THE 93:20 NEWSLETTER:- ISSUE 38

Author

Howard Hockin
May 02, 2025

Hello, and welcome to the 93:20 Newsletter, Issue 38. The sun is out, and results have been good, so expect my usual upbeat approach during this edition.

As always, thanks for your support, and if you do not subscribe to the 93:20 player, give it a go. Monthly deals are available, and you will not regret it over the next few months. A lot is going to happen. Consider it a birthday present for the author, who becomes even older this weekend, and feels it.

There was a joyous online event last week, due to the insufferable Overlap programme, the place where banter, and serious football discussion, goes to die. Wayne Rooney was “bantered” about City’s 2012 title win, and soon talk turned to the suspicious nature of the QPR performance, and the need for it being “looked into”. I’m not sure it was particularly serious in the studio, though you can tell below the surface, it still cuts deep for the likes of Rooney and Neville, the former noticeably grimacing on the Overlap sofa. Good.
But it was online where it became very apparent just how much THAT goal has scarred United fans. Ferguson had one last title to deliver, but since his retirement, United have never finished above City, and as you know are one of the most badly-run clubs in world football. But I perhaps never truly appreciated how much that day hit them, away from the front they all presented. Those wounds run deep, and the lack of success since may have not helped in ridding them of the scars. With that in mind, I thought it would be fun to highlight just a few of the replies to the Overlap clip on Twitter.

Jake W Stephens: 
Biggest match fixing scandal in the history of the game. We won that title but QPR were paid off to let City win as they wanted/needed a different winner. Paddy Kenny admitted it, but no apology or changing of records.

The truth will out one day…..

It wouldn't surprise me if when we know what the outcome of City's charges are known, we find out about this too. Premier League were complicit in it though...

And Paddy Kenny dived the wrong way on the last two goals.

And QPR gave the ball straight back to City when the Dzeko goal went in. The evidence is overwhelming.

Reply: Somehow paid them off between the 90th and 94th minute and we still left it to the last kick risking everything did we? Tin foil over truth, you bottled it.

No, they would have done it in advance but it was part of the plan to leave it late. Needed to make it exciting and dramatic. This is common knowledge.

Reply: How would City have 'paid off' QPR, if QPR only knew in injury time that they were safe? Are you saying that QPR would have thrown the game and purposefully got themselves relegated if Bolton hadn't have lost at Stoke?

That part I'm not sure of but it’s possible the other sides involved were complicit too, or they always knew they would be safe and the notion they only knew until later isn't true.

Reply: If that’s true why risk waiting until the last second? Dumb theory

To make it more exciting, more dramatic. It's common knowledge. It's just been covered up in the intervening years.

Michael More:

He’s got a point. It was super weird seeing all the QPR guys celebrating after.

JayRicjh60:

Joey Barton 100% had some kind of bet on City to win the league. Either that or he still owed someone at City a favour.

Carl:

Ex-City player Nedum Onuoha admitted 2 of the goals were his fault and he didn't want to disrespect them by wasting time, yeah not dodgy at all

Real Madrid. European Royalty

I touched on this after the Arsenal matches, but it had never been clearer over the past week to the wider world that Real Madrid, despite what their powerful PR machine would have you believe, are the most classless club the sport has ever seen. And I do not say that lightly (no, not even THEM).

I watched the Copa Del Rey final on Saturday night, mostly, and the first thing that strikes you when these two meet up, is the phenomenal level of cheating that goes on from minute one. I cannot believe any referee wants this gig, despite the prestige it brings – even more so considering the events of last week.

To conclude after that match. Antonio Rudiger is, and has clearly been for quite some time, the biggest thug playing football at a high level of the sport. He has got away with far too much for far too long (as we blues can confirm), and clearly has anger management issues he is powerless to prevent. Or chooses not to. But never mind, he has apologised for his latest indiscretions, so let’s all move on, eh?

What stands out is the arrogance and persecution complex, though they are hardly unique in that respect. A variety of Real Madrid players truly believed that decisions went against them in the Barcelona match. I caught most, but not all 120 minutes of the match, and noted three penalties Barcelona should, but did not, receive. And that barely touches the surface. 

The question is whether the Spanish FA finally has the cojones to deal with this club and its out-of-control players. The answer soon arrived, and it was of course no, which will surprise few, especially considering the one-match ban Mbappe recently received. Rudiger picked up an injury at the weekend that requires surgery, so will essentially escape scot-free. The Spanish FA can now ban him with recourse as he can’t play anyway. No doubt the laws would not allow it, but a better deterrent, and a better message sent, would be to delay proceedings and then ban him for a long time, so that it actually hits him when he is fit – missing the Club World Cup would do for starters. But again, we all knew this was never an option, and a paltry six-match ban soon arrived. For Jude Bellingham, also shown a red card, no suspension at all.

And then there is Carlo Ancelotti, who has allowed his image and legacy to be tarnished by all this. No wonder he is fleeing to Brazil. From the Ballon D’Or no show, to hounding referees via their in-house media and beyond, it is pitiful to see how this club often acts. No word sadly from Real Madrid fan Javier Tebas about the disgraceful actions of the club he supports. Weird for a man so keen to inform the world of his opinions. Colour me shocked.

