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Barry Leeming



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The Dennis Viollet Fund
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www.red11.org DAILY NEWS
Date: Fri 10 Dec 1999 01:51 GMT
Mail: barry@www.red11.org

This Issue:
1. He wouldn't sign for Juve ......by OUR SALFORD LASS
2. Oranges or Lemons - Personal Report by RED KELLY
3. Sound Archive from Last night! http://www.red11.org/sound
4. MEN x 3 Manchester United News
5. Guardian report Keane starts repaying United's faith
6. Beckham banned
7. REDS DRAW WITH AUSSIE KIDS
8. Times report  Keane signs, seals and delivers

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

MANCHESTER UNITED DAILY NEWS  Friday 10th Dec 1999:

Webmaster Comment:
TWO beauoootifull match reports from RED KELLY & SALFORD LASS today!!
Enjoy!!!!! Plenty of sound interviews about Roy here:
              http://www.red11.org/sound

* If you have an article for this MUFC Daily News bulletin
   please mail it to  Thanks!

*** Remember our December Competition!
To enter first download 1 meg here
    http://www.red11.org/mickz/mufc_snow.exe
Lets see how far us REDS can get, I already made it to Level 2 
Proof here: http://www.red11.org/mickz/level2.jpg
The best 3 efforts will win a copy of the NEW book 
"European Glory" by RED NEWS edited by Barney Chilton
Eyewitness Accounts of United's 1968 & 1999 European Triumphs
A book celebrating the amazing events in the Nou Camp on May 26th - retails at £7,95
Enties to the competition must include an attched screen pic as proof of
your efforts  mail to barrylee@post3.tele.dk GOOD LUCK  Comp closes 24th Dec 1999

----------------------


If I Die In The Stretford End - scoreboardpaddock@manutd.com
 Alex Hulme/Manchester/England 
Made by a Manc for Mancs "If I Die In The Stretford End" is for Match Going REDS. 
URL:  
Taken from The Worldwide Manchester United Fans Webring - 400+ RED sites!
 http://www.webring.org/cgi-bin/webring?ring=manufan;list

* 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.

Champions League Url: http://www.red11.org/champ

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

1999/2000 UEFA Champions League Second Group-Match Stage - Group B 
Group B           P W D L  F A  Pts 
Fiorentina AC     2 1 1 0  2 0  4 
Manchester United 2 1 0 1  3 2  3 
Valencia CF       2 1 0 1  3 3  3 
Bordeaux          2 0 1 1  0 3  1 

Second stage Euro Draw  GROUP B
Manchester United Valencia Bordeaux Fiorentina
Tues Nov 23 Fiorentina v Manchester United  2-0 
            Valencia v Girondins Bordeaux   3-0
Wed Dec 8   Girondins Bordeaux v Fiorentina 0-0
            Manchester United v Valencia    3-0

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 

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 

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

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 06/12/99 ***
   Tottenham Hotspur   0-0   West Ham United       36,233

*** CONDENSED LEAGUE TABLE AS AT 06/12/99 ***

Pos Team                  P   W   D   L   F   A   GD  Pts
---------------------------------------------------------
 1  Leeds United         17  12   2   3  30  19   11   38
 2  Manchester United    16  11   3   2  40  21   19   36
 3  Arsenal              17  11   2   4  31  16   15   35
 4  Sunderland           17  10   4   3  31  17   14   34
 5  Liverpool            17   9   3   5  24  14   10   30
 6  Leicester City       17   9   2   6  26  23    3   29
 7  Tottenham Hotspur    16   8   3   5  25  20    5   27
 8  West Ham United      16   7   4   5  17  14    3   25
 9  Chelsea              15   7   3   5  21  15    6   24
10  Middlesbrough        17   7   3   7  21  24   -3   24
11  Coventry City        17   5   6   6  23  18    5   21
12  Everton              17   5   6   6  25  27   -2   21
13  Wimbledon            17   4   8   5  27  29   -2   20
14  Newcastle United     17   5   4   8  28  30   -2   19
15  Aston Villa          17   5   4   8  14  19   -5   19
16  Southampton          16   4   5   7  20  25   -5   17
17  Bradford City        16   3   4   9  13  25  -12   13
18  Derby County         17   3   3  11  15  29  -14   12
19  Watford              17   3   2  12  13  33  -20   11
20  Sheffield Wednesday  16   1   3  12  14  40  -26    6


*** TEAM STATISTICS - MANCHESTER UNITED - AS AT 04/12/99 ***
AVERAGE HOME ATTENDANCE: 55,171
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)
     		     04/12/99 - Everton (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)
     		     04/12/99 - Everton (5-1)
BEST AWAY WIN:           22/08/99 - Arsenal (2-1)
     			25/08/99 - Coventry City (2-1)
     			11/09/99 - Liverpool (3-2)
     			20/11/99 - Derby County (2-1)
HEAVIEST AWAY DEFEAT:   03/10/99 - Chelsea (0-5)

