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The
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sky at night UNITED delight!"
www.red11.org DAILY NEWS
Date: Thu Mar 18 09:05:27 GMT+00:00 1999
Mail: barry@www.red11.org
This Issue:
1. STAM SLAMS PLAY-ACTING
2. Soccernet; Ferguson praises sub Scholes for historic goal
3. Inter - United TV report by Terry Dale
4. Scholes the pride of United
5. Red brigade douse Italian fire
6. Man Utd shares tumble on BSkyB bid fears
7. JUST WHO IS TELLING THE TRUTH ABOUT UNITED TAKEOVER?
8. Beeb report: Mighty United march on
9. NONE OF THE OTHER SEMI-FINALISTS WILL WANT TO MEET FERGUSON'S BOYS
++++++=========+++++++========+++++++++========++++++++
Daily RED Trivia Thursday 18th March 1999:
18/3/1905: United continue their battle for promotion with a 2-1 win against Grimsby
Town at Bank Street in a Division 2 game watched by 12,000. Jack Allan and
Dick Duckworth scored for the Reds. Team was: Moger, Bonthron, Fitchett,
Downie, Roberts, Bell, Beddow, Allan, Duckworth, Arkesden, Wombwell.
1967: Goals from David Herd, John Aston, Bobby Charlton, Denis Law and
David Sadler give United a 5-2 against Leicester City at Old Trafford in
Division 1 watched by 50,281. 6 weeks later United were champions. Team
was: Stepney, Dunne, Noble, Crerand, Foulkes, Stiles, Best, Law, Charlton,
Herd (Sadler), Aston. Sadly David Herd broke a leg in scoring his goal.
***************
Barry Daily Comment:
BRILLIANT FANTASTIC ECSTASY are just 3 words that come to mind after
qualification last night. The whole team was magnificent. Remember
that in 27 games Inter have NEVER lost a game in Europe at home
so 1-1 was perfect. The draw for ECL semi's is on Friday.
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
21 Everton (H) 15.00 PL
April
3 Wimbledon (A) 15.00 PL
7 European Cup Semi ...draw on Friday
11 FAC Semi Arsenal at Villa Park 12.30 UK Live Sky Sports Uk
17 Sheff Wed (H) 15.00? PL
21 European Cup Semi draw on Friday
25 Leeds (A) 11.30 {am} UK PL Live Sky Sports UK
UNITED Stats v All teams:
http://www.red11.org/mufc/stats/
*** 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
**DYNAMO KIEV 2 v 0 REAL MADRID (Agg:3-1)
FC KAISERSLAUTERN 0 v 4 **BAYERN MUNICH (Agg:0-6)
INTERNAZIONALE FC 1 v 1 **MANCHESTER UNITED (Agg:1-3)
OLYMPIAKOS 1 v 1 **JUVENTUS (Agg:2-3)
Semi Final Draw Friday 19th March
++++++=========+++++++========+++++++++========++++++++
RED sky at night UNITED delight! [click on pic for reports]
Subject: STAM SLAMS PLAY-ACTING
Jaap Stam slammed Inter Milan after they tried to cheat Manchester United
out of a place in the Champions' League semi-finals.
Just as United boss Alex Ferguson had predicted, Inter dived all over the
San Siro pitch trying to win free-kicks and penalties.
Fortunately, referee Gilles Veissiere saw through their play-acting and
United kept their cool to draw last night's quarter-final second leg 1-1
and win 3-1 on aggregate.
Stam was disgusted by the Inter players' antics and he said: "It was
disappointing. You never want to play against players who dive all the time
trying to get free-kicks and penalties."
Paul Scholes ensured the Serie A side got what they deserved when he netted
three minutes from time to cancel out Nicola Ventola's 63rd-minute opener.
And Stam added of Inter's play-acting: "I think sometimes it
looked like they practise it in training because they were doing it
so much.
"We were warned about it before and we tried to take it easy and let the
referee deal with it.
"We knew from the start that they would try anything to score goals,
including diving.
"But the referee saw it all and he had a very good game."
Not surprisingly Ferguson was delighted with Veissiere's firm hand.
"The referee was fantastic and he called everything correctly," he said.
