Saturday, June 6, 2009

Gary Newbon presents the Pieman's blog


Barcelona deserved to beat Manchester United in the European Champions League final. They outplayed and out-passed a disappointing and nervous looking United team who had achieved so much during the season. No criticism of Sir Alex Ferguson who has won 25 major trophies as the United manager compared with 14 previously in the club's history. Barcelona were smarter and lots better on the day. United got it wrong, passed badly and just had a bad day at the office. They will be back..........

Newcastle's relegation to the Championship is a stunning but sad story. They have been in free fall for too long. It might be harder to get back than their fans believe. Alan Shearer by the way has it all to do as manager. He was a great player, he will always be a hero in Newcastle but to sit in the TV studios as a pundit and then take your first managerial job at a crisis club in the Premier League is a big ask. Alan may become a great manager but few start with their first job in the Premier League and make a success. Kenny Dalglish had a different set-up with Liverpool but usually average players who become great managers have cut their managerial teeth at lower levels, Sir Alex Ferguson, Arsene Wenger, David Moyes, Martin O'Neill and so on. Martin will argue by the way that he was captain of his country and won a European Cup winners' medal - but you get my drift on the managerial front.

Aston Villa fans have turned on their former captain Gareth Barry for his move to Manchester City and for his reason for leaving after over 10 years at Villa Park. I know Gareth well. He is a very good player, an excellent person and took his captain's duties very seriously, attending more personal appearances for the club than anyone else. He was often Villa's best player. But football fans turn very quickly. Their treatment of former players can be pathetic. None of those now having a go at Barry would have turned down the chance themselves of doubling their wages and picking up a huge signing on/loyalty/bonus or however they phrase it in the contract! Barry even wrote a letter to the Villa supporters through the medium of the local newspaper, the Birmingham Mail.... However, without deliberately contradicting myself I do sympathise with the supports anger at Barry's reasoning that one major reason was for Champions League football. Unfair to Villa who finished sixth, higher than Barry's new club and just two places behind Arsenal. Gareth was badly advised to use that tack. He might have just confined his reasons, if he felt he had to give them more money and new challenges. After all Manchester City is currently about more money. Fans reserve the right to boo their own players when they think they deserve it. They should also recognise that a player who has given great service should be allowed to move towards or at the end of his contract. Villa will receive £12 million in transfer fee.

Other sinking ships in Titanic order after Newcastle.....Charlton, Norwich and Southampton. How low will they fall?...How did Phil Parkinson get the full time manager's job at Charlton after only one win in 18 matches as caretaker boss there?

Off-beat award of the season. Stoke City's Rory Delap for those huge long range throw-ins. Brilliant. And my Manager of the Year award would go to his boss Tony Pulis who did a wonderful job keeping Stoke in the Premier League when all the critics, including me, wrote them off for instant relegation.

My correct predictions of the season for different reasons: Manchester United to win the Premier League; Hull to stay up (they only just did!); Wolves to be promoted, Leicester to be promoted back to the Championship. Aston Villa not to finish in the top four (won money) and Portsmouth to finish below 9th (won money again!)

What I got wrong: Manchester United to win the European Champions League; Chelsea to be Premier League runner's up; Stoke to be relegated; Birmingham to be promoted through the play-offs (they won automatic promotion), Leeds to be promoted from League One and Cambridge United to be promoted to the Football League. Hey, you cannot get it all right!

Have a good summer. I hope the Pieman invites me back next football season!

Thursday, May 21, 2009

Gary Newbon presents the Pieman's Blog


Manchester United are simply the best. Both the Pieman and myself predicted that they would retain the Premier League when the season began. The addition of the World Club Championship and the League Cup are a big bonus topped by being on the verge of retaining their European Champions League. The final against Barcelona in Rome on Wednesday May 27 is the match all Europe will savour. United will win because they have a great squad and are covered in every position. They also have Cristiano Ronaldo. Of course Barcelona have some great players such as Lionel Messi but United also have the relentless Sir Alex Ferguson as their manager and he stays one step at least ahead of the rest...

No-one should be distracted by the Carlos Tevez situation. Sure, he has made an important impact every so often. Sure, he is a very good player. If he stays, great, if he goes, ok. His presence elsewhere will be disappointing for United but the cost will not be as much as is being made.

Everyone is waiting for the last Sunday of the season of the Premier League (May 24th, 4 p.m. kick-off) to see who is finally relegated and what team Manchester United start with, just three days before the ECL final in Rome. United will be at Hull, one of four clubs trying not to be in the two who go down with West Bromwich Albion. The fixtures are Sunderland v Chelsea; Hull v United; Aston Villa v Newcastle and West Ham v Middlesbrough.... WBA are bottom and gone. Middlesbrough have 32 points and minus 28 goal difference; Newcastle have 34 points and the best goal difference with minus 18; Hull 35 points and minus 24 with Sunderland 36 points and minus 19.... It’s down to the wire. I was at the Hawthorns to see the Baggies lose to Liverpool on Sunday. I will be at Villa Park this Sunday and expect Newcastle to be beaten. Funnily enough, I think West Bromwich are better than the others at the bottom!

Sir Alex will want United to win whatever side he picks. That's in his nature and he would not want to be accused of causing an upset. But he has to think of Rome. Anyway, these clubs have had the previous 37 games to have made sure they were not in this position. Football people often look for excuses and blissfully choose to ignore their own shortcomings either in a match or the season. Or in some cases both!

The play-off finals are about to be staged at Wembley. The biggest one is the Championship game with the winners of Sheffield United and Burnley being promoted to the Premier League. It’s a tough call but I fancy Burnley. They have had a marathon season, over 60 games, with a run to the 5th round of the FA Cup and semi-finals of the League Cup before going out in extra time to Spurs. Owen Coyle has done a great job as manager. Sheffield United manager Kevin Blackwell will be favourite to bounce this club straight back after controversial relegation last season.

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Gary Newbon presents the Pieman's Blog


All season I have been predicting that Manchester United would retain the Premier League. I knew they were good but now they seem to be the best team in the world. They have a great manager, great players, a fantastic attitude to playing football and the power and depth to achieve it. They need four points this week to clinch the title again and with home matches against Wigan and Arsenal they could do it before second place Liverpool even play again! I really believe they can also retain the European Champions League and become the first club to achieve back to back competition wins in this ECL. United against Barcelona in their perfect-looking final.

