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www.red11.org DAILY NEWS
Date: Mon 08 Nov 1999 24:36 GMT
Mail: barry@www.red11.org

This Issue:
1. A Day Of Two Halves Personal Report by SALFORD LASS
2. Back on top (at least for a day) by RED KELLY
3. Latest sound from The Theatre Of Dreams! http://www.red11.org/sound
4. Keane blast at miserly United - Sunday Times
5. Keane doesn't want to go. - personal cooment by "Thornileyd"
6. A fight for the right to gloat - Fergie in Sunday Times

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

MANCHESTER UNITED DAILY NEWS  Mon 8th Nov 1999:

Barry Comment:
SALFORD LASS + RED KELLY reports today.
Alex comment on Andy "simply magnifent!" the story goes on
Leeds Chelsea Arse have all drop points this weekend,
REDS top of the premier again.

* UK TV info:  BBC TO COVER UNITED'S BRAZIL MISSION
The BBC will broadcast live coverage of Manchester United's World Team
Championship challenge in Brazil.

Manchester United FC Champions League Squad List
 1 Mark John Bosnich      2 Gary Alexander Neville 3 Dennis Joseph Irwin
 4 David May              6 Jakob Stam             7 David Robert J Beckham
 8 Nicholas Butt          9 Andrew Alex. Cole      10 Edward Sheringham
11 Ryan Joseph Giggs     12 Philip Neville         14 Johan Jordi Cruyff
15 Lars Jesper Blomqvist 16 Roy Keane           17 Raimond RJH Van der Gouw
18 Paul Scholes          19 Dwight Yorke           20 Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
21 Henning Berg          23 Michael Jamie Clegg    25 José Quinton Fortune
26 Massimo Taibi         31 Nicholas James Culkin  33 Mark Antony Wilson
34 Jonathan Greening

FINAL Group D          P W D L  F A  PTS
Manchester United FC   6 4 1 1  9  4  13 
Olympique de Marseille 6 3 1 2 10  8  10 
SK Sturm Graz          6 2 0 4  5 12   6 
NK Croatia Zagreb      6 1 2 3  7  7   5 

Second stage Euro Draw  GROUP B
Manchester United Valencia Bordeaux Fiorentina
Tues Nov 23 
Group B: Fiorentina v Manchester United 
Group B: Valencia v Girondins Bordeaux 
Wed Dec 8 
Group B: Girondins Bordeaux v Fiorentina 
Group B: Manchester United v Valencia 
Wed Mar 1 
Group B: Manchester United v Girondins Bordeaux 
Group B: Fiorentina v Valencia 
Tues Mar 7  
Group B: Girondins Bordeaux v Manchester United 
Group B: Valencia v Fiorentina 
Wed Mar 15 
Group B: Manchester United v Fiorentina 
Group B: Girondins Bordeaux v Valencia 
Tuesday, March 21 
Group B: Fiorentina v Girondins Bordeaux 
Group B: Valencia v Manchester United 
 *******************************

Real Audio - Last weeks Daily News Sound Archive:
Click on INDEX at http://www.red11.org/sound

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

99/2000 fixtures/match reports are at
 http://www.red11.org/mufc/992000.htm

Mark Bosnich's Personal Details 
http://www.red11.org/mufc/bosnich.htm

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

MANCHESTER UNITED STATS v ALL teams on the Web
http://www.red11.org/mufc/stats.htm

Previous News:
 BSKYB Takeover news/pics at http://www.red11.org/mufc/bskyb.htm
  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

*** RESULTS AND ATTENDANCES ON 06/11/99 ***
         Aston Villa   0-1   Southampton           26,474
       Bradford City   1-1   Coventry City         17,587
           Liverpool   2-0   Derby County          44,467
   Manchester United   2-0   Leicester City        55,191
       Middlesbrough   1-1   Sunderland            34,793
 Sheffield Wednesday   2-2   Watford               21,658

*** RESULTS AND ATTENDANCES ON 07/11/99 ***
             Chelsea   0-0   West Ham United       34,935
    Newcastle United   1-1   Everton               36,164
   Tottenham Hotspur   2-1   Arsenal               36,085
           Wimbledon   2-0   Leeds United          18,747

*** CONDENSED LEAGUE TABLE AS AT 07/11/99 ***

Pos Team                  P   W   D   L   F   A   GD  Pts
---------------------------------------------------------
 1  Manchester United    14   9   3   2  33  19   14   30
 2  Leeds United         14   9   2   3  26  18    8   29
 3  Sunderland           14   8   4   2  24  12   12   28
 4  Arsenal              14   8   2   4  21  14    7   26
 5  Liverpool            14   7   3   4  18  12    6   24
 6  Tottenham Hotspur    13   7   2   4  23  18    5   23
 7  Leicester City       14   7   2   5  23  19    4   23
 8  Middlesbrough        14   7   1   6  19  18    1   22
 9  Chelsea              12   6   2   4  18  10    8   20
10  Everton              14   5   4   5  23  21    2   19
11  West Ham United      13   5   3   5  12  11    1   18
12  Aston Villa          14   5   3   6  13  16   -3   18
13  Coventry City        14   4   5   5  21  16    5   17
14  Southampton          13   4   4   5  20  23   -3   16
15  Wimbledon            14   3   7   4  21  27   -6   16
16  Newcastle United     14   3   3   8  24  28   -4   12
17  Bradford City        13   3   3   7  11  21  -10   12
18  Derby County         14   3   3   8  13  24  -11   12
19  Watford              14   3   1  10  10  24  -14   10
20  Sheffield Wednesday  14   1   3  10  10  32  -22    6


