tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-48091549766468605062024-03-04T22:33:35.249-08:00The official blog of piemanradio.com presented by Gary Newbon - IT'S ALL ABOUT FOOTBALLTHE PIEMANhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17038051203699584703noreply@blogger.comBlogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4809154976646860506.post-59380354896068090742009-06-06T06:29:00.000-07:002009-06-06T06:36:07.724-07:00Gary Newbon presents the Pieman's blog<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL47V5LQYBoT_7NeCNMuwGXDStYcnypbg-3HN9rfUwidwNvWRUiYch6q69lF92G0JZJR6alJ0hiF3LH_77iAvq3EmtcfRDwC7rELy1hlmjnvSwC3ZPBZOeexSxlRsu7P5rCWHFRwnAZiA/s1600-h/gary+1.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 153px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL47V5LQYBoT_7NeCNMuwGXDStYcnypbg-3HN9rfUwidwNvWRUiYch6q69lF92G0JZJR6alJ0hiF3LH_77iAvq3EmtcfRDwC7rELy1hlmjnvSwC3ZPBZOeexSxlRsu7P5rCWHFRwnAZiA/s200/gary+1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344207878650725266" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Barcelona deserved to beat Manchester United in the European Champions League final.</span> 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..........<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Newcastle's relegation to the Championship</span> 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. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Alan Shearer by the way has it all to do as manager.</span> 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.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Aston Villa fans have turned on their former captain Gareth Barry </span>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 <span style="font-weight: bold;">I do sympathise with the supports anger</span> 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.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Other sinking ships</span> 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?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Off-beat award of the season</span>. Stoke City's Rory Delap for those huge long range throw-ins. Brilliant. And my <span style="font-weight: bold;">Manager of the Year award </span>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.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">My correct predictions of the season </span>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!)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">What I got wrong:</span> 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!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Have a good summer. I hope the Pieman invites me back next football season!</span>THE PIEMANhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17038051203699584703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4809154976646860506.post-6617963813404478932009-05-21T00:45:00.001-07:002009-05-21T00:52:00.847-07:00Gary Newbon presents the Pieman's Blog<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbw4IU338eKN47ZWRH_YlmDz03A1bX8dRF0ZQBCZfOFZ03ZXzlL93QA8WkCwehivcOrCL46zaO3ygDLtmS8escip8frTD5SDQ3jgnaXwoFXhkxh5V-jRhnEuRzZjQNJaWQ7TbTHtrsS00/s1600-h/gary+1.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 153px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbw4IU338eKN47ZWRH_YlmDz03A1bX8dRF0ZQBCZfOFZ03ZXzlL93QA8WkCwehivcOrCL46zaO3ygDLtmS8escip8frTD5SDQ3jgnaXwoFXhkxh5V-jRhnEuRzZjQNJaWQ7TbTHtrsS00/s200/gary+1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338180627115561186" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Manchester United are simply the best</span>. 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. <span style="font-weight:bold;">The final against Barcelona in Rome on Wednesday May 27 is the match all Europe will savour.</span> 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...<br /> <br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">No-one should be distracted by the Carlos Tevez situation</span>. 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.<br /> <br />Everyone is waiting for the last Sunday of the season of the <span style="font-weight:bold;">Premier League</span> (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 <span style="font-weight:bold;">Sunderland v Chelsea</span>; <span style="font-weight:bold;">Hull v United</span>; <span style="font-weight:bold;">Aston Villa v Newcastle</span> and <span style="font-weight:bold;">West Ham v Middlesbrough</span>.... 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!<br /> <br />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!<br /> <br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">The play-off finals are about to be staged at Wembley.</span> The biggest one is the Championship game with the winners of Sheffield United and Burnley being promoted to the Premier League. <span style="font-weight:bold;">It’s a tough call but I fancy Burnley</span>. 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.THE PIEMANhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17038051203699584703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4809154976646860506.post-45900516935280894012009-05-12T10:54:00.000-07:002009-05-12T11:07:49.832-07:00Gary Newbon presents the Pieman's Blog<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioELqsvSc7mqchOEx2dlcugHzOLUBZsEmmUp2UHijcjJirPg9xpzBEnZl_K5Xjjf543OXpjfXEOH9pnd1EhG8X0na8ZMF_Sl8vnRVVDrtLewidcbI5WoCfPGJe5w7XnZMd4bQQHoYbv2Q/s1600-h/gary+1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 153px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioELqsvSc7mqchOEx2dlcugHzOLUBZsEmmUp2UHijcjJirPg9xpzBEnZl_K5Xjjf543OXpjfXEOH9pnd1EhG8X0na8ZMF_Sl8vnRVVDrtLewidcbI5WoCfPGJe5w7XnZMd4bQQHoYbv2Q/s200/gary+1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335000060863715346" border="0" /></a>
<br /><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 11"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 11"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CMIKEPR%7E1%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="City"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="PlaceType"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="PlaceName"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="country-region"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="place"></o:smarttagtype><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><object classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id="ieooui"></object> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style> <![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0cm; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:612.0pt 792.0pt; margin:72.0pt 90.0pt 72.0pt 90.0pt; mso-header-margin:36.0pt; mso-footer-margin:36.0pt; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:10;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">All season I have been predicting that Manchester United would retain the Premier League</span>. 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 <st1:place st="on">Liverpool</st1:place> 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 <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Barcelona</st1:city></st1:place> in their perfect-looking final.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:10;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">Alan Shearer eventually achieved his first win as </span><st1:city style="font-weight: bold;" st="on"><st1:place st="on">Newcastle</st1:place></st1:city><span style="font-weight: bold;"> manager</span> at the sixth attempt… and good luck to him. Shearer is clearly making a difference. The 3-1 home win over relegation rivals <st1:place st="on">Middlesbrough</st1:place> 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 <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Hull</st1:place></st1:city>. You would not want to bet against those three going down. I was wrong about <span style="font-weight: bold;">Stoke</span>. 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.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:10;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">UEFA need to address two problems in the European Champions League competiton.</span> They must put their very best referees in charge of the later stages of the competiton. Tom Henning Ovrebro may have been the best <span style="font-weight: bold;">referee</span> in <st1:country-region st="on">Norway</st1:country-region> for the last five years and he may have taken over 20 ECL games but I did <span style="font-weight: bold;">not see any mention anywhere of him being amongst the elite in </span><st1:place st="on"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Euro</span>pe</st1:place>. He had a shocker at <st1:placename st="on">Stamford</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">Bridge</st1:placetype> for the second leg of the ECL semi-final between <st1:city st="on">Chelsea</st1:city> and <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Barcelona</st1:place></st1:city>. He missed at least one penalty decision for <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Chelsea</st1:city></st1:place> (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 <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Barcelona</st1:place></st1:city> player. By the way, as you may have seen, that was a mistake as well! Yet the <span style="font-weight: bold;">behaviour of some of the </span><st1:city style="font-weight: bold;" st="on"><st1:place st="on">Chelsea</st1:place></st1:city><span style="font-weight: bold;"> players afterwards</span> 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 – <span style="font-weight: bold;">yes, the referee did make mistakes</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">but so did some </span><st1:city style="font-weight: bold;" st="on"><st1:place st="on">Chelsea</st1:place></st1:city><span style="font-weight: bold;"> players</span>. Drogba missed a good chance and Michael Essien failed to mark and defend properly for the very late <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Barcelona</st1:city></st1:place> equaliser. The culture to always blame the referee and not the shortcomings of the players is beginning to become so predictable and boring!</span></p> THE PIEMANhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17038051203699584703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4809154976646860506.post-63936028689921454172009-04-16T00:38:00.000-07:002009-04-16T00:46:37.003-07:00Gary Newbon presents The Pieman's Blog<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho4Xt41HO85IDDOxG1Sk877pPqvGjgQ8TRbMyNOkK1otwNRyDb6MzI0jN3L884hs9GhCQH24clP6KCQCvDKHldujwkPPNit2tFXkxblg4MomWp4gRwoUBiTecKwgeJtb_QgujjJ4FehC8/s1600-h/gary+1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325190687740561698" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 153px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho4Xt41HO85IDDOxG1Sk877pPqvGjgQ8TRbMyNOkK1otwNRyDb6MzI0jN3L884hs9GhCQH24clP6KCQCvDKHldujwkPPNit2tFXkxblg4MomWp4gRwoUBiTecKwgeJtb_QgujjJ4FehC8/s200/gary+1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><strong>An English team will be in the European Champions League for the fifth season running.</strong> 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. <strong>In the other semi-final Chelsea will play the Spanish giants Barcelona.</strong> 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.<br /><br />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. <strong>Manchester United are looking strong and back in business</strong>. 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 <strong>Premier League</strong>. 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!<br /><br /><strong>Liverpool</strong> were involved in a <strong>fantastic ECL quarter-final</strong> 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 <strong>Frank Lampard's</strong> second goal made it 4-4 and <strong>sealed it for Chelsea.</strong> What a regular star Lampard proves to be for Chelsea.<br /><br /><strong>Arsenal </strong>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, <strong>Cesc Fabregas, Emmanuel Adebayor and Robin Van Persie</strong>. 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.<br /><br />The Premier League proves once again it’s the best and strongest there is in the world. <strong>The Chelsea v Liverpool match was football at its most exciting. The best match of the season anywhere!<br /></strong>THE PIEMANhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17038051203699584703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4809154976646860506.post-16380999629797285182009-04-06T16:12:00.000-07:002009-04-06T16:20:40.890-07:00Gary Newbon presents The Pieman's Blog<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSocBpBefd1e0jEzWpdugFzlNStVrjHv1G2MdMeC8GahjhFIfcaHEm_INGrWyJ_FCOx7kLpSkuS49pv7evVqHG0OotULXCEOCo4Dcp2JUD4eBY6KO3066DUquXsVPOs6POfpw2PwVol8k/s1600-h/gary+1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 153px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSocBpBefd1e0jEzWpdugFzlNStVrjHv1G2MdMeC8GahjhFIfcaHEm_INGrWyJ_FCOx7kLpSkuS49pv7evVqHG0OotULXCEOCo4Dcp2JUD4eBY6KO3066DUquXsVPOs6POfpw2PwVol8k/s200/gary+1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321721632046947138" border="0" /></a>
