WEEKLY "RED"SURVEY: Vote Here  Instant reply!


World Wide Mailing List Archive     Complete NEWS Archive

Html Match Today Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri

Reserves

Text: Fixtures Today Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri HotNews

E-mail: barry@www.red11.org   Updated Daily 
Compiled by
Barry J. Leeming    Digest Prgram by  William McArthur  Canada
Theatre Of Dreams  Banner's  by Sam Hayward   Download the digest program here!
The Devil's Advocate "REDitorial" commentary by Alex Paylor  "RED sky at night UNITED delight!"

The Dennis Viollet Fund


www.red11.org DAILY NEWS
Date: Mon Jan 25 10:40:27 GMT+00:00 1999
Mail: barry@www.red11.org

This Issue:
1. Super Sub does it again!  By Our Salford Lass
2. Charlie, Charlie, what's the score  by RED KELLY
3. HOULLIER BEMOANS FREE-KICK
4. Results/Fixtures
5. UNITED GRAB DRAMATIC STOPPAGE TIME WINNER 
6. Move to block Sky's £623m United buy-up 
7. Fergie interview - The Times
8. JAAP STAMPS ON WINTER BREAK
9. YORKE-COLE PARTNERSHIP HAS THE EDGE - MOLBY

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

Daily RED Trivia  Mon 25th January 1999:

25/1/1897: George Bissett born in Cowdenbeath, Scotland. Bissett made his United debut
 against Burnley in November 1919, and the tricky wingman made 42 appearances
 between 1919-21, scoring 10 goals. He joined Wolverhampton Wanderers in November 1921.

1958: 2 Bobby Charlton strikes help United beat Ipswich Town 2-0 in the FA Cup
 4th Round at Old Trafford watched by 53,550. Team was: Gregg, Foulkes, Byrne,
 Colman, Jones, Edwards, Morgans, Charlton, Taylor, Viollet, Scanlon. 5 of this
 side died in the crash at Munich a week later.

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

Barry Daily Comment:
Exciting, great performance, I for one, did not want an extra match (replay).
It made my day when Ole scored his superb goal.
Before the last 3 mins it had been Liverpool's lucky day, everything we
threw at them either hit the post or was saved/blocked.  Possesion was
60%MU 40&Pool!! corners something like 9-1...yet we were losing....crazy!
We deserved the win but it came in an very unexpected way!
Barry
Latest goal ratios's
Current team:             Goal ratio
Dwight    App  24  Goals: 14   0.58
Ole       App  63  Goals: 39   0.62 **** abs magnificent!!!
Cole      App 137  Goals: 70   0.51
Scholes   App 110  Goals: 46   0.42
Teddy     App  45  Goals: 16   0.36
-----------------------------------

Inter had another big win today, 5 - 1 against mid-table Cagliari. They
went a goal down after just three minutes (like us) but came back
strongly with goals from Baggio (2), Simeone (2) and Simic. They're in
5th place, five points behind the leaders, with these stats:

                W       D       L       F       A       PTS
                9       3       6       37      26      30


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 game: 
ALL Result/Fixture Index:
http://www.red11.org/mufc/fix9899z.htm

31/1 Charlton    (A)  15.00 UK
February
3 Derby (H)           20.00
6 Nottm Forest   (A)  15.00
13/14? [tba] Fulham (H) FAC 5th round (Date tbc)
17? [tbc] Arsenal (H) 15.00/20.00 (tbc subject to FACUP)
20 Coventry (A)       15.00
27 Southampton (H)    15.00

UNITED Stats v All teams:
http://www.red11.org/mufc/stats/

*** PREMIER RESULTS - MANCHESTER UNITED  ***

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                    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    Middlebrough             Home     L  2-3     3    55,152
26/12/98    Notts 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

	******
  
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-FINAL DRAW
 Manchester Utd    v   Inter Milan
 Real Madrid       v   Dynamo Kiev
 Juventus          v   Olympiakos
 Bayern Munich     v   Kaiserslautern

 Ties to be played on March 3 and 17


Pos Team                  P   W   D   L   F   A   GD  Pts
---------------------------------------------------------
 1  Chelsea              22  11  10   1  34  18   16   43
 2  Aston Villa          22  12   7   3  34  20   14   43
 3  Manchester United    22  11   8   3  49  26   23   41
 4  Arsenal              22  10   9   3  23  11   12   39
 5  Leeds United         22   9   9   4  36  20   16   36
 6  Liverpool            22  10   5   7  43  26   17   35
 7  Wimbledon            22   9   7   6  29  33   -4   34
 8  West Ham United      22   9   5   8  25  31   -6   32
 9  Middlesbrough        22   7  10   5  32  28    4   31
10  Derby County         22   7  10   5  22  20    2   31
11  Leicester City       22   7   8   7  25  27   -2   29
12  Tottenham Hotspur    22   7   8   7  28  30   -2   29
13  Sheffield Wednesday  22   7   5  10  25  22    3   26
14  Newcastle United     22   6   7   9  26  31   -5   25
15  Everton              22   5   9   8  13  24  -11   24
16  Blackburn Rovers     22   5   6  11  21  29   -8   21
17  Coventry City        22   5   5  12  21  31  -10   20
18  Charlton Athletic    22   3   8  11  26  36  -10   17
19  Southampton          22   4   5  13  20  46  -26   17
20  Nottingham Forest    22   2   7  13  18  41  -23   13

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


Super Sub Ole Celebrates the winner!

