WEEKLY "RED"SURVEY: Vote Here  Instant reply!


World Wide Mailing List Archive     Complete NEWS Archive


Click for hundreds of  RED Websites / Swap shop / Meet other United Fans and more!

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: Sun Apr 04 07:42:38 GMT+00:00 1999
Mail: barry@www.red11.org

This Issue:
1. IMPORTANT* Ticket Prices REDITORIAL from OUR SALFORD LASS
2. Guardian - Man Utd takeover to be blocked
3. Soccernet Report Wimbledon 1-1 Man United: 
4. Dons Report (ET)  Complacent United rely on Beckham
5. Match Report 365   BECKHAM SALVAGES A POINT FOR UNITED
6. McClaren Hails Players (D.Mail)
7. DEL PIERO BACKS JUVE TO BEAT UNITED
8. Guardian Article: Ticket prices! 
9. Juventus slip will not fool Ferguson (ET)

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

Daily RED Trivia  Sun 4th April 1999:

4/4/1947:
Ted Buckle scored on his debut against Charlton Athletic. Buckle scored 3
goals in his first 4 outings, and the lively forward totalled 24 appearances and 7 goals
between 1947-49 before transferring to Everton. 

4/4/1979:
A Jimmy Greenhoff header helps United beat Liverpool 1-0 in the FA Cup
Semi-Final replay at Goodison Park watched by 53,069. Team was: Bailey, Nicholl,
Albiston, McIlroy, McQueen, Buchan, Coppell, J.Greenhoff, Jordan, Macari (Ritchie),Thomas.

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

Barry Daily Comment:
Happy Easter to REDS All Over the World!

Juventus watch: they suffered its first defeat since Ancelotti took over as coach in
February -- a humbling 1-0 defeat to bottom club Empoli.
Empoli defender Stefano Bianconi, who had a 'goal' unseen by the referee
when these two sides met last season, suffered no such injustice this time
around -- heading home the winner in the 26th minute.
Juventus was clearly thinking more about their European Champions League
tie with Manchester United on Wednesday night than the match in hand.
And Ancelotti coach acknowledged the Old Trafford factor, saying: "It's an
easy alibi to seek, but it's perhaps also a fair one."

Repeated today the article from OUR SALFORD LASS on ticket prices.
We are running this all through Easter as it convey's an important
message to "real Manchester United fans". 

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:3
http://www.red11.org/mufc/fix9899z.htm

Next Games:
 7 European Cup Semi Juventus (H)  19.45 CL 
11 FAC Semi Arsenal at Villa Park  12.30 UK Live Sky Sports Uk
17 Sheff Wed (H) 15.00 PL
21 European Cup Semi Juventus (A) 19.45 CL
25 Leeds (A)  11.30 {am} UK PL Live Sky Sports UK 

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

*** RESULTS AND ATTENDANCES ON 03/04/99 ***
    Blackburn Rovers   0-0   Middlesbrough         27,482
   Charlton Athletic   0-1   Chelsea               20,046
        Derby County   3-4   Newcastle United      32,039
        Leeds United   3-1   Nottingham Forest     39,645
           Liverpool   3-2   Everton               44,852
 Sheffield Wednesday   1-2   Coventry City         28,136
         Southampton   0-0   Arsenal               15,255
   Tottenham Hotspur   0-2   Leicester City        35,415
           Wimbledon   1-1   Manchester United     26,121


*** FULL LEAGUE TABLE AS AT 03/04/99 ***

Pos Team                  P  W  D  L   F   A   W  D  L   F   A   GD  Pts
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 1  Manchester United    31 11  4  1  38  16   7  6  2  31  16   37   64
 2  Arsenal              31 10  5  0  26   4   6  7  3  16   9   29   60
 3  Chelsea              30  9  5  1  21   9   7  6  2  24  14   22   59
 4  Leeds United         31 11  3  2  30   8   5  6  4  22  20   24   57
 5  West Ham United      31  9  3  3  22  19   4  5  7  12  20   -5   47
 6  Aston Villa          31  8  3  5  25  24   4  6  5  14  13    2   45
 7  Derby County         31  7  5  4  21  19   4  6  5  14  17   -1   44
 8  Liverpool            29  8  4  2  36  18   4  2  9  19  21   16   42
 9  Newcastle United     31  7  3  5  22  19   4  5  7  20  25   -2   41
10  Wimbledon            31  7  6  3  20  16   3  5  7  15  29  -10   41
11  Middlesbrough        30  5  8  1  19  10   4  5  7  20  30   -1   40
12  Tottenham Hotspur    30  7  6  3  24  19   2  6  6  10  17   -2   39
13  Leicester City       29  5  4  5  19  21   4  6  5  11  16   -7   37
14  Sheffield Wednesday  31  6  3  7  18  14   4  2  9  18  21    1   35
15  Coventry City        31  6  5  4  20  16   3  2 11  13  27  -10   34
16  Blackburn Rovers     31  6  4  6  19  19   1  6  8  13  23  -10   31
17  Everton              31  3  8  4   9   9   4  2 10  16  29  -13   31
18  Southampton          31  7  3  6  22  22   1  3 11   6  34  -28   30
19  Charlton Athletic    30  4  5  6  18  14   2  5  8  15  27   -8   28
20  Nottingham Forest    31  1  6  8  13  28   3  2 11  15  34  -34   20


