THE 93:20 NEWSLETTER:- ISSUE 4

Hello, and welcome to episode 4 of the 93:20 newsletter. It’s a tedious international break of course, but it is manna for anyone who writes about football, as it allows the idiots to prosper, as they crawl out from the woodwork to fill the void. Where would we be without them? You can probably guess what I am referring to here.

As always, later on you will see what we have been up to, and this international break may well have been the busiest ever week of podding, which defies logic. From Monday to Friday there should be nine shows recorded, meaning some will be held back until next week, when there’s another batch planned! Something for everyone, and amazing value as ever, I hope you agree.

So there was only one true talking point over the past week, sadly, as the grifters did their thing. Yes, prepare to be disgusted all over again, at Lee Carsley, who clearly HATES OUR COUNTRY, refusing to sing the National Anthem, that jaunty little number it’s impossible to dislike. He may as well have urinated on the graves of every dead royal in history, such was the level of disrespect.

Leading the pretend disgust was Jason Burt who without a hint of irony called Carsley’s decision, which he had fully explained, as naïve and displayed a lack of ambassadorial skills. An opinion so putrid I do not even know how to dissect it, and with the Telegraph and Mail (obv) leading with the story on their front pages, this was an unwelcome sign of a (non) story leeching onto the back. Two days, the Telegraph’s Chief Hypocrite had been bigging up the new England manager as ahead of his time. But that’s the thing with grifters like Burt and others who followed - they serve their readership perfectly, and they are masters at inventing something to be outraged over. We’ve been here before, a thousand times in fact, most notably recently with the faux outrage over the St George’s flag design on the England kit. Flags have gone woke.

Jeff Powell at the Mail wanted him sacked prior to kick off, in news that will surprise no one. But that’s not going far enough for me. I personally would have him brought out in stocks at half-time for the next game, and have him pelted with rotten tomatoes. It beats the crossbar challenge all hands down. Then I would have his pants ripped by three actual lions, as he is placed precariously on a plasterer’s table and a Saint George flag would then be tattooed onto his bare arse cheek as Vindaloo played over the speakers.
The 2^nd half would then kick off as normal, with Ashley Cole taking over coaching duties.

But then I thought: does this go far enough?

Still this is low key compared to what is coming. Buckle up, because before you know it, poppy season will have arrived. Christmas (if I am allowed to call it that) come early for the grifters.

The leaves are still on the trees and already Arsenal fans are acting like Arsenal fans. It truly is amazing the effect Pep Guardiola has on rival fan bases. It’s purgatory for every season he remains at City. First up it was good old match officiating that sent them into meltdown, namely Declan Rice’s red card, which I failed to mention in the last newsletter as I was preoccupied with moaning about ticket prices (and as you will later see, still am). I won’t go over old ground, except to state the obvious – there was no miscarriage of justice.

But with every incident that a fanbase gets infuriated with, and there will always be at least one each weekend, we go through the same tiresome routine. I expect consistency within a game, but whatabouting about decisions in other games is staggeringly tedious, and a speciality of Arsenal fans. Consistency is never to be truly achieved and nor should it be expected. Whatever you think of VAR, that's not what it was created for. Part of the problem was being mis-sold what it was supposed to achieve (and it may have partially failed on that anyway) and that so many fans still struggle to comprehend how it operates. Not that there was inconsistency in the Arsenal match itself anyway, as the ball kicked away by a Brighton player in the first half did not delay a restart of play, which is what yellow cards (such as Rice’s) are given for, not the kicking away of the ball by itself. Some decisions are harsh but fair, under the laws, and that's what Rice's yellow card was. It would anger you if it happened to your side, but under the laws of the game......

A further part of the problem is that VAR has given football fans a vehicle to be upset about everything. It could cut out 50% of mistakes, improve the number of technically correct calls, yet still lead to the masses thinking the game has regressed and decisions are worse than ever because, as previously mentioned, we thought we were getting robotic perfection. Anyway, thankfully Arsenal fans have moved on to being annoyed about something else now, namely injuries, because they have got a couple, and are thus the first team to have ever suffered such a misfortune. Every fanbase has bemoaned the international break after losing a player or two to injuries (Ake!), so there’s nothing unique here, but the fallout this time around is one only Arsenal fans could perfect. Add it to the Rice suspension that all comes together just in time for a North London derby, and it’s fair to say AFTV is doing good business right now.

https://ninetythreetwenty.com/9320-player/

Still, could be worse – could be a United fan. Another new dawn is taking its time to arrive, with the sun hiding again behind a leaky roof. Ten Hag is under serious pressure already due to being not very good at his job, and my dream of City lining up against a United managed by Gareth Southgate is a dream that thankfully refuses to die. A fever dream. Many have pointed out that losing to United in the FA Cup final was Pep's true masterpiece moment, his greatest chess move. Sacrificing the Queen for the greater good. This only works on the assumption Pep has spent a single moment of contemplation over whether Ten Hag stays or goes, and whether United are seen as a potential rival in the future. Maybe I am being harsh - the bald fraud union may be close, with their own WhatsApp group.