Subject: Super Sub does it again! By Our Salford Lass This is what makes football so special. For 88 minutes it's frustration and despair. You begin to wonder why you don't spend your cash on something a damn sight more pleasurable than listening to the scousers celebrating and taking the piss. And then in 2 minutes of pure bliss it all changes. Every single one of those 88 minutes was worth it as the ball nestled in the back of the net and Ole ran towards the Stretford End kissing his shirt badge. But I'm getting in front of myself ............ Unlike the previous couple of games, there was nothing poetic about the walk to the bus station this morning. It was a "typical" grey Northern day. Low clouds and threatening rain. But it was an uneventful and speedy journey to Old Trafford - the bus into Stockport, followed by the football special train to the ground. On board the train was a small group of scousers, passing round songsheets so as to be able to join in the singing once they got to the ground! I arrived 40 minutes before kick-off and enjoyed a pasty and coffee whilst watching the inhabitants of South Stand arriving. Yes, my friends - our luck had run out and for the first time in 3/4 seasons, we found ourselves in amongst the "nobs". Watching the comings and goings I realised I was definately in a different social melee here. Suits, posh overcoats, high heeled shoes, nice shiny leather handbags - I felt distinctly scruffy!! Arriving at our seats we found we were practically in the Family Stand, sitting right against the wall dividing the Family Stand from South Stand. This is one part of the ground that I had never been in before. By the end of the game I was certain I never wanted to be in it again!! Down the other end, occupying our seats, were about 9000 scousers, singing "You'll never walk alone" and holding up scarves and flags so that the East Stand was a mass of red. A couple of minutes before kick-off Keith Fane kindly turned off his awful music so that we could "get the atmosphere going" (patronising b*****d). We managed a couple of chants of "United" and then the teams came down the tunnel and out into the sunshine (the weather had improved enormously by this time) and we were off. Unfortunately, the United defence were obviously still in the dressing room, because only 4 minutes into the game they all disappeared, allowing Saint Michael to slot an easy goal past Peter and we were 1 nil down. I couldn't believe it but thought "Oh well, at least that will wake the United lads up." I couldn't have been more wrong - whilst the scousers went through their songsheets, our players attempted to commit footballing suicide. For most of the rest of the first half, only Dwight Yorke (and occasionally Giggs) was playing with any distinction. We were very lucky indeed not to be 2 or 3 down by half-time, although we did have one saved off the line late in the half which looked to us like it had gone over (but it was the length of a football pitch away as we were attacking East Stand at the time!). These are the times when the crowd can play its part. Unfortunately, the crowd at Old Trafford these days doesn't seem to understand what its part is. I have never known a worse atmosphere at a game against the scousers, ever. Anyone would have thought we were playing Forest or Coventry, not losing to the scousers in the FA Cup. There was some chanting coming from J Stand and occasionally from the Stretford End, but the rest of the stadium was quiet. Even when the scousers started chanting "Does she take it up the arse?" there was no response. Now and again, a chorus of "If you all hate scousers" went round the ground, but for most of the game all we could hear was the scousers singing "We're on the march with Houllier's army, we're all going to Wemberley". Whatever it was like in the rest of the stadium, it was even worse in our little corner. The son-and-heir tried to get some chants going but gave up when everyone around us was either giving him dirty looks or laughing at him - one woman in front of us threatened to report him to a steward if he didn't stop saying "the F word"! They weren't silent though - instead of chanting they spent the whole game either slagging off the United players (especially Andy Cole) or telling Fergie what he should be doing (they all seem to think they know more than he does about tactics). It was torture and half-time was welcome when it came. Unfortunately, the second half didn't improve matters. By now, the moaners had really got into their stride. I sat there, thoroughly miserable, wondering why I bothered anymore. Was it worth it? If these "fans" couldn't get behind the team when the scousers came then what chance was there of them doing so for a so-called lesser game? Ten minutes from the end they started to leave without a backward glance. Whilst the situation didn't improve off the pitch, on it there was a distinct improvement. Paul Ince went off to some of the loudest booing I've heard at Old Trafford in years (the United fans managed to get their act together for that one!) after hardly touching the ball all game and things improved enormously in the United camp when Paul Scholes came on instead of Nicky Butt. We had been crying out for some creativity in midfield and Scholesy provided it from the moment he arrived on the pitch. From then on, Liverpool couldn't get out of their half as we had 90% of the possession and shot after shot on goal. But nothing would go in and it began to look as if nothing ever would. The scousers got louder and louder and I sank deeper and deeper into despair. About 10 minutes from the end, Fergie brought Irwin and Berg off, bringing Ole and Ronny on. We now had 3 up front and it was all hands on deck to get the vital equaliser. Three minutes to go and we still hadn't scored. I was shell-shocked and stunned. Surely we couldn't be going out of the FA Cup to the scousers? The ball twanged off the post from a scorcher by Keane, but it wouldn't go in the bloody net! The atmosphere had improved as Reds at last got behind the team with urgent, almost desperate chanting. All around us, the handbags and nice hairdo brigade were leaving and I wanted to leave too, I just wanted to hide somewhere and pretend it didn't matter - but of course I wouldn't and of course it did matter - a lot. Fergie was on the touchline screaming at the players. We got a free kick and Fergie was gesturing to Schmeichel to go up. He advanced towards the half-way line but no further. Becks hit the ball towards the far post, Cole headed the ball back across the front of the goal and Dwight stuck it in the net. The whole stadium went ballistic. Everywhere Reds were hugging Reds. Even the miserable git in front of me, who'd spent the whole game in total silence, with a face like a wet weekend, turned and gave me a hug. The son-and-heir grinned at me and asked could I afford a trip to Anfield? I grinned back and assured him that I'd find the money from somewhere! Of course down at the other end the scousers had gone very quiet. We settled down nervously to pray that the scousers didn't get another. Every time one of the Liverpool players got the ball, I closed my eyes. Every time one of our players got the ball, I was up with everyone else, screaming them on. We got a couple of corners and screamed at Giggs as he came over to take them. Just before the 90 minutes was up, the fourth official held up the board saying two minutes of extra time. Could we hold on or could we even score? We hardly dared hope as United surged forward again. Scholes got the ball on the edge of the area and searched for a way through the crowded penalty area. Somehow he got the ball to Ole. Ole got his balance and then blasted the ball towards the goal. I couldn't see whether he had a clear shot or not, but what I did see, before all hell broke loose around me, was the ball hitting the back of the net and Ole running towards the Stretford End kissing his shirt badge. To say that that moment was pure bliss would not be an exaggeration. We were all jumping up and down, screaming, laughing and pinching ourselves - all at the same time! I couldn't believe what had happened and neither could the scousers. As we sang "We're on the march with Fergie's army", they held their heads in their hands in stunned amazement. Within a couple of minutes, the whistle blew and we had won. No-one left the ground. We waited for the players to come off and every United player got a standing ovation. But two players got an extra special send-off. Ince was booed out of the ground and left in no doubt as to what United fans think of him. But we soon forgot about him as we sang "Ole, Ole, Ole, Ole". Ole ran towards us with a grin that almost split his face in two. As he ran under us to go down the tunnel, he kissed his shirt badge again. I just love that boy! So we left the ground singing "Ole, Ole, Ole, Ole" and "S..t on the scousers" and headed for the Throstle's Nest for a quick drink before going home. As I arrived the landlord was standing on the steps with a big grin on his face waiting for those who had been at the game to arrive. We had a hug and a celebratory kiss and then it was inside to a tremendous atmosphere. The best bit though was seeing the scousers "crying on the tele" - superb. I arrived back home just in time to see the goals again and just in time to see the draw for the next round - now what was that song - oh, I remember - "Cheer up Kevin Keegan"! Copyright © 1999 by Our Salford Lass. All rights reserved. Not to be reproduced without permission of the author
Super Sub Ole Celebrates the winner!

