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MUFC.SIMPLENET. COM: DAILY NEWS
Date: Sun Jul 26 12:24:45 GMT+00:00 1998
Mail: barry@www.red11.org
NEW SURVEY: Week of July 19
In your opinion, who should be the Captain of Manchester United in 1998-99?
Question suggested by: Neglasari Martini
Vote here: http://www.red11.org/miva/survey.mv
NEW AT SIMPLENET! The Devil's Advocate
Check it out A www.red11.org "REDitorial" commentary
http://www.red11.org/mufc/devilsadvocate
PRE SEASON - FIRST TEAM CALENDER
July 25 Birmingham City (A) result: L 3-4
27 Valerengen (A) (Oslo)
31 Brondby (A) (Copenhagen)
Aug 4 Brann Bergen (A)
9 Charity Shield at Wembley
18 Eric Cantona XI (H) - Munich testimonial
From: L Harvey David's staying - MEN
According to an "exclusive" by Stuart Mathieson in the Manchester Evening
News tonight, David Beckham is about to sign a new deal which will keep him
at United until well into the 21st century. He says that David will
definately not be leaving Old Trafford and will not be going to Spain or
anywhere else.
Linda
This Issue:
1. Birmingham Report (Times)
2. Birmingham City 4-3 United (Full-Time - TeamTalk)
3. Becks -- #1 In Norway (D.Mail)
4. Roy's Ready! (MEN)
++++++=========+++++++========+++++++++========++++++++
 | Jesper Blomqvist Signs! |
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Date: Sun, 26 Jul 1998 10:45:59 +0800
Reply-To: Red Devil Marcus
Sender: "Manchester United Football Club (soccer)"
From: Red Devil Marcus
Subject: Birmingham Report (Times)
Comments: To: Red Devil List ,
Darul Kisai , Darul
To: MUFC@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU
Beckham stays out in the cold
THE Birmingham City public address requested a round of applause for the
visiting fans. The response was predictable, if no less hearty for it - the
boos rang round St Andrews.
Well used to being unwelcome guests, the Manchester United support did not
bother to respond. They had other things to sing about - in particular,
David Beckham.
"There's only one David Beckham" does not seem to ring true at the moment,
because he has had more publicity in the past two weeks than Birmingham have
warranted in their history, but the away following bristled with indignity.
"Jealousy," one Mancunian said, "that's all it is. If Beckham played for any
other club or went out with any other girl, none of this would have
happened." But what has happened? In reality, nothing of substance, yet that
is enough to create a furore around the club that claims to be the biggest
in the world.
United have long since moved away from the region where reality is required
to match the actuality of a story. Even so, the past week has witnessed such
a cavalcade of speculation and, at times, overdressed nonsense that it has
confirmed Alex Ferguson as the inheritor of Busby Berkeley as much as Sir
Matt Busby.
Leading up to yesterday's match, we were warned of Beckham's confrontation
with a West Midlands "hate mob". Luckily for Beckham, this was never going
to happen because Ferguson had no intention of playing him. Sadly, nobody
told Trevor Francis, and the Birmingham manager issued a plea for peace so
portentous and unnecessary that Neville Chamberlain, a better-known leader
from the West Midlands, would have blanched at its delivery.
We were also advised that Roy Keane would return from injury in this
friendly. Despite the obvious contradiction in that sentence, the presence
of the Irishman had already been decided against when he picked up what
Ferguson called "a wee knock" in training.
Training gave the real picture in Manchester last week. World Cup players
were rested, non-World Cup players were given extra work. That might explain
Keane's knock but it also discounted the appearance of Beckham, Paul
Scholes, Gary Neville and Jaap Stam.
Consequently, as United fans gathered in Birmingham, the talk was of Andy
Cole's last hurrah rather than the suspect mobility of a Dutch centre-back.
Most want Cole to stay. "Why stand by him when he was bad and let him go
when he comes into form?" was a common question. The clear answer is Dwight
Yorke.
Cole's popularity has been in inverse proportion to his achievements, and
yesterday Ferguson would not commit himself on the striker's future or
"answer any other daft questions".
The Champions League transfer deadline is August 1 and the real news for
United last week was the continuing Yorke saga and the rumoured arrival of
Patrick Kluivert. And as Marc-Vivien Foe, the Lens and Cameroon midfielder,
sat in a Manchester clinic contemplating a failed medical, supporters with a
more long-term attitude were thinking beyond Beckham's fling with notoriety
and looking to the shape of teams to come.
The same supporter who bemoaned the probable departure of Cole admitted
relish at the possible arrivals, as much for other teams' failure to sign
them as for a potential effect on United's football: "Arsenal can't get any
of these people. They won the Double but we are still the biggest team.
Transfer speculation whets our appetite, it's like playing fantasy football.
