www.red11.org DAILY NEWS
Date: Mon Oct 04 07:14:21 GMT+00:00 1999
Mail: barry@www.red11.org
This Issue:
1. Routed by the rent boys by OUR SALFORD LASS
2. Quote from David Marshall in OZ
3. Ouch! Ouch! Ouch! Ouch! Ouch! Personal Report by Terry Dale
4. Bridge of Sighs - Personal Report by Steve Edge
5. Last time was in 1954 - Chelsea 5 Manchester United 6
6. Unbeaten run over! ««
7. CHELSEA DESTROY AWFUL UNITED
8. Carling Report
9. Soccernet - Chelsea 5 - 0 Manchester United
10. Roy Keane - facing surgery threat?
11. FERGIE: WE'LL BOUNCE BACK
12. CHELSEA v MAN UTD - PLAYER RATINGS by Sporting Life
13. Alex Ferguson - adamant United will bounce back.
14. MEN article - Stam and Berg alliance in defence
15. Cole: My next goal is all that matters
16. United haven't fined Beckham
++++++=========+++++++========+++++++++========++++++++
MANCHESTER UNITED DAILY NEWS Monday 4th Oct 1999:
Barry Comment:
Highlight of today OUR SALFORD LASS report already written in the coach
on the way home last night! Sincere THANKS for that - read her report
first article in todays news as it happened yesterday.
The end of a fabulous undefeated run. the REDS went 29 games in League,
45 in League and Cup + 38 games in domestic League and Cup.
The League only record is 42 games by Forest, it will be a while before that is beaten!!
Our defeat was comprehensive we now have to wait 13 days before we tackle Watford at home.
In betweebn we have the Testimonial + LC Villa tie. Expect Alex will sort the boys out
in readiness. Wise words by Ray Wilkins after the match
"I certainly would not like to be the side who play United next" more at:
http://www.red11.org/mufc/sound/99/ray_wilkins_after_chelsea.rm
LEEDS TAKE THE LEAD Sunday, October 03, 1999 18:24
Manchester United have slipped from the top spot in
the FA Carling Premiership after a 5-0 thrashing by
Chelsea. Replacing them at the summit are David
Batty and Leeds United, who won 2-1 at Watford.
Meanwhile, Arsenal lost to West Ham, Spurs were
beaten 3-2 by Leicester City and Newcastle defeated their North East rivals
Middlesbrough 2-1.
Latest Table:
1 Leeds United 10 7 1 2 19 - 12 22 pts
2 Manchester U. 10 6 3 1 23 - 15 21
3 Sunderland 10 6 2 2 18 - 8 20
4 Chelsea 8 6 1 1 15 - 3 19
5 Arsenal 10 6 1 3 13 - 9 19
ECL Group D ** Manchester United **
Olympique de Marseille * NK Croatia Zagreb * SK Sturm Graz
Manchester United FC Champions League Squad List
1 Mark John Bosnich 2 Gary Alexander Neville 3 Dennis Joseph Irwin
4 David May 6 Jakob Stam 7 David Robert J Beckham
8 Nicholas Butt 9 Andrew Alex. Cole 10 Edward Sheringham
11 Ryan Joseph Giggs 12 Philip Neville 14 Johan Jordi Cruyff
15 Lars Jesper Blomqvist 16 Roy Keane 17 Raimond RJH Van der Gouw
18 Paul Scholes 19 Dwight Yorke 20 Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
21 Henning Berg 23 Michael Jamie Clegg 25 José Quinton Fortune
26 Massimo Taibi 31 Nicholas James Culkin 33 Mark Antony Wilson
34 Jonathan Greening
Real Audio - Last weeks Daily News Sound Archive:
Click on INDEX at http://www.red11.org/sound
************************
99/2000 fixtures/match reports are at
http://www.red11.org/mufc/992000.htm
Mark Bosnich's Personal Details
http://www.red11.org/mufc/bosnich.htm
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
MANCHESTER UNITED STATS v ALL teams on the Web
http://www.red11.org/mufc/stats.htm
Previous News:
BSKYB Takeover news/pics at http://www.red11.org/mufc/bskyb.htm
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 MATCHES
---------------------------------------------------------------
11-OCT-1999 Sir Alex Ferguson's testimonial OT [Schmeichel + Cantona]
13-OCT-1999 [19:45] Manchester Utd. vs Aston Villa (Worthington (League) Cup, AWAY)
16-OCT-1999 [15:00] Manchester Utd. vs Watford (FA Premier League, HOME)
19-OCT-1999 [19:45] Manchester Utd. vs Marseille (UEFA Champions League, AWAY)
24-OCT-1999 [15:00] Manchester Utd. vs Spurs (FA Premier League, AWAY)
The line-up for the testimonial game is:
Eric Cantona Peter Schmeichel
Zinedine Zidane Gabriel Batistuta
Paul Gascoigne Juninho
George Weah Alessandro Costacurta
Christian Ziege Lillian Thuram
Roberto Mancini John Collins
*** TEAM RESULTS - MANCHESTER UNITED -
UNITED Stats v All teams:
http://www.red11.org/mufc/stats/
ALL FIXTURES at: http://www.red11.org/mufc/fix992000.htm
First Team Fixtures 1999/2000
All dates/times subject to change
Dates of possible cup ties also shown
Date Opposition Score Pos. Attend.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
15/07/99 Melbourne Australia pre-season W 2-0 - 60,000
18/07/99 Sydney Australia pre-season W 1-0 - 78,000
21/07/99 Shanghai Shenhua pre-season W 2-0 - 80,000
24/07/99 Hong Kong South China pre-season W 2-0 - 40,000
1/08/99 Arsenal Wembley Charity Shield L 1-2 - 70,185
3/08/99 Omagh Town Omagh Bomb Fund W 9-0 - 7,000
4/08/99 Wigan Athletic friendly W 2-0 - 15,000
08/08/99 Everton Away PL D 1-1 10 39,141
11/08/99 Sheffield Wednesday Home PL W 4-0 3 54,941
14/08/99 Leeds United Home PL W 2-0 1 55,187
22/08/99 Arsenal Away PL W 2-1 1 38,147
25/08/99 Coventry City Away PL W 2-1 1 22,024
27/08/99 Monaco - Lazio ESC L 0-1 - 15,223
30/08/99 Newcastle United Home W 5-1 1 55,190
11/09/99 Liverpool Away W 3-2 1 44,929
14/09/99 Croatia Zagreb Home EC D 0-0 - 53,250
18/09/99 Wimbledon Home D 1-1 1 55,189
22/09/99 Sturm Graz Away EC W 3-0 - 16,480
25/09/99 Southampton Home D 3-3 1 55,249
29/09/99 Marseille Home EC W 2-1 - 54,276
3/10/99 Chelsea Away PL L 0-5 2 34,909
*11/10/99 Sir Alex Ferguson's testimonial OT [Schmeichel + Cantona]
13/10/99 Aston Villa Away WC 3 19.45
16/10/99 Watford Home PL 15.00
19/10/99 Marseille Away EC 19.45
24/10/99 Tottenham Hotspur Away PL 15.00 - moved from 23/10
27/10/99 Croatia Zagreb Away EC 19.45
30/10/99 Aston Villa home PL 15.00
2/11/99 Sturm Graz Home EC 19.45
6/11/99 Leicester City Home PL 15.00
20/11/99 Derby County Away PL 15.00
24/11/99 ? EC
27/11/99 Sheffield Wednesday Away PL 15.00
30/11/99 Tokyo Palmeiras WCC 20.00
1/12/99 ? WC 4
4/12/99 Everton Home PL 15.00
8/12/99 ? EC
11/12/99 FAC 3 Will not enter ...
