach is one game ahead. He knows what every player can do. What will a FRIENDLY international really tell him? If he thinks Michael Owen is not match fit yet then play him for part of the FRIENDLY. We know Owen is world class!..........What do you think? Send me an email or text please.

Had to get that off my chest...
Heurelho Gomes made another of his awful errors in goal for Spurs in their first defeat under new manager Harry Redknapp. Spurs lost 2-1 at Fulham after the goalie they called the Octopus at his previous club dropped the ball for Fulham's first goal - an easy long shot from Simon Davies. Now all goalies drop the odd clanger. Fair play mate, that goes with the position, but surely Gomes has to be replaced in the January transfer window. Harry cannot say anything publicly because no business can be done till the New Year but its odds-on a new keeper will then arrive. Harry is said to like Newcastle's brilliant long-serving goalie Shay Given. Joe Kinnear says no way but it may be up to Given at the end of the day!

West Ham are looking iffy. In debt, the chairman has lost a lot of dough in the Icelandic money slump, the injury list continues and new boss Gianfranco Zola has only collected 2 points from the last seven Premier League matches. Otherwise everying is ok? Will the Hammers go down? Let the Pieman have your views....

I cannot believe it... UEFA fine Celtic £42,430 because a fan ran onto the Parkhead pitch and disrupted the European Champions League match with Manchester United. But UEFA only fine Croatia £9800 after their fans in Euro 2008 qualifier used Nazi salutes, white power banners and "gross racist chants". UEFA quite rightly have a big anti-racist campaign but where is the logic here in the difference between the size of these two fines. The Pieman demands Fair Play on this one, UEFA. You cannot have your pie and eat it!........

Bolton think referee Rob Styles was wrong to disallow Gary Cahill's goal against Liverpool because Kevin Nolan fouled Liverpool's goalkeeper Reina. Liverpool won 2 nil. I think the referee, who was well positioned at the corner, was right. Styles apologised to Gary Megson for getting a decision wrong in another match. I am sure the Bolton manager will eventually apologise to Mr.Styles. Or doesn't it work like that?.............

Result of the week: Championship Burnley knocking Premier League leaders out of the Carling Cup on their own pitch in a penalty shoot-out. Burnley's reward in the quarter-finals? A home tie against the brilliant youngster who turn out for Arsenal in the Carling Cup.

And finally, if it’s true... it’s been reported that mighty rich Chelsea are cost cutting and thinking of charging the players for their meals at the training ground. They pay their superstars millions upon millions. Some cost cutting! I hope they don't drop the pies!

Don't forget - please send the Pieman your emails and texts. That’s pm@piemanradio.com, or send a text to PM + your message to 80480.

Yours in pie
THE PIEMAN

Friday, November 14, 2008

The Pieman's Blog for Friday, 14 November


Bad week for our beautiful game of football. It’s had the Pieman spluttering and the Piegirls rushing for cover. Fair play mate is the Pieman's code and we are a bit short of it at present.

I will begin with four players and then a custard pie for some managers.
Chelsea striker Didier Drogba faces an FA ban following goal celebrations in the mid-week Carling Cup defeat by Championship side Burnley at the Bridge. Drogba is said to have made a crude gesture at some Burnley supporters and tossed a coin back at them. This story blew up after my latest Pieman podcast so this is what I think: Drogba is in trouble and has to answer on both counts. But this is also a classic case of the retaliation being punished and the cause getting off scot free. The Pieman asks: who threw the coin and can the Police with all their sophisticated cameras and equipment discover the culprit? Coin throwing is highly dangerous. A close shave when an Aston Villa supporter threw a coin aimed at Harry Redknapp earlier this season..............

Then there is the Ipswich player David Norris who did a cross-wrist handcuff gesture for a goal-scoring celebration in support of his friend, former Plymouth Argyle goalkeeper Luke McCormick whose dangerous and drunken driving got him seven years in prison following the death of two innocent brothers aged 10 and 8 in a crash that left their father seriously hurt. This was in June when McCormick was returning from the wedding of Norris. Ipswich, fair play, have fined Norris two weeks’ wages for the insensitive gesture and paid the same amount to a road safety charity. But the FA should take further action against the player. Otherwise football will look weak once again in failing to punish offenders. What sort of role model are players at times?

