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www.red11.org DAILY NEWS
Date: Tues Nov 10  GMT+00:00 1998
Mail: barry@www.red11.org

This Issue:
1. Are we in a time warp?"  
2. FERGIE'S RUNAWAY TRAIN GRINDS TO A HALT 
3. GULLIT MAKES HIS POINT, FERGIE DISAPPOINTED 
4. Pitch battles! «« 
5. WEEKLY STATMAIL***   9th Nov 1998
6. BLOMQVIST BACKS REDS TO BOUNCE BACK
7. Nil-Nil
8. All change for Forest «« 
9. Fergie Hits Ruud Block (Mirror)

++++++=========+++++++========+++++++++========++++++++

Daily RED Trivia  Tues 10th November:

10/11/1976: Steve Paterson made his League debut against Sunderland. A strapping defender,
Paterson made 10 appearances between 1976-79 before continuing his playing
career in Hong Kong. His first two outings for United were as substitute against Ajax              
 Amsterdam and Juventus in the UEFA Cup.

10/11/1994: In what becomes known as the 'Demolition Derby, United thrash Manchester
City 5-0 at Old Trafford in a Premiership game watched by 43,738. Andrei
Kanchelskis 3, Eric Cantona and Mark Hughes scored the goals. Team was: 
Schmeichel, Keane, Irwin, Bruce, Kanchelskis, Pallister, Cantona, Ince, McClair,
Hughes, Giggs (Scholes). This is United's biggest ever win against City.  

************

Barry Daily Comment:  

Our Salford Lass's personal report today + ALL stats with the latest STATMAIL


Next 4 games: 
Result/Fixture Index:
http://www.red11.org/mufc/fix9899z.htm9

Wed 11/11 Nott Forest (H) LC 
Sat 14/11 Blackburn   (H) PL
Sat 21/11 Sheff Wed   (A) PL15.00
Wed 25/11 Barcelona   (A) CL 19.45


UNITED Stats v Blackburn:
http://www.red11.org/mufc/stats/vsblackburn.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

    
Champions League:
**Nov  4 Barcelona 1-2 Bayern Munich 
**Nov  4 Man Utd   5-0 Brøndby

Group D         P  W  D  L  F  A   Pts
Man United      4  2  2  0 16  7   8   
Bayern Munich   4  2  1  1  6  5   7  
Barcelona       4  1  1  2  6  6   4   
Brondby         4  1  0  3  4 14   3   

To be played:
 Nov 25 Barcelona        v  Man Utd
 Nov 25 Bayern Munich    v  Brøndby
 Dec  9 Brøndby          v  Barcelona   
 Dec  9 Man Utd          v  Bayern Munich

++++++=========+++++++========+++++++++========++++++++


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Subject: "Are we in a time warp?"  
  Personal Report by Our Salford Lass

Well it wasn't quite as bad as the performance against Bury (if only
because the weather was much pleasanter) but it wasn't far off and we
couldn't make ourselves feel better by talking about the "Mickey Mouse Cup"
or the "reserve team".  This was the real thing, against a team that we
should have beaten easily and we were crap!!  I suppose I should be used,
by now, to the topsy turvy nature of watching Manchester United - after
all, I've had over 40 years of brilliant performances one week and crap the
next, but somehow the optimist in me always wins the battle just before
kick-off and I expect us to win every game.  Oh well, at least it wasn't
the scousers I suppose!

It was a shame that the football spoilt the day because for the first time
in ages it was actually quite a pleasant day!  Warm sunshine (for
Manchester), pleasant company in the pub and a nice Sunday lunch - what
more could we ask?  Kulwant had come over from Singapore for the game and
we had a very enjoyable hour chatting in the Throstle's Nest before the
game.  Apologies for not saying goodbye, Kulwant - I lost you in the crowd
on the forecourt before the game!  As we waited for the game to start in
East Lower our spirits were high as we marvelled at the barcodes in the
corner - they really are the saddest fans in football!   Dressed up in
their Newcastle shirts, wearing their Gullit wigs and (still) singing about
the 5 nil game.   They provided much entertainment during the first half.
pathetically easy to wind up, we had them jumping up and down in their
seats when we sang "We saw you crying on the tele", "Have you ever won a
trophy, have you f..k?" and "You never win f..k all."  Later it was a song
all about loving "The Toon" - the only set of fans I know to love a bloody
river!