15/12/99 ? WC 5
18/12/99 West Ham United Away PL 15.00
26/12/99 Bradford City Home PL 15.00
28/12/99 Sunderland Away PL 20.00 "live on sky"
3/01/2000 Middlesborough Home PL 20.00
***** 5-14 /01/2000 Brazil WTC ***** [3-4 games]
* 8/01/2000 FAC 4 Will not enter ...
12/01/2000 ? WC sf i
15/01/2000 Leeds United Away PL 15.00
22/01/2000 Arsenal Home PL 15.00
26/01/2000 ? WC sf ii
* 29/01/2000 FAC 5 Will not enter ...
5/02/2000 Coventry City Home PL 15.00
12/02/2000 Newcastle United Away PL 15.00
* 19/02/2000 FAC 6 Will not enter ...
26/02/2000 Wimbledon Away PL 15.00
27/02/2000 ? Wembley WC f
1/03/2000 ? EC
4/03/2000 Liverpool Home PL 15.00
8/03/2000 ? EC
11/03/2000 Derby County Home PL 15.00
15/03/2000 ? EC
18/03/2000 Leicester City Away PL 15.00
22/03/2000 ? EC
25/03/2000 Bradford City Away PL 15.00
1/04/2000 West Ham United Home PL 15.00
5/04/2000 ? EC qf i
8/04/2000 Middlesborough Away PL 15.00
* 9/04/2000 FAC sf Will not enter ...
15/04/2000 Sunderland Home PL 15.00
19/04/2000 ? EC qf ii
22/04/2000 Southampton Away PL 15.00
24/04/2000 Chelsea Home PL 15.00
29/04/2000 West Ham United Away PL 15.00
3/05/2000 ? EC sf i
6/05/2000 Tottenham Hotspur Home PL 15.00
10/05/2000 ? EC sf ii
14/05/2000 Aston Villa Away PL 15.00
* 20/05/2000 Wembley FAC f Will not enter ...
24/05/2000 ? EC f
http://www.red11.org/mufc/match.htm
++++++=========+++++++========+++++++++========++++++++
Click On pic - for latest interviews/pics from OT"
Click On pic - for latest interviews/pics from OT"
Subject: Quote from David Marshall in OZ
Hi All,
Ouch!!!
Just a couple of observations, if I may. Fergie has got to stamp out
this retaliatory kicking thing. I was amazed to see that Scholsie did
it too as shown by the TV camera. It was obvious that the crash tackle
from the toxic dwarf was intentional and seriously dangerous. I
suspect that Nicky Butt's reaction was more to what the nasty little
bastard appeared to have said to him while Butt was lying in obvious
distress. I don't think, from the evil expression on the little shit's
mush, that it was likely to have been an apology. Nevertheless, the
situation was transformed from a free kick to us with Wise on an
early yellow to a fatal send off. The ABU accusation of arrogance and
cockiness is difficult to dispute when our lads keep using the boot
or knee on our opponents. I wish they would cut it out and try to step
back and retaliate with results. I'm not suggesting we should become
a bunch of softies, but it's crazy to keep putting the team at a
disadvantage in this way.
There is a local football programme on TV here in which an Italian
journalist talks about Serie A and the Italian perspective in
Eurocomps. The subject of Taibi was raised yesterday and he was almost
(well, let's face it, he was) smirking about the United buying him.
He said there are 57 million football critics in Italy and they all
believe Massimo to be no good. He said he could neither hold a place in
a club nor as first choice keeper and the Italian press and fans were
astounded and amused by the kind of money we paid for him. At the
time I was indignant and cross, but after the first goal and that
awful flap later in the game, I must say i wonder. There were some
stats posted on the Ozsoccer list which I didn't keep unfortunately
which showed that Bosnich (admittedly after only three starts) has the
best record in the Premier League. Taibi wasn't anywhere to be seen
on the list posted, and that was before the Chelsea match. Bozzo is a
shite kicker, but a good keeper otherwise. I hope Alex will give him a run
eventually. He wasn't on the bench again yesterday.
Is Becks OK?. He looked dead miserable when he came off, not
surpassingly, but I thought he had a poor game and was perhaps
limping too.
I have to say I was very sorry Fergie didn't front for the post match
interview, - well, at least in the half hour after the game as shown
here in Oz. I can understand that he would want to be with the lads,
and that he would have been gutted, but, again, it adds fuel to the
ABU burners and I know he would have conducted himself, as always,
with dignity.
Cheers,
David Marshall
Brisbane, Australia.
Red 'til I'm dead - treble achieved, I'm ready to go!