*** TEAM STATISTICS - MANCHESTER UNITED - AS AT 06/11/99 ***
AVERAGE HOME ATTENDANCE: 55,168
HIGHEST HOME ATTENDANCE: 25/09/99 - Southampton (55,249)
LOWEST HOME ATTENDANCE:  11/08/99 - Sheffield Wednesday (54,941)
BEST WIN:                11/08/99 - Sheffield Wednesday (4-0)
                         30/08/99 - Newcastle United (5-1)
HEAVIEST DEFEAT:         03/10/99 - Chelsea (0-5)
BEST HOME WIN:           11/08/99 - Sheffield Wednesday (4-0)
                         30/08/99 - Newcastle United (5-1)
HEAVIEST HOME DEFEAT:     -
BEST AWAY WIN:           22/08/99 - Arsenal (2-1)
                         25/08/99 - Coventry City (2-1)
                         11/09/99 - Liverpool (3-2)
HEAVIEST AWAY DEFEAT:    03/10/99 - Chelsea (0-5)

 NEXT MATCHES
---------------------------------------------------------------
20-NOV-1999 [15:00] Manchester Utd. vs Derby C  (FA Premier League, AWAY)
30-NOV-1999 [20:00] Manchester Utd. vs Palmeiras  (Inter Continental Cup, AWAY)
04-DEC-1999 [15:00] Manchester Utd. vs Everton  (FA Premier League, HOME)
18-DEC-1999 [15:00] Manchester Utd. vs West Ham  (FA Premier League, AWAY)


*** TEAM RESULTS - MANCHESTER UNITED - 

UNITED Stats v All teams:
http://www.red11.org/mufc/stats/
ALL FIXTURES at: http://www.red11.org/mufc/fix992000.htm
 
First Team Fixtures 1999/2000
All dates/times subject to change
Dates of possible cup ties also shown

Date        Opposition                        Score   Pos.   Attend.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
15/07/99    Melbourne Australia   pre-season  W  2-0     -    60,000
18/07/99    Sydney    Australia   pre-season  W  1-0     -    78,000
21/07/99    Shanghai  Shenhua     pre-season  W  2-0     -    80,000
24/07/99    Hong Kong South China pre-season  W  2-0     -    40,000

 1/08/99    Arsenal   Wembley Charity Shield  L  1-2     -    70,185
 3/08/99    Omagh Town Omagh Bomb Fund        W  9-0     -     7,000
 4/08/99    Wigan Athletic friendly           W  2-0     -    15,000 
08/08/99    Everton                  Away PL  D  1-1    10    39,141
11/08/99    Sheffield Wednesday      Home PL  W  4-0     3    54,941
14/08/99    Leeds United             Home PL  W  2-0     1    55,187
22/08/99    Arsenal                  Away PL  W  2-1     1    38,147
25/08/99    Coventry City            Away PL  W  2-1     1    22,024 
27/08/99    Monaco - Lazio               ESC  L  0-1     -    15,223
30/08/99    Newcastle United         Home     W  5-1     1    55,190
11/09/99    Liverpool                Away     W  3-2     1    44,929
14/09/99    Croatia Zagreb           Home EC  D  0-0     -    53,250
18/09/99    Wimbledon                Home     D  1-1     1    55,189
22/09/99    Sturm Graz               Away EC  W  3-0     -    16,480
25/09/99    Southampton              Home     D  3-3     1    55,249
29/09/99    Marseille                Home EC  W  2-1     -    54,276
 3/10/99    Chelsea                  Away PL  L  0-5     2    34,909
11/10/99    Sir Alex Testimonial     Home F   L  2-4  LEGENDS 54,842      
13/10/99    Aston Villa              Away WC3 L  0-3     -    33,815
16/10/99    Watford                  Home PL  W  4-1     2    55,188
19/10/99    Marseille                Away EC  L  0-1     -    57,745 
23/10/99    Tottenham Hotspur        Away     L  1-3     3    36,072
27/10/99    Croatia Zagreb           Away EC  W  2-1     -    30,000
30/10/99    Aston Villa              Home PL  W  3-0     2    55,211
 2/11/99    Sturm Graz               Home EC  W  2-1     -    53,745 
 6/11/99    Leicester City           Home PL  W  2-0     1    55,191