Subject: Charlie, Charlie, what's the score by RED KELLY If anyone says that United aren't interested in the FA Cup then tell them they are talking out of their backsides. The passion and commitment on show today proves beyond all doubt that a trip to the twin towers in the final season of the twentieth century is as desirable as it ever was. As we arrived at our normal parking destination ruminating over the game to come I expressed the opinion that it would be so sweet to get a last minute winner, however there were moments during today's game when I was regretting even thinking such a thought. Those moments lasted for nearly 90 minutes, but wasn't it worth the wait! I've no idea how to explain to anyone who wasn't fortunate enough to be there exactly what it was like, but it was one of those experiences the Admen dream about. The beer that reaches the parts others don't reach, the whiter than white wash, the secret of the Black Magic Box. If it were possible to bottle it you'd make an absolute fortune. It was a buzz of the highest order and a moment to be savoured that will probably last forever. After an early morning call and a cup of tea Mick arrived around half past eight and we were off again at nine. Mid-day is on the face of it a ridiculous time to kick off a football match, but when considering our journey home on a Sunday and the horrendous jams we encounter on the M6 after a late kick-off, we didn't feel so bad as we would be returning home before the evening exodus south. The journey was easy and as we took a short break at Hilton Park services just outside Birmingham we were surprised to find the place jammed with Elvis-alikes. I've no idea where these tourists were heading but hopefully it wasn't to be Old Trafford. It was a bizarre sight seeing men in sequinned jackets with huge pointed collars with their hair greased and quiffed queuing at Burger King, but with their bobby soxers by their side, queue they did. We didn't hang around for the rendition of Heartbreak Hotel, but we hoped that was where the scousers would be found later in the day. On up the motorway from M6 to M62 and as we finally got to the canal road near Salford quays we spied the mickeys. Their coaches huddled together as they waited for the escort to the ground where they would be dumped for the coaches to return to the carpark. There were hundreds of them, more than we expected as they'd been allocated not only our normal seats in K but also L stand as well. The police presence didn't seem that heavy until we got to the ground but there was no sign of the riot gear we had when Leeds came, so obviously they were confident there would be no trouble. We were surprised to see around fifty or sixty of them marching along to the ground though, unattended and singing their sad songs about "oooleays army". How apt for the mickeys to have a manager whose very name lends itself to scouse even though he's French. We were on our way to Chester Road to pick up a spare ticket for my daughter Eliza and were stood outside Macaris chippy when another mickey coach stopped at the traffic lights right by us. The beer swilling United crowd commenced with a verbal barrage of anti scouse fire but one wit held out a ten pound note gleefully waving it at them defying any to nick it. You could see the frustration on one or two faces pressed against the coach windows. There was a tenner not quite in reach. Now, had it been a hubcap they may have been off the coach quick as a flash to add it to their collections. Ticket secured we made our way back to the ground dodging the horses and their leftovers and trying to look peaceable and as innocent as possible, which is why I wore a hat to hide the skinhead. It was getting towards kick-off time and the police were becoming agitated and were increasingly to be seen shouting in peoples' faces for them to "move on and get in the ground". We met up with Eliza and Steve and encouraged Steve to take the north stand ticket to let Eliza and I sit together as we had been in the last round. "We're a lucky omen when we're together" we said. And he fell for it, but with the proviso that if we lost we would never sit together again. What a responsibility on our shoulders, and a responsibility that weighed heavy for nearly the full ninety minutes. We now walk with stoops! Our destination was the Stretford End. We were in the lower section right in the middle of the goal but with a view over the top of the crossbar. Ideal we thought and how right we were - eventually. To our surprise there was no attempt made to prevent any of us from standing throughout the game although there were times when the less stoic fell backwards onto a seat with head in hands, especially when the saint Owen scored early on. Unfortunately we had an excellent view of the masterly defending by Berg and Nev as both of them stood and watched the diminutive immortal as he headed into the net for the opening strike. Only a couple of minutes gone and we were off to a great start. A few scousers behind us in the exec section showed their allegiance and were unceremoniously told to button it. During that all too long first half the scousers had a number of chances to score again but they either sped by Schmeichel's outstretched arms and wide of the goal or curled just past the upright. We stood their shaking our heads and wondering whether we would ever have anything to cheer about. The mickeys were enjoying themselves far too much down in K Stand. They baited Becks with the usual songs about the posh one and they sang their anthems. We just couldn't get things going on or off the terraces despite several attempts. Half time came and I was relieved it had stayed at 1-0. I thought we had a chance with some reorganising by the wizard and as I stood actually relieving myself I reassured the distraught figure stood next to me who was beside himself with grief that we were going to "lose to the f**king scousers of all people". Back to the fray the lads were attacking our end with some venom and we actually looked as though all was not lost. Time after time they raided but despite us shouting "dodgy keeper" every time David James went for the ball, he always got it. The minutes were ticking by - and all too quickly but the score still remained 1-0. With ten minutes to go the wizard made a double substitution taking off Berg and Dennis and bringing on Ronny and Ole. He'd already added Scholsey ten minutes earlier and he had made a positive difference. The addition of another forward enabled United to go for broke and pile forward. The scousers just couldn't get out of their half and then with two minutes remaining Johnsen was tripped just outside the box to the left as we looked at it. The faces around us all looked at each other in disbelief as none of us thought it was deserving of a free kick, but who cares, we'll take anything coming our way. The faces around had looked at each other many times during the game, mostly in despair or disbelief, so this was nothing new. However time was fast running out as both Becks and Giggsy stood over the ball. It was either a Giggs curler into the top right corner or a Becks floater into the six yard area and as the big men were massed at the edge of the box jostling for space the ball was gently floated over the top. It stayed in the air as if in slow motion, hovering gently on the afternoon breeze, and seemed to be going wide when Andy Cole appeared. I hadn't spotted him to the right of the goal. He managed to get his head to it and nodded it into the path of his soulmate Yorke who side-footed into the net from about a yard out. As Yorke reeled away the world stopped for a brief moment. All the pent up emotion poured out onto the terraces as we re-entered reality and realised what had happened. We hugged each other so hard I could feel the ribs give a little. The faces all around were now ecstatic and animated and the noise was deafening. I found myself unable to utter a word. Not a single noise came out of my mouth as I stood there. A feeling of deja-vu came over me as I thought back to 1979 and that infamous Cup Final. The last minute against Arsenal when Sammy Mac scored and that permed nonce Sunderland went straight up the other end and broke our hearts. "You're not singing any more" they sang, but I wished they wouldn't. Not with all this irony in the air. I stood there nervously twitching, with my heart pounding away at an unrealistic rate. I had no idea how long was left but I knew it wasn't long. Was there to be more - surely not. There couldn't be long to go. A matter of seconds maybe. We could cope with a replay after agonising our way through ninety minutes of hell, but we couldn't cope with a last minute loss. United haven't lost a Cup tie to Liverpool since the twenties and surely this was not the time. But there WAS more. I have no idea how it happened but from the corner of my eye out of the melee in the Liverpool penalty area I saw just a mere flash and the the net was bulging. And as Ole ran away almost tearing the shirt from his chest and kissing the badge, a micro second passed as we stared in utter disbelief and then went absolutely bloody mental. The scenes behind that goal were like old times. The faces around were now so contorted with utter delight that I thought mine would split in two. We hugged and danced around and screamed at the tops of our voices. The noise definitely came out of my mouth this time, I could hear it - and it was deafening. The celebrations were massive as we sang "Charlie, Charlie, what's the score - Charlie - what's the score" at the overweight and miserable "good time Charlie" - Ince. How we loved the end of that game and how it will live in our hearts undimmed for years to come. The final whistle blew and we stood on our seats singing "You're gonna win f**k all" over and over again to the scousers knowing how absolutely devastated they would feel. But we cared not a jot for them - not a jot. We stood and screamed and sang and danced until every United player had left the pitch. Outside the ground was mayhem. Everyone was singing for Ole and round the back of north stand as the hoards came out, the singing got louder and louder. The faces were beaming now, every one of them. My elation compelled me to run all the way back to the car. I just couldn't help myself. Back in the car and driving away Mick took great delight in phoning every scouser he knew. It must have been sickening for them to hear us singing the Ole song at the tops of our voices, but the best response was from one of his work mates who simply said "Just f**k off" and hung up! Half past four on a Sunday afternoon and I was back home with Gina waving excitedly from the upstairs window and Alex running out to meet us. Both of them had watched the end of the game on TV and when Gina told me of Alex' antics when Ole scored it almost topped the lot. Apparently he had leapt up screeching at the top of his voice, pulled his trousers down and mooned at the distraught scousers wiggling his arse at them! So the scousers went back to Heartbreak Hotel after all and we had taken three steps to heaven - well, I always preferred Eddie Cochrane. Copyright RED KELLY 1999
Super Sub Ole Celebrates the winner!

