www.red11.org DAILY NEWS
Date: Tue Dec 08 GMT+00:00 1998
Mail: barry@www.red11.org
This Issue:
1. UNITED REPORT CLEAN BILL OF HEALTH
2. Players Fear Fergie Exit
3. Aston Villa 1-1 Manchester United:
4. Kidd grabs old pal McClair
5. United old boys get the dream draw
6. Kidd tip breaks Davies' drought
7. Giggs Confident (TeamTalk)
++++++=========+++++++========+++++++++========++++++++
Daily RED Trivia Tue 8th December:
8/12/1897: Arthur Lochhead born in Lanarkshire. Lochhead made his United debut at
Everton in August 1921, and the powerful shooting forward contributed 13 goals
to the promotion campaign of 1925. He scored 50 goals in 153 games between
1921-25, and later played for and managed Leicester City.
1962: United beat Nottingham Forest 5-1 at Old Trafford in a Division 1 game
watched by 27,946. David Herd 2, Bobby Charlton, Johnny Giles and Denis
Law scored for the Reds. Team was: Gregg, Brennan, Cantwell, Nicholson,
Foulkes, Lawton, Giles, Quixall, Herd, Law, Charlton.
************
Barry Daily Comment:
http://www.iol.ie/~redcafe/kidd.htm
Brian Kidd Press conference, pic, real audio
Remaining 1998 games:
ALL Result/Fixture Index:
http://www.red11.org/mufc/fix9899z.htm
Wed 9/12 Bayern Munich (H) CL 19.45
Sat 12/12 Tottenham (A) PL 15.00
Wed 16/12 Chelsea (H) PL sky sports time 20.00
Sat 19/12 Middlesbrough (H) PL 15.00
Sat 26/12 Nottm Forest (H) PL 15.00
Tue 29/12 Chelsea (A) PL sky sports time 19.45 UK
UNITED Stats v Tottenham:
http://www.red11.org/mufc/stats/vstottenham.htm
*** TEAM RESULTS - MANCHESTER UNITED ***
Date Opposition Score Pos. Attend.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
15/08/98 Leicester City Home D 2-2 11 55,052
22/08/98 West Ham United Away D 0-0 11 26,039
09/09/98 Charlton Athletic Home W 4-1 9 55,147
12/09/98 Coventry City Home W 2-0 5 55,193
20/09/98 Arsenal Away L 0-3 10 38,142
24/09/98 Liverpool Home W 2-0 3 55,181
03/10/98 Southampton Away W 3-0 2 15,251
17/10/98 Wimbledon Home W 5-1 2 55,265
24/10/98 Derby County Away D 1-1 2 30,867
31/10/98 Everton Away W 4-1 2 40,079
08/11/98 Newcastle United Home D 0-0 3 55,174
14/11/98 Blackburn Rovers Home W 3-2 2 55,198
21/11/98 Sheffield Wednesday Away L 1-3 2 39,475
29/11/98 Leeds Home W 3-2 2 55,172
05/12/98 Aston Villa Away D 1-1 2 39,241
******
Champions League:3
Group D P W D L F A Pts
Bayern Munich 5 3 1 1 8 5 10
Man United 5 2 3 0 19 10 9
Barcelona 5 1 2 2 9 9 5
Brondby 5 1 0 4 4 16 3
Sep 16 Brøndby 2-1 Bayern München
Sep 16 Man Utd 3-3 Barcelona
Sep 30 Barcelona 2-0 Brøndby
Sep 30 Bayern Munich 2-2 Man Utd
Oct 21 Brøndby 2-6 Man Utd
Oct 21 Bayern Munich 1-0 Barcelona
Nov 4 Barcelona 1-2 Bayern Munich
Nov 4 Man Utd 5-0 Brøndby
Nov 25 Barcelona 3-3 Man Utd
Nov 25 Bayern Munich 2-0 Brøndby
to play.....
Dec 9 Brøndby v Barcelona
Dec 9 Man Utd v Bayern Munich
******
++++++=========+++++++========+++++++++========++++++++
Subject: Players Fear Fergie Exit
Many of United's stars are believed to be worried that Alex Ferguson could
follow Brian Kidd out of the door at Old Trafford, over the board's failure
to keep Kidd at the club.
