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www.red11.org DAILY NEWS
Date: Sat Apr 03 07:35:19 GMT+00:00 1999
Mail: barry@www.red11.org
This Issue:
1. IMPORTANT* Ticket Prices REDITORIAL from OUR SALFORD LASS
2. Preview V Wimbledon
3. Wimbledon travel help
4. KEANE: I'LL BE HAPPY WHEN WE HAVE EQUALLED LIVERPOOL'S EURORECORD
5. ROBSON IN PRICE RAGE AT UNITED
6. Nobby Stiles - Independent
7. Kids lose unbeaten record
8. United to stay ahead
9. Change good as rest for United
10. FERGUSON: 'HE'S CITY 'TIL I SAY'
11. EYEING THE OPPOSITION
++++++=========+++++++========+++++++++========++++++++
Daily RED Trivia Sat 3rd April 1999:
3/4/1896:
Harry Stafford made his debut against Darwen. Stafford was a an energetic Full-back
who joined Newton Heath from Crewe Alexandra. He was their first captain, and it was
his efforts, including personal investment and befriending of businessman John Henry
Davies, that enabled Manchester United to arise from the ruins of Newton Heath. He
made 200 appearances between 1896-1902, and became Director and Groundsman of the
new club upon his retirement.
3/4/1968:
Uniteds Bobby Charlton scores the winner for England as they beat Spain
1-0 at Wembley in the European Championship Quarter-Finals.
3/4/1976:
Two Gordon Hill strikes help beat Derby County 2-0 in the FA Cup Semi-Final
at Hillsborough watched by 55,000. Team was: Stepney, Forsyth, Houston, Daly,
Greenhoff, Buchan, Coppell, McIlroy, Pearson, McCreery, Hill.
***************
Barry Daily Comment:
Match today live in Scandinavia on Canel+
ITV 1.10pm UK ONLY On The Ball
Juventus on Wednesday preview, Shown at 1.25pm in Ulster region.
Repeated again article from OUR SALFORD LASS on ticket prices.
We are running this all through Easter as it convey's an important
message to "real Manchester United fans".
Previous News:
Brian Kidd Press conference, pic, real audio
http://www.iol.ie/~redcafe/kidd.htm
Peter Schmeichel's last Season at United!
http://www.red11.org/mufc/news/schmeichel.htm
Next games:
ALL Result/Fixture Index:3
http://www.red11.org/mufc/fix9899z.htm
Next Games:
Today! Wimbledon (A) 15.00 PL
7 European Cup Semi Juventus (H) Livein Scandinavia Canel+
11 FAC Semi Arsenal at Villa Park 12.30 UK Live Sky Sports Uk
17 Sheff Wed (H) 15.00 PL
21 European Cup Semi Juventus (A)
25 Leeds (A) 11.30 {am} UK PL Live Sky Sports UK
UNITED Stats v All teams:
http://www.red11.org/mufc/stats/
*** RESULTS AND ATTENDANCES ON 02/04/99 ***
Aston Villa 0-0 West Ham United 36,813
*** LEAGUE TABLE AS AT 02/04/99 ***
Pos Team P W D L F A GD Pts
---------------------------------------------------------
1 Manchester United 30 18 9 3 68 31 37 63
2 Arsenal 30 16 11 3 42 13 29 59
3 Chelsea 29 15 11 3 44 23 21 56
4 Leeds United 30 15 9 6 49 27 22 54
5 West Ham United 31 13 8 10 34 39 -5 47
6 Aston Villa 31 12 9 10 39 37 2 45
7 Derby County 30 11 11 8 32 32 0 44
8 Wimbledon 30 10 10 10 34 44 -10 40
9 Liverpool 28 11 6 11 52 37 15 39
10 Tottenham Hotspur 29 9 12 8 34 34 0 39
11 Middlesbrough 29 9 12 8 39 40 -1 39
12 Newcastle United 30 10 8 12 38 41 -3 38
13 Sheffield Wednesday 30 10 5 15 35 33 2 35
14 Leicester City 28 8 10 10 28 37 -9 34
15 Coventry City 30 8 7 15 31 42 -11 31
16 Everton 30 7 10 13 23 35 -12 31
17 Blackburn Rovers 30 7 9 14 32 42 -10 30
18 Southampton 30 8 5 17 28 56 -28 29
19 Charlton Athletic 29 6 10 13 33 40 -7 28
20 Nottingham Forest 30 4 8 18 27 59 -32 20
*** TEAM RESULTS - MANCHESTER UNITED - AS AT 21/03/99 ***
Date Opposition Score Pos. Attend.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
15/08/98 Leicester City Home D 2-2 11 55,052
22/08/98 West Ham United Away D 0-0 11 26,039
09/09/98 Charlton Athletic Home W 4-1 9 55,147
12/09/98 Coventry City Home W 2-0 5 55,193
20/09/98 Arsenal Away L 0-3 10 38,142
24/09/98 Liverpool Home W 2-0 3 55,181
03/10/98 Southampton Away W 3-0 2 15,251