<br /><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 11"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 11"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CMIKEPR%7E1%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="PlaceType"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="PlaceName"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="City"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="country-region"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="place"></o:smarttagtype><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><object classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id="ieooui"></object> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style> <![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0cm; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:612.0pt 792.0pt; margin:72.0pt 90.0pt 72.0pt 90.0pt; mso-header-margin:36.0pt; mso-footer-margin:36.0pt; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:10;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sir Alex Ferguson takes gambles to win matches</span>. 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. <span style="font-weight: bold;">His stunning winner three minutes into added time was the stuff dreams are made of.</span> United are now one point ahead of Liverpool with a game in hand (v <st1:city st="on">Portsmouth</st1:city>) and with 8 matches left (7 for <st1:place st="on">Liverpool</st1:place> 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!</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><st1:place style="font-weight: bold;" st="on"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:10;" >Liverpool</span></st1:place><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:10;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;"> have been more consistent in team selection.</span> Like United they can score plenty of late goals. <st1:place st="on">Liverpool</st1:place> have scored 8 times after 90 minutes this season - the latest in the 1-0 away win at West Ham from substitute Yossi Benayoun. <st1:place st="on">Liverpool</st1:place> are scoring lots of goals at present and looking very confident. <span style="font-weight: bold;">But I still think Chelsea can pip them to runner's up spot</span> 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 <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Chelsea</st1:place></st1:city>. <span style="font-weight: bold;">It’s the quarter-final first leg tie at Anfield</span>. 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 <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Chelsea</st1:place></st1:city>. We will see!</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:10;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">Alan Shearer lost his first match as </span><st1:city style="font-weight: bold;" st="on"><st1:place st="on">Newcastle</st1:place></st1:city><span style="font-weight: bold;">'s manager</span>. 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! <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Newcastle</st1:city></st1:place> need someone with proven experience right now. I think it is a daft gamble that will not work!</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:10;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">Fabio Capello is certainly the experienced choice for </span><st1:country-region style="font-weight: bold;" st="on"><st1:place st="on">England</st1:place></st1:country-region>. He has instilled discipline and fear in the <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">England</st1:place></st1:country-region> 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. <st1:country-region st="on">England</st1:country-region> at the half way mark will qualify for the finals in <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">South Africa</st1:place></st1:country-region> next year.</span></p> <p style="font-weight: bold;" class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:10;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">What of the others in the </span><st1:country-region style="font-weight: bold;" st="on">UK</st1:country-region><span style="font-weight: bold;"> and </span><st1:country-region style="font-weight: bold;" st="on"><st1:place st="on">Ireland</st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="font-weight: bold;">?</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Scots</span> must ideally beat <st1:country-region st="on">Norway</st1:country-region> away and <st1:country-region st="on">Macedonia</st1:country-region> at home in the autumn to win a play-off place behind <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Holland</st1:city></st1:place> in group 9. Wales have no chance now in group 4;<span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span><st1:country-region style="font-weight: bold;" st="on">Northern Ireland</st1:country-region>'s home wins over <st1:country-region st="on">Poland</st1:country-region> and <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Slovenia</st1:place></st1:country-region> puts them top of Group 3 but Slovaki are just one point behind with two games in hand. So the Irish matches in both <st1:country-region st="on">Poland</st1:country-region> and the <st1:country-region st="on">Czech Republic</st1:country-region> are huge if the Irish are to stand a chance of reaching the World Cup finals for the first time since <st1:placename st="on">1986.<span style="font-weight: bold;">The</span></st1:placename><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span><st1:placetype style="font-weight: bold;" st="on">Republic</st1:placetype><span style="font-weight: bold;"> of </span><st1:country-region style="font-weight: bold;" st="on">Ireland</st1:country-region> drew 1-1 at leaders <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Italy</st1:place></st1:country-region> 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 <st1:country-region st="on">Bulgaria</st1:country-region> and <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Cyprus</st1:place></st1:country-region> may settle the automatic issue.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><st1:country-region style="font-weight: bold;" st="on"><st1:place st="on"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:10;" >Scotland</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:10;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;"> and Rangers took action against Barry Ferguson and Alan McGregor</span>. They were relegated to the <st1:country-region st="on">Scotland</st1:country-region> 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 <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Scotland</st1:place></st1:country-region> and suspended for 2 weeks by their club Rangers. Well done, both club and country. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Disgraceful behaviour by both players.</span></span></p> THE PIEMANhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17038051203699584703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4809154976646860506.post-39922398258806463802009-03-26T02:25:00.000-07:002009-03-26T02:47:17.886-07:00Gary Newbon presents The Pieman's Blog<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5MhTHzuJlyaYeiYQSVYOH3QfVT54psR351QjBqYmEvgE0s4HguVf18MdK_QoRPThlHQm0S3X09tUylhbwUwpXjTgCMKAkBQ1DLA_RH9biL_IV73M6-PjIDwrwyERmuruTNckQYubeFYE/s1600-h/gary+1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317425510660345698" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 153px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5MhTHzuJlyaYeiYQSVYOH3QfVT54psR351QjBqYmEvgE0s4HguVf18MdK_QoRPThlHQm0S3X09tUylhbwUwpXjTgCMKAkBQ1DLA_RH9biL_IV73M6-PjIDwrwyERmuruTNckQYubeFYE/s200/gary+1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><strong>The Premier League title race</strong> 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 <strong>eight games left</strong> (9 in the case of United) the competition takes a breather for a week or so as we <strong>concentrate on the International matches</strong>. I'll comment on those in my next blog but the definite results and facts concern this wonderful Premier League season.<br /><br /><strong>Who would have thought that Liverpool</strong> would strike <strong>13 goals</strong> in <strong>three successive matches</strong> - 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 <strong>Rafa Benitez at last signing a new contract</strong>. 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. <strong>Liverpool have not won the League title since 1990</strong> and I do not accept they will win all eight remaining matches. <strong>But what a finale in prospect</strong>.<br /><br /><strong>The long season is catching up on Aston Villa</strong>. 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? <strong>Do you think Manchester United will be champions again</strong> or have I got it wrong about Liverpool? <strong>Will Arsenal or Aston Villa finish fourth?</strong><br /><br />And what about relegation. <strong>I have West Bromwich Albion and Middlesbrough to go down with Newcastle</strong> 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 <strong>Hull and Stoke City will survive by the skin of their teeth.</strong> <strong>Do you agree?</strong><br /><br /><strong>Try and catch my latest show with Tom Ross.</strong> 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. <strong>The Pieman wants you opinions. Try our website for emails and texts and we'll answer them in the show.</strong> Back next week with the show.</div>THE PIEMANhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17038051203699584703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4809154976646860506.post-75170443169929099552009-03-16T13:05:00.000-07:002009-03-16T13:11:11.639-07:00Gary Newbon presents THE PIEMAN BLOG<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsQptEiZAFduyjjsX6EkaLKovJ30PpFbE-xzijKJjne2xCZ118vMpGOUdyM-X1HeW7cHZd1BfA1ykRaMShRJurX9uulqufuLXFKYHd-n0_TIbZaksqax5umTgu9XSJx8hEC6dsaiLKrOs/s1600-h/gary+1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313880011787131106" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 153px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsQptEiZAFduyjjsX6EkaLKovJ30PpFbE-xzijKJjne2xCZ118vMpGOUdyM-X1HeW7cHZd1BfA1ykRaMShRJurX9uulqufuLXFKYHd-n0_TIbZaksqax5umTgu9XSJx8hEC6dsaiLKrOs/s200/gary+1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><strong>My European Champions League predictions were correct. All four English clubs are through to the quarter-finals.</strong> 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... <strong>The draw is this Friday, March 20</strong>. Love it. England will retain the Champions League. I see the only danger as Barcelona. Agreed?<br /><br />Meanwhile in the <strong>Premier League</strong> we were all shocked by <strong>Liverpool's 4-1 win at Old Trafford against Manchester United</strong>. 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? <strong>Fernando Torres was brilliant for Liverpool. He is the best striker in the world. Agreed?</strong><br /><br /><strong>Arsenal are in fourth place albeit on goal difference</strong>. 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. <strong>The ever changing face of football but as I blog the Big Four are 1-2-3-4!<br /></strong><br />The powers that be have decided that <strong>Howard Webb is the Premier League's best ref</strong>. I am no longer convinced. <strong>I put Alan Wiley, who was excellent at Old Trafford, and Mark Halsey above Webb these days. Any thoughts?</strong> </div>THE PIEMANhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17038051203699584703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4809154976646860506.post-70817709821601696632009-03-09T04:56:00.000-07:002009-03-09T05:04:24.758-07:00The Pieman's Blog for Monday, 9 March<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAIgdL_lDNuJB31CLEugRDeSK41u7QUlzWe-SO8QysbT8k2ZohpZ1Ed1ft1J81rRYADCgPObbl2I65eRsHLuL4BkM-BIBq7nVwT0h9UWqLXZ4-K9IJddgz_BR12-xxQ5N7EtCMpxCd_MU/s1600-h/PM1-web+copy.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311157181898340562" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 188px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAIgdL_lDNuJB31CLEugRDeSK41u7QUlzWe-SO8QysbT8k2ZohpZ1Ed1ft1J81rRYADCgPObbl2I65eRsHLuL4BkM-BIBq7nVwT0h9UWqLXZ4-K9IJddgz_BR12-xxQ5N7EtCMpxCd_MU/s200/PM1-web+copy.