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www.red11.org DAILY NEWS
Date: Wed Mar 17 07:54:37 GMT+00:00 1999
Mail: barry@www.red11.org
This Issue:
1. BBC Business: The Company File BSkyB bid for Man Utd'kicked out'
2. Probable Inter Team
3. CHAMPIONS LEAGUE QUARTER FINALS PREVIEWS
4. Keane Not Tamed by Ban Threat
5. Ferguson's Laughing Cavaliers - Independent
6. Oliver Holt Preview (Times)
7. List Member Makes the News!
8. Leading Premier Scorers March 13: REDS are 1(16), 3(15) and 8(10)
++++++=========+++++++========+++++++++========++++++++
Daily RED Trivia Wednesday 17th March 1999:
17/3/1934: Jack Griffiths made his debut against Fulham. Griffiths won a Second Division
Championship medal in 1936 and again in 1938 helped his side gain promotion. A
long-striding Full-back, he made 176 appearances between 1934-39.
1984: United hammer Arsenal 4-0 at Old Trafford in a Division 1 game watched
by 48,942. Arnold Muhren 2, Bryan Robson and Frank Stapleton scored the goals.
Team was: Bailey, Duxbury, Albiston, Wilkins, Moran, Hogg, Robson, Muhren,
Stapleton, Whiteside (Hughes), Moses.
***************
Barry Daily Comment:
"VERY HOT NEWS" from MILAN Tues evening 1900 hrs!
It was requested that this message be sent out all over the world to let
you know that our TEAM is in good capable hands.........here goes
19.07 pm Tues evening Denmark
I have just been on a direct REDHOT line with the
"La Cappiva Campagui" a bar situated in the center of Milan, Italy.
Right now the bar staff are being entertained by a very horny and inebriated
Richard Martin accompanied by Michael Meade, his mate Vin and quote
"Georgous Hazel" Hazel predicts 1-1 tomorrow and will give all her love to Andy and Dwight
as soon as she gets a chance! Vin agreed, we will score and that Jaap Stam will take out
Ronaldo by neatly placing him in his pocket. Mick told me, no quote, "a
pack of lies" as usual but his humour is most definatley in TOP GEAR!
Some Italian bloke spoke in broken English "Chin Chin Sante' Skol, We Love
you from Italy" He knew where Denmark was and wishes all the berst for tommorrow. He DID
NOT seem to disagree when I mentioned a win for Manchester United tomorrow :))
Message from the whole party was that the locals are GREAT and the
atmosphere is building at a HOT HOT HOT tempo.
Lastly "mother's and father's please lock your daughters up for the night"
THE RED ARMY is in town!
Over and out from Denmark, THAT was an entertaining phone call!!!!
Barry
http://www.red11.org/mufc/news
Previous News:
Brian Kidd Press conference, pic, real audio
http://www.iol.ie/~redcafe/kidd.htm
Peter Schmeichel's last Season at United!
http://www.red11.org/mufc/news/schmeichel.htm
Next games:
ALL Result/Fixture Index:
