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www.red11.org DAILY NEWS
Date: Thu Sep 17 22:29:57 GMT+00:00 1998
Mail: barry@www.red11.org

This Issue:
1. Barcelona battle back to 3-3 draw with Man Utd 
2. Ferguson and Van Gaal both frustrated by 3-3 draw 
3. Public meeting against Murdoch
4. Bryon Butler (Telegraph)
5. Loyalty allows money men to sell supporters short 
6. UNITED IN £4M BID TO KEEP FERGUSON (Mirror)
7. Gordon Taylor Slams Murdoch (Mirror)

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

Daily RED Trivia  Thurs 17th September:

1966: Alex Stepney made his United debut against Manchester City. Signed for a 
record fee for a goalkeeper, Stepney won a League Championship medal in his first
season, and in 1968 was part of the European Cup Winning side. He won an Division
2 Championship medal in 1975, an FA Cup Winners medal in 1977, and a losers medal
in 1976. Stepney compiled a total of 535 appearances between 1966-78. He won one                England cap in 1968, and moved to Dallas Tornado in February 1979.

1994: United beat Liverpool 2-0 at Old Trafford in a Premiership game watched by
43,740, with goals from Andrei Kanchelskis and Brian McClair. Team was: Schmeichel,
May, Irwin, Bruce, Sharpe, Pallister, Cantona, Ince, Hughes (McClair), Giggs, Kanchelskis.

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

Barcelona battle back to 3-3 draw with Man Utd 

MANCHESTER, England, Sept 16  - Barcelona staged a dramatic
fightback from 2-0 down to hold Manchester United to a 3-3 draw in their Champions
League Group D match at Old Trafford on Wednesday. 

Group D
-------
                         W   L   T   GF  GA  PTS
                         -   -   -   --  --  ---
Brondby                  1   0   0    2   1    3
Barcelona                0   0   1    3   3    1
Manchester United        0   0   1    3   3    1
Bayern Munich            0   1   0    1   2    0

September 16 matches
--------------------
Brondby (Denmark) 2, Bayern Munich (Germany) 1
Manchester United (England) 3, Barcelona (Spain) 3


Next 4 games: 
Index: http://www.red11.org/mufc/fix9899z.htm

Sat 20/9 Arsenal     (A) PL 
Thu 24/9 Liverpool   (H) PL 
Wed 30/9 Bayern M    (A) CL
Sat 3/10 Southampton (A) PL

UNITED Stats v Barcelona are here:
http://www.red11.org/mufc/stats/vsbarcelona.htm Url
http://www.red11.org/mufc/stats/vsbarcelona.xls Excel File

	*** TEAM RESULTS - MANCHESTER UNITED - AS AT 12/09/98 ***

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


"Are you Against the BSkyB takeover? Please Read! Click on image!"