RED sky at night UNITED delight! [click on pic for reports]
Subject: Soccernet; Ferguson praises sub Scholes for historic goal
MILAN, March 17 (Reuters) - Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson praised
his goalscorer Paul Scholes on Wednesday and said the English league leaders
thoroughly deserved their historic 1-1 draw at Inter Milan.
Ferguson had said all week that United would score at the San Siro in their
European Cup quarter-final second leg clash.
The Scot had to wait until two minutes from the final whistle but he was
proved right when substitute Scholes, who had been dropped from the starting
line-up, slotted the ball under Inter goalkeeper Gianluca Pagliuca.
The goal gave United a 3-1 aggregate victory and secured their place in the
semifinals.
It also meant that for the first time in seven visits stretching back to
1958, United left Italy with something other than a defeat.
"Inter had to attack at the end and with only two men at the back they were
always open to a counter-attack," Ferguson said.
"Scholes is a terrific finisher. He wasn't left out of the side because he'd
done anything wrong. It was simply that I felt Ronny Johnsen's abilities
were best suited to this match."
Scholes' goal came after Nicola Ventola had gave Inter hope of a place in
the semifinals with a goal after 63 minutes, three minutes after coming on
as a substitute for Ronaldo.
The Brazilian had a dire match and appeared to be severely hampered by the
knee injuries which have wrecked his season.
Ferguson said he understood Inter coach Mircea Lucescu's decision to field
Ronaldo, even if the gamble did not pay off.
"He did well enough under the circumstances," Ferguson said. "I can
understand why Inter would want to play Ronaldo even if he's not playing at
his peak. A player like that is always capable of changing the match with a
piece of individual skill."
"I thought Inter looked very nervous in the opening 15 minutes and I felt
that in general play we were the better team," he said.
"Inter played like a team that needed to be inspired by either good play or
by Ronaldo. On the occasions when their play was good they had us in
trouble."
Ronaldo has played only six full matches all season and just 79 minutes of
competitive soccer since his return to the Inter side after a two-month
lay-off.
"Of course Ronaldo is not 100 percent fit but that's only to be expected,"
Lucescu said. "I spoke to him at halftime and he said he wanted to play on
but I decided to take him off after an hour because he loooked weary."
"We played hesitantly in the first half but in the second half we were much
more aggressive," Lucescu added.
"But for me the turning point was when Ze Elias missed a great opportunity
to score a second. I think that's when the players sensed it was not their
night."
"We lost the chance to qualify for the semis in Manchester two weeks ago,
not here tonight."
It was the first time in United's 42-year European history that they had
knocked out an Italian team and made up in part for their dreadful record in
Italy.
They had lost twice to AC Milan and four times to Juventus on their previous
six visits and had scored just one goal.
Inter's exit compounds a disastrous season for them.
They are out of the Italian Cup, well adrift in the championship and must
have serious doubts over Ronaldo's ability to recover from his injury.
RED sky at night UNITED delight! [click on pic for reports]
Subject: Inter - United TV report by Terry Dale
The Great Ronaldo was on at the start, which was a bit of a surprise. I
am of course referring to Ronaldo Johnsen. (The other Ronaldo was on as
well but I didn't pay much attention to him.) And Henning Berg was in as
well alongside Jaap with Gazza and Dinnnnis bringing up the rear. Quite
what Ronny's position was is not clear as he popped up just about
everywhere during the next 75 minutes, racing down the wing like a young
hare, charging through midfield like a rhino, and blocking at the back
like a bloody brick wall. He was having the time of his life. So were
Berg and Jaap in the first half. They looked really comfortable handling
everything Inter had to offer.
And Inter didn't offer too much in the first 45 minutes. The other
Ronaldo looked anything but match fit. Imagine someone with the physique
of Bernard Manning and the speed of a dead ox, and you have Ronaldo in
the first half. On his day, he's a great player, no doubt about it, so
it was a bit sad that Inter felt they had to play him in the poor
condition he was obviously in.
We had a good opening 20 minutes before Inter started to impose
themselves a bit. On 21 minutes there was a major let-off when they hit
the post with Schmikes beaten. During the next few minutes, Berg saved
us a couple of times as Inter threatened a goal, but generally we had
the measure of them and, all in all, it was a relatively stress-free 45
minutes. Well, the cat was still alive anyway.