*** CURRENT COMBINED FORM TABLE AS AT 03/04/99 ***
Pos Team                  W   D   L   F   A   GD  Pts  Index   Sequence
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
 1  Leeds United          6   0   0  14   3   11   18    42%   WWWWWW
 2  Arsenal               4   2   0  13   1   12   14    37%   WDWWWD
 3  Manchester United     4   2   0  10   5    5   14    44%   DWWWWD
 4  Chelsea               4   1   1  10   4    6   13    47%   DWWLWW
 5  West Ham United       3   2   1   7   3    4   11    55%   DWLWWD
 6  Coventry City         3   1   2   9   7    2   10    60%   LWWDLW
 7  Charlton Athletic     2   2   2   5   4    1    8    51%   WWDLDL
 8  Tottenham Hotspur     2   2   2   5   5    0    8    56%   DDWLWL
 9  Middlesbrough         2   2   2   6   9   -3    8    25%   LDLWWD
10  Liverpool             2   1   3  11  11    0    7    55%   WLDLLW



*** TEAM RESULTS - MANCHESTER UNITED - AS AT 21/03/99 ***

Date        Opposition                        Score   Pos.   Attend.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
15/08/98    Leicester City           Home     D  2-2    11    55,052
22/08/98    West Ham United          Away     D  0-0    11    26,039
09/09/98    Charlton Athletic        Home     W  4-1     9    55,147
12/09/98    Coventry City            Home     W  2-0     5    55,193
20/09/98    Arsenal                  Away     L  0-3    10    38,142
24/09/98    Liverpool                Home     W  2-0     3    55,181
03/10/98    Southampton              Away     W  3-0     2    15,251
17/10/98    Wimbledon                Home     W  5-1     2    55,265
24/10/98    Derby County             Away     D  1-1     2    30,867
31/10/98    Everton                  Away     W  4-1     2    40,079
08/11/98    Newcastle United         Home     D  0-0     3    55,174
14/11/98    Blackburn Rovers         Home     W  3-2     2    55,198
21/11/98    Sheffield Wednesday      Away     L  1-3     2    39,475
29/11/98    Leeds United             Home     W  3-2     2    55,172
05/12/98    Aston Villa              Away     D  1-1     2    39,241
12/12/98    Tottenham Hotspur        Away     D  2-2     1    36,079
16/12/98    Chelsea                  Home     D  1-1     2    55,159
19/12/98    Middlesbrough            Home     L  2-3     3    55,152
26/12/98    Nottingham Forest        Home     W  3-0     3    55,216
29/12/98    Chelsea                  Away     D  0-0     3    34,741
10/01/99    West Ham United          Home     W  4-1     3    55,180
16/01/99    Leicester City           Away     W  6-2     2    22,091
31/01/99    Charlton Athletic        Away     W  1-0     1    20,043
03/02/99    Derby County             Home     W  1-0     1    55,174
06/02/99    Nottingham Forest        Away     W  8-1     1    30,025
17/02/99    Arsenal                  Home     D  1-1     1    55,171
20/02/99    Coventry City            Away     W  1-0     1    22,596
27/02/99    Southampton              Home     W  2-1     1    55,316
13/03/99    Newcastle United         Away     W  2-1     1    36,500
21/03/99    Everton                  Home     W  3-1     1    55,182
03/04/99    Wimbledon                Away     D  1-1     1    26,121


*** TEAM RESULTS SUMMARY - MANCHESTER UNITED - AS AT 21/03/99 ***

       P   Won       Drawn     Lost      For        Against    Points
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Home   16  11 (69%)  4 (25%)   1 (6%)    38 (2.4)   16 (1.0)   37 (2.3)
Away   14  7 (50%)   5 (36%)   2 (14%)   30 (2.1)   15 (1.1)   26 (1.9)

Total  30  18 (60%)  9 (30%)   3 (10%)   68 (2.3)   31 (1.0)   63 (2.1)

                                         Averages per game in (brackets)


*** TEAM STATISTICS - MANCHESTER UNITED - AS AT 21/03/99 ***

AVERAGE HOME ATTENDANCE:  55,183
HIGHEST HOME ATTENDANCE: 27/02/99 - Southampton (55,316)
LOWEST HOME ATTENDANCE:  15/08/98 - Leicester City (55,052)
BEST WIN:                06/02/99 - Nottingham Forest (8-1)
HEAVIEST DEFEAT:         20/09/98 - Arsenal (0-3)
BEST HOME WIN:           17/10/98 - Wimbledon (5-1)
HEAVIEST HOME DEFEAT:    19/12/98 - Middlesbrough (2-3)
BEST AWAY WIN:           06/02/99 - Nottingham Forest (8-1)
HEAVIEST AWAY DEFEAT:    20/09/98 - Arsenal (0-3)

*****
  
Champions League:
Group D         P  W  D  L  F  A   Pts
Bayern Munich   6  3  2  1  9  6  11   
Man United      6  2  4  0 20 11  10
Barcelona       6  2  2  2 11  9   8    
Brondby         6  1  0  5  4 18   3   

Dec  9 Brøndby         0-2  Barcelona
Dec  9 Man Utd         1-1  Bayern Munich

	******

CHAMPIONS' LEAGUE QUARTER-FINALS
 Manchester Utd  2 v 0  Inter Milan
 Real Madrid     1 v 1  Dynamo Kiev
 Juventus        2 v 1  Olympiakos
 Bayern Munich   2 v 0  Kaiserslautern