Subject: Barcelona battle back to 3-3 draw with Man Utd MANCHESTER, England, Sept 16 - Barcelona staged a dramatic fightback from 2-0 down to hold Manchester United to a 3-3 draw in their Champions League Group D match at Old Trafford on Wednesday. United had stormed into a two goal half time lead with goals from Ryan Giggs in the 17th minute and Paul Scholes in the 24th as the English side took charge of the match. But Louis Van Gaal's reorganised Spanish side took control in an eventful second half. Brazilian Sonny Anderson fired home from close range in the 47th minute before his compatriot Giovanni levelled from the spot in the 60th after Rivaldo had been tripped by Dutch defender Jaap Stam. United took the lead again through a brilliant curling free-kick from David Beckham in the 64th minute but the resilient Barcelona side equalised six minutes later. The impressive Luis Enrique converted a penalty after substitute Nicky Butt was sent off for blocking Anderson's shot with his hand in the goalmouth. -------------------------------------------------------- Wed 26th Aug 1998 MAN UTD (2) 3 v 3 (0) Barcelona Quick fire report more later tonight................. 17 1-0 Becks Giggs Header 1-0 25 2-0 Becks Yorke overhead kick saved Scholes! 2-0 United on top in 1st half Beckham/Giggs/Yorke super Barcelona couple of good shots saved by Peter (Rivaldo dangerous) RESULT 3-3! 2nd half was a completeley different game Barcelona outplayed REDS BUT filmed a penalty and injured Giggs by elbowing him out of the game 47 Anderson 2-1 60 Giovanni penalty 2-2 filmed penalty (no penalty for me) 64 BRILLIANT FREE KICK by BECKS TOP LEFT CORNER 3-2! 71 penalty this time ok Butt handled RED CARDED Luis Enrique pen 3-3 United down to 10 men held on 3-3 I preferred the 1st half display 3-3 is a bad result we needed to win :( Barry on Sweden TV3 A game of 2 halves........bet Fergie has a few harsh words for the ref? Manchester United 3 Barcelona 3 - result MANCHESTER, England, Sept 16 - Manchester United and Barcelona drew 3-3 in their European Champions' League Group D match on Wednesday: Scorers: Manchester United: Ryan Giggs 17, Paul Scholes 24, David Beckham 64. Barcelona: Sonny Anderson 47, Giovanni 60pen Luis Enrique 71pen. Red Card: Nicky Butt (Manchester United).
"Are you Against the BSkyB takeover? Please Read! Click on image!"

Subject: Ferguson and Van Gaal both frustrated by 3-3 draw By Jeremy Butler MANCHESTER, England, Sept 16 - Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson and Barcelona coach Louis Van Gaal were both unhappy with the officials despite their teams producing a thrilling 3-3 draw in the European Champions' League at Old Trafford on Wednesday. Italian official Stefano Braschi awarded the Catalan side two second half penalties and sent off Nicky Butt for the handball that brought the second penalty. Giovanni (60th) and Luis Enrique (71st) both beat Peter Schmeichel from the spot to ensure Barcelona went home with a valuable point from their Group D encounter. Ferguson said: "The decision for their second goal was terrible. The referee was very poor." Van Gaal was upset because of a Barcelona goal disallowed in the first half. The United boss felt the initiative his side had built up so impressively in the first period was lost when Sonny Anderson pulled one back after 47 minutes. His close range finish dragged Barcelona back into the game after United had taken a 2-0 first half lead with a header from Ryan Giggs (17th) -- United's 250th goal in European competition -- and a close range strike from Paul Scholes (25th). Ferguson wasn't happy with his own team either. ""All we needed to do was maintain our discipline and make sure we were always a threat. "But whereas in the first half we were passing forward and in particular to David Beckham, in the second half we started passing to our full-backs." Beckham curled home a well-executed 64th minute free-kick to put United in front for the last time before Barcelona's second equaliser. Anderson's header hit the crossbar and in the ensuring melee Butt was adjudged to have handled the Brazilian striker's goalbound shot. Although Barcelona did get the ball in the net in the melee, the referee disallowed the goal, stopped play, sent Butt off and awarded Barcelona a penalty. Luis Enrique drilled home the goal that should have left Barcelona coach Louis Van Gaal happy. But even he was frustrated by the officials. After being told that television had proved Rivaldo's disallowed first half goal should have been given he said: "I am very disappointed because it was easy for a linesman to see that it was not offside." The Dutch coach refused to take any credit for a change in tactics that inspired Barca's second half comeback. He claimed instead: "It was just a psychological thing. The way we played was exactly the same as in the first half only the performance was better. "We played with more spirit and more courage, and I think it's a pity we didn't start like that as we could have won if we did. Manchester United tired towards the end." The result left both teams facing an uphill task to win the group and gain automatic qualification to the knockout stages with the opportunity of being one of the two best runners-up looking unlikely. Ferguson admitted: "With Brondby winning I think only the winners of this group will go through. I don't think the second place team can make it now." Oddly, the result continued Barcelona's 38-year run without a win over an English team in England. They have now played 15 matches against English clubs without a win -- their only victory in that time being their 1992 European Cup Final success against Sampdoria at Wembley Stadium. Their last win over an English team in England was when they beat Wolverhampton Wanderers 5-2 in a European Cup quarter-final in 1960.
"Are you Against the BSkyB takeover? Please Read! Click on image!"