As expected, the second half started with Inter determined to make the
breakthrough that would turn the tie around. Ronaldo was looking a lot
more lively though he was still being well controlled by the Red defence
apart from one incident on about 48 minutes when he broke through and
Schmikes saved with his fist. That was the first and last time the
Brazilian threatened, apart from a dive in the box which did not fool
the referee at all.
This is the appropriate moment to praise the referee, Monsieur Veissiere
(sp?). He had a very good game, completely unbiased, and in no way the
gullible oaf or corrupt official that seems to pollute European games.
His only error, in my opinion, was the booking of Ronny Johnsen, who was
merely trying to find himself a good striking position for the corner
but was being prevented from doing so by Bergomi. The ref booked both of
them, rather rashly in Johnsen's case. It may be no big deal now, but a
second booking will see him missing the second leg of the semi or even
the final itself. Keano, Scholsie and Phizza are also under this threat.
For 60 minutes we looked pretty comfortable. But after Keano's Swan Lake
pirouette in the 63rd minute when he missed what looked like a
straightforward clearance to leave Ventola with a simple tap-in, I just
sat back resigned to the inevitable second goal, extra time, and defeat
on penalties. Up to the Inter goal, the Italians had just about given up
hope, and so had the fans who had just started hurling bottles and pizza
pie crusts onto the field. Fancy Keano being the one to give them hope.
And on Saint Patrick's Day as well. I bet the Leprachauns of Owld
Ireland visit him tonight in his sleep and give him a mouthful of
blarney with a Cork accent.
So we had just about 30 minutes to hold out against a rejuvenated Inter
team. I would have put more money on City for promotion than on United
holding out. Yes, it looked that bad in the 63rd minute. Fergie brought
Paul 'he doesn't score goals any more' Scholes on for Ronaldo Johnsen
with about 15 minutes to go. One doesn't want to question the sanity of
Fergie, a man only one step away from sainthood, but Johnsen had been
having a good game and what we really needed was for some stout
Norwegian defending not Salfordian creativity in midfield. Had Fergie
finally flipped? Five minutes later he brought Phizza Neville on for
Giggs. This looked a good move. Giggsy had been pretty anonymous again
and Phizza could help us out at the back.
Inter continued to press in the last ten minutes and it was OT all over
again as Ze Elias broke through with only Schmikes to beat ... and his
shot went wide. A couple of minutes later, Scholesie lost possession in
midfield and Schmikes came to the rescue with another fine save. On 86
minutes, yes, it looked like the inevitable was about to happen. Inter
were generously given a freekick right on the edge of the area. It was
agony. I though of Ethel 30,000 feet up in the air oblivious to what was
about to happen and wished I was sitting next to her on the plane with a
sick bag over my head as well. I closed my eyes and waited for the
increased volume signifying an Inter goal. It seemed to be taking a long
tome coming. When I opened my eyes again, we were down at the other end
of the field about to take a throw-in.
Everything seemed to go so fast. Gazza Neville crossed the ball into the
Inter area (doing a pretty good imitation of a perfect Becks' cross),
the ball landed perfectly on Andy Cole's head, he nodded the ball down
to Scholesie right in front of the goals ... and the gingernut put it
away right under the goalkeeper. There were 87 minutes gone on the
clock. Five minutes extra to play. Inter weren't going to score three
more in that time. Yes, I could at last relax. Those last 5 minutes were
the most enjoyable of the game as Inter visibly wilted and we peppered
their goal area with shots. Perhaps we should even have won it at the
end there, it was looking that easy. Yes, fergie got it right again. He
said we'd definitely score and we did ... but I wish it had come three
minutes after the start rather than three minutes before the end. I
could have done without the stress of those last 20 minutes as my hair
visibly went white and fell out.
It's difficult, and perhaps even unfair, to single out any one player in
what was a fine all round team performance. The whole defence deserves a
collective medal, Becks (as usual) gave everything and showed his class,
and Schmikes came to the rescue again just like in the good old days. He
can't really be leaving us in May surely?! The Soul Brothers didn't
cause too much mayhem up front but they did enough to keep the Inter
defence busy. Again, only Giggsy failed to live up to his very high
standards particularly in his crossing. But the lasting memory tonight
is our teamwork. Everyone worked hard, and we were occasionally treated
to some swift and accurate passing that mesmorized the Inter defence
So we join Bayern (4-0 winners tonight), Dinamo Kiev (2-0 winners over
Real) and (not again!) Juventus, who scored an 84th minute equaliser
(not again!) to eliminate Olympiakos, everyone's favourite semi-final
opponents. None of these teams will be easy. Though they are the dark
horses of the competition, I fancy Kiev as our next opponents. If not
them, then Juve. Let's leave the Krauts for the final.
