www.red11.org DAILY NEWS
Date: Sat Jan 30 00:25:31 GMT+00:00 1999
Mail: barry@www.red11.org
This Issue:
1. Head to head: United v Villa
2. FERGIE STILL PUZZLING OVER SOLSKJAER POSER
3. Bowen aims to put brakes on pal Giggs
4. FERGIE FAILS TO MAKE STRONG SQUAD STRONGER
5. Zidane blow for United
6. Emails from 365: United Fans Dig Ole
7. Ole scores in EVERY 83 mins!!!
8. Blomqvist gets a kick out of life with Tina
++++++=========+++++++========+++++++++========++++++++
Daily RED Trivia Sat 30th January 1999:
30/1/1960: United win 3-1 at Liverpool in the FA Cup 3rd round with goals from
Bobby Charlton 2 and Warren Bradley. Attendance was 56,736. Team was:
Gregg, Foulkes, Carolan, Setters, Cope, Brennan, Bradley, Quixall, Viollet,
Charlton, Scanlon.
1964: Ted Savage died in Wallasey. Savage was signed from Liverpool and made
his debut at Newcastle United in January 1938. He made 5 appearances in 1938
before moving to Wrexham. The pacy Half-back started his career at Lincoln City.
***************
Barry Daily Comment:
United boss Alex Ferguson has denied he is to make a £5million swoop for
Everton left-back Michael Ball. Everton were also quick to pour cold water
on such talk and Ferguson said: ''There's nothing in it.''
**NEW**
http://www.red11.org/mufc/map.htm
Up and running from today maps of Manchester showing:
Old Trafford & The Throstles Nest Pub.
Main Training Ground The Cliff + Littleton Rd (close map).
'A' Team - The Cliff, Lower Broughton Road, Lower Broughton, Salford.
'B' Team - Littleton Road, Lower Kersal, Salford.
Main Training Ground The Cliff + Littleton Rd (larger map).
Gigg Lane, Bury.
Reserves play at - OT or at Gigg Lane, Bury during November-March.
Thanks to Pete Hargreaves for scanning these maps
www.red11.org
Previous News:
Brian Kidd Press conference, pic, real audio
http://www.iol.ie/~redcafe/kidd.htm
Peter Schmeichel's last Season at United!
http://www.red11.org/mufc/news/schmeichel.htm
Next games:
ALL Result/Fixture Index:
http://www.red11.org/mufc/fix9899z.htm
31/1 Charlton (A) 16.00 UK
February
3 Derby (H) 20.00
6 Nottm Forest (A) 15.00
14 Fulham (H) 14.00 FAC 5th round
17 Arsenal (H) 20.00
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 3 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
++++++=========+++++++========+++++++++========++++++++
Great Pic of the FA CUP Celebration!
Subject: Head to head: United v Villa
ASTON Villa have surprised everyone with their
march to the top of the table, particularly after selling
the brilliant Dwight Yorke to Manchester United.
But John Gregory's shrewd investments, including the
likes of Dion Dublin, Paul Merson and of course
Steve Watson, have seen Villa emerge as genuine
title challengers.
Much of their early successes were built on a
watertight defence but then the goals started to flow
freely. So much so that, even when 2-0 down at
home to champions Arsenal, Villa managed to pull
off a 3-2 win in the most impressive comeback of the
season.
Our Carling Opta statistics show that the Midlanders
have been nothing special in terms of passing,
crossing and tackling - indeed Newcastle have been
generally more accurate in these areas.
But Villa's deadly finishing has meant they have often
triumphed in closely-fought contests, such as the
home game with Sheffield Wednesday.
While only one in 10 of Newcastle's shots are hitting
the back of the net, 15 per cent of Villa's efforts
strike goal - one of the best tallies in the Premiership.
But it has been proved this season that Villa are far
from unbeatable, as Liverpool's sensational 4-2 win
at Villa Park can testify.
Earlier on in the season, John Gregory's men needed
a penalty to defeat United 1-0 and you can be sure
the Toon will be keen to get back on the winning
track.
Great Pic of the FA CUP Celebration!
