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www.red11.org DAILY NEWS
Date: Mon Feb 08 GMT+00:00 1999
Mail: barry@www.red11.org

This Issue:
1. Derby coach McLaren named as Ferguson's deputy  
2. McLAREN JOINS UNITED 
3. Attack, Attack, Attack by OUR SALFORD LASS
4. Robin Hood and the Beach Party by RED KELLY
5. SOLKSJAER SCORES FOUR IN LAST TEN MINUTES AS UNITED HIT EIGHT
6. NOTT¹M FOREST 1 MAN UTD 8 
7. Solskjaer's in four a reward «« 
8. Cole to start against France?

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

Daily RED Trivia  Monday 8th February 1999:

8/2/1929: Roger Bryne born in Manchester. Bryne made his debut at Liverpool in November
 1951. A natural leader, this accomplished Full Back won a League Championship medal
 in his first season, 1951-52, and captained his club to further Title successes in 1956 and
 1957. Tragically killed in the 1958 Munich disaster, he made 277 appearances and scored
 19 goals between 1951-1958. 33 consecutive England caps.

1978: Joe Jordan makes his League debut for United in a 1-1 draw against Bristol
 City at Old Trafford watched by 43,457. Gordon Hill scored the Reds goal. Team
 was: Roche, Nicholl, Albiston, McIlroy, Houston, Buchan (J.Greenhoff), Coppell,
 Jordan, Pearson, Macari, Hill. 
      
***************

Barry Daily Comment:
Two articles about Steve McLaren our new first team coach today.

Top scorers incl Sat,February 6 1999  UNITED have nr 1,4 and 6!

                               Lge  Cup  Cup  Euro   Total
1 *Yorke (Man Utd***)          15    1    0     5     21
2 Owen (Liverpool)             14    2    1     2     19
3 Aloisi (Coventry)            15    0    3     0     18
4 *Cole (Man Utd***)           12    1    0     4     17
5 Ward (Blackburn)             13    0    3     0     16
6 *Solskjaer (Man Utd***)      10    1    3     1     15
7 Gunnlaugsson (Leicester)     13    0    1     0     14
8 Dublin (Aston Villa)         12    0    1     0     13
9 Ricard (Middlesbrough)       10    0    3     0     13
10 Fowler (Liverpool)           9    1    1     2     13

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:
http://www.red11.org/mufc/fix9899z.htm

14 Fulham         (H)  14.00  FAC 5th round 
17 Arsenal        (H)  20.00 
20 Coventry       (A)  15.00
27 Southampton    (H)  15.00

UNITED Stats v All teams:
http://www.red11.org/mufc/stats/

*** FULL LEAGUE TABLE AS AT 06/02/99 ***

Pos Team                  P  W  D  L   F   A   W  D  L   F   A   GD  Pts
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 1  Manchester United    25  9  3  1  32  13   5  5  2  27  14   32   50
 2  Chelsea              24  8  4  0  18   6   4  6  2  17  13   16   46
 3  Arsenal              24  7  5  0  16   4   5  4  3  12   7   17   45
 4  Aston Villa          24  8  2  2  23  15   4  5  3  13  10   11   43
 5  Liverpool            24  7  3  2  31  14   4  2  6  16  15   18   38
 6  Leeds United         24  7  3  2  20   6   2  6  4  16  18   12   36
 7  Wimbledon            23  7  4  1  18  11   2  4  5  11  22   -4   35
 8  Derby County         24  4  5  2  11   9   4  5  4  12  12    2   34
 9  West Ham United      24  6  3  3  16  18   3  3  6   9  17  -10   33
10  Middlesbrough        24  4  7  1  16  10   3  4  5  17  21    2   32
11  Tottenham Hotspur    24  5  5  2  19  16   2  5  5  10  15   -2   31
12  Newcastle United     24  6  2  4  16  15   2  5  5  13  17   -3   31
13  Leicester City       24  5  3  4  17  18   2  6  4   8  11   -4   30
14  Sheffield Wednesday  24  5  3  4  13   7   3  2  7  14  16    4   29
15  Blackburn Rovers     24  5  3  4  14  12   1  4  7  11  19   -6   25
16  Coventry City        24  5  4  3  17  13   1  2  9   6  19   -9   24
17  Everton              23  2  7  3   3   6   3  2  6  10  19  -12   24
18  Southampton          24  4  2  6  18  21   1  3  8   5  26  -24   20
19  Charlton Athletic    23  2  4  5  15  13   1  4  7  11  24  -11   17
20  Nottingham Forest    24  1  6  5  10  21   2  1  9  10  28  -29   16


*** TEAM RESULTS - MANCHESTER UNITED - AS AT 06/02/99 ***

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

******
  
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-FINAL DRAW
 Manchester Utd    v   Inter Milan
 Real Madrid       v   Dynamo Kiev
 Juventus          v   Olympiakos
 Bayern Munich     v   Kaiserslautern

 Ties to be played on March 3 and 17

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


See all SAM's RED Wallpaper [click on pic]


Subject: Derby coach McLaren named as Ferguson's deputy  
 
MANCHESTER, England, Feb 6  - Steve McLaren, first team coach at Derby
County, was named as Manchester United's new assistant manager on Friday. 

