www.red11.org DAILY NEWS
Date: Sun 12 Dec 1999 24:33 GMT
Mail: barry@www.red11.org
This Issue:
1. TODAY's FA CUP Personal Match Report from The Old Fart
2. Survey 63 results - UNITED's player of the month for November
3. JC ON THE PC
4. BRAZIL TICKET NEWS - official
5. UNITED ABSENCE SET TO HIT HOME
6. ANGRY ALEX WARNS BECKS
7. MEN Haves and have nots
8. Norse ace departs ! ««
9. Scholes op cancelled ««
10. Scholes hernia op put on hold
11. Beckham to miss out on accolade ««
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MANCHESTER UNITED DAILY NEWS Sun 12th Dec 1999:
Webmaster Comment:
TODAYS TRIVIA: The att: 4400 at the Dons FA CUP game yesterday
almost broke the OT record of 5000 daily vistors 365 days of the year!
*** Read The Old Farts Match report as David Beckham was dropped and did not
play at OT in yesterday's FA CUP! ENJOY the warm report!
* 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
----------------------
Red Devils' Webstation - @
????
URL:
This is the place for rantings, ravings and reverence
(well, mostly reverence) of the marvelous football institution known
as Manchester United FC ! Man United's All-Time Greatest XI and the
Red Devils' Hall of Fame ! Great Manchester United Line-ups in
History The Manchester United Squad United in Transition
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 [21:15] Manchester Utd. vs Necaxa (World Club Championship, AWAY)
08-JAN-2000 [21:15] Manchester Utd. vs Vasco de Gama (World Club Championship, 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 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
****************************************************
*pp? 15/17? 01/2000 Leeds Away PL 15.00 *not known
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
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| Click On pic - for latest interviews from OT |
TODAY's FA CUP Personal Match Report from The Old Fart
Oh sorry readers! I turned up at OT yesterday only to find the game was
cancelled due to unforseen circumstances. I sat in the stand ALL ALONE
in the Manchesters sunshine expecting the grass to grow?
[well it hasn't the last 6 months!]
Here is my PIE REPORT
- MOM (v Valencia)David Beckham was left on the bench accompanied by Posh Spice & Brooklyn!
Meat and/or meat and potato pies (Yes, I am daft!)
Bill McArthur wrote to me recently, enquiring about meat pie eating
techniques. Here is my reply.................
>>> BTW, the last time I was at OT (Dec 16 last year v Chelsea) I bought a
>pie BUT apparently there is a trick to being able to eat them out of the
>little aluminium dish. I guess I made a bollocks of it, because I was
>getting strange looks (although that's not always strange!). Anyways,
>what's the technique? <<<
With the plain, old meat and potato I usually leave it to cool off slightly
(under my seat for the whole of the first half normally does the trick!).
HOWEVER if I am ravenous I leave the pie in the foil dish (to ensure that
it does not collapse and burn my fingers!) and try to 'nibble' around the
edges, thus allowing the (Bessemer-furnace-like heat) to dissipate slowly,
before 'attacking' the main body of the pie.
Meat pies are a totally different kettle of fish!!! Meat pies are to be
avoided at all costs - unless you are as hard as Roy Keane or as daft as
Mick Meade. The reason for this is that the meat pie (pie case) contains
not just meat, but a liquid (of unknown composition) and that liquid is
well above boiling point. So the unsuspecting, first-time meat pie eater
will bite into the pie and allow a cascade of boiling liquid to pour down
their necks, causing, at best, third degree burns. If you are really
determined to have a meat pie I suggest that you buy it at least a week in
advance!
To be honest unless you grew up poor and disadvantaged (like myself) then I
would probably recommend giving any sort of pie a miss. Stick to those
things you know best like quail-egg butties or caviare and chips!
Next time I hope for more activoty on the pitch,
see you all for the next round of pie eating during this years FA Cup!
Keep the faith (even in complete nutters like me),
The OLD FART (United Kingdom)
THE ABOVE www.red11.org PIE REPORT IS COPYRIGHTED!
Only reports on spam, fish, chips & beans will be accepted in future!
TODAYS TRIVIA: The att: 4400 at the Dons FA CUP game yesterday
almost broke the OT record of 5000 daily vistors 365 days a year!
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| Click On pic - for all latest pics from OT |
Survey 63 results - UNITED's player of the month for November
1999?
Comments: To: RedDevils@onelist.com
Comments: cc: mufcstats@onelist.com
To: MUFC@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU
Who was UNITED's player of the month for November?
