www.red11.org DAILY NEWS
Date: Sun Nov 22 10:09:38 GMT+00:00 1998
Mail: barry@www.red11.org
This Issue:
1. Sheff Weds v Man United 21/11/98 3.00
2. Guardian Match Report
3. Results + Tables 21/11/98
4. United to go Dutch for No 1
5. MP's have now signed the motion against the BSkyB deal
6. Murdoch: imusa@egroups.com
7. Ferguson's mission
8. Fergie New Deal (Mirror)
++++++=========+++++++========+++++++++========++++++++
Daily RED Trivia Sun 22nd November:
22/11/1958: Joe Carolan made his debut against Luton Town. Carolan was a steady
Full-back who missed just one League game in the 1959-60 season. He played
71 times between 1958-60 and won 2 caps for the Republic of Ireland. He joined
Brighton and Hove Albion in December 1960.
1967: Uniteds Bobby Charlton scores and David Sadler makes his debut for
England as they beat Northern Ireland 2-0 at Wembley.
1995: In the Premiership United win 4-0 at Coventry City with goals from Denis
Irwin, Brian McClair 2 and David Beckham watched by 23,400. Team was:
Schmeichel, G.Neville (P.Neville), Irwin, Bruce (May), Butt (Sharpe), Pallister,
Cantona, Beckham, McClair, Cole, Giggs.
************
Barry Daily Comment:
A blip yesterday, we have not won at Hillsborough for five years!
Hopefully a change in fortune on Wednesday?
Next 4 games:
Result/Fixture Index:
http://www.red11.org/mufc/fix9899z.htm
Wed 25/11 Barcelona (A) CL 19.45
Sun 29/11 Leeds (H) PL 14.00 Sky Sports
Wed 2/12 Tottenham (A) (Worthington Cup 1/4 final) 19.45
Sat 5/12 Aston Villa (A) PL 15.00
UNITED Stats v Leeds:
http://www.red11.org/mufc/stats/vsleeds.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
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
++++++=========+++++++========+++++++++========++++++++
"Peter Schmeichel's last season at OT" Click on image for more!"
Subject: Sheff Weds v Man United 21/11/98 3.00
Sheff Weds (1) 3 Man United (1) 1 FT
Alexandersson 14,73 Cole 29
Jonk 55
Manchester United suffered a pre-European disaster on a day
of Swede dreams for Sheffield Wednesday winger Niclas
Alexandersson.
Alex Ferguson's side head to Barcelona on Wednesday for a
vital Champions' League clash on the back of another
Hillsborough horror show as they have now won just once in
their last nine visits.
They were left embarrassed by a Wednesday side who had gone
six FA Carling Premiership games without a win and for whom
goals have been as rare as an oasis in the Sahara desert.
But make no mistake, this was no fluke 3-1 victory for
manager Danny Wilson's side, who has been preaching the
unlucky virtues of his team during the past few weeks.
Instead, Wednesday's will-to-win appeared greater, which
will be of prime concern to Ferguson going into
Catalan-country for a game where a win would seal their
quarter-final place.
The shock success was uncharacteristically started by
legendary keeper Peter Schmeichel, who has recently seen
comparisons with the greats of the game following his
announcement he is to quit Old Trafford at the end of the
season.
Schmeichel was left with a red face to match his customary
red nose after Swedish international Niclas Alexandersson
took a pot-shot at goal from 20-yards in the 15th minute.
It was an effort which Schmeichel looked to have under
control, but after a few moments of ball-juggling, he
eventually fumbled the chance over his own goal-line,
falling into the net as well just to double his humiliation.
After a few nervy moments, the red machine finally cranked
into gear and it was the deadly Dwight Yorke-Andy Cole
partnership which brought United back into the game in the
29th minute.
Cole's finish was exquisite and only added to the raging
debate over whether he should have been selected for the
England squad for the friendly with the Czech Republic in
midweek.
Cole was left fuming with Hoddle over remarks made about
his striking ability, eventually placing his future career
with the national squad on the line.