Subject: HOULLIER BEMOANS FREE-KICK Alex Ferguson hailed the ``sheer determination'' that saved Manchester United's FA Cup skin as they came from a goal down with two minutes to go against Liverpool to seal a famous 2-1 fourth-round win at Old Trafford today. For Ferguson's opposite number Gerard Houllier, though, the focus of attention was the contentious free-kick decision he believes turned the game United's way. The decisive moment came when Jamie Redknapp was controversially penalised for a foul by referee Graham Poll on Ronny Johnsen. Houllier claimed it should not have been given. ``It was a crucial moment. I didn't think it was a foul, and Jamie has told me since it wasn't,'' said the Liverpool boss. ``I have seen it on TV and it looks like Johnsen fell over the ball. That broke our concentration; we were not in the right positions for the free-kick because we were still arguing about it with the referee. ``Maybe for several seconds it was like that, and they scored from the free-kick.'' First Dwight Yorke and then Ole Solskjaer scored in a dramatic last-ditch spell that wrecked Liverpool's magnificent defensive display. Ferguson said: ``Liverpool have every reason to be gutted. They defended fantastically, but sheer determination got us through. ``So people don't think we want to win the FA Cup - well we showed differently out there. ``The one thing we didn't want was a replay. But we also showed by our substitutions that you have to take risks to win matches like this. ``I felt we deserved what we got because we were prepared to take those risks. ``As we were preparing to take that last free-kick, I was telling Peter Schmeichel that if it was cleared he must make sure that Jaap Stam stayed up in the attack. That's a risk; that's what you have to do.'' Ferguson also hailed Solskjaer's crucial involvement. He said: ``The lad can come on and just switch into the game like that. The goal may well have been his first touch of the ball. ``We had a terrible start. To give a goal away like that to a 5ft 6in striker in the six-yard box against our defenders, for God's sake, how did that happen?'' United have lost both Roy Keane and Paul Scholes for the fifth round on February 13 after the pair both received their fifth bookings. The home game with Arsenal on that day will also be to be rearranged. Houllier admitted that Liverpool are some way short of United's status but he said: ``For this game we raised ourselves to their level. ``We know we have to still improve, and I feel disappointed for our players and fans because they were so close to writing a piece of club history in giant letters. ``We haven't beaten United in the Cup for over 70 years, but I assure people that we will beat them at some stage - we deserved at least a draw. ``We had good chances also to have scored a second goal, and that would have finished it. Robbie Fowler had a couple of chances; they just didn't go in for him on this day.''
Super Sub Ole Celebrates the winner!