1 Beckham 22 38.6%
2 Cole 19 33.3%
3 Keane 10 17.5%
Scholes 4 7.0%
Berg 1 1.8%
Giggs 1 1.8%
PNeville 1 1.8%
Stam 1 1.8%
Yorke 1 1.8%
Total: 60 voted
Barry Comment:
A clear par of winners Becks/Andy with David just ahead by 5%!
Thanks for voting
----------------------
New Question now open: Which is your preferred pair of strikers?
Cole & Yorke
Solskjaer & Sheringham
Solskjaer & Yorke
Cole & Sheringham
Sheringham & Yorke
Cole & Solskjaer
Other
Vote now at - http://www.red11.org/survey
Survey Results Archive:
http://www.red11.org/mufc/survey/results.htm
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| Click On pic - for latest interviews from OT |
JC ON THE PC
Official site
Friday, December 10, 1999 11:06
United defender John Curtis, currently on loan at Barnsley,
is surfing this website to stay in touch with Old Trafford. The
Reds star revealed his surfing habit when he welcomed
Shoot magazine into his new home, telling their readers:
"After training, I click straight onto the Man United website.
The internet is certainly the way forward." That's one
switched on young man! Morning, John!
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| Click On pic - for latest pics from OT |
BRAZIL TICKET NEWS - official
FIFA WORLD CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP
Manchester United are in Group B and will play all their
games at the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro,
kicking off at 6.15pm local time.
The opposition teams are as follows:
Necaxa (Mexico) - 6 January 2000
Vasco da Gama (Brazil) - 8 January 2000
South Melbourne (Australia) - 11 January 2000
After careful consideration the club has decided not to
make any travel arrangements on behalf of our members.
Subject to the club receiving an allocation of tickets, those
members planning to make their own travel arrangements
must make an immediate application for tickets to the
Membership Office and must include the following: -
*A covering letter, stating the names and membership
numbers of those travelling.
*Also indicate all your travel details, which must include
date of departure, return date, flight numbers, the airport
you are flying from and to and accommodation details.
*You must also send an open cheque, payable to
Manchester United or, if paying by credit card please state
all the relevant card details.
*Finally you must send a registered envelope for the return
of your tickets.
It should be noted that we are only gathering this
documentation in the event we receive an allocation of
tickets and if this is the case, tickets will be allocated on a
first come first served basis.
Due to time limitations, tickets will be allocated for all the
group games, the 3rd & 4th place play-off game and also
the Final, which will both be played at the Maracana
Stadium on Friday 14 January.
The 3rd & 4th place play-off game will kick-off at 5.00pm
local time and the Final will kick-off at 8.00pm local time.
All applications should be addressed as follows:
FIFA Club World Championships Brazil 2000, Membership
Office, Manchester United, Old Trafford, Manchester M16
0RA.
Please contact the Membership Office on 0161 868 8450 if
you require any further information.
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| Click On pic - for latest interviews from OT |
UNITED ABSENCE SET TO HIT HOME
By David Anderson, PA Sport
Manchester United's withdrawal from the FA Cup will really hit home for
their fans this weekend, according to three-time winner Arthur Albiston.
Instead of watching their team begin the defence of the FA Cup, United
supporters have an unwanted extra Christmas shopping day.
For the first time since the war the holders will not defend the trophy
because United have pulled out to compete in FIFA's controversial World
Club Championship in Brazil next month.
Albiston, who helped United triumph in 1977, 1983 and 1985, believes the
disappointment of not competing in the greatest cup competition in the
world will really register for the fans when they see everyone else playing
in the third round.
"The fans were disappointed at the time when United withdrew during the
summer, but it's only now when everyone else starts playing that it really
kicks in," he said.
"The fans will watch Match of the Day tomorrow night and they'll see goals
going in off posts and all sorts of drama and it's then that they will
really miss the excitement of the cup.
"That feeling will continue as the cup progresses and I'm sure many will
feel disappointed again come the semi-finals and the final because of the
drama of last season."
Andy Walsh, chairman of the Independent Manchester United Supporters
Association (IMUSA), agreed but felt there was no point looking back.
"Yes, not playing in the FA Cup third round will be very disappointing, but
the decision has been taken and we just hope that the Brazil tournament
does not have an adverse affect on the rest of the season," he said.
Albiston also preferred to look forward and he pointed out that United's
non-participation does at least provide the players with a well-deserved
break ahead of the Christmas programme.
"United have made their decision and now they've got to get on with it," he
said.
"It's a total one-off and they've been told that they are doing the country
a favour, although whether they are remains to be seen.
"If they go to Brazil and win this tournament it could take the team to
another level and they would officially be the best team in the world.
"It's a break they would rather not have had, but it gives the players a
chance to put their feet up.