McLaren succeeds Brian Kidd as Alex Ferguson's deputy at Old Trafford and
joined up with United on Friday before their game at Nottingham Forest on
Saturday. 

McLaren, 37, whose playing career was ended by injury before he played
first team football, is seen as one of the best young coaches in England
and was delighted with the move. 

"It's all happened pretty quickly and my head is still in a spin," he said,
"It's a great opportunity for me and one that I couldn't turn down." 

Ray Harford, the former Queen's Park Rangers and Blackburn Rovers boss, has
filled McLaren's job as Jim Smith's deputy at premier league Derby. 
 
See all SAM's RED Wallpaper [click on pic]



Subject: McLAREN JOINS UNITED 

Derby coach Steve McClaren has been appointed assistant manager at
Manchester United.
And McClaren, 37, said he knows just how Howard Wilkinson felt after
becoming Alex Ferguson's new right-hand man.
Wilkinson claimed his head was in a spin after he was appointed caretaker
manager of England following Glenn Hoddle's sacking and McClaren used the
same words to describe his feelings at joining Manchester United.
Thirty six hours after Ferguson asked Derby boss Jim Smith for permission
to speak to his first-team coach, McClaren was appointed United's assistant
manager.
McClaren agreed to join United this morning after talks at Old Trafford and
this afternoon he teamed up with the players at their Nottingham headquarters.
The Yorkshireman will make his first appearance alongside Ferguson at
Nottingham Forest tomorrow and will be formally welcomed to the club at a
lunchtime press conference on Monday.
Ferguson approached Smith after Wednesday's Premiership match between the
teams at Old Trafford and McClaren revealed he was still coming to terms
with the events of the past day and a half.
"I just got pulled after the game by Jimmy last Wednesday after Alex had
asked him for permission to speak to me," he said. "That was the only real
concrete thing I knew about the job. I've just had a chat with Alex and
sorted a few things out. It's all happened pretty quickly and my head is
still in a spin."
McClaren takes over from reserve-team boss Jim Ryan, who had been
Ferguson's assistant since Brian Kidd left to become manager of Blackburn.
Smith had been grooming McClaren to succeed him at Pride Park and the
former County player admitted he was sad to be leaving. But he claimed he
could not turn down the chance to join United.
He has said his goodbyes, although he plans to see the Rams play Everton at
home on Sunday.
"The chairman, the board, Jimmy and all the rest of the staff have been
brilliant," he said. "But in football things happen quickly and people move
on. It's a great opportunity for me and one which I couldn't turn down."
 
See all SAM's RED Wallpaper [click on pic]



Subject: Attack, Attack, Attack by OUR SALFORD LASS

Sometimes the special days arrive with much pomp and ceremony (the Munich
Testimonail being one such example).  Sometimes, like yesterday, they creep
up on you, unexpected and unheralded.  

It wasn't am auspicious start to the day as I walked out of my house and
straight into a rain cloud!  Looking outside now, on Sunday lunchtime, its
hard to believe what it was like yesterday.  The sun is shining and the sky
is blue.  Yesterday morning, it couldn't have been more of a contrast - one
of those awful days you get in this part of the world in February - grey,
dark days when the clouds are so low that they sit on top of the house and
refuse to move.  I arrived at Piccadilly station to find the place teeming
with police.  Ear wigging, I discovered that a train with 4000 Millwall
supporters on it was expected any minute!  This was at 9.40am.  Realising
that Nottingham was probably going to be a far safer place to be than
Manchester for the rest of the day, I beat a hasty retreat to the Metro and
was soon walking down Sir Matt Busby Way.  As I approached the stadium I
saw the flags at half-mast.  Like many others, I paused for a short time in
front of the Munich memorial, lost in memories.  The day was very much like
last year - an icy wind and cold rain lashing across the forecourt.  After
a few quiet minutes the son-and-heir arrived and joined me and then we
headed off for the coach and back into the present.

The journey down to Nottingham was much longer than it needed to have been
(the West Midlands police again deciding that we needed to be held up in a
lay-by for a long period of time) but was enlivened by the efforts of the
lads on the back seat who had fun adapting United chants to fit the
occasion.  Sydney the Steward and the "execs" in the front bit, being the
main butt of their humour!  On arrival we huddled together to keep warm and
chatted to Doctor Mark, Pat and Tim about the breeding habits of occupants
of various parts of the country - Bolton being a particular favourite.  On
arriving at our seats, we found them to have an excellent view, directly
behind the goal, and surrounded by the cream of United supporters (well the
two Pauls and Mick Meade anyway).  We did also spot some real celebrities,
the most famous being Ken Doherty (the snooker player).  I like the City
Ground.  It's a nice little ground and I've had some excellent times there.
 I was also feeling better than I had in ages and had stopped coughing and
sneezing, so I was feeling good as I looked around the stadium and waited
for the lads to come out.