17/10/98 Wimbledon Home W 5-1 2 55,265
24/10/98 Derby County Away D 1-1 2 30,867
31/10/98 Everton Away W 4-1 2 40,079
08/11/98 Newcastle United Home D 0-0 3 55,174
14/11/98 Blackburn Rovers Home W 3-2 2 55,198
21/11/98 Sheffield Wednesday Away L 1-3 2 39,475
29/11/98 Leeds United Home W 3-2 2 55,172
05/12/98 Aston Villa Away D 1-1 2 39,241
12/12/98 Tottenham Hotspur Away D 2-2 1 36,079
16/12/98 Chelsea Home D 1-1 2 55,159
19/12/98 Middlesbrough Home L 2-3 3 55,152
26/12/98 Nottingham Forest Home W 3-0 3 55,216
29/12/98 Chelsea Away D 0-0 3 34,741
10/01/99 West Ham United Home W 4-1 3 55,180
16/01/99 Leicester City Away W 6-2 2 22,091
31/01/99 Charlton Athletic Away W 1-0 1 20,043
03/02/99 Derby County Home W 1-0 1 55,174
06/02/99 Nottingham Forest Away W 8-1 1 30,025
17/02/99 Arsenal Home D 1-1 1 55,171
20/02/99 Coventry City Away W 1-0 1 22,596
27/02/99 Southampton Home W 2-1 1 55,316
13/03/99 Newcastle United Away W 2-1 1 36,500
21/03/99 Everton Home W 3-1 1 55,182
*** TEAM RESULTS SUMMARY - MANCHESTER UNITED - AS AT 21/03/99 ***
P Won Drawn Lost For Against Points
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Home 16 11 (69%) 4 (25%) 1 (6%) 38 (2.4) 16 (1.0) 37 (2.3)
Away 14 7 (50%) 5 (36%) 2 (14%) 30 (2.1) 15 (1.1) 26 (1.9)
Total 30 18 (60%) 9 (30%) 3 (10%) 68 (2.3) 31 (1.0) 63 (2.1)
Averages per game in (brackets)
*** TEAM STATISTICS - MANCHESTER UNITED - AS AT 21/03/99 ***
AVERAGE HOME ATTENDANCE: 55,183
HIGHEST HOME ATTENDANCE: 27/02/99 - Southampton (55,316)
LOWEST HOME ATTENDANCE: 15/08/98 - Leicester City (55,052)
BEST WIN: 06/02/99 - Nottingham Forest (8-1)
HEAVIEST DEFEAT: 20/09/98 - Arsenal (0-3)
BEST HOME WIN: 17/10/98 - Wimbledon (5-1)
HEAVIEST HOME DEFEAT: 19/12/98 - Middlesbrough (2-3)
BEST AWAY WIN: 06/02/99 - Nottingham Forest (8-1)
HEAVIEST AWAY DEFEAT: 20/09/98 - Arsenal (0-3)
*****
Champions League:
Group D P W D L F A Pts
Bayern Munich 6 3 2 1 9 6 11
Man United 6 2 4 0 20 11 10
Barcelona 6 2 2 2 11 9 8
Brondby 6 1 0 5 4 18 3
Dec 9 Brøndby 0-2 Barcelona
Dec 9 Man Utd 1-1 Bayern Munich
******
CHAMPIONS' LEAGUE QUARTER-FINALS
Manchester Utd 2 v 0 Inter Milan
Real Madrid 1 v 1 Dynamo Kiev
Juventus 2 v 1 Olympiakos
Bayern Munich 2 v 0 Kaiserslautern
**DYNAMO KIEV 2 v 0 REAL MADRID (Agg:3-1)
FC KAISERSLAUTERN 0 v 4 **BAYERN MUNICH (Agg:0-6)
INTERNAZIONALE FC 1 v 1 **MANCHESTER UNITED (Agg:1-3)
OLYMPIAKOS 1 v 1 **JUVENTUS (Agg:2-3)
Semi Final Draw to be played 7th, 21st April
Manchester United v Juventus [OT 7/4]
Bayern Munchen v Dynamo Kiev
++++++=========+++++++========+++++++++========++++++++
Read today! Ticket price comment by OUR SALFORD LASS
Subject: *IMPORTANT* Ticket Prices REDITORIAL from OUR SALFORD LASS
Martin Edwards and ticket prices
It must be wonderful to be rich like our Martin. To look at ticket prices
from a purely objective standpoint. To be able to say that rises are fair
because our prices are below most other clubs in the Premiership. Only
someone who has never had to worry about money in his life can dismiss the
difficulties of thousands of genuine, committed fans the way he does. To
him, an extra two pounds on the price of a ticket is nothing - to many fans
who have already been priced out of the game, it might as well be two
hundred pounds. To people like me, who are just about clinging on to the
United bandwagon, that two pounds per game could finally be the straw that
broke the camels back. I (and hundreds like me) were already worrying
ourselves silly about how we are going to pay for our season tickets in
less than two months time. If the cost goes up by two pounds a game, it
could be impossible. If I do keep my season ticket, how do I afford cup
games (11 so far this season, with another two at least coming in the next
week or so)? Or do I give up going to away games? I suppose that will be
the answer - I've already missed a number this season because I simply
can't afford it. It's not the actual cost, Martin, that will get rid of
yet more of your troublesome "traditional" fans, but the increase - is it
really too difficult for someone of your intellect to understand? Or is
this just what you want? A stadium full of wealthy suited gents talking
into their mobile phones, with their beautifully coiffured girlfriends on
their arms? Well if it is, don't start asking for atmosphere for the Euro
games that earn you all that money - because there won't be anyone left to
generate it.
I am so angry, I can barely speak.
OUR SALFORD LASS
Read today! Ticket price comment by OUR SALFORD LASS
Subject: Preview V Wimbledon
United: (probable) Schmeichel, G. Neville, Irwin, Berg,
Johnsen, Butt, Keane, Beckham, Blomqvist, Yorke, Cole.
Subs: (from) van der Gouw, Brown, P. Neville, May, Scholes,
Solskjaer, Sheringham
Ryan Giggs and Jaap Stam look certain to miss United's game
against Wimbledon at Selhurst Park tomorrow, but Alex
Ferguson is optimistic both will be back next week in time
to play two semi-finals in the space of four days. Stam
twisted his ankle during a training session with Holland on
Monday and was sent home to Old Trafford before Wednesday's
friendly against Argentina.
Giggs was forced to pull out of the Welsh squad for their
European qualifier after a recurrence of a hamstring
problem.
Giggs will train again today after a light work-out
yesterday but if he is left out tomorrow it will mean he
will have missed United's last two Premiership fixtures.
There is some good news on the injury front however with
Jesper Blomqvist fit again after problems with ligaments in
his foot, he seems certain to replace Giggs. ]
David Beckham has also been given the all clear after
picking up a thigh injury during last Saturday's
England-Poland game.
Ronny Johnsen seems certain to take over from Stam and line
up with his Norwegian international partner Henning Berg at
the centre of defence while Roy Keane returns to midfield.
He missed United's last league game because of suspension,
but was doubtful for tomorrow until he too recovered from a
slight hamstring strain.
United return to Premiership action following a two week
international break and play Juventus in the first leg of
the semi-final of the champions' League on Wednesday, then
Arsenal in the FA Cup semi-final next Sunday.
******************************
WIMBLEDON v MANCHESTER UNITED
Wimbledon Team News The Dons are sweating on the fitness of
defender Kenny Cunningham, who has a calf strain, but
quick-silver winger Gareth Ainsworth is back in the squad
for the first time in four months after injury.
Team (from): Sullivan, Cunningham, Kimble, Thatcher, Perry,
Blackwell, Roberts, Ardley, Earle, C Hughes, Euell,
Kennedy, Fear, Ainsworth, Gayle, Ekoku, Leaburn, Hartson, M
Hughes, Heald.
The Wimbledon View ''The way we've been playing we need
something to spark us. It will be a big atmosphere, a full
house against arguably the best team in the country. I know
our players will raise their game'' - Robbie Earle.
United Team News Jaap Stam is out after suffering a training
ground ankle injury during Holland's get-together for the
midweek friendly against Argentina. However, the Dutchman
should be fit to face Juventus in Wednesday's Champions
League semi-final. Ronny Johnsen and Wes Brown are on
standby to partner Henning Berg in the centre of defence in
Stam's absence against the Dons, while Ryan Giggs is also
close to a comeback after three weeks out with a hamstring
problem. Jesper Blomqvist is fit again after a foot injury
which ruled him out against Everton two weeks ago, and will
come in if Giggs fails to make it. Both Roy Keane and David
Beckham have also been declared fit after injury scares.
Team (from): Schmeichel, G Neville, Berg, Johnsen, Brown,
Irwin, Beckham, Keane, Scholes, Cole, Yorke, Solskjaer,
Blomqvist, P Neville, Butt, Sheringham, Greening, Curtis,
van der Gouw.
The United View "We have handled it (the chase for the
treble) so far and we are strong enough - there's no
question about that. I have no fears at all" - Alex
Ferguson.
The Stats Last season:
Wimbledon 2 Man Utd 5, Man Utd 2 Wimbledon 0
Last five League matches:
Wimbledon D W L L L
Man Utd D W W W W
Top scorers: Marcus Gayle (Wimbledon) 10, Dwight Yorke (Man Utd) 26
Match odds: H 3-1 A 4-5 D 9-4
Ref: G Barber (Pyrford)
Read today! Ticket price comment by OUR SALFORD LASS
Subject: Wimbledon travel help
From: Kerry Davies
Dear All,
For those of you travelling down to the game on Saturday, the following
may help:
The best station to go to is probably Norwood Junction - the gound is
10/15 minutes from there. You go out of the station up a slight hill to
the top, and turn left. Walk along there for about 7/8 mins and then
turn right and you will come up to the gound in a few minutes, by the
United end.
Train times are:
Victoria dpt - x.07 & x.37
Clapham Junction dpt - x.15 & x.45
Norwood Juntion arr - x.36 & x.06
Coming back trains leave Norwood Juntion at 23 and 53 minutes past the
hour. When you get into London I would advise buying a travelcard (ask
what zones you need to get to Norwood Juntion, but I would imagine 1-5
would be ok). That way you can use the tubes / trains / buses all day
and will probably work out cheaper than getting return / single
tickets. I think it costs about £4.20...
Should you wish to pop in and say hi, I'll be in the Cherry Tree pub
right outside Norwood Junction after the game. Before the game you can
come and see me to pick up a copy of the brand new issue of Red
News...only a pound...new issue out today...
Cheers
Kerry
Read today! Ticket price comment by OUR SALFORD LASS
Subject: KEANE: I'LL BE HAPPY WHEN WE HAVE EQUALLED LIVERPOOL'S EURORECORD
ROY KEANE'S appetite for success should be well
satisfied by now. Only Manchester United team-mates
Denis Irwin and Peter Schmeichel have taken more
silverware out of English football this decade.
BY Mark McGuiNness
But as he looks back on one of the most successful
periods in the history of his club, Keane still feels
disappointment. Disappointment that United have not
won more this decade, disappointment that they have not
yet succeeded in lifting the trophy his manager desires
above all others.
But more than anything else, disappointment that his
team's achievements will remain in the shadows of the
tremendous standards set by arch-rivals Liverpool during
their own glory years.
Keane desperately wants to lift the European Cup - not
just for Alex Ferguson, but also because he wants to
make up some ground on the record of 19 league titles
and four European Cups that has been the sole source of
comfort for most Anfield regulars since 1990. It is the
incredible standard set by the great Liverpool team that
will be at the forefront of Keane's mind when they tackle
Juventus on Wednesday.
It promises to be the one of the biggest weeks in
Ferguson's career, and his captain wants to remind the
rest of the side of the sort of targets they have now set
themselves.
In an interview that appears in the May edition of Total
Sport, he said: "What I have done is really nothing in
football terms. Yes, we have won some things, but I want
to win a lot more.
"You look at the Liverpool teams of the past that won
seven or eight championships and a clutch of European
Cups - that is what I want. We are doing all right, but
there is a lot more to be won. The hunger is still there,
definitely."
Keane's personality does not permit him to relax and
think that he has fulfilled his potential because of all his
medals. No, just like his manager, he must always make
the next target twice as difficult to attain as the previous
success.
It is this attitude which highlights just why the drive and
hunger to win still burns more brightly at OId Trafford than
anywhere else.
But there is a little bit more to him than that. Keane's
desire to succeed at whatever he does has its roots in
the working class obscurity from which he was plucked
in 1990.
He was on the dole and living in Cork at the time and
thought his chance of making it across the water had
disappeared.
"There was a lot of unemployment, but I don't want it to
sound like a sob story," he said.
"I had a very happy childhood and I loved where I lived. I
still do, which is why I go back so often. I always say I
am from Cork first, Ireland second."
But Brian Clough's Forest gave him the chance to prove
himself and he grasped it with both hands. Thrown in at
the deep end for his debut - the second game of the
1990-91 season against champions Liverpool at Anfield -
Keane never looked back.
Ferguson beat a posse of top clubs to his signature in
1993 and the player's career really took off. "When I first
talked football with Alex Ferguson, that was when I
decided I would sign for United," he said.
"I will never forget the first time I met the players because
I had had a lot of run-ins with them from my days at
Forest, especially Paul Ince, Gary Pallister and Peter
Schmeichel.
"It was quite difficult for me to get to know them, but then
we went on a pre-season tour to South Africa and that
was like the best 10 days of my life. It helped me settle
in."
As bedding-in periods go, Keane's was about as good as
it got. They won the double twice in his first three
seasons and then the championship again in 1997. The
only thing that seemed to stand between Keane and a
permanent place in the Old Trafford hall of fame was his
infamous temperament. He has managed to curtail
somewhat the madness that used to earn him so many
cards, but he admits the hair-trigger temper is always
bubbling away under the surface. He said: "I have lost it
before and I will do it again. I suppose in those days, I did
tend to hit first and then think later. Now I think before I
hit.
"Everybody loses their temper. It doesn't matter if you are
a footballer or a solicitor.
"The red mist descends and you become a different
person. I don't think I am that bad, but maybe when I was
younger there was a bit of that in me. If my head went, it
was all or nothing."
Keane really thought last season was the year when
United would make the grade in Europe, but an early
injury robbed them of possibly their most influential
player and they ended the season empty-handed.
To many, the foul on Alf Inge Haaland in a game at
Elland Road that led to his injury was poetic justice. He
had tried to foul the Norwegian, failed and instead
damaged his cruciate knee ligaments.
But Keane said: "All I did was try to stop the fellow. I
didn't try to break his leg or his neck. I nearly lost my
career and people say I got what I deserved.
"When I was injured I spent a lot more time with my wife
and children and appreciate them a lot more now.
"I don't really want to publicly say that the wife and kids
have settled me down because next week I might step
out of line and everybody will say 'what was he going on
about?', but it does help."
This season, there do not appear to have been any
slip-ups. The size of the squad has increased, the
strikers are on form, the defence has suddenly tightened
up and the goalkeeper is back to his best. But in the
middle of the park there is Keane, as ever, making things
happen. Former Juventus coach Marcello Lippi once
described the Irishman as the 'heart and soul of United'
and on Wednesday his former charges will witness him
at first hand.
The midfield battle between the technically superior
Edgar Davids and the aggressive of Keane will be an
intriguing contest.
United travel to Wimbledon today in a match that should
see them at least maintain their four-point cushion at the
top. But on Wednesday, Europe's two biggest names
meet at Old Trafford in a game that will tell us if United
have what it takes to finally lift the biggest trophy of all.
Keane is one yellow card away from suspension. One
cannot suppress the feeling that the European Cup will
only be destined for Old Trafford if he is on board for the
whole journey.
Read today! Ticket price comment by OUR SALFORD LASS
Subject: ROBSON IN PRICE RAGE AT UNITED
BRYAN Robson last night attacked his former club
Manchester United for their ticket-pricing policy.
Old Trafford fans were outraged this week when the
mega-rich club jacked up admission prices across the
board.
Boro boss Robson said: "Clubs have got to be realistic.
They have got to look at the amount of TV revenue they
have coming in and not go crazy over prices.
"I accept that prices should keep in line with inflation.
But, in United's case, they can fill the ground all the time.
"They have a waiting list, and so they can put up prices.
More people will just come along and pay the price.''
Reward
Robson also pointed out that, unlike United, his own club
do not have to pay dividends to shareholders and that
every penny through the turnstiles goes straight into
transfer funds.
"Some United fans are not shareholders," he explained.
"But they see so much money being paid out in
dividends.''
United fans have been particularly annoyed by the
price-rise because supremo Martin Edwards cites
players' spiralling wages as the reason.
The club also announced that ?1.3million had gone
towards buying luxury homes for their stars. On top of
that, their Champions League games bring in almost ?7m
a year from Sky.
And punters believe they have been further insulted
following the revelation that United's legal bill in relation to
the impending BSkyB takeover is a whopping ?1.7m.
Read today! Ticket price comment by OUR SALFORD LASS
Subject: Nobby Stiles - Independent
Chris Maume - Happy days for Stiles the stylish assassin
A FRENCH JOURNALIST once wrote that Nobby Stiles was the
best advertisement for his father's business. His father
was an undertaker. Garth Crooks reminded England's greatest
five-foot five-and-a-half-inch hero of this in Tuesday's
Match Of Their Day, BBC2's afternoon series that is sadly
approaching the end of its run. "They used say I kicked him
and he buried them," he responded, teeth in and glasses on
looking like a Tommy in a black and white war film.
The programme's subjects have generally been interviewed in
the ground they were most associated with, and although in
Stiles' case there is an argument for Wembley, he was on
the Stretford End with Crooks. "I used to come here with my
uncle Peter and my brother," he said. "At half-time I could
look out and see Glover Cables, the works team, playing
over there." Though he was the bedrock of Alf Ramsey's
midfield, playing in front of Jack Charlton and Bobby
Moore, Matt Busby generally employed him in United's back
four alongside Bill Foulkes. His eyes were opened when he
played in the 1962 semi-final against Spurs (one of the
host of semis United lost during the 1960s). "I was 20 at
the time and I marked a fellow called John White. He gave
me the biggest chasing I ever got in my life. They called
him the Ghost. I learned a great lesson from him - that if
you're going to play against a great player and you've
going to man-mark him, you've got to sacrifice yourself for
the team."
And so he did for his entire career, much to the irritation
of opposing fans. He enjoyed a long-lasting love-hate
relationship with the Kop, dating from one of his first
appearances there when he accidentally caught Tommy
Lawrence, the Flying Pig, with a flying boot. His response
to the outrage of the Koppites was two-fingered, as was
theirs back. And on subsequent visits he would trot over
before the kick-off, grinning through his two-fingered
accolade. He paints some vivid pictures. "In the United
dressing-room we had Paddy Crerand - he never stopped
talking. Besty [George Best] would come in 10 minutes
before kick-off, put his gear on and play. I never spoke to
anybody." His pre-match ritual was a classic example of the
obsessive-compulsive disorder that grips footballers
getting ready for a game. "Put my shorts on, put my
contacts in, go to the small bath, warm my feet up, dry
them, put my socks on, clean the inside of my boots, put
some soft soap inside them. It used to take me nearly an
hour to get ready. Paddy would be saying to me, 'Come on,
come on,' because he always had to be last out. 'Come on,
hurry up Happy.' They called me Happy because I was such a
moaner."
There is some sensational footage of challenges on both
sides of the laws of the game. When he did mistime a
tackle, the results were usually spectacular, the pick of
the programme being a tackle that turned the Spaniard,
Sanchis, into a helicopter rotor. But he was sent off only
twice in his career - "Though I did get a three-week
holiday every Christmas" - and one of those was for
remonstrating with a linesman in the first leg of the World
Club Championship against Estudiantes after nearly 90
minutes of being punched, kicked, butted, gouged and spat
at, mostly by Carlos Bilardo, who later took Argentina to
the 1986 World Cup. I've written it before and I'll write
it again (and again): Sir Alf once said that his World
Cup-winning side contained four world-class players, and
Stiles was one of them. So when Crooks inquired, "So how
would Nobby Stiles cope with the game today?" it was
impossible not to feel embarrassed for Stiles, being asked
such a daft question. Far from stalking out, as he was
entitled to do, he made the point that players like himself
and Norman Hunter, hard but skilled, would have flourished
in an era when "the percentage game only gets you so far"
and "the best teams come from the back and play.
I believe I would have played today." You're not joking,
mate. One of the occasional benefits of being undished and
uncabled is that you get to witness historic sporting
moments with a random cross-section of the population. So
it was that I found myself on Tuesday in a pub round the
corner from Wormwood Scrubs, explaining to an engrossed
knot of drinkers the basics of cricket as West Indies
approached their famous victory over Australia. "The last
time I watched cricket was Headingley," said one, the
spitting image of the Fast Show know-all who's done it all,
30 years man and boy. "I've never seen so many people so
engrossed in a cricket match," the barman said. "Well, it
is one of the greatest matches in history," I told him,
anxious that he should be aware of precisely what he was
witnessing. "I wish they were all like that, then," he
said. "Ah," I replied. "No chance."
Read today! Ticket price comment by OUR SALFORD LASS
Subject: Kids lose unbeaten record
Thursday, April 01, 1999 09:09
All good things come to an end and in the case of United's Under-17 side it
was their eight-month immunity to defeat, which ran out last Saturday.
They had negotiated 21 Academy games without defeat until they travelled
over the Pennines to meet Sheffield Wednesday at Middlewood Road.
It appeared to be business as usual when Marc Whiteman put the Reds in
front in the first half, but two goals from the Hillsborough lads consigned
Neil Bailey's lads to the runner's-up rostrum for the first time in an
Academy fixture.
The defeat didn't prevent United from completing the campaign at the head
of the group. The Academy play-offs begin on Saturday 10 April.
The Under-19s did slightly better in Sheffield, taking a point from a 0-0
draw. The look almost certain to finish as leaders of their section.
The Under-19s were also involved in a friendly when they met Norwegian
touring side IFK Start at Littleton Road on Wednesday.
Paul Wheatcroft gave United a 1-0 halftime lead from the penalty spot after
Wayne Evans had been fouled. But the Scandinavians pulled the game out of
the fire in the second half with Fredrik Hendriksen scoring two and Yngve
Martinsen getting the other in a 3-1 win.
Read today! Ticket price comment by OUR SALFORD LASS
Subject: United to stay ahead
David Lacey calculates that General Ferguson's red army are primed for
another title
Saturday April 3, 1999
From now on, at the top of the Premiership, it is going to be a question of
who blinks. The Easter weekend marks the start of a six-week gallop down
the final stretch which in all probability will see Manchester United win
their fifth championship in seven seasons or Arsenal retain the title for
the first time in 65 years.
In theory the contest is not yet a two-horse race. Chelsea may be seven
points off the lead but they have a game in hand. Leeds United are nine
behind but still have to play the three teams above them.
Experience and statistics, however, suggest Arsenal will do well to close a
four-point gap on United while Chelsea's main aim now will be to prevent
Leeds finishing third and depriving them of a presence in next season's
even more lucrative Champions League.
True, Arsenal did win the championship last year after being 13 points
adrift of Alex Ferguson's side on Boxing Day but that was only the second
time in six seasons that the leaders at the beginning of April, United,
failed to become champions. Norwich were the other foolish optimists,
believe it or not.
Arsenal supporters may be hoping the Champions League will prove a
sufficient distraction at Old Trafford for Arseène Wenger's team again to
steal through on the rails. Certainly United's approach today at Wimbledon,
where they have won on their last four visits, will be conditioned by
Wednesday's semi-final home leg against Juventus.
It is hard to believe that, whatever happens in Europe, United will take
their eyes off the ball in the Premiership. Nevertheless the knowledge that
even coming second will still guarantee them a place in the first of the
two group phases, just as if they were champions, must ease the pressure on
United as they campaign on two fronts.
That should be three fronts, because United meet Arsenal at Villa Park a
week tomorrow in the FA Cup semi-finals. Amid the hype surrounding the
Juventus match the prospect of a league and cup Double may be temporarily
overlooked, yet United or Arsenal could become the first to perform the
feat three times while the latter could also be the first to achieve it in
successive seasons.For several seasons United have paced themselves so that
important points have been gathered during the mid-winter lull in
continental competitions. Broadly speaking, Ferguson's policy has been to
spend the first half of the season focusing on the Champions League while
keeping in touch in the Premiership. In 1995-96, when United were not in
the Champions League, they took 35 points from their first 19 Premiership
fixtures and 47 from their last 19, closing a 10-point gap on Newcastle.
This turned out to be a trial run.
When United reached the Champions League semi-finals the following season
they also regained the title by taking 49 of their 75 points from their
last 23 fixtures. Now 32 out of their total 63 have come from the 10 wins
and two draws since losing 32 at home to Middlesbrough on December 19. It
is happening too often to be a coincidence. In the league Ferguson's red
army relies heavily on generals Janvier and Fevrier.
Only Arsenal have seriously begun to follow suit. Last season's surge to
the title has now been mirrored by the run of 10 wins and three draws since
the 32 defeat at Aston Villa on December 13. This left Wenger's side sixth,
seven points behind John Gregory's team who had then led the league for
three months.
Villa's steep decline has been blamed on losing Ugo Ehiogu to an eye injury
and sharing the depression of Stan Collymore. Leagues are won or lost
according to the form, fitness, quality and numbers of players available.
Villa were always going to be short of bodies, and Chelsea became short
after injuries to Pierluigi Casiraghi and, more importantly, Gustavo Poyet.
For Arsenal the end of Dennis Bergkamp's post-World Cup torpor has
stimulated their challenge and, if one man can deny United another title,
it is surely him. Yet it is hard to see the prolific partnership of Dwight
Yorke and Andy Cole, which has produced 31 league goals and 47 altogether,
plus the awesome consistency of Roy Keane and Jaap Stam, failing to win
championship medals with United.
When a team can regularly have one of the Premiership's most ruthless
scorers, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, sitting on the bench there must be something
going for it.
Read today! Ticket price comment by OUR SALFORD LASS
Subject: Change good as rest for United
Change good as rest for United
By John Drayton
Saturday, April 3, 1999
Alex Ferguson believes his Manchester United international elite have
returned to Old Trafford refreshed and on top of the world for the most
important spell of their season so far.
The Premiership leaders begin a hectic eight days at Wimbledon today before
semi-finals against Juventus on Wednesday in the Champions League and
Arsenal in the FA Cup next Sunday.
But Ferguson believes his players have benefited from the break from
domestic action after the Euro 2000 qualifiers.
He said: 'I think it's been a good break for the players. 'Most of them
have been away and enjoyed success with their countries and have come back
full of the joys so they are all bouncing.
'Only Peter Schmeichel was on the losing side and I thought the Danes were
unlucky in that one. The rest of the lads have had a good spell away and,
with only one game in a fortnight, have all handled things well.
'It hasn't been a test of endurance in any respect and the English lads
especially are on top of the world.'
Read today! Ticket price comment by OUR SALFORD LASS
Subject: FERGUSON: 'HE'S CITY 'TIL I SAY'
Alex Ferguson wants to see loan star Terry Cooke back at Old
Trafford in a Manchester United shirt. The United boss is reluctant
to part with the player, whose spell with neighbours Manchester
City has boosted their hopes of promotion from the Second Division.
Cooke's spell at Maine Road is due to end in the next ten days and
Ferguson said: "Terry is a Manchester United player and we want
him to stay a Manchester United player. There have been one or
two inquiries about him which we have turned down and there has
been one positive inquiry which we are considering but at the
moment he is our player and we want him to stay that way."
United slapped a £1.5m price tag on the winger, who has found form
again after a cruciate ligament operation last year, when Bradford
made a move for him before the transfer deadline.
Joe Royle has made it no secret he would like to turn Cooke's
three-month loan spell at Maine Road into something more
permanent and Ferguson - who was happy to help out his
neighbours - confesses: "City are interested in him but who wouldn't
be? He is an exceptional young player and he's got a terrific future
in front of him. He's overcome a nasty injury and he's buzzing at the
moment and we want him to come back."
Read today! Ticket price comment by OUR SALFORD LASS
Subject: EYEING THE OPPOSITION
Friday, April 02, 1999 00:02
Manchester United scouts will close part one of their Juventus files on
Saturday.
The Turin giants' last match before their trip to Old Trafford is away at
Empoli, the whipping boys of Serie A.
The bottom club have only won three League games this season, but Juve will
not be complacent after drawing 0-0 at home with the strugglers last November.
They go into the Empoli game hampered by injuries to key international
players. French playmaker and World Footballer of the Year Zinedine Zidane
missed this week's Euro 2000 matches but he should be fit for Old Trafford.
Meanwhile Alessandro Del Piero has been an almost permanent fixture on the
sidelines this season. The 24-year-old, who scored in Juve's last two
visits to Old Trafford, has been out for four months after injuring his
knee ligaments. He will be sorely missed.
Perhaps an even greater problem for Juventus is at the back of their
illustrious line-up. Centre-half Paolo Montero injured his thigh in the
last League match, a 1-1 draw with Roma, while Angelo Peruzzi, arguably
Italy's best goalkeeper, has cartilage trouble which might require an
operation.
His position has recently been filled by Morgan De Sanctis, a rookie who
only turned twenty last week. 36-year-old Michelangelo Rampulla might be a
safer replacement in the eyes of new coach Carlo Ancelotti. He could even
provide a threat to Peter Schmeichel, having once scored from a corner for
Cremonese.
Whoever plays in goal, they'll know from Inter Milan's experience what to
expect in Manchester. No doubt United's scouts will scrutinise the Juve
keeper at crosses and corners on Saturday, and report back to messrs
Beckham and Giggs.
Then the guessing game will begin, as Alex Ferguson, with the help of his
brother Martin and chief scout Mick Brown, tries to predict the Juventus team.
If he gets it right, the Boss could win another tactical bout with the
Italian masters.
Information is everything and we'll have more in the tense build-up to next
Wednesday, 7 April.
Read today! Ticket price comment by OUR SALFORD LASS
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