Hoddle admitted Cole needed too many chances in front of
goal to perform effectively with England, despite an
astonishing domestic strike-rate.
The 27-year-old unsurprisingly took exception at such a
claim and hit back both verbally, on the eve of the 2-0 win
over the Czechs, and in the best way he knows how by
letting his football do the talking.
Cole said he would have to seriously consider whether he
would play for England again if selected, and with such a
comment may have effectively ruled himself out of the side
while Hoddle remains in charge.
But his eighth of the season - and the duo's 13th in the 10
games they've played together - was the perfect response to
all the furore, helping to steady United after Schmeichel's
opening gift.
Yorke's incisive through ball cut through the heart of the
Owls defence and Cole was onto it in a flash, rounding home
debut keeper Pavel Srnicek before sliding home his eighth
of the season.
United were then left fuming eight minutes from the break
when referee David Elleray turned down penalty appeals in
front of the travelling fans.
Denis Irwin became entangled with Alexandersson, falling to
the ground as he did so, but Elleray was perfectly placed
to wave away protests from a host of United players who
chased him up field.
But United were back in control, with Yorke and Cole then
in each other's way as they both went for the same cross
inside the six-yard box, before Jaap Stam suddenly had a
rush of blood to the head.
The world's most expensive defender at £10.75million
charged up field, and although United's strike duo were
either side of him, he chose to drive in a 20-yard effort
which stung the fingers of a diving Srnicek as he pushed
the ball wide.
The Reds did have the ball in the back of the net again on
the stroke of half-time, but Paul Scholes was flagged by
the linesman for punching home his effort, resulting in a
booking.
United then looked as if they would stroll to victory in
the second half, until they were surprisingly caught again
in the 55th minute by the move of the game, one which
changed the complexion of the match.
Dutch international Wim Jonk finally scored his first goal
for the club in 16 appearances following his £2.5million
summer move from PSV Eindhoven.
United were cut open as Danny Sonner's pass from just
outside the area was played out to Alexandersson to deliver
a first time cross for Andy Booth.
The shot-shy Owls striker has not scored at Hillsborough
for a year and was unlucky not to break that duck as
Schmeichel pulled off a point-blank save.
But the rebound fell kindly into the path of Jonk, who
hammered home his side's second from six yards, and the
celebrations were just beginning.
Alexandersson, out for most of last season with a knee
ligament injury following a £750,000 move from Gothenburg a
year ago, then doubled his tally for the game and for the
season in the 73rd minute.
The winger had only found the net once prior to today, that
in an FA Cup game at Watford in January, but was in the
right place at the right time.
He charged down Stam's attempted clearance, with the ball
again running kindly, allowing him to round Schmeichel and
hand United their second Premiership defeat of the season.
Sheff Weds: Srnicek, Atherton, Jonk, Walker, Carbone,
Booth, Hinchcliffe, Thome, Rudi, Alexandersson, Sonner.
Subs not used: Clarke, Sanetti, Humphreys, Stefanovic,
Magilton. Booked: Jonk.
Man United: Schmeichel, G. Neville, Irwin (Brown, 66),
Stam, Beckham, Cole, P. Neville, Blomqvist (Butt, 58),
Keane (Solskjaer, 83), Scholes, Yorke.
Subs not used: Van Der Gouw, Berg. Booked: Scholes.
Attendance: 39,475.
Referee: D Elleray (Harrow-on-the-Hill).
***************
"Peter Schmeichel's last season at OT" Click on image for more!"
Subject: Guardian Match Report
Schmeichel's latest howler lifts Owls
By Ian Whittell Saturday November 21, 1998
The question marks over Manchester United's defence and
goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel that have lingered around the
team all season were again brought to the fore on an
afternoon which left the Premiership title race wide open.
Chronically at fault for Wednesday's opening first-half
goal, Schmeichel could only watch in frustration as his
team-mates conspired to hand Wednesday two second-half
goals en route to their first league defeat since the
three-goal surrender at Highbury two months ago.
