I do not like friendly football matches - that includes Internationals. Having said that the Pieman can hardly allude to there being more bad POINTS than good POINTS cause there are no points to play for at all.
Take England who play in Berlin against Germany this Wednesday (8pm UK time on ITV). England do not have another competitive game until the end of March. The timing of this week's game is bad. It is a busy time of the season; players are injured and those injured players have to meet up with the FA England team for a second opinion (does the Pieman assume that someone thinks the clubs are telling porky pies or does Senor Capello want to make his stand?). Take Steven Gerrard. Liverpool say he’s injured on Sunday; Gerrard has to join the England squad in the London area on Monday where surprise, surprise, the FA announce - fair play, mate - Gerrard is injured! And the FA expect goodwill from the clubs.
The England starting team that goes out in Berlin will be missing 7 of the expected line-up. Now I know the FA did not know that when the match and date were agreed but heck it happens every time there is a friendly! For Capello it’s a chance to get everyone together although most of the squad will hardly ever play. For the FA it’s revenue and a chance to make TV contracts valuable, particularly for home matches. They can control the rights for overseas friendlies as part of the deal but have no say in away competitive games (The Pieman knows his onions!). Now if this was a world cup qualifier, wow, millions would be rushing home. There will still be a decent TV audience because it’s England and because it’s the Germans!
I will be watching but no doubt I’ll sink a few beers and Pukka pies. Senor Capello will smile afterwards and say how worthwhile it was and the media will go overboard up and down depending on the result. Every time you watch a top club game the England coach is one game ahead. He knows what every player can do. What will a FRIENDLY international really tell him? If he thinks Michael Owen is not match fit yet then play him for part of the FRIENDLY. We know Owen is world class!..........What do you think? Send me an email or text please.
Had to get that off my chest...
Heurelho Gomes made another of his awful errors in goal for Spurs in their first defeat under new manager Harry Redknapp. Spurs lost 2-1 at Fulham after the goalie they called the Octopus at his previous club dropped the ball for Fulham's first goal - an easy long shot from Simon Davies. Now all goalies drop the odd clanger. Fair play mate, that goes with the position, but surely Gomes has to be replaced in the January transfer window. Harry cannot say anything publicly because no business can be done till the New Year but its odds-on a new keeper will then arrive. Harry is said to like Newcastle's brilliant long-serving goalie Shay Given. Joe Kinnear says no way but it may be up to Given at the end of the day!
West Ham are looking iffy. In debt, the chairman has lost a lot of dough in the Icelandic money slump, the injury list continues and new boss Gianfranco Zola has only collected 2 points from the last seven Premier League matches. Otherwise everying is ok? Will the Hammers go down? Let the Pieman have your views....
I cannot believe it... UEFA fine Celtic £42,430 because a fan ran onto the Parkhead pitch and disrupted the European Champions League match with Manchester United. But UEFA only fine Croatia £9800 after their fans in Euro 2008 qualifier used Nazi salutes, white power banners and "gross racist chants". UEFA quite rightly have a big anti-racist campaign but where is the logic here in the difference between the size of these two fines. The Pieman demands Fair Play on this one, UEFA. You cannot have your pie and eat it!........
Bolton think referee Rob Styles was wrong to disallow Gary Cahill's goal against Liverpool because Kevin Nolan fouled Liverpool's goalkeeper Reina. Liverpool won 2 nil. I think the referee, who was well positioned at the corner, was right. Styles apologised to Gary Megson for getting a decision wrong in another match. I am sure the Bolton manager will eventually apologise to Mr.Styles. Or doesn't it work like that?.............
Result of the week: Championship Burnley knocking Premier League leaders out of the Carling Cup on their own pitch in a penalty shoot-out. Burnley's reward in the quarter-finals? A home tie against the brilliant youngster who turn out for Arsenal in the Carling Cup.
And finally, if it’s true... it’s been reported that mighty rich Chelsea are cost cutting and thinking of charging the players for their meals at the training ground. They pay their superstars millions upon millions. Some cost cutting! I hope they don't drop the pies!
Don't forget - please send the Pieman your emails and texts. That’s pm@piemanradio.com, or send a text to PM + your message to 80480.
