THE 93:20 NEWSLETTER:- ISSUE 37

Author

Howard Hockin
April 25, 2025

Hello, and welcome to Issue 37 of the Newsletter, and it’s been another busy week, and quite a satisfying one – there is no better feeling than a last-gasp winner against serious competition. We have got the usual nonsense below, but also TWO world exclusives. Once more, we spoil you. There’s also loads of images for those with short attention spans.

And I am happy to announce that in the summer, my newsletters for the season, along with a whole lot of new content, will be released as a book, for your coffee table and toilets. Maybe.

We are also keen at 93:20 to have local businesses advertising on our two free shows, so get in touch if interested.

Let’s go.

My sincerest condolences to all Leicester City fans, who are living through their own Stuart Pearce years, only they’ve got a United cast-off in charge. Nine consecutive home games without a home goal is some going, and does lead to some unfortunate flashbacks, and the odd bout of PTSD for many a blue.

To recap on Pearce: 781 minutes without a goal. The highlight of the Pearce years was me discovering mid-game (0-0, obv) that I had won £250 on the Grand National winner, Silver Birch, along with most of Wythenshawe, as it is the name of a pub there (don’t check it out if you’re passing). With that in mind, I can cope with a season like the current one.

My ears pricked up this week, as Gareth Southgate was once more linked with United. This has always been my dream appointment (for United, obv), but am now slightly concerned over its consequences, as I fear he may bring competency to the team, and none of us want that. United’s approach has been to appoint more highly-rated foreign managers who then fail to instil their philosophy on the squad, leading to abject failure. Sadly, I fear Gareth Southgate may avoid such a fate as he does not pursue ambitious tactical philosophies, and his caution-first approach and devotion to mediocracy may actually be what United need. No need to worry for now anyway, considering United’s actions over the past decade, Amorim is probably unsackable for quite a while, and is on course to fluke Champions League qualification.

I always think of something an unknown sage once told me. If you want to be a big team, and want to be considered as one, then act like one, as a fanbase. Whatever you may think of United or Liverpool fans, they don’t tend to come to the Etihad and sing the same, tired, tedious cliched songs that tinpot teams’ fanbases love so much, who get giddy on their big day out. Consider Aston Villa fans this week. I almost died of embarrassment at how they waited for a lull in the signing to sing “is this a library?” Though having said that, I know many a blue who thought the atmosphere was terrible, so what do I know?

I remember going to a half-empty Villa Park, to see City win in the cup. The concourse was a death trap, the only time I have truly felt concern about my own safety, due to the lack of space – and I am over 6 ft tall. Villa fans will point out that they were protesting against the Doug Ellis regime at the time, hence the empty seats. Well, dunderheads, what did you think was going on at the Etihad this week? I know it’s pointless and rather misses the point to use in-game chants as part of a discussion of wider issues in the game (i’m sure we have sung some terrible ones), but it does act as reminder that recent fan action has succeeded because fanbases of clubs who despise each other have got together and pushed for a better deal for fans, who are the soul of the game. At the end of the day, we all love the same sport, and many of us see it being taken away from us. Maybe some more inventive chanting is in order – topical stuff about bins not being collected, that sort of thing.

Anyway, that’s 15 consecutive home league victories over Villa, so fuck ‘em.

At the Villa match, the guy next to me had bought his ticket for £71. He was what some would call a tourist supporter, and was absolutely fine, acting no different to how many other fans would. By which I mean he left early, so missed the winning goal, and one of the moments of the season, by two minutes. 

I highly recommend you check out the musings of Jamie Jackson after the Villa match, a prime example of a journalist (apparently) pre-writing a match report and then filling in the gaps to match the narrative once the final whistle had blown, to help with a tight deadline. The majority of the report is about Marcus Rashford, for no logical reason. An absolute blast of poor writing, but this section really tickled me more than most, as Jackson tried to convince readers that Rashford was “unplayable”.

So, apart from his poor touch and finishing, he was unplayable. Got it. That’s like David Moyes noting that United just need to improve their defending, passing, shooting, mentality…….

If you still wonder why City and its fanbase have the reputation they do with many rival fans, apart from pure jealousy added to the fact many rival fans probably struggle to dress themselves in the morning, here is a prime example.

7.4m followers, and it can of course tweet this outright lie with no comeback. They know what they are doing.

“Somehow managed to score four…”

The gatekeepers are out in force for City’s 30th Wembley visit since 2011. It looks like City will sell around 27,000 tickets, so the empty seat watchers will be out in force on Sunday. Maybe they will be distracted by a Liverpool title win, but not for long I imagine. The only pertinent question is why any blues care? Hey, I’ve been through that phase myself, but have long grown out of it. How many tickets a team sells for any match is not “embarrassing” or “humiliating”, and always comes with context.

Saying Wembley tickets are cheap rather misses the point when everything else isn't. If City games had been more competitively priced, I'd be better placed to go to Wembley this weekend. But either way, it would have been considerably cheaper for me to do Everton last weekend. One online poster was even shocked at the prospect of City fans, supporters of a club that are making their 30th visit to Wembley since 2011, being outnumbered by Nottingham Forest fans, who have a single play-off visit to their name since 2007. It really is baffling, isn't it? How could such a small club with no fans or history, outnumber us, ever? It's almost as if there's a long list of entirely logical and reasonable reasons why this may occur. One factor is, quite simply, that many blues have fallen out of love with modern football, as this podcast knows all too well, looking at its subscriber numbers.