Subject: Results/Fixtures *** ROUND 4 RESULTS ON 24/01/99 *** MANCHESTER UNITED 2-1 Liverpool 54,591 Wolverhampton 1-2 ARSENAL 27,511 *** ROUND 4 FIXTURES ON 25/01/99 *** Oxford United v Chelsea *** ROUND 4 FIXTURES ON 27/01/99 *** Sheffield United v Cardiff City Full draw: Arsenal v Sheffield United or Cardiff Wrexham or Huddersfield v Derby Leeds v Wimbledon or Tottenham Barnsley v Bristol Rovers Sheffield Wednesday v Oxford or Chelsea Everton v Coventry Newcastle v Blackburn Manchester United v Fulham. Ties to be played on the weekend of February 13/14. --------------------------------------------- *** PREMIER FIXTURES ON 30/01/99 *** Blackburn Rovers v Tottenham Hotspur Coventry City v Liverpool Everton v Nottingham Forest Middlesbrough v Leicester City Newcastle United v Aston Villa Sheffield Wednesday v Derby County Southampton v Leeds United Wimbledon v West Ham United *** FIXTURES ON 31/01/99 *** Arsenal v Chelsea Charlton Athletic v Manchester United *** FIXTURE PREDICTIONS ON 30/01/99 *** Blackburn Rovers 1-0 Tottenham Hotspur Coventry City 0-2 Liverpool Everton 2-0 Nottingham Forest Middlesbrough 1-0 Leicester City Newcastle United 1-1 Aston Villa Sheffield Wednesday 1-1 Derby County Southampton 1-2 Leeds United Wimbledon 2-1 West Ham United *** FIXTURE PREDICTIONS ON 31/01/99 *** Arsenal 1-1 Chelsea Charlton Athletic 0-3 Manchester United ---------------------------------------------- Worthington "Who cares?" Cup *** SEMI-FINALS FIXTURES ON 26/01/99 *** Sunderland v Leicester City *** SEMI-FINALS FIXTURES ON 27/01/99 *** Tottenham Hotspur v Wimbledon
Super Sub Ole Celebrates the winner!