 NEXT MATCHES
---------------------------------------------------------------
18-DEC-1999 [15:00] Manchester Utd. vs West Ham  (FA Premier League, AWAY)
26-DEC-1999 [15:00] Manchester Utd. vs Bradford C  (FA Premier League, HOME)
28-DEC-1999 [20:00] Manchester Utd. vs Sunderland  (FA Premier League, AWAY)
06-JAN-2000 [18:15] Manchester Utd. vs Necaxa  (World Club Championship, AWAY)


Current Injuries                       Possible return
 Jesper Blomqvist        ankle           early Dec 
 Ronny Johnsen           knee            January
 Wes Brown               knee            August


*** 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     W  2-1     1    33,370
23/11/99    AC Fiorentina            Away EC  L  0-2     -    40,000
30/11/99    Tokyo  Palmeiras         N   WCC  W  1-0     -    53,372
 4/12/99    Everton                  Home PL  W  5-1     2    55,193
 8/12/99    Valencia CF              Home EC  W  3-0     -    54,606 

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"

  pp  3/01/2000  Middlesborough         Home PL ???  *No new date yet
  pp 27/11/1999  Sheffield Wednesday    Away PL ???  *No new date yet

****************************************************
 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
Final? 14/01/2000
****************************************************

15/17? /01/2000  Leeds               Away PL   15.00  
24/01/2000  Arsenal                  Home PL   20.00  "live on sky"
 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   11.30  "live on sky"
 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
He wouldn't sign for Juve ......by OUR SALFORD LASS Since I had spent most of the morning on various United mailing lists, I left work later than I'd planned having had to make up a whole pile of outstanding work. Heading towards OT on the bus (on which I was disappointed not to meet Andy Cole also going to the game) I realised it was too late to go to the Nest, so headed straight for Chester Rd, arriving at the top of Sir Matt Busby Way with a whole clutch of Valencia fans who had just disembarked from a mini-bus. They looked very different from the usual inhabitants of L Stand in their expensive clothes and with their fashionable accessories! As I was so early, I decided to hang around for a while outside Macari's in the hope of seeing a familiar face or two. After 10 minutes, however, I was so cold that I decided enough was enough and I joined the now increasing crowd heading off towards the stadium. Wandering down Sir Matt Busby Way I encountered the usual suspicious-looking fanzine sellers, all complaining about the cold (except Barney, who was just delighted it wasn't actually raining). After proclaiming them all a bunch of Southern softies and standing guard over a large black bin liner for one who desperately needed to disappear down the nearest back alley, I left them to the mercies of the weather and headed off for the relative warmth and comfort of the concourse behind East Lower. Behind me, the owner of the bin liner called "Thanks for the relief, Linda - it's much appreciated", to the obvious amusement (and even amazement) of some onlookers. As usual, my way into East Lower was barred by a whole line of SPS goons. This time, all they wanted to see was my ticket (usually I have to expose the contents of the hidden regions of my bag to their gaze). Trying to appear human, one of them decided to try out a little of what he obviously thought was humour - "If you don't know which one to choose love, just go for the best looking!" With a faint smile I waved my ticket under the nose of the least objectionable and made my escape. All the way to the ground, the talk had been of Roy Keane. Would he or wouldn't he sign? Would there be an announcement tonight? Rumours abounded with one well-known member of this list convinced that there would be a Robbo-style signing on the pitch before the game (somehow I can't see Roy sitting at a table on the pitch with Fergie on one side and Edwards on the other - the affro haircut wouldn't suit him!). There was a distinct buzz in the air - this was the first real home Euro night of the season and the debate about Keane simply added to the electricity. Everyone was tense but excited. Keith Fane and his merry band were doing their best to hike up the atmosphere and failing miserably as usual. Instead of muttering on about there not being many people in their seats (they were all huddling together to keep warm, behind the seats lads - perhaps you should try it some time) and the road works outside, it would have been helpful if they had actually told those of us in the stadium what everyone else in the outside world seemed to know! I was hanging around, trying to keep calm, chatting to various people and discussing the odds of 175-1 that were being given for Stam to score first and United to win 2-1, when the son-and-heir turned up with a grin stretched from ear-to-ear. His first words were "Have you heard?" "Heard what?" said I. "Keane's signed, it's been on the radio." Of course no-one believed him - there had been so many rumours in the last few days, that we were all reluctant to be taken in by another one. A small crowd formed as he tried to convince us that it was true, everyone in the pub had said it was! Of course, all this was totally eclipsed by the arrival of the Sausage Man, paying one of his rare visits to OT. By the time we had taken the piss out of the S.M. re his day-tripping status and braved the cold to head for our seats, we were beginning to be convinced that perhaps the rumours this time were true. All round the stadium, fans were chanting "Keano" and "There's only one Keano" and everywhere there were smiling faces. The cold air was almost crackling with expectation. Of course, Keith Fane and his mates had to cock it all up! We waited for an announcement but nothing happened. The teams came out onto the pitch and nothing happened. They played the Champions' League anthem and nothing happened. The teams shook hands with each other and still nothing had happened. Even the son-and-heir began to doubt himself, saying "I'm going to