So the three-pronged attack on the European Cup, Premiership and FA Cup
continues. I hope we can keep the momentum going. Will Fergie be tempted
to rotate on Sunday against Everton? I fear so. Still, win or lose,
United are our team, but these are certaionly fantastic times to be
experiencing.
_____________
Terry
Saudi
RED sky at night UNITED delight! [click on pic for reports]
Subject: Scholes the pride of United
By Ken Lawrence
Thursday, March 18, 1999
Manchester United last night survived the missiles and the intense
hostility of
the San Siro stadium to reach the semi-finals of the Champions League.
A night of Italian passion ended with United earning a 1-1 draw against Inter
Milan to go through 3-1 on aggregate.
Goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel was pelted with oranges in the second half and
Inter superstar Ronaldo used every trick in the book to divert Alex Ferguson's
side from their second appearance in the last four of the competition in three
years.
United held a two-goal lead from the first leg at Old Trafford but had to
fight for
their lives after substitute Nicola Ventola had pulled one back in the 62nd
minute.
That set up a late frenzy of attacks but United showed they are coming of age
in the continent's Blue Riband tournament and when Paul Scholes equalised on
the night in the 88th minute, the battle was won.
French referee Gilles Veissiere repeatedly refused to be hoodwinked by Inter's
diving and playacting and remained ice cool under intense intimidation.
United now go into tomorrow's draw convinced that, having finally disposed
of an
Italian club over two legs in Europe, they can go all the way and secure
glory.
RED sky at night UNITED delight! [click on pic for reports]
Subject: Red brigade douse Italian fire
Inter Milan 1-1 Manchester United: Red brigade douse Italian fire
By Graham Hunter
Thursday, March 18, 1999
Manchester United last night totally confirmed that they are now, for the
first
time in 31 years, mature enough and strong enough to win Europe's most
prized competition.
They warmed their hands against Inter Milan's test of fire and, just as their
manager predicted they would, extinguished the Italian flame of hope with a
big
bucket of water in the shape of a classic counter-attack goal.
And that, perhaps above all the other alluring claims of this match, was what
marked United down as a seasoned European team.
As the blue-and-black cacophony shrank and then stilled altogether, to leave
only the sound of English voices singing 'We shall not be moved,' the abiding
impression was that United had just done to dangerous opponents what
top-class Continental sides have become accustomed to doing to the best
England can offer.
They rode their luck a little, they defended responsibly and as a unit, but
when
the opportunity beckoned to sucker-punch opponents who thought they were on
the rampage that opportunity was taken.
It came with barely two minutes officially left on the clock. Gary
Neville's deep
cross was headed back by Andy Cole and there was Paul Scholes, the
substitute, proving that there is no substitute for class.
Inter were broken, the home support in the stadium poured out in an instant
and
Manchester United had also ended their miserable Italian run, having lost
all six
of their previous matches in the country.
At 1-0 down Alex Ferguson's team were already going through, but that
Scholes goal made it all the sweeter, all the more complete a performance.
The manager had predicted that this would be a rough ride - and it was, rude,
rumbutious and extremely rough.
There was gamesmanship, there was downright cheating, but bolstered by an
outstanding display of refereeing by Gilles Veissiere, coupled with one of
Henning Berg's finest displays in a United shirt, there never seemed any
threat
to the impression that the Italians were going out.
Although the four-pronged attack of Ryan Giggs, Cole, Dwight Yorke and David
Beckham was unusually low key for much of the tempestuous evening, a
sufficient number of United's players rose to the occasion.
Peter Schmeichel made some splendid saves, none better than his instinctive
block of Ronaldo's best effort just after half-time.
Berg was all muscular resistance and in one instant, when he cleared a
devilish
cross from Javier Zanetti with a balletic overhead kick at high speed, the
Norwegian produced possibly he most remarkable moment of the match.