It was a good job that the Geordies were so entertaining, because the game
certainly wasn't.  It was like watching a different team altogether from
Wednesday night.  Newcastle defended in numbers and we just found no way
round them.  When we did get a shot at goal it was wasted or saved by Shay
Given.  Shearer was as irritating as usual - diving and getting Stam booked
whilst kicking, pushing, holding and generally cheating his way through the
game.  "f..k off Shearer" became the chant of the game as even North and
South Stands were on their feet screaming with rage at one point.  Nice of
Mr Shearer to send Ronny off injured again,  only about 10 minutes after he
came on as a sub, but very good to see our Keano taking out Shearer just
afterwards (and I don't mean for a drink!)  "Keano, there's only one Keano".

In East Lower, the mood wasn't good either.  The stewards really do make
their own lives more difficult.  After leaving us to stand for most of the
game on Wednesday, they now decided they were going to try and get everyone
to sit down again.  So it was "Will you sit down mate?",  "Just sit down
for me please", "I've told you once already, now sit down if you don't want
to go out" (in a high-pitched screech, like an angry primary school
teacher).  It was all very irritating and, along with the increasing noise
from the idiots up in the away corner, just made me even more pissed off
than I was already!

As the match proceeded, it was obvious we were never going to score.
Indeed, we wouldn't have scored if we'd still been playing tonight!
Luckily, Newcastle looked no more likely to score than we did.  By ten
minutes from the end, I think most of us were fairly resigned to the draw
and were feeling pretty fed-up.  The barcodes, however, were celebrating
like they had stuffed us 5-nil again to win the Premiership!  For the last
5 minutes of the game they serenaded us with "You'll never walk alone" - as
I said at the beginning, just about the saddest bunch of fans in football.

There can be only one man-of-the-match as far as I'm concerned and that was
Denis Irwin - the only player on the pitch who played well.   Hopefully
this performance will help to convince the powers-that-be at OT that our
Denis deserves at least another couple of seasons on his contract.  The
defense was certainly the best part of the team, although our Wes did make
a few mistakes - not bad considering they were his first real mistakes in
how many starts?  Luckily, the Newcastle team weren't capable of taking
advantage.

So we left the ground wondering if we were in a time warp - this couldn't
be the team of the nineties, surely?!


Copyright © 1998 by Our Salford Lass. All rights reserved.  
Not to be reproduced without permission of the author
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Monday 09 November 1998   
Subject: FERGIE'S RUNAWAY TRAIN GRINDS TO A HALT 

Manchester United 0 Newcastle United 0

IT HAD to end sometime and ironically it was
against a side managed by a man well versed in the
art of total football, but Manchester United's run of
supreme football and consequent rewards is over.
It may only be a one-game hiccup but after
demolishing Brondby in midweek with a five-star
performance which had manager Alex Ferguson
drooling with delight, United demonstrated their
mortality with a lacklustre display against more
mediocre opposition. Gone was the rapid one-touch
passing, which had cut sides to shreds in the last
few weeks. Gone was the ruthless finishing which
had resulted in the Reds banging in 26 goals in their
previous seven games.

Instead United never really got out of first gear at
Old Trafford against a determined Newcastle side,
who successfully threw a spanner into their
highly-tuned works. The omens had not augured
well for Newcastle coming into the game. They had
won just once at Old Trafford in their last 32 visits,
while Alan Shearer had not scored since the end of
September. He still hasn't and the nearest he got
was a quick free-kick early on that Peter
Schmeichel recovered to smoother.

Manager Ruud Gullit gave Aaron Hughes his first
start of the season on his 19th birthday, summer
signing George Georgiadis made his Premiership
debut after months in the wilderness and Dietmar
Hamann returned after over two months out with
damaged knee ligaments. The Red Devils tried to
pick up where they left off on Wednesday - on fire -
but Paul Scholes fired wide after two minutes, and
Jesper Blomqvist took a David Beckham cross, cut
inside and unleashed a left-foot shot, which Shay
Given saved low down.

The normally-reliable Scholes shot wide again after
27 minutes when he should have done better but
Newcastle were growing in confidence after the
expected onslaught from the home side failed to
materialise. The lively Paul Dalglish should have had
a penalty seven minutes before the interval when
he collected Shearer's knock-down and rounded
Schmeichel, only to be bundled off the ball by Denis
Irwin with a shoulder barge Nat Lofthouse would
have been proud of. Shearer was booked by
referee Steve Dunn two minutes after the interval
for a late tackle on Scholes, seconds after he had
made dubious challenges on Gary Neville and Roy
Keane. The England striker may have been
frustrated by his lack of chances but he should be
used to that by now. He cannot have been
impressed by Dalglish when the youngster slipped
through on the left only to allow Schmeichel to
save.