get tw*tted if it's isn't true after all!" There were a couple of splutters from the PA system (during one of which the phrase "Martin Edwards" could clearly be heard) but no announcement. The teams walked across the pitch and began to take up their positions for kick-off and the son-and-heir got all excited because Keano was walking over to the touchline. He then felt very foolish when he realised he was going over to swap pennants with the Valencia captain! So the game kicked off and we were none the wiser - until the PA spluttered into life again and the announcement was made! We sang "Keano" and "Keano's f*ckin magic" (we'll have to change the words of that one) whilst the object of our attention tried to concentrate on the opening minutes of a vital Euro game! What a bizarre sense of timing some people have! The game itself was very entertaining - some wonderful end-to-end football that, for the first 30 minutes, looked as if it could have gone either way. Mendieta in particular, was causing us problems - very quick and agile. Fortunately, the referee seemed not to want to come down our end (perhaps I upset him by declaring he looked like a giraffe) and ended each of their attacks with an off-side call. It actually became quite nerve-wracking as what seemed like every couple of minutes our lads stopped in their tracks with their hands in the air and Claudio Lopez or one of his mates came hurtling towards us. We kept expecting the flag to stay down, but thankfully it never did. I wish they wouldn't do that though! There was also a scary moment when Rai had to quickly get back for a ball which almost caught him off his line - it looked like he was going to stumble backwards into the net with the ball, but he kept his feet and all was well. Then things started to go our way. Becks hit the bar down the other end from a free kick and then a few minutes later another free kick (this time taken by Ryan) was cleared but only to Gary Neville. The ball went back into the box, was half-cleared again but this time Keane was there on the edge of the penalty area to slam it past their keeper (Plop?). It couldn't be anyone else could it? OT erupted as our newest signing scored yet another important goal in Europe. From then til half-time we were under little pressure and to be honest, the game was not really in doubt from then on. Half-time found us at the back of East Stand socialising with K standers who are still "slumming it" amongst the lower orders - the son-and-heir was able to join us since his fears of being "tw*tted" were now long gone. The Leamington Skinhead had no child to beat up this time, so had to content himself with walking around wearing a silly hat. Back in front of our seats, we waited for some goal action and we didn't have to wait long. The son-and-heir was in the middle of an insulting comment aimed in my direction when seemingly out of nowhere Becks' low cross from our left was met by Ole darting in at a high rate of knots and the ball was in the net before we even realised what was happening! "Ole, Ole, Ole, Ole". That was the game done and dusted and we relaxed and enjoyed an excellent performance by the whole team. There were a couple of scary moments, when Rai proved what many of us have known all along - that he is a top European-class keeper (oh how we would love him to be 10 years younger) and Valencia players shot to the left of the post, to the right of the post, over the bar - in fact everywhere except between the goal posts! But in the main, it was an exhibition of clever, passing football with all the United team showing off their skills. In particular, some lovely flicks from Becks and Cole and some awesome tackles from Stam, remain fresh in the memory. Even Giggs managed to stay out on the left most of the game and was very effective with his crosses and a couple of lovely mazy runs. About 20 minutes before the end, the game was put beyond Valencia as Becks crossed into the box directly onto Scholes' head - the goal of the game. You will have noticed that I have not mentioned the atmosphere. There is a very good reason for that - where we were, there wasn't one! It wasn't too bad for the first 20 minutes or so, but gradually the singing became less and less and the moaning increased and it died a death. There seemed to be plenty of singing going on elsewhere in the ground, particularly to our right (towards J stand) but in 135 there were few familiar faces - where are you all? Can I come with you next time please? I think I made my decision on my potential relocation last night - I'll move to wherever the singers near J Stand are going! I tried not to let it wind me up too much (as the son-and-heir said on the way home, you tend not to expect too much when you go to OT these days) but it was difficult not to react to the row of cockneys behind us who were even complaining loudly (calling the team collectively a "bunch of lazy b......s") 10 minutes from the end when we were 3-nil in the lead! As for the away fans, well it was even worse up there than in 135! There were only a couple of hundred of them and apart from some very high-pitched chanting early on (were they all women?) we heard little from them. My man of the match? It has to be Becks. Last night he showed why he is being courted as a possible European Footballer of the Year. Rai's wonderful saves also deserve a mention and I always like Gary Neville playing in central defence and what can I say about Roy Keane that hasn't already been said? But it is really difficult to pick out individual players, because last night was a wonderful team performance - they are now playing like European Champions. What a shame we have to wait 3 months for the next one! Copyright OUR SALFORD LASS, 1999 No part of this work to be used without the author's permission
Click On pic - for all latest pics from OT