X-Sender: red-devils@pop.pipeline.com X-Mailer: Windows Eudora Pro Version 3.0 (32) Date: Tue, 15 Sep 1998 20:00:33 -0700 To: manutd@pipeline.com From: "Tony Smith" (by way of RED-DEVILS Mail List ) Subject: Public meeting against Murdoch It's midnight, and what an evening. I got home from the Bridgewater Hall public meeting against the Murdoch take-over to watch the Alex Ferguson Story on ITV. The programme showed what the manager is about as a man and as a football man: a far cry from the money men that seek to tear the football club away from the fans and manager alike. It's late, but here is a brief resume of the mood of the public meeting - you should have access to the circulated documents via Simplenet. There were over 1000 supporters filling the lower section of the hall. The organisers had hoped for 700, I understand. There was considerable press and TV interest. The meeting was a public meeting, not an IMUSA meeting, and was chaired by local radio man Jimmy Wagg (a City supporter, thus disinterested to some degree, though not uninterested by any means). Alongside Andy Walsh and Lee Hodgkiss of IMUSA on the platform were Jim White of the Guardian and Michael Crick of the BBC - United fans, as you know. It was a passionate affair, with the whole hall unanimous in condemnation of the deal. No one saw the soul of the club surviving the take over. The point was made several times that once United is sold and is out of the control of the current board (for all its faults), the club will never be ours again. White and Crick were eloquent, humourous and passionate. Crick made the financial arguments, and suggested that for Sky to achieve their payback within 3 years (before pay per view is available to them) they must repay some 50 million in interest per year on top of the 625 million to the shareholders. Given United's current 90 million annual turnover, where will they find the money to take out of the club? The argument is that talk of signing Salas and Ronaldo is pie in the sky: BSkyB will actually take money out of United to pay for its purchase - the 625 million does not go to the club, but to shareholders. These figures are based on rough notes I made of Crick's argument - I can't verify it, but I think the point is a fair one. There was an hour of contributions from the floor before Walsh's passionate summing up. The message was to apply pressure to politcal representatives and to the Office of Fair Trading. While the plc had had 6 months to prepare its representations to the OFT, the fans have until 28 September to get their argument together. Most important - take the message to wavering United supporters: this deal will bring us no good, and you will never get your club back once it is sold. There were heart-warming messages of support from Sammy McIlroy and Brian McClair. Willie Morgan too. And from fans of many other clubs, including our fiercest rivals. A message from the New South Wales Reds was read out, and contrasted nicely with the complacent message from Down Under that was heard on Radio 5 last week. Well done, those involved. The lack of spoken support from Alex Ferguson for the take over is believed to be significant. He could have backed the deal on numerous occasions, but he has failed to do so. The hall cost 6,000 to rent tonight, and IMUSA had funds of just a few hundred pounds when the booking was made. Michael Crick's group are writing to all individual shareholders - and that will cost 8,000 pounds. The effort needs money. As well as the speakers on the platform, the event was made possible by many behind the scenes - including some on this list who deserve our thanks. They know who they are. I haven't referred to my notes in compiling this short summary, so I hope I've not missed anything crucial. The key points are that there is a belief that Murdoch can be stopped, that there is a determination to stop him, and that we must do our bit, however small. United were on the edge of a precipice in 1902, and again in the 1930s. I believe we are on the verge of losing United as we've known the club. If all else fails it is important that we are able to say we tried. Tony (c) 1998 Web: http://freespace.virgin.net/tony.smith/
"Are you Against the BSkyB takeover? Please Read! Click on image!"