The United boss is devastated at the loss of his influential number two, and
is apparently fuming that Martin Edwards and the board didn't do enough to
keep hold of Kidd.
The subject of Kidd's departure is currently the subject of much confusion
at Old Trafford - centring on the question of whether the new Blackburn boss
was offered a pay rise to stay with United.
Chief Executive Martin Edwards is insistent that he DID offer Kidd a pay
rise, saying:
"We did offer Brian more money. We offered him a substantial package to stay
at Old Trafford but it became very obvious that this had nothing to do with
his remuneration."
However this is completely contradicted by comments from Kidd, who has
DENIED that he was offered more money.
Kidd retorted: "There was no salary increase offered to me and none was
sought. Money was not the issue and I didn't seek any.
However the feeling at Old Trafford is that Ferguson is privately disgusted
with the way things panned out, and feels that Kidd could have been
persuaded to stay given the right financial package.
One United star is even claimed to have said: "He just hasn't looked himself
over the last few days. Brian Kidd leaving has really shocked him. He never
envisaged this.
"There is a genuine feeling that he may leave as well."
Worrying news for United fans, but it must be remembered that this talk has
to be treated as pure speculation at this stage.
"Brian Kidd, the end of an era......."
Subject: Aston Villa 1-1 Manchester United:
Stuttering Stam
Monday, December 7, 1998
Hopefully Giovani Elber had better things to do in Munich over the weekend than
watch a tape of this Manchester United performance.
More than satisfactory in every domestic aspect, the match would nonetheless
have been fascinating and encouraging for the mercurial Brazilian, who has
already done damage to the United defence this season.
What was blindingly clear from the anarchy that Julian Joachim created
whenever he was around United defender Jaap Stam is that the old boxing
adage of a good big 'un always beating a good little 'un does not necessarily
transfer to football.
Joachim may not be a Copacabana kid like Bayern Munich's striker but he did
Elber a favour with his performance. Suddenly United's Dutchman, who has
grown stronger in his performances as the months have gone by, was cast
back in the uncomfortable role in which he found himself during the World Cup.
Troubled by pace, tempted into tackles when he would have been better
jockeying for position, and slightly at odds with his goalkeeper, Stam had a
troublesome afternoon.
He was hesitant when Joachim scored off Denis Irwin's outstretched foot, gave
away the free kick on Joachim, from which Alan Thompson's superb drive hit a
post and got into first-half muddles which almost allowed Lee Hendrie, Ian
Taylor and Dion Dublin to score.
But it was Joachim's diagonal and blindside runs and Stam's discomfort which
will have encouraged Elber so much.
The defence which has leaked 10 Champions League goals looked nothing like
watertight against Aston Villa and it may be that at Old Trafford on Wednesday,
United must adopt the 'however many you score we will score more' motto
against the German side.
Ryan Giggs came close to confirming the idea. He said: 'There have been some
marvellous European performances from us this season, especially in the goals
we have been scoring, but perhaps it has even been a little too exciting at
times.
'This match against Bayern has the feel of knock-out football to me, compared
to League matches where you can always get yourself back into position. Our
European record at Old Trafford proves that we can beat anyone and I think that
we must win against Munich. Bayern are a typical German team - big, strong
and technically very good.
'But we have shown how good we are against Barcelona and Brondby and also
in Munich. If we can reach that level again then we should not have a problem.
I'm ready if the manager needs me and that is why I got half a game under my
belt against Villa.'
United need a victory to guarantee their survival in the competition and Giggs
added: 'The manager promised me that he would give me that kind of run-out
because my general fitness is fine but my match fitness needed sharpening
after four or five weeks out with this foot injury.'
In defence of Stam there were also times on Saturday when he looked as if he
had taken to heart the Dutch fable of the boy who saved his town from flooding
by blocking the hole in the dyke. Wes Brown regularly appeared to push too far
forward, leaving the United midfield under severe pressure before and after the
Villa goal. That meant Stam was often left making crucial interventions. Where
he really looked troubled was when Joachim was allowed to run at him.