Early after the restart, slack defending allowed Rudi and
Sonner to link and permit Niclas Alexandersson, scorer of
the opening goal, to play in Booth, whose initial strike
was blocked by Schmeichel. Dutchman Wim Jonk drove in the
rebound. And more poor defending on 72 minutes enabled
Alexandersson to round Schmeichel and roll in the third.
The two most talked about Old Trafford individuals of the
past fortnight had stamped their signatures on the first
half, one presenting Wednesday with an opening goal, the
other producing the equaliser with a trademark clinical
touch. If Peter Schmeichel's supporters had bemoaned the
goalkeeper's announcement that he will retire from English
football at the end of the season, they may have changed
their view in the 14th minute as the Dane, with one of
those errors in judgment that have become worringly
prevalent this season, gifted the home team the lead.
There appeared little danger as Alexandersson launched a
hopeful 25-yard half-volley directly at Schmeichel. But,
having removed any sting there was from the shot with a
two-handed parry, he could only watch in dismay - and a
fair degree of disgust - as the ball wormed out of his
grasp, looped over his head and squeezed between body and
post.
It was a highly embarrassing moment for a player who is10
clean sheets short of Alex Stepney's club career record of
175. But this, and other recent lapses, suggest the only
obstacle to that record may be the goalkeeper himself.
At least at the other end of the field, United's
championship aspirations are in the capable hands of
strikers of the calibre of Yorke and Cole and it was the
latter, fresh from a week of controversy involving his
treatment by Glenn Hoddle, who scored the 28th-minute
equaliser. It was the sort of goal that is featuring all
too regularly in the nightmares of Premiership defenders
this season. Cole collected the return from a neat pass and
go with Yorke and found the precise gap required between
keeper and far post.
The rights and wrongs of Cole's declarations may have
polarised opinions in the football community but if Hoddle
currently has that many strikers playing with greater
sharpness and confidence in the Premiership, he is a
fortunate manager.
The equaliser was deserved. Blomqvist had collected a
brilliant early pass from Keane, checked his defender and
curled a shot over; Cole headed a Blomqvist cross just
wide; Irwin had a strong penalty appeal denied, and Stam's
strong run drew a diving block from Srnicek. But otherwise
it was a strangely muted performance from United with far
too many routine passes going badly astray, particularly
early on. There was also an unattractive piece of
gamesmanship from Scholes on the first-half whistle as he
punched Stam's header into the Wednesday goal - a booking,
rather than a goal, was his reward.
But just as United appeared to have asserted their
authority and taken control of the game, Wednesday's dogged
resistance paid off as the Dutchman Wim Jonk chose an
opportune moment to score his first goal for the club.
Rudi and Sonner worked the ball across the top of the
United area, the latter playing in Alexandersson, whose
well-timed pass played in Booth, whose first-time strike
was well saved by Schmeichel. But this was clearly not the
Danish keeper's day. The ball ricocheted conveniently for
Jonk who drove it convincingly into the back of the net.
The timing of the goal was important for Wednesday, who had
weathered an energetic start to the second half by United
and had Jonk booked seven minutes in for a clumsy trip on
Scholes.
There was worse to follow for United in the 72nd minute as
Beckham and Stam carelessly played around with the ball on
the edge of the United area and the latter's poor header
fell for Alexandersson to round Schmeichel and roll in his
second.
"Peter Schmeichel's last season at OT" Click on image for more!"