Once the game started, it didn't take long for the celebrations to start as
well!  84 seconds to be precise!  Yorkie had done it again and we were
one-up.  So we were well into the hugging, kissing and "Dwight Yorke,
wherever you may be", before a large number of the United end had even
taken their seats.  Those of you who saw it on TV will have noticed that
when Yorke scored, large numbers of United fans leapt up behind the goal.
Well contrary to appearances, that wasn't the away end but the home end!
Unfortunately, there were also some United fans in the corner to our left
where getting excited when the opposition scores is not treated so kindly.
This also happens to be the same section of the ground where aeroplane
impressions proved so popular later in the game - obviously full of
intelligent, sensitive human beings!  We watched as fights broke out in a
section of the crowd which was filled with kids, elderly people and others
who did not deserve to be put in that sort of danger.  I felt sick as I
watched - punches were being thrown, children were being hastily lifted
over walls and I saw one elderly woman trying without success to climb a
barrier to get away.  The police seemed to just stand there and watch for
ages as the fighting spread (unlike the police at Leicester the other week
who moved in and stopped anything happening before it had really started).
By the time the police did go in, a whole section had emptied whilst a few
lads remained, trying to beat the crap out of each other.  The whole
episode took about 5/6 minutes to sort out whilst play carried on on the
pitch.  A sad blot on an otherwise brilliant day.

Fortunately, I was still watching what was going on in the stands when a
Forest player scored right in front of us.  "Who scored?", I asked the
son-and-heir.  "I don't know" he replied "some bugger I've never heard of!"
 It was actually Rogers - who??  We weren't down for long though, because
unlike other games recently where we've been nervous even with a two-goal
lead, this felt like our day.  I was in no doubt that we would win this
game and I didn't have to wait long for us to win back the lead.  Down the
other end, Andy went round Beasant and squeezed the ball past a Forest
defender and into the net.  "Oh Andy Cole, Oh Andy Cole".  There should
have been another couple at least in the first half, but we were happy
enough at half-time to be 2-1 up and we knew that more goals would come in
the second half.

Half-time brought with it high comedy as the announcement came over the
loudspeakers that a Forest fan wished to sell his season ticket and was
open to offers!  (And this was when they were only 2-1 down!!)  Later he
announced that the train going back to Manchester was to have extra coaches
added to it to fulfill demand!  Of course this led to choruses of "We all
come from Manchester".

Soon, however, the break ended and the lads came out for the second half.
And what a second half it was!!  A brilliant atmosphere and the sort of
play on the pitch that couldn't have been a better tribute to the Babes.
The performance of our lads yesterday embodied the spirit of what the Babes
were all about.  They played as if all the accroutements of modern football
meant nothing.  They weren't playing for the money or the fame but for the
sheer joy of playing wonderful football their friends, for the benefit of
"their" team - ie for a club they love, not just a club that happens to pay
them their wages.  Some of you may think I'm being overly sentimental but
these lads do have something that other teams just don't seem to have and
we are very lucky to be able to share it with them.

Very soon, we were 3-1 up and Cole was on a hat-trick, and my moment of the
match arrived.  This time the goals were going in right in front of us.
Yorke had a shot parried by Beasant but Andy was there to stick the rebound
in the back of the net.  Yorke and Cole put their arms around each other
and and stood in front of the away section, beaming up at us and pointing
to each other - the soul brothers were in town!   By now we realised we
were in for a treat and the singing and celebrations increased - the Reds
were having a party!  16 minutes later it was Yorke's turn - Jesper crossed
and the ball hit a Forest defender.  It looked like it was going to be
deflected into the net but it hit the post and trickled across the
goalmouth - all Dwight had to do was tap it in and it was 4!  I turned to
the son-and-heir and asked when was the last time we had two strikers
competing for hat-tricks and he reminded me about Leicester!   I didn't
think it could get any better, but of course it did!

Fergie brought Ole on for Yorke and he proceeded to nick the match ball
from under Andy's nose!  His first was an easy one - another tap-in from
close range.  The United fans started chanting "We want 6", so Ole decided
to oblige and only three minutes later, he beat Beasant for his second, as
the Forest defence looked on.   So the chant became "We want 7" and
"Attack, attack, attack".  Ole waited another 3 minutes and then offered us
his best goal for his hat-trick.  Scholes feigned a shot but instead of
shooting, passed the ball across the box to Ole who put it in the bottom
corner.   While all this was going on, Beasant made a despairing lunge for
the ball but missed and the rest of the defence just stood rooted to the
spot, looking so dejected that you almost felt sorry for them - or at least
you would have done had you not been jumping up and down and singing "Who
put the ball in the scousers/Forest net?" and hugging and kissing various
total strangers at the time!    More chants of "Attack, attack, attack" and
"We want 8".  The Forest players, especially the defence were praying for
the final whistle as Nicky Butt crossed the ball and Ole buried his fourth
to the accompaniment of absolute pandemonium in the United end.  Seconds
later, the final whistle did blow and Ole raced to pick up the ball,
leaving the pitch to the sound of "You are my Solskjaer" as we sang our way
out of the stadium and torn-up season tickets rained down on us from the
Forest fans in the section above.

All-in-all it has to be voted the best away game of the season so far.  The
atmosphere for large parts of the game, especially in the second half,
could not have been bettered.  The most popular chants were "Who put the
ball in the scouser's net?", "Dwight Yorke, wherever you may be", the
Cantona songs, and various ditties sung in honour of our dearly loved
ex-manager - "Fat Ron, wherever you may be, have you had your gin and tonic
with Cloughie?", "Big Fat Ron has f....d it up again" (memories of Coventry
there), "Big Far Ron, What a difference you have made" and of course "Fat
Ron for England".   Early in the game there were some wonderful renditions
of the Red Flag and "Forever and Ever", particularly when their lot were
doing aeroplane impressions and Raimond threw us a kiss when we sang "Oh
Van de Gouw, Raimond, Raimond van de Gouw".  We also got a wave from Fergie
in response to a request from the whole of the United section and reminded
him that he "didn't want to sign for England, did he f..k!"  The home fans
were reminded of their present predicament on numerous occasions as we
asked them "Are you England in disguise?" and "Nationwide, Nationwide,
Nationwide."

My man of the match?  Head and heart are separate again, I'm afraid.  The
head tells me it should be a joint award between Stam - yet another almost
perfect performance with only one mistake in 90 minutes and everyone is
surely allowed one mistake now and again! - and Becks.  I thought Becks had
a good game at the time, but it was only on Match of the Day last night
that I realised just how good his passing had been - when he's playing
well, he can put a ball on a sixpence from 60 yards.  My heart tells me it
has to be Ole.  I just love that lad so much - I don't want to have his
babies (as some have said they would) but I would like to hug him to death!
 Part of his appeal is his attitude - no complaining, no whining, he just
gets on with the job when he gets the chance and when he scores, he looks
almost embarrassed!  He seemed to get more embarrassed with each goal
yesterday but as he walked off the pitch, with the ball clutched in his
arms, the look on his face showed that it meant as much to him as it did to
us.

So it was a very happy bunch that sat in the bus outside the ground for the
next hour!  We were entertained at one point by about 200 Forest fans being
escorted past us by police, dogs and vans - isn't it usually the away fans
that get an escort?!  And also listening to local radio and hearing about
how the Forest players had locked themselves in the dressing room and
wouldn't come out was good fun too!  All the way back, the lads on the back
seat were singing Ole songs and Sydney steward chants.  As we approached
Manchester, we began to hear reports on the radio of the trouble at Maine
Rd - three Millwall coaches and dozens of windows in Rusholme smashed up
(allegedly), all by the only "real" football fans in Manchester.  Arriving
back on Piccadilly Station I found it full of drunken yobs in lazer blue
shirts all singing about winning 3-nil.  I did think of giving them a
chorus of "We only won 8-1" but decided against it and kept my head down in
a quiet corner of the train instead!


Copyright © 1999 by OUR SALFORD LASS. All rights reserved.  
Not to be reproduced without permission of the author


See all SAM's RED Wallpaper [click on pic]



Subject: Robin Hood and the Beach Party by RED KELLY

On the 41st anniversary of the Munich disaster Manchester
United turned in a record breaking performance which was a
fitting memorial to those great players who have gone
before.

This last week, as is usual at this time of year, our
thoughts have drifted back to that saddest of sad days in
1958 when United were robbed of arguably the greatest array
of young talent ever to grace a football pitch. But in a
week when United were confirmed as the wealthiest football
club in the world by quite a street, we went off to the
land of Robin Hood and his merry men. You may recall the
legend, as Mick did when he reminded me earlier yesterday
morning, that Robin Hood robbed the rich to give to the
poor.

Would it be the day when irony reared up and smacked us in
the face? Oh no it wouldn't. Far from it in fact as United
turned the legend on it's head, as the wealthy and richly
talented Manchester United plundered a poor Forest. Not
even the new Sheriff, Big Fat Ron, could prevent the rampant
Reds from running riot in a feast of a second half laden
with goals.

We set off before midday picking up Richard and his mate
Pete on the way. Everything was going well until we reached
the outskirts of the town when we got into a bit of a skid
on the greasy road surface and smacked into the back of
another car. Fortunately their car wasn't damaged,
contained a couple of Reds going to the game and Mick's
only lost a headlight glass. It could have been much worse
of course - it wasn't an auspicious start to the afternoon.

We couldn't find the pub where Pete and Hal were hanging
out as we'd taken an early exit from the M1, so made our
way towards West Bridgeford and the river Trent. For those
who are not familiar with Forest's ground, it is situated
opposite the Notts County ground and very close to the Trent
Bridge cricket ground. The two football grounds are divided
by the river which over the years I can confirm that it has
been witness to some goings-on!

We went in the Aviary pub which is a huge place within a
five minute walk from the City ground. One side of the pub
was Red, the other was red (Forest red). We were sort of in
the middle! The queue at the bar was three deep so we
decided to order a double round and beat a retreat to a
corridor between the rival factions which would afford us
an easy exit if it became necessary.

The Reds were in good voice lead by the inimitable Boylie
while every now and then a few Foresters would filter in
and stand on the periphery of the throng to throw insults.
They came through the door facing us, along the short
corridor, hurled a few insults or just stood there staring,
turned tail and left to join their own kind in an adjacent
room. One particularly distasteful lowlife thought he was
safe and out of earshot when he muttered something about
the place being full of "Munich b......s".

I was looking straight at him as he said it and he couldn't
be in any doubt of my thoughts at that moment because I
found it impossible to hide my contempt as I looked him in
the eyes albeit from a distance of a couple of yards away.
It was as close as I wanted to be to this throwback with
obviously less intelligence than an amoeba, which could be
doing an injustice to amoebas. Fortunately physical contact
was averted, but as Mick and I agreed, it was very
difficult to remain silent.

So a couple of pints and the biggest hotdog ever seen
later, we headed off for the game with Pat and Tony now
members of our band of merry men.

Inside the ground we met up with Linda, Ian, Paul and Dr
Mark who was standing on the end of my row and directly
behind Mike Dobbin and his mates, it was quite a gathering
of listees.

Mick had already decided that he would stand next to me so
we decided to join Mark at the end of the row and a couple
of seats further along from my actual seat. This was to
cause problems, but more of that later!

The teams came out and surprisingly only Peter was carrying
a towel as they could have been forgiven for thinking they
were on holiday even before the game started. The pitch was
reminiscent of a beach in parts and the old stand to our
left a definite reminder of the days gone by when seaside
towns had a row of beach huts on the promenade.3

We had only just settled ourselves in when Dwight wrenched
us out of our slumbers scoring the opener in the first
couple of minutes. As we were behind the goal at the other
end of the ground it was difficult to see exactly what
happened but it seemed Scholes took the ball at the edge of
the area and chipped in for Yorke to volley home. It also
seemed as though as many went up to celebrate in the
opposite end as held their heads in their hands.

The goal certainly sparked off a fracas in the row of beach
huts to our left as Reds celebrated. This continued for
some time and we could see the boys in blue wading in with
their trousers rolled up past their ankles to the time
honoured tune of "Reds are here Reds are there, Reds are
every f**king where".

Eventually it calmed down when Forest scored their
equaliser which gave them about 30 seconds worth of joy,
only for Andy to go and recharge the trouble on the prom
with his first of a brace, more or less straight from the
kick-off. In went the police again with their sticks of
rock and buckets and spades at the ready.

The locals were not best pleased and made their feelings
known with several of them resorting to the aeroplane. They
just couldn't resist could they, not even on the 41st
anniversary. It was truly pathetic to watch and from then
on we went through the repertoire of songs which we knew
would wind them up just as we have wound up every other
bunch of small-time supporters in the land this season.
Well, what do they expect when they boo David Beckham every
time he touches the ball and sing "you'll never play for
England" to Andy Cole. The tongue in cheek anti England
stuff is a wind up which works a treat and judging by the
calls which were made to the amusingly named "505" on Talk
Radio after the game, we were truly bouncing off the soft
underbellies of the mass ranks of ABU's!

There followed a series of near misses as Peter
miraculously saved from Van Hooijdonk at the near post and
at the other end Beasant was playing a blinder saving
innumerable times from Cole. In truth it was all too easy
for United and our fear was that this would lead to
complacency and allow a poor Forest team back into a game
they had hardly turned up for.

2-1 at half time was Ok, but it could actually have been
seven.

As we were about to leave our spot at half time the
occupants of the seats we were standing in front of
appeared, having been encouraged to take their places in
front of the seat which had been originally allocated to
me, all of two seats away. We heard the dulcet tones of a
mild, but still grating scouse accent as it's owner said in
a less than subtle fashion, "these are our seats, now move".

Mick and I stood there incredulous as he repeated his
statement. We suggested he may have more success if there
was just a hint of politeness in his tone, but he was
insistant that we did as we were told. He was a big lad
though and as I stood nose to chin with him, Mick decided
he would venture further forward and stand just about nose
to nose. But the b.....d was even bigger than the BDS
himself! Nevertheless he eventually obliged and forced out
a fairly lifeless and unconvincing  "please". "Now that's
better" I said in what must have seemed like a sarcastic
tone to which he took exception. Me sarcastic - no way, I
hear you say!!

We were getting nowhere with the rather pointless stand off
and he was becoming agitated and threatened to take the
matter into a more physical arena. I could see the odd
steward from the corner of my eye taking notice so donned a
curly wig and moustache and suggested we "calm down" without
the appropriate gestures this time, and we decided to call
it quits!!

The second half began much the same as the first with
United going further in front and this time we had a great
view of all the goals and the accompanying celebrations.
Scholsey tried getting in on the act first when he hit a
piledriver against the post, but we were soon 3-1 up when
Yorke shot from outside the box, Beasant fumbled and Andy
stepped up to score his second. He ran round the post and
stood in front of us, and when his soul brother came to
join him they stood there with their arms around each
others' shoulders beaming at us. The soul brothers in arms
- brilliant!

The rain was falling by this time but no-one was bothered -
we weren't anyway, we were dry and having a great time in
the stands singing the full range of United songs plus a
few new ones specially customised for the day.

"Big fat Ron, big fat Ron - what a difference you have
made," "big fat Ron for England, big fat Ron for England,
na na na naa." And to really wind them up, "Are you Derby
in disguise", "It's just like watching Derby," and "Derby,
Derby, give us a wave". They just loved that!

The ball was forever down at our end and seemingly either
in the back of the net or whistling just past the post.
Blomqvist was his jinking best down the left. Becks sprayed
passes here there and everywhere having the best game I
have seen him play for ages and the rock in the defence as
solid as we've come to expect.

Forest occasionally broke down the other end and Peter was
called on a couple of times to make saves, but it kept him
from getting bored - he still complained though! Then a
bizarre 4th when Blommers passed the ball back across the
box and it hit a defender, struck the post, rebounded to
Yorke who side-footed home while he was standing more or
less on the goal line. Poor Beasant, he stood there bemused
like piggy in the middle of a pinball game. 4-1.

Then much to his disdain Fergie pulls Yorke off and also
Keano who had been booked, replacing them with Ole and John
Curtis. Shortly after he swopped Blomqvist with Butt and
everyone slots in as though they had been on the pitch from
the start.

Nicky got stuck in immediately tangling with the cheating
Porfirio, and while he was giving him a blatant back-hander
which the referee chose to ignore, the ball was taken by
Becks, passed out to Nev who crossed for Ole to tap in his
first. As Ole stood there celebrating Nev came over to us
pointing to his chest with a huge grin on his face as if to
say "hey it was me who crossed it"!

"Who put the ball in the scousers' net, who put the ball in
the scousers' net - Ole Gunnar Solskjaer" rang out for the
umtienth time, louder than ever and the grins on our own
faces got wider and wider.

We sang "Does he want the England job - does he f**k"
referring to the ridiculous possibility of the FA tempting
the Wizard away to Lancaster Gate. He is no more likely to
take the England job than I am - mind you I did get a call
the other day from a David Davis - that wasn't you though
Duncan, was it?

Then an announcement was made that extra coaches were being
added to the returning soccer special to Manchester which
prompted more off the cuff stuff like "we've got extra
coaches, we've got extra coaches, na na na naa" and " but,
we're not going home, we're not going home, na na na naa!"

It was party time on and off the pitch as another superb
long ball from Becks found Ole again who tried to chip
Beasant but when this was saved he won the ball back and
hammered it into the net as two Forest defenders stood
there watching it fly past them. He'd only been on the
pitch a few minutes, but unbeknowns to us yet more was to
follow.

We screamed for seven as United poured forward again and
again in those last few minutes. Anything could have
happened - nothing would have surprised us by this time as
we implored them to "attack, attack, attack". It worked -
Ole took his hat-trick. So we tried it again and sang "we
want eight, we want eight,' and we got 8! I looked over at
Mark and his grin was so wide it seemed impossible that it
could be contained to the extremes of his face and I knew
mine was the same. I could see Linda down below and hers
was also the same.

Such joy on the 6th of February, a fitting tribute indeed.
So Ole left the pitch clutching the match ball he'd played
with for no more than eleven minutes and we stood there
with our massive grins applauding him and the rest of them.

On the way out of the ground the place was thronged with
the plod. They were everywhere. It was like a war zone,
except we were smiling and laughing and the only snarls
came from their dogs. Back in the safety of their cars the
Forest fans suddenly became much more aggressive with
gestures from behind the glass and many mouthed obscenities
were directed our way. I suppose our response just made
things worse, but how else were we supposed to react other
than to smile and laugh back? We were happy and they were
thoroughly pissed off. Perfectly understandable, but we
weren't about to pretend.

This team has more fire power than I have seen since the
likes of Dennis Viollet lead the line for his own record
breaking season all those years ago and the other Denis
(the King) teamed up with David Herd. I think someone from
this team is about to break Dennis's record though, but as
he says himself, "they are there to be broken."

So on a day when we enjoyed one of the great parties of all
time and witnessed a record away win I still make no
apologies for ending this report with the poem that Pete
sent.

We will always remember those who have gone before. When
they played they could also turn on the style, but were so
tragically struck down in their prime. We also remember
Dennis, Jackie Blancheflower who died not long ago, Kenny
Morgans who is also very ill and the rest of the 1958
team:

They shall not grow old 
As we that are left grow old
Age shall not weary them
Nor the years condemn

At the going down of the sun
And in the morning
We will remember them
We will remember them

Copyright RED KELLY
See all SAM's RED Wallpaper [click on pic]




Subject: SOLKSJAER SCORES FOUR IN LAST TEN MINUTES AS UNITED HIT EIGHT
           IN BEST-EVER PREMIERSHIP AWAY WIN 


ALEX FERGUSON allowed himself to admit "we played quite well" as Manchester
United recorded the best-ever away win in Premiership history, thumping
Nottingham Forest 8-1 at the City Ground. Forest boss Ron Atkinson was
more straightforward, saying: "They tore through us and murdered us. The only
upside is that we don¹t have to play them again this season." 

The bottom club look unlikely to be playing United next season either after substitute
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer hit four goals in the last ten minutes. Dwight Yorke began the rout
with a 90-second opener before Alan Rogers equalised four minutes later. But Atkinson's
Forest were cruelly exposed as Andy Cole scored twice, with Yorke adding the fourth
in the 66th minute before Solskjaer¹s stunning cameo. 

Although championship rivals Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea all won, the Blues'
performance was good news for United, as they continued their recent uninspiring form.
Gianfranco Zola helped keep the pressure up on the leaders with an 11th minute winner
against Southampton, who had Mark Hughes stretchered off on his return to his old club. 


Arsenal, however, looked hugely impressive with a 4-0 win at
slumping West Ham. Dennis Bergkamp, Marc Overmars, Nicolas Anelka
and Ray Parlour were on target. 

Liverpool took a 3-0 half-time lead at home to another off-form side,
Middlesbrough, with goals from Michael Owen, Vegard Heggem and
Paul Ince. But the Reds then had Dominic Matteo harshly sent off for
a foul on Mikkel Beck and were thankful to conceded only Phil
Stamp¹s late goal. 

Blackburn secured their first away win of the season as Aston Villa's
championship challenge foundered. A Gareth Southgate own goal in
the first half pre-empted second period strikes from Ashley Ward (62)
and David Dunn, who scored his first ever goal just two minutes
later. 

Nolberto Solano gave Newcastle a deserved 1-0 victory with a
63rd-minute winner away to high-flying Leeds. The Magpies hit the
post and saw Nigel Martyn pull off a series of great saves before the
Peruvian striker struck. 

The most frustrated side of the day were Tottenham, who could not
believe how Coventry stopped them scoring in the goalless draw at
White Hart Lane. Steffen Iversen was guilty of missing a glaring
opportunity in the second half when he hit the ball over the bar from
a few yards out. Before the break, Darren Anderton had been denied
by the woodwork from 20 yards. 

Wim Jonk took advantage of a Kasey Keller error to give Sheffield
Wednesday a 48th-minute lead at Leicester. Benito Carbone added a
second 12 minutes from time as the home side failed to trouble Owls'
goalkeeper Pavel Srnicek once throughout the game. 
See all SAM's RED Wallpaper [click on pic]




Subject: NOTT¹M FOREST 1 MAN UTD 8 

OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER put Manchester United's first-choice
strikers in the shade with ten stunning minutes as a substitute. The
Norwegian scored four times in this 8-1 rout against Nottingham
Forest as Alex Ferguson's side racked up an FA Carling Premiership
record away victory. 

Until Solskjaer's introduction, it had been more of the Dwight
Yorke-Andy Cole show, with a brace of goals from each striker as
Forest boss Ron Atkinson was introduced to the harsh reality of life
at the bottom of the Premiership. Cole's two goals celebrated not
only his England recall, but his recall to the side too - he had been
left on the bench by Ferguson for Wednesday's victory over Derby.
But back in the starting line-up alongside close friend Yorke, Cole -
with England caretaker-coach Howard Wilkinson believed to be at
the City Ground watching him - proved too hot to handle. Yorke put
United in front inside 85 seconds and after Alan Rogers equalised on
six minutes, Cole, who was born in Nottingham, showed Wilkinson
his finishing power. 

First, he restored the visitors' lead straight from the restart after
Rogers' strike, racing onto Jaap Stam's long ball and rounding Dave
Beasant before firing into the empty net from a tight angle. Then,
on 49 minutes and after squandering a hat-trick of chances, Cole
completed his double, running in to drill the ball beneath Beasant
after the Forest keeper had failed to hold onto Yorke's low drive.
Yorke's second came midway through the second half, slotting home
into an empty net after Jon Olav Hjelde had inadvertently diverted
Jesper Blomqvist's low cross onto his own post. 

Solskjaer replaced Yorke and an already one-sided game became a
rout. He stabbed home from close range after good work from David
Beckham and Gary Neville for his first, drilled the ball into an empty
net for his second and rounded off his hat-trick in the first minute
of stoppage time. But the 25-year-old was still not finished, and his
fourth came in the third minute of injury time with Forest in
complete disarray. 

Solskjaer's performance will give Ferguson a blissful dilemma - who
to choose. Yorke has now scored 21 goals this season - including
nine in his last six appearances - and he is looking to be worth
every penny of the £12.6million he cost in August. The Trinidadian
hogged the limelight by scoring the winner in each of the 1-0
defeats of Charlton and Derby in the last seven days, but against
Forest it was first Cole and then Solskjaer who caught the eye. 

Cole's blistering pace was too much for Forest, who remain rooted
to the bottom of the Premiership after this defeat - their fourth in
five outings. Sacked England coach Glenn Hoddle accused Cole of
wasting chances but, after a public row during which the striker
called Hoddle ''a coward'', he returned to the England squad this
week. Recalling Cole was Hoddle's last meaningful act as England
coach and if the 27-year-old continues to play as well as he is at
present, the former boss' move will be fully vindicated. He and Yorke
are unstoppable at the moment, scoring 16 goals between them in
United's last seven matches - all of which Alex Ferguson's side have
won. And then there is Solskjaer, the super-sub to beat all
super-subs today. 

What Forest manager Atkinson, the former United boss, would give
for a striker with half the ability of the three on show for the
visitors. His side tried manfully but they had Beasant to thank for
them not being further behind at the break and after United went
3-1 up, it was a case of how many more they could score. Beasant
made several fine saves, while Paul Scholes also hit the post and if
the visitors had hit double figures, it would not have been a
surprise. 

Ferguson's men played so well, the return to Premiership refereeing
of Paul Alcock after a three-month lay-off went off relatively
unnoticed. But it should be noted that he did well, allowing the play
to flow as frequently as possible and showing the yellow card
sparingly. He also got the game back under control quickly in the
dying stages as Forest, who were 5-1 down, started to get
frustrated. It was also quite an introduction for new United
assistant manager Steve McClaren - he could not have wished for a
better start to his Old Trafford career. 
See all SAM's RED Wallpaper [click on pic]



Subject: Solskjaer's in four a reward «« 

Manchester United striker Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will be rewarded for his
incredible four goal haul against Nottingham Forest with a first team spot.
The Norwegian predator took just eleven minutes to run Nottingham Forest's
ailing defence ragged and will now be drafted in for the FA Cup.
"I think I might even think about including him against Fulham," said Alex
Ferguson after the 8-1 win. 

"He a finisher, there's no question about that."

Solskjaer now has 15 goals to his name this season - just three less than
his record in a season, 18 goals in 1996-1997. 

Solskjaer is expected to feature from the start against the second division
side next Sunday, perhaps again at the expense of Andy Cole.

Should Cole play for England against France on Wednesday, Ferguson may
decide to rest him in preparation for the big clash against Arsenal next week.
See all SAM's RED Wallpaper [click on pic]



Subject:  Cole to start against France?

Owen set for bench role

England hot-shot Michael Owen could be left on the bench as England take on
France on Wednesday in Howard Wilkinson's first game in charge of the country.

Wilkinson has already reaffirmed Alan Shearer's position as captain in the
side and his trip to Nottingham's City Ground on Saturday, suggests that
Wilko has a new strike partnership in mind.

Andy Cole played a dynamic part in Manchester United's destruction of
Nottingham Forest and the striker's two goals may have done enough to
persuade Wilkinson to let him start as Shearer's strike partner.

Owen is the Premier League's second top goalscorer (behind Dwight Yorke)
and is the man that the French fear the most, but Wilkinson may well have
been swayed by Cole's recent deadly form.
See all SAM's RED Wallpaper [click on pic]

          If ever they are playing in your town
          You must get to that football ground
          Take a lesson come to see
          Football taught by Matt Busby
          Manchester, Manchester United
          A bunch of bouncing Busby Babes
          They deserve to be knighted