It is also logical to gamble on waiting for the final of you can only afford a single Wembley visit this season. If City win, then all good, the final it is. If City lose, we'll at least you dodged a bullet, as losing at Wembley is never easy to endure. The journey home always feels double in length. 

Chest-thumping idiots wittering on about passion, and telling everyone how they must act as a supporter, and more to the point, what they should spend their hard-earned money on. Do one. I’ll spend my meagre earnings how I see fit, which this month will be on increased utility bills and a higher council tax bill. If I simply don’t want to go to a match because I can’t be bothered, well it may surprise you to discover that I am entitled to that view too. Now, if you want to attack me for not making better life choices and forging a more lucrative career so that the cost wouldn’t be prohibitive to me – well that’s fair enough, you’ve got a point.

PRESENTED WITHOUT COMMENT

WE DON’T NEED TO TALK ABOUT KEVIN

It's easy to listen to Kevin De Bruyne talk, and allow his words to have a psychological effect on you, leading you to the conclusion that City have made the wrong decision. He thinks he has more to give, therefore he must have, and City have made a grave mistake. But words change nothing. The evidence we saw before our eyes before the quotes emerged remains the same. It’ is, sadly, the right decision. Please leave England though, no offence.

As fans we baulk at the economics of the situation being a factor in the decision, but those that run the club must do so, and such decisions must be made with the head, not the heart. There is little point, if any, in retaining a player who can rekindle the old magic, but only once a fortnight, whatever wage he may be on. David Silva is the case in point – much as that also pained me, it was the right time to leave.

News has emerged that Kevin De Bruyne does not want to appear at the Club World Cup, as he fears an injury would scupper a potential move elsewhere. Clearly he doesn’t trust his body after all. But seriously, that is understandable. And no one really cares about the competition anyway, apart from the cash grab opportunities it presents.

And speaking of economics - I am conflicted. I wanted Virgil Van Dijk and Mo Salah to leave Liverpool, for City's perceived benefit, but also think the decision to sign them to be contracts on huge wages is potentially a huge mistake. The wages will impact on recruitment elsewhere – time will tell whether the right decisions were taken, especially as it’s the African Cup of Nations next season, and Salah tends to return from that undercooked. Still, Van Dijk is clearly allowed to do as he pleases on a football pitch nowadays, so perhaps the new contract makes sense after all. Meow.

IT’S THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR

It’s that time of year. A succession of articles by certain journalists who live to think "outside the box" and are desperate for clicks, on why their controversial choice is the right one, rather than just do the sensible thing and vote for the best performing player for one of the best teams. But of course, voting for Mo Salah doesn’t create an article, so better to be controversial. Still, I would not be against Bruno Fernandes winning Player of the Year, just for the reaction from Merseyside.

Using Ladyman’s criteria, surely the only fair winner is Rodri?

WORLD EXCLUSIVE (1) KHUSANOV – THE REAL STORY

There have been some scurrilous rumours recently regarding Abdukodir Khusanov. Total fabrication, but the truth is not a million miles away. Here’s what actually happened.

Khusanov is slowly learning English. He has been relying on teammates to teach him a few phrases. Unfortunately, Jack Grealish thought it would be a good idea to play a practical joke on him. He told Khusanov a certain phrase that he informed him was a question Pep would love, about the value of inverted wing backs in breaking down a low block, and whether Pep saw him in that role in the future. As instructed, Khusanov memorised the words and approached Pep – but what Khusanov actually said to Pep was as follows:” Pep, your football is antiquated, and should be consigned to history. You are a bald fraud, and your wife and the kit man were the true tactical geniuses behind the team, hence the fall-off in results. If you want to be truly considered a great, you should test yourself at a shit team, like Oldham or Manchester United. Are you allergic to full-backs? It’s just weird. I’m sorry, but I just don’t rate you, and what’s more, that restaurant you own in town is shit.”
Khusanov did not smile, so Pep assumed his point was serious. He hasn’t played since, and does not know why.

Very worrying if true.

But to be serious for one moment (apologies) – O’Reilly has starred at left-back, Gvardiol has thus moved centrally, and this has pushed Khusanov out of the team for the short-term, as Pep likes to keep a settled defence at the business end of a season. Sadly, the truth doesn’t make for a good headline.

MORE LEAKED WHATSAPPS – A FULLER VERSION OF RECENT RELEASE

THIS WEEK’S MOOD IN PICTURE FORM

WHAT WE HAVE BEEN UP TO THIS WEEK

THE 93:20 REVIEW:- CENTURIONS

As City visited Goodison for the 100th and final time, Ahsan and Lloyd look back at the dull but important win over Everton plus chat O'Reilly, Pep, MGW and loads more.

THE 93:20 REVIEW:- 93:21

Lloyd is joined by Ahsan and Bailey for a comprehensive review of the resplendent win over Villa and all the talking points from it.

FA CUP MEMORIES

Ste and Howard look back at City's proud FA Cup history, from 1904 to 2025. Highs and lows, legendary players (and kits), and more.

OPPOSITION FAN

Ahead of a big Wembley match, Howard caught up with Forest fan George Richards to talk Forest, form, Gibbs-White, mentality, Wembley and more.

THE WEEKEND SHOW

You know the score. Another bumper edition looking back at a great week and forward to an FA Cup semi-final.

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