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