Next up is Sheffield United captain Chris Morgan elbowing Ian Hulme which left the Barnsley player with a fractured skull. The referee Andy D'Urso only gave Morgan a yellow card - so under FIFA guidelines there may not be much our FA can do and I am sure that Morgan did not realise that the outcome would be so bad. But it was still violent conduct. More on refs and managers in a moment but the manager cannot have it both ways. Some scream their players are not protected, as Simon Davey of Barnsley understandably does here, while others go potty on some red cards saying the foul did not warrant it when elbows are used. The Pieman needs to know when is it leverage of arms and/or dangerous play?...................

And finally there is the Joey Barton v Gabby Agbonlahor incident. Some say it might have been a racial remark. We don't know because Gabby does not want to report it even though his club Villa said they would support him. Not a word from Barton's club Newcastle. Now I read comments from Agbonlahor complaining that Joey has not apologised to him. If this is correct you cannot have it both ways, Gabby!...............

Now to the managers. They are threatening to abandon the Respect the Referee campaign. Great, just what the game needs. Sure, the refs have made some errors but not out of bias. They have always been the Aunt Sallys. No technology, no help from players (protesting, intimidating, swearing) or managers (raging, abusing, and making public statements against the refs). We need zero tolerance. Refs and their bosses have apologised to managers for the odd error. When did a manager ever apologise to the referee in public? Come to think of it, when did a manager ever criticise his players in public, usually making excuses for them or refusing to comment or just verbally whacking the ref! As for Joe Kinnear talking about referee Martin Atkinson making a Mickey Mouse decision four years after getting a touch line ban for calling another "Coco The Clown" - will he ever learn his lesson? The foul in question was not easy to spot for most people without TV replays................

Now for some good news. Arsenal's brilliant youngsters continue to make progress in the Carling Cup. After thrashing Sheffield United earlier in the season they easily beat a strong Wigan with 16 year old Jack Wilshere and 19 year old Jay Simpson, the pick of a string of brilliant youngsters. Arsene Wenger has taken some unreasonable stick lately. But the kids underlined his belief in future success. It all changes pretty quickly in football......
What do you think fellow football fans? Let me know by email or text and I will read them out on my next show on Tuesday November 18th.
Fair play, mate!

Yours in pie
The Pieman

Monday, November 10, 2008

The Pieman's Blog for Monday, 10th November

Arsenal 2 Manchester United 1 - a fantastic match with both teams attacking non-stop. Fair play to Arsene Wenger who has been under fire for not signing enough new players and for not winning a trophy for the past three years. Wenger is clearly not for changing but the Pieman believes he still has to strengthen his squad, goalie, defence and midfield being the priorites. The other top three have stronger squads. True, Arsene has some very good youngsters developing with the club but he still needs success before they may be ready.........
As for United, they have some great players, a terrific attack and of course Sir Alex. But Wayne Rooney and Christiano Ronaldo both missed match winning chances at the Emirates. By the way, Manchester United have only one win from their last eight matches there. They cannot afford the gap behind Chelsea to increase. They are currently eight points behind both Chelsea and Liverpool with a game in hand.......

The Premier League is as tight as a duck's bottom is June - that's watertight! West Bromwich Albion are bottom but only three points separate them and Fulham who are half way up the table in 10th spot. It’s unbelievable. It’s pretty close at the top but the big four are in those top four spots already. I've had a £250 bet with a rich Aston Villa fan Colin who is adamant that Villa will be in the top four at the end of the season. I have told him that Villa have some good players and a brilliant manager. Fair play to them but they are not better or have the depth yet of the big four. I have also had a £100 bookie bet that Portsmouth under Tony Adams will finish 9th or lower. The Pieman got evens, it’s now odds-on! Adams will do his best but they'll miss Harry Redknapp. I am sure Tony is a great number 2 but I am not sure he can cut the Pie in charge. They are 9th at present.......

Ref bashing continues. Mark Hughes, under real pressure at Sheik owned Manchester City, went bonkers at Mike Dean who sent off three players in City's 2-1 home defeat by Spurs. Gelson Fernandes and Richard Dunne received red cards as did the Spurs player Benoit Assou-Ekotto. Hughes, formerly Wales and Blackburn boss, has been earmarked as a real top gaffer. The way the City results are going he may lose his job. Refs always get the blame......