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><strong>Gary Newbon:</strong> 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. <strong>Fair play mate and keep it balanced</strong>, but like the Pieman I always want to hear your views. So please tell your mates about this radio station and <strong>send either the Pieman or myself your thoughts </strong>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!<br /><br />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! <strong>I think Manchester United are unstoppable at present. </strong>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 <strong>face Inter-Mil</strong>an in the second leg of the first knock-out stage in the European Champions League. <strong>Retaining the European crown is United's hardest task.</strong> 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!<br /><br /><strong>Liverpool</strong> 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 <strong>Chelsea</strong> to get through in Turin. They have a 1-nil lead over Juventus and I do think Chelsea will score as well. <strong>Arsenal</strong> will find it tight in Rome against Roma but I would hope they can build on their 1-0 home win over the Italians. <strong>I expect all four English clubs to go through but it may be tight!<br /></strong><br />The two remaining Championship teams were knocked out of the FA Cup at the weekend. I saw <strong>Coventry lose 2-0 at home</strong> to Chelsea. Coventry tried hard but were guilty of a terrible defensive error for the first goal. <strong>Burnley went out 3 nil at Arsenal</strong>. 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. <strong>The semi-finals will both be played at Wembley on April 18 and 19.<br /></strong><br />I will be posting like the Pieman some football funnies. Might as well start with one of mine:<br /><strong>There will be more football later but first highlights of the Scottish League Cup final!</strong></div>THE PIEMANhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17038051203699584703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4809154976646860506.post-47538725866283672552009-02-27T02:06:00.000-08:002009-02-27T11:26:01.010-08:00The Pieman's Blog for Friday, 27 February<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKvYnHLRDBB0hKX2Dk-Ju5K0nOM1z1FKzHZp6ugj3G9hlhnRP-mMcTL9DM4sL4WZlRTGvZHB2u1cAUdteHBeoEVmmSgQfD8xBgGNZGzUgBWUPJ-a47zAmvzCQqs6_Rj12lNNJOW4FxKEw/s1600-h/PM1-web+copy.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304076893338325602" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 188px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKvYnHLRDBB0hKX2Dk-Ju5K0nOM1z1FKzHZp6ugj3G9hlhnRP-mMcTL9DM4sL4WZlRTGvZHB2u1cAUdteHBeoEVmmSgQfD8xBgGNZGzUgBWUPJ-a47zAmvzCQqs6_Rj12lNNJOW4FxKEw/s200/PM1-web+copy.jpg" border="0" /></a><strong>Liverpool pull off the result of the week - </strong>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.<br /><br /><div><strong>Dutchman Guus Hiddink is Chelsea’s new manager</strong> 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...<br /><br /><strong>Eduardo scores two goals for Arsenal</strong> 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.<br /><br /><strong>Manchester United</strong> look most likely to retain the Premier League title. One of their heroes <strong>Ryan Giggs</strong> 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.<br /><br /><strong>Will Sven Göran Eriksson be the new manager of Portsmouth?</strong> 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...<br /><br /><strong>Things they wish they had not said:</strong><br /><br />“”It’s like a game of chess now: keep your cards close to your chest.” <strong>JASON PRICE</strong><br />“It’s not great on the eyes, but it’s super to watch.” <strong>STEVE CLARIDGE</strong><br />“He dived one-handed like a swan.” <strong>BBC </strong><br />“He offers something different to what we have not got.” <strong>SIMON GRAYSON</strong><br />“It’s the expected start to this game - Nil-Nil.” <strong>JOHN MURRAY</strong><br />“He (Wayne Rooney) is inexperienced, but he’s experienced in terms of what he’s been through.” <strong>STEVE MCCLAREN</strong><br />“They (Arsenal) have a lot of games coming up in recent weeks”. <strong>LES FERDINAND<br /></strong><br />The new Pieman and Tom Ross show will be up on <a href="http://www.piemanradio.com/">http://www.piemanradio.com/</a> 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...</div>THE PIEMANhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17038051203699584703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4809154976646860506.post-42202367943050156742009-02-10T00:18:00.000-08:002009-02-10T00:25:53.570-08:00The Pieman's Blog for Tuesday, 10 February<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKacY5eSxQ5vqE3GM9pIOSdPpVjd5V-7bPTA1pNVmLIB-s_AZ6sHrRYGGeherAYDnPwuC4LVhd8Z7kZvtbBL_4W4bjJTzPxQ3LVqmVUOHFJRWgRPUccuGVBU5f-ySq2fzYwuA79KEP79Y/s1600-h/PM1-web+copy.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301080759957514114" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 188px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKacY5eSxQ5vqE3GM9pIOSdPpVjd5V-7bPTA1pNVmLIB-s_AZ6sHrRYGGeherAYDnPwuC4LVhd8Z7kZvtbBL_4W4bjJTzPxQ3LVqmVUOHFJRWgRPUccuGVBU5f-ySq2fzYwuA79KEP79Y/s200/PM1-web+copy.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><strong>Two Premier League clubs</strong> <strong>at either end of the table panic and sack their managers.</strong> 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.<br /><br /><strong>Scolari</strong>, 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.<br /><br /><strong>Portsmouth</strong> 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.<br /><br />The referee Martin Atkinson missed <strong>Manchester City's Shaun Wright-Phillips</strong> 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 <strong>recent Liverpool-Chelsea match</strong>. 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! <strong>The law needs adjusting.</strong><br /><br />Meanwhile Manche<strong>ster United return to the top</strong> 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.<br /><br />A word about <strong>Joe Kinnear, the Newcastle manager</strong> 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.<br /><br />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!<br /><br /><strong>I will finish this blog with more of what they wish they had not said:<br /></strong><br />"If there's one thing Derby have lacked this season, it's pace and power." <strong>ALVIN MARTIN<br /></strong>"With apologies to Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, will it be Wolves<br />or West Brom who are singing in the rain tonight?" <strong>IAN WINTER</strong><br />"A tremendous free kick! It probably would have gone in if he had put it where he intended to put it." <strong>STAN COLLYMORE</strong><br />"Some Hull City supporters have had to wait 104 years for this day." <strong>RADIO 5 LIVE<br /></strong>"He (David Beckham) has lost his legs at the highest level." <strong>CHRIS WADDLE</strong><br />"Diouf is the master of the dark art of the winger: draws you in, sucks you off...." <strong>GARRY BIRTLES<br /></strong>"There's not many players who would have hit him (Fabio Capello) in the eye and made him put his hat on." <strong>GLENN HODDLE</strong></div>THE PIEMANhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17038051203699584703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4809154976646860506.post-89570203628781809242009-02-02T14:56:00.000-08:002009-02-02T15:10:19.797-08:00The Pieman's blog for Monday, 2 February<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizsHhsj8wqF4mUN5ZeCe1cWhHPB170k8JScuX3Nfjp2Y4YHcEFa68zHj9DDFx94g6_Ls3q2rjIp-f2es4G45eHFy8OznuoXBLzQ_7LXYFXwqVZ7JnfE_cx2Oh55BR4YO9BiuA3klnMlGg/s1600-h/PM1-web+copy.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298338122528546914" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 188px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizsHhsj8wqF4mUN5ZeCe1cWhHPB170k8JScuX3Nfjp2Y4YHcEFa68zHj9DDFx94g6_Ls3q2rjIp-f2es4G45eHFy8OznuoXBLzQ_7LXYFXwqVZ7JnfE_cx2Oh55BR4YO9BiuA3klnMlGg/s200/PM1-web+copy.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><strong>The transfer deadline finished with a lighter flurry than the snow that hit much of Britain</strong>. But Spurs manager Harry Redknapp splashed out big to <strong>sign three former Spurs p</strong>layers - 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.<br /><br />Hey, such a gambler. <strong>I will wager another tray of my favourites - Balti Pies by Pukka - that Manchester United will retain the Championship</strong>. Let’s face it, at this stage the only Premier League team with a real challenge left are <strong>Liverpool </strong>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.<br /><br /><strong>Fernando Torres</strong> 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.<br /><br />I cannot believe some <strong>Aston Villa fans</strong> 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. <strong>So what is the matter with you, Villas fans?</strong> 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!<br /><br />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 <strong>Emile Heskey</strong> 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. <strong>Arsenal are unbeaten in 10 games</strong> but they missed out on two vital points in the goalless home draw with West Ham.<br /><br />We know what a good job <strong>David Mo</strong>yes 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.<br />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. </div><div><br /><strong>Some interesting draws and fair play mate to the battlers at the bottom</strong>. 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!<br /><br /><strong>Portsmouth</strong>, 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.<br /><br />So we come to mighty <strong>Manchester United</strong>, 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!<br /><br />And their opponents <strong>West Ham</strong> 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.<br /><br />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. <strong>My new show will be up and running on Friday February 6 </strong>- Birmingham owner David Sullivan's 60th birthday. I wonder if his birthday cards come in brown wrappers!<br /><br /><strong>Finally: Did they wish they had not said:</strong><br />"A nd I never thought I would say this word - no cutting edge!" <strong>ANDY GRAY</strong><br />"The significance of that goal cannot be under-estimated." <strong>JOHN MOTSON</strong><br />"If you came in from the pub and didn't know who was playing, you wouldn't know who was playing." <strong>NEVILLE SOUTHALL<br /></strong>"What a great goal with his so called right foot." <strong>DEREK JOHNSTONE<br /></strong>"Everything is being looked at with a fine tooth comb." <strong>GRAEME MURTY</strong><br />"Avram Grant is like a lot of managers - if his team doesn't win tonight he'll be in a no-win situation." <strong>GRAHAM TAYLOR<br /></strong>" For the first time, they'll be looking again over their shoulder." <strong>LEE DIXON</strong><br />and:<br />"and Hull City, to use a pun, have really got their tails up." <strong>RADIO LANCASHIRE</strong><br /><br />Yer what? </div>THE PIEMANhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17038051203699584703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4809154976646860506.post-69811081429842091752009-01-29T13:23:00.000-08:002009-01-29T13:35:52.660-08:00The Pieman's Blog for Friday, 30 January<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUPEsXvfCZFXsJSZ73FMEqVEQ-h27M3-xijJ2uOj9TiakAS8PbAaBUVrzwwPZckHTCRARSGf0prBKxGVP5ftZOA8uGTH6u9ehP5izcO0UKGh7CorrklYrJO06oT2P2nNwInMSiEWe3Ma4/s1600-h/PM1-web+copy.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296830309138654402" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 188px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUPEsXvfCZFXsJSZ73FMEqVEQ-h27M3-xijJ2uOj9TiakAS8PbAaBUVrzwwPZckHTCRARSGf0prBKxGVP5ftZOA8uGTH6u9ehP5izcO0UKGh7CorrklYrJO06oT2P2nNwInMSiEWe3Ma4/s200/PM1-web+copy.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><strong>This is probably the best Manchester United squad of all time.</strong> 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!<br /><br />Meanwhile <strong>Liverpool draw again</strong> - 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.<br /><br /><strong>Chelsea </strong>are making hard work of it in 3rd spot but their 2 nil home win over struggling <strong>Middlesbrough</strong> 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.<br /><br /><strong>Aston Villa</strong> 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.<br />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.<br /><strong>Villa are now five points ahead of Arsenal.</strong> 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. <strong>But Villa fans who talk about being Champions this season: Get real! They’re a long way behind Manchester Unite</strong>d.