20/11/99    Derby County             Away PL   15.00
23/11/99    AC Fiorentina            Away EC   19.45
pp 27/11/99 ? Sheffield Wednesday  Away PL *No new date yet
30/11/99    Tokyo  Palmeiras         WCC       20.00
 4/12/99    Everton                  Home PL   15.00
 8/12/99    Valencia CF              Home EC   19.45
18/12/99    West Ham United          Away PL   15.00
26/12/99    Bradford City            Home PL   15.00
28/12/99    Sunderland               Away PL   20.00  "live on sky"
 3/01/2000  Middlesborough           Home PL   20.00
****************************************************
 JAN 05-14  Brazil WTC [3-4 games]
----------------------------------------------------
06/01/2000  Necaxa (Mexico)          Neut WTC  16.00
08/01/2000  Vasco da Gama (Brazil)   Away WTC  16.00
11/01/2000  South Melbourne (Australia) N WTC  16.00
****************************************************
22/01/2000  Arsenal                  Home PL   15.00
 5/02/2000  Coventry City            Home PL   15.00
12/02/2000  Newcastle United         Away PL   15.00
26/02/2000  Wimbledon                Away PL   15.00
 1/03/2000  FC Girondins de Bordeaux Home EC   19.45 
 4/03/2000  Liverpool                Home PL   15.00
 7/03/2000  FC Girondins de Bordeaux Away EC   19.45 
11/03/2000  Derby County             Home PL   15.00
15/03/2000  AC Fiorentina            Home EC   19.45
18/03/2000  Leicester City           Away PL   15.00
21/03/2000  Valencia CF              Away EC   19.45 
25/03/2000  Bradford City            Away PL   15.00
 1/04/2000  West Ham United          Home PL   15.00
 5/04/2000  ?   EC qf i
 8/04/2000  Middlesborough           Away PL   15.00
15/04/2000  Sunderland               Home PL   15.00
19/04/2000  ?   EC qf ii
22/04/2000  Southampton              Away PL   15.00
24/04/2000  Chelsea                  Home PL   15.00
29/04/2000  West Ham United          Away PL   15.00
 3/05/2000  ?   EC sf i
 6/05/2000  Tottenham Hotspur        Home PL   15.00
10/05/2000  ?   EC sf ii
14/05/2000  Aston Villa              Away PL   15.00
24/05/2000  ?   EC Final