Oranges or Lemons - Personal Report by RED KELLY Didn't I say on Sunday that things would be different on Wednesday? No I'm not referring to Roy Keane and his interminable contract negotiations, I'm referring to driving up the bloody M6 - as yesterday afternoon was a journey I could have well done without. And to think we'd decided to leave even earlier than usual to try and make sure we gave ourselves the opportunity to get to the Throstles Nest to meet up with not only some listees but also my daughter Eliza and Steve. But it wasn't to be as long traffic jams caused by accidents and traffic build-up inevitably ate away at the time. There were four of us in the car - the harbinger doctor, the man with the sausage and my daft mate (as Linda calls him) Nigel and we set off in the light, but by the time we got to Manchester nearly four hours later, it was well and truly dark. The long and exhausting journey was broken by frequent calls from BDS Meade who was at home son sitting and by all accounts, indoctrinating the young lad by playing him at least two United videos a day. Apparently he's loving it - but let's face it - he's got no choice!! He had called us a few miles from Stafford services and was still on the phone as we pulled in for a break and while three of us disappeared into the gents we left Dr Mark chatting to him outside until he appeared beside us hopping from foot to foot and trying to encourage any of us to take the phone from him so that he could also relieve himself. I think it was Dobson who capitulated, but it was a bizarre moment. When we eventually arrived at Bronnington and got out of the car it was bitterly cold. We just about had time for a quick one in Sammy Platts as it was the nearest establishment and then it was up to the Old Trafford Multiplex noticing that the illuminated Manchester United sign over the north stand actually read Mancheste United instead of Manchester United in case anyone didn't know! Perhaps it was an attempt at a phonetic sign for the benefit of our Spanish visitors who knows. By this time we already knew Keano had signed as I'd had yet another phone call from - yes you've guessed it - Meade - who gave us the news while we were in the queue for the bar in Platts, but there was an official announcement over the PA by Smashy Fane before the game started and Roy looked happy, but who wouldn't when you've got one over on Martin and pocketed a huge pay rise. At least they'd been able to get onto the roof during the week and patch up the gaping hole that was there at the weekend, not that it made any real difference last night as there was no rain. They'd also put up some fresh netting at the sides of the new structure, which were billowing in the wind - so that would definitely keep the weather out then! I looked over to where I expected to see thousands of Spaniards but saw only United - where were they then? They were tucked up in the corner in a small section of south stand. They had obviously decided to stay at home in the warm - and who could blame them - this was Manchester in winter after all. Those who had turned out were probably local anyway and definitely nowhere near as colourful as those from Zagreb, Marseilles or even Graz. A couple of red and yellow flags were in evidence but that was all. The atmosphere in the rest of the ground was a lot more upbeat than normal and the news of Keano's signature being added to that all important contract had buoyed us up even more. We know it's tons of money and more than most of us can dream of, but I'd rather have Roy Keane playing for the team than try to find a replacement. Keano's tried and tested and world class and when you think about it - who would be able to replace him? I can't think of anyone and you could see the steam coming out of his nostrils even before the game started. Nice to see Ole in at the start too and whereas Keano will say that "it's not about money" Ole REALLY means it and has said he would play for United forever if he could. No wonder we love him as our own. The game kicked off and was remarkably open from the start - and we were thinking they were coming to defend with everyone behind the ball. It just goes to show how much we know then as they appeared in the penalty area in front of us within the first minute and nearly bloody scored. "That's not right is it? They shouldn't be doing that." fortunately Raimondo was alert to it and made a great save after a ball pinged around and was eventually fired in by Lopez I think. In that first few minutes they took us by surprise as they gripped the game by the throat and threw everything at us. They'd obviously been studying their United videos and had noticed how vulnerable we can be to the early thrust - oooer missus! It wasn't the normal European cagey game at all - more end to end stuff which resulted in plenty of chances but as the lads got a grip, most of them were down at the Stretford End. After about a quarter of an hour we were awarded a free kick and Steve turned to me and said he wished they'd do something different other than giving the ball to Becks to belt it over the bar.Low and behold, instead of doing just that Beckham chipped a delicate ball into the box to a waiting Keano and when the ball broke for Ole he was unlucky not to make it 1-0. Nice move and it's true, it was good to see some variation. The game still hung in the balance though as particularly Mendieta and Lopez were causing problems and poor Dennis was having a torrid time facing up to the Wimbledon style runs from Angloma. In the main Stam's battle with Lopez was emphatically won by the former who apparently had been ill in bed the day before - is he human or really superhuman? In the stands we were standing as usual for a Euro and the atmosphere was pretty good with plenty of Keanos, Oles and Yip Jaaps aired. With United now asserting themselves on the pitch the gaps were opening up in the visitor's defence which looked vulnerable in front of the keeper Palop, who was suspect to say the least! The breakthrough surely couldn't be that far off as another more conventionally taken Becks free kick thudded against the crossbar and flew out and there was a microsecond's hush as none of us, including Beckham himself could believe it hadn't gone in - and hadn't Steve been saying he should give Giggsy a go sometimes! Good that he was questioning about Becks on the