http://www.red11.org/mufc/fix9899z.htm
March
TODAY! Inter Milan (A) ECL "Quarter Final" 2nd leg 19.45
21 Everton (H) 15.00 PL
April
3 Wimbledon (A) 15.00 PL
7 European Cup Semi??
11 FAC Semi Arsenal at Villa Park Live Sky Sports Uk
17 Sheff Wed (H) 15.00? PL
21 European Cup Semi??
25 Leeds (A) 11.30 {am} UK PL Live Sky Sports UK
UNITED Stats v All teams:
http://www.red11.org/mufc/stats/
*** FAC QUARTER-FINAL RESULT ON 16/03/99 ***
Barnsley 0-1 TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR 18,793
*** LEAGUE TABLE AS AT 14/03/99 ***
Pos Team P W D L F A GD Pts
---------------------------------------------------------
1 Manchester United 29 17 9 3 65 30 35 60
2 Arsenal 29 15 11 3 40 13 27 56
3 Chelsea 28 14 11 3 41 23 18 53
4 Leeds United 29 14 9 6 45 26 19 51
5 Aston Villa 29 12 8 9 39 34 5 44
6 Derby County 29 11 11 7 31 28 3 44
7 West Ham United 29 12 7 10 32 39 -7 43
8 Wimbledon 29 10 10 9 33 41 -8 40
9 Liverpool 28 11 6 11 52 37 15 39
10 Tottenham Hotspur 29 9 12 8 34 34 0 39
11 Newcastle United 29 10 8 11 38 39 -1 38
12 Middlesbrough 28 8 12 8 37 39 -2 36
13 Sheffield Wednesday 29 10 5 14 35 32 3 35
14 Leicester City 28 8 10 10 28 37 -9 34
15 Coventry City 29 8 7 14 31 40 -9 31
16 Everton 29 7 10 12 22 32 -10 31
17 Charlton Athletic 29 6 10 13 33 40 -7 28
18 Blackburn Rovers 29 6 9 14 29 41 -12 27
19 Southampton 29 7 5 17 27 56 -29 26
20 Nottingham Forest 29 4 8 17 26 57 -31 20
*** TEAM RESULTS - MANCHESTER UNITED - AS AT 20/02/99 ***
Date Opposition Score Pos. Attend.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
15/08/98 Leicester City Home D 2-2 11 55,052
22/08/98 West Ham United Away D 0-0 11 26,039
09/09/98 Charlton Athletic Home W 4-1 9 55,147
12/09/98 Coventry City Home W 2-0 5 55,193
20/09/98 Arsenal Away L 0-3 10 38,142
24/09/98 Liverpool Home W 2-0 3 55,181
03/10/98 Southampton Away W 3-0 2 15,251
17/10/98 Wimbledon Home W 5-1 2 55,265
24/10/98 Derby County Away D 1-1 2 30,867
31/10/98 Everton Away W 4-1 2 40,079
08/11/98 Newcastle United Home D 0-0 3 55,174
14/11/98 Blackburn Rovers Home W 3-2 2 55,198
21/11/98 Sheffield Wednesday Away L 1-3 2 39,475
29/11/98 Leeds United Home W 3-2 2 55,172
05/12/98 Aston Villa Away D 1-1 2 39,241
12/12/98 Tottenham Hotspur Away D 2-2 1 36,079
16/12/98 Chelsea Home D 1-1 2 55,159
19/12/98 Middlesbrough Home L 2-3 3 55,152
26/12/98 Nottingham Forest Home W 3-0 3 55,216
29/12/98 Chelsea Away D 0-0 3 34,741
10/01/99 West Ham United Home W 4-1 3 55,180
16/01/99 Leicester City Away W 6-2 2 22,091
31/01/99 Charlton Athletic Away W 1-0 1 20,043
03/02/99 Derby County Home W 1-0 1 55,174
06/02/99 Nottingham Forest Away W 8-1 1 30,025
17/02/99 Arsenal Home D 1-1 1 55,171
20/02/99 Coventry City Away W 1-0 1 22,596
27/02/99 Southampton Home W 2-1 1 55,316
13/03/99 Newcastle United Away W 2-1 1 36,500
******
Champions League:
Group D P W D L F A Pts
Bayern Munich 6 3 2 1 9 6 11
Man United 6 2 4 0 20 11 10
Barcelona 6 2 2 2 11 9 8
Brondby 6 1 0 5 4 18 3
Dec 9 Brøndby 0-2 Barcelona
Dec 9 Man Utd 1-1 Bayern Munich
******
CHAMPIONS' LEAGUE QUARTER-FINALS
Manchester Utd 2 v 0 Inter Milan
Real Madrid 1 v 1 Dynamo Kiev
Juventus 2 v 1 Olympiakos
Bayern Munich 2 v 0 Kaiserslautern
return Ties to be played on March 17
++++++=========+++++++========+++++++++========++++++++
Good luck to REDS all over the world tonight! [click on pic for preview]
Subject: BBC Business: The Company File BSkyB bid for Man Utd'kicked out'
Manchester United is the richest club in football
BSkyB's takeover bid for Manchester United has reportedly been turned down
by the Monopolies and
Mergers Commission (MMC).
The Daily Telegraph newspaper quotes sources close to the Department of
Trade and Industry as saying that the
MMC had found that the satellite broadcaster's £625m agreed takeover bid
was not in the public interest.
According to the paper, the MMC questioned undertakings that BSkyB's
ownership of the Premiership football club would not give it
an unfair advantage when negotiating broadcasting
rights to matches.
Trade and Industry Secretary Stephen Byers is expected
to decide by the middle of next month whether or not to
accept the MMC's recommendation.
The DTI declined to say what recommendation it had
received from the MMC.
"We do not comment on unpublished reports from the
MMC," said a spokesman.
"They filed their report to the Secretary of State on the
12th (of March). Mr Byers will publish the report as soon
as practicable."
BSkyB, which is controlled by Rupert Murdoch, already
has the exclusive rights to the live screenings of English
Premiership football until 2001.
Last month the UK's commercial television
regulator, the Independent Television Commission (ITC),
expressed reservations about the proposed takeover.