And Irishman Roy Keane, on St Patrick's Day, played with such firm assurance
and finesse that his only slip, when Nicola Ventola scored only three minutes
after coming on as substitute for Ronaldo, can be forgiven.
The significance of the result, beyond qualification for United's second
Champions Cup semi-final in three seasons, lay in what manager Ferguson had
said about the Italians.
He was correct to point out that this country has produced the benchmark
teams of the last 10 or so years and that any success in knocking an Italian
side out of Europe in the quarter-final is a notable success.
Context lies in the fact that in 540 minutes of football played in Italy
against
teams like Juventus and AC Milan over the last four decades United have only
scored once before last night.
Inter are an unenviable team at the moment, shorn of good coaching leadership,
in the throes of change and torn apart by egos. But they have a collection of
individual talent which is close to being unrivalled anywhere else in the
world
and which can be pulled together to paper over the cracks in emergency
situations.
Such was the case last night. There was a spell of seven jaw-dropping minutes
in the first half when Inter tore at Schmeichel's penalty box again and
again until
it seemed that they must gain a reward.
If they had done, or if Veissiere had been conned by some of the outrageous
gamesmanship, the quarter-final could have unravelled and then come apart
altogether for United.
Instead, the storm was weathered and more first-class experience was notched
up to this team who are still young but now mature.
Inter's Benoit Cauet is the least feted of the French midfield musketeers
in Italy
but his rapier pass in the 15th minute still started the chaos when it allowed
Ivan Zamorano to slash through the defence.
The Chilean did go round Schmeichel's dive but then heaved himself forward,
like a lemming off a cliff, with such enthusiasm that the French referee was
waving away penalty claims before Zamorano even hit the ground.
Two minutes later the same striker wriggled away from Berg only for
Schmeichel to deny him with a fine save.
Berg's amazing overhead clearance came next and was followed by a wonderful
right-footed drive from Zanetti after he dummied Giggs on the edge of the
box.
But the Argentinian, who scored so tellingly against England in St Etienne
during the World Cup, this time had to watch the ball thump back off the far
post.
It was a niggle, for the play-ers, their manager and even the confident
travelling
fans, that United were a little too cavalier in treating the chances prior to
Scholes' goal.
Giggs and Ronny Johnsen, initially preferred to Scholes in order to stem the
supply of passes to Ronaldo, set up Cole nine minutes before the break but the
striker's effort soared over even though the feed had found him close to the
goal-mouth.
Beckham hit the target with a couple of gentle free-kicks during the
evening but
he only served to prove that his vicious trademark is still short of its
normal
level.
Then, several times before Ventola actually scored for Inter, crosses from
both
Beckham and Gary Neville were allowed to go begging in the home box.
The normally fearsome partners Yorke and Cole each received rough-house
treatment but that alone did not explain their slight lack of cutting edge
last
night, particularly set against their remorseless form of recent weeks.
But the luck which Ferguson had claimed, on Tuesday, his club both needed
and deserved finally arrived.
When a second goal would have been absolutely calamitous, Ze Elias missed a
chance which a schoolboy would have scored, Zanetti scorched a drive just
past the post and then substitute Francesco Moriero made Schmeichel dive full
length to turn his shot on to the post with only five minutes left.
All night there was a hail of fruit thrown at the visiting players whenever
they
tried to take a free-kick, corner or throw-in. But, in the end, it was
Inter who
slipped on the United banana skin.
No manner of gamesmanship by their fans, players or pre-match character
assassination by coach Mircea Lucescu was enough to throw this new, mature
United off the scent of their ultimate goal - the Champions Cup.
Inter Milan: Pagliuca, Bergomi, Colonnese, Ronaldo (Ventola, 59), Zanetti,
Baggio, Simeone (Ze Elias, 32), Cauet, West, Zamorano, Silvestre. Booked:
Bergomi, Ze Elias, Cauet, Colonnese.
Manchester United: Schmeichel, Neville G, Irwin, Johnsen (Scholes, 76), Stam,
Beckham, Cole, Giggs (P Neville, 81), Keane, Yorke, Berg. Booked: Johnsen,
P Neville.
Referee: Gilles Veissiere (France).