Kluivert and Yorke up front with Scholes behind them - fantastic."
It remained fantasy yesterday. With so many heavy hitters missing from
Ferguson's line-up, we were presented with Man-U-Lite. But even that
concoction has fizz and flavour. The abilities of Ryan Giggs have faded in
the public consciousness without ever deserting the player.
Which is just as well because his colleagues in defence yesterday showed a
generosity that went so far beyond friendly it bordered on the amorous.
Fitting, then, that Peter Ndlovu, the Birmingham forward, should benefit
twice in the first half, with striker Paul Furlong's goal combining to take
the triumphalism out of Mancunian voices.
That it crept back was due to the emergence of a partnership that surely
will not flourish; not at Old Trafford anyway. Twice Cole (remember when he
was a scorer rather than a provider?) set up Phil Mulryne, twice Mulryne
scored. If Aston Villa manager John Gregory was watching, and if he ever
does get round to that telephone conversation with Ferguson, he would be
wise to insist on the inclusion of Mulryne in the Yorke deal.
Ferguson was quick to say: "We don't analyse the first kicks of the season,"
but he will surely be considering a central defence that appeared unable to
distinguish between its rear and its elbow. Such was the misunderstanding
between John Curtis and Ronnie Wallwork that they seemed never to have met
before, or perhaps they were going through a bitter separation. Ndlovu
trotted through the rift again and once more Nick Cullen was retrieving the
ball from his net.
Stam will fill that gap, and the fact that many players were playing in the
shadow of greater talents may explain their unhappiness.
Yet these are also opportunities to shine. Mulryne took that opportunity,
but Jordi Cruyff seldom managed to smile, let alone sparkle. His early
departure from this match was a reminder that Ferguson's forays into the
foreign market are not always successful.
But Mulryne, 20 and nurtured at United since 1994, proved that Ferguson need
only pluck another pearl from the Old Trafford oyster bed to find a better
player than most teams can buy.
So, Beckham met no hate mobs and Birmingham City won 4-3. Meanwhile, in the
real world, United prepare for their championship challenge.
| Jesper Blomqvist Signs! |
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Date: Sun, 26 Jul 1998 00:39:13 +0800
Reply-To: Red Devil Marcus
Sender: "Manchester United Football Club (soccer)"
From: Red Devil Marcus
Subject: Birmingham City 4-3 United (Full-Time - TeamTalk)
Birmingham City 4-3 United (Full-Time)
The large crowd at St Andrews enjoyed a cracking game of football on
Saturday with two hat-tricks and plenty of skilful play that has certainly
whetted the appetite for the upcoming season.United may have lost but,
without nine World Cup stars and with new signing Jesper Blomqvist injured,
the Reds could hardly be descrobed as being at full strength. The
particiaption of the likes of Giggs, Cola and Cruyff meant that United were
a side to be taken seriously, however, it was the home team who just managed
to edge the game.
And it was a strong Birmingham City side,who had already beaten Spurs in
midweek that started the brighter of the two teams on Saturday afternoon.The
Blues grabbed a deserved goal even before ten minutes had been played.Dele
Adebola formerly with Crewe launched a decent cross into the box from the
left hand side and it was Peter Ndlovu the pacey Zimbabwean who was on hand
to make the most of his opportunity.The winger still had plenty to do when
he received the ball but he managed to turn away from David May and give
himself a chance to grab the vital second that allowed him to thump his shot
into the back of United's net.United worked hard to respond to the early
goal and a great move that involved Ryan Giggs, Jordi Cruyff and Andy Cole
almost produced a top quality equaliser.The early stage of the game were
played at a fierce pace with United hitting the home team on the counter
attack and eventually United grabbed a goal back.Philip Mulryne took his
chance well, when put in by Andy Cole.The young Ulsterman forced his shot
into the bottom corner of Birmingham's net to even up the score.However the
Blues responded with another goal from Ndlovu after he had been found by
Martin O'Connor.Ndlovu set himself and then unleashed a fierce drive into
the back of United's net.United yet again had to play catch-up and did not
have to wait too long before they were back in the game.United's second goal
came from the same route as the first with Cole finding Mulryne in the box
and the diminutive striker found a suitable finish.Just before the half had
ended a plucky Blues side got their nose in front again, but, there was more
than a suspicion of off-side as Paul Furlong nodded the ball into the back
of the net from close-range.
The goal feast continued after the break when Ndlovu grabbed his hat-trick
with a header from a Jon McCarthy corner.Alex Ferguson will not have been
happy with the marking for the goal, Ndlovu had a free header.However,
Philip Mulryne was not to be out done by Ndlovu, and when he upended in the
box he grabbed the ball and confidently placed it on the spot before
hammering home the penalty for his third of the afternoon.
| Jesper Blomqvist Signs! |
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Date: Sat, 25 Jul 1998 14:28:58 +0800
Reply-To: Red Devil Marcus
Sender: "Manchester United Football Club (soccer)"
From: Red Devil Marcus
Subject: Becks -- #1 In Norway (D.Mail)
Norway to put out red carpet for Beckham
Saturday, July 25, 1998
David Beckham can rest easy for a while longer before discovering how
supporters will react to him back on English soil after his World Cup
humiliation.