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

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


Click On pic - for latest interviews from OT
A Day Of Two Halves Personal Report by SALFORD LASS Yesterday was indeed a day of two halves. The first half started with a profound feeling of relief - after 24 hours of torrential rain and howling winds, it was wonderful to wake up to sunshine and clear skies. We might be about to freeze to death in the Scoreboard Paddock, but at least we would be dry! 12 noon found me kicking my way through the piles of fallen leaves on the road to the station (I'm still just a kid at heart!) marvelling at the beautiful autumn colours which cover the hillsides surrounding the station. For the first time in two weeks the leaves on the line hadn't delayed the train, so 30 minutes later we were pulling into Manchester Piccadilly. A quick hop on the tram and a 15 minute ride on the bus and I was walking towards the Nest for the first time in a few weeks. For various reasons of a personal nature, I haven't been in the Nest for a while, so it was good to be back - although it was a shock to find the place heaving at 1pm and half-full of Leicester fans! Pete was heard reminiscing about the "old days" when he and Hal turning up on a Saturday would double the number of customers! A very pleasant hour was spent chatting with Steve and Sylvie (over from Rotterdam - Steve being the lucky recipient of the seat next to me), and Steve's Dad who is a season ticket holder in North Stand. We all walked down to the ground together, stopping to mither Barney on the way and getting his forecast for the game (wrong again Barney) and meeting Alison for the first time (nice to meet you at last Alison). After getting a programme, a quick visit to the Ladies (not as exciting as our other list reporter's visits to the Gents, of course, during which all sorts of interesting things seem to happen!) and a brief chat to Paul B and friends, I arrived in East Lower to find the son-and-heir already in residence and the game about to start. Looking around me I felt quite optimistic - for once, the day trippers seemed to have been unlucky in the ballot and there were few megastore bags or funny hats to be seen. And my optimism was well founded. Whilst obviously not up to the standards of old, at least there was some atmosphere and we stood up throughout the game without seeing a single steward, SPS no-neck or policeman (much to the relief of Steve who found that his legs wouldn't fit in the the space allowed between the rows!). Unsurprisingly, there was no trouble either - that only seems to follow on the heels of our friends from the SS - oops sorry, SPS. The front three rows stayed seated as usual, but at least yesterday they sang whilst they sat, so they can be forgiven! Yours truly was up and down like a yo-yo. I have a sore foot, so it was stand for a bit, sit for a bit, stand for a bit - thankfully, for once, I had the choice. United were attacking the Stretford End in the first half, so we had Bosnich in front of us. This led to the son-and-heir's proudest moment. Last week he was nursing a swollen finger, this week the ball came our way again only this time it fell harmlessly at our feet. Leaving it to the man of the family to throw it back (being a mere female of course, I have no ability to pick up a ball, let alone throw it!) I watched proudly as he picked up the ball and tossed it under-arm to Bosnich who nodded his thanks. Just a little thing maybe, but the son-and-heir looked like he'd won the lottery - all those games in East Lower and this was the first time he got his moment of glory! Pat, eat your heart out!! The game started as I'd expected, with Leicester looking strong and us looking a bit dodgy at the back. We had Jaap in the middle of course, and Phil Nev at right back, but Silvestre was partnering Jaap in the middle and Higginbotham was making his first start at left back. It took a while for them to settle and Higginbotham did indeed look shaky for a while, but gradually settle down they did and we got more and more into the game. After half-an-hour though, it could still have gone either way but then we broke, Phil Nev crossed and the ball was headed on (I think) by Ole, the ball dropped to Andy who threw himself into a back somersault that would have shamed Olga Korbut, connecting perfectly with the ball on the way, and we were one-up. "Oh Andy Cole" and "Andy Cole, Andy Cole" rang round the stadium. From then on we were in control. Leicester had some chances but only seriously threatened Bosnich on one occasion when Silvestre cleared off the line. We should have been two-up just before half-time when a heel-flick from Giggs hit the post, but we were happy enough with the scoreline as the teams went in for the break. I headed off for the Ladies (still hoping for the excitement that our other reporter finds in his half-time adventures) to the sound of "Oh Teddy, Teddy" and Mr Fane asking him the (rather obvious) question "How did it feel Teddy?" After a quick visit from Paul W (wearing his cap - winter has obviously arrived!) and a chat to Tim, the teams were back out and Steve was looking forward to seeing us score at our end. We had some fun with Flowers singing "Blackburn reject" and "England, England's No Four" (interesting to see he had an England towel stuck into the netting!), but most of the chanting was the sort I like best - all about United. "Champions of Europe", "On the banks of the River Irwell", "Pride of all Europe" and all the other old favourites. Of course the Jaap Stam song had regular outings and "Na, na, na, nanana, naa - Keano" and "Who put the ball in the German's net". The Leicester fans, after an early rendition of "Stand up if you hate Man U" stayed pretty quiet apart from the occasional chanting of "Leicester, Leicester" and "Loyal supporters"(!) On the pitch, the second half was all United. Keane and Cole began to dominate the midfield, Ole and Andy were threatening goals at every opportunity and we could have been 3 or 4 up if it hadn't been for England's no 4. About 15 minutes from time, Leicester had their one chance of the game as the United lads got a bit sloppy. But then Cole sorted the game out once and for all - as the Guardian said this morning, he "shimmied into space", hit the post and then stuck the rebound into the back of the net as we celebrated and the Leicester fans sat in sulky silence. Some memorable moments from the game - standing open-mouthed when we realised that Elliott is even bigger than Stam; the lads behind us singing "Who put the ball in the Gunners net? All of f**king Europe" and seeing most of the ground (even the second tier of North Stand!) "Standing up for the Champions." As for the players - there's only one possible candidate for man-of-the-match - Andy Cole. Makes me feel just a little nauseous this morning though, to read all the glowing tributes from the seagulls in the Sunday papers. How quickly they forget how they used to slag him off when some of us were lone voices insisting he would come good! Ole also looked good and is obviously benefiting from getting a couple of starts. Good to see Bosnich getting more confident by the game - in particular, its good to see his kicking has improved, even under pressure. But of course I can't finish this report without mentioning Danny Higginbotham. After a bit of shaky start, he went on to have an excellent game, much appreciated by a United crowd always pleased to see a youngster do well. The verdict was that this lad will do OK. Leaving the ground with the son-and-heir, we were feeling very satisfied with the game and with it's outcome. So that was the first half of the day, the second half was very different. Before heading home we went to see my mother who has been in hospital since yesterday. Physically she is doing well, but she is confused and grows more so by the day. I am losing my Mum a little bit at a time, and compared to that a football game becomes an irrelevance. Copyright © 1999 by SALFORD LASS. All rights reserved. Not to be reproduced without permission of the author