At the other end, Keane found former Newcastle
hero Andy Cole in the box, but he turned and fired
over the bar. Wes Brown, who had started in place
of hamstring-victim Phil Neville, made way for the
fit-again Ronny Johnsen, who had not played in
nearly two months, as United tried to shake
themselves into action. But still they spluttered
along and a frustrated Beckham was booked on the
hour for pulling back David Batty after he had lost
the ball.

Newcastle denied Manchester with a series of
last-ditch blocks, Given saved Blomqvist's drive and
the growing feeling that it was not going to be
United's day was underlined in the 64th minute
when Beckham burst through the heart of the
Magpies defence only to steer his shot wide of
Given and the post. Ten minutes from time Irwin
swung over a cross to Scholes at the back post, but
he shot weakly at Given, who then plucked the ball
off Yorke's toe after Cole had put him through.

In the dying minutes United went for one final push
when they brought on Nicky Butt and Ole Gunnar
Solskjaer and the home fans thought the time had
come for another late goal courtesy of another
Beckham special when he lined up to take a
free-kick 25 yards out in the last minute. But it was
typical of the game that his shot should rebound off
the wall and the England midfielder screwed a
second attempt wide. Newcastle have now gone
343 minutes without a Premiership goal but with
their hosts drawing a blank too, the travelling fans
quite rightly celebrated another goalless afternoon
with glee. 
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Subject: GULLIT MAKES HIS POINT, FERGIE DISAPPOINTED 

Newcastle boss Ruud Gullit praised his side's character after
they held Manchester United to a goalless draw - but his
words were tinged with disappointment. 
The Dutchman was delighted at the tactical changes he
made by bringing in defender Aaron Hughes on his 19th
birthday, along with midfielder Dietmar Hamann and George
Georgiadis, had paid off. 
But he said: ''I wanted to win today, I just didn't want to
hold them. 
''I said after the first half that it would be bad if we played
well and didn't get anything. I told them to play for the
result whatever happens, but I still wanted to win. 
''I thought it was a good game and an excellent Newcastle
performance. We made it very difficult for them to play their
game. 
''They couldn't find any holes and that was frustrating for
them. We played some excellent football in the first half
and created some chances.'' 
United boss Alex Ferguson was disappointed at a flat
performance by his side, but congratulated Gullit on his
tactical acumen. 
''I thought it was a flat performance by us and it begs the
question about games after Europe,'' he said. ''I didn't think
the pitch helped us. I thought it was really poor. 
''I thought Newcastle's tactics were terrific. They forced us
onto the back foot all the time and pressed us really well. 
''For a team that's supposed to be struggling a little bit they
played with great confidence. 
''He (Gullit) filled his team with as many quick players as he
could and I think they deserve their point although I don't
think they created anything.'' 
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Subject:  Pitch battles! «« 

Head groundsman Keith Kent finds himself the centre of attention as Alex
Ferguson holds an investigation into the mystery of United's super-pitch.
The new surface was laid during the summer when its 11 year predecessor was
dug up and its pieces given to supporters as souvenirs. It is set in a
nylon base which is supposed to strengthen its roots, but on the evidence
of Sunday's goal-less draw with Newcastle it seems something must have gone
wrong and groundsman Kent has some embarrassing questions to answer.
Some people were blaming the rugby league Grand Final but Ferguson
dismissed this claim. He said the pitch was in good shape for the match
against Brondby but has deteriorated badly since then.
During Sunday's game the surface began to break up as early as the second
minute and spectators gasped when they saw a large clump of turf fold over
under David Beckham's feet as he took a free kick.
The surface played tricks on both sides and Newcastle were robbed of a late
scoring chance when a high ball directed towards Alan Shearer stopped dead
instead of bouncing forward as the spongy ground took the pace out of the
pass. 
During reconstruction work in the summer the whole playing area was dug out
and the crown of the pitch was lowered by thirteen inches. This has grown
during the 11 years since it was laid because of regular top dressing being
added. Ready grown grass produced at a turf farm in Yorkshire was rolled
out and thousands of earth worms distributed over the area to help aeration.
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Subject:   ***WEEKLY STATMAIL***   9th Nov 1998