Click On pic - for latest interviews/pics from OT"
Subject: Ouch! Ouch! Ouch! Ouch! Ouch! Personal Report by Terry Dale
Be grateful, Barry, that you can numb the pain with a few Danish beers. I
have to beat my head against the wall to achieve the same effect. But,
let's face it, this result has been in the tea leaves for a few weeks now.
Tame home draws against Zagreb, Wimbledon and Southampton were the first
noticeable symptoms that we're not well at all. Part of the medicine we
need is an Irish tonic known as Keano's Fighting Spirit and the sooner we
get it, the better. If money is the key to keeping him, then even our
greedy Board must know now that we just have to pay whatever it takes.
Keano's return will steady the ship, but will it be enough for another
championship or three?
The other worry is the goalie. I haven't seen the game but it appears
Massimo may have been to blame for the first goal that came in the first
minute. It wasn't just the early goal that unnerved us. (After all, we
give the opposition a goal start in virtually every game we play.)
The real damage, I fear, is that Massimo's insecurity has spread to the
defence. They're basically a bunch of laid-back good-time Charlies who
need keeping under control by someone with a booming voice and a physical
presence big enough to make even Stam soil his shorts. Massimo hasn't got
that yet, and it shows. Bozza Bosnich is probably already drooling onto
his shirt at the prospect of taking over the goalie slot, but he hasn't
got the oomph either. And I don't think Raimondo has. Houston, we have a
problem. Knowing Fergie as we do, he won't be intimidated by the
media-driven abuistic drivel that is about to be unleashed. Fergie doesn't
like to be proven wrong so he'll doubtlessly continue with Massimo. To do
otherwise would, in any case, deal a savage blow to the Italian's already
fragile confidence.
I have now beaten my head against the wall often enough to be able to see
a silver lining in all this. (You see what a little perseverance will do.)
Maybe all this is just another of our seasonal blips, those annoying form
dips that pop up every season and have us all reaching for the Panadol.
Then, suddenly, the up-turn arrives when we least expect it and we set off
on another unbeaten run. We all remember the crappy performances last
season that culminated in the 2-3 home defeat against Boro. After that, we
were invincible. Till today.
So have another beer, Barry. I'm just off to get a little more concussed.
Ouch! Ouch! Ouch! ...
_____________
Terry
Where am I?
I don't know.
Click On pic - for latest interviews/pics from OT"
Subject: Bridge of Sighs - Personal Report by Steve Edge
In one little moment today we witnessed everything I think is wrong with
the English game.
Wise raises his studs to Nicky Butt's chest (not that high up, but quite
high for the little rent boy!) and then elbows him in the face just to make
sure. The ref gives a free kick. No doubt about that. Then we see the "new"
England recruit giving it the verbals at Butt - who is clearly the innocent
party at this stage. Eventually Nicky has had enough and petulantly prods
Wise with his knee. Wise drops to the ground like a shot deer. The ref
gives Butt a red card for one act of stupidity. He gives Wise a yellow card
for two pieces of dangerous play, a torrent of verbal abuse, and a wicked
job of feigning injury. I think Nicky probably deserved a red card. But
Wise probably deserved three red cards, and only received a yellow. I know
that it is not possible to dish out more than one red card to a player in
one match (might be an idea to change this!), but if the punishment started
to fit the crime we'd perhaps start to see a cleaner game emerge. Wise got
away with a deliberate attempt to injure a player, and a deliberate attempt
to get that player sent off. With the rent boys 2-0 up at this stage it is
debatable whether United could have turned things around with both teams
down to 10 men, but with only Butt sent off there was no doubt about how
the game would end up.
Apart from that turning point, several things are clear from this
embarrassing game:
1. Taibi should not be in goal. He does not inspire confidence in his
defenders. Step forward Raimond.
2. Silvestre needs to work on his distribution, and probably should not
start - at full back.
3. Irwin looks better on the left these days.
4. Phil Neville should be at right back until his brother recovers from
injury.
5. Berg is starting to look a bit shaky (possibly down to a lack of
confidence in his keeper and other defenders?)
6. Solskjær looks a lot better on the right than on the left.
7. Teddy cannot be expected to turn a 0-4 game around.
8. Becks looked very subdued today. Is all the FA nonsense getting to him?
9. I am so pleased to be living in Canada, and not having to put up with
the abuse that all English Reds are going to suffer from this defeat -
especially those facing a long journey home after the match!
10. We are still the Champions of Europe, and the Champions of England.
11. There are 28 games left in the Premiership.
12. Just like last season's 0-3 at Highbury, this was not so much a blip as
a serious wake-up call. Complacency won't set in again (I hope!)
On a sad note, someone told me this morning that Keano will be out for the
rest of the season. Anyone care to offer a differing opinion?
Steve Edge
Vancouver Red - and still proud of it!
Click On pic - for latest interviews/pics from OT"
Subject: Last time was in 1954 - Chelsea 5 Manchester United 6
TEN-MEN REDS HAMMERED BY CHELSEA
It's almost 45 years since the Championship trophy last resided at Stamford
Bridge.
Back then, in 1955, teams like Blackpool, Cardiff City, Burnley and Preston
North End were
looked on as giants of the game.
Centre-forward Roy Bentley was probably their most famous player of the day -
he grabbed 21 goals from 41 appearances that season.
The Pensioners - Chelsea's nickname in those days - also
included Frank Blunstone in their line-up. Many years later
he was to become coach at Old Trafford during Tommy
Docherty's reign as manager.
It all seems such a long time ago for the Chelsea faithful
and whilst they have enjoyed several high profile cup
successes during the intervening years they still crave the
domestic game's ultimate prize, which has eluded them for
so long.
Recent seasons have seen the West London club become
part of the English game's elite, but unlike United and
Arsenal, who have consolidated their inclusion in the top
bracket of clubs with Championship triumphs, Chelsea have
continued to miss the boat.
The FA Cup, Football League Cup, European Cup Winners
Cup and Uefa Super Cup have all found their way onto the
Stamford Bridge sideboard over the past couple of years,
but the Blues still look forward with great expectancy to the
moment when they become Champions of England again.
Success in the knockout competitions has certainly
whetted Chelsea's appetite and many believe that at long
last they are in possession of group of players capable of
ending the long years of waiting.
Recent setbacks against Watford in the Premiership and
Hertha Berlin in the Champions League were unwelcome
intrusions to a season that in the main has opened in an
acceptable style and overall there remains an air of
optimism under Gianluca Vialli's stewardship.
The visit of United to Stamford Bridge is always one of the
highlights of the season and it also acts as a measure of
progress made, because the Reds remain the team to beat.
Chelsea are no different to any other club in so much as
they relish a joust with United despite the Reds' quite
remarkable record at Stamford Bridge which has seen them
suffer defeat only four times on their last 20 League visits.
Chelsea must now possess one of the most impressive
approaches to any stadium in this country. The imposing
hotel block which takes up the land where the famous Shed
once stood and the new office development form a
spectacular gateway to the ground.
Inside, it's a different story while the West Stand remains a
single tier, uncovered and almost temporary in appearance.
There's no doubt that this will be a setting suitable for a top
class club when it is finally completed but nobody seems to
know when that will be.
Leaden clouds and heavy rain had given away to beaming
sunshine when the game kicked off. But it wasn't long
before the gloom again descended on United.
Barely thirty seconds of this latest six-pointer had elapsed
when they found themselves trailing to a Gustav Poyet
header. Hardly an ideal start to an important match against
one of your top challengers!
So the Reds new-found habit of going a goal down
continued. Only time would reveal if they could recover from
this once again.
The immediate signs suggested that this might just be "a
bridge too far." Chris Sutton's sixteenth-minute goal, his
first in the Premiership since moving from Blackburn Rovers
to Chelsea in the summer, added to United's troubles, but
worse was to come.
United showed few signs of making any inroads into the
deficit whilst at the other end Poyet and Sutton looked
more than capable of increasing United's problems.
Nicky Butt was given his marching orders after clashing
with Dennis Wise midway through the first half and United's
road to recovery then looked well nigh impassable.
It appeared that only a Herculean effort could save United
from their first defeat in ten months, and the early moments
after the restart offered some hope.
United were livelier and sharper, but that brief flourish was
soon stifled with two more Chelsea goals. Poyet grabbed
his second of the game in the 55th minute and soon
afterwards, Henning Berg directed a Gianfranco Zola cross
past Massimo Taibi.
Jody Morris' goal in the 82nd minute just rubbed salt into
the wounds as United slumped to their biggest defeat since
losing by the same score at Newcastle three years ago.
United's proud run of 29 League games without defeat has
gone and how! Their six-point lead in the title race which
was in place only a fortnight ago has evaporated. But now
at least they have two weeks' break from League action.
After dropping seven points in the last three outings, they
will need that time to regroup and stabilise their
Premiership challenge.
As for United's impressive record at Stamford Bridge, I
suppose it had to happen some time!
As a footnote, it's interesting to note the last time Chelsea
put five past United in a League match, they ended the
season as Champions. The result of that game in 1954 was
Chelsea 5, Manchester United 6.
Click On pic - for latest interviews/pics from OT"
Subject: Unbeaten run over! ««
A nightmare afternoon for United, who crashed 5-0 to Chelsea, had Butt sent
off, and saw their 29 match unbeaten Premiership run come to an end.
The game started in dramatic fashion, and it was certainly an indication of
what was to come.
Inside the opening thirty seconds Dan Petrescu swung the ball in the from
the right hand side, Massimo Taibi flapped at the cross, and Gustavo Poyet
was on hand to head into an empty net.
Chelsea doubled their lead after sixteen minutes, and again it was a cross
from the right hand side and a header which opened up the United defence.
This time it was Albert Ferrer with the floated cross, and Chris Sutton was
on hand to nod a looping header over Taibi for his first Premiership goal
for Chelsea.
At this point, United were up against it, but their problems worsened in
the 22nd minute, after a clash between Dennis Wise and Nicky Butt.
Wise caught Butt with a late challenge, for which he was booked, but the
United midfielder reacted, aimed a kick at Wise, and the referee had no
option but to red card him.
Despite going down to ten men, United could have got themselves back into
the game, but Ed De Goey saved well from Paul Scholes.
Chris Sutton also went close for Chelsea with another header just before
the break, but Luca Vialli's side were deservedly in control and leading at
half-time.
United started the second half keen to get a goal to bring them back into
the game, but within ten minutes of the restart they found themselves three
goals down.
This time Taibi saved well from Frank Leboeuf, but he couldn't hold it, and
Poyet followed up to hammer the ball into the roof of the net.
Four minutes later the contest was over, when Henning Berg could only
deflect Zola's cross into his own net.
United introduced Solskjaer, Sheringham, and Wilson into the action, whilst
Chelsea brought on Flo, Morris, and Le Saux.
And it was Le Saux who provided the pass for Jody Morris to fire home
Chelsea's fifth goal, through the legs of Taibi.
A comprehensive win for Chelsea, but it's back to the drawing board for
Alex Ferguson, who will have plenty to ponder next weekend during the
Premiership break. Whilst his players are away on international duty, they
may well be sweating over their places in United's side for the next
Premiership clash against Watford in a fortnight.
Click On pic - for latest interviews/pics from OT"
Subject: CHELSEA DESTROY AWFUL UNITED
As the final whistle blew on Manchester United's worst defeat in three
years, the Stamford Bridge celebrations indicated more than just the
achievement a long-awaited victory that will take pride of place in the
video collections of all Chelsea fans.
The Blues' faithful had witnessed not only a rout of amazing proportions
but also compelling evidence of the dawning of a new era - one in which
their side can truly be considered as title favourites even at this
precariously early stage of the season.
For the gulf between the two sides had been simply extraordinary. United
simply capitulated in surely one of their worst defensive displays for
years. In truth, they were absolutely dreadful - in disarray at the back,
uncompetitive in midfield and starved of chances up front.
Chelsea, in contrast, were flooding with confidence, their play energised
by Didier Deschamps and Dennis Wise in midfield, given momentum by Gustavo
Poyet's ceaseless forward runs and at last provided with a cutting edge by
Chris Sutton.
Having gone ahead through Poyet within a minute of the kick-off after yet
another appalling mistake by keeper Massimo Taibi, Sutton scored his first
Premiership goal of the season 15 minutes later. The floodgates then opened
after Nicky Butt was sent off midway through the first half for kicking
Dennis Wise and the second period saw Poyet's second, an own goal by
Henning Berg and a fifth by Jody Morris complete the rout.
It was the first time Chelsea had beaten United at Stamford Bridge for six
years, the first time United had lost in the League for 30 games and their
worst defeat since losing by the same score at Newcastle in October 1996.
But over and above those impressive records, it was also a massive
psychological milestone in the history of Chelsea, who had taken weeks if
not months to recover from similarly being put to the sword by United in
the FA Cup third-round in January last year.
This time, the comedy of errors started as early as the 28th second when
Taibi, who appears to be collating a goalkeeping blunders video all of his
own, came out and flapped at a cross by Dan Petrescu and left Poyet to
comfortably head home.
Given that Chelsea have had trouble hitting the target, let alone scoring,
over recent weeks, it was the perfect start for Gianluca Vialli's side and
United's spirit of generosity only increased from then on. With Jaap Stam
attempting - but ultimately failing - to hold the side together
single-handedly, Sutton and Poyet threatened again, with United simply
unable to contain the Uruguay international down Chelsea's left flank.
Sutton duly doubled the home side's advantage as United's defence
capitulated yet again on 16 minutes as Chelsea took a quick free-kick and
Ferrer cantered down the right flank before delivering a pin-point centre.
Sutton was waiting unmarked in the penalty area to send a looping header
over Taibi's desperate dive and his exultant celebrations were
understandable given that it was the first goal a Chelsea striker had
scored for 11 games.
With a face like thunder, Sir Alex Ferguson promptly left his seat in the
directors' box in disgust but on his arrival at the touchline, he was
confronted within only a couple of minutes by the sight of Butt being sent
off. Wise had been guilty of a nearly head-high flying tackle on the
midfielder, for which he was later booked, yet Butt reacted by kicking the
Chelsea captain after a sharp exchange of views between them.
Wise may well have reacted dramatically yet Butt had to go for a moment of
Beckham-esque petulance and it was ironically the England winger who
shepherded his complaining team-mate to the sidelines. On the pitch,
United's complaints continued, with Andy Cole almost sparking a melee, and
the atmosphere intensified as Celestine Babayaro and Denis Irwin wrestled
each other to the ground.
Scholes should also apparently have been sent-off for a kick at Sutton
which went unnoticed by referee Dermot Gallagher but at least United then
seemed to wake up, with Phil Neville and Beckham pushing inside. The
visitors even had a chance to get back into the game - their only opening
of the first half, if not the entire game - but Ed De Goey produced a
wonderful diving save to deny Scholes.
While the contest was temporarily more even, Chelsea continued to dominate
though with Sutton and Poyet again coming close and there was no respite
for United's beleaguered defence. Nine minutes after the break, Frank
Leboeuf's shot was only parried by Taibi and as the static United defence
remained virtually rooted to the spot, Poyet strode in ahead of Mikael
Silvestre and Irwin to strike home the rebound.
Four minutes later, it was turning into humiliation for United as Zola
crossed from the right and, with Sutton threatening behind him, Berg
succeeded only in diverting the ball past the hapless - but this time
helpless - Taibi. At least the Italian keeper produced a fine save to tip a
lob by Petrescu over the bar but Ferguson had seen enough and made a triple
substitution with Teddy Sheringham, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Mark Wilson
replacing Cole, Scholes and Beckham.
However, it made no difference whatsoever. For Vialli simply threw on three
replacements of his own - Tore Andre Flo, Graeme Le Saux and Morris - and
the first two combined to set up the England Under-21 international for
Chelsea's fifth.
The Blues were by now rampant, pulling United apart with embarrassing ease,
as all the frustrations of their inability to score over recent weeks came
flooding out. They probably should have scored a sixth but were ultimately
more than content with five amid a deserved standing ovation.
Click On pic - for latest interviews/pics from OT"
Subject: Carling Report
Chelsea (2) 5 Man United (0) 0 FT
Poyet 1,54
Sutton 16
Berg 59 (og)
Morris 81
As the final whistle blew on Manchester United's worst defeat in three
years, the Stamford Bridge celebrations indicated more than just the
achievement a long-awaited victory that will take pride of place in the
video collections of all Chelsea fans.
The Blues' faithful had witnessed not only a rout of amazing proportions
but also compelling evidence of the dawning of a new era - one in which
their side can truly be considered as title favourites even at this
precariously early stage of the season.
For the gulf between the two sides had been simply extraordinary.
United simply capitulated in surely one of their worst defensive displays
for years. In truth, they were absolutely dreadful - in disarray at the
back, uncompetitive in midfield and starved of chances up front.
Chelsea, in contrast, were flooding with confidence, their play energised
by Didier Deschamps and Dennis Wise in midfield, given momentum by Gustavo
Poyet's ceaseless forward runs and at last provided with a cutting edge by
Chris Sutton.
Having gone ahead through Poyet within a minute of the kick-off after yet
another appalling mistake by keeper Massimo Taibi, Sutton scored his first
FA Carling Premiership goal of the season 15 minutes later.
The floodgates then opened after Nicky Butt was sent off midway through the
first-half for kicking Dennis Wise and the second period saw Poyet's
second, an own goal by Henning Berg and a fifth by Jody Morris complete the
rout.
It was the first time Chelsea had beaten United at Stamford Bridge for six
years, the first time United had lost in the League for 30 games and their
worst defeat since losing by the same score at Newcastle in October 1996.
But over and above those impressive records, it was also a massive
psychological milestone in the history of Chelsea, who had taken weeks if
not months to recover from similarly being put to the sword by United in
the FA Cup third-round in January last year.
This time, the comedy of errors started as early as the 28th second when
Taibi, who appears to be collating a goalkeeping blunders video all of his
own, came out and flapped at a cross by Dan Petrescu and left Poyet to
comfortably head home.
Given that Chelsea have had trouble hitting the target, let alone scoring,
over recent weeks, it was the perfect start for Gianluca Vialli's side and
United's spirit of generosity only increased from then on.
With Jaap Stam attempting - but ultimately failing - to hold the side
together single-handedly, Sutton and Poyet threatened again, with United
simply unable to contain the Uruguay international down Chelsea's left flank.
Sutton duly doubled the home side's advantage as United's defence
capitulated yet again on 16 minutes as Chelsea took a quick free-kick and
Ferrer cantered down the right flank before delivering a pin-point centre.
Sutton was waiting unmarked in the penalty area to send a looping header
over Taibi's desperate dive and his exultant celebrations were
understandable given that it was the first goal a Chelsea striker had
scored for 11 games.
With a face like thunder, Sir Alex Ferguson promptly left his seat in the
directors' box in disgust but on his arrival at the touchline, he was
confronted within only a couple of minutes by the sight of Butt being sent
off.
Wise had been guilty of a nearly head-high flying tackle on the midfielder,
for which he was later booked, yet Butt reacted by kicking the Chelsea
captain after a sharp exchange of views between them.
Wise may well have reacted dramatically yet Butt had to go for a moment of
Beckham-esque petulance and it was ironically the England winger who
shepherded his complaining team-mate to the sidelines.
On the pitch, United's complaints continued, with Andy Cole almost sparking
a melee, and the atmosphere intensified as Celestine Babayaro and Denis
Irwin wrestled each other to the ground.
Scholes should also apparently have been sent-off for a kick at Sutton
which went unnoticed by referee Dermot Gallagher but at least United then
seemed to wake up, with Phil Neville and Beckham pushing inside.
The visitors even had a chance to get back into the game - their only
opening of the first-half, if not the entire game - but Ed De Goey produced
a wonderful diving save to deny Scholes.
While the contest was temporarily more even, Chelsea continued to dominate
though with Sutton and Poyet again coming close and there was no respite
for United's beleaguered defence.
Nine minutes after the break, Frank Leboeuf's shot was only parried by
Taibi and as the static United defence remained virtually rooted to the
spot, Poyet strode in ahead of Mikael Silvestre and Irwin to strike home
the rebound.
Four minutes later, it was turning into humiliation for United as Zola
crossed from the right and, with Sutton threatening behind him, Berg
succeeded only in diverting the ball past the hapless - but this time
helpless - Taibi.
At least the Italian keeper produced a fine save to tip a lob by Petrescu
over the bar but Ferguson had seen enough and made a triple substitution
with Teddy Sheringham, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Mark Wilson replacing Cole,
Scholes and Beckham.
Click image for full size
However, it made no difference whatsoever.
For Vialli simply threw on three replacements of his own - Tore Andre Flo,
Graeme Le Saux and Morris - and the first two combined to set up the
England Under-21 international for Chelsea's fifth.
The Blues were by now rampant, pulling United apart with embarrassing ease,
as all the frustrations of their inability to score over recent weeks came
flooding out.
They probably should have scored a sixth but were ultimately more than
content with five amid a deserved standing ovation.
And with Arsenal also losing at West Ham, the significance of the results
was as unmistakeable as United's embarrassment.
Chelsea: De Goey, Ferrer, Hogh, Leboeuf, Babayaro, Petrescu (Le Saux, 77),
Wise (Morris, 65), Deschamps, Poyet, Sutton, Zola (Flo, 69).
Subs not used: Lambourde, Cudicini.
Booked: Wise, Deschamps.
Man United: Taibi, Irwin, Berg, Stam, Silvestre, Beckham (Solskjaer, 65),
Butt, Scholes (Sheringham, 65), Neville, Yorke, Cole (Wilson, 65).
Subs not used: Clegg, Van Der Gouw.
Booked: Scholes.
Sentoff: Butt 23.
Attendance: 34,909.
Referee: D Gallagher (Banbury).
Click On pic - for latest interviews/pics from OT"
Subject: Soccernet - Chelsea 5 - 0 Manchester United
Match Stats
As the final whistle blew on Manchester United's worst defeat in three
years, the Stamford Bridge celebrations indicated more than just the
achievement a long-awaited victory that will take pride of place in the
video collections of all Chelsea fans.
The Blues' faithful had witnessed not only a rout of amazing proportions
but also compelling evidence of the dawning of a new era - one in which
their side can truly be considered as title favourites even at this
precariously early stage of the season.
For the gulf between the two sides had been simply extraordinary.
United simply capitulated in surely one of their worst defensive displays
for years. In truth, they were absolutely dreadful - in disarray at the
back, uncompetitive in midfield and starved of chances up front.
Chelsea, in contrast, were flooding with confidence, their play energised
by Didier Deschamps and Dennis Wise in midfield, given momentum by Gustavo
Poyet's ceaseless forward runs and at last provided with a cutting edge by
Chris Sutton.
Having gone ahead through Poyet within a minute of the kick-off after yet
another appalling mistake by keeper Massimo Taibi, Sutton scored his first
Premiership goal of the season 15 minutes later.
The floodgates then opened after Nicky Butt was sent off midway through the
first-half for kicking Dennis Wise and the second period saw Poyet's
second, an own goal by Henning Berg and a fifth by Jody Morris complete the
rout.
It was the first time Chelsea had beaten United at Stamford Bridge for six
years, the first time United had lost in the League for 30 games and their
worst defeat since losing by the same score at Newcastle in October 1996.
But over and above those impressive records, it was also a massive
psychological milestone in the history of Chelsea, who had taken weeks if
not months to recover from similarly being put to the sword by United in
the FA Cup third-round in January last year.
This time, the comedy of errors started as early as the 28th second when
Taibi, who appears to be collating a goalkeeping blunders video all of his
own, came out and flapped at a cross by Dan Petrescu and left Poyet to
comfortably head home.
Given that Chelsea have had trouble hitting the target, let alone scoring,
over recent weeks, it was the perfect start for Gianluca Vialli's side and
United's spirit of generosity only increased from then on.
With Jaap Stam attempting - but ultimately failing - to hold the side
together single-handedly, Sutton and Poyet threatened again, with United
simply unable to contain the Uruguay international down Chelsea's left flank.
Sutton duly doubled the home side's advantage as United's defence
capitulated yet again on 16 minutes as Chelsea took a quick free-kick and
Ferrer cantered down the right flank before delivering a pin-point centre.
Sutton was waiting unmarked in the penalty area to send a looping header
over Taibi's desperate dive and his exultant celebrations were
understandable given that it was the first goal a Chelsea striker had
scored for 11 games.
With a face like thunder, Sir Alex Ferguson promptly left his seat in the
directors' box in disgust but on his arrival at the touchline, he was
confronted within only a couple of minutes by the sight of Butt being sent
off.
Wise had been guilty of a nearly head-high flying tackle on the midfielder,
for which he was later booked, yet Butt reacted by kicking the Chelsea
captain after a sharp exchange of views between them.
Wise may well have reacted dramatically yet Butt had to go for a moment of
Beckham-esque petulance and it was ironically the England winger who
shepherded his complaining team-mate to the sidelines.
On the pitch, United's complaints continued, with Andy Cole almost sparking
a melee, and the atmosphere intensified as Celestine Babayaro and Denis
Irwin wrestled each other to the ground.
Scholes should also apparently have been sent-off for a kick at Sutton
which went unnoticed by referee Dermot Gallagher but at least United then
seemed to wake up, with Phil Neville and Beckham pushing inside.
The visitors even had a chance to get back into the game - their only
opening of the first-half, if not the entire game - but Ed De Goey produced
a wonderful diving save to deny Scholes.
While the contest was temporarily more even, Chelsea continued to dominate
though with Sutton and Poyet again coming close and there was no respite
for United's beleaguered defence.
Nine minutes after the break, Frank Leboeuf's shot was only parried by
Taibi and as the static United defence remained virtually rooted to the
spot, Poyet strode in ahead of Mikael Silvestre and Irwin to strike home
the rebound.
Four minutes later, it was turning into humiliation for United as Zola
crossed from the right and, with Sutton threatening behind him, Berg
succeeded only in diverting the ball past the hapless - but this time
helpless - Taibi.
At least the Italian keeper produced a fine save to tip a lob by Petrescu
over the bar but Ferguson had seen enough and made a triple substitution
with Teddy Sheringham, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Mark Wilson replacing Cole,
Scholes and Beckham.
However, it made no difference whatsoever.
For Vialli simply threw on three replacements of his own - Tore Andre Flo,
Graeme Le Saux and Morris - and the first two combined to set up the
England Under-21 international for Chelsea's fifth.
The Blues were by now rampant, pulling United apart with embarrassing ease,
as all the frustrations of their inability to score over recent weeks came
flooding out.
They probably should have scored a sixth but were ultimately more than
content with five amid a deserved standing ovation.
And with Arsenal also losing at West Ham, the significance of the results
was as unmistakeable as United's embarrassment.
Click On pic - for latest interviews/pics from OT"
Click On pic - for latest interviews/pics from OT"
Subject: FERGIE: WE'LL BOUNCE BACK
Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson refused to give any excuses about his
side’s 5-0 humiliating defeat but warned that just like the last time they
suffered such a hammering, they’ll be back.
"We'll just have to bite the bullet and get on with it," he said, but he
added, "there will be a reaction, no question about that.
"It's another of those days we get now and then. Just like the Newcastle
game two or three years ago."
He was of course referring to the match at St James’ Park in October 1996
when United lost by the same scoreline and in the very next game they
suffered yet another heavy defeat when they lost 6-3 at Southampton.
After being beaten by Chelsea at Old Trafford it completed three defeats in
a row but United still went on to win the league by seven points and
Ferguson will bear that in mind.
"We've got to hope history repeats itself," said Ferguson.
Ferguson refused to comment on the two aspects that contributed to the
heavy defeat, the sending off of midfielder Nicky Butt and the uncertain
performance of Massimo Taibi.
The defeat means United have been knocked off the top of the league by
Leeds and Ferguson believes the early goal set the pattern for the match.
Ferguson said: "We had a bad start and were on the back-foot right from the
beginning but I'm taking nothing from Chelsea who showed that they, along
with Arsenal, are genuine title challengers.
"A result like this just shows how hard it is to win the title but my
players have bounced back before and they'll do it again. They've got to."
Click On pic - for latest interviews/pics from OT"
Click On pic - for latest interviews/pics from OT"
Subject: MEN article - Stam and Berg alliance in defence
Manchester United...Stam and Berg partnership
By Stuart Mathieson
Stam and Berg alliance in defence
JAAP Stam and Henning Berg will continue to underpin Manchester United's
unbeaten away record against title rivals Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
The Reds maligned defence has been creaking with Berg's blunder against
Marseille adding to Massimo Taibi and Mickael Silvestre's howlers against
Southampton last weekend.
Stam and Berg are the only players to have played in all 14 of United's
Premiership and European fixtures this season.
And although a catalogue of injuries at the heart of United's defence has
taken Ronny Johnsen, Wes Brown and David May out of service, United manager
Sir Alex Ferguson has seen no reason to give the pair a breather anyway.
``I haven't been thinking of a rest for the central defenders. There's no
need to. They are doing very well,'' says Fergie.
It's the longest unbroken sequence for a central defensive partnership
since legends Steve Bruce and Gary Pallister missed just four games between
them in a 63-match programme in the 1993-94 campaign.
And former Reds' and Chelsea defender Paul Parker, who'll return to Old
Trafford to play in Ferguson's testimonial on October 11, believes the
Dutch-Norwegian alliance will restore United's defensive solidity.
``The defence is the one place where you don't really want to chop and
change,'' says Paul.
``Jaap and Henning will be grateful for the run. They won't want a
breather. The best defensive partnerships are those based on two players
playing regularly together.
``The problem for United's pair recently is that the full backs have been
changing. It's important those roles are consistent as well. I know when I
played alongside Steve Bruce there were positions I took up instinctively
because I knew where he'd want me to be. It's important to have that
understanding.
``I know Brucie and Pally wouldn't have wanted to be rested from matches.
Stam and Berg can build up a relationship like those two.
``For me Jaap is a combination of Steve and Gary. He has Pally's command
and strength in the air, plus pace and has Steve's power, leadership and
respect. He's one heck of a defender.
``You don't notice Henning in the same way you don't notice Denis Irwin
because he's efficient and quiet. The likes of Jaap and Henning are the
most important kind of players to United now. They're stability will help
the defence get over these recent errors. It's not a major problem.
``Chelsea aren't scoring too many at the moment but they're not losing too
much either.''
Roy Keane won't be an 11th hour choice for United at Chelsea. The Reds'
captain is still resting his knee injury and Fergie is expecting him to
start jogging in training next week.
French defender Marcel Desailly is Chelsea's major doubt for the big
Premiership shoot-out. He came off after an hour of the Londoner's
Champions' League game against Galatasaray on Tuesday with a groin injury.
``The team enjoy playing at Stamford Bridge, they like the atmosphere and
we've had some great results there,'' says Fergie.
``They're in a good position because they have games in hand and I view
them along with Arsenal as our main threat.''
MEN
Click On pic - for latest interviews/pics from OT"
Subject: Cole: My next goal is all that matters
By Peter Fitton - Exclusive
The team who currently find scoring something of a mysterious art must
today confront the striker with some of the most lethal finishing
statistics in football.
Andy Cole, you sense, is looking forward with relish to jousting with
Chelsea's technically blessed defenders again. No reason why not, either.
Not when you have eight goals already - almost as many as Gianluca Vialli's
snipers can boast collectively - from 13 appearances of a new campaign.
Not, more ominously, when you can flourish the remarkable record of 185
goals in 316 top-level games since 1990 - a dauntingly impressive hit ratio
of a goal every 1.7 games.
And not when the nation is still celebrating that tumbling, cartwheeling,
overhead finish at Old Trafford just four nights ago to provide Manchester
United with their Champions League impetus and victory over Marseille.
'You don't get too many of those in your life, I have to say,' admitted
Cole. 'I don't normally boast or shout from the rooftops about my goals,
but, yes, that one gave me tremendous pleasure. They don't come like that
week in and week out, maybe a handful of times in your career. I have seen
it a couple of times since on TV, but there's nothing on video at my house.
'I haven't got any of my goals on tape. Once I've scored that's it. I just
look forward to the next one and the others are forgotten. I'll settle for
a two-yard tap-in for the next.'
Six years without being on the losing side at Stamford Bridge provides Cole
with sound evidence he might be on another winner and he refuses to be
intimidated by high-profile defenders like Marcel Desailly and Frank Leboeuf.
He said: 'They're good, no doubt, and rated as world class, but to me
they're just another couple of centre-halves. I don't look at them any
differently than the rest. I've a job to do and it's getting past them and
scoring goals. Simple as that.
'People have recently been talking about our defending but that's us,
that's United, we're the cavaliers. Sure, we're going to concede goals,
maybe too many at times, but we know we can score plenty as well. Chelsea,
though, will go for the throats in this one.
'They're struggling for goals but they know if they can beat us they can
narrow the gap to two points so they'll go hell for leather. It's the big
one.'
From Chelsea manager Vialli there must be cautionary words, too. He will
appreciate the predatory skills of Cole and expensive partner Dwight Yorke.
Too much attacking ambition could leave Chelsea dangerously exposed.
In Cole's case there is a weighty dossier of statistical proof to justify a
more patient game plan from Vialli. The flow of goals has been delivered
with punishing regularity throughout the 1990s.
Cole said: 'I scored 24 last season and 25 the year before that. I'm aiming
for a record at least as good as that in this campaign. It's no use
settling for 15 or 20 this time. I've got to be striving for better.
'I know what I'm looking for. But publicly I'm not going to reveal it now.
What I'll say is that if I can hit double figures by Christmas, the target
could be achieved. For now, though, it's personal.'
While United continue the plunder, they will demand a more measured
approach in their defensive ranks and a determination from £4.5million
goalkeeper Massimo Taibi to make sure there are no more howlers.
The Italian is currently Sir Alex Ferguson's Premiership No 1 while Raimond
Van der Gouw claims the European spot, leaving Mark Bosnich the unfamiliar
role of patient outsider.
Manager Ferguson must check if Van der Gouw and Bosnich have recovered from
a virus before deciding his goalkeeping sub at Chelsea.
But Dutchman Van der Gouw recognised the agony of his rival when he said:
'I've some sympathy for Mark because I know what it's like being No 1, No 2
and No 3. It's not easy for him.
'But he's working very hard and he's improved himself a lot. I think if he
plays for United again, you'll see a different Mark Bosnich.
'It's mentally and physically very tough playing here and I think Mark
could have made a better impression.
'He needs a little more time to come back back now, but if he does come
back he'll be stronger than before.'
Click On pic - for latest interviews/pics from OT"
Subject: United haven't fined Beckham
By Peter Fitton - Exclusive
Exclusive: David Beckham has NOT been fined by Manchester United in a
hard-line crackdown on their England star.
But, as Soccernet revealed last week, the FA are pressing for talks with
him over his behaviour on the pitch.
Sources inside Old Trafford and the players' union insist reports
suggesting United manager Sir Alex Ferguson had imposed a £50,000 fine -
two weeks' wages - are incorrect.
Yesterday Ferguson refused to enter the debate over his high-profile
player. Beckham's appearance at a London fashion show 48 hours before a
Champions League game against Sturm Graz in Austria was claimed to be the
catalyst for hard-line action by United.
But Beckham, who faces another torrid reception from fans at Chelsea today,
has not so far suffered any financial penalty or the wrath of his manager.
As Soccernet revealed, Graham Bean, the FA's compliance officer, wanted to
call Beckham to a private meeting to warn him about his conduct after a
two-fingered gesture to Leeds fans earlier this season.
The players' union headquarters in Manchester was seen as the ideal neutral
venue. But United have resisted such a move in the belief that Ferguson
should be left in control when his players need bringing into line. The
union back the principle of errant stars being called in for a quiet word
rather than seeing players repeatedly handed disrepute charges. The key
issue inside Lancaster Gate now is that if the FA fail to back their
compliance officer they are effectively making Bean's position untenable.
Bean, a former policeman appointed last year, could change his approach by
recommending that Beckham is charged with misconduct. But that would end
any attempt at a softly-softly approach to discipline and seriously
embarrass leading officers inside the FA.
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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
Barry
J. Leeming Digest Prgram
by 
William
McArthur Canada