Alan Shearer eventually achieved his first win as Newcastle manager at the sixth attempt… and good luck to him. Shearer is clearly making a difference. The 3-1 home win over relegation rivals Middlesbrough could be enough to keep them up with two matches left. They may need another win... last games are home to Fulham and then away to Villa. But the St. James's Park win on Monday means it’s now West Bromwich Albion bottom, then Middlesbrough and now Hull. You would not want to bet against those three going down. I was wrong about Stoke. Everyone at the start of the season was predicting relegation for Stoke. Their manager Tony Pullis made the Britannia Stadium a fortress with 9 wins, five draws and just four defeats. They dug in to win with the loudest crowd around. Take a bow Tony Pullis.

UEFA need to address two problems in the European Champions League competiton. They must put their very best referees in charge of the later stages of the competiton. Tom Henning Ovrebro may have been the best referee in Norway for the last five years and he may have taken over 20 ECL games but I did not see any mention anywhere of him being amongst the elite in Europe. He had a shocker at Stamford Bridge for the second leg of the ECL semi-final between Chelsea and Barcelona. He missed at least one penalty decision for Chelsea (maybe two were penalties but not all four!), but it was not a conspiracy to stop a repeat on an all English ECL final again! Anyway, if that had been the case (and it was not) then the referee would not have sent off a Barcelona player. By the way, as you may have seen, that was a mistake as well! Yet the behaviour of some of the Chelsea players afterwards was terrible. Some must be punished. Didier Drogba using crude and obscene language into a love TVC camera with millions upon millions listening around the world deserves severe punishment. His captain John Terry should not have condoned it and manager Guus Hiddink should have publicly criticised him as Reading manager Steve Coppell did about one of his player’s bad on-pitch behaviour at the weekend. The fact is – yes, the referee did make mistakes but so did some Chelsea players. Drogba missed a good chance and Michael Essien failed to mark and defend properly for the very late Barcelona equaliser. The culture to always blame the referee and not the shortcomings of the players is beginning to become so predictable and boring!

Thursday, April 16, 2009

Gary Newbon presents The Pieman's Blog


An English team will be in the European Champions League for the fifth season running. That's a fact because Manchester United will play Arsenal in one of the semi-finals. Arsenal are playing very well but I take Manchester United to be defending their title in the final in Rome at the end of May. In the other semi-final Chelsea will play the Spanish giants Barcelona. I would not want to write off Chelsea but Barcelona with the likes of Lionel Messi are well fancied. I think Barca will shade it.

United had to be the first English team to win in Porto. The presence of Rio Ferdinand in United's defence was a big factor. I am so impressed with Wayne Rooney and his incredible work rate. Manchester United are looking strong and back in business. They have won the World Club Championship and the Carling Cup. They play Everton in the semi-final of the FA Cup at Wembley on Sunday. Everton are doing so well but they do not have the resources, strength or as much talent as United. David Moyes has got his side playing like a real team but I expect United to return to Wembley for the final. That leaves the Premier League. United are of course reigning Champions of the PL as well. They have a one point lead over Liverpool with a game in hand. Liverpool have just six matches left. United to retain this title as well! Hey, they could still win all five trophies. Sir Alex Ferguson deserves it!

Liverpool were involved in a fantastic ECL quarter-final second leg tie at Stamford Bridge. They were 3-1 down from the first leg at Anfield. After falling behind several times in the amazing return Liverpool led 4-3 but Frank Lampard's second goal made it 4-4 and sealed it for Chelsea. What a regular star Lampard proves to be for Chelsea.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger says he fancies the ECL semi-finals with Manchester United. He has to, but they are on a great unbeaten run in the Premier League, they are fourth and look certain to nail another ECL place next month. It’s great for Arsenal that they have their three best players back, Cesc Fabregas, Emmanuel Adebayor and Robin Van Persie. Add the likes of Theo Walcott who scored the first goal against Villarreal, and of course they play Chelsea on Saturday in the FA Cup semi-finals.

The Premier League proves once again it’s the best and strongest there is in the world. The Chelsea v Liverpool match was football at its most exciting. The best match of the season anywhere!

Monday, April 6, 2009

Gary Newbon presents The Pieman's Blog


Sir Alex Ferguson takes gambles to win matches. His latest was vital. On Sunday with the club trailing Liverpool in the Premier League and Aston Villa in the match itself Sir Alex threw on a 17 year old substitute Italian Federico Macheda for his debut. His stunning winner three minutes into added time was the stuff dreams are made of. United are now one point ahead of Liverpool with a game in hand (v Portsmouth) and with 8 matches left (7 for Liverpool who appear to have an easier run in). This 3-2 win could be the result that actually makes the difference! United were without five very important players through suspension and injury. That's how big a result they pulled off. I have been tipping United all season. No change now. I also have big bets with two wealthy Aston Villa fans from last August. I said Villa were not ready yet to be in the top four. They have been closer than I expected but I will be proved right in the end and collect!

Liverpool have been more consistent in team selection. Like United they can score plenty of late goals. Liverpool have scored 8 times after 90 minutes this season - the latest in the 1-0 away win at West Ham from substitute Yossi Benayoun. Liverpool are scoring lots of goals at present and looking very confident. But I still think Chelsea can pip them to runner's up spot even if Liverpool have by far the easiest looking run in to the season of the top four clubs. And what a match on Wednesday in the regular European Champions League pairing of Liverpool at Chelsea. It’s the quarter-final first leg tie at Anfield. I do not know which club will get through over the two legs because it is always so tight with so few goals. But my money would just edge Chelsea. We will see!

Alan Shearer lost his first match as Newcastle's manager. He had 8 matches to save them from relegation. No surprise losing to Chelsea who have the best away record in the Premier League but a bad defensive mistake by Newcastle's Coloccini led to the first goal... and the Toon will need more than the Messiah to save them. Television pundits do not often make great first time managers! Newcastle need someone with proven experience right now. I think it is a daft gamble that will not work!

Fabio Capello is certainly the experienced choice for England. He has instilled discipline and fear in the England squad in the right way. The World Cup group six that England are topping with 100 % record after 5 matches is not very strong but the matches still have to be won. England at the half way mark will qualify for the finals in South Africa next year.

What of the others in the UK and Ireland? The Scots must ideally beat Norway away and Macedonia at home in the autumn to win a play-off place behind Holland in group 9. Wales have no chance now in group 4; Northern Ireland's home wins over Poland and Slovenia puts them top of Group 3 but Slovaki are just one point behind with two games in hand. So the Irish matches in both Poland and the Czech Republic are huge if the Irish are to stand a chance of reaching the World Cup finals for the first time since 1986.The Republic of Ireland drew 1-1 at leaders Italy in Group 8 thanks to a late, late goal by Robbie Keane. The Republic are now second, two points behind the World Champions. Difficult games in Bulgaria and Cyprus may settle the automatic issue.