  ** PL FIXTURES ON 14/11/98 ***
             Arsenal  v  Tottenham Hotspur
   Charlton Athletic  v  Middlesbrough
             Chelsea  v  Wimbledon
           Liverpool  v  Leeds United
   Manchester United  v  Blackburn Rovers  (Scandinavia Canal+ TV *live)
    Newcastle United  v  Sheffield Wednesday
         Southampton  v  Aston Villa
     West Ham United  v  Leicester City

*** PL FIXTURES ON 15/11/98 ***
       Coventry City  v  Everton
__________________________________

Worthington LC
      *** ROUND 4 FIXTURES ON 10/11/98 ***
         Bolton Wanderers  v  Wimbledon
                Liverpool  v  Tottenham Hotspur
               Luton Town  v  Barnsley
       *** ROUND 4 FIXTURES ON 11/11/98 ***
                  Arsenal  v  Chelsea
                  Everton  v  Sunderland
           Leicester City  v  Leeds United
        Manchester United  v  Nottingham Forest
         Newcastle United  v  Blackburn Rovers
_______________________________________________

    *** PL FIXTURE PREDICTIONS ON 14/11/98 ***
             Arsenal   2-1   Tottenham Hotspur
   Charlton Athletic   2-1   Middlesbrough
             Chelsea   2-0   Wimbledon
           Liverpool   2-2   Leeds United
   Manchester United   2-0   Blackburn Rovers
    Newcastle United   2-0   Sheffield Wednesday
         Southampton   0-2   Aston Villa
     West Ham United   0-1   Leicester City

    *** PL FIXTURE PREDICTIONS ON 15/11/98 ***
       Coventry City   1-1   Everton
_________________________________________________

** RESULTS AND ATTENDANCES ON 07/11/98 ***
         Aston Villa   3-2   Tottenham Hotspur     39,421
    Blackburn Rovers   1-2   Coventry City         23,779
   Charlton Athletic   0-0   Leicester City        20,021
           Liverpool   1-2   Derby County          44,020
   Nottingham Forest   0-1   Wimbledon             21,362
         Southampton   3-3   Middlesbrough         15,202

*** RESULTS AND ATTENDANCES ON 08/11/98 ***
             Arsenal   1-0   Everton               38,088
        Leeds United   2-1   Sheffield Wednesday   30,012
   Manchester United   0-0   Newcastle United      55,174
     West Ham United   1-1   Chelsea               26,023

*** CONDENSED LEAGUE TABLE AS AT 08/11/98 ***

Pos Team                  P   W   D   L   F   A   GD  Pts
---------------------------------------------------------
 1  Aston Villa          11   7   4   0  14   5    9   25
 2  Arsenal              12   6   5   1  14   5    9   23
 3  Manchester United    11   6   4   1  23   9   14   22
 4  Middlesbrough        12   4   6   2  20  15    5   18
 5  Chelsea              10   4   5   1  14  10    4   17
 6  Leeds United         12   3   8   1  13   9    4   17
 7  Derby County         12   4   5   3  12  10    2   17
 8  Leicester City       12   4   5   3  11  10    1   17
 9  West Ham United      12   4   5   3  13  13    0   17
10  Wimbledon            12   4   5   3  17  19   -2   17
11  Liverpool            12   4   4   4  19  14    5   16
12  Charlton Athletic    12   3   6   3  19  16    3   15
13  Newcastle United     12   4   3   5  15  16   -1   15
14  Tottenham Hotspur    12   4   3   5  16  21   -5   15
15  Everton              12   2   6   4   7  11   -4   12
16  Sheffield Wednesday  12   3   2   7   9  12   -3   11
17  Coventry City        12   3   2   7   9  18   -9   11
18  Blackburn Rovers     12   2   3   7  12  17   -5    9
19  Nottingham Forest    12   2   3   7   8  18  -10    9
20  Southampton          12   1   4   7   9  26  -17    7


*** TEAM RESULTS - MANCHESTER UNITED - AS AT 08/11/98 ***
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


*** TEAM RESULTS SUMMARY - MANCHESTER UNITED - AS AT 08/11/98 ***

       P   Won       Drawn     Lost      For        Against    Points
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Home   6   4 (67%)   2 (33%)   0 (0%)    15 (2.5)   4 (0.7)    14 (2.3)
Away   5   2 (40%)   2 (40%)   1 (20%)   8 (1.6)    5 (1.0)    8 (1.6)

Total  11  6 (55%)   4 (36%)   1 (9%)    23 (2.1)   9 (0.8)    22 (2.0)

                                         Averages per game in (brackets)

League position:            3rd
Form position:              1st  (Index: 52%)
Predicted position:         1st