***Arne Slot has joined the Group***

Either way, it's rather hilarious that INEOS are being so widely lauded for transforming United into one acting like a professional outfit at long last, when Brexit Jim sacked half the staff and gave the manager a new contract when they spent half the summer desperately searching for a replacement, before giving up.

One final thought on ticket prices (honest!*)

What originally annoyed me about the ticket prices for Inter was that the prices not reasonable. I still expected the match to sell out. Now, it may still do, but as the game draws close, there are thousands of tickets available, especially up in the gods. Normally, the coward in me would be worried about the empty seats brigade having fun on the night of the match, because I am a weak man. Now I hope the place is half-empty. Ok, maybe that’s exaggerating somewhat. But if the game does not sell out, it may focus a few minds at our club. Get the message – you can’t extort us for ever, many will just walk away, many already have. I also think perhaps the club has overestimated the appeal of the competition. The new expanded format and a general fatigue at the schedule nowadays all adds up to this fixture not being half as attractive as many at the club seem to think it is. For many, it never was, booooooooooo. I know a few friends who are not going, people who go home and away in the league, and have been for decades. Don’t bite the hand that feeds you – there is not an endless queue of replacement hands waiting to step in.

And then there’s the Watford match. £15 for my ticket, were I to go, which I am not. On the surface, reasonable enough, though again this is the cheapest ticket price. And this brings to the fore the other issue I have with those that make decisions at the club. Sometimes I wonder if they’re actually that savvy at all? Do they have any business experience at all? This is a Carabao Cup tie at home to Watford, that is also on the TV. It’s not selling out, I doubt it will get close. So why not make it £10 for everyone, or even a fiver? Why not try and fill the place, get a better atmosphere, and make just as much money by getting more in the ground spending their hard-earned cash. Stop running the club off a spreadsheet and engage your brain occasionally. Another opportunity to do something good, something different, missed. I can guarantee you income from Carabao Cup home games is not part of City’s business model, a necessity to remain competitive. So there was little reason not to do something different, in my opinion. Ah well, maybe I should stop obsessing over the need to fill the ground – it’s a very modern phenomena, borne from tribalism, and marketing “brands”.  But then we know City are obsessed with empty seats too, hence why season ticket holders have to attend a certain numbers of games each season.

*probably

So, City will be wearing the abomination that is their FOURTH kit at HOME to Inter Milan. Game’s gone. No wonder they can’t sell the tickets. Marketing over heritage, what a time to be alive.

What We Have Been Up To

I honestly don’t know where to start. At the beginning, perhaps, but it’s fair to say we have been busy.

The Hub:- Episode 9

Bailey is joined by Peter Prickett, a.k.a. The Bearded Coach, to discuss how England develop players like Phil Foden, why there are not enough English managers in the Premier League and how Liverpool differ under Slot.

The Hub:- Episode 10

Bailey is joined by Jason and Sam to discuss the tactics City used in the opening three games, impressive individual performances, standout stats and trends to watch unfold in the coming games.

The 93:20 Review: - Rain Over us

Ste and Ahsan assess Lee Carsley's first two games in charge of England, chat Rico Lewis, Haaland and Rodri's contracts, plus a bit on Musiala to City.

No History:- Alex Williams

Howard and Joe take a look at the City life of Alex Williams, a pioneer on and off the pitch. A career cut short, but a hero of the community.

TV Dramas

Ste, Howard and Chris sit down and in a mammoth show, pick their five personal choices for greatest drama series ever.

What Is To Come

The Friday Show

The usual bumper show, and this one is bigger than ever. A preview of the weekend match v Brentford, with Dave from the Besotted Brentford podcast popping in for a chat. Howard and Bailey will also analysis City’s Champions League opponents, plus England talk and a lot more besides.

Premier League Show

With the international break thankfully coming to an end, the weekly show returns, and as always the boys go around the grounds. A big North London derby awaits.

Author Interview:- Bill Bradshaw

On Thursday, Howard chatted to Francis Lee’s ghost-writer for his autobiography, which was released on 9^th September. A fascinating chat, for what is a wonderful read.

The Hub:- Episode 11

Likes buses, Hub episodes sometimes come in threes. Bailey is joined by the founder of StatsBomb to discuss the formation of the company, the rise of analytics in football, and the key role it plays in player recruitment. They also discuss transfers made this summer.

The Review

There will of course be a full review of the Brentford match.

Plus an Inter match preview, and a lot, lot more!

And relax…..

Hope that’s enough for now. Have a great weekend, and as always – up the blues.

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