Subject: Bryon Butler (Telegraph) Loyalty allows money men to sell supporters short By Bryon Butler MANCHESTER United fans had their rant about Rupert last night; and they'll all be at Old Trafford tonight. Principle is one thing, loyalty quite another. The Red Army know their place. If United supporters really feel their club is being sold for dirty silver then, of course, their duty is clear. They should use their satellite dishes as dustbin lids, stick pins into effigies of Messrs Murdoch and Edwards, shred their season tickets and fixture lists and picket the 'Theatre of Dreams'. How now, red cow? Statistics can be lovable. A poll by a Manchester paper showed that 96 per cent of its readers thought the BSkyB takeover should be rejected or blocked. If this is generally true, and it is also right that United have more than 100 million supporters worldwide, then rather a lot of people believe the deal is out of order - equivalent, in fact, to about twice the population of England. This is impressive; but it won't make any difference. The din at Old Trafford tonight, as United face Barcelona, will be audible across the Pennines and the Irish Sea. But, around the game's decision-making tables, the voice of the fan is just a squeak. People are at the back of the queue in the 'People's Game'. Ahead of them, with their different priorities, are chairman and directors, shareholders, television companies, sponsors, corporate folk, shirt makers and sundry other merchandisers. Supporters do their best. They band themselves into federations, associations and action groups, some 'official', some 'independent', and their perception of the game surfaces in more than 2,000 fanzines with a circulation of about three million. Sometimes they hit the mark. West Ham's fans scuppered their club's bond scheme, and at Manchester City, Southampton and other clubs, managers and even chairmen have been ousted. Sixty years ago, famously, 3,000 Stoke fans attended a protest meeting after Stanley Matthews had asked for a transfer. Two thousand more were locked outside and the city, as a whole, was so furious that work suffered in office and factory. A deputation was sent to meet Stoke's directors and the problem was hastily resolved. Remember, too, the anger of the terraces when various mergers were proposed in the 1980s: Wimbledon with Crystal Palace, Queens Park Rangers with Fulham and Reading with Oxford. There was talk of blood and insurrection. >From time to time - more frequently in the 1990s - the fan is even asked for an opinion. The government, Football Association and the leagues borrow a hall, ask questions and take copious notes. The fans are listened to but they doubt if they're being heard. They still know they are taken for granted and they still believe they are being exploited. They realise, too, that they are victims of their own obsession. "Here we go," I heard a Chelsea fan say dryly as he entered Stamford Bridge last Saturday. "What shall we 'ave today? Oysters and chips?" There was a time when minimum entrance to a game cost no more than half a gallon of petrol. In 1955, for example, turnstile admission was raised to two shillings and the gallon to four shillings and sixpence. Now, apparently, the average Premier and League fan spends about £800 per season on tickets, travel and bits and pieces. Manchester United followers, including all their long-distance commuters, average double that. Yet gates are still rising, just as they have done, with one minor exception, for the past 12 years. It has reached a point - and the unlucky ones consider this to be the ultimate rejection - where tickets are simply no longer available. Premiership football, as a business, thus stands alone. It sells a product which doesn't have to be advertised or guaranteed, has more loyal customers than it can handle and is free to fix its own prices. Clubs can, moreover, put on a show at any time of the day and on any day of the week. They can, willy nilly, replace their stars with understudies and, on average, they offer their punters only 60 minutes action in every 90. But it is not a perfect world. Football is too dependent on television's money, and income is only a short step ahead of expenditure. The correlation between balance sheet and team sheet is becoming critical. It will be decidedly less perfect for the clubs, moreover, if the fans ever manage to get their act together. One big body, one booming voice and a unified determination to turn football into the 'People's Game' once more.
"Are you Against the BSkyB takeover? Please Read! Click on image!"