Responding to newspaper reports that it had urged the
MMC to block the takeover, the ITC said any such deal
would need to be carefully investigated "to ensure that
there will be effective competition".
The proposed takeover has produced widespread
opposition among fans and small shareholders of
Manchester United - the richest club in football - and
from other, smaller clubs.
Floodgates open
They fear that the deal will lead to a reduction in the
revenues received by smaller clubs, and ultimately a
European super-league of top clubs that can only be
viewed on a pay-per-view basis.
Sports Minister Tony Banks and Football Taskforce head
David Mellor are among those who have expressed
reservations about the deal.
If the Manchester United bid does goes through, it looks
set to open the floodgates for the ownership of other
football clubs by broadcasters.
Newcastle United has already received a bid from cable
operator NTL, while until recently Arsenal was in talks
with television broadcaster Carlton.
Good luck to REDS all over the world tonight! [click on pic for preview]
Subject: Probable Inter Team
According to Italian Teletext, Inter are expected to line up as follows:
Pagliuca
Bergomi West Colonnese
Zanetti Simeone Cauet Silvestre
Baggio Ronaldo Zamorano
Winter, Djorkaeff and Ventola, who all played in the first leg, are
expected to start on the bench tomorrow.
Good luck to REDS all over the world tonight! [click on pic for preview]
Subject: CHAMPIONS LEAGUE QUARTER FINALS PREVIEWS
BECKHAM PUTS ON BRAVE FACE
The intimidating atmosphere of Inter Milan's Siro Stadium holds no
fears for David Beckham - thanks to the British boo boys who have
boosted his season in their efforts to wreck it. Beckham-bating
became a national pastime after the Manchester United star was
sent off during last summer's World Cup, but he reckons the rival
fans' efforts to put him off his game have had the reverse effect
and he is ready for anything that happens in Italy tonight.
''We know when we get there the fans are going to be behind their
team and will be booing us. That is going to make for some
atmosphere but you get used to things like that. It's part and parcel
of football and I have learned to handle it, and get on with my
game,'' he said head of another encounter with Argentinean Diego
Simeone, the player at the centre of his controversial red card
during France '98.
Beckham says both players have put that issue behind them after
United's 2-0 win a fortnight ago. When they shook hands, embraced
and exchanged shirts, the United midfielder says it was a spur of
the moment reaction. ''It wasn't planned it was just one of those
things. People had hyped up the game and the confrontation
between us so much that on the night everybody was expecting
fireworks but it didn't happen. Everything we did after the game
was done in a football playing sense. I was pleased people looked at
it and said that what happened in the summer was all over.''
Beckham gave an outstanding performance in the first leg and
hopes he can silence Milan's volatile crowd with a repeat, his
second appearance at the magnificent Giuseppe Meazza Stadium
after playing a friendly there with the Reds. ''I haven't played there
in a game which has meant as much as this but I am looking forward
to it. I enjoyed the first leg but I enjoy playing football, so when we
are winning and when we are playing well, then all the better.''
Both Dwight Yorke's goals in the first game came from Beckham
crosses and the England midfielder is hoping to get the same
freedom to attack down the right flank that he did at Old Trafford.
''Most of our attacking comes down the left but I got involved in
that game and enjoyed it. When you have got players like Dwight
Yorke and Andy Cole up front all you have to do is pop the ball on
their heads. It's my job to do that and it's their job to finish it''.
Ferguson: 'We Can Win It All'
Compiled by Gavin Willacy
INTER MILAN (0) v MANCHESTER UNITED (2)
Alex Ferguson believes United can be crowned Kings of Europe if
they pass their San Siro test. The United boss reckons tonight's
game will be the sternest examination yet of his side's Champions
League credentials. Italian teams have always been among the best
in Europe, and Ferguson believes United can go all the way to glory
in Barcelona on 26 May if they dispose of Inter.
Ferguson feels the Champions League laurels will be within their
grasp if they can protect their 2-0 lead in the intimidating arena
which is the San Siro. ''I think they know if they can get by they
can win it,'' he said. ''I think this is the hardest one for them and
they are aware of that. There is a great incentive for us because I
think Italian teams have been the barometer of success in Europe
over the past decade. If we can knock an Italian team out of
Europe, then we will be taking a giant stride.''
United could hardly be in better shape going into their biggest game
of the season. They are closing in on the treble of Champions
League, Premiership and FA Cup on the back of a three-month
unbeaten run, and all of the first team regulars are fit.