Monday 25 January 1999 Subject: UNITED GRAB DRAMATIC STOPPAGE TIME WINNER MANCHESTER UNITED 2 LIVERPOOL 1 In years to come they will still talk about this match. The match where Ole Gunnar Solskjaer scored the winner in stoppage time to complete one of the most remarkable Manchester United's comebacks ever. Liverpool were just two minutes away from a famous FA Cup triumph after Michael Owen had scored in the third minute. For 88 minutes they had withstood everything United could throw at them including two chances when Roy Keane hit the post. But just when it seemed the visitors would end their 78-year long wait to beat United in the FA Cup, Andy Cole fed Dwight Yorke to score the equaliser. If that were not cruel enough on Liverpool, substitute Solskjaer popped up in the first minute of stoppage time to send the Old Trafford faithful into heaven. It was a fantastic game which, unlike previous meetings between these two fiercest of rivals, lived up to its billing. United boss Alex Ferguson had predicted a real belter of a game and his forecast proved correct as this fourth round tie had everything. Unfortunately for Liverpool that included a loser and full credit to them for playing their part in such a memorable clash. They had made a dream start when Owen headed them in front in the third minute. Jamie Redknapp released Vegard Heggem down the right and his cross was glanced home by the unmarked Owen for his 18th goal of the season. United were clearly rattled and they needed the next few minutes to gather their senses. Once they did they piled on the pressure on Liverpool's makeshift defence. Steve Harkness and Dominic Matteo partnered Jamie Carragher at the heart of the defence in the absence of the suspended Phil Babb and injured Steve Staunton. Skipper Paul Ince was on guard duty just in front of them, but on 22 minutes tehe Liverpool back line was almost breached. David Beckham released Yorke on the right with a neat flick and David James could only touch the striker's cross onto the head of Keane who struck the inside of the near post and Ince hoofed the ball away from danger with United claiming it had crossed the line. It was all United and the recalled Gary Neville, playing at right back rather than centre-half where he did such an excellent job on Owen when the sides last met, was causing Liverpool problems raiding down the flank. Liverpool were still dangerous and Redknapp drove a 25-yard free-kick just the wrong side of Peter Schmeichel's upright. Yorke was looking impressive in this battle of the hottest strikers in the Premiership and he found Ryan Giggs with a great ball on 32 minutes. Cole brought Giggs' high ball down, but his shot was deflected for a corner. Owen gave United a scare when he outpaced Jaap Stam and shot just across Schmeichel's goal. Fowler was just as lively as his strike partner and he curled a speculative effort just past the post. For the main, though, it was United doing most of the attacking. They were camped outside the Liverpool box as they tried in vain to find a way through the mass of white shirts. United were becoming more desperate and five minutes before half-time they appealed more in hope than in expectation for a penalty for handball against Carragher. Liverpool looked threatening on the break and just before the interval Schmeichel parried Patrik Berger's near-post shot away for a corner. And from the resultant set-piece, Ince sent a downward header bouncing into the grateful arms of Schmeichel. Nicky Butt, who had an absolute stinker in the first-half, was much improved in the second and he released Cole through the middle only for James to rush out and hack the ball clear. Giggs claimed he had been pulled back when he failed to convert Beckham's cross, but referee Graham Poll was unmoved. Owen continued to harass United's defence and from one attack he went between Keane and Irwin before setting up Fowler in a great position, but he fired wide. Still United pushed, but still the equaliser would not come. United thought it had in the 61st minute when Keane's drive took a deflection and appeared to be bouncing past the stranded James and into the net, only for it to go wide for a corner. Giggs and Beckham were playing as two extra strikers as United increased the pressure on Liverpool's creaking defence. Once again United thought they had made the breakthrough when Cole's deflected shot appeared goalbound, but it bent just over the bar. United's growing frustration was eloquently summed up by Keane who chopped down Redknapp and was duly booked. As the game entered the final quarter, United brought on Paul Scholes for Butt. Liverpool were riding their luck now and James saved Matteo's attempt to cut out a backpass. The battle-weary Ince was replaced by Jason McAteer as Liverpool tried to hold out. The normally-accurate Scholes drove over from a great opportunity before the woodwork denied Keane in the 80th minute when he fired against the inside of the post. United played their final two cards when they brought on Solskjaer and Ronny Johnsen with 10 minutes remaining. Ferguson's last throw of the dice worked as United finally breached Liverpool's defence. First, Cole knocked back Beckham's disputed free-kick for Yorke to score from close range. Then Scholes fed Solskjaer and the Norwegian international netted to break of the heart of every Liverpool player and fan. Alex Ferguson hailed the ''sheer determination'' that saved his side's FA Cup skin. For his opposite number Gerard Houllier, though, the focus of attention was the contentious free-kick decision he believes turned the game United's way. The decisive moment came when Jamie Redknapp was controversially penalised for a foul by referee Graham Poll on Ronny Johnsen. Houllier claimed it should not have been given. ''It was a crucial moment. I didn't think it was a foul, and Jamie has told me since it wasn't,'' said the Liverpool boss. ''I have seen it on TV and it looks like Johnsen fell over the ball. That broke our concentration; we were not in the right positions for the free-kick because we were still arguing about it with the referee. Maybe for several seconds it was like that, and they scored from the free-kick. For this game we raised ourselves to their level. We know we have to still improve, and I feel disappointed for our players and fans because they were so close to writing a piece of club history in giant letters. We haven't beaten United in the Cup for over 70 years, but I assure people that we will beat them at some stage - we deserved at least a draw. We had good chances also to have scored a second goal, and that would have finished it. Robbie Fowler had a couple of chances; they just didn't go in for him on this day.'' '' Ferguson said: ''Liverpool have every reason to be gutted. They defended fantastically, but sheer determination got us through. So people don't think we want to win the FA Cup - well we showed differently out there. The one thing we didn't want was a replay. But we also showed by our substitutions that you have to take risks to win matches like this. I felt we deserved what we got because we were prepared to take those risks. As we were preparing to take that last free-kick, I was telling Peter Schmeichel that if it was cleared he must make sure that Jaap Stam stayed up in the attack. That's a risk; that's what you have to do.'' Ferguson also hailed Solskjaer's crucial involvement. He said: ''The lad can come on and just switch into the game like that. The goal may well have been his first touch of the ball. We had a terrible start. To give a goal away like that to a 5ft 6in striker in the six-yard box against our defenders, for God's sake, how did that happen?'' United have lost both Keane and Scholes for the fifth round on February 13 after the pair both received their fifth bookings. The home game with Arsenal on that day will also have to be rearranged.
Super Sub Ole Celebrates the winner!

Subject: Move to block Sky's £623m United buy-up By Rob Draper Sunday, January 24, 1999 The Premier League is ready to ask the Monopolies and Mergers Commission to block BSkyB's £623 million takeover of Manchester United. Premier League chief executive Peter Leaver has compiled his responses to MMC inquiries. In the draft document, which has been passed to Sportsmail, he calls for the 'prohibition of the merger'. Leaver tells the MMC of his concern at the consequences of the takeover by Rupert Murdoch's media empire if collective bargaining of the League's TV deal regarding a television deal is outlawed. Leaver says: 'In the absence of collective licensing, the Premier League finds it difficult to see how any remedy other than prohibition of the merger would address the adverse effects.' The Premier League's stance will enrage Old Trafford chairman Martin Edwards and his boardroom colleagues who have received no hint of Leaver's hard-line approach. The accusation that Leaver, already under fire for the appointment of media advisers Sam Chisholm and David Chance, has acted again beyond his powers of office will surface at Thursday's Premier League meeting. Leaver has not contacted the 20 members of the Premiership to ask for their views on the BSkyB-United deal before delivering his own verdict.
Super Sub Ole Celebrates the winner!