**DYNAMO KIEV      2 v 0  REAL MADRID         (Agg:3-1)
FC KAISERSLAUTERN  0 v 4  **BAYERN MUNICH     (Agg:0-6)
INTERNAZIONALE FC  1 v 1  **MANCHESTER UNITED (Agg:1-3)
OLYMPIAKOS         1 v 1  **JUVENTUS          (Agg:2-3)

Semi Final Draw to be played 7th, 21st April
Manchester United v Juventus  [OT 7/4]
Bayern Munchen v Dynamo Kiev 

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


Read today! Ticket price comment by OUR SALFORD LASS

Subject: *IMPORTANT* Ticket Prices REDITORIAL from OUR SALFORD LASS Martin Edwards and ticket prices It must be wonderful to be rich like our Martin. To look at ticket prices from a purely objective standpoint. To be able to say that rises are fair because our prices are below most other clubs in the Premiership. Only someone who has never had to worry about money in his life can dismiss the difficulties of thousands of genuine, committed fans the way he does. To him, an extra two pounds on the price of a ticket is nothing - to many fans who have already been priced out of the game, it might as well be two hundred pounds. To people like me, who are just about clinging on to the United bandwagon, that two pounds per game could finally be the straw that broke the camels back. I (and hundreds like me) were already worrying ourselves silly about how we are going to pay for our season tickets in less than two months time. If the cost goes up by two pounds a game, it could be impossible. If I do keep my season ticket, how do I afford cup games (11 so far this season, with another two at least coming in the next week or so)? Or do I give up going to away games? I suppose that will be the answer - I've already missed a number this season because I simply can't afford it. It's not the actual cost, Martin, that will get rid of yet more of your troublesome "traditional" fans, but the increase - is it really too difficult for someone of your intellect to understand? Or is this just what you want? A stadium full of wealthy suited gents talking into their mobile phones, with their beautifully coiffured girlfriends on their arms? Well if it is, don't start asking for atmosphere for the Euro games that earn you all that money - because there won't be anyone left to generate it. I am so angry, I can barely speak. OUR SALFORD LASS
Read today! Ticket price comment by OUR SALFORD LASS

Subject: Guardian - Man Utd takeover to be blocked By Patrick Wintour Rupert Murdoch's controversial takeover of Manchester United will in effect be blocked, creating the potential for tensions between the media tycoon and the Labour Government. The Observer can disclose that Ministers believe BSkyB, the satellite broadcasting channel owned by Murdoch, will be unable to give adequate assurances over the terms of the proposed £623 million takeover, which should therefore be rejected. The move, which is regarded as one of the most politically-sensitive issues facing Tony Blair's Government, follows a report by the Monopolies and Mergers Commission on the proposed takeover. Stephen Byers, the Trade and Industry Secretary, has been handed a copy of the report and is spending the weekend studying its findings. It has also been given to officials in the Treasury and the Department of Culture, Media and Sport. There has been speculation that Blair would not risk crossing Murdoch on such an important commercial deal. Despite its rampant Euro-scepticism, Murdoch's Sun newspaper is seen as influential in shoring up working-class support for Blair. In its evidence to the MMC, BSkyB has insisted that its ownership of the largest club in the Premier League would not give it an unfair advantage when negotiating TV rights to football matches. But the MMC report, which will be published in the next fortnight, questions whether undertakings that United would not inform its parent company about details of bids from rival firms for broadcasting rights would be enforceable in practice. Critics of the deal in the football world claim it would allow BSkyB to sit on both sides of the negotiating table and so develop a stanglehold over football. Under law, Ministers can not prevent a merger if the MMC rules that the takeover is not against the public interest. If, as expected, the MMC rejects the bid, Ministers could either follow the MMC's recommendation to the letter, which might mean blocking the merger altogether, or order enforced divestment of certain operations post-merger. Alternatively, they could vary the conditions imposed on the bid by the MMC - or allow the merger without conditions. To head off such difficulties in future, Ministers plan to divest themselves of responsibility for mergers as part of a wider shake-up of competition law.
Read today! Ticket price comment by OUR SALFORD LASS