Scotland and Rangers took action against Barry Ferguson and Alan McGregor. They were relegated to the Scotland subs bench after breaking a late-night drinking curfew but when both players gave V signs at the match to photographers when on the bench they were banned for life by Scotland and suspended for 2 weeks by their club Rangers. Well done, both club and country. Disgraceful behaviour by both players.

Thursday, March 26, 2009

Gary Newbon presents The Pieman's Blog


The Premier League title race has been thrown open after a couple of amazing weeks. The football is still in Manchester United's favour but it’s a lot tighter now. Just to add to the tension with eight games left (9 in the case of United) the competition takes a breather for a week or so as we concentrate on the International matches. I'll comment on those in my next blog but the definite results and facts concern this wonderful Premier League season.

Who would have thought that Liverpool would strike 13 goals in three successive matches - 4 nil at home to the famous Read Madrid team in the European Champions League, 4-1 at Old Trafford in the home den of the reigning Premier League Champions Manchester United and then 5-nil at home to Aston Villa. Wow! All this and their manager Rafa Benitez at last signing a new contract. One point the game but Manchester United with nine games left do have a match in hand - at home to Portsmouth - and despite the pressure and suspensions I do believe they have the manager and quality to get them home. They have been there before. Liverpool have not won the League title since 1990 and I do not accept they will win all eight remaining matches. But what a finale in prospect.

The long season is catching up on Aston Villa. No win in eight matches in all competitions and they are down to 5th in the Premier League - probably their final position. The depth and strength in quality will result in the Big Four - United, Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal being the top four yet again and taking the four English places in next season's European Champions League. Do you agree? Do you think Manchester United will be champions again or have I got it wrong about Liverpool? Will Arsenal or Aston Villa finish fourth?

And what about relegation. I have West Bromwich Albion and Middlesbrough to go down with Newcastle in the absence of manager Joe Kinnear as the other club to finish in the drop zone. Unlike many other I do think last season's promoted clubs Hull and Stoke City will survive by the skin of their teeth. Do you agree?

Try and catch my latest show with Tom Ross. We had a right barney 20 minutes or so in! It is a wonder we agree on anything. Still, that's football. It’s all about opinion. The Pieman wants you opinions. Try our website for emails and texts and we'll answer them in the show. Back next week with the show.

Monday, March 16, 2009

Gary Newbon presents THE PIEMAN BLOG


My European Champions League predictions were correct. All four English clubs are through to the quarter-finals. Liverpool thrashed Read Madrid at home to complete a double in both legs; Manchester United saw off Inter-Milan and Jose Mourinho without conceding a goal, Chelsea overcame Juventus in Turin while Arsenal won a nail biting penalty shootout in Rome against Roma. England 3 Italy 0... The draw is this Friday, March 20. Love it. England will retain the Champions League. I see the only danger as Barcelona. Agreed?

Meanwhile in the Premier League we were all shocked by Liverpool's 4-1 win at Old Trafford against Manchester United. I do not believe that Liverpool thought they would win by such a big margin. Who would have thought that United's outstanding central defender Nemanja Vidic would have made bad blunders and been sent off? He has been outstanding this season but it was a nightmare afternoon for him. He was also sent off in the defeat at Liverpool earlier in the season. Seven players have been sent off against Liverpool in the PL this season - Vidic with a double! Manchester United still have a four points lead with a game in hand. They will still retain the PL. Agreed? Fernando Torres was brilliant for Liverpool. He is the best striker in the world. Agreed?

Arsenal are in fourth place albeit on goal difference. They beat Blackburn 4-0 at home while the next day Aston Villa lost 2-1 at home to Spurs. Villa's small squad is floundering at long last and although they have done better away from home this season with their speedy counter-attacks you cannot see Villa in their present form getting much out of their next two matches - away to Liverpool and then Manchester United. Everton who will be Villa's next opponents at Villa Park are closing on the Midlands team. The ever changing face of football but as I blog the Big Four are 1-2-3-4!

The powers that be have decided that Howard Webb is the Premier League's best ref. I am no longer convinced. I put Alan Wiley, who was excellent at Old Trafford, and Mark Halsey above Webb these days. Any thoughts?

Monday, March 9, 2009

The Pieman's Blog for Monday, 9 March


Gary Newbon: The Pieman has invited me to take over the Pieman Radio blog and I am happy to make my internet debut. I love working at Sky Sports and I hope very much you will catch YOU'RE ON SKY SPORTS which goes out live on most Wednesdays and Saturdays during the football season. It’s a platform for Sky Sports viewers to air their football views. My stance is the same as the Pieman's. Fair play mate and keep it balanced, but like the Pieman I always want to hear your views. So please tell your mates about this radio station and send either the Pieman or myself your thoughts via the email address or text as shown on this site. There may be a Pukka Pie or several in it for you! Balti Pukka Pies are my favourites!

What a week for European football. I am posting this blog on Monday March 9. If you read this later in the week you will be able to see if my predictions are right! I think Manchester United are unstoppable at present. They are on course with their wonderful squad for five trophies. They have already won the World Club Championship and the Carling Cup. They meet Everton in the FA Cup semi-finals and have a great chance of winning that competition plus they are set up to retain the Premier League title. Now they face Inter-Milan in the second leg of the first knock-out stage in the European Champions League. Retaining the European crown is United's hardest task. They should have beaten Jose Mourinho’s side in Turin. I hope, like manager Sir Alex Ferguson, that it does not come back to bite them!

Liverpool had the best result in the first leg - one nil in Madrid over Real. They should be stitched on at Anfield on Tuesday. Rafa Benitez is better in Europe than the Premier League. Take Chelsea to get through in Turin. They have a 1-nil lead over Juventus and I do think Chelsea will score as well. Arsenal will find it tight in Rome against Roma but I would hope they can build on their 1-0 home win over the Italians. I expect all four English clubs to go through but it may be tight!

The two remaining Championship teams were knocked out of the FA Cup at the weekend. I saw Coventry lose 2-0 at home to Chelsea. Coventry tried hard but were guilty of a terrible defensive error for the first goal. Burnley went out 3 nil at Arsenal. Eduardo was back and showed what his manager Arsene Wenger described as a beach volley. Sublime skill. So now Arsenal play Hull at the Emirates in their delayed quarter-final. The winner will play Chelsea in one semi-final with Manchester United playing Everton in the other. The semi-finals will both be played at Wembley on April 18 and 19.

I will be posting like the Pieman some football funnies. Might as well start with one of mine:
There will be more football later but first highlights of the Scottish League Cup final!

Friday, February 27, 2009

The Pieman's Blog for Friday, 27 February

Liverpool pull off the result of the week - one nil winners in Madrid against Real. What a result, a win and the away goal should it be needed in the return at Anfield. Chelsea win again under new manager Guus Hiddink - one nil at home to Juventus. Chelsea should win return in Turin. A good week for our four English clubs.