Subject: Results + Tables 21/11/98
*** RESULTS AND ATTENDANCES ON 21/11/98 ***
Aston Villa 2-4 Liverpool 39,241
Blackburn Rovers 0-2 Southampton 22,812
Leeds United 4-1 Charlton Athletic 32,487
Leicester City 2-4 Chelsea 21,401
Middlesbrough 2-0 Coventry City 34,293
Sheffield Wednesday 3-1 Manchester United 39,475
Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 Nottingham Forest 35,832
Wimbledon 1-0 Arsenal 26,003
*** TEAM RESULTS - MANCHESTER UNITED - AS AT 21/11/98 ***
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
14/11/98 Blackburn Rovers Home W 3-2 2 55,198
21/11/98 Sheffield Wednesday Away L 1-3 2 39,475
*** TEAM RESULTS SUMMARY - MANCHESTER UNITED - AS AT 21/11/98 ***
P Won Drawn Lost For Against Points
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Home 7 5 (71%) 2 (29%) 0 (0%) 18 (2.6) 6 (0.9) 17 (2.4)
Away 6 2 (33%) 2 (33%) 2 (33%) 9 (1.5) 8 (1.3) 8 (1.3)
Total 13 7 (54%) 4 (31%) 2 (15%) 27 (2.1) 14 (1.1) 25 (1.9)
Averages per game in (brackets)
League position: 2nd
Form position: 3rd (Index: 43%)
Predicted position: 3rd
(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 21/11/98 ***
AVERAGE HOME ATTENDANCE: 55,173
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)
HEAVIEST HOME DEFEAT:
BEST AWAY WIN:
03/10/98 - Southampton (3-0)
31/10/98 - Everton (4-1)
HEAVIEST AWAY DEFEAT:
20/09/98 - Arsenal (0-3)
*** FULL LEAGUE TABLE AS AT 21/11/98 ***
Pos Team P W D L F A W D L F A GD Pts
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 Aston Villa 13 5 1 1 13 8 3 3 0 7 2 10 28
2 Manchester United 13 5 2 0 18 6 2 2 2 9 8 13 25
3 Arsenal 14 4 3 0 10 2 2 3 2 4 4 8 24
4 Chelsea 12 4 2 0 10 3 2 3 1 11 9 9 23
5 Leeds United 14 4 2 1 10 3 1 6 0 10 8 9 23
6 Middlesbrough 14 3 4 0 12 5 2 3 2 11 11 7 22
7 West Ham United 13 3 3 1 10 8 2 2 2 6 7 1 20
8 Wimbledon 14 3 3 1 11 8 2 2 3 7 14 -4 20
9 Liverpool 14 2 3 2 13 10 3 1 3 11 9 5 19
10 Tottenham Hotspur 14 3 2 2 11 12 2 2 3 7 9 -3 19
11 Derby County 13 2 3 1 6 4 2 3 2 8 8 2 18
12 Leicester City 14 3 2 2 9 8 1 3 3 6 9 -2 17
13 Charlton Athletic 14 2 3 1 12 6 1 4 3 9 15 0 16
14 Newcastle United 13 3 2 2 10 9 1 2 3 6 8 -1 16
15 Sheffield Wednesday 14 3 2 2 7 3 1 1 5 6 11 -1 15
16 Coventry City 14 3 1 3 8 9 1 1 5 4 11 -8 14
17 Everton 13 0 4 2 1 5 2 2 3 6 9 -7 12
18 Nottingham Forest 14 1 3 3 4 7 1 1 5 6 15 -12 10
19 Southampton 14 1 2 4 9 16 1 2 4 3 14 -18 10
20 Blackburn Rovers 14 2 1 4 9 10 0 2 5 5 12 -8 9
"Peter Schmeichel's last season at OT" Click on image for more!"
Subject: United to go Dutch for No 1
By Bob Cass
Sunday, November 22, 1998
Alex Ferguson wants Dutchman Edwin Van der Sar to succeed Peter
Schmeichel as Manchester United goalkeeper.
United boss Ferguson spent £10million last summer on Jaap Stam - a world
record for a defender - and would have to set another best to land Van der Sar.
Stam's Holland team-mate would cost £4m, a record British transfer fee for a
goalkeeper.
Ferguson's motives for signing the towering 28-year-old Dutch international are
simple. He believes that, in Schmeichel at his peak, United had the best keeper
in the world.
Ferguson now believes Van der Sar has assumed the Great Dane's mantle.
I understand initial moves have already been made to recruit Van der Sar, who
has expressed a private will-ingness to follow his close friend and international
colleague Stam to United.
