THE 93:20 NEWSLETTER:- ISSUE 57

Author

Howard Hockin
September 05, 2025

Hello, and welcome to Issue 57 of the 93:20 Newsletter. It may be an international break, but I can’t stop talking about stuff, as we all try and contain our excitement at the prospect of England v Andorra.

Again, briefly, before we crack on, the Newsletter and all the pod content cannot survive without your support, and we are truly grateful for it! I really appreciate those that have donated so far, for keeping my head bobbing above the water. If you can help, it is always appreciated, and I can already promise another bonus Newsletter next week!

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On with the show!

Goalkeeper Chat

I'll cut to the chase. My football club has signed the Champions League winning goalkeeper at a knockdown price, as he only had a year left on his contract, and I'm not particularly happy. 

Spoilt brat, knock to the head? Neither, just a touch of hyperbole. 

I wrote in my bonus newsletter on Monday (link at bottom), that I felt uneasy about City as we headed into another tedious international break. The results, the same mistakes, injuries, and the fear of being left behind in the transfer market. Very possibly a knee jerk reaction to a couple of bad results. It all feels messy right now, and disjointed. And nothing summed that up more for me than the goalkeeping situation. Thankfully, I have relaxed somewhat since then.

I won't go over old ground. Sorting out our goalkeeper situation three games into the season with a complete overhaul was an unnecessary extra obstacle to the aspirations for the season. And at the end, there appears to be for keepers remaining. James Trafford may also want some feedback on him now having joined as a number 2 keeper. Fine if that was the plan as Ederson saw out the final year, giving Trafford time to bed in, less so when the competition is now a much younger, Champions League winning new signing. I'm sure Trafford would have signed come what may, it has been his plan for many years to return, but I'd be interested to know what was discussed prior to him signing. 

And then there's Donnarumma himself. Crazy that Pep wanted to sign him after the Bravo experiment failed, considering his different skillset to Ederson. Just as crazy, on the surface, that he wants him now, for the same reasons. However, I think I have calmed down in recent days over my considerable concerns over the team having to re-invent how it plays without the distribution of Ederson. His footwork will be greatly missed as you will see in games this season, but on our Ederson legacy podcast this week, Ben asked a pertinent question that may provide clues. Amongst my many other concerns about Pep altering how the team plays, and how Lijnders' methods may lead to further burn out and be ill-suited to the players we have, there is the additional consideration that just maybe the impact of a ball-playing goalkeeper, at City at least, has been diminished, as opposition managers adapted to his superpower. There may be an element of truth in this, and the joy of another low block and forward players not engaging with a press may attest to this. Is the football world changing again? There is still a basic level of distribution that a City keeper will require, so it remains to be seen if Donnarumma meets such criteria. Joe Hart commented this week that he is fine with his distribution, and some of the discourse has been outright hysterical. As for James Trafford, he came back strongly against Brighton, and I put his Spurs disaster-class down to nerves on his home debut. We spoke on the Ederson podcast about his second superpower being the ice in his veins, and it's good to hear Donnarumma note that calmness has always been his strength. It's one thing being good with your feet. But Ederson has the knack of never panicking, scanning, slowing down time and making the right pass. It's impossible to replicate, but let's be honest, he was a mid-range shot-stopper at best, though excellent in the Treble season, when his all-round contribution was as great as anyone's. Give and take, Ederson’s problem being that whilst he rarely threw a ball into the net, he also rarely pulled out a worldie save. Too many goals were conceded where it was not specifically his fault, but little attempt was made to stop it.

Fingers crossed that the bedding-in period is short, as I expect Donnarumma to start the derby, and City are already playing catch-up. I think we underestimated the upheaval if new players and new ideas. We could have handled it with points on the board early doors, but that opportunity has now gone, and that is precisely what Liverpool have done – picked up points without playing well. 

Time for the weekly paranoia section, though it doesn’t directly involve City, so could be worse. It does involve Liverpool however, and a certain Crystal Palace. There was considerable fall-out from the collapsed transfer of Marc Guéhi on transfer deadline day. This naturally resulted in many, many opinions being expressed. We all know why the non-transfer was covered in this manner, and received so much air time. We all know that it was because Liverpool were involved, because a transfer to them fell through. We all know that if City were involved, the coverage would alter. We all know that if the transfer involved Crystal Palace and Sunderland, the likes of Sky Sports News wouldn’t give it more than three minutes’ airtime.

We all know it. 

What's more, a narrative was created by many commentators that suggested that the singer proved that if you kick up a fuss and go on strike, you get your move. Whereas Guéhi acted in a professional manner and didn't. 
I'm not sure that argument really stacks up. I've seen plenty of rumours about Glasner threatening to quit, so I cannot be sure of my views, BUT I see it rather differently. What was surely more important in the move falling through was that Liverpool waited until the final day of the window to meet the asking price. Palace failed to line up a replacement. What's more, if Glasner's threats to quit decided the outcome, then Guehi's behaviour becomes irrelevant. You can't compare with the Isak and Wissa transfers, as circumstances were different. We know from the rumours that Liverpool wanted Guehi all summer. So why not just try to buy him earlier? There was no late defender exit that I am aware of that facilitated the swoop, so they only have themselves to blame.