'Julian bothers centre halves because of his mobility and pace,' confirmed Villa's
first-team coach Steve Harrison. 'They don't like playing against him.'
But nobody at Aston Villa emerged from the first of their tests of fire this week
with a lack of respect for United. Alan Thompson, who came so close to giving
Villa victory from his free kick, said: 'We made chances and we stopped them
getting their pattern going but they never looked too ragged.
'They can still cut you open with one pass but I think we had the best chances.'
Having enjoyed a much less ruffled afternoon at the other end of the pitch from
Stam, Gareth Southgate also felt confident of United's chances against Bayern
- but frustrated at not having taken three points.
'I think United have more than enough in their squad to beat the Germans,' he
said .
'In fact, I think they will win quite comfortably and I expect them to progress
because of their goal threat. But I must say that when I went into our dressing-
room after the match it was very quiet because we were all deflated at not
having beaten them.
'At the start of the season we only conceded one goal in seven matches and
now we can't seem to keep a clean sheet for love nor money.
'The thing is that United are used to playing these games and we need to build
that experience. It was a chance to beat them on the first time that the focus of
the nation was upon us but I have told the lads that they can take some
pleasure and credit from this performance.
'I suppose with my old Crystal Palace mentality this result means that we are
now only four wins from safety.'
Southgate's self-deprecating humour doesn't disguise the fact that Villa have
increased their credibility as title challengers without quite stamping their
authority on the race.
Still top thanks to Joachim's deflected equaliser, Villa played a dangerous rival
without three major players - Mark Bosnich, Stan Collymore and Paul Merson.
They allowed United to take the lead when Michael Oakes punched Andy
Cole's cross out to Paul Scholes, who drove the ball through the goalkeeper's
legs.
But lessons were learned from the debacle of the 4-2 home defeat by Liverpool
and John Gregory's side defended with much greater concentration and
determination, which bodes well for them.
Chelsea, on Wednesday, and Arsenal, next Sunday, await and if Villa can take
points from those two matches then their first real tests will have been passed
with encouraging maturity.
But Southgate has warned his team-mates against complacency. 'There's no
point in playing like that and getting a decent result only to chuck it away in the
next two games,' said the Villa captain.
The theme of protecting impressive but incomplete work will, therefore, apply to
both Villa and Manchester United in completely different arenas on Wednesday
night.
by Soccernet
"Brian Kidd, the end of an era......."
Subject: Kidd grabs old pal McClair
By Observer staff
Sunday December 6, 1998
Brian Kidd has been told to be ruthless as a manager by his
old boss Alex Ferguson. Yesterday he proved he had learned
the lesson by pinching Brian McClair from under Fergie's
nose. McClair, an early favourite to take Kidd's berth as
assistant at Manchester United, will instead be joining him
at Blackburn Rovers - where Kidd yesterday nervously took
centre-stage before the match with Charlton. At Kidd's
request, Jack Walker will open official negotiations with
McClair about becoming the new Rovers assistant manager,
with caretaker boss Tony Parkes reverting to coaching.
McClair, 34, left United after 11 years to take up a
player-coach role at Motherwell in the summer, but has
indicated his willingness to link up with his close ally at
Blackburn.
Ferguson had urged his former confidant to adopt
a ruthless streak to re-establish Blackburn as a force,
with the Lancashire club languishing at the bottom amid
tales of dressing-room disharmony. Ferguson said: 'I've
told Brian to concentrate on the core of the job because
the rest can destroy you. He will have to cope with
dropping players, speaking to the media and the other 101
things necessary for a manager. It's very difficult and I
have told him.' Yesterday's developments suggest Kidd will
be a swift learner and he appeared unfazed about making the
transition from assistant manager to head honcho. Kidd, who
signed a three-and-a-half-year deal at Blackburn after
leaving Ferguson, emphasised his departure from Old
Trafford had been amicable. He said: 'I think Blackburn are
under-achieving in all areas. They may be a bit demotivated
and spirits are low. If we want to get the club back to
solid foundations it has to be a team effort, on and off
the pitch.'
"Brian Kidd, the end of an era......."