Subject: Fergie interview - The Times United at full gallop By Paul Hayward A LARGE measure of horse racing's allure is to be found at first light, in the thunderous approach of fresh thoroughbreds through the mist and birdsong. The same sensation overcomes the visitor to Manchester United's training ground, The Cliff, where sallow youths arrive before the senior players to fill the club's other, more private, Theatre of Dreams. Alex Ferguson, racehorse owner and trainer to these hopeful souls, would appreciate the symmetry between the two great passions of his life as United prepare for Liverpool's visit tomorrow in the FA Cup fourth round. On this day, the club that Bill Shankly governed with the same fierce Scottish paternalism that Ferguson brings to bear on United had opened a new £10 million training and youth academy at Kirkby. For Liverpool, too, the birdsong that greets Ferguson when he arrives at The Cliff, long before the first team, is the sound of a football club's renewal. The ceremonial cutting of red tape at Kirkby must have sent a tremor through Ferguson as he examines the terms of a new managerial contract put forward by the United board. "No, no," he said, leaving the questioner in no doubt that he still believes he has the revived threat from Merseyside covered. "What you're seeing with the advent of these academies is that there is an emphasis on youth development throughout the country. The challenges, in that respect, could come from anywhere." Ending Liverpool's dominance of English football was the first mission Ferguson set himself when he arrived at Old Trafford in November, 1986. Tomorrow's climactic encounter has been shaking the ground of North-West England since the two balls popped fortuitously out of the hat. A little early in the competition, maybe, but ordinary considerations about timing and reality are suspended when United and Liverpool meet. In the re-ordering of United's priorities, there has been no wilting of the FA Cup's charms in the mind of a manager who enjoys the one-off eruption of a big knock-out game as much as the pluckiest provincial giant-slayer. "The FA Cup's fantastic, it's so exciting. It's the sudden death of it," Ferguson said in his cramped office, as the phone rang incessantly and fresh faxes were carried in. "It's the biggest cup competition anywhere in the world. The Italian equivalent is not nearly as big. The Germans maybe take it a bit more seriously than the Italians, but when you play Liverpool in a Cup tie the hackles are out, aren't they? It does something to you." It does something to the fans as well. The animosity between the two sides is so fierce - or, rather, warped - that many of them cannot be trusted to share the same city after midday, when an early kick-off is scheduled to prevent any boozy belligerence disfiguring a match that would be tense enough if it was played at four o'clock in the morning. Arsenal and, briefly, Leeds aside, the two clubs have spent the last 40 years wrestling over the role of English football's pre-eminent force. Across 30 miles and one short motorway there is a tribal, linguistic and even cultural divide. The two cities look, feel and sound different. In footballing terms, they are separate and competing republics of the heart. Sensitivities in Liverpool, especially, run deep. The city is weary of being told that it is stuck in victim-mode, nursing a persecution complex about job losses and urban decay, and fighting off the scally stereotype that has darkened the shadow cast by Manchester's economic and cultural boom. Manchester has the Trafford Centre, the Commonwealth Games and smart hotels. Liverpool has a post-industrial void which has still to be filled. Some Liverpudlians, though, maintain that Manchester, a former cotton town, has allowed itself to be taken over by the candyfloss of consumer culture. Whatever, the one criterion neither side can escape is football. Here, success is measured in silver. Liverpool were the club of the Seventies and Eighties; United have annexed the Nineties. Anfield holds 45,000; Old Trafford will soon be a second home to 67,000. United may be about to become a sheaf in Rupert Murdoch's ever-growing portfolio; Liverpool cling to their independence and are much less zealous in exploiting their merchandising and other outside revenues. Which club more accurately reflects the state of our game and our nation? Will Liverpool's Gerard Houllier, with his compatriot, Arsène Wenger, form a French pincer movement to end Ferguson's Anglo-Scottish hegemony? These are sub-themes to tomorrow's game, which can already claim to be a startling exposition of some of Europe's finest attacking talent: Michael Owen and Robbie Fowler, Andy Cole and Dwight Yorke. Between them, last weekend, the two teams hit 13 goals, against Leicester and Southampton. "The Evening News here said that after all those goals it'll probably be 0-0," Ferguson said before training. "There is no bloody chance of it being 0-0. This is the last game in the world that'll be 0-0. I'll eat my bunny if it is. There'll be three goals minimum." Emphatic enough? The head tells United that they ought to be more concerned about Ronaldo and Inter Milan than Michael Owen and Liverpool. In the hierarchy of desires, the Champions' League quarter-final in March assumes far greater proportions than the dear old FA Cup. But the heart seldom allows United sides to hold themselves back. This is a touchpaper match that will suck both sides in. Ferguson's men have been drawn in once already this season, against Barcelona at the Nou Camp, where the players decided to meet fire with fire, and to hell with the water buckets. Ferguson himself is easily ignited. Rationally, defeat would not harm them much. Emotionally, it would hurt like hell for a week. Liverpool are on a run of four Premiership wins in five. In between they escaped from Highbury with a dogged 0-0 draw that put the Spice Boys in the style graveyard. "If they continue with their present form they're going to be up near the top of the League," said Ferguson without, it has to be said, looking particularly concerned. "It may be just the simple fact that they've got a new manager. Quite often somebody who replaces someone who's been there a long time has an immediate impact. The test will come over a longer period. "A Cup tie brings an edge to it because it's one source for either club to get a bit of success. It's probably more important to Liverpool than us, because they're eight points behind Chelsea, and that's a lot to make up. Their best chance this season is probably the FA Cup." The emotional antipathy between the two clubs is familiar territory to Ferguson. "When I came to this club my aim was to beat Liverpool. Once I did that I knew I was in business. That changed a bit when Arsenal started to win a few titles and became our biggest competitors. But when I arrived here Liverpool were still the dominant force. They were getting the best players because they were successful. "And they didn't have the same opposition back then. Leeds were in the Second Division, so were Newcastle. Middlesbrough and Sunderland were dying. Blackburn were languishing in Division Two along with Chelsea. Aston Villa were relegated in my first year here. Now they're all in the melting pot. Since 1990, we've really been the most consistent side. It's been a big turnaround with us and Liverpool, and that's been pleasing for me." Ferguson says he hopes this unholy Sabbath collision will be free of the vicious chanting that poisons these games. "With the early kick-off we're going to have a better atmosphere without that bile. And what I would say is that both sets of supporters will be proud of the players on that pitch because they all play proper football. I've admired all the Liverpool teams I've come up against in the last decade. They weren't always the way they are now. They used to have a principle of grabbing a 0-0 away from home and then winning all their home matches. But in that period when they started winning the European Cup they certainly played good football. There was a toughness about them, too. That's fine, no problem. Manchester United have always embraced the same ideals." All this was said amid a blizzard of competing demands: the arrival of his publisher, the arrival of faxes about United's own new youth academy at Carrington, due to open in September. Calls which had to be returned were carefully logged, while outside the first of the high-performance vehicles - Ferguson's aside - started to roll in to the car park. Ferguson insists that Brian Kidd's departure to Blackburn has not increased the burden of an already heart-bustingly stressful job. "For a while you feel a little bit . . . how would you put it . . . alone," Ferguson said. But it soon passed. There was a brief moment, too, to take a call on the subject of one of his horses, Yankie Lord, who ran that day at Huntingdon under Graham Bradley and won at 8-1. The name of Ferguson's racing syndicate, not amazingly, is The Boys in Red. Young men who would answer to that title were arriving in droves downstairs, aware that the fuse of tomorrow's match was already burning. More, of the hostile variety, were on their way from Liverpool.
Super Sub Ole Celebrates the winner!