''We have come here in good heart, and I don't think I could go into
the game in better condition in terms of form and
player-availability,'' said Ferguson. But as he contemplated facing
Ronaldo and Co in front of 80,000 screaming Inter fans, Ferguson
did admit that he wished he had a few of his old hands in the
trenches.
''I would think we're the best equipped we have ever been for a
European game,'' he said. ''But when I look back at some players, I
maybe wish I had some of them. I think the present players have
answered most questions so far, although they have not actually
excelled on the European stage in terms of winning games against
Barcelona and Bayern Munich. In Barcelona and Bayern, they should
have won, and there are lessons there in terms of concentration
and defending, which will be important.''
United have more than made up for the loss of Eric Cantona with
Dwight Yorke and Andy Cole scoring 47 times this season, and
Ferguson feels one of them can score the precious away goal,
which he believes will book their place in the semi-finals.
United banged in 11 away goals in their three group matches, and
Ferguson said: ''I think we can score and I think we have proved
that this season. We've gone to Barcelona and scored three times
and Bayern Munich, who have probably the best defence in the
championships so far, and scored twice. I can't see Inter
representing a bigger challenge than Barcelona or Bayern in that
respect. I know the ability of my players, and the form Yorke and
Cole are in, they are capable of scoring against anyone. If we get
one goal, I think we will win it.''
United did suffer a blow when Jesper Blomqvist injured an ankle in
training, but even if it forces the Swede out the camp remains
confident.
'STAM CAN BE NEXT UNITED ROCK' SAYS IRWIN
United defender Dennis Irwin believes Dutch colleague Jaap Stam
could become an all-time great - starting tonight in Milan.
''It's early days for Jaap at United so he has some way to go when
you compare him with Bruce and Pallister but he is capable of
growing into the players they were,'' Irwin told the Manchester
Evening News. ''Considering it's his first season he has been brilliant.
It took him a little while to settle in, although in saying that he
wasn't playing that bad, but the media were on his back. That was
unfair but he just got on with it.
''Since Christmas, Jaap has been outstanding. He has got everything
you want in a central defender. He is big and strong, he's quick and
good in the tackle. Since he has run into great form the defence
has looked more solid. You can see in training that you wouldn't like
to have to take him on in a one-on-one situation because he's as
strong and quick as anybody I have ever seen. There have been
reports in the press saying that he is sluggish but I don't know
where they get that from.
''I don't think there is any doubt now that Ronaldo will play and Jaap
has marked him before and done very well against him. In the first
20 minutes in the San Siro I think they are going to be going
gung-ho and come at us quite a bit and hope to go on from there.
We have to be aware of that and alert to that but the defence
have the ability to cope,” he added.
A further endorsement of Stam came from England striker Alan
Shearer. The Newcastle front man was comprehensively shut out by
United's Dutchman at St James' Park on Saturday and is quick to
heap praise on the blossoming Dutchman.
''The biggest compliment anyone is paying Jaap Stam these days is
the fact that nobody is mentioning the transfer fee anymore,''
Shearer told the Manchester Evening News. ''He is a good defender,
big strong and quick. He's good in the air and reads things well. He
is a typical Manchester United player because he is quality. You are
never going to get it easy against him. You know you are in for a
game when you play against Jaap. He has fitted in very well into
the English game. There is no doubt he is more than capable of
following the likes of Steve Bruce and Gary Pallister.
''If United go on to lift the European trophy as everyone hopes they
do for the sake of English football, then they'll prove to be the
greatest Manchester United side ever in my opinion and Jaap will
have contributed greatly to that. I have played against Ronaldo and
if he plays then it will be a good confrontation between the two.
But it is not about Jaap Stam and Ronaldo. It is about Manchester
United and Inter and at this moment in time United have the
advantage and I hope they do it.''
UNITED DEFENDER BERG: 'WE MUST ATTACK'
Norwegian defender Henning Berg is adamant that the only way
United can progress tonight is by attacking Inter and seeing if Andy
Cole and Dwight Yorke can extend United's amazing 22-goal romp
through Europe. While the Reds' defence has been woeful at times,
Inter's progress has been based on keeping it tight... until they
came up against Yorke a fortnight ago.
''We have the quality up front in Dwight Yorke and Andy Cole and
we must have the bottle to mount a few attacks ourselves,'' said
Berg. ''We are capable of keeping a clean sheet in the San Siro - I
have no doubts about that - but I don't think we can defend for 90
minutes. That would be asking a lot. It would be a tough and
difficult task. We have to have the bottle to play a bit as well and
maybe try to get a few attacks going because we know we have
the ability in attack to get goals.