Dutchman Guus Hiddink is Chelsea’s new manager until the end of this season. He agreed to combine this post with coaching Russia toward the World Cup. The Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich is believed to pay part of his national wages so obviously it was not a tough decision for Hiddink to make. He is a world class coach with world wide experience. He has already said his players are not fit enough. For sure he will change that and the tactics. Chelsea, with their talented players, will surely be transformed under Hiddink. They will be back in business. It will be interesting to watch this Saturday lunchtime’s visit to inform Aston Villa (live on Sky Sports). Fair play Chelsea, this is a very good appointment...

Eduardo scores two goals for Arsenal in their easy-peasy 4-0 FA Cup fourth round replay against last season’s FA Cup finalists Cardiff from the Championship. Eduardo suffered a terrible injury after a challenge by Birmingham City’s defender Martin Taylor. The first fears were that Eduardo would never play again. But the Croatian striker is back and what a difference he should make to Arsenal. They have been on a decent unbeaten run but goals have dried up in recent matches. Now they have a fifth round FA Cup tie against another excellent cup side from the Championship, that’s Burnley, and if they win that then they will be at home in the quarter final to either Sheffield United or Hull. The latter have won at the Emirates Stadium this season but Hull have lost form since. Those pundits who reckon Arsenal may not finish in the top four may have been hasty. They are correct to say they will not win the Premier League title this season but the Champions League place for next season is not out of the window just yet.

Manchester United look most likely to retain the Premier League title. One of their heroes Ryan Giggs has just signed a one year contract which will take him past his 37th birthday. He is a model one club professional who has scored in each of the past 19 seasons. They should give Ryan Giggs a knighthood.

Will Sven Göran Eriksson be the new manager of Portsmouth? And will he do the business for them? Paul Hart and Brian Kidd are caretakers but Sven, currently coach of Mexico, is their top choice. He is not having much fun on the pitch with Mexico - but Sven will always enjoy it off the pitch. He did a fair job for England and Manchester City. Can he raise the bar to that achieved by Harry Redknapp and lowered by Tony Adams? Is this the right job for Sven? I am not sure...

Things they wish they had not said:

“”It’s like a game of chess now: keep your cards close to your chest.” JASON PRICE
“It’s not great on the eyes, but it’s super to watch.” STEVE CLARIDGE
“He dived one-handed like a swan.” BBC
“He offers something different to what we have not got.” SIMON GRAYSON
“It’s the expected start to this game - Nil-Nil.” JOHN MURRAY
“He (Wayne Rooney) is inexperienced, but he’s experienced in terms of what he’s been through.” STEVE MCCLAREN
“They (Arsenal) have a lot of games coming up in recent weeks”. LES FERDINAND

The new Pieman and Tom Ross show will be up on http://www.piemanradio.com/ this Friday. We are bound to row! We do not agree on much. Tom can’t sing either but the Piegirls can. Catch their new song at the end of the show...

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

The Pieman's Blog for Tuesday, 10 February


Two Premier League clubs at either end of the table panic and sack their managers. Chelsea, fourth in the table and seven points behind leaders Manchester United, dismiss Luis Felipe Scolari while less surprisingly Portsmouth sack Tony Adams as they sink to within one point of the relegation zone. Scolari had 36 games as Chelsea boss after replacing Avram Grant in June. He is Chelsea's third manager in a year! Adams took control after Harry Redknapp left for Spurs at the end of October and won just 2 of his 16 Premier League matches. Results are the only real name of the game in football.

Scolari, 60 years of age, won the World Cup as Head Coach of Brazil in 2002 and went to manage Portugal. But it did not work out at Chelsea with 57 per cent winning return only and talk of unrest with strikers Didier Drogba and Nicholas Anelka while players were complaining about his tactics and boring training. The last straw came with the 0-0 home draw with Hull. Chelsea used to be unbeaten for several seasons at Stamford Bridge but this season they have only won 6 PL matches out of 13. Owner Roman Abramovich, according to Scolari's camp, made the decision. The Russian had dismissed the successful Jose Mourinho and Avram Grant went after losing the European Champions League final after a penalty shoot out to Manchester United.

Portsmouth appointed their number two Tony Adams as manager after Harry Redknapp left for Spurs at the end of October. I was heating my Pukka Pie at the time and remember thinking how often do assistants really do the business? Not very often! Adams is a strange man. A brilliant player, but management material? I doubt a person on that score, when in one of his first interviews he says he does not like people. That's like some-one saying to the True. He said he was not given much money to spend. £I 2 million in fact, so that is true. Adams says he did not have much time but he has only taken two points from the last possible 27. He appeared to be getting muddled in the high pressure situation. The Pieman believes in fair play mate. I defend players, managers and referees when I can. But I think Portsmouth had to cut their losses and make a change. They made a mistake and should compensate Tony Adams accordingly. Fair play mate.

The referee Martin Atkinson missed Manchester City's Shaun Wright-Phillips kicking out in retaliation in an incident that saw Stoke's Rory Delap quite rightly red-carded for violent conduct. Delap is serving a three match suspension for being sent off. The FA studied the video of the game and gave Wright-Phillips the same punishment. He will miss Manchester City's away games at Portsmouth, Liverpool and West Ham. Fair play mate. Often it’s the retaliation that is spotted and not the original offence. However, you just cannot fight back, tempting as it is. What would I do if someone nicked my Pukka Pie? Give them a kiss and hope that some-one would deal with the thief? Steady on, Pieman, it’s not that serious...... But what does really upset me is the daft rule that if a referee and particularly a linesman sees an incident and takes no action then the FA still take no action. Take the recent Liverpool-Chelsea match. Referee Mike Riley sends off Frank Lampard but later admits he was wrong and the red card is rescinded afterwards. But in the closing minute the Chelsea defender Jose Bosingwa is clearly seen kicking Liverpool's Yossi Benayoun up the backside near the corner flag right in view of the close-up linesman who takes no action. Hardly fair play mate! The law needs adjusting.

Meanwhile Manchester United return to the top after the Champions won at West Ham - their sixth 1-0 win in their last 8 PL matches. Ryan Giggs scored the goal which makes him the only player to score in each of the 17 Premier League seasons. Fair play mate! United, in the process kept their consecutive 13th clean sheet (no goals conceded!) which is a British record. 1212 minutes without conceding passing Glasgow Rangers’ (with Chris Woods in goal) record of 1196 minutes set in the 1978-79 season. Next on goalie Edwin Van Der Sar's horizon is the World Record of 1275 minutes set by Atletico Madrid (Abel Resino in goal) in the 1990-91 season. The United defence is terrific and Vidic quite rightly was chosen as the Barclays Premier League player of the month for January. Sir Alex Ferguson won the manager of the month. He's got more medals, trophies, Cups and titles than even this Pieman has eaten pies, let alone hot dinners.

A word about Joe Kinnear, the Newcastle manager who suffered a heart attack in 1999 when Wimbledon's boss.Joe has had a hard time of it this season since taking over from Kevin Keegan and he had to be taken to a Sutton Coldfield hospital in the West Midlands before the away win at West Bromwich Albion, feeling unwell. Joe was suffering from high blood pressure but hopefully he is recovering well. Joe is one of the great characters in the high pressure world of football management.

It’s International week with England playing a friendly in Seville against the current FIFA ranked number one country, European Champions Spain. Others are involved in both World Cup qualifiers and friendlies. Then it’s the FA Cup at the weekend. Plenty to reflect on in my next blog. The next Pieman and Tom Ross internet radio show on this website will be available this Friday (13th, but hopefully not unlucky). Bad weather prevented Tom travelling to the studio last week but he was more upset that I ate his pie!

I will finish this blog with more of what they wish they had not said:

"If there's one thing Derby have lacked this season, it's pace and power." ALVIN MARTIN
"With apologies to Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, will it be Wolves
or West Brom who are singing in the rain tonight?" IAN WINTER
"A tremendous free kick! It probably would have gone in if he had put it where he intended to put it." STAN COLLYMORE
"Some Hull City supporters have had to wait 104 years for this day." RADIO 5 LIVE
"He (David Beckham) has lost his legs at the highest level." CHRIS WADDLE
"Diouf is the master of the dark art of the winger: draws you in, sucks you off...." GARRY BIRTLES
"There's not many players who would have hit him (Fabio Capello) in the eye and made him put his hat on." GLENN HODDLE

Monday, February 2, 2009

The Pieman's blog for Monday, 2 February


The transfer deadline finished with a lighter flurry than the snow that hit much of Britain. But Spurs manager Harry Redknapp splashed out big to sign three former Spurs players - Robbie Keane, Jermain Defoe and Pascal Chimbonda. Defoe is already out injured - maybe for the season - with a foot injury so the capture of Robbie Keane to replace him was vital. Good business too for five million less than Keane was sold to Liverpool a few months ago. £15 million in fact was this transfer. The Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez left Keane out of the Liverpool squad again so the writing was on the wall. Fair play, Harry. Can Robbie now keep Spurs up - they are still only one point outside the drop zone but I will bet a tray of my precious Pukka Pies that Spurs will be playing Premier League football next season.

Hey, such a gambler. I will wager another tray of my favourites - Balti Pies by Pukka - that Manchester United will retain the Championship. Let’s face it, at this stage the only Premier League team with a real challenge left are Liverpool after Sunday's 2-0 home win over Chelsea. The visitors’ boss Luis Philipe Scolari complained with justification that Chelsea's Frank Lampard should not have been sent off by referee Mike Riley after a tackle with Alonso. Scolari is right but he still had the good grace to state that Liverpool were the better team. Chelsea are surely going to appeal about the decision in the same way that the previous week West Bromwich Albion successfully did over the incorrect decision by referee Rob Styles to send off Paul Robinson. I like to support referees but I think these two incidents called for the refs to take more time and consideration including consulting their linesmen. Then it would be fair play.

Fernando Torres scored both Liverpool's late goals. Chelsea will have it all to do now -particularly if Lampard's sending off is not rescinded and he gets a three match suspension. Chelsea's Anelka is the PL's top scorer with 14 goals. Lampard has 9 but he is the all round star that is so vital for an ageing Chelsea team.

I cannot believe some Aston Villa fans were booing Martin O'Neill after the unlucky goalless home draw with Wigan. Villa have had a brilliant season so far and O'Neill is an outstanding manager. Villa are third; still in the Fa Cup and UEFA Cup and they have only lost 4 matches in the Premier League. They were desperately unlucky as Wigan defended with guts and determination. The Wigan manager Steve Bruce also said they were lucky not to lose to Villa before paying his tribute to his own team. So what is the matter with you, Villas fans? Try making as much noise as the Stoke fans do all the while. Wake up and smell the coffee Mr.O'Neill is brewing. Villa fans were claiming the team did not want it enough. Disgraceful re-actions. No Pies for you crusties!

Villa will not win the Premier League this season but they may finish fourth and secure a multi million pound place in the European Champions League. Signing Emile Heskey has improved their chances. At £3.5 million the striker was a steal. But don't underestimate Arsenal. O'Neill will not. Arsenal are five points behind but they too have signed a striker, Zenit St.Petersburg's Andrei Arshavin who does score goals. Arsenal are unbeaten in 10 games but they missed out on two vital points in the goalless home draw with West Ham.

We know what a good job David Moyes has done at Everton with little money and recently without an established striker. I hope his deadline day signing of Jo on loan from Manchester City works out for him. The Brazilian cost City £19 million but has been a flop.
Word of praise for manager Steve Bruce and Roy Hodgson. Wigan are seventh; Fulham 9th. Both had relegation worries last season. Both have performed splendidly. It shows what can happen if clubs are patient and do not panic by sacking the manager.

Some interesting draws and fair play mate to the battlers at the bottom. West Brom twice coming back to draw 2-2 at Hull; Middlesbrough against Blackburn goalless, Stoke winning 1 nil against Manchester City with ten men - after Rory Delap was rightly sent off but what about the retaliation shown by City's Shaun Wright-Phillips that went unnoticed? Mind you, in fairness it is sometimes the other way round!

Portsmouth, as the Pieman keeps writing and saying, continue to be on the slide. Only 2 PL win from 15 matches since Tony Adams became manager - the last being in November. This weekend Pompey lost 3-1 at Fulham. Adams is under enormous pressure and the word in the Pieshops is that he has three matches left to rescue his position. They are Liverpool at home on Feb 7, Manchester City, also at home on February 14, and Stoke away on Feb 21. These are the cold facts - Portsmouth were 7th in the PL when Adams took over as manager on October 28. They are now 16th. Portsmouth have collected 10 points from a possible 42 under Adams. They have suffered 10 defeats in all competitions, kept 1 clean sheet under him and scored 13 goals in 14 PL matches. P45 material.

So we come to mighty Manchester United, now grinding out their 7th 1-0 win from their last 10 PL matches record 12 PL clean sheets. Their goalkeeper, the outstanding Edwin van der Sar has beaten the English League record of 1104 set by the late Steve Death of Reading in 1979. If United go 75 minutes without conceding at West Ham on Sunday they will beat the British record of 1196 minutes set by Chris Woods for Glasgow Rangers in the 1986/87 season. It’s terrific. But full credit to several other players including my players of the month for January, Vidic andCarrick. Vidic gets my vote but Carrick has been immense in mid-field. Vidic has to be the best central defender in the game as is Rio Ferdinand. Sorry, John Terry!