Subject: Soccernet Report Wimbledon 1-1 Man United: Rollercoaster ride is no excuse for United By Patrick Collins Sunday, April 4, 1999 When the dust had settled and the lung-bursting efforts had subsided, we learned that the team most likely to win the Premiership had shared the points with a side who currently would be hard pressed to win a rigged raffle. United stropped off in their surliest mood last night, convinced they had just engaged in the most one-sided draw since Lennox Lewis stamped away from his squabble in Madison Square Garden. But United paid the price for the lack of discipline and concentration which tainted their efforts through a fretful first half. As the world accepts, a whole chasm of class separates the Premiership plutocrats from the earnest proles, and this game was a further example of that truism. But even the best side of them all cannot simply switch on their game to order as United tried to do yesterday, with Wednesday, Europe and Juventus firmly in mind. Of course they created a mass of second-half chances, when Wimbledon packed their box in a search for survival. But as Wimbledon's coach David Kemp remarked: 'We were playing the team who are probably going to win the European Cup. They're entitled to make a few chances.' Ultimately, United were made to pay for their early presumption. They were also made increasingly aware of the daunting nature of their assault on three trophies. Their lack of cohesive effort lasted for most of the first half, which must surely represent the most embarrassing passage of football they have assembled all season. From the opening moments, Peter Schmeichel's nervous uncertainty was infecting the entire defence and in the fifth minute they conceded the kind of goal which has become a Wimbledon trademark down the decades. Neil Sullivan collected a ball and lofted a punt through a couple of postal districts. Gary Neville allowed the ball to bounce before nudging a hopelessly weak header which left his goalkeeper stranded. Jason Euell, chasing hopefully, was on to the chance; first nudging the ball past Schmeichel, then sliding it into the net. Had Juventus come up with such a ploy, then United's defenders could have been forgiven a certain surprise. But this was Wimbledon, the team which virtually invented the kick and chase of Route One. To lose such a goal to such a team was almost unforgivable. And United did not improve. A couple of minutes later, Henning Berg headed David Beckham's corner wastefully wide and the tone was set. One or two red shirts started to stare at the pitch, as if in search of demons. Admittedly, it is one of the worst in the country and it makes control a lottery, but there could be no excuse. Most weeks you would back United to cope with Wimbledon on a rollercoaster. Yesterday, they played as if that were their chosen surface. Roy Keane bawled his lectures like a demented drill sergeant but as Denis Irwin made more mistakes than he makes in the average season and Schmeichel radiated uncertainty, Wimbledon were worth their advantage. Yet, for all their fallibility, United drew level before the break. In the 44th minute, Irwin threw off his hesitation and made a determined scam-per to the bye-line. The cross was low and inadequately cleared and Beckham snaffled the chance from half-a-dozen yards. Alex Ferguson strode to the dressing room with the air of a man who had certain matters to get off his chest and the results of his eloquence were swiftly apparent. The lethargy dissolved, a sense of urgent purpose emerged, Beckham began to run the game from wide on the right and Wimbledon started to pull back body after body. The ploy reeked of desperation but since Wimbledon had entered the contest having lost their previous three matches, it was probably inevitable. Chance after United chance emerged and was wasted amid the mass of tussling humanity in the Wimbledon area. Dwight Yorke with a header, Paul Scholes with a parried drive and Beckham with an abortive short-range shot all tried to alter the course and all were breathlessly resisted. After 67 minutes John Hartson was removed, to the overwhelming relief of the home fans. You watched him depart with mixed feelings. Hartson did not ask anyone to pay £7.5million but the fact that Wimbledon actually paid that extraordinary price for a man of limited talent who was carrying a stone of excess weight continues to challenge credulity. And yet they survived; narrowly, breathlessly and successfully. When it was over, the announcer could even afford a touch of satire. 'We wish all the United fans a safe journey back to Manchester,' he twittered, '...or North London.' Ah well, the fans and their team may yet have the last laugh of this fascinating season. But there is still much to do ...and far better sides than Wimbledon to be confronted and conquered.
Read today! Ticket price comment by OUR SALFORD LASS

Subject: Dons Report (ET) Complacent United rely on Beckham By Clive White at Selhurst Park Wimbledon (1) 1 Man Utd (1) 1 AFTER just one defeat here in 10 visits one could hardly blame Manchester United for their complacency. Yesterday's game was the start of an eight-day period which would go some way towards determining United's fate in the three competitions they contest and they played as if they were pacing themselves to go the distance. It may have been a mistake. After three consecutive defeats, Wimbledon looked perfectly primed for an early knockout by the former champions, but as it turned out it was United who were dumped on the seat of their pants in the early stages. And though if this had been a boxing match it would never have been judged a draw - even by Larry O'Connell - so dominant were United, a draw was all they got for their troubles. With Arsenal drawing, too, it could have been worse and United will have to console themselves with the thought that a point at Wimbledon is never something to be sneezed at. A goal a minute before half-time by David Beckham, cancelling out Jason Euell's early strike, at least sends United into Wednesday's European Cup semi-final first leg against Juventus at Old Trafford still unbeaten after 20 games. But there were aspects about United's play, notably in defence, which will have left Alex Ferguson concerned. As expected, United chose not to risk Jaap Stam, who injured an ankle in training for Holland's midweek game against Argentina. Ronny Johnsen deputised alongside Henning Berg with Ryan Giggs sufficiently recovered from his ankle injury to be given a place on the substitutes' bench, giving rise to United optimism that he might be fit to face the Italians after three weeks out. Any such thoughts, however, were brought rudely back to domestic matters after only five minutes. Wimbledon's form has been nothing short of wretched since Joe Kinnear suffered his heart attack at Sheffield a month ago, but as his two first-team coaches, Mick Harford and David Kemp, observed in their joint programme notes, there were signs that Wimbledon's form was in decline before his illness. "It has been a torrid time, but with an improved performance, your support and United's coach breaking down on the way to the ground we could be in for a good afternoon after all," they wrote. Never in their wildest dreams could they have imagined just how well the afternoon would start. In fact Wimbledon might have scored even earlier than they did, had John Hartson been alive to the opportunity when Peter Schmeichel casually played a back pass from Denis Irwin straight at him. No matter. A minute later a long punt from Neil Sullivan - who said the Dons' football is no longer route one? - saw Gary Neville fail to get sufficient power on a back header to his goalkeeper. Euell nipped in, rounded Schmeichel and slipped the ball home before Irwin could intervene. Wimbledon almost made it two after 13 minutes when Hartson turned Johnsen and slipped a pass to Euell, but the young striker's shot was clawed down by Schmeichel who had been quick to narrow the angle. That said, there was not much about United's defending to applaud. At times it looked like an experimental back four, so poor was their understanding and Stam's absence, while no doubt a contributory factor, could not be used as an excuse. Juventus spies must have been lapping it up. With a little more accuracy in his finishing, Marcus Gayle might have increased Wimbledon's lead after 25 minutes. Quite why Irwin chose to play the ball across the face of his own goal, vaguely in Berg's direction, instead of hitting it back to his goalkeeper, was impossible to say, perhaps he did not trust Schmeichel's kicking. Gayle seized on the ball and flashed a low shot just wide. Yet all the while, United kept on attacking, oblivious, it seemed, to the shortcomings behind them. One would have thought Berg had enough on his plate but the Norwegian lent his support to the attack at every available opportunity and might have done better with a header when a Beckham corner left him with a clear sight of goal from seven yards. Typically, it was left to England's European Championship saviour, Paul Scholes, to show his side the way when he left fly from 20 yards with a shot which Sullivan was more than happy to push away for a corner. In fact much of United's attacking play in those first 45 minutes was not that bad - there was plenty of width and fluency, but for some inexplicable reason, they seemed to lack urgency. It was the duty of the defence, and in particular Irwin, to redeem itself, which the Irishman took it upon himself to do when, a minute before half-time, the full-back got to the by-line for the umpteenth time in his career to drive in a cross. Dean Blackwell's clearance was inconclusive and Beckham pounced to thrash the ball home from close range. United continued to play comfortably within themselves, while waiting for the winner that they presumed was coming their way. Dwight Yorke, who had been fairly anonymous, went close when pulling down a Beckham cross from the by-line but Earle got a block on his shot. With Wimbledon in siege mode, United were left searching for a point of entry. Jesper Blomqvist almost found it when he nonchalantly sidestepped a defender. His shot had Sullivan going the wrong way but the Scotland goalkeeper saved it with his trailing leg. Andy Cole manoeuvred himself into a shooting position only to fire into the side netting. After 72 minutes United brought on Ole Gunnar Solskjaer for Blomqvist in the hope that he might do to Wimbledon what he did to Forest not long ago: one rather than four would have sufficed, but it was not to be.
Read today! Ticket price comment by OUR SALFORD LASS