Yours in pie
THE PIEMAN
Take England who play in Berlin against Germany this Wednesday (8pm UK time on ITV). England do not have another competitive game until the end of March. The timing of this week's game is bad. It is a busy time of the season; players are injured and those injured players have to meet up with the FA England team for a second opinion (does the Pieman assume that someone thinks the clubs are telling porky pies or does Senor Capello want to make his stand?). Take Steven Gerrard. Liverpool say he’s injured on Sunday; Gerrard has to join the England squad in the London area on Monday where surprise, surprise, the FA announce - fair play, mate - Gerrard is injured! And the FA expect goodwill from the clubs.
The England starting team that goes out in Berlin will be missing 7 of the expected line-up. Now I know the FA did not know that when the match and date were agreed but heck it happens every time there is a friendly! For Capello it’s a chance to get everyone together although most of the squad will hardly ever play. For the FA it’s revenue and a chance to make TV contracts valuable, particularly for home matches. They can control the rights for overseas friendlies as part of the deal but have no say in away competitive games (The Pieman knows his onions!). Now if this was a world cup qualifier, wow, millions would be rushing home. There will still be a decent TV audience because it’s England and because it’s the Germans!
I will be watching but no doubt I’ll sink a few beers and Pukka pies. Senor Capello will smile afterwards and say how worthwhile it was and the media will go overboard up and down depending on the result. Every time you watch a top club game the England coach is one game ahead. He knows what every player can do. What will a FRIENDLY international really tell him? If he thinks Michael Owen is not match fit yet then play him for part of the FRIENDLY. We know Owen is world class!..........What do you think? Send me an email or text please.
Had to get that off my chest...
Heurelho Gomes made another of his awful errors in goal for Spurs in their first defeat under new manager Harry Redknapp. Spurs lost 2-1 at Fulham after the goalie they called the Octopus at his previous club dropped the ball for Fulham's first goal - an easy long shot from Simon Davies. Now all goalies drop the odd clanger. Fair play mate, that goes with the position, but surely Gomes has to be replaced in the January transfer window. Harry cannot say anything publicly because no business can be done till the New Year but its odds-on a new keeper will then arrive. Harry is said to like Newcastle's brilliant long-serving goalie Shay Given. Joe Kinnear says no way but it may be up to Given at the end of the day!
West Ham are looking iffy. In debt, the chairman has lost a lot of dough in the Icelandic money slump, the injury list continues and new boss Gianfranco Zola has only collected 2 points from the last seven Premier League matches. Otherwise everying is ok? Will the Hammers go down? Let the Pieman have your views....
I cannot believe it... UEFA fine Celtic £42,430 because a fan ran onto the Parkhead pitch and disrupted the European Champions League match with Manchester United. But UEFA only fine Croatia £9800 after their fans in Euro 2008 qualifier used Nazi salutes, white power banners and "gross racist chants". UEFA quite rightly have a big anti-racist campaign but where is the logic here in the difference between the size of these two fines. The Pieman demands Fair Play on this one, UEFA. You cannot have your pie and eat it!........
Bolton think referee Rob Styles was wrong to disallow Gary Cahill's goal against Liverpool because Kevin Nolan fouled Liverpool's goalkeeper Reina. Liverpool won 2 nil. I think the referee, who was well positioned at the corner, was right. Styles apologised to Gary Megson for getting a decision wrong in another match. I am sure the Bolton manager will eventually apologise to Mr.Styles. Or doesn't it work like that?.............
Result of the week: Championship Burnley knocking Premier League leaders out of the Carling Cup on their own pitch in a penalty shoot-out. Burnley's reward in the quarter-finals? A home tie against the brilliant youngster who turn out for Arsenal in the Carling Cup.
And finally, if it’s true... it’s been reported that mighty rich Chelsea are cost cutting and thinking of charging the players for their meals at the training ground. They pay their superstars millions upon millions. Some cost cutting! I hope they don't drop the pies!
Don't forget - please send the Pieman your emails and texts. That’s pm@piemanradio.com, or send a text to PM + your message to 80480.
Yours in pie
THE PIEMAN
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