And their opponents West Ham have really pulled it round under Gianfranco Zola. He is a good man and a very good manager. West Ham are unbeaten in eight away games.

Hope you enjoy the Pieman song and my radio show with Tom Ross even if we do not agree on much! Both are available on the website. My new show will be up and running on Friday February 6 - Birmingham owner David Sullivan's 60th birthday. I wonder if his birthday cards come in brown wrappers!

Finally: Did they wish they had not said:
"A nd I never thought I would say this word - no cutting edge!" ANDY GRAY
"The significance of that goal cannot be under-estimated." JOHN MOTSON
"If you came in from the pub and didn't know who was playing, you wouldn't know who was playing." NEVILLE SOUTHALL
"What a great goal with his so called right foot." DEREK JOHNSTONE
"Everything is being looked at with a fine tooth comb." GRAEME MURTY
"Avram Grant is like a lot of managers - if his team doesn't win tonight he'll be in a no-win situation." GRAHAM TAYLOR
" For the first time, they'll be looking again over their shoulder." LEE DIXON
and:
"and Hull City, to use a pun, have really got their tails up." RADIO LANCASHIRE

Yer what?

Thursday, January 29, 2009

The Pieman's Blog for Friday, 30 January


This is probably the best Manchester United squad of all time. They have won the World Club championship and are still in four other competitions. They defend their European Champions League title against Inter-Milan in the knock-out stages next month; they are two points clear in the defence of the Premier League; United are in the Carling Cup final and in the fifth round of the FA Cup. We marvel at their attack and mid-field but it is the United defence that catches the eye at present. 11 PL matches without conceding a goal. Wow! That is a Premier League record and means it’s been 1032 minutes since United conceded a goal!

Meanwhile Liverpool draw again - their 9th PL draw of the season and five of those have been at Anfield. This time it’s away at Wigan. Manager Rafa Benitez is too cautious. He wants to get out and smell the Pukka Pies a bit more! The Robbie Keane saga is sad and drawn out. Time for the little Irishman to move or be moved on. He can play, that is for sure but there are clearly problems at Liverpool.

Chelsea are making hard work of it in 3rd spot but their 2 nil home win over struggling Middlesbrough puts them back on course. It’s only their 4th win from the last 10 matches. They are not as good as they were and just as Liverpool rely on Steven Gerrard so Chelsea need Frank Lampard. He has now scored 6 times in the last 8 goals and his set piece crosses like Gerrard are match winners as well.

Aston Villa and their talented team are a revelation this season. Their captain Gareth Barry has been a terrific player for some time but they have produced the counter attacking pace of Ashley Young and Gabriel Agbonlahor. Now he has added Emile Heskey.
This could be the best transfer deadline signing, at least at £3.5 million it should prove to be the best value for money. Villa have a smaller squad than the so-called big four but they have not had to make many changes to their starting line-up. However, since John Carew was injured Villa have not had a real target man. This increases their chances of finishing in the top four and securing a place in next season's European Champions League.
Villa are now five points ahead of Arsenal. The gap would be bigger if Arsenal had not scored no less than six times in stoppage time this season. Arsenal have had several key injuries this season but have been a pale version of what we expect from manager Arsene Wenger. However, do not discount them from fourth spot just yet. Villa have been the team of the season. Martin O'Neill is an outstanding manager. But Villa fans who talk about being Champions this season: Get real! They’re a long way behind Manchester United.

A word about Everton. They are doing so well without a recognised striker at present. Tim Cahill has been outstanding and leaps to headers like a salmon. West Ham unbeaten in six matches - our Premier League matches - are improving all the while under manager Gianfranco Zola. Attractive to watch but Zola will be relieved to get past the transfer deadline without losing any more players.

Carlton Cole has scored 5 goals in five games for the Hammers, the first West Ham player to do so since Tony Cottee 23 years ago.

At the bottom Portsmouth are sliding into real trouble as are Newcastle. Under Tony Adams as manager Portsmouth have played 20, won 4, drawn 7 lost 9. November 30th was their last Premier League win! Newcastle since Christmas have played 7, won 0, lost 5, drawn 2 and now have lost Michael Owen (6 weeks) and Joey Barton(10) through injuries. It’s looking bad.

In the Championship Reading beat leaders Wolves while Birmingham scraped home 1-nil. Wolves and Reading occupy the two automatic promotion places with Birmingham third. There is a long way to go but I fancy the current top two to make it.

Did they really say this?
"It's not easy, that's why it is difficult." ANDY GRAY
"It is a lot harder when you are 4-1 down then when you are 4-1 up." KEVIN KEEGAN
"Alonso missed a Champions League game when his wife was giving birth to his girlfriend." JASON CUNDY
"Harry Redknapp has had an up and down season on and off the pitch but he's had a fantastic season." ALAN HANSEN
"Well. Statistics are there to be broken." SKY SPORTS NEWS
"And of course, this afternoon it's the second half of the Arsenal/Liverpool trilogy" TALKSPORT
"He wants to go back to France and you can't get nearer to France than Plymouth." PAUL WALKER

Listen to my new song with the Piegirls and let me know what you think. My new show with Tom Ross is up and running. Let’s have your emails and texts. My next show will be with you on Friday, February 6. Fair play mate!

Monday, January 19, 2009

The Pieman's Blog for Tuesday, 20 January

Spurs were lucky to overcome plucky Championship team Burnley in the second leg of the Carling Cup semi-final. Spurs were fortunate to be 4-1 from the first leg in London. Brilliant Burnley led 3 nil in the return at Turf Moor against an out of form and sorts Spurs to take the tie into extra time. If there had been no more scoring in that extra half hour then Burnley would have reached the final on the away goals rule. But fair play to Spurs, they scored twice in the very last two minutes and will now play Manchester United in the Carling Cup final on Sunday March 1. United suffered four more injuries in overcoming another Championship club Derby County and are now missing nine top players. United are still firing for four trophies - the Carling Cup; they head the Premier League as defending Champions, are in the knock-out stages in the defence of their European Champions League title and ironically meet Spurs in the FA Cup fourth round at Old Trafford. Spurs manager says that because his club face serious relegation threats and because they are now in the Carling Cup final this FA Cup tie is secondary in their priorities which suggests he will rest some players. It’s a certain home win for United who are unbeaten at Old Trafford this season.

