Bitter and Blue Podcast

Andrew, Jon, and Joe discuss this question and what the future holds for Maine Road Ramble and for City.  Happy trails everyone, it's been an absolute privilege bringing this content to you the past three years.

Andrew and Jon cast their eyes over handy victories for City against Liverpool (League Cup) and Leeds (Premier League) ahead of a daunting set of fixtures in the first six weeks of 2023. There's plenty of Rico Lewis hype, Jack Grealish chat, and mind-boggling Erling Haaland maths.

Joe and Andrew discuss Messi finally reaching the summit of international football, their World Cup Team of the Tournament, and look ahead to City's return to club action against Liverpool in the Carabao Cup on Thursday.

Jon, Andrew and Joe add their (somewhat forgetful at times) voices to the pile of World Cup previews currently sitting in your podcast queue. Reasons to choose ours over the others? It's less than 39 minutes long.

Jon, Andrew, and Joe sit down for what is not only the first and only Maine Road Ramble episode ever recorded in person, but the most emotionally shattered episode. They talk through their experience watching City nab a late 2-1 win over Fulham and give thanks to the many people who made this experience possible.

Joe and Andrew discuss City's 1-0 win over Leicester, the state of play in the league with two matches remaining before the world cup, chat about Match Day 6 in the UCL, and get ready for the pilgrimage to the Etihad in a few short days. 

Jon and Andrew discuss the boring 0-0 draw with Dortmund that clinched first in the UCL group for City, the rest of the UCL so far, the upcoming match at Leicester this weekend, and the impending trip to the Etihad for MRR. 

Jon, Joe, and Andrew sit down to discuss the performances of City's starting XI and first half sub Sergio Gomez in City's 6-3 demolition of United. 

Andrew Dettmer attempts to distract himself from the nerves of his wedding this weekend by chatting City 4, Sevilla 0 with Joe Ricci and Bill Difilippo, then they look ahead to City's impending match with Spurs at the weekend, and answer some questions, including who Andrew is drafting from the City squad for various wedding roles. 

Andrew is joined by special guest Bill Difilippo to discuss City's comeback against Palace, the domination of Forest, some City transfer updates and they close out by discussing some of the biggest questions remaining across Europe on Deadline Day. 

Andrew is joined by Joe as they discuss the recent matches against Barcelona and Newcastle, look ahead to Crystal Palace, discuss the Carabao Cup and UCL Cup draws, touch on the transfer window, and finally provide some spicy hot takes 3 match weeks into the season. 

The whole gang get together to wax lyrical about Erling Haaland's two-goal debut as City win 2-0 at West Ham on opening day. Ger calls Jon a f**ker.

Andrew is joined by Joe and wayward son Ger to discuss whether the Charity Shield is a real trophy, some preseason predictions, City's opening match against West Ham, and even some listener questions, not all of which are about left-backs.

Jon and Andrew are joined by the Daily Mail's Jack Gaughan to talk about City's (short) preseason performances in the US, fan and media access to the club, and updates on left-back targets and Pep Guardiola's contract.

Andrew and Joe are joined by Howard Hockin of 93:20 and Joey McCune of Noisy Neighbors for a City "history" quiz. How well do these three yanks know they Manc? Find out by tuning in.  Also, pleas considering purchasing Howard's latest book at https://www.amazon.com/Howard-Hockin/e/B00OA8TGYY%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share or at https://thegingerwigscitygifts.com/books-17-c.asp. You won't be able to put it down!

Joe and Andrew sit down to record the episode you all have been waiting for, a transfer question extravaganza! We answer the transfer questions most burning a hole in your pocket and have some fun along the way. Enjoy!

Joe and Andrew sit down for a light and easy podcast covering if each Premier League teams' seasons were Great, Good, Something to Build On, Trending Downwards, or Dumpster Fire (1:00 - 39:00). Then they turn to their awards across the whole of the league (39:01 - 1:00:00), featuring: - Player of the Season - Manager of the Season  - Match of the Season - Goal of the Season - Team of the Season Then they conclude with some early predictions and hot takes for the 22/23 Season. (1:00:01 - 1:09:00). We hope you enjoy and look forward to a summer of offseason content ahead. 