<br /><br /><strong>A word about Everton</strong>. 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.<br /><br />Carlton Cole has scored 5 goals in five games for the Hammers, the first <strong>West Ham</strong> player to do so since Tony Cottee 23 years ago.<br /><br />At the bottom <strong>Portsmouth</strong> are sliding into real trouble as are <strong>Newcastle</strong>. 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.<br /><br />In the Championship <strong>Reading beat leaders Wolves</strong> while<strong> Birmingham</strong> <strong>scraped home 1-nil.</strong> 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.<br /><br /><strong>Did they really say this?</strong><br />"It's not easy, that's why it is difficult." <strong>ANDY GRAY</strong><br />"It is a lot harder when you are 4-1 down then when you are 4-1 up." <strong>KEVIN KEEGAN<br /></strong>"Alonso missed a Champions League game when his wife was giving birth to his girlfriend." <strong>JASON CUNDY</strong><br />"Harry Redknapp has had an up and down season on and off the pitch but he's had a fantastic season." <strong>ALAN HANSEN</strong><br />"Well. Statistics are there to be broken." <strong>SKY SPORTS NEWS</strong><br />"And of course, this afternoon it's the second half of the Arsenal/Liverpool trilogy" <strong>TALKSPORT<br /></strong>"He wants to go back to France and you can't get nearer to France than Plymouth." <strong>PAUL WALKER<br /></strong><br />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.<strong> Fair play mate!</strong>THE PIEMANhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17038051203699584703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4809154976646860506.post-91540148494823646582009-01-19T13:15:00.000-08:002009-01-22T06:16:31.828-08:00The Pieman's Blog for Tuesday, 20 January<strong>Spurs were lucky</strong> to overcome plucky Championship team Burnley in the second leg of the Carling Cup semi-final. Spurs were fortunate to be 4-1 from <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG_FmaTzXFtq5AAB3CqCBjMknFg7lVXCA1cxuaOttdMd13CGnm9MYdfKccurPsXEDUhefL5qTSbrDiv12fl9i1JMCWMa0HZ6FtOKvDK_CtFGIc6FDcWZgiDPctcNMS0cH_c2x63Nw0Rso/s1600-h/PM1-web+copy.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293118454532356546" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 188px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG_FmaTzXFtq5AAB3CqCBjMknFg7lVXCA1cxuaOttdMd13CGnm9MYdfKccurPsXEDUhefL5qTSbrDiv12fl9i1JMCWMa0HZ6FtOKvDK_CtFGIc6FDcWZgiDPctcNMS0cH_c2x63Nw0Rso/s200/PM1-web+copy.jpg" border="0" /></a>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 <strong>will now play Manchester United in the Carling Cup final</strong> 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.<br /><strong></strong><br /><strong>Manchester City</strong> 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. <strong>City manager Mark Hughes</strong> 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…<br /><br /><strong>Rafa has got the hump.</strong> 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!<br /><br /><strong>Harry Redknapp</strong> went critical publically with his striker Darren Bent from missing an easy chance to score what would have been the winning goal for <strong>Spurs against Portsmouth</strong>, 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.<br /><br /><strong>Spurs are out of the bottom three but only on goal difference.</strong> 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!<br />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.<br /><br /><strong>Relegation?</strong> Much more difficult but I will now go for Stoke, Middlesbrough and Portsmouth. What do you think?<br />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!<br /><br /><strong>Good words and bad words.......</strong>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!<br /><br /><strong>Bad word</strong> 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.<br /><br /><strong>Liverpool blew their chance</strong> 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 <strong>champions Manchester United </strong>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!<br /><br /><br /><strong>What were they saying?</strong><br />"He is the kind of player you only miss when he is not playing." GRAHAM TAYLOR<br />"Queen of the South know they've got their tails in front." MURDO MACLEOD<br />"He was running quicker than his legs could go." STEVE McCLAREN<br />"I'm always a little bit disappointed sometimes." GRAHAM TAYLOR(again!)<br />"Somehow his legs couldn't keep up with his body." GLENN ROEDER<br />"Relieved...anxious...flushed…all and superlatives come out." STEVE BRUCE<br />and finally..........<br />"And Andrew Surman wears his sleeve on his heart for Southampton." DAVE MERRINGTON<br /><br />Fair play to them!THE PIEMANhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17038051203699584703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4809154976646860506.post-84991935221136104522009-01-12T14:22:00.000-08:002009-01-12T14:38:53.118-08:00The Pieman's Blog for Monday, 12 January<div><strong>The Champions Manchester United</strong> 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. </div><div> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisk1OiOFOMIzSzxTQcdfCSR9hR4Xak1ZfzkzKOGBaQgINWmWMXoLeKBcXlbGIm0AGv3rlIY3nEp6j13UPiI7n2UTRjdCz7A8vMe658MnerW_93HaEMvE5zcBFy_1Wq9BdYHuYnk8m7iC0/s1600-h/PM1-web+copy.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5290536741983346930" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 188px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisk1OiOFOMIzSzxTQcdfCSR9hR4Xak1ZfzkzKOGBaQgINWmWMXoLeKBcXlbGIm0AGv3rlIY3nEp6j13UPiI7n2UTRjdCz7A8vMe658MnerW_93HaEMvE5zcBFy_1Wq9BdYHuYnk8m7iC0/s200/PM1-web+copy.jpg" border="0" /></a>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 <strong>Roman Abramovich</strong> 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.<br /><br /><strong>Liverpool have it all to do.</strong> 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: <strong>Fergie is the master of the mind-games.</strong> 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.<br /><br /><strong>Meanwhile United</strong> 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.<br /><br />And a quick mention of <strong>Aston Villa</strong> who continue to win matches based on the counter tack with the fantastic speed of <strong>Ashley Young and Gabriel Agbonlahor</strong>. 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.<br /><br /><strong>Arsenal can't score many at present</strong> 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.<br />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.<br /><br />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!<br /><br />Great to see <strong>David Beckham</strong> make his debut for <strong>AC Milan</strong> 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!<br /><br />Finally......the things they say:<br />"There hasn't been a lot of quality but it's been a high quality game." STEVE CLARIDGE<br />"It was as clear as night is day." Commentator ALAN GREEN<br />"I'll bet there are eight teams in the last sixteen who won't win the competition." ANDY GRAY<br />"It sounds, in many people's eyes, silly." GRAHAM TAYLOR<br />"You can't change a team overnight in a couple of days.” MARTIN O'NEILL<br /><br />"Berbatov can see things with the outside of his foot." ALVIN MARTIN<br />"I'm getting beyond the future now." SIR ALEX FERGUSON<br />"Steven Gerrard makes runs into the box better than anyone, so does Frank Lampard." JAMIE REDKNAPP<br />"There will be more football later but first highlights of the Scottish League Cup final." GARY NEWBON<br /><br />......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!</div>THE PIEMANhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17038051203699584703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4809154976646860506.post-52663187074733964672009-01-05T02:21:00.000-08:002009-01-05T02:37:57.584-08:00The Pieman's Blog for 5 January<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPMx345ltvqj1OoImP6_MPEiYQbfp111N0PXOuutdhFx_IqezUyv9YEtWh2h-qjT3Ad3ve2NTmxo_SY9qe7PtNma1llvr_zJX_RWcvT2wmz-fvJcJj6EV9FnSJUV9K_mz5s7lcox6ka9s/s1600-h/PM1-web+copy.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5287753130291210690" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 188px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPMx345ltvqj1OoImP6_MPEiYQbfp111N0PXOuutdhFx_IqezUyv9YEtWh2h-qjT3Ad3ve2NTmxo_SY9qe7PtNma1llvr_zJX_RWcvT2wmz-fvJcJj6EV9FnSJUV9K_mz5s7lcox6ka9s/s200/PM1-web+copy.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><strong>The Pieman loves the FA Cup.</strong> 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.<br />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!<br />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....... </div><div><br />The headline of course was the new richest club in the world, <strong>Manchester City losing at home to the Championship strugglers Nottingham Forest 3-0</strong>. Forest have just sacked their manager and their first goal was scored by a man called <strong>Tyson</strong>. 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, <strong>Shaun Wright-Phillips</strong>, 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! </div><div><br />The fourth round draw produced a classic, and it was first out of the bag. <strong>Liverpool against their deadly local rivals Everton at Anfiel</strong>d. I had another chuckle! Fair play mate, what a ding-dong that will be. Pass the pies!<br /><strong>What about Chelsea?</strong> 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! </div><div><br />The only giant-killing non-league act was by <strong>Torquay United who popped Championship side Blackpool out of the Cup</strong> 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! </div><div><br /><strong>Kettering Town’s</strong> reward to beating another non-league team <strong>Eastwood</strong> 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!!)<br /><br /><strong>Manchester United against Spurs</strong> 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.<br />League one <strong>Hartlepool knocked Premier League Stoke City out of the Cup</strong> and are rewarded with another home tie in the fourth round against another Premier League team, West Ham United. </div><div><br /><strong>Who will win the FA Cup?</strong> 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. <strong>For the Pieman it is Manchester United or Aston Villa. What do you think? </strong></div><div><br /><strong>Have a listen to my current show with my new mate Tom Ross.</strong> 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.<br /></div><div>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.<br />Join me on the show folks. It’s football, so fair play mate...</div>THE PIEMANhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17038051203699584703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4809154976646860506.post-44887412022823874932008-12-29T08:50:00.000-08:002008-12-30T00:38:39.628-08:00The Pieman's Blog for 30 December<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYHYE5wrv1FXyCZpbGjs3M7ppI_F0cl3jSVx0iyenQduQBLo7tXu1khReqfX5W46UMaJWTRfvL_GYBrWs-GX28aztKMDvvvX3_4_dnJG1SOTlFULHMT-63J2VtAs2FuDeiDD2Zh3NnfUA/s1600-h/PM1-web+copy.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285255828872551666" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 188px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYHYE5wrv1FXyCZpbGjs3M7ppI_F0cl3jSVx0iyenQduQBLo7tXu1khReqfX5W46UMaJWTRfvL_GYBrWs-GX28aztKMDvvvX3_4_dnJG1SOTlFULHMT-63J2VtAs2FuDeiDD2Zh3NnfUA/s200/PM1-web+copy.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Bizarre. <strong>Stoke striker</strong> <strong>Ricardo Fuller</strong> is sent off for slapping his team-mate Andy Griffin. You could not invent it, could you? Hardly fair play, mate for boshing one of your own! Stoke, now in the relegation zone, lose 2-1 at West Ham. I bet the coach journey home was worth witnessing......... </div><div><br />Bizarre. <strong>Hull City manager</strong> <strong>Phil Brown</strong> decides with his team 4 nil down at Manchester City to hold his half-time team talk on the pitch in front of the 4000 travelling Hull Fans. Hardly fair play, Phil mate, even if the team had played badly, for a host of reasons. These players have over-achieved for Brown until then. One very bad day at the office and he treats them like school kids and humiliates them in front of their own fans. Never been done before in the Premier League and should never be done again! The dressing room is the only place to sort it out. Brown's reasons, including trying to appease his supporters, were not good enough. It’s a bad gimmick, however he sees it. I hope it does not rebound on him and the club in the next few games. That coach journey home would have been interesting as well!