Manchester City make the lottery look redundant. They could stock the nation with Pukka Pies for a year except that the real Pieman couldn't make them quick enough! £100 million package for Kaka (still waiting), £18 million for Nigel de Jong, defensive mid-fielder from Hamburg (train arriving) and £14 million on 29 year old Craig Bellamy from West Ham (train at the platform). The Arab owner is seriously wedged up. Fair play mate. He needs to be. City manager Mark Hughes wants 27 year old striker Roque Santa Cruz from his old club Blackburn, for whom Hughes paid just £3.5 million two years ago to Bayern Munich for the Paraguayan international. Now big Sam Allardyce wants £40 million for Cruz. Manchester City appear to think that the credit crunch is a new biscuit while Big Sam obviously believes that Rover(s) likes lots of biscuits! It’s all gone potty, folks. Britain and most of the world face recession and Premier League football plays the banking game. Maybe they should buy one…

Rafa has got the hump. First of all with Sir Alex Ferguson and referees and now with his own bosses over transfer and wage policies that the Liverpool manager wants to control. Senor Benitez clearly thinks he is in a powerful position to take on his governors. It’s a dangerous game for a manager who has not won the Premier League and may not do so this season. Like Phil Scolari (who says, “If I am sacked I work somewhere else”), Benitez obviously believes or knows that he would get a job somewhere else as well. And fair play mate, they both probably would!

Harry Redknapp went critical publically with his striker Darren Bent from missing an easy chance to score what would have been the winning goal for Spurs against Portsmouth, the club Harry left for White Hart Lane. Harry fumed: "Bent didn't only have part of the net to aim for but the entire net - and he puts it wide. Unbelievable. Even my missus Sandra could have scored that one! I was so frustrated. If the ball goes in it’s goodnight Portsmouth and Spurs have three points in the bag" .....staggering stuff. It was a terrible miss by Bent but managers rarely blast their own player in public, choosing instead to blame the referee and sometimes his assistants. Harry was right. It was a shocker by Darren Bent but the Sky TV pundits made Portsmouth's keeper David James man of the match.

Spurs are out of the bottom three but only on goal difference. Indeed, the bottom five clubs, Spurs, Blackburn, Middlesbrough, Stoke and West Bromwich all have 21 points. Spurs have the best goal difference and in descending order the goal difference (difference between goals scored by the team and goals conceded) Spurs are minus 6; Blackburn -11; Middlesborough -15; Stoke -16 and West Brom minus 17. West Brom's 3 consecutive home wins has put them back in range while Portsmouth (24 points); Bolton(23); Newcastle(23) and Sunderland (also 23 points)are being dragged into the relegation mire. What a season throughout the Premier League!
With 21/22 games played (depending which team at this stage) and 38 in all the Pieman's predictions are as follows: Manchester United as Champions(consistent from day one by the Pieman); Liverpool to finish second (instead of Chelsea who may be third now) and fourth spot between the most improved team of the season Aston Villa and the most disappointing Arsenal. I think Arsenal might just take that fourth spot.

Relegation? Much more difficult but I will now go for Stoke, Middlesbrough and Portsmouth. What do you think?
The Premier League is providing a lot of late goals this season - particularly winners. This recent weekend for instance Manchester United went top of the Premier League for the first time this season with a 90th minute goal by Dimitar Berbatov; Frank Lampard gave Chelsea a home win over stubborn Stoke with a 90th minute winner as well. Arsenal clinched their 3-1 win at Hull with late goals from Nasri (82 minutes) and Bendtner (86); and Gareth Barry's 80th minute penalty secured the win for ten man Aston Villa at Sunderland. Heck, you daren’t nip out for a pie or whatever in case you miss a goal near the end these days!

Good words and bad words.......good words for West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola who has come in this season, improved results and looks like losing some of his players because West Ham have money problems. Zola continues to be a good person and accommodating to all. Top man!

Bad word for the over the two foot off the ground tackles. Ashley Young (an unlikely one from Aston Villa) and Didier Digard (Middlesbrough) got red cards. It’s very dangerous and could cause career ending injuries. That certainly was not the case here but the principle is there. Both players get an automatic three matches suspension.

Liverpool blew their chance of regaining the lead in the Premier League when Everton's Tim Cahill skilfully equalised in the closing minutes at Anfield. One-one after Liverpool's captain and regular hero Steven Gerrard had put them ahead. Instead, the champions Manchester United stay top on superior goal difference and with a game in hand. That will be at home to Fulham. Liverpool, like Manchester United, are unbeaten at home in the PL but unlike Utd have drawn five of their 11 home matches. United have drawn just one. Liverpool play Everton again at home in the weekend's FA Cup but it’s the Premier League that the club and its fans have as the priority. Liverpool have not won the League for 19 years. There is still a long way to go but for a variety of reasons the Pieman cannot see them going anywhere else than Old Trafford!


What were they saying?
"He is the kind of player you only miss when he is not playing." GRAHAM TAYLOR
"Queen of the South know they've got their tails in front." MURDO MACLEOD
"He was running quicker than his legs could go." STEVE McCLAREN
"I'm always a little bit disappointed sometimes." GRAHAM TAYLOR(again!)
"Somehow his legs couldn't keep up with his body." GLENN ROEDER
"Relieved...anxious...flushed…all and superlatives come out." STEVE BRUCE
and finally..........
"And Andrew Surman wears his sleeve on his heart for Southampton." DAVE MERRINGTON

Fair play to them!

Monday, January 12, 2009

The Pieman's Blog for Monday, 12 January

The Champions Manchester United will retain their Premier League title. The Pieman has been telling everyone who has been listening since the start of the season. And come on, fair play mate, the Pieman has never wavered. I never got on this Chelsea bandwagon like the London based media. I have had my doubts about Luiz Felipe Scolari. Not about his achievements as a World Cup winner, although I would fancy my chances of managing Brazil.
No, I worried about his lack of managing any European, let alone British CLUB. I worried about his lack of English and now I worry about all the noises coming along the grapevine about what is going on. The owner Roman Abramovich stays away and was missing from Chelsea's worst defeat since the mess in Monaco five years ago. Big players are chasing and looking like shadows and even their great goalie Petr Cech doesn’t look so invincible. Their away record to be fair has been good up to Old Trafford but their home record has been very disappointing. Chelsea will not win the title this season.

Liverpool have it all to do. Rafa Benitez had this prepared attack on Sir Alex Ferguson waiting to erupt. Fergie, he said, intimitated referees and got away with it unpunished etc. Rafa was I thought out of character with time and the timing was bad, Stoke held Liverpool to a nil-nil draw (same scoreline as at Anfield earlier this season!) and now if United win their two games in hand the Champions will be back on top. Fergie's reply off the pitch: Benitez is angry and letting it out! Listen to the Pieman, folks: Fergie is the master of the mind-games. He has been at it a long time and he has won so many trophies including lots of Premier League titles that he’s in a position of strength.