Subject: United old boys get the dream draw
Monday, December 7, 1998
Gary Pallister just knew he was destined for a quick return to Old Trafford in a
tantalising FA Cup third-round clash.
Pallister and Middlesbrough manager Bryan Robson will be looking forward to
the New Year and an emotional trip to 5-1 Cup favourites Manchester United,
where they plundered so many trophies.
Pallister, who moved to Middlesbrough in the summer for £2.5million,said: 'It's
going to be great going back to Old Trafford again. I was just saying to my
family when Manchester United's name came up that Middlesbrough would be
next.
'They all think I'm psychic now. It's great for me personally after the wonderful
years I spent there. You know there will be 55,000 fans. Everyone enjoys
playing there and I'm no different.'
Robson added: 'Like Gary, I had some great times there. I will have no problem
motivating the players for a tie like that.'
-----------------------------------------
BREAKING NEWS - Monday 07 December 1998
PALLISTER LOOKING FORWARD TO OLD TRAFFORD RETURN
Middlesbrough defender Gary Pallister was not in the least surprised when
his present and previous clubs were paired in the third round of the FA
Cup.
The former Manchester United man had predicted the mouthwatering clash -
one of just two all-Premiership battles - moments earlier. Blackburn
were drawn at home to Charlton in a repeat of Saturday's match which saw
Brian Kidd mark his first match as Rovers manager with a 1-0 win.
But it is the Old Trafford showdown which is the pick of the 32 ties -
and Pallister was thrilled at the prospect of heading back to
Manchester. The 33-year-old centre-back, who picked up three FA
Cup winners medals during his nine years at Old Trafford, said: "It's a
great stadium with 55,000 people in there and hopefully it will be a good
game of football as well."
He added: "It's not a nightmare at all. I had many good years there and
I think everybody who goes to Old Trafford enjoys playing there.
"Funnily enough, some of my family were with me and I said it would be
us as soon as Manchester United came out of the hat. I think they all
thought I was psychic."
United have been installed as 5-1 favourites to win the competition
followed by 6-1 shots Arsenal, who begin their title defence at Second
Division Preston, and 1997 winners Chelsea, who travel to either Oldham
or Brentford.
Arsenal vice-chairman David Dein said: "We've had plenty of these
so-called easy ties in the past and it can be hard going. Preston have a
great history and are one of the former greats in football."
Doncaster manager and former Leeds captain Ian Snodin has received a
massive incentive to plot the downfall of fellow Conference side
Rushden and Diamonds in a second-round replay.
The winners were drawn out of the hat first against David O'Leary's in-form
Leeds and Snodin said: "I would cut off my right arm to reach the next
round.
"It's an absolutely fantastic draw for myself and for my brother Glynn
because we both played for Leeds. The prospect of playing Leeds in the next
round is a huge incentive for us, although Rushden and Diamonds will be
thinking the same way."
"Brian Kidd, the end of an era......."
Subject: Kidd tip breaks Davies' drought
By BILL PIERCE
Brian Kidd intended only a watching brief less than
48 hours after his appointment as the new Blackburn
manager.
But before 20 minutes of the Ewood Park clash with
Charlton had passed Kidd was out of the stand and
down on the touchline, bellowing himself hoarse.
It proved a good decision as 20-year-old Kevin
Davies broke one of the most famous droughts in
football to lift Rovers off the bottom of the
Premiership.
Kidd was known as the quiet man of Old Trafford in
his seven years as faithful number two to Alex
Ferguson at Manchester United, but he found out it's
good to talk - or even shout.
But it was a quiet word with striker Davies which did
the trick for the £7.5 million hit man, who just had
not hit anything in the Premiership since January.
The new Kidd on the Blackburn block revealed: ''I
spoke to Kevin before the kick-off and told him to
stop worrying about his fee and let us worry about
it.''
Davies took the new boss at his word, hammered in
a 75th-minute winner which luckless Charlton - who
will have a revenge chance in the FA Cup next month
- hardly deserved and Blackburn's first league win in
eight games was in the bag.
Champions Arsenal would be grateful for something
like that. Their run without a win now stretches to six
games after the scoreless draw at Derby and in that
time they have managed just one goal.