Subject: Match Report 365 BECKHAM SALVAGES A POINT FOR UNITED Reds Held By Dons At Selhurst Park, Arsenal Draw Blank Against The Saints And Chelsea Overcome Brave Charlton WIMBLEDON 1 MANCHESTER UNITED 1 It was just as well Wimbledon boss Joe Kinnear was convalescing at home after his heart attack as the only way to have escaped serious palpitations during the Dons' latest derailing of a Premiership title-chasing side was to have watched on Teletext. Wimbledon may have taken the lead after just five minutes through Jason Euell but they had to produce a simply stunning defensive performance for the remaining 85 minutes as leaders Manchester United threw absolutely everything at them. At times the endless goalmouth scrambles were more like a West End farce and the game seemed more like a training session of attack against defence as United threw nine players forward by the end. It may even come as some relief for United to face the Juventus defence in next week's Champions League semi-final first leg at Old Trafford, such was the brilliance and sheer bloody-minded doggedness of this Dons rearguard performance. Chris Perry and Dean Blackwell were outstanding at the heart of the defence, Robbie Earle and Jason Euell were tireless in midfield and keeper Neil Sullivan - linked with a possible summer move to United - pulled off a string of world-class saves. United did hit the net once as David Beckham scored for the second successive game on the stroke of half-time but in reality, the second-half was probably the most one-sided 45 minutes of football you could imagine. The visitors had a total of nine shots on target and seemed to have at least 80% of the possession in the second period. Wimbledon may not have beaten United in their past nine League encounters and even came into the game on the back of three successive defeats, but yet again they proved their ability to upset high-flying opponents. United had even fielded a virtually full-strength side just four days ahead of the encounter with Juventus but it was injured centre-back Jaap Stam's commanding presence which they sorely missed early on. They were behind after just five minutes when Sullivan punted the ball downfield to catch United cold following a corner and Euell intercepted Neville's weak header back to keeper Peter Schmeichel. After first pushing the ball out of the keeper's reach, Euell then showed great agility to steer his shot into the empty net at full stretch as Schmeichel desperately attempted to recover. The United keeper was also guilty of two miscued clearances but it was only his incredible agility which kept out Euell just seven minutes later. Johnsen was muscled out of the way by John Hartson as the Welshman turned on the edge of the penalty area and then laid the ball sideways to the unmarked Euell, whose shot was superbly saved by the Danish keeper. Whatever their defensive deficiencies, United piled forward in increasing numbers, spurred on by their captain Roy Keane, and Henning Berg headed over and Andy Cole shot wide. Sullivan pushed a shot from Neville around the post, blocked Keane's path as he charged into the penalty area and tipped a powerful drive from Paul Scholes out for a corner. Still the visitors proved to be their own worst enemies as Berg failed to control a hurried pass across the face of his own penalty box from Irwin and let in Marcus Gayle to shoot a couple of feet wide. But although the slimmed-down Hartson was holding the ball up effectively, Wimbledon were gradually starved of possession and the breakthrough finally came two minutes before the break as Irwin drove in a low cross from the byline and as the ball bounced into the air off Blackwell's thigh, Beckham pounced to drill home a first-time shot. United were immediately back on the offensive after the interval. Sullivan saved a shot from Blomqvist with his outstretched foot and Cole fired into the side-netting but the massed ranks of Dons defenders and midfielders continued to hold out. United threw on Ole Gunnar Solskjaer with 17 minutes left for Blomqvist as their desperation grew but it was actually Wimbledon who threatened next with only their second shot of the half as Earle drove straight into Schmeichel's midriff. It was only a temporary respite as United surged back, with Yorke heading inches wide and Sullivan reacting brilliantly to push an effort from Scholes around the post. Then just as Beckham looked odds-on to score after Sullivan had palmed out a cross to the midfielder just 15 yards from goal, Blackwell produced a simply stunning block tackle to send the shot looping well over the bar. It was just not United's day. As they trudged off the pitch in sheer and utter frustration, their only consolation was that Wimbledon still have to play both Chelsea and Arsenal. The Dons' influence on the title race may not be over just yet.
Read today! Ticket price comment by OUR SALFORD LASS

Subject: McClaren Hails Players (D.Mail) McClaren: This lot are the best By Joe Melling Sunday, April 4, 1999 Manchester United coach Steve McClaren still cannot believe he has the key to Santa's Grotto. Alex Ferguson surprised football by choosing as his new assistant the little-known Derby No 2 ahead of a host of bigger names. Manchester United's unlikeliest signing has not stopped counting his blessings. 'Everything about United has surpassed even my own high expectations. The manager, the players, the staff are totally geared for continuing success,' said McClaren. From the peak of the Premiership, United embark this week on a five-day campaign to maintain their pursuit of a unique Treble. Wednesday brings another European night to Old Trafford when Juventus contest the opening leg of the European Cup semi-final, and on Sunday there is an FA Cup last-four confrontation with Arsenal. McClaren's job is to ensure that United's richly-rewarded performers are in a perfect physical and mental state. He must be succeeding. Two months since 37-year-old took over from Brian Kidd, United remain unbeaten in all competitions. 'You only have to be inside the place for two minutes to understand why United are so fantastically successful,' he said. 'It really does start from the manager downwards. The foundations Alex has established are rock solid. He is a remarkable man. His passion for the game is similar to Jim Smith at Derby. 'His man-management technique is masterful and he receives the utmost respect and admiration from his staff and his players. 'The spirit of togetherness at Old Trafford simply cannot be over-emphasised. There are no airs and graces, no arrogance, no superstar attitudes. Each and every one of the players loves football, training and being a part of Manchester United. 'The secret is a mixture of talent and desire. I've worked before with players every bit as talented as some of the lads at Old Trafford. But these lads do it day in day out, week in week out in front of 55,000 people with millions more watching on television. 'What's more, they know they're expected to win each and every game. That kind of pressure is enormous but they just seem to be able to take it all in their stride. 'The mental toughness is quite incredible and in the heat of battle out on a football field, that makes a difference. 'The self-belief they have is remarkable. They know what they want to win but probably most important of all, they want to be the best.' McClaren's playing career - at Derby, Hull, Oxford and Bristol City - was cut short by injury but that allowed him to enter coaching at 31. He said: 'My philosophy at Old Trafford is that I'm dealing with ordinary people with the ability to do extraordinary things on a football field. 'The attitude shown to their profession is first rate. All they want to do is kick a ball, practise their shooting and crossing and work on set-piece manoeuvres. The only problem I have is getting them off the training ground to rest because we have so many big matches to play.' McClaren dismisses the fashionable view that modern football stars are motivated merely by money. 'I do not believe the financial rewards begin to enter the minds of players when they're out on the pitch,' he said. 'At Old Trafford the players are consumed totally with wanting to be the best, playing in the best team and winning championships and European Cups. 'The money is a by-product. They have worked their socks off to get where they are and they know they have to continue working their socks off to stay where they are. 'The common denominator among the great players in whatever sport is their passion for the game. It oozes out of each and every one of them at Old Trafford. They know that together they're capable of winning anything and everything.'
Read today! Ticket price comment by OUR SALFORD LASS

Subject: DEL PIERO BACKS JUVE TO BEAT UNITED Juventus ace Alessandro Del Piero is backing his team-mates to knock out Manchester United and hand him a dream ending to a nightmare season. The Italian international has been out of action since last November with knee ligament damage. Injury also saw him miss last season's Champions' League final defeat against Real Madrid. But he is now praying for a semi-final victory for the Turin giants over United next month that could yet see him return for the final in Barcelona on May 26. "It would be great to be able to say in a few months' time that my troubles started in one European Champions' League final and finished in another," he said. "It would be marvellous. "And I want to believe it could happen, even though that won't shorten my recovery time. "The conditions would have to be right even for me to be on the substitutes' bench." As for the battle with Alex Ferguson's men, with the first leg at Old Trafford next Wednesday, he said: "We know that it's going to be tough against Manchester United. "But if Juventus play like they can, that will be enough." The brilliant 24-year-old is determined to see a miserable season off in the best possible way. "I'm living it in a positive, optimistic way," he said. "In times like this, you develop as a person, you reach for the strength and the motivation you have inside you, and it makes you realise how important, and how unimportant, certain things are. "One thing is for certain, I'll be different when I come back. "Probably with a stronger personality." Realistically, though, that will not be until the summer. "The hope is to join the rest of the squad for the start of pre-season training in July," he said.
Read today! Ticket price comment by OUR SALFORD LASS

Subject: Guardian Article: Ticket prices! United can give Chelsea a lesson in sticking it to fans By Charlie Whelan Sunday April 4, 1999 You've got to hand it to Manchester United - when it comes to kicking their supporters in the teeth they even succeed in making Ken Bates seem a master of tact and diplomacy! Man U really excelled themselves last week with their public relations coup of announcing huge ticket price increases for next year. To add insult to injury, they pleaded that the dosh was needed to pay the extra costs of £1.7 million in legal fees arising out of the Sky TV take-over bid which the fans don't even want. And, just to rub it in, to pay £1.3 million for players' houses. Eat your heart out, Peter Mandelson. My first reaction to this price hike was one of complete amazement until I saw how cheap the seat prices are at Old Trafford compared to London clubs. In The Smoke the prices are about double that of those up north, and that's to watch inferior football. Which leads naturally on to Chelsea, who have the highest prices in the League. Ken Bates, who is never short of chutzpah, recently made an astonishing pledge that he would not put economic interests above the interests of supporters. Chairman Ken normally gets all the stick for high ticket prices because he announces Chelsea's increases first. Now he has Man U to rival his PR skills. It's not often that clubs put the fans' interests first but we can probably believe Bates in this case. The one thing about him is that he at least gives it to you straight. Bates was in fact talking about where Chelsea would play their Champions League games next season, a dodgy and dangerous thing to do since they have not qualified yet. Talk about tempting providence. I will never forget the stupidity of the public address announcer at Spurs giving League Cup final ticket details at half-time as we led Arsenal 1-0 and then went on to lose. Bates said that he wanted to play Chelsea's home games at Stamford Bridge even though there would be a reduced capacity (and revenue) due to extra VIP seats, a larger press box and - most bizarrely - loss of front-row seats due to huge advertising boards. Arsenal's solution to the same dilemma was simple. Play all the games at Wembley and make a few extra bob while you're at it. The problem is that foreign teams actually like coming to Wembley and raise their game as a result. Arsenal's greed - sorry, desire to please the fans - backfired as they were dumped out in the first round. Chelsea may have the most expensive tickets in the country but all the Blues fans I know are quite prepared to pay to see a decent team. Even I am willing to fork out £700 a year to watch Spurs. The fact is the clubs know that there are plenty of people prepared to pay big money to watch the Premier League. They also know that when the prices go up it's not like any other product - you can't just go and look for a cheaper brand. Football supporters never change their brand - unless of course you are David Mellor who switched from Fulham to Chelsea. Thank God - or rather the controller of Radio 5 Live - that we won't have to listen to him on Six-o-Six next season. When it comes to ripping off their fans, Newcastle know a thing or two. Remember the Newcastle directors who sneered at supporters for being suckers for buying replica shirts for £50 that cost only £5 to make? It's little wonder that sales of shirts have plummeted, so ticket prices at St James' Park are likely to rise to compensate. The club know full well that there are enough fans willing to pay. At Newcastle there is a long waiting list for season tickets. A Geordie friend of mine has a season ticket and could not understand why there were always two empty seats next to him. As none of his mates could ever get tickets he complained to the ticket office. They assured him that the two seats had been sold at the start of the season. Still no one came to use the seats until a man and his son turned up on Boxing Day. 'Where have you been all season man?' my friend enquired. 'My wife gave us the season tickets as a Christmas present,' came the reply. Still, it could have been worse and it often is. You can be stuck next to a nutter all season, so an empty seat is often preferable. And Ken Bates knows all about nutters - he once suggested putting up electric fences to keep them off the Chelsea pitch. Now most of them can't afford to get in. The real problem with the high prices of tickets is that the traditional supporters are being priced out, and as the middle classes take over the whole atmosphere in the ground changes. It's no good Fergie moaning in the programme about the lack of atmosphere at Old Trafford when it's the bosses who have changed it. Mind you, if you think the atmosphere is bad now, just wait and see what it will be like if Murdoch is allowed to take over. The so-called Theatre of Dreams will actually take on the atmosphere of a theatre. Lots of polite clapping and a glass of Australian Chardonnay in the interval.
Read today! Ticket price comment by OUR SALFORD LASS