Meanwhile United definitely have the best squad. They will be surprised, though, at how many points their rivals squandered while United were absent in Japan winning the World Club Championship. United have so many wonderful players throught the team and on the bench and Sir Alex has been developing more classy youngsters than his opponents.

And a quick mention of Aston Villa who continue to win matches based on the counter tack with the fantastic speed of Ashley Young and Gabriel Agbonlahor. They have used less players in their first team than the other top teams but they do have a smaller squad in terms of quality among the leading clubs. Their shrewd manager Martin O'Neill has Randy Lerner's money to spend and he will want a top striker such as Emile Heskey. What has happened to John Carew, fined for overstaying a visit to a lap-dancing club and off with a back injury? The venue was the Rocket Club. The Pieman, like Carew, has only been in the bar area! Villa's problem this season would be to lose key players like the two mentioned and the classy Gareth Barry.

Arsenal can't score many at present but they are still fifth and within striking distance (well, one win) of Villa and that fourth European Champions League spot come the end of this season.
Certainly they are healthier than their great North London rival Spurs who despite “Harry Houdini” Harry Redknapp taking them off the bottom are still in the relegation zone because they keep conceding late goals from set-pieces. Everyone tells the Pieman they will finish in the top half. I don't think so.

A volley for Fulham and Portsmouth. Their home matches were called off on Saturday because of frozen pitches. Madness. These Premier League clubs receive millions and yet these two have not got under-soil heating. Disgraceful. At the very least they could have afforded a thousand hot pukka pies to melt the ice!

Great to see David Beckham make his debut for AC Milan against Roma. At 33, Golden Balls has still got it. He has played for three huge clubs now including the biggest Manchester United and Real Madrid. When he joined LA Galaxy everyone wrote him off for England because the MSL in USA is considered mickey mouse by the rest of the football world! Now he is loaned to AC Milan I hope the England manager Fabio sees Becks play well and puts him in the England squad. Fair play David mate, you are still a star!

Finally......the things they say:
"There hasn't been a lot of quality but it's been a high quality game." STEVE CLARIDGE
"It was as clear as night is day." Commentator ALAN GREEN
"I'll bet there are eight teams in the last sixteen who won't win the competition." ANDY GRAY
"It sounds, in many people's eyes, silly." GRAHAM TAYLOR
"You can't change a team overnight in a couple of days.” MARTIN O'NEILL

"Berbatov can see things with the outside of his foot." ALVIN MARTIN
"I'm getting beyond the future now." SIR ALEX FERGUSON
"Steven Gerrard makes runs into the box better than anyone, so does Frank Lampard." JAMIE REDKNAPP
"There will be more football later but first highlights of the Scottish League Cup final." GARY NEWBON

......There will be more next week folks. Listen to my new radio show - The Pieman and his mate Tom - on this website now. There is a barney or two! Never mind Sir Alex and Rafa, you wouldn't think the Pieman and Tom were really mates!

Monday, January 5, 2009

The Pieman's Blog for 5 January


The Pieman loves the FA Cup. It can be a great leveller when little clubs can play giant killers and shocks always occur in the third round. This season’s was no exception. It was a case of the big boys sometimes having to say fair play mate.
So why does it happen? Terrible pitches, the big boys' field weaken teams or the small clubs, who even struggle at times in their own leagues, rise to the occasion and play above their ability. Sometimes the bad weather often experienced at this time of the year can play a part. In other words there are a variety of reasons including another important one-luck!
Anyway it all makes for good Cup stories and the Pieman, along with the rest of the nation, had a good chuckle at some of the results.......

The headline of course was the new richest club in the world, Manchester City losing at home to the Championship strugglers Nottingham Forest 3-0. Forest have just sacked their manager and their first goal was scored by a man called Tyson. Knock-out blow and all that (ha!ha! got it?). It leaves City’s manager Mark Hughes under huge pressure because his team are in the relegation region. Hughes is pointing fingers at his players’ performances and rightly so. Some of his big-name defenders are awful at present and one of the better players up front, Shaun Wright-Phillips, is now injured. The cheque book is coming out and they will be spending but what quality will Hughes really get at this time of year apart from signing Chelsea’s talented full back Wayne Bridge. The manager needs a Pukka pie or two to steady the ship. Meanwhile Forest’s new manager Billy Davies took control after the match...and who did Forest get in the next round draw? Derby County away, the club who sacked Billy Davies a year ago! I had to chuckle. It’s like a panto!

The fourth round draw produced a classic, and it was first out of the bag. Liverpool against their deadly local rivals Everton at Anfield. I had another chuckle! Fair play mate, what a ding-dong that will be. Pass the pies!
What about Chelsea? I had to chuckle again when League One Southend United scored a stoppage time goal at Stamford Bridge to hold the mighty home side to a 1-1 draw. Oh my goodness, and Chelsea fielded a strong side. The winners of the replay at Roots Hall will be at home to Ipswich. Good stuff!

The only giant-killing non-league act was by Torquay United who popped Championship side Blackpool out of the Cup with a one nil home win. Managerless Blackpool were without several players for different reasons but even so it was a terrific result and the South Devon team, having won the sand-castle battle, are now at home to another Championship team Coventry. Bring on the pasties and cream teas!

Kettering Town’s reward to beating another non-league team Eastwood is a home tie with Premier League Fulham. That game is bound to be on the telly. Come of you Poppies! It’s not a million miles away from Pukka Pies HQ in Leicester. Will they put Harrods in their place? (got it? Harrods owner is also the owner of Harrods, hey, it’s not so funny when you have to explain it!!)

Manchester United against Spurs is a repeat of last year except that Spurs are now managed by Harry Redknapp who last season was the boss of FA Cup winners Portsmouth who beat Manchester United on the way. Yet another of those quirky stories that the FA Cup throws up.
League one Hartlepool knocked Premier League Stoke City out of the Cup and are rewarded with another home tie in the fourth round against another Premier League team, West Ham United.

Who will win the FA Cup? Depends on pairings and a little luck. These are one-off knock-out games and any club can have a great day or an off day. For the Pieman it is Manchester United or Aston Villa. What do you think?

Have a listen to my current show with my new mate Tom Ross. We do not agree on a lot of football topics but hey that’s what football is all about. Fair play mate, it’s all about opinions. Please let’s have yours. Send us an email or text. The details are on the website.
Our new record is almost ready for release. It’s a knockout and very catchy. It’s by the Piegirls with some help from the Pieman. More details soon.
Join me on the show folks. It’s football, so fair play mate...