"If we can get a goal then Inter are going to have to be able to
score four in reply to knock us out and that is going to be very
hard. The key for us is to have the courage to have a go at them.
We can't afford to sit back all the time and try to hold on to our
first leg lead.''
Berg's first season last year following his £5m transfer from
Blackburn Rovers saw United fail to win a trophy after being in a
position to challenge for the treble. Now the clean sweep is on the
cards again and Berg is desperate not to end the campaign
empty-handed.
''The fact we didn't win a thing last year after going so well is in the
back of everybody's minds,'' he says. ''Missing like that hurt us all
and we don't want that to happen again. The thought of that drives
us on. We are going to be doing all we can to win something. We
have a great squad, an even stronger one than last season, and it
would be disappointing not to win something again with the pool we
have.''
That squad means an anxious wait for Berg as he awaits manager
Alex Ferguson's team announcement. Berg or Ronny Johnsen for the
role as Jaap Stam's defensive sidekick appears to be the only
dilemma facing the Reds' boss. Johnsen won the vote in the first leg
at Old Trafford against Inter but then had to retire at half time
injured and made way for his Norwegian compatriot. Berg has been
in the starting line-up ever since.
INTER AXE MOANING SOUSA
Portuguese midfielder Paulo Sousa has been kicked out of the Inter
squad to face United by Romanian boss Mircea Lucescu after he
criticised his own team. After being substituted during last
weekend's draw with AC Milan, Sousa said: "Nothing is working
properly at Inter...Lucescu has not given the team a system of
play...the coach is just sending 11 players onto the pitch and telling
them to get on with it."
Sousa missed the first leg at Old Trafford and was available again.
Likewise Italian winger Francesco Moriero, who will play some part.
On a more positive note, Lucescu, said: “this is the match of the
season for us and the most important in my coaching career.
Anything can happen. The decisive factor will be playing and
battling as a real team. I am convinced that my players are
determined to fight from the first minute to the last. After all,
Manchester United won 2-0 in 90 minutes at Old Trafford, so I see
no reason not to feel confident about us doing at least the same
before our own fans. We believe in our chances.
“It’s not that I believe in miracles,” he added. “I am basing my
optimism on hard facts. Firstly, I think that the 2-0 at Old Trafford
was a deceptive result because we played well and proved that we
are a match for Manchester United. Secondly, Inter is a group of
outstanding players who have the ability and the character to win
all decisive matches."
Veteran defender Giuseppe Bergomi is looking forward to what may
be his last huge game on the European stage. "There’s an air of big
expectation and tension which makes this a very special occasion,"
he said. "I have the same feeling as when we played Real Madrid
during my first European campaign in April 1981. We have to give
our all in such an important match, but we will also need patience
and intelligence in such a decisive match.”
Good luck to REDS all over the world tonight! [click on pic for preview]
Subject: Keane Not Tamed by Ban Threat
Roy Keane goes into tonight's quarter-final with Inter
Milan promising not to hold back - despite knowing that
one act of madness would lead to a semi-final ban.
Keane is currently walking a disciplinary tightrope, with
himself and Paul Scholes already on one booking and
facing a possible suspension if they are cautioned in the
next vital 90 minutes against the masters of the dirty
tricks.
But Keane is refusing to tiptoe through what could be an
explosive tie in the volatile atmosphere of the San Siro.
The Old Trafford skipper insisted: "Obviously I know
about the yellow card situation. But I can't change now. I
have to be careful and sensible, of course, but I have also
got to play my own game. I can't back-off and go out in
the San Siro tip-toeing about and not making tackles.
Harsh
"Paul Scholes is in the same position as me and we will
be going out to make our normal contribution. If you get
booked for making a challenge that's just part of football.
What you have to guard against though is going in the
book for something silly.
"My Old Trafford caution was a bit harsh, but now I will
have to watch myself. I know what to expect.
Keane is on a mission to put a dismal record straight
with United's six visits to Italy ending in six defeats. Boss
Alex Ferguson is just as upbeat and feels now is the
time to bring back the European Cup - after a 31-year
wait!
He said: "If we get one goal I think we will win it against
Inter. I think this team knows that if we get by Inter Milan
we can win the European Cup."
Inter Milan's Paulo Sousa has been axed from the side
for tonight's second leg after blasting coach Mircea
Lucescu. In an interview with Italian television, Sousa
said Inter lacked an organised game and that Lucescu
simply told his players to go out and play.
But Lucescu said last night that Sousa, who won the
European Cup with Juventus and Borussia Dortmund but
has been plagued by injuries in two seasons with Inter,
would not play.
Sousa stated that Inter had no chance of overcoming the
2-0 first-leg deficit.
"I'm not calling him up because if he doesn't believe in
our qualification, it is futile to play him,'' said the
Romanian coach.
Good luck to REDS all over the world tonight! [click on pic for preview]
Subject: Ferguson's Laughing Cavaliers - Independent
Yorke and Cole enter the San Siro as possibly the best strike force in
United's history.
By Phil Shaw
IT WAS the goal which confirmed the primacy of the partnership between
Dwight Yorke and Andy Cole and killed off any lingering hopes the likes of
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Teddy Sheringham may have harboured. The moment
when, as David Beckham's other half might have put it, two became one hell
of a duo.
The scene was the Nou Camp Stadium in November, early in the second half of
a frenetic Champions' League fixture. After the shock of conceding a
first-minute goal to Barcelona, Manchester United had recovered to equalise
through Yorke. Probing the left side of the home defence, Roy Keane rolled
a pass inside towards the Tobagan 25 yards from goal. whereupon Cole takes
up the story.
"Dwight dummied it and as soon as he let the ball run I knew that he
wouldn't stand still, that he'd make a run. So I thought I'd play a
one-two. Dwight could either go on himself or knock it back to me.
Fortunately for me, he knocked it back." Unfortunately for Ruud Hesp,
Barca's Dutch goalkeeper, Cole knocked it past him.
The scorer's analysis talks of what he "thought" he would do. However, the
most striking aspect of the build-up was the apparent lack of deliberation
and the part played by intuition, or "telepathy" as Wilf McGuinness, the
former United player and manager, characterises it. When Yorke stepped over
the ball he knew instinctively that Cole was behind him and moved
instantaneously for the pass which was duly played.
Cole, in turn, anticipated precisely where to run for the reciprocal pass
from Yorke. In a matter of seconds the ball nestled in the Catalan net,
prompting Alan Hansen to hail the goal as "a masterpiece".
Since that game, which finished 3-3, the understanding that was blossoming
between United's front two has burgeoned, perhaps even beyond Alex
Ferguson's expectations. Beckham, whose crosses enabled Yorke to give
United a 2-0 first-leg lead over Internazionale in their European Cup
quarter-final, says the pair's perpetual motion make his job easy.
Going into the second leg in Milan tonight, Yorke has amassed 26 goals and
Cole 21. The latter's brace in Saturday's win at the club who sold him for
£7m, Newcastle, means it is already the most prolific partnership of the
Ferguson era, overtaking the mark set by Eric Cantona and Mark Hughes in
1993-94. Yet what really sets apart the double act which could bring the
Treble to Old Trafford is the transparent pleasure Yorke and Cole take in
making goals for each other.
In his mind's eye McGuinness, a former Busby Babe and England player, can
still see Tommy Taylor in tandem with Dennis Viollet before Munich. He
worked with Best, Law, Charlton and Kidd, and admired the link between
Hughes and Brian McClair. But he has no hesitation in hailing Yorke and
Cole as Old Trafford's best attacking partnership "by a mile".
"The funny thing is that they're basically similar players," he says.
"They're not the classic pairing of a strong spearhead and a foil who feeds
off him. They're both fast, darting strikers whose biggest asset is
movement off the ball and sharpness in the goal area.
"They've both got quick feet. They're both good at shielding the ball, with
surprising upper-body strength. Both turn well, and they're better in the
air than you'd expect for their size."
The fact that they are also bosom pals - Yorke rang Cole when he could not
find the training ground on his first day and they immediately hit it off -
has enhanced their relationship on the pitch, according to McGuinness. "It
shouldn't matter if you don't get on with a certain team-mate. But if two
players are good buddies, they look for each other. I certainly did with
Bobby Charlton and Eddie Colman, but then we were all friends in that side."
Now covering the club as a broadcaster, a role which took him to Barcelona
and will also find him in Milan, McGuinness has noticed how Yorke and Cole
are always first to congratulate each other after a goal. While pointing
out that Cole's link with Cantona was not exactly unproductive, he
acknowledges that there was no comparable rapport.
"These two play for each other," he says. "Strikers normally have to be
selfish, or at least single-minded, but they love helping each other. And
the way it's going, if one hits the bar, the other sticks in the rebound."
Their friendship is such that the other players reputedly tease them about
how often they pass to one another. They train together a lot - the harder
they practise, the more telepathic they get, to paraphrase a famous maxim
about luck in golf - as well as hanging out with each other.