And though his club Ajax, faced with the impending departures of De Boer twins
Frank and Ronald, will be reluctant to let Van der Sar go, they may well feel
that to accept United's offer for the keeper would be good business.
Van der Sar has two years of his current contract to run and has indicated his
preference to play his football out-side of Holland after this season.
He has built up a massive reputation in his native country since establishing
himself as the No 1 keeper for both Ajax and Holland.
He is a quality shot-stopper, is agile for someone well over six feet, and he
commands his area with a presence that provides welcome assurance for his
defensive team-mates.
Van der Sar is comfortable with the ball at his feet, which makes him one of the
best in the world for dealing with the back-pass.
Ferguson has been linked with Mark Bosnich but has emphatically denied any
interest in the Aston Villa keeper.
That leaves the way clear for Liverpool, should the Australian-born Bosnich
decide to quit Villa Park but continue his career in the Premiership.
A more likely prospect is that Bosnich will fulfil a long-held ambition to play in
Italy with Roma.
Schmeichel, who wants to leave United because he feels he needs to play less
football, could now return to Denmark with former club Brondby.
"Peter Schmeichel's last season at OT" Click on image for more!"
Subject: 150 MP's have now signed the motion against the BSkyB deal
Today we hit the target of 150 MP's signing the parliamentary motion (EDM)
against the BSkyB bid. Well done everyone who has contacted their MP and got
them to sign up already.
If you aren't sure whether your MP has signed you can check up on them at:
http://edm.ais.co.uk/weblink/html/motion_prt.html/ref=1675
You can check your MP's name against your postcode at:
http://www.locata.co.uk/commons
If you want your MP to oppose the deal then ask them to sign Early Day
Motion (EDM 1675)
You can call your MP's constituency office (phone book - political party) or
leave a message for them at the House of Commons: 0171-219 3000
Or write to your MP at:
House of Commons
LONDON
SW1A 0AA
It's so easy - but so effective.
Equally important is to express your concern about the takeover to the
Monopolies and Mergers Commission. This option is open to Reds all over the
world so if you've felt left out of other aspects of the campaign then why
not write and explain your concerns. The MMC has the power to stop the
takeover if they are convinced it is not in the public interest or creates
an anti-competitive business situation. You can send your views to:
David Peel Esq.
Reference Secretary
Monopolies and Mergers Commission
New Court
48 Carey Street
London WC2A 2JT
We really have them on the run now - Martin Edwards defence of his position
at the AGM was absolutely comical. Well done everyone who has already
contributed to this campaign, if you haven't done so yet - don't be shy!
"Peter Schmeichel's last season at OT" Click on image for more!"
Subject: Murdoch: imusa@egroups.com
Rupert Murdoch has already been into the loan markets to fund 50% of the
purchase of Manchester United. His interest payments will be £26 million
per annum. Assuming that he has to take similar action to get the other
50% of the money, he will have interest payments to meet of £52 million
a year.
Mr. Murdoch is a business man, so he will want a return on his money - a
profit. But let's assume he doesn't and is happy to take the growth in
the value of his asset instead - i.e. he just wants enough out to meet
his interest payments. Incredibly conservative, but let's assume he
turns into a normal human being.
How much is £52 million a year? Well, it's the COMBINED TOTAL of
* ALL the gate receipts
* ALL the TV money
* ALL the sponsorship money (from Sharp)
Taken OUT of the club EVERY year.
Now I'm just a ordinary bloke, with only 10 O levels, 4 A levels, and a
degree, so I need a little help here. Perhaps our genius of a leader,
Mr. Martin Edwards ("United through and through"), can explain to a
simple man like me plus all United's shareholders how taking
* ALL the gate receipts
* ALL the TV money
* ALL the sponsorship money
OUT of our club EVERY YEAR, just to pay off Rupert Murdoch's bank loan,
is (in his words, in the offer document) "good news for the fans".
"Peter Schmeichel's last season at OT" Click on image for more!"
Subject: Ferguson's mission
Saturday, November 21, 1998
For Alex Ferguson there would be nothing better than to clinch a place in the
quarter-finals of the European Cup at the stadium where he endured his
greatest European embarrassment.