Subject: Juventus slip will not fool Ferguson (ET) By Patrick Barclay FIRST it was Waiting for Ronaldo. Now, Waiting for Zidane. The script is so familiar that, should Manchester United qualify for the Champions' League final, their opponents can almost be expected to spend the prelude fretting over the fitness of some latter-day Godot. Zinedine Zidane was again absent from the Juventus ranks yesterday as, with Wednesday's first leg at Old Trafford in mind, they fielded a weakened team at Empoli and were punished by Serie A's bottom club, the humble Tuscans earning an unheralded triumph through a first-half goal by their captain and sweeper, Stefano Bianconi, who was given a free header by a shadow defence. To enhance the aristocrats' shame, Alessio Tacchinardi was sent off with Empoli's Stefano Morrone towards the end of the match. The Juventus coach, Carlo Ancelotti, denied that the match had been sacrificed. He had left out several first choices and, although the striker, Filippo Inzaghi, and midfielder Antonio Conte appeared after the interval, United will be encouraged that Inzaghi failed to convert opportunities to rescue at least a point. "It was our mental approach that was wrong," said Ancelotti. "Maybe subconsciously, the players were thinking of Manchester. I'm not worried about the psychological effect of defeat carrying over to Wednesday. You can be sure the team won't have their heads in another place then." United's Theatre of Dreams will certainly be a very different setting from Empoli, where wooded hills gaze down on a municipal stadium where temporary stands are needed to accommodate gatherings such as yesterday's 12,000. At Old Trafford, too, there will be a very different Juventus team. Among those available to return are Holland's midfield terrier Edgar Davids (suspended yesterday) and defenders Paolo Montero and Mark Iuliano. And Zidane? Despite evidence that the French maestro is being saved for the European assignment, Ancelotti insisted he could not have played in Tuscany. "It will be a late decision." Alex Ferguson, the Manchester United manager, will surely not be fooled by the latest round of Italian misfortune. Having overcome an Internazionale side, for whom Ronaldo could manage only a tentative second leg at San Siro, United will start the task of seeing off Juventus knowing they face a more durable proposition. Ferguson was confident enough in his own troops to talk a belligerent game on Friday, insisting that all trophies available to them - the Champions' League, Premier ship and FA Cup - could be listed. "I really think we can win all three," he said. "I've always been a bit cautious about whether we have a big enough squad to go for all the prizes, but not now. The treble is definitely on - and the players are up for it." Regardless, he added, of Zidane and Juventus' pedigree, United had "a great chance" of reaching the European final. "When you get to a semi-final, you are bound to be playing one of the top teams in Europe. But so are Juventus. They are playing Manchester United. We are facing a team, not a reputation, and we are not overawed." Meanwhile, the mood in the Juventus is more modest, the experienced Angelo Di Livio indicating that United had, in four meetings over the past couple of years, induced a respect verging on trepidation. If Ferguson was claiming the gap between the clubs had closed, he got little argument either from Ancelotti, who suggested damage-limitation would be the Juventus priority at Old Trafford. But it won't be over until the Old Lady (the Turin institution's nickname) croaks. And she has shown a remarkable resilience, especially in Europe. Even if Juventus' domestic form has been almost as lamentable as that of Inter, even if a mid-season switch saw Ancelotti take over from the highly successful Marcello Lippi, they have been round the European game's most testing course too often for United to take them lightly. Participants in three consecutive finals, they reasserted their staying power only last month with a late goal from Conte against Olympiakos in Athens; the skin of their teeth remains tough. Can they survive again? Much is bound to depend on Zidane and behind the smokescreen there is optimism that the World Player of the Year will be ready. He has been suffering from a knee injury but was cleared to resume full training a few days ago. Zidane left Bordeaux for Juventus in 1996 to find the big time and has since won two Italian titles. He has also featured in two Champions' League finals. But to have lost both after joining the club when they were on top of Europe is a niggle. As he said at the start of this season: "I'm still upset about Amsterdam (where Juventus were beaten by Real Madrid). It made me look as if I'm always a loser a that level. It was a good thing the World Cup came along!" With two headed goals from corners in the Paris final - a rare feat for such an artist - Zidane took the mantle of Michel Platini. He also followed in Platini's footsteps when he went to Juventus, whose first victory in Europe's leading competition was achieved through a Platini penalty amid the tragedy of Heysel. Fourteen years on, Zidane awaits his opportunity but, according to his club mate Di Livio, another final is a tall order, given the verve United demonstrated in last season's en counters. "Not just the 3-2 win at Old Trafford," Di Livio said. "The way they played in the second half in Turin, it was incredible that we won (through a goal from Alessandro del Piero, who is out for the season). "In all the time we played under Lippi, United were the only team who made us feel inferior." Since then, as Ferguson pointed out, United had vaulted a psychological barrier of their own by knocking out Inter. The United manager even claimed that, Zidane and Davids apart, Juventus lack Inter's "star quality". We are about to discover how far the balance of power has swung.
Read today! Ticket price comment by OUR SALFORD LASS

Pic Link today is http://www.red11.org/miva/matchreports.mv

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

Other RED Mail Lists:
"MUFC + Premier STATS" after matches:
Subscribe/Unsubscribe e-mail to:
Mufcstats-subscribe@onelist.com        - Subscribe's to the list
Mufcstats-unsubscribe@onelist.com      - Unsubscribe
http://www.onelist.com/subscribe.cgi/Mufcstats

"REDitorial Mail List"
Subscribe/Unsubscribe e-mail to:
red_devils_advocate-subscribe@onelist.com       - Subscribe's to the list
red_devils_advocate-unsubscribe@onelist.com
     - Unsubscribe
http://www.onelist.com/subscribe.cgi/red_devils_advocate

To debate ALL subjects about Manchester United Football Club we at Simplenet recommend:
The "RED-DEVILS MAIL LIST" all subscription requests to: <RedDevils-subscribe@onelist.com >

+ "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


AlexFerguson Beckham Berg Blomqvist Butt Clegg Cruyff Cole Giggs Irwin Johnsen Keane
May  NevilleG NevilleP Schmeichel Scholes Sheringham  Solskjaer  Stam  Yorke

Fast Search this Website www.red11.org

Search narrow-org-thissite.gif(356 bytes)narrow-org-theweb.gif(352 bytes)