night he put in a truly world class performance - you should do it more often mate! But we were thinking that we would be going down below at half-time at 0-0, however that was not on the agenda as far as our new signing was concerned. About ten minutes remained when Nev pumped a long and hopeful ball into the box and one of their defenders dutifully headed out right into the path of the Irishman who volleyed it into the net. I suppose it was inevitable - written into the script - and for Keano it was a more demonstrative celebration than per usual as he turned and applauded every corner of the ground with a big thankyou grin on his face. Nice to have you with us Roy. Half time down below stairs Steve and I meet up with Eliza and then wander off to meet the others by 135, pick up another copy of the Murdoch book from the men themselves with Walshy telling me his young son Patrick had been excitedly recounting his fight with an alien on Saturday! Wonder who that could have been! Back upstairs for the start of the second half just as the lads came back out. I don't know what they'd been feeding Beckham at half-time but he started turning up his own personal volume and took anyone and everyone on and beat them, turned round and did it all again. Obviously he wants that European player of the year award and on this sort of display, there's no doubt in my mind, he's going to get it even if he is up against Rivaldo's immense ego. He was superb and none more so than when he laid on the second goal for Ole, but why their defender chose to disregard the cross was baffling as he seemed to just about have the edge on Ole as they both went near post. But miss it he did and Ole gratefully slammed it into the net from close range and we were 2-0 up and laughing. The defender in question turned his back on his team-mates and just as well as even non Spanish speakers could have no doubt about the words being spat in his direction. Nigel told me afterwards that the two blokes next to him were both deaf and spent the whole time signing to each other and when Ole scored neither of them had seen who'd done it so mouthed the question to Nigel who for a split second wondered how he was going to get the message across. But being the smart arse he is, he mimed babyface and they instantly knew who he meant and started singing his name - out of sink with everyone else - but who cares! We didn't think there was anyway Valencia were going to recover from that and it seemed the majority of our lot thought the same as they drifted off into a deep sleep and twice within minutes Valencia could and perhaps should, have scored. That woke them up from their slumbers and when Andy had a point blank header saved, fell over and then somehow got up to fire in another which the keeper again saved, it woke us up too. All in vain though as the linesman's flag was up, but I haven't got a clue why as you surely can't be offside when the ball is played back to you by their goalkeeper. The ball was saved anyway so it didn't matter. By now we were singing again and with a couple of our subs warming up Scholsie tied the game up once and for all with a superb header. Becks had won a rather dubious free kick to our left and floated the ball to the near side of the eighteen yard box where Scholsie ran in and glanced a header past the keeper and into the far corner of the net. And that was that, three points in the bag and we could look forward to the next phase of the competition in March. Good to see Scholes get a goal as he'd seemed well off his game before that and uncharacteristically misplacing passes all over the shop. Almost immediately Yorkie and Nicky Butt came on and Andy and Scholes went off. It made no real difference except Yorke seemed slightly less sharp than he has been which resulted in him missing a golden opportunity to bag himself another goal after the ball had been crossed in again by Beckham and Giggs had flicked on a header falling right into Yorke's path who should have hit it first time. To be fair on Yorke the bounce off our wonderful playing surface was poor so maybe we can blame that rather than the man himself. In fact Keith Kent has got to do something serious about that pitch - no-one can be sure what the ball will do. The game ended with people leaving by the thousands - all of them more than likely due to travel the same route home as we were - and not being sure of what sort of journey awaited them, decided to avoid the last minute rush. We stayed until the end though and applauded the team from the pitch. As usual the last to leave was Becks who had to be man of the match, followed closely by Keano and Stam. It has to be said that Keano's signing is a major boost - you can see opposition players giving him space when he has the ball, visibly moving out of his way as he powers forward and shitting their pants as he closes in for the kill. He's a colossus and so is Stam. In amongst the crowd on my way out of K Stand, I spied a figure stopped at the wall which faces us as we walk down the stairs. The figure was writing on the wall at great speed and when I got close it read "Edwards...." and a second later, "Edwards OUT". I booted the figure up the backside who then turned around and smiled at me, but I just can't remember who it was - honestly! Back at the car I was surprised to find Nigel there already with Dobson arriving soon after and then a long while after that the doctor. Finally we get out on the road and fortunately the traffic is nowhere near as heavy as it was on the way up. We were entertained all the way back by the doctor and Nigel who ought to have their own radio chatshow after games as they are far far funnier than anyone else on the radio. Somebody really should sign them up. Apart from that the only other entertainment (if you can call it that) was Dobson's contribution which, if anyone has ever been in this man's presence you'll instantly know of it's nature as he has the most troublesome bowels of anyone I have ever known. I lost count of the amount of times we had to open the windows, choosing the blast of the freezing night air above the warm but stifling atmosphere within - it just wasn't pleasant. So that's me finished for a while (stop cheering at the back) as I'm off to sunnier climes for a couple of weeks. Copyright RED KELLY, 1999 No part of this work to be used without the author's permission