Click On pic - for all latest pics from OT
Back on top (at least for a day) by RED KELLY Who could have predicted that when Alex Ferguson joined United from Aberdeen thirteen years ago to the very day yesterday that we would be European Champions? Who said "I did"? In celebration of that day the visitors were Leicester City so it was always going to be a difficult game for this particular anniversary. Leicester seem to be going for the record of how many players they can play at any one time with bloody silly names though, don't they, as they lined up with the likes of Impey, Izzet and Guppy with Arphexad on the bench. The amusement started early on as I switched on the radio to hear Brian Woolnough (he of Sun reporting and Talk Radio chat show hosting) go on about how Geoffrey Richmond (the Bradford Chairman) had been snubbed in the Liverpool Boardroom on Monday night. He was as perplexed about the alleged snub as anyone and concluded his condemnation with a "shame, shame, shame" comment, which was subsequently regurgitated by countless numbers of infuriated scousers. "Who do you think you are with the shame, shame, shame?" spat one, "I'm Brian Woolnough and this is my show" came the reply. And so it went on, a good half hour of chipper scouse bitterness - an excellent way to start the day. It actually continued into the evening as one of the same callers phoned back later on while he was "having a few bevvies with his mates" in the gutter somewhere no doubt. It was originally just going to be three of us in the car this week after he who shall be nameless, but who's name begins with N, had the offer of a ticket but was, much to his dismay committed to family stuff. When another call came in from Chris who sits next to me. He was conscripted to OT corporate land for the game entertaining business clients, and was offering to pass his seat on to any of my kids. This time it was Alex who drew the lucky straw and so ultimately there were four of us in the car. Luckily after days of driving rain the sun was shining, but there was a wintery chill in the air as the gusty wind blew the leaves from the trees which formed mini whirlwinds in the road. The journey was largely uneventful for once (thank god for that we might get some football talk this time I hear you say) and a couple of hours after we left I dropped Richard and Doug by their favourite eatery where they were still munching turkey sandwiches after Alex and I had parked at Bronnington and then walked back. A quick call from the big daft sod came through as we walked down to the ground. He's not managed a game yet this season, but has booked himself on a flight to Florence so anyone who's going beware, he's got a few to catch up on. We still didn't manage a pub visit though, but I don't think my teenage son would have thanked me for dragging him the mile or so to the Throstles Nest and back anyway. So we had to be content with a quick visit to the offie by Macaris and as usual the area was packed with regulars and even the odd Leicester fan trying desperately to eat chips and remain anonymous in a sea of red and white. I made a point of calling into Red Star Sports though to inform them that the number ten shirt they had in their window proudly displaying the name of an ex United forward who was taken from us last year should be replaced with one which spelt the name Viollet correctly. Nice to see a shirt with the great man's name on though. We picked up Alex's ticket and wandered down to the ground with Steve and after a brief problem at the turnstiles where Alex had trouble tearing the voucher from the book, saying he'd never had a book before - Doh! The man at the turnstiles raised his eyebrows and smiled as he took the book from him and tore it out himself, and we were in and on our way up into K Stand. From our lofty perch we were blinded by the sun which shone directly into our faces so everyone who didn't have a cap spent the majority of the first half with one hand shielding their eyes. From where we were the pitch didn't look too bad, but I have to say we weren't convinced and it soon became clear that we were right not to be. The bounce of the ball was unpredictable from the very start and by the end of the game it was impossible. To say that there was some very good football played at times is a testament to the players, but something has got to be done about that pitch in the next few weeks while we have a break from games at Old Trafford. United were attacking the sunny Stretford End in the first half which gave us the opportunity to pay special attention to Danny Higginbotham who was making his first team start at left back and very impressive he looked too. You'd have thought he'd been playing in the first team all his life as he slotted in beside Silvestre and Stam without a problem. The atmosphere was as usual, poor at first with the Leicester fans proclaiming Flowers as "England, England's number one" eh? How many England number one's are there then - didn't we have another "England's number one" here the other week and wasn't he also a joke? It always seems to take United twenty minutes to get into the game these days, and yesterday was no different with odd chances cropping up at either end. With little noise coming from our lot other than from low down in J Stand where Boylie was doing his best, the only noise coming from the Leicester fans was their favourite shout of "hand ball" which seemed to be given an airing every five seconds, as whenever the ball went above foot high they shouted it in unison. There ought to be an advertising campaign mounted by local Leicester opticians as they'll do a roaring trade if yesterday's lot is anything to go by. Even when some poor b.....d got hit in the salt and vinegars they were shouting "hand ball"! Then all of a sudden, and out of nothing, Andy pops up with a goal good enough in it's own right to justify the price of the match ticket. I don't know what it is about him these days, but he seems to have a thing about overhead kicks. As the ball came over from Nev on the right, was headed back by Ole, there was Andy tumbling like an acrobat and sending a spectacular strike in off the far post. The fact he was on the edge of the eighteen yard box made it even more remarkable. Do we really want 'short and curly' to pick him next Saturday? Let's face it, how can he not pick him - I just hope he comes back in one piece. That livened things up a bit as we leapt to our feet and celebrated. For the rest of the half the football started