"They've had a very busy time recently and I'm sure the club will make the
most of it."
Cup sponsors Axa have accepted the situation following talks with the
Football Association, although they are as disappointed as anyone by the
loss of United.
"We have had a constructive dialogue with the FA throughout and we are
happy with how those discussions have gone," said spokesman Phil Hickley.
"We are disappointed, as are the club and the fans, but we understand the
predicament everyone has been in and life goes on.
"Of course we are going to have a slightly different FA Cup this season,
but we're happy that it's a one-off situation and that next season things
will return to normal and we will welcome United back into the competition."
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| Click On pic - for all player stats from OT |
ANGRY ALEX WARNS BECKS
By Alan Nixon, Mirror Sport?
David Beckham turned on a world-class display for Manchester United in the
Champions League - after the biggest roasting of his career from Sir Alex
Ferguson.
Beckham was in hot water with boss Ferguson after he was spotted out at a
late-night showbiz bash in London last week when he had been ordered to rest.
The England star was allowed to stop off in the capital last week after
requesting time to be with his pop star wife Victoria - Posh Spice - and
son Brooklyn.
Ferguson let Beckham stay with his family after the trip to Tokyo for the
World Club Cup final, but asked him to take it easy to recover from jet-lag.
But the Old Trafford chief was raging to find out that Beckham had stayed
out late - then had to be at training just hours later.
Ferguson immediately had angry words with his player about the incident,
and tore into him about his lifestyle during a meeting in his office.
Beckham was left out of the side against Everton on Saturday, although that
decision was made in advance. But the midfield ace gave the perfect reply
by giving a master-class display against Valencia on Wednesday.
However, there is a growing concern that Beckham is not getting enough rest
because of his showbiz demands clashing with his playing duties.
© PA Sporting Life
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MEN Haves and have nots
Pete Spencer, John Prince and Nina Haigh
Terry Robinson, chairman of Bury
ROY KEANE'S new £2.5 million a year contract, making him
Britain's highest paid footballer, has stunned the soccer
world.
The historic four-year deal that has broken United's strict
pay policy demonstrates beyond any doubt that the game's
haves are getting richer and the Reds are determined to
retain their world class status.
And the poor, including little Bury, Rochdale,
Macclesfield and Oldham? Well, they have a constant battle
to balance their books with some young pros earning as
little as £10,000 a year, although more senior established
players earn up to £100,000 annually.
The average wage in the Premiership is, according to PFA
boss Gordon Taylor, around £250,000-a-year compared with
£25,000 in the third division.
Reds' skipper Keano rocketing to the top of the soccer pay
league in Britain and not so far behind Italy's top
earners, has sent shock waves through British football.
Such is the respect inspirational Keane has among his
superstar team-mates they have no resentment. A typical
dressing room reaction came from Gary Neville who said
Keane is more important that any other player at Old
Trafford.
Elsewhere views are mixed, with some clubs, including
Bolton Wanderers, expressing fears that players' wage
expectations will be far higher, while Bury's long-serving
chairman Terry Robinson says the Premiership is a different
world - and Keane was a very special case.
Robinson, a former member of the Football League
committee, told M.E.N. Sport: ``The issue for United was
how were they going to replace him...and how much would
that have cost? The important issue for me is finding a
way for lower division clubs to be able to generate money.
The fact is United could clearly afford to keep Keane.''
Robinson is battling to trim Bury's annual wage bill for
all the squad and back-up staff to a total of £1m - less
that half what Keane will pocket.
As this special M.E.N. Sport investigation reveals, the
smaller clubs in the region are not so much leagues adrift
in their wage bills - they are planets apart.
United's pay bill this year for the 500 full-time and many
more part-time staff at Old Trafford, including the
players, runs to about £37m.
Keane's new contract is almost equal to the £2.8m total
wages bill for everyone at First Division Stockport County.
And even Manchester City, with such a superb fanbase, pay
out to their whole staff only £6m a year.
That means the Blues' top earners probably earn around
£5,000-a-week, reflecting the club's first division
status. Clearly the Blues can compete as Gillingham's cult
hero Robert Taylor spurned the chance to go to Premiership
Spurs and Scottish Premier side Hearts to chase his dream
of playing at the highest level.
Blackburn Rovers, in the Premiership in 1997-98, that year
spent nearly £20m in wages.
Bolton Wanderers, with their magnificent Reebok stadium
and Premiership pedigree, suffered the drop too, and had a
wage bill of nearly £9m in 1997-98.
In the the same year, Crewe Alexandra, who through their
pioneering work with young players, astute management and
the brilliance of manager and coach Dario Gradi, remain in
the First Division, spent £1.6m.