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Sound Archive from Last night! http://www.red11.org/sound Click on download here: http://www.red11.org/mufc/99/sound 51k Dec 09 1.20 ashley_grimes_chippy.rm http://www.red11.org/mufc/99/sound/ashley_grimes_chippy.rm Ashley Grimes working at the local OT Chippy! 151k Dec 09 3.58 martin_edwards_speaks_out_keano.rm Martin Edwards reaction on Roy's new contract! http://www.red11.org/mufc/99/sound/martin_edwards_speaks_out_keano.rm 51k Dec 08 1.20 press_conf_after_valencia.rm Sir Alex Press Conference directly after Valencia 3-0 win http://www.red11.org/mufc/99/sound/press_conf_after_valencia.rm 83k Dec 08 2.12 keano_signs_dec99.rm Roy Keane SIGNS NEW CONTRACT - First Interview before Valencia game! http://www.red11.org/mufc/99/sound/keano_signs_dec99.rm --------------------------------------------------------------- 33k Dec 07 0.51 keano_before_valencia.rm Roy Keane before Valencia http://www.red11.org/mufc/99/sound/keano_before_valencia.rm 105k Dec 07 2.46 bill_foulkes_before_valencia.rm Bill Foulkes before Valencia http://www.red11.org/mufc/99/sound/bill_foulkes_before_valencia.rm 56k Dec 07 1.29 alex_before_valencia.rm Alex press conference before Valencia http://www.red11.org/mufc/99/sound/alex_before_valencia.rm 1.07meg Dec 1 0.44 mutv_cracking_christmas.rm MUTV Willie Morgan phone in features Nick Oldham cartoon!REAL VIDEO http://www.red11.org/mufc/99/sound/mutv_cracking_christmas.rm www.red11.org Sound Archive [Real Audio] Match interviews and other HOT news in real audio as email attachments "WARNING" these are generally up to 100-200k 1-5 min clips. If you would like these mailings sent to you personally then just send your email address and name to Barry Please use Subject line ** remember to write either "subscribe Sound Archive" OR "unsubscribe Sound Archive" Archive: http://www.red11.org/sound/ **ALL files require the latest REAL PLAYER G2 version download for free at http://pluszone.real.com/ http://www.real.com/products/player/index.html?src=dlbutton_all Another service brought to you by http://www.red11.org World Of Manchester United FC Barry Leeming & Bill McArthur barry@www.red11.org
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MEN x 3 Manchester United News Paul Scholes celebrates with his teamates THE team who made fairytale script writing an art last season have rediscovered their literary imagination. Now you've really got to believe that Manchester United are back in Champions' League business. This European campaign has been devoid of the unbelievable tales dreamed up and brought to life by the Reds during last term's fantasy football. But when your defence of the trophy is potentially hanging by a thread and your on-field inspiration ends a six months will-he-or-won't-he go contract saga hours before this vital showdown with Valencia, then who else but Roy Keane could make the breakthrough? It's the kind of fanciful invention that we came to expect last season and it's heartening to know the Reds aren't written out when it comes to the dramatic yarn. Now United have revived their taste for the sensational and ironic story lines you just wish the European programme wasn't going on hold for three months. For full match details contact the Manchester Evening News. ---------------------------------------------------------- United bang on with Keane deal Roy Keane THE next time the Manchester United board are accused of putting profits before results, chairman Martin Edwards can silence his critics with just two words - Roy Keane. For the acknowledgment of Keane's worth to their club is welcome proof - some might say overdue proof - that chairman Edwards and his directors share the same ambitions as Sir Alex Ferguson and the Reds' supporters to establish Manchester United as not only the richest club in the world, but the best beyond any doubt. Make no mistake about it, the decision to make the inspirational Irishman the highest paid player in British soccer took guts. Edwards and his fellow board members will be only too aware that by handing Keane a new contract worth a staggering £50,000 per week they could be making a rod for their own backs. With all the extras, such as a testimonial, the toughest and most influential midfielder's in the world could top £10 million in earnings by the year 2003. For full story see tonight's Manchester Evening News. --------------------------------------------------- United boss hails priceless Roy By STUART MATHIESON Alex Ferguson MANCHESTER United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has hailed Roy Keane as the player the European champs could not afford to lose. The Reds captain steered United through their critical Champions League Group B match against Valencia with the breakthrough goal just hours after signing his new four-year Old Trafford contract. "Roy is such an influence on the team. I don't think we can do without him,'' said Fergie. "He has such a determination and will to win. He has a hunger about him which spreads right through the team. "There was a good atmosphere in the dressing room in the build-up to the match and Roy's news certainly helped. He told the other players at tea time and I think that helped. ``They all respect Roy Keane and know he's a great player. "It is a wonderful piece of news for us. I have had a few chats with Roy over the months and I have worked hard to make sure he knew how much we wanted him. I was confident he'd stay." For full story details see tonight's Manchester Evening News.
