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
++++++=========+++++++========+++++++++========++++++++
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!
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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