       (The higher the form index, the higher the average
           league position of the recent opposition)

Highest league position:    2nd
Lowest league position:     10th

       (Excluding the first 4 matches)


*** TEAM STATISTICS - MANCHESTER UNITED - AS AT 08/11/98 ***

AVERAGE HOME ATTENDANCE: 55,169
HIGHEST HOME ATTENDANCE: 17/10/98 - Wimbledon (55,265)
LOWEST HOME ATTENDANCE:  15/08/98 - Leicester City (55,052)
BEST WIN:                17/10/98 - Wimbledon (5-1)
HEAVIEST DEFEAT:         20/09/98 - Arsenal (0-3)
BEST HOME WIN:           17/10/98 - Wimbledon (5-1)
BEST AWAY WIN:           03/10/98 - Southampton (3-0)
                         31/10/98 - Everton (4-1)
HEAVIEST AWAY DEFEAT:    20/09/98 - Arsenal (0-3)

*** ATTENDANCE TABLE AS AT 07/11/98 ***

   Manchester United @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ 55,168
           Liverpool @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ 43,958
             Everton @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ 38,808
             Arsenal @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ 38,070
    Newcastle United @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ 36,695
         Aston Villa @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ 36,405
             Chelsea @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ 34,740
       Middlesbrough @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ 34,274
        Leeds United @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ 32,727
   Tottenham Hotspur @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ 32,448
        Derby County @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ 27,780
 Sheffield Wednesday @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ 26,948
     West Ham United @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ 25,307
    Blackburn Rovers @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ 24,278
   Nottingham Forest @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ 23,759
       Coventry City @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ 21,427
      Leicester City @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ 20,608
   Charlton Athletic @@@@@@@@@@@@@@ 19,222
           Wimbledon @@@@@@@@@@@@ 15,888
         Southampton @@@@@@@@@@@ 15,159
*** GENERAL STATISTICS AS AT 07/11/98 ***

SEQUENCES (involving Manchester United)
---------
LONGEST RUN OF HOME WINS:
     Current (4 games)   - Manchester United
     Record (4 games)    - Aston Villa
                           Manchester United

ATTACK/DEFENCE STATISTICS
-------------------------
BEST ATTACK      (23 goals):    Manchester United
BEST HOME ATTACK (15 goals):    Manchester United

ATTENDANCE STATISTICS
---------------------
HIGHEST ATTENDANCE         (55,265): Manchester United
HIGHEST AVERAGE ATTENDANCE (55,168): Manchester United

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MUFC Hon. Executive CP Cheah
Webmasters: Barry Leeming & Bill McArthur
Graphics: Sam Hayward  Stats: Paul Hinson
 Site Design Diana Low
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Subject: BLOMQVIST BACKS REDS TO BOUNCE BACK
By David Anderson, PA Sport

Jesper Blomqvist hopes Manchester United's goalless draw against Newcastle will prove to be a
 Ruud awakening.

Alex Ferguson's men had been expected to shoot down Ruud Gullit's Magpies in the same manner
 they had dispatched Wimbledon, Brondby and Everton in recent weeks.

But instead Newcastle successfully frustrated their hosts to become the first side since Arsenal
 eight months ago to keep a clean sheet at Old Trafford.

Blomqvist felt the result had taught United that they cannot afford to let their high standards
 drop for even one game.

Ferguson's side have plenty of craft but Blomqvist says they must also remember the importance
 of graft.

"We won't win every game 4-0 or 5-0, but if we don't put real effort into it and work 100% then
 we won't win at all," said the Swedish international winger.

"This game shows that you must keep your concentration levels up at all time or you will lose.

"Okay we didn't lose this game, but we didn't win it either. 

"We should know that and we got a wake-up call, although I think everybody appreciates that.

"We didn't reach the normal levels which we have done in our last couple of games. 

"We missed a lot of short passes and I think that was down to a lack of concentration.

"The result, though, was no great disaster because we didn't lose the game and I feel we can go
 on from here."

Some observers have suggested that United's habit of under-performing following Champions'
 League games could be returning to dog them.

They lost at Arsenal after their draw against Barcelona, scrambled a draw at Derby after
 crushing Brondby and yesterday produced a damp squib against Newcastle following their second
 mauling of the Danish champions.

But Blomqvist does not subscribe to this view and said: "We should not be that tired after
 playing in Europe."

Ferguson has hailed Blomqvist as United's "saviour" for the manner in which he has risen to the
 challenge of filling Ryan Giggs' boots while the Welshman is injured.