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Guardian report Keane starts repaying United's faith David Lacey at Old Trafford Thursday December 9, 1999 A sublime winter of contentment beckons Manchester United, who last night marked confirmation that Roy Keane would be staying at the club with a performance of sufficient quality to thwart Valencia's attempts to frustrate their progress in the Champions League. Having made up much of the ground lost through the 2-0 defeat by Fiorentina a fortnight earlier, the European champions can now concentrate fully on retaining their Premiership title in the knowledge that they are on course for a return to the quarter-finals next spring. Even the prospect of rolling down to Rio in January is no longer quite so irksome; a pity about the FA Cup, though. Keane's wages will cost Old Trafford roughly the equivalent of 1 per spectator per week for the next four years. Yet last night the fans would doubtless have contributed generously to a collection for the United captain had one been arranged. The announcement that he would not be leaving was timed to coincide with the kick-off, which guaranteed that the night got off to a roar ing start. Shortly before half-time he rewarded everybody by giving United the lead with a typically stunning piece of finishing. "Roy Keane epitomises everything I believe in in football," declared Sir Alex Ferguson after the game, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Paul Scholes having put the contest beyond Valencia's reach in the second half. Certainly the cost to United had Keane gone abroad would have been beyond price. The long-term effects of dismantling the wages structure to keep Keane, who now earns twice as much as David Beckham, can only be guessed at. But for the moment his con tinued presence in the team represents as good a guarantee as any of a continued presence by United in the Champions League. Valencia, missing Adrian Ilie, their inspirational Romanian, because of illness, set out to stifle United's attack, trap the opposition in culs-de-sac and catch them on the break. In Mendieta, clever and aggressive, they had a player to turn defence swiftly into attack, and for a time he and Oscar escaped the attentions of United's midfield as they linked with Claudio Lopez up front. One early run from Mendieta took him past Scholes and Gary Neville, the latter playing alongside Jaap Stam at centre-back, and but for an overhit centre Valencia might have caused United problems at the far post. Later a 30-yard lob from Lopez nearly caught Raimond van der Gouw off his line. Ferguson left Dwight Yorke on the bench until the last 18 minutes, recalling Beckham and Andy Cole but keeping Solskjaer, who had scored four of United's five goals against Everton at the weekend, in his attack. For half an hour United struggled to turn possession into opportunity. Then Beckham announced himself with a free-kick which ricocheted off the angle of post and bar. In the 38th minute a free-kick from Ryan Giggs was half cleared and after Gary Neville chipped the ball back into the goalmouth Amedeo Carboni, under pressure from Solskjaer, headed it out to the edge of the penalty area from where Keane drove an emphatic shot back past Palop. After that only Charlton Heston playing dead on a white horse could have saved Valencia. Any hope they might have had of saving the game disappeared in the second minute of the second half when Mauricio Pellegrino failed to clear Beckham's low cross from the near post and Solskjaer darted in behind him to score impudently. Jocelyn Angloma forced a one-handed save from Van der Gouw and Lopez should have done better than shoot over the bar after Carboni's through-pass caught United's defence square. By now, however, United had relaxed into exhibition mode, passing through Valencia's defence with a series of non chalant flicks and nudges. With 20 minutes remaining Scholes produced an action replay of his second goal for England against Scotland, rising well to meet Beckham's centre with a glancing header into the net. The rest was a matter of Ferguson shuffling his hand, with Nicky Butt and Yorke replacing Scholes and Cole. One was reminded of the recent comment by Giovanni Trapattoni, Fiorentina's coach, that United's strength lay in their ability to use different players in different positions and still play the same way. They will almost certainly have to beat Fiorentina at Old Trafford on the Ides of March to win their second-phase group but this victory, with two home games to come, has gone a long way towards ensuring they fill one of the first two places. The only untoward note last night was struck by the deteriorating state of Old Trafford's much-relaid pitch. For a United side depending so heavily on a quick and become an embarrassment.
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Beckham banned NOW BECKS IS BANNED! Thursday, December 09, 1999 14:02 David Beckham has joined Dwight Yorke and Andy Cole in being banned from driving. Becks' license has been taken away for eight months for speeding. David was in court on Thursday, and claimed he was attempting to escape from a paparazzi photographer who had tailed him from the front door of his house. Need a lift, guys?
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REDS DRAW WITH AUSSIE KIDS United's juniors drew 3-3 with the touring Australian Under-18 side at Littleton Road yesterday (Wednesday). The Reds were quickly into a two-goal lead thanks to Marc Whiteman (17 minutes) and Craig Coates (22). The Roos hit back through David Dreger and Chad Mansley, but John Rankin put United back in front with sixteen minutes to play. The Aussies equalised in the very last minute through Mansley to claim a creditable draw. The tourists had already played several games in England and Wales, and are due to travel to Ireland at the weekend. They will finish off their programme of matches with another match in England before returning Down Under.