Harry Redknapp continues to do the business at Spurs. He must be eating Pukka Pies.10 points out of a possible 12 with lots of goals and winning their UEFA Cup group stage match -just terrific. Fair play to Harry boy! He has got mis-fit Darren Bent scoring goals again, Tom Huddlestone back in the team both creating and scoring and so on. Blinding stuff, Harry. Fair play to you.........

Newcastle's makeshift manager Joe Kinnear called referee Martin Atkinson "Mickey Mouse" after the official failed to give a free kick against Fulham striker Andy Johnson for a push on defender Claudio Cascapa in the attack that led to Johnson being fouled by Fabricio Coloccini (sounds like a Pizza!) for the match winning penalty. Now the Pieman recalls that last time Kinnear called a refereee "Mickey Mouse" was four years ago when he was Nottingham Forest manager. He received a touchline ban after telling the referee at the time. First of all, its not fair on Mickey Mouse who is one of my heroes and secondly there was plenty to blame with his own poor central defenders. Constant referee bashing is not fair play and that's what the Pieman stands for on this station!

Loved Gianfranco Zola as a Chelsea player and he always came over on the telly as a good bloke. A Pieman's sort of player. But I could not understand at the time why West Ham picked him as their manager with the club appearing to go skint. Zola's West Ham record so far: 9 matches, won 2 lost 6 and drawn one. Not good enough for the patient West Ham fans. Let me know, Hammers fans. Emails and texts .Look at the website for details. Meanwhile West Ham have slipped from fifth in the Premier League under manager Alan Curbishley on September 3, to14th on November 10 under Zola and it now means that the Hammers are one point off the relegation zone and just two points off the bottom of the Premier League. They may not be blowing Premier League bubbles for much longer!

Brian Clough's widow Barbara unveiled a £70000 statue of the legendary manager. The money was raised by public subscription. It got the Pieman recalling some of the Nottingham Forest football messiah's quotes:
"I certainly wouldn't say I'm the best manager in the business, but I'm in the top one".
"They say Rome was not built in a day, but I wasn’t on that particular job".
"If God had intended for us to play football in the clouds, he wouldn't have put grass on the ground".

…and so it went on. One of the greatest, Brian Clough.

I'll be updating my blog regularly so keep checking my website. I’m back on this Friday, November 14th with a new show and blog. Be part of the Pieman's football army!

Yours in pie
The Pieman

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

The Pieman's Blog, Wednesday, 5 November 2008



Fair play to all you Pieman blog watchers – here’s my latest update………...

The Pieman tipped you the Premier League bottom team Spurs to beat the then leaders Liverpool at White Hart Lane in the current Pieman radio show which was recorded BEFORE the weekend matches were played. You could have got odds of 11-5 against that happening. The Pieman is a great student of the game and will regularly give you tips both on this blog and on the radio show itself...............

The next show will be available to you on Monday November 10. The Pieman wants to get through a busy week of Champions League and UEFA Cup football plus the weekend's domestic programme. However, the updated blogs will now be a regular feature.

First Harry Redknapp at Spurs; now Joe Kinnear at Newcastle. Harry becomes the new Spurs boss – fair play to him! They immediately get their first Premier League win of the season, then draw 4-4 at Arsenal before becoming the first team to beat Liverpool this season. Joe comes in to do a rescue job for Newcastle on a month by month deal, steadies the Tyne boat with some draws before putting back to back wins over West Midlands team West Bromwich Albion and then Aston Villa. Newcastle, who are trying to be sold, should keep Joe until any new owners move in.

Spurs are still bottom; Newcastle have leapt out of the relegation zone as they move SIX places up the Premier League. It is very tight there this season! Spurs are at home to the Dinamo Zagreb in the UEFA Cup on Thursday (November 6) before playing Manchester City away in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon. Newcastle are away to Fulham on Sunday (live on Sky Sports 1 at 4.00 pm).

The biggest match of the weekend is Arsenal at home to Manchester United in the Premier League on Saturday lunchtime on Sky Sports 1 (kick-off 12.45 pm). Both play in the Champions League on Wednesday (November 5) -Arsenal at home to the Istanbul club Fenerbahce while Manchester United play at Celtic. Both English clubs will win with United taking the points as well on Saturday......................

Please keep your emails coming to pm@piemanradio.com and your texts (text pm plus message to 80480). Fair play to you! Remember to keep listening and try those Pukka Pies!