<br /><br /><strong>Liverpool,</strong> without their star striker Fernando Torres for the moment, continue to lead the Premier League. They extended their lead to three points with a crushing 5-1 win at Newcastle. It would have been more but for a great display of goalkeeping by Ireland's Shay Given. Liverpool's best player Steven Gerrard scored twice in another awesome display.<br /><br /><strong>Chelsea</strong> let slip a 2-1 lead at Fulham by conceding a last minute goal and so passed on two points. I know Chelsea have injuries but there is something not quite right with manager Phil Scolari and this Chelsea season. Fair play though to <strong>Frank Lampard</strong> for another fine display and another two goals.<br /><br />Liverpool may prove me wrong but I still fancy <strong>Manchester United</strong> to just retain the Premier League title - providing they can keep winning during their punishing January schedule. They have the best squad and the strongest set of attacking forwards.<br /><br /><strong>Arsenal hiccupped their way back into fourth spot</strong>. They have injury problems as well but everyone is urging manager Arsene Wenger to get extra players in January. If they don't finish in the top four they will miss out on the European Champions League for the first time in 11 years. That will make the natives even more restless. Much may depend on who cash-rich <strong>Aston Villa</strong> add - much talk about striker Emile Heskey who is also wanted by Liverpool. <br /><br />It’s all making life difficult for <strong>Portsmouth manager Tony Adams</strong> whose side are in danger of sinking fast - now just one win above the drop zone. Fair play mate, Harry Redknapp is a difficult act to follow, there are several injuries and the best players are being sold or appear to be preparing to be sold as Portsmouth hit money problems. But Tony knew the score when he took the job. Now he has to prove he can be a successful number one. The jury is out!<br /><br /><strong>West Brom are hanging in there.</strong> They beat Spurs two nil at home but are still bottom! However, they have closed the gap to two points and have given themselves a chance. Spurs can thank goal difference for currently keeping them out of the drop zone but it is so tight down there that nothing can be taken. There will be a surprise or two come May!<br /><br /><strong>Manchester City</strong> grabbed a late, late point at Blackburn. Boxing Day also produced a late 2-2 thriller between Aston Villa and Arsenal. Yes, as we turn into the New Year it’s going to continue to be a great season in the Premier League.<br /><br /><strong>I'd like to wish you all a Happy New Year.</strong> My next blog will have some of the funnies of <strong>2008</strong> and my <strong>predictions for what 2009</strong> will bring....hey, and we haven't even mentioned England manager Fabio Capello......what a start he has had as England manager.<br /><br /><strong>Stay with the Pieman as we reveal some exciting new plans.........</strong><br /></div>THE PIEMANhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17038051203699584703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4809154976646860506.post-62024264501723086962008-12-22T10:13:00.001-08:002008-12-22T10:34:26.369-08:00The Pieman's Blog for 22 December<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNnSZyH1nlFqPtCwdZn_19VI5M1VOrQfO1T5QuVWU-kO81X6srxe3-0TzVbGS68-l7cHNlWEzZ6glkwVFdUtYXZnBD2mTvjdjfehRcIxmhMQJC1oUhMmqw6zEDt_1fqbH0rwoKSk-PYMg/s1600-h/PM1-web+copy.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5282679502328018306" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 188px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNnSZyH1nlFqPtCwdZn_19VI5M1VOrQfO1T5QuVWU-kO81X6srxe3-0TzVbGS68-l7cHNlWEzZ6glkwVFdUtYXZnBD2mTvjdjfehRcIxmhMQJC1oUhMmqw6zEDt_1fqbH0rwoKSk-PYMg/s200/PM1-web+copy.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><strong>Happy Christmas everyone.</strong> Get plenty of pie and football down you!<br /><br /><strong>Big Sam Allardyce started celebrating early!</strong> He takes the Blackburn job after Paul Ince got the tin tack. Rovers had gone 11 games without a win. <strong>Wham, bam, thank you Sam as they smash Stoke City with three first half goals...</strong> Meanwhile oil rich, cash rich <strong>Manchester City</strong> are in a bit of bother. The new Arab owner, one of the world's most seriously wedged up men, will not be happy that City are in the bottom three and lost at the bottom club West Bromwich Albion who had not won since October. </div><div> </div><div><strong>City were awful and played like a crusty stale pie, urgh!</strong> I cannot think of anything worse... so let’s hope Mark Hughes can get some Pukka Pies type signings in and change the results. He will need to if he wants to keep the manager's job. I rate Hughes but the game is about results. The latest manager to lose his job by the way is <strong>Gary McAllister</strong> after Leeds lost their fifth successive match at the weekend. He had been in the job 11 months. McAllister will be 44 on Christmas Day. Leeds chairman Ken Bates looks like Father Christmas but the only card in his sack was Gary's P45! In fairness, <strong>Leeds are 15 points behind the League One leaders</strong> Leicester and five points outside the play-off positions............<br /><br /><strong>One serious candidate for the Sunderland job is caretaker boss Rick Spragia .</strong> He has been in charge for three matches since Roy Keane quit. Sunderland had an honourable 1 nil defeat before enjoying successive four goal victories - the latest being 4-1 at Hull.... The Pieman says fair play mate! Give Ricky the job until the end of this season and then access it.<br /><strong>Joe Kinnear has lifted Newcastle to 12th spot.</strong> Joe has got the manager's job until the end of the season. Maybe longer if owner Mike Ashley does not find a seller. Joe has done an excellent job but I doubt if he holds onto Michael Owen for longer than the summer.......<br /><br />Arsene Wenger went Christmas crackers after <strong>top referee Howard Webb sent off the Arsenal striker Emmanuel Adebayor for two yellows </strong>in the 1-1 draw with leaders Liverpool. I thought, watching Sky Sports, that the first caution was correct; the second not so. The first called by the linesman Darren Cann (involved in the same player's red card in the 2007 Carling Cup final), the second by Webb who does not have slow-motion replay and gave what <em>he</em> saw. <strong>Arsenal played better after being down to 10 men.</strong> Liverpool were too cautious, and manager Rafa Benitez (issuing mobile phone orders to his staff from his homeside sofa as he recovers from a kidney stones operation) had goalscorer and biggest threat Robbie Keane substituted in the 82nd minute. Staggering against 10 men. From Arsenal's point of view a decent, battling point in the circumstances but the injury to their skipper and midfield star Cese Fabregas is a big blow for the next three weeks. Arsenal, without a trophy for three years, will not win the Premier League this season while Liverpool are drawing too many matches.<br /><br /><strong>The dark horses are Aston Villa.</strong> The Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson tipped Martin O'Neill’s team as the only club likely to break into the top four other than the normal Big Four. They are now 3rd after winning at West Ham. They host Arsenal on Boxing Day and are a real threat to the Gunners for the 4th spot. Villa have some great young players, regularly praised in this blog, but what's happening in the striking department. O'Neill has the money backing from American billionaire owner Randy Lerner to spend next month and he will.<br /><br /><strong>Meanwhile Manchester United,</strong> double champions in the Premier League and the European Champions League, have added the World Club championship. Now they are back in the UK to try and make up points with their two games in hand over the others. Most good judges are convinced that the Premier League title in May will go to either Chelsea or Manchester United. I believe that United's attacking strength will edge it for them. Didier Drogba is terrific and Nicholas Anelka is the League's top scorer. But after that and allowing for injuries….? Frank Lampard and Joe Cole are class. But United's Wayne Rooney, Christiano Ronaldo, Carlos Tevez, Dimitar Berbatov and Ryan Giggs plus the likes of Michael Carrick, Darren Fletcher, Paul Scholes,Anderson, Nani and so on.....The Reds to pip the Blues........<br /><br /><strong>Have a wonderful Christmas. I wish you everything you wish your team.<br />My next blog will be next Tuesday after the Xmas football.<br />Fair play mate is the name of the game!</strong></div>THE PIEMANhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17038051203699584703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4809154976646860506.post-57265720446653101792008-12-16T01:48:00.000-08:002008-12-16T03:39:26.144-08:00The Pieman's Blog for 16 December<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi38JP2FzrQ-c_0p-6UpAtRWG70NyP_fdCD767Fwc-Kaw9AnYNugaFfRgZ0OMX-5xIBGgrvYfdCwB-ykn-wpg2-GuJiEruNK_VywON6dJwAs7KN9yTLgwJ2QpNHJaHzA8TiX4q8MyIdQCo/s1600-h/PM1-web+copy.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280322857965502130" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 188px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi38JP2FzrQ-c_0p-6UpAtRWG70NyP_fdCD767Fwc-Kaw9AnYNugaFfRgZ0OMX-5xIBGgrvYfdCwB-ykn-wpg2-GuJiEruNK_VywON6dJwAs7KN9yTLgwJ2QpNHJaHzA8TiX4q8MyIdQCo/s200/PM1-web+copy.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><strong>Poor old Paul Ince.</strong> He might have even been sacked by the time you read this. I hope he gets longer but I don't expect so. It’s not a Father Christmas sack the Blackburn Board probably have in mind. It’s the p45 version. Oh dear! It’s almost enough to put you off your pie (only joking, but it’s no joke for Mincey!). Paul Ince, a fine player, had cut his teeth on management in the lower leagues with Macclesfield and MK Dons. The boy done well but it wasn't quite that easy at Blackburn where Paul Ince signed a three year contract to be manager. But probs straight away.</div><div> </div><div> </div><div></div><div></div><div>Star winger <strong>David Bentley</strong> was sold to Spurs and top goalie <strong>Brad Friedal</strong> was allowed to join Aston Villa. The previous manager Mark Hughes had probably taken the modern Blackburn as far as they can realistically go post Jack Walker. <strong>Ince, now six months into his tenure,</strong> has seen his team suffer their sixth successive defeat in the Premier League where they are five points adrift from safety. His Board were all present at the three nil away defeat at Wigan and one report had them locked into a lengthy after-match discussion. Once the media start the speculation and you keep losing and the chairman refuses to comment (nearly as bad as a vote of confidence only more honest most of the time!) you are on the slippery slope to exit doors. The chairman attended his son's wedding the day after the Wigan game - one wedding and a funeral? We will see before the weekend's tricky match with Stoke City.........<br /><br /><strong>Wayne Rooney was headlines after an alleged stamp on Danish midfielder Kasper Risgard</strong> in last week's European Champions League 2-2 match with Aalborg. Risgard claimed Rooney jumped on his chest and left him with bruises. UEFA watched the TV evidence and stated no charges. Rooney's manager Sir Alex Ferguson refused to comment except to accuse the Press of causing UEFA to need to look at it! The TV replays looked bad but everyone now needs to get on with it. But Rooney has to be careful. He is a great player but he does chance it at times................<br /><br /><strong>Why can Chelsea set up a Premier League record of 11 successive away wins but keep drawing or losing at home? </strong>They have only won 3 of their 9 Premier League home matches. That does mean they have dropped 14 points at home. This from a club previously unbeaten in the Premier League at home for 4 years! It’s enough to give their manager Luiz Felipe Scolari a massive headache. As it is, he spent Saturday night in hospital with kidney stone problems. Very painful........... must be catching because 24 hours later the Liverpool manager Rafa Benitz is taken to hospital with exactly the same complaint, and Rafa had a minor operation on Monday. Heard the painful one about the Brazilian and the Spaniard? We wish them both a speedy recovery...<br /><br />Rafa has got a home result problem as well. <strong>Liverpool lead the Premier League by just a point from Chelsea but they have drawn 4 of their 9 home games.</strong> Three of those were goalless against Stoke, Fulham and West Ham while last weekend they drew 2-2 with Hull after being 2 nil down before Captain Marvel Steven Gerrard scored both goals...again! The reason I do not think Liverpool will be champions is that they rely too much on Steven Gerrard and the injured Fernando Torres. Alright, I know they beat Manchester United without them but that is the exception not the rule.........<br /><br /><strong>Why did Rafa not bring on £20.3 million substitute Robbie Keane?</strong> I know he can't score at present but he is class and the goals will come…instead Rafa uses three other subs…Nabil El Zhar, Ryan Babel and Lucas Leiva to no avail. Potty, or whatever that is in Spanish?....<br /><br /><strong>Newcastle out of the bottom three at last after their 3 nil win at Pompey.</strong> Manager Joe Kinnear ( till the end of the season at least!) wants to keep captain Michael Owen who has been offered a new contract. Will he accept it or walk elsewhere at the end of the season...?<br /><strong>Aston Villa</strong> up to fourth spot after their 4-2 home win over Bolton. Gabriel Agbonlahor and Ashley Young are simply brilliant. Both are showing consistent England class. Gabby drives a white £180,000 Lamborghini (he thinks credit crunch is a new biscuit!) and now wears lime-green boots! He is playing so well he can wear whatever colour boots he wants!<br /><strong>Pieman tears for Danny Wilson</strong>, a top manager who has been shown the door by League One Hartlepool after 6 matches without a win (aka Paul Ince). Danny got them promoted two years ago and they have slipped all the way to mid-table!....<br /><br />Finally some quotes from the legendary manager:</div><div><br /><strong>Bill Shankly:</strong> <em>"I was the best manager in Britain because I was never devious or cheated anyone. I'd break my wife's legs if I played against her but I'd never cheat her!"</em></div><em></em><div><br /><strong>Ron Atkinson:</strong> <em>"It's bloody tough being a legend!"</em></div><em><div><br /></em></div>Brian Clough: <em>"I could manage England part-time and still walk the dog."</em><em></em> <div><br /><strong>Jamaica coach Rene Simoes:</strong> <em>"We are the Cinderellas of the World Cup. Our mission is to postpone midnight for as long as possible."</em></div><em></em><div><br /><strong>Ken Brown, when manager of Norwich:</strong> <em>"With our luck, one of our players must be bonking a witch!"</em></div><em><div><br /></em></div><strong>Brian Horton, when Manchester City manager:</strong> <em>"Right now if I robbed a bank I would be mugged on the way out!"</em><em> <div><br /></em></div><strong>… and finally Ron Atkinson again:</strong> <em>"Women should be in the kitchen, the discotheque and the boutique, but not in football." </em><em><div><br /></em></div>That was in 1989. Big Ron has been in enough trouble since then.......... <div></div><div>More on my blog very soon.</div><div>Have fun and play fair,</div><div>The Pieman </div>THE PIEMANhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17038051203699584703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4809154976646860506.post-52771229363155942782008-12-08T11:07:00.000-08:002008-12-08T12:49:03.848-08:00The Pieman's Blog for 8 December<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNJXNk7MZeeEnbZ0WwY6B5fKyxN4OJ9645ANFwlGjtFa3U2xcSwGV3UvQo4SQhZ-N1XcGSBUNlVT4zWREwKfd0ekd1hunl7Tdk_Kfs9wiZMec4oVu7w1XwzTwPYudk7avq1DnrHhMGiu8/s1600-h/PM1-web+copy.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277524074246721490" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 188px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNJXNk7MZeeEnbZ0WwY6B5fKyxN4OJ9645ANFwlGjtFa3U2xcSwGV3UvQo4SQhZ-N1XcGSBUNlVT4zWREwKfd0ekd1hunl7Tdk_Kfs9wiZMec4oVu7w1XwzTwPYudk7avq1DnrHhMGiu8/s200/PM1-web+copy.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><strong>The managers are feeling a bit peakish</strong>; one quit, one on the verge of the sack and the other too tired to attend the aftermatch news conference (used to be called press conference but hey, with the Pieman just the latest electronic commentator on the block it’s an outdated phrase so put that in your Pie and munch it!)<br /><br /><strong>Roy Keane walks out at Sunderland</strong>, <strong>Paul Ince faces the chop at Blackburn after ten Premier League matches without a win and Phil Scolari can't face the after-Chelsea match chat</strong> because he is knackered from the pressure and whacked trying to speak English properly. I know the feeling, Big Phil! Try a Pukka Pie...........<br />Keane has always been different. Outspoken, a loner and at times intolerant! A brilliant player but hardly managerial material with his characteristics. Sunderland's classy chairman Niall Quinn has gone to great lengths to praise Keane for his contribution to Sunderland. Accepted, but he has not confirmed that for the most part they conducted business by text. Strange on Keane's part who is also believed to have resigned by text to Quinn who also talks about Keane unable to attend the club every day. Strange way of trying to do a difficult job in the first place.<br /><br />What has not been said yet is that top footballers make so much money that they can afford never to work again. It makes walking out on a job much easier than in the past! I doubt if Keane will be back. I don't like quitters! <strong>And Keane spent £80 million of Sunderland's money</strong> to provide players Keane wanted. I am sorry but I think he owed it to them to at least see out his contract.<br /><br /><strong>I feel sorry for Paul Ince because he wants to stay at Blackburn.</strong> I do think they should give him longer because the Premier League table is so tight it is not certain yet which three teams will go down. Much is being made about Ince being the first British black Premier League manager and a vendetta (Ince makes this claim) against former Manchester United players who become managers. I do not hold with either claim. It is nothing to do with either. It’s a results business. We also do not know what the relation is with his chairman John Williams. It may be great or it may be poor. We will soon find out. Personally, I think Ince is struggling to survive there but I would hope they will give him a bit longer. Clubs talk about the transfer window next month and Blackburn look set to lose a couple of key players but by and large it is difficult to sign quality. Loan deals are best for January. Clubs argue a new manager will be better placed to pick longterm players. It does not often work in January....<br /><br /><strong>So where is Emile Heskey going?</strong> Many expect the Wigan and England striker to join Spurs. It won't happen. The Pieman predicts that Heskey will join his old Leicester manager Martin O'Neill. It would be a great move for all three - player, manager and club but it would cost quite a few million which Villa do have to spend. The losers would be Wigan and manager Steve Bruce, big time..........<br /><br /><strong>Chelsea need to beat Cluj at home on Tuesday to secure a place in the European Champions League knock-out stage.</strong> One way or another they will join Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal in the next stage. Poor old Phil, key players injured; the club saying no loot for the new players he needs (the Russian owner is starting to feel the credit crunch poor lad and previously he thought credit crunch was a new biscuit!); and he is worn out with the pressure and the difficulty of learning English. When you are on millions a year - guaranteed by the way with a large pay-off if it goes belly up! - I get fed up with pressure and tiredness. That should be reserved for being skint, not knowing how to pay the bills and not having a job!<br /><br />Finally for now, <strong>my favourite Sebastian Coe (now Lord Coe) story</strong>. The former Olympic great who brought the next Olympics to London is a mad Chelsea supporter. Years ago the then Chelsea chairman Ken Bates always used to leave Seb two Directors Box tickets home and away when he could make it. He turned up at the old <strong>Oxford United stadium</strong> where they had the worst "Jobsworth" of all time.<br /><br />"Name, Sir", says Jobsworth to Coe.<br />"Coe".<br />"No tickets for a Mr Coe, Sir, and it’s more than my job is worth to let anyone into the Directors’ Room and Box at Oxford United without the right tickets."<br />A now frustrated Coe, a modest man, says reluctantly, "I don't think you understand. I am Sebastian Coe and I am with Chelsea".<br />To which the Jobsworth retorts, "The Chelsea hooligans, Sir, are the other side of the ground and if you say who you are, Sir, it should not take you too long to get round to that side!"<br /><br />That's all for now, folks - enjoy your pies and keep those emails coming...<br />Have fun!<br />The Pieman</div>THE PIEMANhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17038051203699584703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4809154976646860506.post-20515824733720607362008-12-01T12:05:00.000-08:002008-12-01T12:35:19.135-08:00The Pieman's Blog for Monday, 1 December<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNsJYi4kdC0TcrSAUhYxvxO0lvEfBhZ4FdT1-oaWFzaUAJmdUNZ83Bmly0rcfoa6jpJgSCMrSR7RUGFmgWQNJxi8fle3hkdSeAbQBNKAvs-mcsk3TmfNZJJWCiE_PQ0KLgOme2FSC6NR4/s1600-h/PM1-web+copy.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274922980310650370" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 188px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNsJYi4kdC0TcrSAUhYxvxO0lvEfBhZ4FdT1-oaWFzaUAJmdUNZ83Bmly0rcfoa6jpJgSCMrSR7RUGFmgWQNJxi8fle3hkdSeAbQBNKAvs-mcsk3TmfNZJJWCiE_PQ0KLgOme2FSC6NR4/s200/PM1-web+copy.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9qfRZj9RcWXycZh1Ur5ULljeIk-DUA-1SJ1B6WUzjVAfwp35wzUXt-GTlS_HuDqvTUdxlDyoE9wiWtIl_GOY0PuVo_icFpnLrSg0ex1hq6h3XnSTAnTz3I_VLiVfipxOOmmUHHKFdyf0/s1600-h/PM1-web+copy.jpg"></a><br /><br /><div><strong>I’ve had it up to here with the top managers blaming refs for their teams shortcoming.</strong> The Respect the Refs campaign is floundering. The Pieman wants to introduce his <strong>Fair Play, mate code!<br /></strong>If those managers want the refs to be perfect, unlike their players! - and want to name and shame them then they also, under the Pieman's fair play mate code, have to publically name and shame their players who miss great scoring chances, make bad passes, mess up in defence, show dissent and cheat. By the way, there is as much chance of that happening as West Bromwich Albion winning the Premier League title...extremely slim and right now in both cases slim is out of town!<br /><br />The latest manager to jump on the "the ref's to blame"- “It’s not my fault, guv" is the <strong>Chelsea boss Phil Scolari.</strong> He wants an apology from referee Mike Dean claiming <strong>Dean cost Chelsea a win over Arsenal.</strong> Chelsea lost 2-1. Scolari blamed Dean and lines man Simon Beck for failing to call <strong>Robin van Persie</strong> offside when he scored Arsenal's equaliser. In fairness they got it wrong but they don’t have action replays and called the way they saw it. Football bosses do not allow technology so mistakes will be made. Funnily enough the Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, a serial moaner at refs during and after matches, did not complain! And the managers complain about referees being inconsistent!. Scolari said, <strong>"Never before at Chelsea have I said</strong> <strong>anything about the referee”.</strong> But today is different, only for him to look at the TV, see he was wrong and say sorry. Tell the assessor to ask the referee to do both sides, not one side. Arsenal scored a goal that was one metre ahead of our player, then the same linesman gave a decision against Kalou that was never offside. They made a mistake. They are not bad, I understand that. I don't want three points, <strong>I just want "sorry" because they made a mistake.<br /></strong><br />Well, Mr Scolari, perhaps you can say sorry for the fact that Chelsea only had one shot on target and how could you be sure that if he had not been ruled offside that Kalou would have scored. After all he has only netted two goals this season!<br />Its all a smokescreen, used regularly by Monsieur Wenger and Sir Alex Ferguson to cover, in Chelsea's case the 12 points dropped at home including taking just the one point at home against the three other BIG FOUR teams, Liverpool, Manchester United and Arsenal.<br />The Pieman is steaming! It’s getting boring. <strong>Managers blaming refs for everything. The matches last a minimum of 90 minutes and like you and your players the officials are not always perfect............<br /><br /></strong>The Premier League table is so tight at all issues that it’s fair play to knee-jerk for many people. But not the Pieman, <strong>I say the real fair play, mate, is to be patient.</strong> Let’s get through to Easter time and see how it all shapes up then. Take Arsenal who have not won a major trophy for three years. Even some of their own fans are saying Arsene Wenger has lost the plot. Cobblers. Arsenal has done a great job for them in the past. He doesn’t lose it overnight.<br />Let’s have it right. <strong>Arsenal have qualified for the knock-out stage of the European Champions League with a game to spare; </strong>they are fourth in the Premier League and they are in the quarter finals of the Carling Cup when their brilliant youngsters take the field at Burnley. They have drawn Plymouth Argyle at home in the FA Cup and recently they have beaten both Manchester United and Chelsea but this has been masked by defeats at home to Aston Villa and away to Manchester City. Sir Alex was being doubted a couple of seasons ago when he didn't win a trophy (blow me how fickle and stupid can you get, doubting Sir Alex?) and Rafa has been under the cosh at Liverpool for only winning the European Champions League and FA Cup (only !)....its all crackers, mates. Fair play no one is really doubting either now and nor should they with Arsene!........<br /><br /><strong>What is going on with Roy Keane?</strong> The Sunderland manager is having a recent bad run of defeats and he is deflecting the pressure by questioning his own future after the weekend's 4-1 home defeat by Bolton. Keane, who has not signed his new contract, said, "I ask myself every day if I'm the right man for Sunderland. I asked myself this morning and said I was. Sunday morning, if the answer's no we'll have to look at it." He went on: "I might wake up on Monday morning and think I am the right man, on Tuesday it might be different."<br />Steady on Roy, you are making the Pieman giddy. The Sunderland players made a lot of errors and were punished. But it’s a long old season. You have spent £80 million on new players and now you have to trim your playing squad and get rid of some. But you can get out of trouble. <strong>Stick by Sunderland. You have a great chairman in Niall Quinn…<br /><br /></strong>The good news update is that today Roy Keane is not quitting and prepares his team for Manchester United away. Four successive home defeats; five defeats in the last six matches is panic time around but keep a cool head in the dressing room.....The question, if the bad results keep happening, will be: do the Board think Roy Keane is the right man? Hopefully it will not come to that.......<br /><br /><strong>What was Ronaldo playing at</strong> - handling the ball from the corner at Eastlands, getting a second yellow (rightly) and being sent off. Unlucky on the first caution where I thought he may have had the benefit of the doubt. Second one I don't go with arguments of "heard a (phantom) whistle or "he was protecting his face"...<br /><br /><strong>Little Histon,</strong> a Cambridgeshire village that once housed Jam manufacturers Chivers (XMAS puds, Old English Marmalade etc) knock-out once mighty Leeds United in the FA Cup second round. It was great drama on the telly with a postman scoring the only goal .Then it was anti-drama at the third round draw a few minutes later when they get Swansea at home instead of Manchester United. Why can't they go back to the traditional Monday lunchtime slot? Histon savour the win and then expectations of a fantastic draw...only for the players on the live dressing room shots looking like someone who had had their favourite pies badly cooked to a cinder! Hardly fair play mate.............<br /><br /><strong>Too much news this edition. More funnies on the way on my next blog. The Pie Girls and myself are in the recording studios next week in London for our new record. The Pie Girls have asked for several things to be put in their dressing room. I just want some Pukka Pies.<br /><br /></strong>One of the Pie Girls, probably Smita Gupta from Birmingham, will be reading some of your emails and texts on the next show. The Pie Girls are Bella Watson from Manchester, Carmen from Barcelona (no mentions of Manuel's granddaughter!), Ushi from Shanghai, Janet Eriksson (no relation but far better looking) from Southampton with a Swedish father, and Smita. They are right out of the Premier League school. The Pieman would not expect anything less. Fair play mate.<br /><br /><strong>Bill Shankly quotes soon. The legendary Liverpool manager who once said: "Football is not a matter of life or death. It’s far more important than that."..............Stay with the Pieman! </strong></div></div>THE PIEMANhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17038051203699584703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4809154976646860506.post-1257405782153084112008-11-29T16:34:00.001-08:002008-11-29T16:46:26.740-08:00The Pieman's Blog for Thursday, 27 November<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkZtAFpiBRHTrOF8hKeVx7e2WNAtbR3Tz1joZBtYEqCPZMstKLivrXE3nJhSTSvkEZjVwFkxGtMbfS1XJyY3U7YJ-XRjYPX6r40YaMQZ4dAOphC77wCnuJu2kCr6QCH5jsPWe3McEw0yw/s1600-h/PM1-web+copy.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274244832981003746" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 291px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 236px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkZtAFpiBRHTrOF8hKeVx7e2WNAtbR3Tz1joZBtYEqCPZMstKLivrXE3nJhSTSvkEZjVwFkxGtMbfS1XJyY3U7YJ-XRjYPX6r40YaMQZ4dAOphC77wCnuJu2kCr6QCH5jsPWe3McEw0yw/s400/PM1-web+copy.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><br /><strong>The late great</strong> <strong>Alan Ball</strong> started it with white boots. Now Arsenal's mid-week scoring hero <strong>Nicklas Bendtner wears pink boots.</strong> 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! <strong>It’s like the Pieman drinking pink beer!</strong><br /><br /><strong>Chelsea's Frank Lampard</strong> 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......<strong>Hats off to Steven Gerrard</strong>, 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.<br /><br />Gerrard's classy response is a sharp contrast to <strong>Chelsea's Didier Drogba</strong> 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 <strong>Arsene Wenger</strong> thinks there is a witchhunt by the media against his ex-captain <strong>William Gallas?</strong> 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. <strong>The Pieman loves Arsene and usually defends him but the spinning that goes on by managers in football does the Pieman's head in!</strong> There are more deflections off the pitch than those shots by his defenders on their way into goal!.....</div>THE PIEMANhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17038051203699584703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4809154976646860506.post-22973336321374801272008-11-29T14:37:00.000-08:002008-11-30T09:15:44.140-08:00Meet The Pie Girls, Posted Saturday 29 November<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk4cF6ELxg_xO_OGvfzDG3zaXpPdcubTGre_wcOoe0aJ_U4eFhBGl0r8_j8uS2cmJ3zo4usrymQQEfSHH_LjhuD-cJ3CdFA-aS08p5La7pvdjpBC5dqRpEc-xlNbGsLirG_B3fKHLpJ6w/s1600-h/meet+the+pie+girls.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274212537777130882" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 334px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 405px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk4cF6ELxg_xO_OGvfzDG3zaXpPdcubTGre_wcOoe0aJ_U4eFhBGl0r8_j8uS2cmJ3zo4usrymQQEfSHH_LjhuD-cJ3CdFA-aS08p5La7pvdjpBC5dqRpEc-xlNbGsLirG_B3fKHLpJ6w/s400/meet+the+pie+girls.JPG" border="0" /></a><strong>To enlarge the image above, click on it and you'll be able to read what the girl's are saying.</strong><br /><br />I've received a lot of enquiries about <strong>The Pie Girls</strong>...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 <strong>The Pieman</strong> <strong>theme song</strong> - I wonder if I ought to send our song off to that Simon Cowell fella.<br /><br />Anyway, the time has come for me to introduce my <strong>Pie Girls</strong>...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkFkGkRHzAgIhLKjNnj_QZQp-nj0IML1OJylRtAvPxRbuIbair_UIUs7Kj6lncYvpDID4W0H-2tGosqEEXZhKqY3xbzfLUdHn5dfvtvRw3_5dgNWm8v_wlMhON7iYer-p988GxnkW3Aeg/s1600-h/Pie+Girls+indiv+001.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274490854018052434" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 157px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 196px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkFkGkRHzAgIhLKjNnj_QZQp-nj0IML1OJylRtAvPxRbuIbair_UIUs7Kj6lncYvpDID4W0H-2tGosqEEXZhKqY3xbzfLUdHn5dfvtvRw3_5dgNWm8v_wlMhON7iYer-p988GxnkW3Aeg/s200/Pie+Girls+indiv+001.jpg" border="0" /></a><strong>Bella Watson is from Manchester...</strong> she's a whizz with all the computers and is our in- house IT-girl, whatever that means. Bella supports <strong>Man United</strong> (surprise, surprise) and <strong>Celtic</strong> (her boyfriend's team); also follows the fortunes of the <strong>Trinidad and Tobago</strong> 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 <strong>Pukka Pie is chicken and Mushroom.</strong><br /><br />Now,<strong> Carmen <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4YqVOfdu7sGI6x2Ch5FhAFbN1bfOlBJH_v24QN9ugWi6aNOv9wXz2wyMI0uPdDwzCBc6RQK773ci8zchfxu9jeYqLE_shKRyrkZMvSFEqIdGW_qRcbZ7vT_QwQkwUMqKZsZGCwqVZlVc/s1600-h/Carmen+from+Barcelona.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274427348109809554" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 145px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 181px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4YqVOfdu7sGI6x2Ch5FhAFbN1bfOlBJH_v24QN9ugWi6aNOv9wXz2wyMI0uPdDwzCBc6RQK773ci8zchfxu9jeYqLE_shKRyrkZMvSFEqIdGW_qRcbZ7vT_QwQkwUMqKZsZGCwqVZlVc/s200/Carmen+from+Barcelona.jpg" border="0" /></a> from Barcelona </strong>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 <strong>Spurs, Blackpool (she worked there</strong> <strong>as an au pair)</strong> <strong>and FC Barcelona.</strong> Carmen prepares a nice tapas (if you'll excuse the expression) and her favourite <strong>Pukka Pie is beef and onion.<br /></strong><br /><strong>Ushi from Shanghai </strong>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 <strong>LA Galaxy</strong>. And when it comes to fitness, Ushi can give me a <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizSi0loojota8j3eeNdqT7f_0r58-cEzYsq56Br6Jc3_xieM9MRtDaZsmBtBMxv5VPhwxGkxDRAoZUi_2pA6TAG3WMDG2vf-UcmLRmxrjI_S49Pv7s3cVqiICKlb_6hro_FheUULfgYsc/s1600-h/Pie+Girls+indiv+007.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274488601180203074" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 160px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizSi0loojota8j3eeNdqT7f_0r58-cEzYsq56Br6Jc3_xieM9MRtDaZsmBtBMxv5VPhwxGkxDRAoZUi_2pA6TAG3WMDG2vf-UcmLRmxrjI_S49Pv7s3cVqiICKlb_6hro_FheUULfgYsc/s200/Pie+Girls+indiv+007.jpg" border="0" /></a>run for my money - she played loads of that American women's soccer and captained a team in <strong>Santa Monica</strong> (where they make Baywatch - steady lads!). Ushi supports <strong>Sunderland</strong> (her brother's working up there) and <strong>Readin</strong>g - 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 <strong>Pukka Pie is steak and kidney</strong>.<br /><br /><strong>Janet Eriksson</strong> is absolutely no relation to you know who! <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIilt8tJcbMmsM-MsDr9IUz05666Gz_f9Ql4KGkv4UZgCdVXccr9QiKrGnVzsdMWav7xMSo-4Jlxs_9LufhL-hDhZUaae2uoEGe-TRpbCOPVKMFhZqQytRuNYDCyP2HdeJBdWo-ZKATMU/s1600-h/Janet+cropped.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274492609930987266" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 102px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIilt8tJcbMmsM-MsDr9IUz05666Gz_f9Ql4KGkv4UZgCdVXccr9QiKrGnVzsdMWav7xMSo-4Jlxs_9LufhL-hDhZUaae2uoEGe-TRpbCOPVKMFhZqQytRuNYDCyP2HdeJBdWo-ZKATMU/s200/Janet+cropped.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />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 <strong>Malmo,</strong> <strong>Southampton and Leeds United.</strong> Janet's favourite <strong>Pukka Pie is potato, cheese and</strong> <strong>onion.</strong><br /><br /><strong>Smita Gupta </strong>is from Birmingham where her parents own one of those marvellous Balti restaurants. Smita follows <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhBOujyKe7RBMSoc9h8txIm-MccZjsAemBD93hh8tmjukW9pE6a5_ouG1hL4Mcxoumx8FdioMfr-xdqmkCOe_Taz0NuHnJIIRusmQgyze1c36DmO1P9m1VjXepxMYRu2igI3m44eA9f8o/s1600-h/Smita+from+Birmingham.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274421385305507538" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 145px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 181px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhBOujyKe7RBMSoc9h8txIm-MccZjsAemBD93hh8tmjukW9pE6a5_ouG1hL4Mcxoumx8FdioMfr-xdqmkCOe_Taz0NuHnJIIRusmQgyze1c36DmO1P9m1VjXepxMYRu2igI3m44eA9f8o/s200/Smita+from+Birmingham.jpg" border="0" /></a> <strong>all the Midlands clubs</strong> and claims not to have any real favourites - but I've got a sneaking suspicion she has a soft spot for <strong>Leicester City</strong> - that's where her boyfriend lives. She watches the Villa a lot and plays a bit herself - she's watched <em><strong>Bend it like</strong> <strong>Beckham</strong></em> 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 <strong>Pukka Pie</strong> - you guessed it, <strong>Balti.