To make matters worse, that Ballon D’Or that he so richly deserves may have to wait another year for Vinicius Jr. All the better if it goes to a Barcelona player instead, so that the club can excuse themselves from another ceremony, with a lack of class we expect from them. Few would miss them.

Posted Without Comment

Commiserations to Mark Hughes, who expertly managed Carlisle to relegation out of the Football League at the weekend.

I am however contractually obliged to note, that according to my friend he was on a hiding to nothing, they were well adrift when he took over, and he actually did a half-decent job. Hmph.

Breaking News

Further research suggests he is talking nonsense. Hughes won one of his first eight games in charge, and with one game to go, Carlisle United are further adrift from safety than when he took over.

Invisible Men

I really don’t have the desire or energy to talk about the fall-out from “empty seats” at Wembley. All I will do is state the obvious, about what sore losers these giddy fanbases are once reality kicks in and they lose to City, as is often (but not always) the case. The absolute bitterness and lies that spill out as a result is to be expected I guess, and is a part of the cycle of most City seasons.

But as is traditional, it would be remiss of me not to point out Nottingham Forest’s amazing historical support, that certainly puts our fanbase to shame. There’s also the weird dichotomy in such situations where fans of a club that sells out much smaller stadia than City’s, crow about empty seats at City, who sell many more tickets in their larger stadium.

Anyway, Notts Forest’s average attendance in 2015/16 was 19,676. Historically, it has fluctuated around the 20,000-29,000. In fact, the record attendance for Nottingham Forest at their home ground, The City Ground, is 49,946, achieved during a Division 1 match against Manchester United on October 28, 1967. So less than City get for a match with empty seats dotted around.

This of course is irrelevant to any sensible football fan, but here we are. It sounds hypocritical of me to note such things, having rallied so much against ticket prices in recent times, but I am not doing this to call out their support, as you have surely realised. But as an aside, there are many clubs’ fanbases who like to big themselves up when they have a rare day in the sun, without the history (of success) to back it up. It was ever thus.

Sorry to be the pub bore, as repetition of past points is necessary once more. Rival fans embrace empty seats at City because it is all they have got, to the extent they post photos of City sections an hour before kick off or at half-time. This is what they have been reduced to, due to pure jealousy, and why they are so invested in City being found guilty of 115/130 charges – and why many use assumption of guilt before the decision, as a comfort blanket for their own teams’ inadequacies.

The wonderful Kevin Day, who I hope to speak to once more prior to the Cup Final, made a valid point this week on the excellent Price of Football podcast, mirroring a view I have long held. This debate on empty seats is led by the broadcasters, but not perhaps for the reasons we would hope, as I suspect many know exactly what they are doing. They can allude to mask it as a genuine debate about ticket prices and the like, but don't take us for idiots. Many in the media raise the debate because they know the consequences, namely “old money” fans phoning in to call City small-time. Clips are produced, they get millions of views, job complete. It is an easy way to have another, indirect dig at the club and its fans. Paranoia, perhaps, but i stand by it.

IF YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW

I now consider the matter closed.

Yin, meet Yang

A classic match unfolded between Barcelona and Inter this week, and it was quite nice to watch a match with no judgment, or consequences for City. All the more galling therefore, to have Rio Ferdinand and Ally McCoist as the soundtrack to a classic. It was like listening to Paul Merson reciting the works of Shakespeare. A new story emerged a few weeks ago that TNT was fearful of losing Ferdinand as a co-commentator, which left me lost for words. Do these companies do any market research, do none of the decision makers not actually watch the matches themselves? Can they not see how utterly terrible he is, offering zero insight, and yet another fanboy that ruins games involving his own team. Add Ally McCoist to the list, a man whose enthusiasm soon lost its shine and the appalling Robbie Savage, and here is a station that dumbed down to new depths. And they want £30 a month off me for the privilege of watching their output. I’ll pass, thanks.

What I Have Been Watching This Week

Ren – Hi Ren

No words.

Armstrong & Miller – Breakfast TV Emails

Harry & Paul – Question Time

Christine & The Queens – Full of Life

As Mitchell & Webb is returning – The Garnier Laboratoire

Newport State of Mind

A Bit Of Fry & Laurie – Get Well Card

Key & Peele – Plane Boarding

WHAT WE HAVE BEEN UP TO THIS WEEK

THE 93:20 REVIEW:- VISIBLE MEN

Ste, Howard and Ahsan look back on a memorable win over Nottingham Forest, and all that entails, as City reach the FA Cup Final for the 3rd consecutive season.

THE HUB:- EPISODE 31

Kevin Fernandes joins Bailey to discuss the links to Diogo Costa as well as Hugo Viana's influence on transfers at Sporting, and how that will translate to Manchester City.

OPPOSITION FAN:- WOLVES

Howard chats to Dan from the Wolves Fancast about a team reborn, Cunha, Friday’s match and more.

THE HUB:- EPISODE 32

Howard hosts Bailey and Sam, looking at City’s attacking midfielders, talking Kevin De Bruyne and who may replace him, with Bailey and Sam presenting their own three choices.

THE WEEKEND SHOW

As always, a bumper show, looking back at the Wembley victory, a tough match once more on Friday night, and a lot more besides.

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