Yours in Pie
The Pieman

Friday, October 31, 2008

The Pieman's Blog, Friday, 31 October

Hello everyone - especially Harry "Houdini" Redknapp! Harry has just completed 25 years as a football manager and at 61 Harry has come a long way from his first match as Bournemouth boss when his side got beaten 9-0 against Lincoln. After winning the FA Cup for Portsmouth and restoring the former glory days to Fratton Park our Harry has taken over as Spurs manager. You must be Rip Van Winkle if you didn't know that! (apart from our kitman Michael G who is the original Rip Van!). Harry has come in and rescued Spurs with a home win over Bolton on his first day and an incredible pie-splitting 4-4 draw at the Arsenal who were doing their own version of Rip Van Winkle in the last few minutes!

Redknapp is a man manager, motivator and very knowledgeable about football. A real football man. A bit like myself really! The Spurs play at home to the Premier League leaders Liverpool who kept their unbeaten run going by taking away Chelsea's at Stamford Bridge on Sunday and then beating Harry's old club Portsmouth at home on Wednesday. This is the Pieman's PIE-DICTION: a shock win for Spurs. You can get 11-5 for that at the bookies...get on just like the Pieman! It’s live on Setanta at 5.30 p.m. on Saturday evening... Pukka Pie time!

Former Arsenal and England legend and captain Tony Adams has stepped up from being Redknapp's number to being the new manager of Portsmouth who are currently seventh in the Premier League How will he do? Ok, but he is no Harry Redknapp.

It is wrong to drag up his days at Wycombe. Different times, different problems and lack of resources. I just think they should have given Tone until Christmas to see how he goes and what players he will lose and also sign in the January transfer window. Number two's very rarely make great number one’s. The interviews and conferences may be fun and weird. In September 2006 Adams said, "I've helped a few people at Wycombe etc. I've done a little bit down at Pompey. Thanks very much. If nobody wants me - that's great. I'll go back to watching my chickens."...a bit like Eric Cantana!..................

Talking of new managers, Argentina legend Diego Maradona has been put in charge of the national football team. This is the player who cheated England in the 1986 World Cup by using his hand to score when jumping against Peter Shilton in the England goal. He too has some weird quotes. About the hand - Oh God he says: "At the time I called it the hand of God. ( Bollocks - was it the hand of God, it was the hand of Diego). It felt a bit like pick-pocketing the English".(hardly fair play, dirty Diego, no pies for you!)

John Carew has been fined £52,000 by Aston Villa after the striker was reported to have been spotted in a lap dancing club after curfew hours the night before a match. It would have been cheaper to have bunged the lap dancers a few quid and dashed home early! There is no doubt that John was drinking soft drinks but the Norwegian, now known as the Rocket Man by his team-mates, was stretching it when he says that he was not in the club but was in a bar that shares the same entrance! Well in the interests of this blog (purely for research you understand) I have taken a gander at the "Rocket Club" and the bar is part of the club and there were very scantily dressed ladies at the bar. It was not that hot so I assume they were lap dancers (I'm not just a pretty face!). Score: Pie Girls 10 - Rocket Club lap dancers 6 (after extra time!)...........

Have you heard the one about the goalkeeper who thought the team coach was in his safe hands but he dropped it? It crashed and cost him £20,000. It’s been revealed that Blackburn goalie Jason Brown, who earns £7500 a week as the reserve goalie has been handed the repair bill after he demolished a wall trying to drive a top range coach at Rovers pre-season German training camp. Because he doesn’t have a PCV licence required there is no insurance cover. Footballers will be boys! Do you remember Paul Gascoigne crashing Middlesbrough's Team bus ten years ago?

I hope you are enjoying the radio show. It’s great having you on board. Remember football is the game, fair play mate is the name.

Yours in pie…
The Pieman

Friday, October 24, 2008

The Pieman's Blog for Saturday, 25 October


The Tottenham Hotspur season goes from bad to worse. If they lose at home to Bolton on Sunday it will mean 9 Premier League matches without a win. Two points from two draws –incredible - including one at Chelsea - is their worst ever start. Now the jokes are starting to fly around like "What do a toothpick and Tottenham have in common? They both have two points!"