The former AC Milan star, who joined United in a £4.4million move from Parma in the summer,
 missed the start of the season with a foot injury and he believes he is improving with each
 game.

"I feel like I'm getting there," said Blomqvist. 

"I have been getting better and better, but the Newcastle game was a bit so so.

"I felt my foot again in the second half but that's no excuse at all. 

"The game was disappointing for me and the team."

© PA Sporting Life 
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From: "Tony Smith"  

Subject: Nil-Nil

I received a good natured slaughtering for my pessimism at Everton, but
yesterday showed that where United are concerned pessimism and realism often
go hand in hand. Three easy games on paper leaves us with two draws and one
win. I'm content with one point at this stage of the season, but we were
second best for long periods yesterday, illustrated by the number of times
Schmeichel was forced to kick under pressure. I suppose nil-nil in their cup
final sums up Newcastle - they can return to playing garbage for the rest of
the season, as their fans seemed deleriously happy. United remain streets
ahead of the rest - and the only side that can stop us winning the league is
ourselves. Perhaps most worrying of all was the state of the pitch (the
reason I think that United couldn't get their game going). Shades of 92 as
it cut up very badly. Sometimes the ball didn't bounce - it just dropped
dead as it landed. When Beckham was put through on his own the ball seemed
to stick on the surface between his legs; and some of Yorke's unsuccessful
dribbles were because the ball wouldn't keep up with his feet. Was it true
that they watered the pitch on the afternoon of the Bury monsoon? Time to go
out and win the next six.

Tony (c) 1998
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Subject: All change for Forest «« 

Alex Ferguson is ready to change the whole of his Manchester United side
after Sunday's 0-0 draw with Newcastle, but he would have done it even if
they had won 5-0.
With Nottingham Forest coming to Old Trafford for the fourth round of the
Worthington Cup, Fergie switches to his shadow squad for the tie and that
could mean virtually the whole of Sunday's side standing down.
Reserve goalkeeper Raimond van der Gouw is set to replace Peter Schmeichel.
Michael Clegg, Henning Berg, David May and John Curtis will come into the
defence and Fergie seems certain to turn to Phil Mulryne, Mark Wilson,
Jordi Cruyff and Nicky Butt (a substitute on Sunday) in midfield.
Another of Sunday's substitutes Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is set to lead the
attack along with teenager Jonathan Greening, who had an outstanding game
against Bury in the last round.
Phillip Neville is having treatment on the hamstring injury which ruled him
out of Sunday's game and could also feature. Teddy Sheringham is unlikely
to be involved.
Unusually, tickets for the game are now on general sale. 
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Subject:  Fergie Hits Ruud Block (Mirror)

Alex Ferguson was last night grounded by flying Dutchman Ruud Gullit.

But the Manchester United boss hid his disappointment at faltering in the
big title race to heap praise on Gullit and his Newcastle fighters.

Fergie applauded Gullit's tactics in stifling his free-flowing side and
stopping them scoring at Old Trafford for the first time since March.

United had scored 30 goals in their previous nine games before facing
Newcastle.

Dynamic duo Dwight Yorke and Andy Cole had hammered 11 in their six-match
stint together. But Gullit marshalled his men to make it a blank day for
Yorke, Cole and United. Ferguson said: "I thought Newcastle's tactics were
terrific. They really pressed the ball and had us on the back foot. They
forced us to pass the ball back.

"Yes, their tactics were terrific. For a team that's supposed to be
struggling they did very well.

"It was a brave selection. I didn't even know two of the players. They
deserved the point even though they didn't really create anything. But they
blunted our attacking thrust. We had four terrific chances in the second
half.

"When David Beckham is right through and Cole, Yorke and Paul Scholes all
have good chances you will expect one of them to go in.

"Four chances in a game like this is too many to miss. I thought it was a
flat performance by us today. It begs the question of games being played so
soon after Europe."

Gullit was delighted at sharing the spoils in a stadium that is rarely
friendly to visitors.

He said: "I thought we were excellent. My back four were outstanding.

"We were very well organised and young Andy Griffin was first class. The
only way to beat Manchester United is to play like that.

"We didn't play to stop them. We came here trying to win.

"But I am not disappointed with a point because they played well also."

Newcastle's players believe they should have had a penalty when Paul
Dalglish was bundled down in the box by Denis Irwin.

But the Newcastle boss did not moan about Bristol referee Steve Dunn
refusing to point to the stop.

Gullit added: "The penalty? I wasn't in a position to see the incident but I
didn't have much to complain about today."
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