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Times report Keane signs, seals and delivers MANCHESTER UNITED 3 VALENCIA 0 ANYONE pondering Manchester United's wellbeing, over the long or short term, had their questions emphatically answered last night by two bold statements. The first was that Roy Keane will remain the captain and inspiration at Old Trafford for the next 4? years was followed by a 90-minute declaration by his colleagues that their hunger for honours remains undimmed. The European Cup-holders may not have been quite back to their thrilling best of last season, but the margin of their triumph against Valencia, a team of no little menace, was proof that they can conjure victories against dangerous opposition when it really counts. Their 2-0 defeat away to Fiorentina in their opening game in group B of the Champions' League had left no margin for error, but United, after a few early jitters, gave Valencia a lesson in the art of high-class finishing. That the first goal came from Keane was a particular cause for celebration after the announcement, made over the public-address system with the game already under way, that he is to remain at the club into the next century. He told his team-mates over dinner a couple of hours before kick-off that he had spurned offers from abroad and victory was probably assured from the moment that they celebrated that momentous news. "The press had him leaving months ago but I was always confident," Sir Alex Ferguson, the United manager, said. "He epitomises everything that I believe a footballer should have: determination, will to win and hunger. People questioned it when I made him captain, but he has all the qualities I can identify with. It's a very good day for Manchester United, wonderful news." It was to get better thanks to second-half goals from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Paul Scholes and a performance of athleticism from David Beckham that was extraordinary even by his own standards. Anything less than victory would have sent United into the two-month European break with grave concerns over their ability to retain the trophy and Ferguson did not attempt to shy away from the burden on his players. "The pressure is on us, very much so," he had said, but he did so knowing that it is when the glare is at its most intense that his treble-winners come to life. They needed to against a Valencia side whose potency had not been exaggerated. In the first half, Claudio Lopez looked every bit the menacing striker that Gabriel Batistuta, his Argentine compatriot, had been in Florence, while some of Mendieta's trickery just behind the front pair more than justified Ferguson's description of him as a "fabulous little player". There was more than the odd scare, particularly when Angloma rampaged down the right flank, but United dominated possession as they constantly probed for an opening. Ryan Giggs was searing down the left flank while Beckham must have run a marathon along the right. If United took a little time to gather momentum it appeared that that was mostly because of the unfamiliar front pairing of Andy Cole and Solskjaer. The Norwegian's four-goal haul against Everton at the weekend ensured that his place was well merited, but the absence of Dwight Yorke, who was left on the bench until near the end, meant that Ferguson's team lacked someone to hold the ball up in the early stages. Gradually, though, they found their rhythm and kept on improving. Giggs had come close to a goal several times but it was Keane who put United ahead seven minutes before the interval with a wonderful finish. Gary Neville chipped the ball into the area, where Solskjaer's challenge forced a weak defensive header. The ball looped only as far as Keane, who had time to adjust and pick his spot. His drive from 18 yards was firm and low past Palop. The goal was a fair measure of United's dominance but, as Ferguson had given warning, they had to be alert to constant danger. Fears that United might be prey to a counterattack should have been extinguished when they doubled their lead a minute after half-time. It was a ludicrously simple goal, Beckham hitting a low cross to the near post, where Carboni inexplicably allowed Solskjaer to stab the ball past Palop. Yet the occasional moment of carelessness in defence meant that Valencia's threat would never be entirely discounted until United stretched their lead even further. Lopez will probably not miss a better opportunity all season than the chance that came to him, via a deflection off Phil Neville, in the 54th minute. He managed to stab a shot over the crossbar from eight yards as Van der Gouw prepared for the worst. Not long after, Oscar spooned a shot wide after yet another charge into enemy territory by Angloma. If they provided unsettling moments for Ferguson, relaxation was not long in coming as Scholes scored United's third goal, in the 69th minute. Beckham was again the provider as he whipped in a free kick from the right flank. The penalty area was full of bodies but, above them all, the ginger head of Scholes rose to direct a fine header into the far corner. The margin of triumph was proof to Ferguson that his side have finally shaken off the hangover that was inevitable after the intoxicating success of last season. They are rediscovering their best form - add Keane's decision to remain at Old Trafford and the rest of Europe, not just the rest of England, has reason to tremble. MANCHESTER UNITED (4-4-2): R van der Gouw - P Neville, G Neville, J Stam, D Irwin - D Beckham, R Keane, P Scholes (sub: N Butt, 70min), R Giggs - O G Solskjaer, A Cole (sub: D Yorke, 70). Substitutes not used: N Culkin, E Sheringham, J Cruyff, H Berg, D Higginbotham. VALENCIA (5-3-2): A Palop - J Angloma, M Djukic, J Bjorklund, M Pellegrino, A Carboni - F Farinos, L Milla, G Mendieta - C Lopez (sub: G Vlaovic, 85), Oscar (sub: J S?nchez, 68). Substitutes not used: Bartual, Camarasa, Soria, D Fagiani, Cabezas. Booked: Mendieta, Carboni, Farinos. Referee: K M Nielsen (Denmark). Group B P W D LF A Pts Fiorentina 2 1 1 02 0 4 Manchester United 2 1 0 13 2 3 Valencia 2 1 0 13 3 3 Bordeaux 2 0 1 10 3 1 RESULTS: Fiorentina 2 Manchester United 0; Valencia 3 Bordeaux 0; Manchester United 3 Valencia 0; Bordeaux 0 Fiorentina 0. MATCHES TO COME: Mar 1 2000: Manchester United v Bordeaux, Fiorentina v Valencia. Mar 7: Bordeaux v Manchester United, Valencia v Fiorentina. Mar 15: Manchester United v Fiorentina, Bordeaux v Valencia. Mar 21: Fiorentina v Bordeaux, Valencia v Manchester United.
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