to flow more smoothly as a few more chances were made and leicester's packed midfield became stretched. Packed midfield - at times they seemed to have twenty two players on the pitch themselves - talk about stifling tactics. Mind you they must have fancied this game as I think I remember right, they've taken points form the last two they've played at Old Trafford, but not yesterday though. The half ended with us feeling reasonably content and after a brief, and thankfully uneventful trip to the gents, I bumped into Maximus Bygrave and after a very quick trip to visit the East Lower residents in their Arctic land, I was on my way back to K. I'm sure the second half started early as it was underway before I retook my seat, mostly because there was a bloke in front of me blocking the gangway asking the stewards at the top where his seat was - what are they putting in the United bitter these days? They were as bemused as anyone - where had he been sitting for the first half then, or had he spent it in the pub? So United were attacking our end now and we were optimistic about the possibilities of more goals to celebrate. The fact we only got one says little about some of the superb moves that were on show. It seems that the team are beginning to gel together at last and are forming an understanding all over the park. I'm sure they feel more secure now that they have one goalkeeper to play in front of, but they also have their captain back. The combination of Keane and Scholes in midfield is, I feel the key to success as they compliment each other so well and are both inspirational in their own right. The Leicester fans were busy standing up because they either "love Leicester" or hate "Man U" and we were standing up because we are "Champions". At one point practically the whole ground stood - a great sight to see the Stretford follow East Lower, then the North stand and most of K and even some of the South stand too. United didn't have it all their own way though with Bruno Heskey causing major problems - when he wasn't diving and falling over at the slightest provocation that is. He was doing that last time too and yesterday Durkin fell for it every time. He broke free down the left a couple of times and was only beaten by Silvestre on the line after Bosnich had pushed him well wide and then he even out muscled Stam to get in a cross-shot - no really, honestly he did! Most of the chances were falling to United though and when Ole took the ball past Taggart and shot low and hard past Flowers we were up and celebrating the second only to see it fly by the far post by no more than an inch. All through that second half we were up and down more often than at a Catholic wedding, but with ten minutes to go our agony was over and it was that man Andy Cole again - who else? He received the ball in the penalty area and with four Leicester defenders round him, side-stepped them all and fired only to see the ball booted onto the post by Lennon. The rebound flew out right to Andy's feet and this time it ended up in the back of the net with practically the whole Leicester team in attendance. Not as spectacular as his first strike, but good enough for us. The game then turned into an exhibition with United putting on the style and us lot giving it plenty of olé's. Leicester's so called "legendary fighting spirit" seemed to dessert them as they knew there was no coming back from that and we were allowed to enjoy the last few minutes with permanent grins on our faces for once. I was disappointed with Frank Sinclair though - after scoring own goals for both the Arse and the rent boys, I'd have thought he might have evened it out and gifted us one too, but no - there's no justice! So we ended up with four centre backs on the pitch after Higginbotham was substituted and Berg came on. The attack had been pulling the Leicester defence apart for most of the second half as they all chopped and changed positions even though it was mostly to accommodate Giggsy who tended to drift inside far too often for my liking - why does he do that, he's far more effective on the wing - tell him Fergie. There is no doubt that under normal circumstances Andy Cole would have been my man of the match, but I'm giving this one to Danny Higginbotham for his assured and inventive performance at left back - an excellent debut. I sincerely hope I'm no putting the mockers on him by saying this, but if this lad isn't a permanent fixture soon I'll be surprised. The only one who doesn't seem to be picking up at the moment is Yorkie, who by his own excellent standards has not quite found his touch yet, but if the story Richard heard is anything to go by, maybe it's no surprise. Take this with a large pinch of salt, but apparently Yorkie's chauffeur (as he's banned from driving at the moment) went to pick him and Bozzy up this week and whereas Bozzy was doing his best to remain upright, Yorkie definitely wasn't - if you catch the drift! Oi, Yorkie - let's concentrate on working in the six yard box - not from box to box, shall we. As we jogged back to the car Alex managed to resist the temptations of burgers and jumbo sausages and we reached the carpark at more or less the same time as Richard and Doug who'd set off fifteen minutes before. We were back on the motorway in no time and belting down the road when the phone rang. It was he who's name begins with N , phoning so he could get a mention in the report! Now what's his name again, it seems to have slipped my memory? This morning Alex was up early watching Match of the Day and when his best mate came round he gleefully told him about how he'd been at the game yesterday - his best mate is a Leicester fan, but a nice lad nevertheless! I opened up the Independent and found the United report and there was a superb picture of Andy's bicycle kick for the first goal. Alex's mate hadn't seen the match and asked if that was the goal and when we said it was, he said he didn't mind losing to a goal like that then - told you he's a good lad.
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Latest sound from The Theatre Of Dreams! http://www.red11.org/sound http://www.red11.org/sound/ 22k Nov 8 0.10 alex_on_coley_after_leicester_2_0_99.rm Alex flash comment on Cole's brilliance after Leicester 186k Nov 8 2.52 ryan_after_leicester_cl_comment.rm Ryan after Leicester 2-0 + CL comment 119k Nov 8 1.50 danny_higginbotham_after _debut_99.rm Danny Higginbotham comments on his debut at OT 138k Nov 8 2.07andy_95_96_chat.rm Andy Memories on 95/96 Double Double Season pic1.jpg Andy scissor goal pic2.jpg Sunday Paper 1 impossible_.jpg Do not believe the media! andy_reminiss.jpg Chatting on 95/96 in the studio