Subject: FERGIE STILL PUZZLING OVER SOLSKJAER POSER
Alex Ferguson has 48 hours to decide whether he will change a winning line
up as Manchester United go to Charlton on Sunday.
Striker Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is giving him the biggest headache after once
again scoring a critical goal when coming on as a late substitute last
Sunday.
Solskjaer got the winner against Liverpool in the FA Cup fourth round tie
in a repeat of his last performance against West Ham two weeks earlier.
Speculation is mounting that Ferguson could field three strikers, adding
Solskjaer to his Dwight Yorke - Andy Cole partnership and the United boss
said: ''You could do that if you wanted to but we have a system of play
here that we don't want to tinker with.
''Ole Gunnar comes into consideration quite rightly and has certainly
staked his claim all right.
''After scoring the winning goal last Sunday in the fashion he did, he
certainly merits consideration and that is something I will have to think
about.
''I'll give it some thought over the next couple of days.'' Meanwhile,
United have no fresh injury worries ahead of Sunday's game at the Valley.
Jesper Blomqvist is back in the squad after being ruled out last weekend
when he picked up an injury in training, but Teddy Sheringham is still out
of contention.
Manchester United (from): Schmeichel, G Neville, Berg, Stam, Irwin,
Beckham, Keane, Giggs, Cole, Yorke, Butt, Scholes, P Neville, Solskjaer,
Johnsen, Blomqvist, van der Gow.
--------------------------
FERGIE RUBBISHES BALL TALK
United boss Alex Ferguson has denied he is to make a £5million swoop for
Everton left-back Michael Ball.
http://www.football365.co.uk/homeground/manchester_united/news_117612.htm
United boss Alex Ferguson has denied he is to make a £5million swoop for
Everton left-back Michael Ball.
Everton were also quick to pour cold water on such talk and Ferguson said:
''There's nothing in it.''
Great Pic of the FA CUP Celebration!
Subject: Bowen aims to put brakes on pal Giggs
By Ian Gibb
Saturday, January 30, 1999
Mark Bowen is 35, has not played a first-team game since May because of
three operations and admits he has no pace.
But relegation-troubled Charlton are ready to throw him in against the might of
Manchester United at The Valley on Monday.
The last time the experienced Wales full back played a senior game for
Charlton was in the promotion play-off triumph at Wembley eight months ago.
'Since then it has been murder,' says Bowen. 'I've played nearly all my career in
the top flight and just when I'd got back there with Charlton, I got all this injury
trouble including a double hernia.' But that does not mean he will lack
confidence in taking on United, especially his feared Wales international
colleague Ryan Giggs.
Bowen said: 'I'll have to ask Ryan to take it easy on me. But seriously, I will
relish the challenge. Though I'm 35 it's not as though I've lost any pace - I never
had any in the first place.
'I've never been one for galloping up and down the flanks but I've always got by
on reading the game and I'm not worried about United.' The surgery would have
left most players of his age looking to retire but he said: 'I was given a 12-week
recovery period since the last operation and I made it back the week before that
deadline with a reserve game against Northampton last week.
'I also want to show Bobby Gould that I can get back into the Wales squad,
hopefully against Switzerland next month.'
Great Pic of the FA CUP Celebration!
Subject: FERGIE FAILS TO MAKE STRONG SQUAD STRONGER
Alex Ferguson has admitted defeat in his bid to strengthen his Champions'
League squad before Sunday's UEFA deadline.
The Manchester United boss has spent the last six weeks checking out the
possibility of adding to his already vast pool of talent for their
quarter-final with Inter Milan in March.
But Ferguson found his options severely limited because any player who has
already played in Europe this season is ineligible for the Champions' League.
That ruled out around 400 players and a frustrated Ferguson said: ''It's a
limited field that you are in, because so many players are cup-tied.
''We will not be signing anyone.'' The only new addition to United's
European squad when they submit their list to UEFA will be striker Jonathan
Greening.
Ferguson has been impressed by how well the 20-year-old has progressed in
his 10 months at Old Trafford following his transfer from York City.
The Scarborough-born player has made three Worthington Cup appearances this
season, while he also made his Premiership debut as a substitute against
Nottingham Forest on Boxing Day.