RED sky at night UNITED delight! [click on pic for reports]
Subject: Man Utd shares tumble on BSkyB bid fears
By Louise Ireland
LONDON, March 17 - Shares in Manchester United *
fell heavily on Wednesday on fears that British authorities
would block a billion dollar takeover bid by pay TV company
BSkyB * for the top English soccer club.
Citing sources close to the government's Department of
Trade and Industry, the Daily Telegraph newspaper said the
Monopolies and Mergers Commission (MMC) had ruled that the
proposed 623 million pound ($1.01 billion) takeover was not
in the public interest.
The MMC completed a five-month inquiry into the bid by
BSkyB, 40 percent owned by Rupert Murdoch's News Corp
*, last week. Its report has gone to Trade
Secretary Stephen Byers who must ultimately decide whether
the deal can proceed.
Shares in Manchester United fell almost nine percent to
218-1/2p by late afternoon while BSkyB dipped almost two
percent to 540-1/4p.
Other stock market listed soccer clubs also suffered falls,
Newcastle United losing 5p to 90p. Cable company NTL
* has indicated it plans to table a 160 million
pound bid for Newcastle if the BSkyB takeover of Man Utd is
cleared. "There's hot money in Manchester United and people
are piling out on worries that the bid may not now go
through," said West LB Panmure anlayst Paul Richards.
"On the other hand Manchester United has a strong
independent future and in the longer term may attract other
bidders," he added.
It has been a volatile week for shares in United, which
cleared the 240p BSkyB bid level to record highs on Monday
on reports that the bid would be cleared with minimal
conditions.
The DTI declined to comment on the speculation and added
that nothing had been placed in the public domain. Byers is
expected to announce his ruling in the next three or four
weeks.
Opposition Conservative trade spokesman John Redwood called
on Byers to set up an urgent inquiry into the possible leak
.
"It is a disgrace that rumours are circulating, apparently
coming from the DTI, about the Monopolies and Mergers
report. The Secretary of State must tighten security and
institute a leak inquiry," Redwood said in a statement.
The proposed deal sparked heated protests from many in the
game who argued that it would concentrate too much power in
the hands of BSkyB, which has the current rights to live
coverage of English premier league matches.
Feelings also ran high over the 'Murdoch factor', with
critics angry that the media magnate who owns four British
newspapers could control the nation's favourite soccer team.
Murdoch's involvement also complicated matters for the
government, which enjoyed important support from Murdoch's
Sun newspaper in the 1997 election compaign.
The Daily Telegraph said the MMC reached its conclusion
despite undertakings from both companies designed to ensure
that BSkyB's ownership would not give it an unfair
advantage when negotiating broadcast rights for soccer
matches.
The MMC report was understood to question whether these
undertakings, including measures to prevent Manchester
United tipping off its parent about rival bids for
broadcasting rights, would be enforceable in practice, the
Daily Telegraph said.
The original BSkyB bid for Manchester United, one of the
richest soccer clubs in the world, has now lapsed and would
have to be resubmitted if it gets the green light from the
government. (Additional reporting by Keith Weir and Mike
Peacock) ($1=.6143 Pound)
RED sky at night UNITED delight! [click on pic for reports]
Thursday 18 March 1999
Subject: JUST WHO IS TELLING THE TRUTH ABOUT UNITED TAKEOVER?
Following another reported 'leak' of the inquiry into BSkyB's
bid, Philip Cornwall looks at which story you should believe.
ANOTHER day, another Manchester United takeover rumour. After
last Saturday's Mirror story that the BSkyB deal had been approved,
there may be a temptation to take yesterday's Daily Telegraph claim
that it has, in fact, been rejected with a pinch of salt. But while
they remained cautious in their optimism, it was understandable why
United fans were yesterday struggling to keep grins off their faces,
even before they saw off Inter.
For while the Telegraph story was swiftly met with a "no comment"
by the Monopolies And Mergers Commission and the Department of
Trade and Industry, it would be a far bigger surprise if it was this
story, rather than the Mirror's, which turned out to be the
inaccurate one.
For a start, it comes from the Telegraph's City staff, rather than
their sports desk. The paper puts great store in its City coverage,
and certainly too much to risk putting a shaky story on the front
page. And for good reason, as yesterday's stock market activity
showed. Both BSkyB and Manchester United shares dropped sharply
on the back of the Telegraph story, United's by roughly 10% at one
point.
The shares in both companies had risen since Saturday's Mirror
story, but by much smaller amounts. The Mirror doesn't sell papers
on the basis of its stock market tips and, while football fans would
rather not be taken in by untrue stories, the fact remains that you
are not hit in the pocket in quite the same way by a false transfer
rumour as you are by bad share advice. And as every paper
regularly publishes completely untrue stories about football, there is
little to choose and people do not often stop buying one simply
because one more rumour turns out to be inaccurate.
There is a chance that the Telegraph could have been fed the story
- attributed to "sources close to the Department of Trade and
Industry" - by someone wishing to make money out of the rumour.
If you think that the United deal will still go through, then yesterday
would have been a good day to buy, while the price was
comparitively low. But papers which sell to the stock market know
they cannot afford to be taken in by such coups without
undermining faith in their daily coverage.
All in all, the Mirror can afford for their story to be the wrong one
much more than the Telegraph can. Don't take this as share advice,
but expect the bid to be blocked.
So if that is the case, what has happened? For a start the success
of the campaigners in getting important bodies within the football
and broadcasting industries to make submissions to the MMC
opposing the deal played a huge part. Neither United nor Sky give a
damn about the views of the fans - and neither does the
Independent Television Commission. But by drawing to their
attention the ways in which the deal would distort the market for
TV rights in this country, the fans persuaded one major quango to
make representations to another. The Premier League as a whole
was also unhappy.
There are political considerations too. 176 MPs signed motions
criticising the deal - which might not sound like many out of the
659, but 200 are not allowed to do so as they are in or attached to
the government, or the Conservative front bench. And, as a press
release from Shareholders United Against Murdoch pointed out: "Sky
have spent thousands of pounds employing the highly respected
political lobbying group, GJW, and yet so far just one single MP has
backed the deal."
Bottom line? The Telegraph's story rings true while The Mirror's
simply doesn't.
RED sky at night UNITED delight! [click on pic for reports]
Subject: Beeb report: Mighty United march on
Inter Milan 1-1 Man Utd Aggregate: 1-3
Manchester United moved a step closer to European
glory after surviving a nerve-jangling night in Milan.
The English challengers reached the last four of the European Cup thanks
to a Paul Scholes equaliser two minutes from the end of the second
leg of their quarter-final clash.
A second half goal from substitute Nicola Ventola had
put the Italians in front on the night and Alex Ferguson's
side were under severe pressure for most of the match.
But the Italians failed to convert the chances that came
their way and United's passage into the semi-finals was
ultimately secured by their terrific 2-0 victory in the first
leg at Old Trafford.
United produced an impressive defensive display,
inspired by the excellent Henning Berg, and Inter's
multi-million pound strikeforce was unable to come up
with the three goals the home side needed.
Ronaldo returns
Inter were given the perfect boost before the kick-off
when Brazilian superstar Ronaldo was included in the
starting line-up.
But the two-time World Player of the Year, who has
been dogged by a knee problem in recent weeks and
missed the first leg, looked well short of match fitness
and struggled throughout.
Alex Ferguson's controversial comments before the game
about the ability of Italian players to deceive referees
were given an extra edge after just 16 minutes.
Ivan Zamorano raced clear into the United box and
appeared to be brought down by Peter Schmeichel's
clumsy challenge, but the French referee waved away
Inter's vocal claims for a penalty.
The home side shrugged off their disappointment and
continued to bombard the United box.
Schmeichel saved from Zamorano, then Berg, who
cleared the ball off the line in the last minute at Old
Trafford, then produced another last-gasp clearance,
hooking away Javier Zanetti's cross to prevent Zamorano
scoring a certain goal.
United had a slice of luck when the impressive Zanetti
beat Schmeichel with an angled drive from the edge of
the area, only to see the ball thud against the far post.
Berg, who was fast emerging as United's defensive hero,
denied Ronaldo with a desperate lunge just as the
Brazilian pulled the trigger.
United had few chances in the first half, but Dwight
Yorke nearly converted Ryan Giggs' cross at the far post
and Andy Cole sent the ball over the bar after good work
from Ronny Johnsen.