The simplistic explanation is that the empathy stems from the fact that
both are black and therefore natural "soul brothers". Yet Cole is a
Nottingham boy who spent much of his adolescence in London after joining
Arsenal, whereas Yorke used to keep his family in the West Indies above the
poverty line by catching crabs and selling them to hotels. Culturally,
their backgrounds could scarcely be more contrasting.
Whatever the reason, the bond has brought Cole out of his shell. Graham
Taylor, who took Yorke to England as a teenager after spotting him on an
Aston Villa tour, once remarked that it would be nice to see Cole smile.
Yorke, of course, could grin for England (were he not committed to Trinidad
& Tobago), and his influence may account for his partner's less surly
demeanour of late.
In playing terms, the pairing has surprised those who expected Yorke to
provide for Cole but not vice versa. The former tends to drift into deeper
positions and to go wide more, but it is also noticeable how often he is
the beneficiary of Cole's new-found selflessness, most recently at Chelsea
in the FA Cup.
Yorke is the more complete performer. The audaciously chipped goal over Ed
de Goey at Stamford Bridge was no one-off; he had the confidence and the
skill to dink a similar shot over David Seaman from the penalty spot for
Villa against Arsenal last season. Now that he is playing for a side who
tend to dominate possession, we are seeing the full range of his attacking
talents.
"I could understand why the club were so keen to get him," McGuinness says,
"even though John Gregory got them to pay more than the going rate! But he
looks a snip now, if you can say that about someone who cost £12.6m; a
classic United player. He was a very good player at Villa - now he looks a
great player."
Alan Hansen, echoing Glenn Hoddle's caveat that Cole needs too many chances
to score, believes there is still a question mark over him against
top-class opposition. McGuinness argues that is no longer the case: "Andy
hasn't really had a chance to prove himself with England, but at European
level he's blossoming due to this partnership. That goal in Spain was a
perfect example."
In the San Siro, Cole could be asked to operate as a lone striker, with
Yorke and the wide players taking more withdrawn roles. Inter, doubtless
reinforced by Ronaldo, are sure to throw men forward.
"United are going to have to work hard when the Italians come at them,
though that's when the gaps should appear," says McGuinness. "It was
crucial that Inter didn't get an away goal. With Yorke and Cole, you're
always confident that United will score, whoever or wherever they play."
Good luck to REDS all over the world tonight! [click on pic for preview]
Subject: Oliver Holt Preview (Times)
March 16 1999 FOOTBALL
Stadium of fright will test mettle of United
FROM OLIVER HOLT, FOOTBALL CORRESPONDENT IN MILAN
THERE is a sense of peacefulness and elegance about the 16th-century palace
that houses the offices of Internazionale in the city centre here that
suggests not much disturbs the equilibrium of those who work within.
Classical frescoes adorn the walls and the high ceilings. The sound of
visitors climbing the broad stone staircases to the trophy room echo around
the Palazzo Caproni and mix with laughter and the chatter of friendly
greetings.
Yesterday, though, an air of patrician surprise that verged on indignation
was floating around the building, too, as news of Alex Ferguson's renewed
attack on Inter and their propensity for scheming, conniving, plotting and
generally being Italian began to reach them.
Ferguson's thinly disguised xenophobia is nothing new before games such as
this. His comments about the underhand tactics he thinks Inter are likely to
employ before the European Cup quarter-final, second leg tomorrow night
represent a tried and tested way of putting pressure on the referee. In this
case, the official is a Frenchman, Gilles Veisier, who sent off Steve
McManaman and Paul Ince in Liverpool's Uefa Cup tie against Valencia earlier
this season. He also refereed Manchester United's defeat at the hands of
Juventus in the Stadio delle Alpi last season, so the omens for a night when
the San Siro will be full to bursting, its fans at their most passionate,
are not encouraging.
Despite the disquiet of Inter and their players, the issue of whether the
desperation of the Italians to overturn United's 2-0 lead will manifest
itself in excessive gamesmanship is, together with the projected return of
Ronaldo, beginning to dominate the run-up to the game.
At the Inter training ground, their players affected surprise, too, at
Ferguson's comments. Aron Winter, the Holland international, poured scorn on
the United manager's observations. "He's just looking for an alibi," Winter
said. "We play our own game. We are not interested in those things he is
talking about. We have got a very good team and now that Ronaldo is fit and
playing that is going to be another weapon for us.
"This is the one game that can rescue our season. The atmosphere is going to
be crazy because we will be playing in front of 85,000 people and 75,000 of
them will be for Inter. You can imagine what it will be like. It is one of
our strengths that we are used to playing in front of that many. Old
Trafford had a good atmosphere, but there are going to be 30,000 more at the
San Siro."