Greening replaces Jordi Cruyff on United's 25-man list following the
Dutchman's loan move to Celta Vigo for the rest of the season.
Cruyff can be recalled for FA Carling Premiership games, but he is now
ineligible for European games.
Ferguson has also denied he was about to make a £5million swoop for Everton
left-back Michael Ball.
Everton were also quick to pour cold water on such talk and Ferguson said:
''There's nothing in it.''
Great Pic of the FA CUP Celebration!
Subject: Zidane blow for United
By John Edwards
Saturday, January 30, 1999
Ronaldo has stepped into the debate over Zinedine Zidane's future and dealt
a crushing setback to Manchester United's hopes of pulling off the biggest
transfer in their history.
United boss Alex Ferguson was already locked in a battle with Juventus
counterpart Marcello Lippi after lining up a summer move for the
inspirational France midfielder.
Lippi will take command at Inter Milan at the end of the season and has
made it clear he wants to take Zidane with him. Now the odds against United
appear to be insurmountable after a plea by Ronaldo for the 26-year-old to
join him at the San Siro and help turn Inter into European champions.
Money, inevitably, was at the root of it, as Ronaldo openly admitted.
The Brazil striker became a part-owner of Inter after a remarkable round of
negotiations which underlined his bargaining power over a new deal.
Inter agreed to his demand for a wage increase and made certain he went
away happy by awarding him shares which amounted to a five per cent stake
in the club.
The possibilities then became glaringly obvious to him when he teamed up
with Zidane for a Rest of the World clash against Italy - and established
an instant rapport.
'Now that I'm a shareholder I want to maximise my profits,' he said. 'That
is one of the rewards for making the club successful.
'There is no doubt in my mind that Zinedine is the person to help me do
that. He is the man I want alongside me at Inter because I know he will
supply me with even more chances to score goals.'
Lippi ends his four-year reign at Juventus this summer and has echoed
Ronaldo's sentiment that Zidane's best interests would be served by a move
to Inter.
Zidane's money-making prospects, as well as Ronaldo's, are also counting
against United.
He currently earns around £30,000 a week and, according to sources in
France, has recently complained about lagging behind other major names in
Italy's Serie A.
It is understood he will seek to double his wages at the end of the season,
whether he stays in Turin or moves to Milan or Manchester.
As if personal terms were not daunting enough for any potential buyer,
Juventus are widely expected to demand around £20million before releasing
Zidane from a contract which runs until 2003.
United have not given up hope but would have to smash the British transfer
record and make Zidane far and away the highest paid player on their books.
The incentive for such an outlay is that the Juventus playmaker's guile and
expertise could be the difference between being crowned European champions
and another near miss.
Ferguson knows that and is so desperate to add the Champions League to his
haul of trophies at Old Trafford that he is still exploring ways of
competing with Juventus and Inter.
Zidane himself insists his future is still in the balance, saying: 'I could
go to Inter or stay where I am - or even move abroad.
'The alternatives are all appealing and it's going to need some careful
thought before I make up my mind.'
Great Pic of the FA CUP Celebration!
Subject: Emails from 365: United Fans Dig Ole
United Fans Dig Ole
...Isn't it great to finally hear from someone who doesn't think they
are God's gift to football? While we have to put up with the bleating
and whining from the Coles and the Collymores, it is refreshing to
hear from a footballer whose main concern is the performance of
the team. Ole obviously wants to play as much footy as possible
but, at the same time, understands that 'There is no I in team'.
Maybe the aforementioned players (and I'm sure there are others)
should take a leaf out of Solskjaer's book and show a bit of class
next time the cookie doesn't crumble their way.
Mudguts, Wagga Wagga, NSW, Australia
What a welcome breath of fresh air from Old Trafford. Solskjaer's
belief in both his team and his own ability should be a lesson to all
professionals. No-one can deny that Yorke and Cole have one of
the hottest partnerships currently on view in the Premiership and
Solskjaer is sufficiently realistic to see that he does not fit in with
this. Some people might see this as a lack of ambition on his part,
but I think it shows a maturity that all footballers should take a
measure of.
Paul Ryan
...Yorke and Cole create more, but Solskjaer and Yorke score more.
I don't have the stats to prove that, but I don't think anyone would
disagree that, while Andy is great, Solskjaer shoots whenever he
gets a whiff of goal; and, more often than not, scores. Yorke and
Cole try to walk it in, with one-twos and step-over-the-ball
dummies. It's great to watch, but this approach fails against
well-organised defences. In addition, the number of misses from six
yards has been well documented. This sounds like a contradiction in
terms, but Liverpool's defence was well organised for 88 minutes,
and Yorke and Cole got little change. I would play Solskjaer more
regularly, if only for the exemplary attitude that he displays.
Contrast his behaviour with that of Stan the Wuss and Pierre van
Hoydickhead. In the minds of Utd fans, Ole is already a legend for
the sacrifice the made against Newcastle last year. We love him to
bits.
Michael Wong
...First off - I'm biased as I'm a United fan. But I think Solskjaer
should stay at Old Trafford for several reasons. He's still young;
Cole isn't the kind of striker who'll be improving at 29; and Ole has
more natural talent than Cole - this will out eventually. If he goes
elsewhere, he's unlikely to get the same amount of domestic
success or European football as if he stays at United. Tottenham
and West Ham are both on the up, but hardly at United's level in
terms of current squad, recent achievements and club structure. If
he goes, he will be forever wondering what might have been. He's
not the only decent striker warming the bench at a big club these
days - Suker, Riedle, Baggio - and time is on his side.
Chris Francis
PS: Sheringham is extra baggage though, not so much a has-been
as a never-was.
...I'm a United supporter and I think that since United have a weak
defence, why not put Solskjaer on with Cole and Yorke? Play a
3-4-3 formation. United will always leak goals but, if the best form
of defence is attack and half the time Jaap Stam and the boys sit
on the halfway line anyway, why not outscore your opponents?
Gary, Botswana
...Ole hasn't thrown an "I must be picked" tantrum when left out of
the side and hasn't nicked off to Melbourne for a month whinging
that's it's so stressful being called a poofter by Croatian fans after
missing yet another tap-in. The fact that this is so rare now as to
be newsworthy is a bit of an indication on how footballers see the
world nowadays. I guess he looks at the situation and honestly
thinks to himself that, if he's good enough, he'll get his chance.
There's something to be said for career advancements that are
earned and not just handed out. I'm sure Ole will get his chance and
will then feel all the better for having stuck it out and earned it.
Good on him to knuckle down and put in the effort in a day and age
when footballers at this level are all too often seen to be
'copping-out' when the going gets tough.
Matthew Chrzczonowicz
...Solskjaer displays the kind of loyalty that players should have,
instead of opting to go for higher salaries and pursing for their own
benefits over those of the team's supporters. I would love to see
him stay, even though there is every chance that he might leave.
But for him to remain at United would offer him the best chance at
winning medals. I think Fergie should try out a 4-3-3 formation at
times. Perhaps this would give United a more potent strike force.
But, of course, it is always good to have an ace up his sleeve to
pull out in times of need.
Richard, Australia
But There's Always One, Isn't There?
Alex Ferguson should continue to use Solskjaer in a substitute's role
as his general play is not good enough to replace either Cole or
Yorke. His passing and link-up play is not as good and he has
always struggled to hold play up for the United midfield to get
forward like Cole or Yorke successfully do each game. Ferguson, as
always, says the right thing in public to encourage Solskjaer to keep
his spirits up. Solskjaer in turn is playing his own PR games because
he knows it is the public approach Ferguson would expect. And
Ferguson is no fool. He will keep Solskjaer hungry on the bench and
playing him for the last 15 minutes or so allows the opposition to
never relax if they feel they are getting the upper hand on the
United forward line.
James Dunne, London
Great Pic of the FA CUP Celebration!
Subject: Ole scores in EVERY 83 mins!!!
Reposting Paull Hinsons proof that Ole scores in EVERY 83 mins!!!
Columns easier to read:
Thanks Paul good work!
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
From: Paul Hinson
Minutes per goal (Yorke/Cole/Solskjaer)
Minutes Played/Goals Scored 1998-99
HOME fixtures in bold. * = goals scored
Sub apps in brackets
Up to and including 24/01/99
Yorke Cole Solskjaer
LKS LODZ (CL) -- 90* (10)
LEICESTER CITY -- 90 --
West Ham United 90 69 --
LKS Lodz (CL) -- -- (26)
CHARLTON ATHLETIC 68** (32) 68**
COVENTRY CITY 90* -- 90
BARCELONA (CL) 90 -- 55
Arsenal 90 -- --
LIVERPOOL 90 (32) 68
Bayern Munich (CL) 90* -- --
Southampton 73* 90* --
WIMBLEDON 90* 90** --
Brondby (CL) 90* 60* (30)*
Derby County 90 90 --
BURY (WC) -- -- 120*
Everton 90* 90* --
BRONDBY (CL) 90* 90* (27)
NEWCASTLE UNITED 90 90 (2)
NOTTINGHAM FOREST (WC) -- -- 90*
BLACKBURN ROVERS 90* 90 (24)
Sheffield Wednesday 90 90* (7)
Barcelona (CL) 90** 90* --
LEEDS UNITED 90 64 90
Tottenham Hotspur (LC) -- -- 90
Aston Villa 90 70 --
BAYERN MUNICH (CL) 64 90 --
Tottenham Hotspur -- (15) 45*
CHELSEA 60 90* --
MIDDLESBROUGH -- 90 (11)
NOTTINGHAM FOREST -- -- (27)
Chelsea -- 90 --
MIDDLESBROUGH (FAC) 90 84* (18)
WEST HAM UNITED 90* 90** (13)*
Leicester City 90*** 90** --
LIVERPOOL (FAC) 90* 90 (10)*
Total Minutes Played 2155 2019 921
Appearances 25 26 21
Full matches played 21 17 5
Times Substituted 4 5 2
On as Substitute 0 3 12
Goals scored 17 15 11
Minutes Per Goal:
Yorke 126.76
Cole 134.60
Solskjaer 83.72
Only once have Yorke/Cole/Solskjaer all played without scoring,
v Newcastle United, and then Ole only got 2 minutes on the pitch.
Twice, against Brondby (a) and West Ham (h) all three have scored.
Ole has scored 3 goals as a Substitute, coming on with 30 mins
or less remaining.
Combined, their tally is 43 out of 81 scored so far, spread around
16 players, plus 1 og. Premiership alone it is 27 out of 49 goals.
Best tally in a month is 5, by Yorke (Jan) Cole (Oct & Jan)
Paul Hinson (email p.l.hinson@ais.salford.ac.uk)
Great Pic of the FA CUP Celebration!
Subject: Blomqvist gets a kick out of life with Tina
By Ken Lawrence
Saturday, January 30, 1999
Jesper Blomqvist never has to worry about taking his work home with him for
few girlfriends could be more understanding than long-time partner Tina
Nordlund.
Indeed, the more technical the Manchester United winger gets about his game
the better Tina likes it because she also happens to be a Swedish international.
Tina, who is 21, has 10 caps to her name and this season became one of the
latest star foreign imports to have joined a top-class English side. Just like her
boyfriend, Tina has had to come to terms with a first experience at an English
club - in her case, Tranmere Rovers.
Having made her name as a front player with Umea IK in the Swedish Womens'
League, she, too, has found that the game is far tougher and faster than back
home.
Unlike her boyfriend, however, the only money that changed hands was the
price of a telephone call from her, not the £4.4million deposited in the bank of
Serie A club Parma by United for Blomqvist.
Tina, noted for her strength, speed and shooting ability in Umea, where she and
Blomqvist grew up, scored 10 goals last season as she and her team-mates
finished sixth in their league. 'When I got here last October I was looking for a
team in the Manchester area,' she said.
'Then I was told about Tranmere. I gave them a call and they were really nice.
They asked me to come and train with them and I was delighted when I went on
as a substitute against Everton for the last half an hour.
'It is far tougher to play here. There is more tackling, you have to be quicker on
the ball.' Tina has to head home next week to resume her university studies
leaving Blomqvist, expected to face Charlton tomorrow, to fly the Swedish flag
Great Pic of the FA CUP Celebration!
Pic Link today is http://www.red11.org/mufc/match.htm
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