What is to be done? I think get a strong new coach who will make the current players fight for their places. Fabio Capello has restored England's results and discipline. It’s a key factor. Juande Ramos needs some new help with him - not the sack. A new face to gee up the players. Fair play to the club for not panicking - yet! Of course, they should not have sacked Martin Jol whose present club Hamburg currently top the German League. Spurs sacked Jol a year ago. In a sense, it serves them right! Changing the manager time after time very rarely works. The successful clubs are the patient ones. Changing the manager can be like an expensive divorce.You has to change the players, the staff, scouts and so on.

Meanwhile the fixture of the weekend is at Stamford Bridge on Sky Sports on Sunday lunchtime (1.30pm kick-off). Both teams are unbeaten in the Premier League and both joint top with 20 points. Chelsea have a better goal difference – plus 16 to Liverpool's plus 7. Both have injuries to key players. The difference here is that Chelsea have a bigger squad. They were without 7 regular first team stars last weekend and won 5:0 at Middlesbrough.
Liverpool are without their best player, striker Fernando Torres, and maybe another potential scorer in Robbie Keane. Chelsea to win.

Another top game will be the Sky Sports lunchtime match on Saturday: Sunderland v Newcastle. Much more than just a local derby. Newcastle looking for their first win under caretaker manager Joe Kinnear and maybe Joey Barton plays after his jail sentence and then six match suspension for another assault. Barton blames alcohol for his problems and says he gave it up in January. He says he knows he is in the last chance saloon. He should be, but you never know with football clubs... I am sure it’s Joey's last chance at Newcastle.

There are always lotsof talking points and it’s YOUR views I want. That's why Pieman Radio was formed to fill in all the gaps around the phone-ins on TV and Radio.

My message is clear; a bit of fun and fair play mate.

I'll finish this blog with some more Spurs jokes doing the rounds........
"A man was found floating down the Thames wearing a wig, full make up, suspenders and a Spurs shirt. Before informing the next of kin the police removed the Spurs shirt to save the family embarrassment."
"I met this really kinky girl last night. ‘Humiliate me’, she said. So I bought her a Spurs shirt."....
It’s only a bit of fun, folks. I hope the Spurs climb the table soon. Fair play, mate!

Saturday, October 11, 2008



Hello fellow football fans and welcome to my first blog and my first broadcast on Pieman Radio!

The world's greatest game - football, of course... our version, not that sissy stuff from the USA! The game throws up so many talking points and the Pieman's ambition has always been to share them with you....chew the Pies around if you like to use Pieman speak!

I have always been interested in what the fans think and now, thanks to my little touch and the jackpot in Las Vegas - some call it lost wages! - I am able to have my own platform to share with you, hopefully twice a week. I will tell you about all my favourite things including my favourite PIES.......... they are Pukka Pies. Soon we will able to share one of two. I've also got my own team of Pie Girls to help me.
They are the new staff at Pieman radio.
They will also run the Store with Pieman T-shirts and so on......


Did you see that piece on me on the sports pages of my favourite Sunday, the PEOPLE, in the Sport Confidential. I was so chuffed I might even sponsor the column. Anyway football fans, right now I need YOUR HELP... without your emails and texts I have no show so please get busy now. I will mention you all, read your important views and add the Pieman's thoughts.

What a week to kick off with. The World Cup Qualifiers. What's your country? What did you think of the matches played and those about to be played? I'm English so I am rooting for my ENGLANDERS but I always like to see the UK teams do well and the Irish as long as they are not playing England.....what did you make of the Lampard-Gerrard partnership and Englanders display against Kazakhstan at Wembley and Wednesday's game in Belarus? Kazakhstan's German coach stopped his team swopping shirts with the England players (meanie) but he is right to tell his players that there is more to Kazakhstan than a man with a moustache and a little white flag. (Borat, got it?)


Charlton are the latest target for foreign investors? Good or bad? Let me know? 9 of the 20 Premier League clubs have foreign owners. What do you think? Hey look at the time! It's pie time for me so you please get emailing and texting from around the world right now. I am waiting...... and if you’re going to send me one – fair play to you, mate!

Friday, October 10, 2008

THE PIEMAN'S BLOG


Hello Mates,

This is my first blog ever !

You will be able to hear my shows at http://www.piemanradio.com/ from 15th October 2008.

Thanks for looking.
Cheers
The Pieman