Division Two Blackpool paid £2.1m in salaries and wages in
1997-98 and Burnley just under £2m.
Oldham, who have experienced their own traumatic ups and
downs over the years, struggle in Division Two, but paid
out £2.3m, Preston £2.8m and Wigan £1.7m. Even down in the
basement third division, Rochdale paid out £1.1m and
bottom club Chester almost the same.
Stockport chairman Brendan Elwood said:``It is true that
Roy Keane's reported new salary is very little short of
our total club wages bill - and our own aggregate bill is
actually higher than many other clubs in the League
because we do pay fairly good wages.
``But big money is not always the answer. Some clubs have
thrown money at the job and it hasn't worked. Bigger wage
bills do not necessarily bring more success.''
(Club wages figures from Deloitte and Touche Annual Review
of Football Finance)
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Norse ace departs ! ««
Norwegian striker Erik Nevland has returned back home, the frontman joining
Viking Stavanger in a deal believed to be worth £250,000.
Nevland has failed to make an impact during two years at Old Trafford after
impressing on trial.
He joined for £300,000 with add-on payments should he progress but his
career has stalled in the reserves and his agent Rune Hauge has arranged a
return back to his native land.
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Scholes op cancelled ««
Sir Alex Ferguson has postponed Paul Scholes' hernia operation for a second
time, asking the midfielder to continue playing through the pain.
The United boss originally wanted Scholes to have the surgery before the
recent international break when the United star broke Scottish hearts with
two goals at Hampden Park.
Despite suffering from the injury stiffening up after matches, Scholes made
key contributions against Everton and Valencia - indicating to Ferguson
that the surgery could be delayed further.
The Reds boss may try to nurse him through the next matches against West
Ham and Bradford before the club fly out to Brazil.
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Scholes hernia op put on hold
BY STUART MATHIESON
Paul Scholes PAUL Scholes has had his hernia operation put
on ice by Manchester United.
Plans for the Reds and England midfielder to have surgery
have been shelved indefinitely and the 25-year-old will
continue to grit his teeth to aid United's Premiership
Christmas push.
A date for Scholes to have his hernia trouble sorted out
had been pencilled in by United once the two Champions'
League matches in the second group stage had been
completed.
The holders' 3-0 victory against Valencia at Old Trafford
in midweek concluded the European Cup programme for this
year ahead of a three-month winter break and Scholes
looked set for a date with the surgeon's knife.
But manager Sir Alex Ferguson has revealed Scholes will
remain available to him.
``We're not doing anything about it. We've decided to
leave it at the moment,'' Fergie told M.E.N. Sport.
``You want to avoid surgery if you can and Paul is going
to play on. He's still pain after matches and if he plays
a lot of games in a row he starts to feel it but he's
never complained and has done very well this season so
we're going to leave things as they are.''
Scholes has been battling on through the pain barrier all
season and has been in excellent form for both United and
England.
Scholes' midfield colleague Nicky Butt underwent surgery
on his hernia problem in October and was back in first
team action for United just four weeks later.
With no game this weekend for FA Cup absentees United a
potential window of opportunity opened up for Scholes to
go into hospital immediately following the Valencia match.
It would have kept his time on the sideline down to a
minimum with next Saturday's visit to West Ham United and
the festive programme against Bradford City at Old
Trafford on Boxing Day and the trip to Sunderland's
Stadium of Light three days after Christmas as the matches
he'd have missed.
United go to Brazil in January for FIFA's inaugural World
Club championship for a fortnight and Scholes could have
either returned for Rio or stay back in Manchester
recuperating.
However, the midfielder will play on and the Reds will
have their fingers crossed that the problem doesn't get
any worse in the New Year. United's programme intensifies
in 2000 and there'll be little opportunity for Scholes to
have surgery and miss so few matches and he'll also have
England's three-week European Championship stretching his
season into late June.
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Beckham to miss out on accolade ««
David Beckham is set to lose out to Rivaldo for the European Footballer of
the Year award announced on December 21.
Beckham has been shortlisted for the award which is organised by France
Football but reports are suggesting that Barcelona midfielder Rivaldo is to
land the accolade.
The 27-year-old Brazilian was told on Thursday that his name is top of the
list, dashing hopes that Beckham would pick up the honour.
Barcelona coach Louis van Gaal sounded unimpressed when he was told of his
star player's impending honour.
Rivaldo has fallen out with Barca president Josep Nunez this season over
the renewal of his contract and his relationship with the coach is also on
the rocks.
Van Gaal, in the wake of runours this week, may have preferred Beckham to
have won - the United star will instead receive the Silver Ball.
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