Schmeichel, whose saves did so much to give United
victory a fortnight ago managed another stunning stop at
the start of the second half, keeping out Ronaldo's
point-blank drive after the ailing striker forced his way
into the area.
The referee then proved he was in no mood to be
swayed by the partisan crowd, as he dismissed two
dubious Inter penalty claims when Ronaldo and Ze Elias
crumpled in the box.
Ronaldo at last was withdrawn after 59 minutes,
Nicola Ventola replacing him, much to the delight of the
relief of the frustrated home fans.
And it took just four minutes for the substitute to make
his mark.
Roy Keane, who has been so influential for United this
season, was at fault as Inter forced their way back into
the game at 2-1. The Irishman slipped in the box as he
tried to clear a routine through-ball and Ventola was able
to send a side-footed shot past Schmeichel.
Scholes to the rescue
Cole could have put the tie out of sight for United on 76
minutes but he scuffed his shot after roasting the Inter
defence.
But still the pressure on United was unrelenting.
Zanetti and Moriero both came close, but the best
chance to equalise fell to Ze Elias eight minutes from
time, when he dragged a left-foot shot wide with the goal
at his mercy.
United were able to breathe a sigh of relief in the 88th
minute, Scholes keeping his cool to beat Gianluca
Pagliuca after Cole's header found him unmarked six
yards out.
Teams:
Inter Milan: Pagliuca, Colonnese, Silvestre, Bergomi,
West, Zanetti, Simeone, Cauet, Baggio, Zamorano,
Ronaldo. Subs: Frey, Galante, Djorkaeff, Winter,
Ventola, Ze Elias, Moriero.
Man Utd: Schmeichel, G. Neville, Irwin, Stam, Berg,
Keane, Johnsen, Giggs, Beckham, Cole, Yorke. Subs:
Van Der Gouw, Sheringham, P. Neville, Blomqvist,
Scholes, Brown, Solskjaer.
Referee: Gilles Veissiere (France)
RED sky at night UNITED delight! [click on pic for reports]
Subject: NONE OF THE OTHER SEMI-FINALISTS WILL WANT TO MEET FERGUSON'S BOYS
UNITED THE TEAM TO FEAR
By Ian Cruise
MANCHESTER UNITED were last night installed as favourites
to win the European Cup after seeing off the challenge of
Inter Milan. They may have left it late to book their place
in the last four, they may have been somewhat less than
convincing in the San Siro, and they may have given their
manager and supporters a few heart flutters along the way,
but they are still the team the other three semi-finalists
will want to avoid when the draw is made on Friday.
Although they were far from at their best against Inter
yesterday evening, what United did do was prove that they
have the mental strength and the defensive metal to
complement their undoubted flair in attack.
And that combination makes them an extremely dangerous
opponent for whichever one of Juventus, Bayern Munich or
Dinamo Kiev is drawn against them for the right to contest
May's final in Barcelona's Nou Camp stadium.
There were question marks against United's backline after
the group stages of the tournament, but they have proved by
restricting Inter to just one goal over two legs that they
can compete with the very best. Peter Schmeichel has
answered his critics in style. Jaap Stam, too, has proved
his early season doubters wrong, while Henning Berg had one
of the best games of his life last night on a glorious
occasion for United.
The Manchester giants had never beaten an Italian side in
European competition, and no English team had ever scored a
goal in the San Siro, against either Inter or AC Milan, in
Europe's premier competition. The Old Trafford club laid
both those records to rest last night and further
demonstrated their desire to claim club football's most
prestigious prize for the first time in over 30 years.
They were immediately installed as 2-1 favourites to win the
competition after last night's match, and there is little
doubt that they will probably never have a better chance of
achieving Alex Ferguson's ultimate ambition. He said: "We
rode our luck at times, but our general play was excellent.
I'm really, really proud of the team. There have been times
in the past when we've not had the luck but we got it last
night and it counted for us. Now I hope we can go all the
way because the players deserve it."
Although United will face a tough task against their
semi-final opponents, whoever they may be, they certainly
have the class to give their boss the one trophy he covets
above all others. And it's safe to assume that the manager
who will be most disappointed after tomorrow's draw is the
one whose side come out of the hat alongside United.
RED sky at night UNITED delight! [click on pic for reports]
Pic Link today is http://www.red11.org/miva/matchreports.mv
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