Ferguson takes Manchester United back to Barcelona's Nou Camp stadium on
Wednesday, seeking revenge for the 4-0 defeat they suffered four years ago.
'It was a defeat that none of us who were there that night will forget in a hurry,
that's for sure,' admitted the Old Trafford boss.
United travel to Spain as leaders of Group D, having already broken the
Champions League scoring record with 16 goals in their previous four matches.
A win on Wednesday would virtually assure them of a quarter-final place at
least as one of the best runners-up. 'We have come a long way since the last
time we were there,' Ferguson insisted. 'I don't think anyone could dispute the
quality of our performances in Europe in recent years.
'We now have a squad who are capable of meeting the challenge of competing
in Europe and the domestic programme. 'It will be a hell of a match, and it's
important that we have a right go at it.'
For midfielder Nicky Butt, one of the trio who played in the previous game, the
priority now is to re-establish himself after losing out through suspension and
injury.
'This is probably the biggest game of our season so far, and I hope I am involved
in it,' he said.
"Peter Schmeichel's last season at OT" Click on image for more!"
Subject: Fergie New Deal (Mirror)
ALEX Ferguson will be handed a new £3 million contract to take Manchester
United into another trophy-winning| century. His current deal has 19 months
left to run but high powered moves are already being made to extend his
managerial life at Old Trafford.
Ferguson, 56, has only just celebrated his 12th year in charge of the most
successful club of the 90's. But United want him to still be in command when
he's 60 such is their faith in a boss who has won four Premiership titles,
three FA Cups and one European Cup Winners' Cup, League Cup and Super Cup.
Ferguson revealed in Mirror Sport last week that he would love another four
years in the boss's chair. And now United's power brokers are ready to see
him fulfil his dream into the millennium.
They will meet Ferguson next summer and offer a two year extension to his
current deal.
That will roll up to a new three year contract worth around £1 million a
year to keep him as boss until 2002.
Chairman Martin Edwards says: Alex Ferguson's contract runs for nearly two
more years and we will meet him to discuss the next step.
Alex knows that we will sit down with him and discuss it in the summer."
Ferguson, targeted by England as a possible successor to Glenn Hoddle, would
love the chance to be fully rewarded for his dynasty building at Old
Trafford.
And he has never wavered from the view that serving a record-busting 16
years at Old Trafford is not beyond him.
He says: "I hope I will still be managing in four or five years. I am the
last of the dying breed."
Ferguson is living proof that a club's faith in a manager can be richly
rewarded. He reached the lowest point of his Old Trafford life in 1990 when
he was a game away from the sack.
But United stood by their man who has now laid the foundation stone for even
greater success. Ferguson is a great believer in continuity and throws his
head back in despair when bosses are booted out after short terms in charge.
He feels for axed Liverpool manager Roy Evans and says: "There is absolutely
no evidence that sacking a manager brings you success. In the last four
decades of English football the only evidence of success is at clubs with
stability. Roy had five years and he's probably right when he says third and
fourth place would be a success at another club.
"But not at Liverpool. There are many traditional clubs in the Premiership
today but they can't all win the league. So how do you measure success? If
Leeds finish fourth would the same view be taken about them as it is with
Liverpool. The trouble is that it's hard to satisfy the baying crowd. But
who else has won anything in the last 10 years?
"The honours have been divided between Arsenal and ourselves. The one
distinction in all of this is that there is some evidence that continuity
and stability brings some success. [You can't get away from that fact. You
create the pressure by continually changing the managers.
"Then a new manager comes in and immediately says: 'How long have I got'?
He's scared to put his name up on the door. The pressure comes from outside
and it creates an agenda where directors react to that. If the fans are
reported to be up in arms then they act in the boardroom."
"Peter Schmeichel's last season at OT" Click on image for more!"
Pic Link today is http://www.red11.org/mufc/news/schmeichel.htm
Barry
J. Leeming Digest Prgram
by 
William
McArthur Canada