But manager Arsene Wenger, who takes his team on
a futile Champions' League trip to Panathinaikos in
Athens on Wednesday, is still convinced the goals
will flow again once his multiple injury ward is closed
down. Six top stars, including Dennis Bergkamp and
Patrick Vieira, again missed Saturday's game.
Wenger, though, finally looks set to reintroduce some
stability to Highbury by signing his new three-year
contract. He has been stringing everybody along
since May, saying he would sign it soon and, in any
case, it did not matter because he had given his
word.
Now Arsenal vice-chairman David Dein has stepped
in and confirmed: ''He's going to sign within the next
48 hours.''
North London rivals Tottenham, meanwhile, continue
to flourish under ex-Gunners boss George Graham.
The 2-1 White Hart Lane victory over Liverpool was
their second success against the Merseysiders in a
month.
Ruel Fox's deflected shot and Jamie Carragher's own
goal had Spurs cruising 2-0 ahead early in the
second half before a frantic finish from their
Worthington Cup victims after Patrik Berger pulled a
goal back.
And an animated Graham admitted: ''It was a real
nail-biter in the end, but I'm delighted that my boys
did not crack.
''We may have to lose some of them along the way
as I aim to bring new quality into the club, but at the
moment people are making my job easier with their
commitment and resilience.''
It's Manchester United again next for Spurs and
when Alex Ferguson brings his full-power side to
White Hart Lane next Saturday he could be shooting
for the League leadership again.
Ferguson had the big guns back against
top-of-the-pile Aston Villa but after Julian Joachim
equalised with a deflected shot to make it a point
apiece, Ferguson had to admit: ''Villa worked really
hard and must be respected in the championship
race.''
"Brian Kidd, the end of an era......."
Subject: Giggs Confident (TeamTalk)
Giggs Confident Of Euro Glory
To suggest that United manager Alex Ferguson has an embarrassment of riches
at his disposal for Wednesday's Champions' League decider against Bayern
Munich would be one of the season's biggest understatements to date.
Indeed, Ferguson's decision to omit Jordi Cruyff, Phil Neville, Henning Berg
and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer from Saturday's squad, perfectly illustrates the
strength in depth at Old Trafford.
And with no fresh injuries to report, Ferguson now has the unenviable task
of deciding who shall play against the German giants.
But the one name the Reds boss will surely take the most pleasure in
penciling in Wednesday's team sheet will be that of Ryan Giggs.
Despite encouraging performances from summer signing Jesper Blomqvist, the
Welsh wizard's inclusion is pivotal to United's destiny in Europe.
Ferguson will recognise that German sides are notoriously well-disciplined
and well-marshalled at the back, but if one player is capable of breaking
such resistance then Ryan Giggs hold the key.
Relishing the prospect of yet another memorable night of European football
at Old Trafford, Giggs, who has single-handedly destroyed some of Europe's
finest in seasons past, said: "I've been out for five or six weeks with a
cracked bone in my foot, but if the boss needs me for Europe, I'm ready to
go. Very definitely.
"This is one we really have to win, but at Old Trafford we can beat anyone.
"It's in our hands. If we win, we're through. Simple as that."
Ferguson's biggest headache will inevitably arise from selecting who starts
in defence.
And after surrendering the lead on three previous occasions in this season's
campaign, the Reds boss will be looking to shore up the defensive frailties
which, perish the thought, as it may prove, could ultimately prove costly.
All of which could mean a recall for Ronny Johnsen, with Gary Neville
switching to right-back.
And with Denis Irwin, for all his dependability and experience, looking
decidedly shaky against Barcelona, the question of who fills the left-back
spot throws up an interesting dilemma.
"Brian Kidd, the end of an era......."
Pic Link today is http://www.red11.org/mufc/news/98/051298.htm
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If ever they are playing in your town
You must get to that football ground
Take a lesson come to see
Football taught by Matt Busby
Manchester, Manchester United
A bunch of bouncing Busby Babes
They deserve to be knighted
Barry
J. Leeming Digest Prgram
by 
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McArthur Canada