</strong><br /><br /><p>I'm very proud of my <strong>Pie Girls</strong>. They work very hard and there's never a cross word in the Pieman studio. <strong>Fair play to them! </strong></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1KPTfIkfB4l8RkeE-xr_FKeB88UOI_A1SQ2y3QhReh1OSSBq1QibTyQlVHhacluLfSQcB3BNnw_EwHrZgEOFi5PTV6-Gg7Ty9kImzozoYuEEY-ZCdTTTZDJ-eKhbT9RQSuB2G3NWiUec/s1600-h/piegirlslineup.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274496779764890194" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 303px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1KPTfIkfB4l8RkeE-xr_FKeB88UOI_A1SQ2y3QhReh1OSSBq1QibTyQlVHhacluLfSQcB3BNnw_EwHrZgEOFi5PTV6-Gg7Ty9kImzozoYuEEY-ZCdTTTZDJ-eKhbT9RQSuB2G3NWiUec/s400/piegirlslineup.jpg" border="0" /></a>THE PIEMANhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17038051203699584703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4809154976646860506.post-13281456000691559862008-11-24T13:50:00.000-08:002008-11-24T14:04:42.137-08:00The Pieman's Blog for 24 November<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOb7KtLrnekS7xEjQHLVC0SPJtdqEkDxTz5V3GGkqhX6caJ8SuPzXwzvrG2zPls0-4ucRRrErLqT9whkCesdDUPU402twqbcqKW-tC5Iyc7JH4iiflgHLM1Wx0cyFuxEcUkNEWSZdQvVk/s1600-h/PM1-web+copy.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272345152766833666" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 188px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOb7KtLrnekS7xEjQHLVC0SPJtdqEkDxTz5V3GGkqhX6caJ8SuPzXwzvrG2zPls0-4ucRRrErLqT9whkCesdDUPU402twqbcqKW-tC5Iyc7JH4iiflgHLM1Wx0cyFuxEcUkNEWSZdQvVk/s200/PM1-web+copy.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Harry boy has done it quickly. <strong>Harry Redknapp</strong> that is. He has taken over Spurs stuck at the bottom of the Premier League and lifted them from <strong>20th to 15th</strong>. <strong>Fair play mate! </strong>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. <strong>Darren Bent</strong> is a classic example, while pocket pie size <strong>Aaron Lennon</strong>, 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. <strong>Roman Pavlyuchenko</strong> scored the only goal, set to by Lennon............<br /><br /><strong>Wow, give that Brazilian Robinho a big pie.</strong> 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 <strong>Pieman reaching for another Pukka Pie!..........</strong><br /><br /><strong>Arsenal slip out of the top four</strong>. They were 13 points better off this time last season. They have lost 5 times in this season's Premier League....<strong>Fulham, Hull, Stoke, Aston Villa and now</strong> <strong>Manchester City</strong>. 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! <strong>Don't write Arsene or Arsenal off </strong>but they will not WIN the TITLE. I still believe that will eventually be between <strong>Chelsea and Manchester United</strong>, 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.......<br /><br /><strong>Alan Pardew gets the tin-tack at Charlton......</strong> not that long since he was booted out of West Ham. Ironicallly the Pieman hears that <strong>Alan Curbishley, Charlton's long term manager</strong> 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!....<br /><br /><strong>The Championship race is very interesting</strong>: 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...............<br /><br /><strong>The Pie Girls</strong>, who love to handle your emails and texts (details on my website) want to know about <strong>Histon.</strong> Do you know about Histon? Fair play mate, it’s a village (quite developed) that years ago was the home of<strong> Chivers jam</strong>, 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<strong> Cambridge United</strong>, 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....... <strong>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!).......<br /></strong><br /><strong>Quotes this week are from Big Ron Atkinson</strong>, great managerial character and TV co-commentator who blotted his copybook with an off camera racist comment.<br />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: </div><div><br />"I think that was a moment of cool panic there."<br />"That boy throws a ball further than I go on holiday."<br />"Beckenbauer has already gambled all his eggs."<br />"If Glenn Hoddle has said one word to his team at half-time it was concentration AND focus."<br />"They must go at it now as they have nothing to lose but the match."<br />"Some-one in the England team will have to grab the ball by the horns."<br />"And Peter Schmeichel (Manchester United goalkeeper) extends and grows even bigger than he is."<br />"Zero-Zero is a big score."<br />"He must be lightening slow."<br />"Well, Clive, it’s all about the two Ms - movement and position." </div><div><br /><strong>Good old Big Ron. Pity he said that stupid word.<br /></strong><br />Try and catch the latest show (Tuesday, 25 November) and join in with the next one.<br /><br />Fair play, mate.....<br />THE PIEMAN</div>THE PIEMANhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17038051203699584703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4809154976646860506.post-27580798127271786672008-11-21T07:39:00.001-08:002008-11-21T07:46:19.767-08:00The Pieman's Blog for Friday, 21 November<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTrssy7az8FNTvmXuR6WJROKZLhZ1AxR4aZTR0e9VmeTGLATiEnKz7tG04x_AUzVG8UZFskUDdLRii3h6Px-XI1a7LeZfeDazbr88ghByoQBilx0eD3Rq1uSTz0sRwRHpuW0Qdm9iWa1I/s1600-h/PM1-web+copy.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5271136144076814402" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 188px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTrssy7az8FNTvmXuR6WJROKZLhZ1AxR4aZTR0e9VmeTGLATiEnKz7tG04x_AUzVG8UZFskUDdLRii3h6Px-XI1a7LeZfeDazbr88ghByoQBilx0eD3Rq1uSTz0sRwRHpuW0Qdm9iWa1I/s200/PM1-web+copy.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><strong>The Pieman has to eat humble pie this week.</strong> 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 <strong>Fabio Capello</strong>, 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, <strong>Gabriel Agbonlahor and Ashley Young</strong>. Gabby, as his club call him, has terrific pace and was a good addition. Young came on late.<br /><br />The result was excellent, the performance pretty good, but the Pieman thinks everyone has gone too much overboard. There was nothing at stake.<br />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 <strong>the real test comes in South Africa</strong>. 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.<br /><br />Did goalie <strong>Scott Carson</strong> call for the ball in the defensive mix-up with skipper <strong>John Terry</strong> 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..............<br /><br /><strong>What sort of captain is William Gallas at Arsenal?</strong> What will his manager Arsene Wenger do now?<br /><br />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. <strong>The problem is that Gallas has undermined Wenger's position as manager</strong>, 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..............<br /><br /><strong>Sven-Goran Eriksson</strong> we hear is facing calls to be sacked as Mexico manager. The Mexican sports daily newspaper RECORD writes it will only cost <strong>$4 million to pay him off</strong> 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!...............<br /><br /><strong>Andy Anson</strong> is the new chief executive of the <strong>FA's 2018 World Cup bid</strong>. 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!<br /><br />What do you think? <strong>Should we stage the 2018 World Cup?</strong> Please send me your thoughts.<br /><br /><strong>Aston Villa versus Manchester United this Saturday</strong> 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 <strong>Aston Villa are making huge strides under manager Martin O'Neill</strong>. 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!........ </div><div><br /><strong>The Pieman loves a laugh and in these blogs I will be recalling past and present stories that have made me laugh!</strong> </div><div><br /><strong>This time it’s Tommy Docherty</strong> - one of football's great wits who managed so many different clubs - he joked, <em>"I've had more clubs than Jack Nichlaus (USA golfer</em>)!" ......When he got sacked from Rotherham, Doc declared, <em>"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!"......</em> When he was under pressure job-wise at Aston Villa the chairman Doug Ellis called the press together and stated, <em>"I just want you gentlemen to know that I am right behind our manager Tommy Docherty"</em>, to which the Doc said, <em>"With all due respect Mr Chairman, I would rather have you in front of me where I can see you</em>!"... 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. <em>"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!"...... </em><strong>A great character, the Doc!<br /></strong><br />Thank for being with the Pieman. My next show will be on the website soon. The exact date will be posted!</div>THE PIEMANhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17038051203699584703noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4809154976646860506.post-48855889786545802102008-11-18T01:37:00.000-08:002008-11-18T01:48:50.902-08:00The Pieman' s Blog for Tuesday, 18 November<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW95Ztwc0IqmUZEnQsM1WhMgey7szn0gGoJnY8J_nDUQhpnWHWlq2sctXqy_FuhThYLmy_V1fJBJp-GRy6Opn7UNcAmrDhlG4djdvxvWNhurDtsfJdaxMavO8F_mJQO8GCyrNiXmmopec/s1600-h/PM1-web+copy.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269932245134503634" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 188px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW95Ztwc0IqmUZEnQsM1WhMgey7szn0gGoJnY8J_nDUQhpnWHWlq2sctXqy_FuhThYLmy_V1fJBJp-GRy6Opn7UNcAmrDhlG4djdvxvWNhurDtsfJdaxMavO8F_mJQO8GCyrNiXmmopec/s200/PM1-web+copy.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7zon_X10TRAKBWT41_PlRCdNnYzfc0WA5S_NipZJ_tUZ1tOIjIgYaaPkacb_m8pcNsHtqTe7m6OSki6xBx7PhEDWpihKIozszSGw4Gd1YuL4CDwt9vTxWfSoKiu67E70g2t5JnbfrJUA/s1600-h/pie+man+with+Pukka+Pies+logo.JPG"></a><br /><br /><div><strong>I do not like friendly football matches</strong> - 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.<br /><br />Take <strong>England who play in Berlin against Germany</strong> this <strong>Wednesday</strong> (<strong>8pm UK time on ITV</strong>). 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 <strong>Steven Gerrard</strong>. 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.<br /><br />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 <strong>(The Pieman knows his onions!).</strong> 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!<br /><br />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 <strong>Michael Owen</strong> 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.<br /><br />Had to get that off my chest...<br /><strong>Heurelho Gomes</strong> made another of his awful errors in goal for Spurs in their first defeat under new manager Harry Redknapp. <strong>Spurs lost 2-1 at Fulham</strong> 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 <strong>Shay Given</strong>. Joe Kinnear says no way but it may be up to Given at the end of the day!<br /><br /><strong>West Ham are looking iffy</strong>. 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....<br /><br />I cannot believe it... <strong>UEFA fine Celtic £42,430</strong> 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. <strong>The Pieman demands Fair Play</strong> on this one, UEFA. You cannot have your pie and eat it!........<br /><br />Bolton think referee Rob Styles was wrong to disallow <strong>Gary Cahill's goal against Liverpool</strong> because <strong>Kevin Nolan</strong> 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?.............<br /><br /><strong>Result of the week</strong>: <strong>Championship Burnley knocking Premier League leaders out of the Carling Cup</strong> 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.<br /><br /><strong>And finally, if it’s true</strong>... 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!<strong> I hope they don't drop the pies!<br /></strong><br />Don't forget - please send the Pieman your emails and texts. That’s <a href="mailto:pm@piemanradio.com">pm@piemanradio.com</a>, or send a text to PM + your message to 80480.<br /><br />Yours in pie<br />THE PIEMAN</div></div>THE PIEMANhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17038051203699584703noreply@blogger.com0