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Keane blast at miserly United - Sunday Times Roy Keane, the Manchester United captain, last night accused the club of lacking ambition, citing his own predicament as an example. Keane claims that other top footballers around Europe earn up to £50,000 a week more than he does, and that United are losing out on signing top football players because of the strict financial limits imposed on the wage bill. "The club have a wage structure in place," he said, but I think they are going to have to move on from there if they are going to continue being successful. "They could have bought some good players over the years - Ronaldo, Desailly and Batistuta and people like that, but they wouldn't come because of the wage structure. And that's fine. I respect the club's position. But they have to respect my position as well." Keane will be out of contract from January 1 and fully intends to discuss his situation with other clubs, despite claims from Martin Edwards, United's chairman, that he would remain at Old Trafford. "A new contract with United was negotiated during the summer," he said, "but from the first of January they will have to move again. It will give certain clubs the chance to put a package together and then it will come back to United and whether they can move towards what some of these other clubs are prepared to offer me. If not, we'll see. There are eight weeks to go and I'm on a free. So obviously that's my bargaining position." Keane insists that the problems he is having will not go unnoticed by star names from around the football world. "I think ordinary players will pick United first," he said. "Don't get me wrong, but these top players . . . I mean when you are talking a difference of 30 or 40 or 50 thousand a week, the money is frightening, but United have got to move with the times. Nobody wants United to wait another 30 years to win the European Cup." He said that the club was aware when he joined them seven years ago that he could have got more money elsewhere. "The attitude was 'we're the biggest club in the world' and they have always used that as a tool to bargain with," said Keane. "Three years later, it was the same. I gave up a lot of money when I joined and I gave up a lot of money three years later, but this year my attitude has changed. "It would be the easiest thing in the world for me to sign that contract . . . with the money in front of me, the security . . . but I'm just waiting to see what happens. As much as I love the club, I am not going to sell myself short. Okay, it's a team game, but it didn't feel that way when I was out with my cruciate [a knee injury suffered last year]. At the end of the day you are on your own. "To be honest, I don't really want to move. My kids are happy and settled in Manchester but there is nothing wrong with going away for three years. As much as I love United, I won't be afraid to move. And if I do move, it will be to a top club who are going to be challenging for the European Cup." An insight into his previous contractual negotiations was provided by his former manager at Nottingham Forest, Frank Clark. "Keane had pulled himself a masterstroke and earned himself a fortune," writes former Nottingham Forest manager Frank Clark in his recently published autobiography, Kicking With Both Feet. "When I arrived, they had just been relegated. Keane was one of their star players and I hoped to persuade him to stay to help us win promotion. Within 10 seconds of meeting him, I knew I had no chance, and when I looked at the incredible clauses in his contract I could see why. "Forest had bought Keane as a fresh-faced 19-year-old [he was 18] from Cobh Ramblers. He went straight into the Forest first team and ended up playing in just about every position. "After two seasons, Brian Clough got him to sign a new deal with Forest. It was while Forest were struggling and he insisted on having a get-out clause in case they were relegated. It meant he could leave if another club were prepared to pay £3m for him. And as part of such a deal, Keane would receive more than £600,000 from Forest for himself." The deal wasn't even hammered out by an agent but by Keane and a representative of the Professional Footballers' Association. Manchester United - The Legend - http://manunited.net
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Keane doesn't want to go. - personal cooment by "Thornileyd" There is an interview with Roy Keane in the Sunday Times in which he clearly states what he expects from United............It is clear he doesn't want to leave ... " To be honest , I don't really want to move . My kids are happy and settled in Manchester but there is nothing wrong with going away for three years. As much as I love United , I won't be afraid to move " He wants the club to resign him as a free contract player after January....... Edwards is now just going to have to bite the bullet and get his hand in his pocket....... A replacement is going to cost the club bigtime anyway so not to resign Keane is just cutting your nose off to spite your face. All along I thought Keane would go because deep down he wanted a change but now I've changed my mind...........As much as I think the wage structure is in principle the correct way to run things it looks like there are going to have to be exceptions to the rule where three or four players earn big money...........Change is upon us and the PLC are just going to have to get up to speed or we will be left floundering in the wake of the giants of european football ( of which we are supposed to be ......... It's time we started acting like it )
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A fight for the right to gloat - Fergie in Sunday Times Not United related but the words of the master: A goalless draw in Glasgow would give Scotland the edge for the return at Wembley In dressing rooms throughout English football, odds have been given and wagers have been struck, but those making the bets are much less interested in winning a few pounds than in gaining gloating rights. What happens at Hampden Park on Saturday, and at Wembley four days later, will do more than decide whether Scotland or England survive into the finals of the European championships. The outcome of that two-legged showdown will separate the tormentors from the tormented at thousands of training sessions in the weeks ahead. Footballers from north of the Solway are not nearly as numerous or as influential at English clubs these days as they were for generations but, if coaches and managers are included, Scots are still around in formidable numbers. At a time like this we are sure to make ourselves heard - and to draw plenty of withering fire in return. I know that if Craig Brown's team lose I can expect no mercy from the England players in my Manchester United squad. They are not likely to forget that I brought them news of the draw for the play-offs by telling them that Scotland had been given a bye. They always pounce on any hint of a sporting embarrassment for my homeland. A Scottish defeat at tiddlywinks would be enough to guarantee me a verbal pasting. So what chance will I have if England wreck Scotland's Euro 2000 hopes, with several United lads directly involved in the demolition? I might have to consider a sudden intensification of endurance training, to reduce the breath they have available for tossing cheeky remarks at me. Of course, if the result goes the other way, we Scots will behave with all our renowned restraint and magnanimity. I won't even think of turning up at The Cliff in my kilt. The buzz and the banter generated by these two matches remind us of how much worthwhile tradition was lost when the oldest of international fixtures was abandoned. I am the last man to complain about any reduction of the international schedule, but surely more of a case could be made for reviving the spirited annual collision of Scotland and England than for many of the largely pointless friendlies that complicate life for club managers. Let's hope there is some dramatically competitive action on November 13 and 17 to encourage the idea. Should this play-off turn out to be one-sided, the Scots are almost certain to be the victims. History has taught us that on the football field the English are much more adept at slaughter than we are. Even in eras when we had sufficient outstanding players to get the better of our powerful neighbours, our tendency was to express superiority in stylish flourishes rather than in the avalanches of goals they could produce when they were on top. Denis Law was one of the deadliest finishers the game has ever seen, yet it is a fact that the most characteristic image of Scotland's best days against England would probably be that of Jim Baxter humiliating an opponent with a shimmy. Our finest performances (if we admit that what the Wembley Wizards did was a magnificent freak) usually left us no more than a goal, or perhaps a couple, in front. English domination could easily lead to scorelines like 9-3, 7-2, 4-0 and 5-1. If that was the case when Scotland developed exceptional footballers in droves, there would seem to be an obvious risk of a drubbing now that the flow of talent has slowed to a trickle. But we all know that the passion created by centuries of rivalry can make nonsense of rational assessments when these two countries face each other in any contest. And, in any case, neither the long-term nor the short-term form entitles Kevin Keegan to assume he has a comfortable assignment. A comparison of victory totals since the first confrontation in 1872 shows the English have only four more wins than the Scots (44 against 40) and England's recent results have frightened nobody but themselves. At least Scotland reached their present position without the kind of outside help England needed from Sweden. Although Keegan's players are rated so far ahead of Brown's that there isn't one Scotsman who can claim to be preferable to his English counterpart, there is evidence that Scotland have achieved a tactical cohesion England are still seeking. The failure of England's midfield to be consistently convincing lately must give Brown heart, especially since he can look for workmanlike soundness from that department of his own team. The experience of top-level continental football gathered by Paul Lambert at Borussia Dortmund and John Collins at Monaco combines with their years in the British game to ensure that they won't be fazed by either the reputations or the skills of the opposition. From what I saw of young Barry Ferguson in Rangers' desperately unlucky European Cup loss to Bayern Munich in midweek, he is another who could perform well in the middle of the park if required. Ferguson made himself conspicuously more impressive than Stefan Effenberg, which is no small accomplishment, and if Craig had to draft him in it wouldn't be a worrying gamble. One blatant source of concern for the Scotland coach is the impression his players give that they have an aversion to scoring goals. Attackers who have struggled to penetrate moderate defences could find themselves flailing impotently against the solidity of Tony Adams and Martin Keown. Such thoughts strengthen my conviction that the Scots' best chance of success lies in turning the two legs into a marathon test of industry, passionate commitment and nerve. I have no doubt that a goalless draw in Glasgow would be considered acceptable by Brown, because it would expose England to a night of draining tension at Wembley. There they would be burdened not only with a weight of expectation far greater than anything attached to the Scots, but with the knowledge that failing to keep a clean sheet might kill them off, since away goals would count double in the event of a draw at the end of 90 minutes. Obviously Scotland would be under equal strain but, given that their most prominent virtues are experience and competence and organisation, reducing the tie to an exercise in siege survival should be to their advantage. A dour, nerve-fraying battle would certainly offer them better prospects than a flowing, open game that put the emphasis on technique. If England achieve maximum effectiveness, they could win by a handful of goals, whereas the only vision of glory the Scots can realistically entertain is squeezing sweatily into the finals. They are right, of course, to keep pointing out that England have had very little swagger about them recently and to suggest that it may be illogical to associate an alarming goal threat with an attack already deprived of Robbie Fowler and which may well be without Michael Owen. If both Liverpool men miss the play-off - and, in spite of Owen's defiant optimism, I think his chances of involvement must be slight - the Scottish defenders will hardly be depressed by their absence. Fowler has yet to make a spectacular impact in the national team but there is no more natural finisher in the whole of British football. Owen's fierce pace, and his unquenchable eagerness to run at the space behind defenders, can trouble any opposition. To counter him, it is often necessary to defend deep. If injury removes him from the England squad, Scotland may profit from an increase in flexibility at the back. But they will still have plenty of cause for anxiety when England are on the offensive, and nothing will worry them more than the crosses of David Beckham. The more I see of David the more difficulty I have in imagining that there was ever a more telling deliverer of the ball from wide positions. I am glad I don't have to devise ways of coping with his menace and can, instead, enjoy the luxury of letting him loose on other people. It is an uncomfortable thought that he is about to be let loose on Scotland, one that typifies the mixed reactions which will be stirred in me when United players go into action at Hampden and Wembley. It goes without saying that I always want our lads to shine when they are on international duty. The main reason is that I know how much it means to them to do well for their country and it delights me to see them drawing personal satisfaction from their careers. There is, however, also a practical benefit for Manchester United. Players who have been successful with national teams are full of the joys when they come back to the club and they are bursting to perform for us. So I'll have every reason to hope David Beckham, Paul Scholes, Philip Neville and Andy Cole play splendidly for England on November 13 and 17. They will just have to forgive me for also hoping that they do so in a losing team. As I prepare to begin my 14th year at Manchester United, I am deeply aware of how much I owe to English football. I give it total commitment. In fact, the need to be present at a huge convention of United supporters next Saturday will prevent me from being at Hampden. How's that for sacrifice? But when the scene in my native city is thrown on to a giant screen at Old Trafford I won't make any effort to be diplomatic about my responses. Those around me there, or in the stands at Wembley on the following Wednesday, will see somebody happy to serve in the tartan army. Sir Alex Ferguson was talking to Hugh McIlvanney Manchester United - The Legend - http://manunited.net
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