He is, however, guaranteed a heart-warming reception when he flies out to
Norway tomorrow.
The Manchester United player, heavily criticised for being sent off after
kicking out at Argentina's Diego Simeone during France 98, will play no part
in today's friendly with Birmingham City at St Andrew's.
But if manager Alex Ferguson decides to field him on Monday night in the
first part of United's Scandinavian tour, the much-maligned England player
can be certain of the warmest of welcomes from a 20,000 sell-out crowd at
Oslo's Bislet Stadium where his club play Valerenga.
One Norwegian, Liverpool fan Svein Tjeldnes, has even appealed via the
Internet for local fans to prove their support for Beckham, who is even more
popular in the country than United's Norwegian striker Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Tjeldnes's message reads: 'When David Beckham arrives, everyone should
forget inter-club rivalry and get behind him. It is time that true football
fans showed David Beckham that they still love him. He has suffered enough.
I am a Liverpool supporter, but I will forget that.'
Midfielder Roy Keane, who has been out of action with a knee injury since
September, has also been ruled out. But this time it is because of a slight
ankle injury and he is expected to be fit for the new season.
Cameroon midfielder Marc-Vivien Foe's proposed £3.4million transfer to
United collapsed yesterday after a medical showed he would still need
another six weeks to recover from his broken leg.
Ferguson was not prepared to risk registering the player for Champions
League action. Southampton may yet step in - and manager Dave Jones has been
watching developments
Aston Villa boss John Gregory will steer clear of Ferguson in Birmingham
today because he is scared of losing star striker Dwight Yorke to United.
Gregory said: 'The bottom line is, I don't particularly want to have a
conversation with Alex because I'm frightened of what he might say.'
| Jesper Blomqvist Signs! |
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Date: Sun, 26 Jul 1998 00:46:58 +0800
Reply-To: Red Devil Marcus
Sender: "Manchester United Football Club (soccer)"
From: Red Devil Marcus
Subject: Roy's Ready! (MEN)
ROY'S READY
Keane's Monday comeback date
EXCLUSIVE by Stuart Mathieson
ROY Keane's 10-month injury torture is almost over.
And he is ready to face one of the most important games of his career.
Manchester United's midfielder has suffered a minor setback and his
comeback, originally pencilled in for today's friendly at Birmingham City,
has been delayed.
A slight ankle injury has meant Keane will have to wait another 48 hours for
his return, and he is now expected to start against Valerengea in the Bislet
Stadium in Oslo on Monday evening.
The Irishman hopes his appearance in United's opener on their three-match
mini- Scandinavian tour will put an end to the nightmare cruciate knee
ligament injury, which wrecked his season last September.
``It may only be a friendly but it is much more important than that for
me,'' says the 26-year-old Irishman.
``I have been involved in many vital matches in my career, like going for
titles and playing in the World Cup. But, in its own different way, this has
to be one of the most important for me.''
Keane's agony began at Leeds United just 10 Premiership games into his
tenancy as United's new captain last term.
A footballer's most feared injury was diagnosed, and, after a November
operation, Keane began the long road back. Now he can't wait to get his
first competitive 90 minutes under his belt.
``I won't be nervous. I am looking forward to it. It has been such a long
time,'' he says. ``I am going to enjoy myself but I won't be running around
like a madman. I don't want to do anything silly and pick up any little
injuries. I want to get myself back to match fitness and ready for the
Charity Shield on August 9, and then the first leg of our Champions League
qualifier a few days later. I want a good 90 minutes injury free.
``The specialist says there is no point in holding back any more, so I am at
the same stage as all the other lads in that I am available for selection.
``I will be a little behind them match fitness wise but I hope to catch up.
And the only way I can do that is by playing.''
Keane was discharged by the specialists last May, but his hopes of a match
before the summer were knocked back by the surgeons. ``I thought maybe I
could squeeze in one game before the break,'' he adds. ``However, the
specialist said there wasn't any point risking everything and that it was
best for me to wait until pre-season.
``That was another two or three months away, which I didn't really need, but
there wasn't anything I could do about it. Maybe in the long run it was
better.
``Frustrated is an understatement but I just had to be a bit more patient.
If it adds another two or three years to my career that's better than coming
back too early and then breaking down.
``It was nice to come back for pre-season and start again from scratch. The
last two or three weeks have gone really well. The light at the end of the
tunnel is now here.''
| Jesper Blomqvist Signs! |
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