Andrew and Jon are joined by Shades of the Blue pod members, Jay Wolff, Joe Butterfield, and Bill DiFillipo to discuss the nerviest title win City have had in a decade. We hope you enjoy! Up. The. Blues.

Andrew is joined by special guest Joe Butterfield (@joebutters) to discuss City's 2-2 comeback against West Ham and look ahead to Aston Villa and the conclusion of the 21/22 league campaign. 

Jon Ashley and Andrew Dettmer sit down to discuss City 3 Brighton 0 and to take some of your questions in a podcast so short, some might confuse it for Paul Dickov. 

Jon and Andrew sit down with Sam (@CityzenAmerica) to discuss the heavyweight boxing match that was City v. Liverpool, and what that match can tell us about the run in and the other big matches looming for City this season. This is one you won't want to miss. 

Joe and Andrew sit down to discuss a match designed to put us to sleep, what the next leg could look like, and discuss their collective anxiety and dread about this weekend's match with Liverpool. 

With the international break depriving us of City related events to discuss, Joe and Andrew teamed up with Adam and Amos of the City Report pod to come up with our own: the best and worst City kits since 2000. Listen in and let us know your thoughts!

Joe and Andrew sit down to discuss City's Derby demolition of United, the outlook for the squad the rest of the season, what they expect out of Pep's lineup options for Sporting, and how the rest of the Round of 16 matches will shape up. Enjoy!

Joe and Andrew discuss a lackluster FA cup match against Peterborough, their thoughts on the upcoming Manchester Derby, and spend a surprising amount of time discussing seltzers and sodas. 

Andrew and Joe discuss both questions in the title of this podcast and come to similar conclusions, but disagree along the way. We're talking City v. Spurs, the title race, and look ahead to Everton. 

Andrew and special guest Bill DiFilippo sit down to discuss City's 5-0 dismantling of Porto, briefly touch base on the 4-0 demolishing of Norwich, look ahead to weekend's match against the tumbling Tottenham Hotspurs, and close it out with a discussion of the best Italian desserts. 

Andrew and Joe take a brief look at the newest member of the City squad, Julian Alvarez, and then turn their attention to the two places City might be targeting in the summer: fullbacks and midfield. The lads suggest two possible signings in each position and Andrew only goes slightly off the rails with one choice.  Julian Alvarez - (1:00) Fullbacks - (12:00) Midfield - (40:00)

In case you missed it during the livestream yesterday, join Jon, Andrew, and Joe as they go through some hypothetical questions regarding City or football in general. And if you have not donated yet go to https://rb.gy/dxzae8 and donate to the MCFC Food Bank. 

Andrew and Jon sit down with Howard and Ahsan (until his latest kicks show up) to discuss the chasing pack, the teams at risk of falling down the table in future seasons, whos likely to be relegated, AND their non-City manager and player of the season.

Joe and Andrew sit down to breakdown the Haaland/Dusan discussions, Ferran's departure, and who they would select if they were Txiki for a day across Dream, Realistic, and Bargain categories. Will Man City sign a striker in January? No, but its good to be prepared.

Ger and Jon sit down to discuss festive wins against Leicester and Brentford that saw City steal a march on their title rivals.

Andrew and Ger sit down to discuss City scoring 11 goals in two matches, how City are strengthening their hold on the title race, what the Festive Fixtures are looking like, and Ger asks Andrew an important question: corndogs, what are they?

Andrew is joined by returning guest Bill DiFilippo to discuss two weird City matches over the past week, take a look to the teams City could face in the UCL, and discuss what makes the perfect plate of barbecue.

Andrew and Joe break down Bernardo leading the Citizens to big victories over Villa and Watford, which put City on top of the league, the league table, City's upcoming match against RB Leipzig, and finally which pizza place noted food hipster can tolerate.

Joe and Andrew sit down to recap Man City's recent matches against Everton, PSG, and West Ham and the level of dominance displayed in all three. They also answer some listener questions and Joe reveals he has terrible taste in breakfast food. 

Joe, Jon, Andrew, and Kevin sit down to record what could be their finest episode yet. Sadly, it may also be Kevin's last. The boys discuss top 4, relegation, and answer some listener questions. 

Jon and Andrew sat down to revel in City's 2-0 win at the Swamp, how great the entire City squad was, and talk about how they feel heading into the international break. 

Jon and Andrew sit down to discuss Burnley, Brugge, and how City look as we approach the "half-term."

Manchester City went into Anfield and not only came out with a point, but arguably outplayed Liverpool in a matchup against one of the Blues' staunchest rivals for both the Premier League and Champions League. It was a match full of tactical nuance and adjustments, with both Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp tweaking their strategy throughout the game. We talked about all those intricacies, from the original lineup selection to how the front line worked together and much more. This conversation features Kevin Nelson, Joe Ricci, and Andrew Dettmer, who also focus on some standout individual performances and respond to listener questions.  Resources that reinforce some of the concepts on this podcast Football Made Simple tactical analysis video Coaches' Voice tactical analysis article Gareth Cooper's tweet on match statistics Twitter Maine Road Ramble - @MaineRoadRamble Kevin Nelson - @Kevin_N_Nelson Andre Dettmer - @AndrewDettmer Joe Ricci - @ViewsOfABlue You can also contact us at maineroadramble@gmail.com with any inquiries, thoughts, or questions. We hope you enjoy the show and thanks for the support!

City are two thirds through one of the most challenging weeks a team can possibly face with matches away at Chelsea, Paris St. Germain, and Liverpool. Kevin Nelson and Ger Deegan sat down to discuss the first two of those matches, both of which were strong performances by Pep Guardiola's team despite the loss in Paris.  We go out of chronological order on this one, starting with the 2-0 loss against PSG and go through all the important details of the match in its immediate aftermath. Then we shift to the Chelsea game for an in depth look at the tactical setups from both managers and give praise to a few of those who deserve it, including the center midfield pair of Bernardo and Rodri. Twitter Maine Road Ramble - @MaineRoadRamble Kevin Nelson - @Kevin_N_Nelson Ger Deegan - @Gerradeegan You can also contact us at maineroadramble@gmail.com with any inquiries, thoughts, or questions. We hope you enjoy the show and thanks for the support!

Joe and Andrew sit down to discuss the heart racing match against RB Leipzig, the absolute bore of a match against Southampton, and the pending match in the Carabao Cup!

Joe and Andrew sit down in the aftermath of a nail biter against Leicester that saw a stat dominant Man City eek out a 1-0 win against the Foxes. 

Our opposition analysis series continues with a new edition on Leicester City. Kevin Nelson is joined by Dominic Wells of Top Bins Talk and Foxes of Leicester to break down all the most interesting questions surrounding Brendan Rogers' up and coming team, including:  When will Jamie Vardy slow down? What should we expect from the promising Patson Daka? How will the fullback rotation shake out? Is there enough depth in the center back group? How many midfielders would you trade for Youre Tielemans? and so much more! Be sure to go check out all of Dominic's work at Top Bins Talk and Foxes of Leicester, and have a read of his latest match analysis article, referenced on the show in regards to concerns on James Maddison's role. Norwich 1-2 Leicester: Ineffective aside from two moments of quality  Example of the expected threat model Dominic uses  Twitter Maine Road Ramble - @MaineRoadRamble Kevin Nelson - @Kevin_N_Nelson Dominic Wells - @DominicWells_SJ Foxes of Leicester - @FoxesofLCFC Top Bins Talk - @TopBinsTalk You can also contact us at maineroadramble@gmail.com with any inquiries, thoughts, or questions. We hope you enjoy the show and thanks for the support!

Andrew and Joe break down each team's transfer window and decide who the Chelseas and the losers are.

A second consecutive 5-0 victory for Manchester City keep the good vibes flowing on the Maine Road Ramble as Kevin Nelson and Ger Deegan return to break down the match vs. Arsenal. After taking a holistic look at the performance and discussing what all this means for Arsenal/Mikel Arteta, the conversation shifts to a focus on three specific players - Bernardo Silva, Ferran Torres, and Jack Grealish - that impressed this past weekend and throughout the early season. Then we move on to the still hard-to-believe Cristiano Ronaldo saga and what it says about both City & United's front office strategy in addition to the repercussions on each squad.  Twitter Maine Road Ramble - @MaineRoadRamble Kevin Nelson - @Kevin_N_Nelson Ger Deegan - @gerradeegan You can also contact us at maineroadramble@gmail.com with any inquiries, thoughts, or questions. We hope you enjoy the show and thanks for the support!

City recovered from an opening week defeat to put together a comprehensive performance at home against Norwich City. The 5-0 victory over the Canaries got the good vibes back for the Blues and this episode is nothing but positivity as we break down the match. We analyze the game from every angle, including Daniel Farke's misplaced desire to man mark Bernardo, Gabriel Jesus' quality off the right wing, Kyle Walker's renaissance, and an interesting tactical wrinkle in Pep's press. It's a full episode with a lot of good content so be sure to listen in! Twitter Maine Road Ramble - @MaineRoadRamble Kevin Nelson - @Kevin_N_Nelson Andrew Dettmer - @AndrewDettmer Jon Ashley - @jonashley87 You can also contact us at maineroadramble@gmail.com with any inquiries, thoughts, or questions. We hope you enjoy the show and thanks for the support!

Our opposition breakdown series is back for the 2021/22 season and we're kicking it off with the newly promoted Norwich City! Kevin Nelson is joined by Michael Bailey from The Athletic to explore the state of the club from Daniel Farke's tactics to ownership's approach to transfer spending and the strength of the roster.  Check out some of the resources used in the research for this podcast.  On The Ball Podcast Michael Bailey's feature on Christos Tzolis Bethnal Y and G's profile on Christos Tzolis  Michael Bailey's mailbag on Norwich roster updates  Norwich City's Transfermarkt page Norwich City's FbRef page  Michael Bailey's feature on Josh Sargent Twitter Maine Road Ramble - @MaineRoadRamble Kevin Nelson - @Kevin_N_Nelson Michael Bailey - @michaeljbailey You can also contact us at maineroadramble@gmail.com with any inquiries, thoughts, or questions. We hope you enjoy the show and thanks for the support!

Manchester City's 2021/22 Premier League campaign is underway! Unfortunately, it's off to less than a roaring start but Andrew Dettmer and Kevin Nelson are on the podcast to break down all the intricacies from the match. No dramatic conclusions can be had from a single match at the start of the season but we discuss what to make of the narrowness from both sides, Jack Grealish's league debut, and why Tottenham were so effective countering down City's left side of defense. It's a winding and detailed look into an interesting match so be sure to check it out! Twitter Maine Road Ramble - @MaineRoadRamble Kevin Nelson - @Kevin_N_Nelson Andrew Dettmer - @AndrewDettmer You can also contact us at maineroadramble@gmail.com with any inquiries, thoughts, or questions. We hope you enjoy the show and thanks for the support!

Ger and Andrew sit down to discuss what City look like with only hours left before the 2021 EPL Season kicks off and then turns their analysis towards the rest of the league and how each member of MRR thinks the season will shakeout in terms of top 6 and bottom 3.   - Manchester City Overview (2:00)  - Rest of the League (36:00)  - Predictions (1:05:00)

Jack Grealish is the newest addition to the Manchester City squad and this episode is dedicated to breaking down all the tactical and analytical nuances. The conversation ranges from how his defending compares to City's current midfielders to how he'll exactly fit in Pep Guardiola's defensive scheme. We also touch on what Grealish brings on the offensive side that they team doesn't already have and how a variety of lineups may shape around him.  Here are some resources used in the planning for this podcast. Sam Lee article on Grealish's expected position - https://theathletic.com/news/i-can-play-a-number-of-positions-for-manchester-city-jack-grealish/8g7GP1H8Lju1 Jack Grealish's Fbref page - https://fbref.com/en/players/b0b4fd3e/Jack-Grealish Jack Grealish's Transfermarkt page - https://www.transfermarkt.us/jack-grealish/leistungsdaten/spieler/203460/plus/0?saison=ges Jack Grealish's Understat page - https://understat.com/player/675 There was some internal research involved in the production of this show so keep on eye out for that here in the show notes (if it's not already uploaded here) or on Twitter. Twitter Maine Road Ramble - @MaineRoadRamble Joe Ricci - @ViewsOfABlue Kevin Nelson - @Kevin_N_Nelson You can also contact us at maineroadramble@gmail.com with any inquiries, thoughts, or questions. We hope you enjoy the show and thanks for the support!