There is little reason why remaining at Palace should affect Guehi’s World Cup chances, but Tuchel has not helped matters by stating that players need to be playing in the Champions League. Just the sort of unhelpful comment to unsettle certain players.

Linked to all of this was the news that Guéhi was devastated and was preparing to release a statement. So can I take this opportunity to advise him not to, and the same goes to every other player for the rest of time who is considering doing something similar.

Look, the Ilkay Gundogan message was nice, but I barely skim-read it to be honest. I have the memories in my head, and I know how he feels, I’d already said goodbye to him once, so can’t imagine anything new popped up apart from disappointment at the return, and so many people try oh so hard to read between the lines of such statements and find hidden messages. We saw similar with Rodri after the Brighton defeat. Very worrying said some, that one of our most vocal leaders, the man with the highest standards of any player, may comment when such standards are not met. It was his first loss in 50 after all. He was stating the obvious, but it gives the “we’re doomed” brigade another thing to worry about. 

Liverpool do things differently.

You may be aware that Liverpool spent a lot of money over the summer. The bottom line is that there is no issue with this, as they could afford to. But of course we must don our tin foil hats again, as all are not treated the same. However many rival fans think City are habitual cheats, fact is that the transfer outlays of the past have been affordable, certainly during the Guardiola era. That’s the natural consequence of never buying full-backs. So perhaps you should afford City the same treatment as Liverpool? As if.

That’s not the main thing though. If they can afford to buy loads of players, then go ahead and buy loads of players. But Liverpool fans have now lost their perceived superpower. The ability to strut around stating it means more, reminding all and sundry that they put together a team on a shoestring, act appropriately and sensibly in the transfer market and can’t compete with states and oil sheikhs. It was a lie anyway, but now they cannot even push the lie. So what angle are they now going to take? I can’t wait to find out (said no one, ever).

You can just imagine the conversation editors had over this.

“So, we need an image to sit alongside the stats on our tweet.”
“Yeah, make sure it's a City player.”
“But, Liverpool have spent half a billion pounds.”
“Yeah, City player please.”
“Chelsea have brought in another 300 players.”
“Don't care, City player please.”
“Arsenal have spent over £250m this summer.”
“David, do you want me to fire you? City. Player.”

More astute analysis from Rio Ferdinand this week.

‘I honestly think, I’ll say this and I’m convinced, if United had gone and got Declan Rice and Harry Kane in that [summer 2023] window, Man United are in a different place now.’

Well, quite. And if my aunty had balls, she’d be my uncle. Ignoring the fact they’d struggle to attract them, we do have to consider the likely outcome that somehow United would have ruined them. Rice would have been on loan to Middlesbrough by now.

AI UPDATE

Finally, I regret to inform you that I was bored yesterday, so had a dabble with Google Flow, and quickly realised it’s not all it’s cracked up to be.

First up I prompted the following: Create a video of a United fan proclaiming “we’re back” as the Old Trafford roof leaks onto his head.

Clearly AI struggles with names, as you shall also see shortly.

Next up - well, it speaks for itself, though AI really struggles with Ruben Amorim’s face.

Finally, I asked AI to create a video of the “typical City fan”.

I don’t know where to start with this one. The lack of moustaches is disappointing, but that’s definitely how I perceive myself leaving the ground after a last-gasp winner v Fulham. In the version with audio, he also appears to be wearing high heels. As for those shop names…

Still, seems AI can create better kits than our actual supplier.

WHAT WE HAVE BEEN UP TO THIS WEEK

THE 93:20 REVIEW:- MESSY

Ahsan and Bailey deep-dive into the defeat against Brighton and all the talking points around it. A thorough analysis of the good, bad and everything in between.

PROFOUND

As it’s an international break, Ste, Howard and Chris take a break from football once more and discuss their own profound moments in films, gigs, music and more.

LEGACIES:- EDERSON

Howard and Ben look back on Ederson’s trophy-laden time at City. His superpowers, weaknesses, perception, and how he may have changed football at City and beyond.

THE HUB:- EPISODE 44

Sascha joins Bailey once more to discuss Donnarumma moving to City, the trade-offs to be made & what it may mean for James Trafford.

THE WEEKEND SHOW

The usual packed show, as Ben, Lloyd and Stefan talk Brighton, transfers, England the FA and much more.

Bonus Newsletter

For those that may have missed it, here is my stream of consciousness from Monday/Tuesday, where I discussed my concerns and knee jerk reactions to City right now.

Next Week?

Not much, to be honest. Just another two Newsletters, an international overview, an “emotional” pod with Chris, Ste and Howard, LB’s 2nd show, a Market wrap-up, Dom Farrell is popping in, the Weekend Show and more.

So yeah, not much.

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