From: "Bill McArthur" Subject: Loyalty allows money men to sell supporters short Electronic Telegraph Loyalty allows money men to sell supporters short By Bryon Butler MANCHESTER United fans had their rant about Rupert last night; and they'll all be at Old Trafford tonight. Principle is one thing, loyalty quite another. The Red Army know their place. If United supporters really feel their club is being sold for dirty silver then, of course, their duty is clear. They should use their satellite dishes as dustbin lids, stick pins into effigies of Messrs Murdoch and Edwards, shred their season tickets and fixture lists and picket the 'Theatre of Dreams'. How now, red cow? Statistics can be lovable. A poll by a Manchester paper showed that 96 per cent of its readers thought the BSkyB takeover should be rejected or blocked. If this is generally true, and it is also right that United have more than 100 million supporters worldwide, then rather a lot of people believe the deal is out of order - equivalent, in fact, to about twice the population of England. This is impressive; but it won't make any difference. The din at Old Trafford tonight, as United face Barcelona, will be audible across the Pennines and the Irish Sea. But, around the game's decision-making tables, the voice of the fan is just a squeak. People are at the back of the queue in the 'People's Game'. Ahead of them, with their different priorities, are chairman and directors, shareholders, television companies, sponsors, corporate folk, shirt makers and sundry other merchandisers. Supporters do their best. They band themselves into federations, associations and action groups, some 'official', some 'independent', and their perception of the game surfaces in more than 2,000 fanzines with a circulation of about three million. Sometimes they hit the mark. West Ham's fans scuppered their club's bond scheme, and at Manchester City, Southampton and other clubs, managers and even chairmen have been ousted. Sixty years ago, famously, 3,000 Stoke fans attended a protest meeting after Stanley Matthews had asked for a transfer. Two thousand more were locked outside and the city, as a whole, was so furious that work suffered in office and factory. A deputation was sent to meet Stoke's directors and the problem was hastily resolved. Remember, too, the anger of the terraces when various mergers were proposed in the 1980s: Wimbledon with Crystal Palace, Queens Park Rangers with Fulham and Reading with Oxford. There was talk of blood and insurrection. From time to time - more frequently in the 1990s - the fan is even asked for an opinion. The government, Football Association and the leagues borrow a hall, ask questions and take copious notes. The fans are listened to but they doubt if they're being heard. They still know they are taken for granted and they still believe they are being exploited. They realise, too, that they are victims of their own obsession. "Here we go," I heard a Chelsea fan say dryly as he entered Stamford Bridge last Saturday. "What shall we 'ave today? Oysters and chips?" There was a time when minimum entrance to a game cost no more than half a gallon of petrol. In 1955, for example, turnstile admission was raised to two shillings and the gallon to four shillings and sixpence. Now, apparently, the average Premier and League fan spends about £800 per season on tickets, travel and bits and pieces. Manchester United followers, including all their long-distance commuters, average double that. Yet gates are still rising, just as they have done, with one minor exception, for the past 12 years. It has reached a point - and the unlucky ones consider this to be the ultimate rejection - where tickets are simply no longer available. Premiership football, as a business, thus stands alone. It sells a product which doesn't have to be advertised or guaranteed, has more loyal customers than it can handle and is free to fix its own prices. Clubs can, moreover, put on a show at any time of the day and on any day of the week. They can, willy nilly, replace their stars with understudies and, on average, they offer their punters only 60 minutes action in every 90. But it is not a perfect world. Football is too dependent on television's money, and income is only a short step ahead of expenditure. The correlation between balance sheet and team sheet is becoming critical. It will be decidedly less perfect for the clubs, moreover, if the fans ever manage to get their act together. One big body, one booming voice and a unified determination to turn football into the 'People's Game' once more. Bill McArthur "There's only ONE United, Manchester United."
"Are you Against the BSkyB takeover? Please Read! Click on image!"

Subject: UNITED IN £4M BID TO KEEP FERGUSON (Mirror) UNITED IN £4M BID TO KEEP FERGUSON Manchester United want to make Alex Ferguson an Old Trafford 'lifer' with a new £4million deal. Ferguson, whose current contract ends in the year 2000, has been linked with Juventus, Tottenham and England as speculation mounts about his future. The United boss again remained tight-lipped about his long-term thoughts on the eve of tonight's Champions' League clash with Barcelona at Old Trafford. But behind-the-scenes moves have already been made to draw up a new deal for Ferguson, possibly a bumper £1million-a-year contract starting next summer which will take him to 2003. Ferguson has already met with chairman Martin Edwards but nothing can be finalised until Sky's £623million takeover is complete. That could take until next spring if the Office of Fair Trading refers it to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission. If that does not happen then November 10 could be the earliest day that the takeover could be rubber-stamped. But Edwards has already thought long and hard about extending Ferguson's 12-year reign, which has seen him capture four Premiership trophies. Edwards said: "Alex has two years of his contract to run and in the normal course of events we would be talking to him next summer about the situation. "Obviously because of the current situation involving the takeover we can't be issuing new contracts. So I can't be more specific at this point." But it is clear that Edwards is looking forward to working with Ferguson for "the foreseeable future". It is a partnership that no one at Old Trafford wants to see dismantled as United go into the millennium boosted by massive transfer funds from the proposed takeover bid. But for the moment Fergie and Edwards are both concentrating on yet another attempt to bring home the European Cup after what would be a 31-year wait. Ferguson yesterday rolled up his sleeves and prepared for the battle with Barcelona - aiming to avenge the 4-0 defeat in the Nou Camp back in 1994. Ferguson, pitched into a group of death alongside Bayern Munich and Brondby, said: "Obviously Barcelona are the biggest danger to us progressing. Hopefully we are their biggest danger too. "It's a key game. But the planning of the group may help us. "On the third and fourth games Bayern and Barcelona play each other twice. So you hope they cut each others throats. "That part of the group is essential to us. And hopefully I'll be proved right. But if we beat Barcelona it's a great start to the competition for us. I am really enjoying all these challenges in the European Cup. It's terrific. Of course, hopefully you win the competition, but I have enjoyed what's happened so far, it's never been tortuous for me. "The challenge of playing in the best competition in Europe is fantastic for us. I've enjoyed taking the team to the position they have got for themselves. They are now respected in Europe." United have won only two games against Spanish teams since they won the European Cup back in 1968. And Barcelona have not won in England since 1960. Ferguson recalled how two-goal Romario destroyed his dream four years ago. He said: "I gambled big time over in Barcelona and went for the win. I left out Peter Schmeichel, I am sure you all remember that.''
"Are you Against the BSkyB takeover? Please Read! Click on image!"

Subject: Gordon Taylor Slams Murdoch (Mirror) YOU ARE A HOOLIGAN PLAYERS' Union chief Gordon Taylor last night said that Rupert Murdoch's invasion of football was as destructive as the evils of hooliganism. Taylor branded Murdoch's BSkyB takeover of Manchester United as "the TV cuckoo in football's nest" in an emotive speech to the Trades Union Congress in Blackpool. And Taylor, who represents the country's 2,000 professional footballers, claimed that his wife was "intimidated by two heavies" from a Murdoch-owned newspaper while he was addressing delegates. Taylor said: "If I don't stand up and say these things, who is going to? "Perhaps I should keep my head down, but I've got a job to do and that is to look after the best interests of the game. That's what I'm paid for. "But when I rang home, my wife was upset that there were two heavies at the door saying they were from The Sun newspaper, and intimidating her." Earlier Taylor called for Government protection from the sort of profiteering influences that want to take over United and transform it into what he described it as "Rupert Rovers". "I have been very concerned at the initial Government response," he said. "Murdoch's bid represents an obvious conflict of interest. Yet Gerald Kaufman, chairman of the All-Party Committee for Culture, Media and Sport, talked of it as "a straight-forward deal". "He must have no problems with corkscrews! Even the most capitalist county, the USA, regulates its sports to create and encourage competition. "The big clubs stand to gain even more dominance with Pay-TV, after all, that is the reason behind Rupert Murdoch's desire to own Manchester United. "He wants to force through his own interests by having influence on both side of any negotiations. A TV cuckoo in football's nest. "And if clubs can do their own deals outside the League, anarchy will result and many clubs will become extinct with more job losses."
"Are you Against the BSkyB takeover? Please Read! Click on image!"

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