The stadium, where the fans set up their own megaphones on the Curva Nord
and the Curva Sud to magnify their screams and exhortations, will be like an
inferno tomorrow night. There will be smoke bombs, flares and firecrackers
hurled onto the pitch and it is essential for United not to allow themselves
to become intimidated by the atmosphere.
In the past, perhaps, lack of discipline might have let them down but now
that many of their young players have matured, they are less vulnerable.
David Elleray, who refereed United's game against Newcastle United on
Saturday, is confident that they will not allow themselves to become
deflected from their task.
"United will need to be aware that there will be a certain amount going on
off the ball," Elleray said. "There will be quite a lot of blocking of runs,
body-checking and shirt-tugging, which will not necessarily be seen by the
referee because it will almost certainly be out of his line of vision.
"It will be like a game of physical chess and the Italians will try to get
United's players booked, either to dull their game or as a first step to
getting them sent off.
"You just need one or two Italians to start rolling around in agony, to see
if the referee takes any action, and that could wind United up. English
players tend to get stroppy about that kind of exaggeration. But people like
Keane, Butt and Scholes are much more mature now. Beckham, because of that
Argentina game, now knows the problems that retaliation brings. In terms of
composure, United are probably better equipped than they were last season."
That assessment should cheer Ferguson, to say nothing of the fact that
Ronaldo, suffering from a migraine, could not train yesterday. The schemers
have got some catching up to do.
Good luck to REDS all over the world tonight! [click on pic for preview]
Date: Tue, 16 Mar 1999 16:05:39 +0800
From: Michelle Lim
Subject: List Member Makes the News!
SINGAPORE: The Straits Times, Tuesday March 16 1999
MY BOOKMARKS Click if you are into Hepburn and ACS
Thum Ping Tjin, 19, known affectionately by friends as PJ
National swimmer who is studying at Harvard University, majoring in East
Asian Studies
As his studies rely heavily on the Internet, the computer has become a
vital part of his life.
"Over here, the Internet is not just another medium of communication, but a
required and necessary education tool," he says.
Technically speaking, he is online for most of his waking hours. "I could
be working on a paper and decide to check my email, or switch over to the
web to look up a book or resource, or my computer could be downloading
silently in the background while I write."
His favourite sites:
http://www.red11.org
"This site is the biggest and most comprehensive Manchester United fan site
on the Internet. It is very professionally done and run entirely by
volunteers who pay for it out of their own pockets out of love for the team."
http://members.xoom.com/hepburn/audrey.html
"Audrey Hepburn is the epitome of class, grace and beauty. In terms of
acting ability, she was a good actress with incredible talend and deserves
to be known as a true Hollywood legend. As a person, she was so much more.
In the 1950s, she redifined what a girl could be -- very smart and sexy
without being voluptuous."
http://www.ACSInternational.com
"This is the North American branch of the Anglo-Chinese School Old Boys'
Association. I am president of ACS International (North America) and send
updates frequently to our secretary to put on the website."
*******
Michi the Holy Terror
****If you would like to see PJ Thiumbs article click here:
http://www.red11.org/mufc/images/99/pjthum99.jpg
Scanned by Ng Ling Hoong
Good luck to REDS all over the world tonight! [click on pic for preview]
Subject: Leading Premier Scorers March 13: REDS are 1(16), 3(15) and 8(10)
Leading scorers March 13
** 16 - Dwight Yorke (Manchester United) Michael Owen (Liverpool)
** 15 - Andy Cole (Manchester United)
13 - Dion Dublin (Aston Villa, 3 for Coventry), Nicolas Anelka (Arsenal),
Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink (Leeds United).
12 - Robbie Fowler (Liverpool).
** 10 - Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (Manchester United), Hamilton Ricard
(Middlesbrough), Gianfranco Zola (Chelsea), Alan Shearer (Newcastle United),
Dennis Bergkamp(Arsenal), Marcus Gayle (Wimbledon)
9 - Julian Joachim (Aston Villa).
8 - Gustavo Poyet (Chelsea), Ian Wright (West Ham United), Jason Euell
(Wimbledon), Darren Huckerby (Coventry City), Noel Whelan (Coventry
City), Deon Burton (Derby County).
7 - Tore Andre Flo (Chelsea), Lee Bowyer (Leeds United), Egil Ostenstad
(Southampton), Tony Cottee (Leicester City), Chris Armstrong
(Tottenham Hotspur), Clive Mendonca (Charlton), Paulo Wanchope (Derby County).
Good luck to REDS all over the world tonight! [click on pic for preview]
Pic Link today is http://www.red11.org/miva/matchreports.mv
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