Subject: JAAP STAMPS ON WINTER BREAK Jaap Stam is at odds with Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson over the need for a winter break in the FA Carling Premiership. Ferguson has called for a mid-season shutdown to give his players a breather from their hectic fixture schedule. He believes playing right through the winter makes it even harder for English sides to do well in Europe. Stam disagrees with his manager, even though he is used to a winter shutdown in Holland, and he does not think playing in January harms players that much. The Dutch international defender also claims it would be extremely difficult to fit a mid-season break into the Premiership schedule. ''Despite missing out on this annual break, I'm not complaining,'' said Stam. ''I enjoyed my Christmas and the games we played and I won't be campaigning for a winter break. English football has never had one, so I don't see how it can harm it not to have one. ''Next year we will have even more games with the extended Champions' League, so I really don't see how the Premiership could ever accommodate a winter break.'' Stam added in the Manchester United Magazine: ''I will go with the flow on this one - when I'm needed to play, I'll play.'' Meanwhile Ferguson has backtracked after he hinted he may retire in 2003. Ferguson made the comment following Teddy Scott's testimonial at Aberdeen on Monday. ''It was a bit of a joke really. In four years' time at United it might be the right time to think about what to do next,'' he said. Ferguson's contract expires in the summer of 2000 and he is due to sit down with the United board and thrash out a new deal at the end of this season. Ferguson, 57, has been at Old Trafford since 1986 and he says he does not know how much longer he will carry on. ''It's difficult to say but obviously you want to do that because this is the best part of your life, managing this club, and whenever you leave it's going to be hard,'' he told ClubCall.
Super Sub Ole Celebrates the winner!

Subject: YORKE-COLE PARTNERSHIP HAS THE EDGE - MOLBY Dwight Yorke and Andy Cole have the striking edge on Michael Owen and Robbie Fowler - for now. That is the view of former Liverpool midfielder Jan Molby, who feels the Manchester United pair are the hottest goalscoring partnership in the Premiership. The duo have netted 31 goals between them this season, including 26 in the 18 games they have started together. Liverpool's Owen and Fowler are only one goal behind on 30 and they have managed 16 goals in the 18 matches they have started together. The four players, who are worth around £60million, clash head on in Sunday's high noon FA Cup showdown at Old Trafford. Molby reckons there is no doubting the United strikers' supremacy for now but says fans have yet to see the Owen and Fowler partnership fully develop. Their relationship on the pitch is still recovering after Fowler's seven-month spell on the sidelines because of his serious knee injury. Molby said: ''As a partnership Dwight Yorke and Andy Cole have a slight edge over Michael Owen and Robbie Fowler in terms of how well they play together. They have a great understanding and the goals are flowing for them. ''But as four individuals the two Liverpool strikers are every bit as good as the two United strikers. ''I believe we have yet to see the best of Owen and Fowler and we don't know how good they could be together. ''What they need is to play more games together and to try and build up a similar understanding to the one Yorke and Cole have. ''It seems wrong to think that they cannot play together, because they are two of the best young players around. ''It's true that they do not have a lot of height between them - although Robbie can be pretty good in the air at times - but they do have Karlheinz Riedle as an option. ''I think we're already seeing them form a good partnership and they will go from strength to strength.'' Molby has been particularly impressed with Yorke and the way he has gelled so quickly with Cole. Like many pundits, the Dane was staggered when United agreed to pay Aston Villa a club record £12.6million for Yorke in August, but the Trinidad and Tobago star is proving to be worth every penny. ''We all raised a few eyebrows over the fee for Dwight Yorke, but he's proved us all wrong,'' said Molby. ''You only have to look at the way he plays to see that and he is a terrific all-round player. ''Not only is he a great finisher, but he's involved all the time. His link-up play is great and he is really bringing out the best in Cole.'' So which pairing will come out top on Sunday? ''It's hard to tell,'' said Molby. ''I wouldn't like to predict that and I just hope they all live up to expectations.'' Premiership's leading striking partnerships: 31 goals - Dwight Yorke and Andy Cole (Manchester United) 30 - Michael Owen and Robbie Fowler (Liverpool) 23 - Julian Joachim and Dion Dublin (Aston Villa, includes Dublin's four goals for Coventry) 19 - Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Harry Kewell (Leeds) 18 - Hamilton Ricard and Brian Deane (Middlesbrough), Gianfranco Zola and Gianluca Vialli (Chelsea), Darren Huckerby and Noel Whelan (Coventry).
Super Sub Ole Celebrates the winner!

Pic Link today is http://www.red11.org/mufc/match.htm

To receive this Daily News by email each day:

Subscribe / Unsubscribe

by WWW:
http://www.onelist.com/subscribe.cgi/MufcDailyNews

- OR -

By E-mail
List-Subscribe:
MufcDailyNews-subscribe@ONElist.com
List-Unsubscribe: MufcDailyNews-unsubscribe@ONElist.com

To debate ALL subjects about Manchester United Football Club we at Simplenet recommend:
The "RED-DEVILS MAIL LIST" all subscription requests to: <RED-DEVILS@PIPELINE.COM>
To subscribe to the daily Digest type 'Digest' in message body

or "THE INTERNATIONAL MANCHESTER UNITED MAILING LIST" <listserv@listserv.indiana.edu>
Write the command: sub mufc (your_name)

Webmaster e-mail: barry@www.red11.org

Singalong Calypso available here: mp3

          If ever they are playing in your town
          You must get to that football ground
          Take a lesson come to see
          Football taught by Matt Busby
          Manchester, Manchester United
          A bunch of bouncing Busby Babes
          They deserve to be knighted

"RED HOT" News-wire NOW!
Manchester United FC:
Theatre Of Dreams Website Index:
Results News WhosWho Archive Pics Statistics Reserves Squad
Trophy's History Munich Webring Editorial Guestbook + Read



Search this site for: