www.red11.org DAILY NEWS
Date: Mon Mar 08 07:43:34 GMT+00:00 1999
Mail: barry@www.red11.org
This Issue:
1. DENNIS VIOLLET 1933 - 1999
2. Denis Viollet Tributes:
3. Semi-detached rivals left to rue unwanted extension - By Oliver Holt / Times.
4. report MANCHESTER UNITED 0 CHELSEA 0
5. Fergie's magic moments - Guardian
6. Van der Sar offers United bait ««
7. Chelsea thoughts (reps/pics) by Boon Wee
8. WINNER TIPPED TO LIFT THE TREBLE BY LIVERPOOL LEGEND NEAL
++++++=========+++++++========+++++++++========++++++++
Daily RED Trivia Monday 8th March 1999:
8/3/1897: Jack Wilson born in Leadgate. Wilson joined United from Stockport County
and the enthusiastic Half-back made his debut against Leeds United in September
1926. Between 1926-32 he made 140 appearances and scored 3 goals. Wilson
moved to Bristol City in June 1932.
1950: United thrash Aston Villa 7-0 in a Division 1 game at Old Trafford watched
by 22,149. Charlie Mitten 4, Johnny Downie 2 and Jack Rowley were the scorers,
Mitten scoring 3 penalties. Team was: Crompton, Ball, Aston, Warner, Carey,
Cockburn, Delaney, Downie, Rowley, Pearson, Mitten.
***************
Barry Daily Comment:
Many tributes are coming in for Denis Viollet.
If you have one please mail to barrylee@post3.tele.dk
I will mail it forward to the daily news and his family.
Previous News:
Brian Kidd Press conference, pic, real audio
http://www.iol.ie/~redcafe/kidd.htm
Peter Schmeichel's last Season at United!
http://www.red11.org/mufc/news/schmeichel.htm
Next games:
ALL Result/Fixture Index:
http://www.red11.org/mufc/fix9899z.htm
March
10 Chelsea (A) 14.00 FAC6 Replay
pp Liverpool (A) PL (moved due to FAC)
13 Newcastle (A) 15.00 PL
17 Inter Milan (A) ECL "Quarter Final" 2nd leg 19.45
21 Everton (H) 15.00 PL
UNITED Stats v All teams:
http://www.red11.org/mufc/stats/
*** FAC QUARTER-FINALS RESULTS ON 07/03/99 ***
Manchester United 0-0 Chelsea 54,587
NEWCASTLE UNITED 4-1 Everton 36,584
*** FA CUP SEMI-FINALS DRAW ***
Manchester United or Chelsea v Arsenal
Newcastle United v Barnsley or Tottenham Hotspur
*** RESULTS AND ATTENDANCES ON 06/03/99 ***
Coventry City 2-1 Charlton Athletic 20,259
Southampton 1-0 West Ham United 15,240
Wimbledon 0-1 Leicester City 11,801
*** CONDENSED LEAGUE TABLE AS AT 06/03/99 ***
Pos Team P W D L F A GD Pts
---------------------------------------------------------
1 Manchester United 28 16 9 3 63 29 34 57
2 Chelsea 27 14 11 2 41 22 19 53
3 Arsenal 27 13 11 3 35 13 22 50
4 Leeds United 27 12 9 6 41 26 15 45
5 Aston Villa 27 12 8 7 38 31 7 44
6 Wimbledon 28 10 10 8 32 38 -6 40
7 West Ham United 28 11 7 10 31 39 -8 40
8 Liverpool 27 11 6 10 50 34 16 39
9 Derby County 27 9 11 7 26 25 1 38
10 Tottenham Hotspur 27 8 12 7 33 32 1 36
11 Sheffield Wednesday 27 10 5 12 35 27 8 35
12 Newcastle United 27 9 8 10 35 36 -1 35
13 Middlesbrough 27 7 12 8 34 39 -5 33
14 Leicester City 27 8 9 10 27 36 -9 33
15 Coventry City 28 8 6 14 30 39 -9 30
16 Everton 27 6 10 11 20 29 -9 28
17 Charlton Athletic 28 6 9 13 32 39 -7 27
18 Blackburn Rovers 27 6 8 13 27 38 -11 26
19 Southampton 28 7 5 16 27 53 -26 26
20 Nottingham Forest 27 3 8 16 22 54 -32 17
*** TEAM RESULTS - MANCHESTER UNITED - AS AT 20/02/99 ***
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
******
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
return Ties to be played on March 17
PREMIER LEAGUE FIXTURES THIS WEEK:
*** FIXTURES ON 09/03/99 ***
Arsenal v Sheffield Wednesday
*** FIXTURES ON 10/03/99 ***
Blackburn Rovers v Everton
Derby County v Aston Villa
Leeds United v Tottenham Hotspur
Nottingham Forest v Newcastle United
*** FIXTURES ON 13/03/99 ***
Chelsea v West Ham United
Coventry City v Blackburn Rovers
Derby County v Liverpool
Everton v Arsenal
Leicester City v Charlton Athletic
Newcastle United v Manchester United
Sheffield Wednesday v Leeds United
Tottenham Hotspur v Aston Villa
Wimbledon v Nottingham Forest
*** FIXTURES ON 14/03/99 ***
Middlesbrough v Southampton
++++++=========+++++++========+++++++++========++++++++
Dennis runs out as Capt at Highbury
Subject: DENNIS VIOLLET 1933 - 1999
During a family trip to the US last June I arranged a visit with one of the
all time Manchester United greats.
Dennis Viollet was badly injured in the Munich crash and had a gaping wound
over his right ear when Harry Gregg pulled him out of the wreckage. He
recovered from his injuries and made his comeback just in time for the FA
Cup Final against Bolton. He went on to play for United until his transfer
to Stoke City in January 1962. All in all Dennis Viollet made 291
appearances and scored 178 goals and still holds the club record of 32
league goals from just 36 games during the 1959-60 season.
Dennis never wanted to leave United but one day, right out of the blue Tony
Waddington rang him from Stoke City and introduced himself as his new
manager. Dennis felt let down but said things had never been quite the same
since Munich. He loved Manchester United but the family he had known were
gone. It had devastated everyone and made it difficult to cope because so
many of their friends had died. So as his friend Denis Law arrived, he
departed.
He had five great years at Stoke and enjoyed every moment, picking up a
Second Division Championship medal along the way to add to the First
Division tally from his time at United.
Dennis and Helen went to the US in1973 where Dennis was renowned for his
coaching skills and had recently been awarded the Freedom of the City in
Jacksonville where he was based.
Ironically the injury he received in the crash caught up with him at
Munich. Just prior to the European Cup Final reunion he had had a couple of
dizzy spells and moments of deja-vu but had still been very busy with his
coaching. He was in two minds whether to go to Munich but was eventually
persuaded to meet up with his old team-mates. After the Final and on his
way back, Dennis disappeared at the airport. When he was found he didn't
know where he was and was immediately rushed home and into hospital where
the brain tumour was discovered.
The thing that struck me about Dennis was that he may have looked different
facially because of his condition, but his body was still the same as I
remember when he played for United. His forearms were still as strong and
it was easy to imagine him gliding gracefully over the pitch on his way to
yet another goal.
Dennis Viollet played a huge part in the history of Manchester United and
significantly during the re-birth of the club after the crash and it was
one of the greatest thrills of my life to have spent time in his company.
A few days ago Helen phoned me and told me that Dennis had gone into
hospital. He had been admitted into intensive care and put on life support.
The day before he was admitted to hospital Helen had taken him out to St.
Augustine. She drove him around rather than pushing him as Dennis hated to
be seen in the wheelchair.
He hadn't been very responsive the last few times he had been taken out as
his condition had deteriorated, but this time was different. She
commandeered the help of one of his physios, an ex football player of about
six foot four or five and they drove him the short distance to the old
Spanish town.
St Augustine is a beautiful place, one of those special places you get to
visit every now and then. It is stacked full of history. You can be sitting
by a trickling fountain under the fronds of a swaying palm in an ornate
Spanish courtyard and dream yourself back in time.
The day Dennis was driven to St Augustine he didn't fall asleep as he
usually did. His eyes were wide open and staring as he took in everything
around him visiting all the places he used to love.
They didn't stay long, but long enough, and when they returned home to
their house in Jacksonville Dennis was helped from the car by the ex
football player, but before he was seated in his wheelchair he was stood
upright by an interior wall.
And then something remarkable happened. He stood bolt upright by himself
and very slowly but deliberately he moved that famous right foot of his and
took a single step forward. It was something he hadn't done under his own
volition for some considerable time.
When seated back in his wheelchair you could easily detect the look of
satisfaction which had crept over his face. When he was asked whether he
had enjoyed himself he smiled and murmured as best he could to indicate
that he had. It turned a nice day into a very special one.
There are moments in a life that are memorable for various reasons. Dennis'
life had always been concerned with football whether it was playing or
coaching, but that day in St. Augustine and the brief aftermath was every
bit as good as an injury time winner.
Just after 3pm local time on Saturday 6th March Dennis passed away. The
time and date significant.
His memory will linger in the minds of those of us who were privileged
enough to watch him play. I will always remember his power and grace and
his ability to be in the right place at the right time, the hallmark of a
good striker.
That day in St Augustine was the right place at the right time. He could
well have been on his way into the opposition box and latching on to a
knock down from Tommy, gracefully encouraging the ball into the back of the
net and turning away to take the adulation of his team-mates with just a
hint of a smile.
Dennis was a man who played life as he played football, with as little fuss
as possible, but he played it very effectively. We will remember him as one
of our own.
Paul Windridge
Dennis runs out as Capt at Highbury
Subject: Denis Viollet Tributes:
From: "Mr. Science"
RIP Dennis Viollet
Date: Sun, 7 Mar 1999 22:10:59 -0500
As a longtime soccer fan in Washington, DC, please let me express my sorrow
at the passing of Dennis Viollet. To those who remember 1970's soccer here
in the Nation's Capital, he will be fondly remembered. This from an
Arsenal supporter, as well. Fair Play!
<<<<
Subject: Dennis Viollet
From: stuart@emphasis-inflight.com (Stuart Lawrence)
I've just heard the sad news about the passing of Dennis Viollet.
Sat here in Hong Kong, I watched the United v. Chelsea F.A. Cup match and
wondered why the players were wearing black armbands. It was not explained
by the Chinese commentator.
I attended my first United game in 1966 and so I never saw Dennis play for
us. But I was aware of his abilities and his goal-scoring record. I
believe that he was cruelly undervalued by football fans, writers and
commentators. As a Munich survivor who left the club in 1962, he was
neither canonised like those who lost their lives in the crash, nor part
of the team that went on to achieve so much in the sixties like his friend
Bobby Charlton. Yet his achievements and goalscoring record still stand
the test of time.
Please pass on my condolences to his wife Helen and his family.
Also, please let me know if the Dennis Viollet Fund is still in operation
and if there is any way I can make a small contribution towards the
family's medical bills. I see to recall some prints of Dennis being
available for purchase. Is it still possible to obtain these?
Thank you for your help.
United in grief for the passing of a true great,
Stuart Lawrence
Manchester United Hong Kong Supporters Club Member.
<<<<
From: Michelle Lim
Dennis Viollet
I'm glad I'm on the lists.
If all the information about United I get were only from the papers and the
TV, I would never have known about Dennis Viollet. Time can be cruel, and I
daresay that many people all over the world who used to watch and marvel at
Dennis play don't know that he's now gone.
I'm not old enough to have witnessed the man actually play, but I wish I
was -- his goalscoring record, if anything, speaks volumes for itself.
Being on the lists kept me informed on Dennis' condition, and at least I
knew something about his circumstances. Thanks to Paul for keeping us all
updated, and letting us share his last days -- it was a lovely account.
Kudos too to those of you who tried to get information about the new
experimental drug, even though it didn't help much.
Please let Helen and Rachel know that our thoughts and sympathies are with
them. Even in the midst of match-winning joy and fixture congestion, there
is still place for sobriety and reflection.
Michelle
<<<<
Tribute
http://www.red11.org/mufc/dviollet99.htm
Dennis runs out as Capt at Highbury
Subject: Semi-detached rivals left to rue unwanted extension - By Oliver Holt / Times.
Through gritted teeth and laboured smiles, Alex Ferguson and Gianluca
Vialli paid lip-service to the importance of living to fight another day in
the FA Cup. When they could hide their disappointment no longer, though,
their thoughts wandered to the only team who can still deprive them of a
title that they hold more dear.
By their scowls yesterday, it was clear that they were thinking about
Arsène Wenger cracking open a bottle of fizzy water and toasting his old
sparring partner, fixture congestion. This was the day when the FA Cup
exacted its revenge on Manchester United and Chelsea.
In the past, they have managed to get away with their callous treatment of
the famous old competition, riding along on their pragmatism and their
shadow sides, grabbing late winners or losing gallantly, but always,
always, avoiding that worst of all fates, the Scylla and Charybdis of
modern football: the replay.
Ferguson, in particular, has often joked about his horror of not deciding a
cup-tie at the first attempt, of wild plans to send Peter Schmeichel up
with the forwards for the last five minutes if the match was in the icy
grip of deadlock. The Manchester United manager stopped short of that
yesterday, but, in desperation, he did bring some of the heroes of the win
against Internazionale off the bench for the last 20 minutes of this
quarter-final.
By then, it was too late. The replay will take place at Stamford Bridge on
Wednesday, which means that United have to sacrifice their scheduled FA
Carling Premiership match against Liverpool at Anfield and Chelsea their
game against Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium.
Worse, both sides had a player sent off for two rather innocuous offences,
which means that Roberto Di Matteo and Paul Scholes will miss a game in the
championship run-in.
"We have got fewer games to play than Chelsea and Arsenal," Ferguson said.
"If anything, it is worse for Chelsea than us, because they will find that
their games start to come thick and fast now. Arsenal are the ones who will
really benefit from what happened today. They are probably the favourites
to win the league now."
Vialli agreed. "Both teams could have done without another match and the
winner at the end of the day is probably Arsenal, because now is a very
decisive moment of the season and the fewer matches you play, the better,"
the Chelsea manager said.
That the FA Cup has become something of a frippery was evident when
Ferguson left out Dwight Yorke and Andy Cole, the forwards who have been
terrifying defences from Filbert Street to the Nou Camp, and played Ole
Gunnar Solskjaer as the focal point of an unfamiliar formation that was as
close as United have come to dispensing with their trusted 4-4-2. Somehow,
it all seemed rather half-hearted and conservative. The match itself was
untidy and devoid of fluency.
Phil Neville was used, to good effect, to man-mark Gianfranco Zola and
stifle what remained of Chelsea's creativity, deprived as they were of
Frank Leboeuf, Celestine Babayaro, Dennis Wise and Vialli himself. The
result was a rather tetchy impasse, a game smothered by caution when it
should have been liberated by the abandon of its lowly place in the scheme
of things.
It was typical of the occasion that just when it seemed it might be cut
loose from its bonds shortly before half-time, when Gary Neville had
glanced a fine diving header against the face of Ed de Goey's right-hand
post, it was killed stone dead by the sending-off of Di Matteo for an
ill-judged tackle on Scholes that compounded his earlier mistimed challenge
on Beckham.
It is hard to criticise Paul Durkin, the referee, because, taken
individually, both were bookable offences. There was no malice in either
challenge and common sense should have allowed the Italian to stay on the
pitch. In a refereeing culture where the officials are punished for such
diversions into sentiment, though, Durkin had little option but to
administer the letter of the law.
The same applied to the dismissal of Scholes four minutes from the end for
a similarly innocuous tackle on Goldbaek. By then, the game was all but
over anyway. Chelsea, who managed just one shot on target in the game, a
first-half curler from Morris that was saved easily by Schmeichel, had
decided that a draw was the best they could achieve with ten men and
defended so well that they earned it.
In its pursuit, De Goey and Marcel Desailly were outstanding. The Dutch
goalkeeper made his first important save in the fifth minute, hurling
himself to his right to parry a stinging drive by Keane and then doing just
enough to distract Scholes as he ran on to Beckham's delightful lob over
the Chelsea defence six minutes later. Beckham should have scored himself
five minutes after half-time, but he lifted his shot high over the bar from
ten yards after Scholes pulled the ball back from the byline.
De Goey came to the rescue again in the 58th minute, when Solskjaer's
first-time ball freed Scholes. De Goey managed to block his shot and
Beckham snatched at the rebound and pulled it wide.
Midway through the half, Scholes, whom Ferguson singled out for his
profligacy, put a shot into the side-netting at full stretch and, 13
minutes from the end, De Goey frustrated United one last time, turning
Scholes's touch over the bar after Yorke's attempt at an overhead kick had
cannoned off Le Saux.
Le Saux, by the way, behaved impeccably in the face of the all too
predictable baiting from the crowd. Spare a thought, too, for Beckham, who
was also taunted. He did not fling out his elbows or lose his temper, but
who among the outraged chat-show and phone-in hosts and the new football
intelligentsia will take up his cause?
Dennis runs out as Capt at Highbury
Subject: 365 report MANCHESTER UNITED 0 CHELSEA 0
Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson's attempt to rest
strikers Andy Cole and Dwight Yorke backfired against
Chelsea in the FA Cup quarter-final as he succeeded only in
adding to his side's fixture pile-up.
Even though Chelsea were reduced to 10 men for the entire
second-half, United's profligacy in front of goal and a string
of fine saves ensured that a replay was necessary at
Stamford Bridge on Wednesday.
It was the outcome that neither Ferguson nor Gianluca Vialli
wanted, given that vital Premiership games at Liverpool and
Middlesbrough respectively will now have to be rearranged.
But while a replay was all Vialli could have hoped for after
Roberto Di Matteo's dismissal for two yellow cards, Ferguson
compounded his selection error by bringing Yorke on for just
18 minutes and Cole for a paltry eight minutes.
Meanwhile, if referee Paul Durkin had not seen Graeme Le
Saux's apparent elbow to the head of Robbie Fowler last
weekend at Stamford Bridge, he certainly made up for it at
Old Trafford.
For Ferguson's misery in a largely disappointing game was
compounded four minutes from time when Paul Scholes
became the second player to be dismissed for a second
booking.
United did create and waste several clear-cut chances, with
Scholes and David Beckham the main culprits, but Chelsea
defended with vigour and rugged determination in the
second period.
The Blues had a burning desire to set the record straight
after a 4-0 FA Cup Final defeat in 1994, a semi-final
elimination two years later and a 5-3 humiliation last year in
the third round at United's hands.
Although being without Gianluca Vialli, Frank Leboeuf,
Dennis Wise and Celestine Babayaro through suspension,
one glance at the United team-sheet must have given them
instant confidence.
Not only were Yorke and Cole on the bench but Ole Gunnar
Solskjaer was up front on his own, Ryan Giggs was also out,
Jaap Stam banned and Ronny Johnsen injured - a shadow
even of the side which beat Fulham in the last round.
Jesper Blomqvist and Beckham attempted to support
Solskjaer, while Scholes also pushed forward and placed a
hurried effort wide early on as he just beat Ed De Goey to a
through-ball, while the keeper also parried a drive from Roy
Keane.
Chelsea, with Gianfranco Zola being man-marked by Phil
Neville, were completely shorn of invention and were playing
far too predictable high balls up to Tore Andre Flo.
They did manage to create their only chance of the first-half
on 37 minutes when the industrious Jody Morris placed his
shot far too close to Peter Schmeichel from the edge of the
penalty area.
However, that simply sparked United into life, with Beckham
finally managing to find the space to whip in a cross
reminiscent of the lethal deliveries with which he destroyed
Inter Milan in midweek.
Gary Neville got the slightest of touches on the ball at the
near post but it ran across the face of goal, rebounded off
the far post and was cleared to safety.
Then Blomqvist escaped the attentions of Albert Ferrer on
the left and Keane left his cross to Scholes, who lamely
mishit his volley off target.
As United pressed again, Scholes turned instantly and Di
Matteo came flying in to tackle the spot where the ball had
been - connecting only with the midfielder's legs.
It was not vicious or pre-planned but referee Durkin was
technically correct in sending off the Italian, who had earlier
been booked for a foul on Beckham.
Within five minutes of the restart, the England midfielder
was presented with a clear-cut opening virtually on the
penalty spot but he spooned it horribly over the bar.
Chelsea, with Eddie Newton on for Petrescu, were
momentarily rattled and Le Saux promptly gifted possession
to Blomqvist, who ran menacingly forward and beat De Goey
with a powerful drive but also the far post.
Still United's chances came and went. Keane hit the
side-netting and Scholes had a golden chance from
Solksjaer's intelligent pass only for De Goey to pull off a
spectacular reaction save.
A cross from Solskjaer caused mayhem, Gary Neville drove
wide, Scholes half-volleyed off target but still Chelsea held
on.
Then Ferguson bowed to the inevitable and introduced
Yorke for Phil Neville with 18 minutes left, finally relieving
Solskjaer of his lone role.
The former Aston Villa striker was immediately in the thick
of the action, crossing for Scholes to head straight at De
Goey and then forcing the keeper into an acrobatic tip over
the bar from an overhead kick.
A free-kick from Zola did cause Peter Schmeichel a moment
of consternation but it was almost completely one-way traffic
and the Italian was substituted for Andy Myers with 11
minutes left as Chelsea were forced to look for a replay.
That was exactly what United did not want, and Ferguson
threw on Cole and Teddy Sheringham, for Solskjaer and
Blomqvist, on 82 minutes.
Their cause was hardly helped when Scholes was also
dismissed with four minutes left for his second yellow card, a
late tackle on Bjarne Goldbaek to follow a first-half foul on
Dan Petrescu.
United did win a flurry of late corners, with Sheringham and
Yorke both seeing efforts blocked, but Chelsea's impressive
defence held on.
And so the two sides, who have not been separated in three
meetings this season, prepare for the replay at Stamford
Bridge. Some penalty-taking practice would be advisable
this week.
MAN UTD & CHELSEA PLAYER RATINGS
MAN UTD
PETER SCHMEICHEL: The Dane was a spectator for most of
the game. 6.
GARY NEVILLE: Played more as a wing back after Chelsea
were reduced to 10 men
and increased United's attacking options down the right. 7.
DENIS IRWIN: With little threat coming from Bjarne
Goldbaek, he was able to
push well forward in the second half. 6.
HENNING BERG: Jaap Stam was hardly missed after another
commanding display
from the Norwegian at the heart of United's defence. 7.
WES BROWN: Looked solid and composed in his first game
in his natural
centre-half role. 7.
PHIL NEVILLE: Kept Gianfranco Zola reasonably quiet in his
role as man marker
for the Italian before he came off. 7.
ROY KEANE: Lost his cool once in the first half and was
booked, but drove
United on. 6.
DAVID BECKHAM: Fatherhood has clearly not affected his
crossing. 7.
JESPER BLOMQVIST: Flitted in and out of the game on the
left wing. 6.
PAUL SCHOLES: Did not have his best day in front of goal
before he was sent
off near the end. 6.
OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER: Led United's attack very well as
their lone striker
against the formidable presence of Marcel Desailly. 7.
SUBSTITUTES:
DWIGHT YORKE (for Phil Neville, 72 minutes): Threatened
with one overhead
kick, but little else. 6.
ANDY COLE (for Blomqvist, 81 minutes): Did not have
enough time to make a
telling contribution. 5.
TEDDY SHERINGHAM (for Solskjaer, 81 minutes): The
fit-again striker went close
with one shot past the post. 6.
CHELSEA
ED DE GOEY: Made a couple of crucial saves to keep
Chelsea in the tie. 8.
DAN PETRESCU: Poor game from Chelsea's stand-in skipper
before he was replaced
at half-time. 5.
MARCEL DESAILLY: Enjoyed a fine tussle with Solskjaer and
was reasonably
solid. 7.
BERNARD LAMBOURDE: The stand-in did a decent job
alongside Desailly. 7.
BJARNE GOLDBAEK: Produced very little down the right. 6.
GRAEME LE SAUX: Relatively quiet game from the England
international with no
Robbie Fowler to bicker with this week. 6.
ROBERTO DI MATTEO: Needlessly got himself sent off just
before half-time for
his second bookable offence. 6.
ALBERT FERRER: Fine defensive display from the Spaniard
when Chelsea needed it
most. 7.
JODY MORRIS: Good display was marred by one missed
chance in the first half.
7.
TORE ANDRE FLO: Disappointing display from the Norwegian
who got little change
from United's makeshift defence. 5.
GIANFRANCO ZOLA: Was shackled for most of the game by
Phil Neville and only
showed glimpses of his immense talent. 6.
SUBSTITUTES:
EDDIE NEWTON (for Petrescu, 45 minutes): Played his part
in the Blues
rearguard battle. 6.
ANDY MYERS (for Zola, 79 minutes): Helped keep United at
bay when he came on
for the final push from the home side. 6.
Referee: Paul Durkin: Officiated to the very letter of the law
in his sendings
off of Di Matteo and Scholes. 6.
Dennis runs out as Capt at Highbury
Subject: Fergie's magic moments - Guardian
"These are the golden moments in a football year," said Alex Ferguson,
accepting the invitation to briefly relive Wednesday's triumph over
Internazionale before considering the small matter of Chelsea in today's FA
Cup quarter-final. "That sort of form and a result like that only does good
for you."
If United go into this afternoon's match in half as good heart as their
congenially smiling manager, Chelsea had better look out. For the past few
months Ferguson and his players have been under the sort of stifling
pressure only the game's highest achievers would know about; not just
because of all the daft criticism over squad rotation and a cavalier
attitude towards the domestic cups, but because they too must have been a
little bit worried that Inter - on the face of it a better side than either
Dortmund or Monaco - would prove similarly adept at exposing United's lack
of European savvy.
There is still time for that to happen of course, and Ferguson is
absolutely right in stressing United are not out of danger yet. Even so,
Chelsea may find their opponents breathing a little easier this afternoon.
Wednesday night went a long way to proving United actually are as good as
they think they are. Liverpool and Newcastle, who complete a daunting trio
of domestic fixtures before the return in Milan next week, should also be
worried about facing a side whose customary self-belief may now know no bounds.
Which is not to say United might not be tired against Chelsea, or that
Ferguson intends to field the same team. He will have to replace both
centre backs in any case, since Jaap Stam is suspended and Ronny Johnsen
injured, and there is probably a case for bringing in Jesper Blomqvist to
rest David Beckham or Ryan Giggs on one of the wings. But there is no
question whatsoever of Ferguson sending out a side which suggests the FA
Cup is peripheral to the club's priorities.
"You can take a few risks in early rounds," he explained. "Sometimes you
get away with it, sometimes you get caught like we did against Barnsley
last year. But if you are playing at home in a quarter-final, and you are
playing against Chelsea, that sets its own agenda. I've got to play a team
that's capable of winning."
Somewhat cynically, Ferguson suggested that once you get this close to
Wembley it is worth trying your hardest to get there, but though one could
hardly expect the FA Cup to top the Old Trafford wanted list this season,
there is no doubt this most traditional of managers retains a strong
affection for the first trophy he won in English football. "It is a
fantastic competition, and getting to Wembley is still a big, big incentive
for any footballer," he said. "People might think we have moved on to
bigger things, but we have players like Dwight Yorke, Jaap Stam and Jesper
Blomqvist who would love to get to Wembley. Any player would hate to go
through his career at United and not get a taste of an FA Cup final."
Should United still be in both cup competitions in May, Ferguson's Wembley
line-up should be interesting for an FA Cup final which takes place just
four days before the Champions League climax in Barcelona, but at this
stage that is far too fanciful a scenario. "We are not out of the woods in
Europe yet, there is still a big job to do in Milan," Ferguson warned.
"Things can happen in Italy that can amaze you, I think English teams have
suffered badly in second legs there over the years, either in not getting
refereeing decisions or in seeing decisions go against them. We know that,
but the important thing is I think we are strong enough to handle it.
There's no doubt they will be desperate to get Ronaldo back in, but that
might not be as simple as it sounds. We will have to show courage in the
San Siro, but Inter will have to deliver in front of their own fans, and
that will put them under a lot of pressure. We will need a sensible, mature
performance, keeping possession while offering a counter-attacking threat,
and the more experienced players like Roy Keane, Peter Scmeichel and Denis
Irwin could have a vital part to play for us."
Schmeichel, not forgetting his goal-line insurance man Henning Berg, has
already played a vital part in the tie. But for two magnificent second half
saves and Berg's dramatic clearance, United would not be in such chipper
mood today. "I thought that was a goal," Ferguson confessed. "When I saw
Schmeichel beaten I assumed that was it." A 2-1 result - and Inter could
hardly have come any closer - and it would have been the Italians outlining
their plans for surviving the second leg.
"The result was even more pleasing than the performance," Ferguson said.
"We can play better than that, but the main thing is we've got them on the
back foot. Inter knew, coming away from Old Trafford on Wednesday, that
they have a mountain to climb now, and that's good. We've given ourselves a
great chance."
Indeed they have, and instead of bemoaning the absence of goals in the
second half, we should admire instead a job well done in European terms.
United would happily have settled for 2-0 in advance, they did not show the
Italians too much respect, and rather than conceding an early goal they
scored one of their own to open up the game. There seems no reason to doubt
Ferguson's assertion that United can score and survive in Milan, and no
question of taking it easy in Cup or Premiership in the meantime.
"I'll be operating my pool system with even more conviction now," Ferguson
said. "Any changes against Chelsea will reflect the enormity of the Milan
game and the fact that we play Liverpool in three days time. We can't
afford any mistakes in the league. It a very close run affair with Arsenal
and Chelsea, and I don't think we can surrender ground."
Dennis runs out as Capt at Highbury
Subject: Van der Sar offers United bait ««
Ajax's giant 'keeper Edwin van der Sar has reportedly opened the door for
Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson to bring him to Old Trafford as Peter
Schmeichel's long term replacement.
The stopper has constantly been linked with the switch to Manchester United
but it was feared that the keeper did not want to leave Amsterdam, where he
is contracted until 2003.
However, the 28-year-old Dutch regular is now thought to be seriously
considering a future outside Holland when the current season ends.
Van der Sar was targeted by European Cup holders Real Madrid last month,
but the Spaniards have now sacked their former Dutch national coach Guus
Hiddink, so that avenue now appears to be closed for the lanky stopper.
Ferguson is now said to be considering a £6million move after watching the
keeper in action last weekend when he flew out to watch his son Darren in
action for Sparta Rotterdam against Ajax.
With the current season now entering it's final leg, Ferguson will have to
consider whether to make his move for van der Sar sooner rather than later
with Peter Schmeichel's Old Trafford exit drawing imminently closer.
Dennis runs out as Capt at Highbury
Subject: Chelsea thoughts (reps/pics) by Boon Wee
Allo all,
As usual, the reports and pictures will be up at
http://members.xoom.com/heathens/mufc.html
..Half time whistle blown, the United team walked into the dressing room
and took up their positions. Ferguson went on giving his usual half time
"let's speed the game up" speech, at the same time, he throws each of the
player a can of Pepsi, asking each of them to focus at the game. All the
guys caught their Pepsi and when it came to Schmeichel, he dropped it. "I
was only joking", he said as he walked out for the second half...
That, incidentally was a Pepsi advertisement shown on our local television
station. It looks quite new, Yorke was in it. It was pretty funny,
especially when Schmeichel got his stick from Ferguson. Top stuff. Anyway,
back to the match..
Not surprisingly, Ferguson changed the line-up of the team after
Wednesday's Inter game. Out went Stam (suspended), Yorke, Cole, Giggs and
Johnsen (injured). In came Brown, Solskjaer, Blomqvist and Phil Neville. It
was understandable when the game wasn't flowing in the first half. Apart
from a couple of shots, it was hardly exciting. Gary Neville's header (from
a Beckham cross) hit the upright towards the end of the half. Phil had
scored against Chelsea before, it was a pity that Gary could not. Chelsea
were lucky then. Only Durkin (the ref) was "up" for the game, he gave away
numerous yellow cards and gave two red along the way too. He sure was
feeling generous today.
Keane was pushing his luck with his constant argument with Durkin in the
11th minute. Keane was already booked prior to that but he just went on and
on. Fortunately, Durkin kept his red card intact. Desailly, Scholes, Matteo
and Matteo were also booked. Of course, Matteo's name being typed twice,
was sent off just before half time. Better still, Petrescu went off injured
before Matteo's sending off. It all looked good for United.
As usual, United came out looking like a different team from the first
half. Chelsea had lost their shape. Scholes in the second half alone, could
have scored more than five goals. His shots were either wide or were saved
by De Goey. Solskjaer, Beckham, Blomqvist and Keane took turns to test
Chelsea's defence but nothing gave. Vialli removed Flo and injected in the
kid Forssell, not much impact too. With ten minutes to go, Vialli decided
that he had seen enough to be sure that Chelsea will hold on to the draw,
he took Zola off. In came Myers, still United pushed on. No matter what
United tried, there was always De Goey and blue shirts all over the box.
Yorke, Cole and Sheringham were all out on the field trying to do an
Arsenal (scoring on the 89th minute i.e.). Sheringham had his try blocked.
It was Teddy's favorite set piece but still no luck.
Before the end of the game, Durkin decided to go for parity when he sent
Scholes off for his second offence. There was no chance that United will do
a miracle now. Sure enough, Durkin blew for the final time shortly after.
So the replay will be at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday. The game against
Liverpool will be pushed behind yet again. Fergi is going to complain about
fixture congestion soon.
Overall, Brown performed really well at the back. He is definitely going to
be a big star in no time. Blomqvist showed his confidence when he took on
the defence over and over again. It was unfortunate that his long range
shot missed the target, De Goey hardly moved then. Beckham looked rather
quiet compared to Wednesday, he must be a tired lad. Keane (my M.O.M) was
his usual self, fiery and strong. He owned the mid field in the game.
This wasn't United best game, but they had the chances to prevent the
replay. But as Wenger said, you can't score all the time. Yorke and Cole
(assuming being rested for the Liverpool game) should be back for the
replay. Chelsea will be back to full strength too. It is going to be
another smashing game. It's a tough tough month for United.
"We shall not be moved.."
Finally, deepest condolence to Dennis Viollet's family and friends.
Boon Wee
Dennis runs out as Capt at Highbury
Subject: WINNER TIPPED TO LIFT THE TREBLE BY LIVERPOOL LEGEND NEAL
By Ian Cruise
MANCHESTER UNITED and Chelsea both remain on course to complete the treble
after yesterday's 0-0 draw at Old Trafford in the quarter-finals of the FA
Cup. For one of them, the dream will die in the replay at Stamford Bridge. Only
Liverpool, in 1984, has ever won three trophies in a season. But one of the
stalwarts of that team has confessed to Football365 that their unique record is in
real danger.
Former Anfield full-back Phil Neal was part of the side that won the League Championship,
the European Cup and the League Cup 15 years ago. And he feels that whoever comes
through the quarter-final clash of the titans could go on to get their hands on three
pieces of silverware.
United have their sights set on the European Cup, while Chelsea are chasing the Cup
Winners' Cup to go with the Premiership and FA Cup titles that both sides crave. Neal
told 365 yesterday: "It's a tall order, but I believe both are capable of winning a treble.
You have to have very, very good fortune and everything has to go for you, but the
players will certainly feel it can be done. I know exactly how the players at both clubs
will be feeling. They will be thinking about it and they will want it. They will want to train
and to play, and they won't be able to wait for the next match, no matter who the
opposition is. They will feel they can beat anyone. It wouldn't surprise me if one of
them won all three trophies."
The danger for either side is that a season currently bursting with promise could end in
bitter disappointment. United found that out last season when they were chasing glory on
three fronts at the end of February but ended up with nothing.
"The quarter-finals and semi-finals of the European and FA Cups do
tend to come at the same time and if things go against you, you can
find yourselves out of two competitions in quick succession," said
Neal. "Obviously, being knocked out of one can lead to a knock-on
effect and throw your whole season off course. You have to be wary
of focusing too much on one to the detriment of the others.
"But as I say, the more success you have, the more you want. Once
you've achieved something one year, you want to repeat it the next.
That's what we're seeing with Arsenal at the moment. They did the
Double last season and obviously want to retain both trophies. They
will be a huge threat to the ambitions of both United and Chelsea."
Dennis runs out as Capt at Highbury
Pic Link today is http://www.red11.org/mufc/dviollet99.htm
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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
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by 
William
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