www.red11.org DAILY NEWS
Date: Sat 11 Dec 1999 24:54 GMT
Mail: barry@www.red11.org
This Issue:
1. Result Manchester United Reserves Scarborough 1 Manchester United Res 2
2. Keane deal puts - United on another level
3. Have a Trebley Christmas - from www.red11.org
4. Old Fart/David Sadler Video's available now
5. United eye Portugal star Vitor Baia
6. Envy Keane? He's worth five of me says Neville
7. Rivaldo pips Beckham to European crown?
8. Why dis-United FA Cup will never be the same
9. Peter Reid believes the FA Cup has been devalued
++++++=========+++++++========+++++++++========++++++++
MANCHESTER UNITED DAILY NEWS Sat 11th Dec 1999:
Webmaster Comment:
No football weekend as far as Manchester United are concerned?
So the FA CUP is a phenomenom of the past for REDS.
This will be a funny/weird day!
* If you have an article for this MUFC Daily News bulletin
please mail it to Thanks!
*** Remember our December Competition!
To enter first download 1 meg here
http://www.red11.org/mickz/mufc_snow.exe
Lets see how far us REDS can get, I already made it to Level 2
Proof here: http://www.red11.org/mickz/level2.jpg
The best 3 efforts will win a copy of the NEW book
"European Glory" by RED NEWS edited by Barney Chilton
Eyewitness Accounts of United's 1968 & 1999 European Triumphs
A book celebrating the amazing events in the Nou Camp on May 26th - retails at £7,95
Enties to the competition must include an attched screen pic as proof of
your efforts mail to barrylee@post3.tele.dk GOOD LUCK Comp closes 24th Dec 1999
----------------------
If I Die In The Stretford End - scoreboardpaddock@manutd.com
Alex Hulme/Manchester/England
Made by a Manc for Mancs "If I Die In The Stretford End" is for Match Going REDS.
URL:
Taken from The Worldwide Manchester United Fans Webring - 400+ RED sites!
http://www.webring.org/cgi-bin/webring?ring=manufan;list
* UK TV info: BBC TO COVER UNITED'S BRAZIL MISSION
The BBC will broadcast live coverage of Manchester United's World Team
Championship challenge in Brazil.
Champions League Url: http://www.red11.org/champ
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
1999/2000 UEFA Champions League Second Group-Match Stage - Group B
Group B P W D L F A Pts
Fiorentina AC 2 1 1 0 2 0 4
Manchester United 2 1 0 1 3 2 3
Valencia CF 2 1 0 1 3 3 3
Bordeaux 2 0 1 1 0 3 1
Second stage Euro Draw GROUP B
Manchester United Valencia Bordeaux Fiorentina
Tues Nov 23 Fiorentina v Manchester United 2-0
Valencia v Girondins Bordeaux 3-0
Wed Dec 8 Girondins Bordeaux v Fiorentina 0-0
Manchester United v Valencia 3-0
Wed Mar 1
Group B: Manchester United v Girondins Bordeaux
Group B: Fiorentina v Valencia
Tues Mar 7
Group B: Girondins Bordeaux v Manchester United
Group B: Valencia v Fiorentina
Wed Mar 15
Group B: Manchester United v Fiorentina
Group B: Girondins Bordeaux v Valencia
Tuesday, March 21
Group B: Fiorentina v Girondins Bordeaux
Group B: Valencia v Manchester United
FINAL Group D P W D L F A PTS
Manchester United FC 6 4 1 1 9 4 13
Olympique de Marseille 6 3 1 2 10 8 10
SK Sturm Graz 6 2 0 4 5 12 6
NK Croatia Zagreb 6 1 2 3 7 7 5
*******************************
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
*** RESULTS AND ATTENDANCES ON 06/12/99 ***
Tottenham Hotspur 0-0 West Ham United 36,233
*** CONDENSED LEAGUE TABLE AS AT 06/12/99 ***
Pos Team P W D L F A GD Pts
---------------------------------------------------------
1 Leeds United 17 12 2 3 30 19 11 38
2 Manchester United 16 11 3 2 40 21 19 36
3 Arsenal 17 11 2 4 31 16 15 35
4 Sunderland 17 10 4 3 31 17 14 34
5 Liverpool 17 9 3 5 24 14 10 30
6 Leicester City 17 9 2 6 26 23 3 29
7 Tottenham Hotspur 16 8 3 5 25 20 5 27
8 West Ham United 16 7 4 5 17 14 3 25
9 Chelsea 15 7 3 5 21 15 6 24
10 Middlesbrough 17 7 3 7 21 24 -3 24
11 Coventry City 17 5 6 6 23 18 5 21
12 Everton 17 5 6 6 25 27 -2 21
13 Wimbledon 17 4 8 5 27 29 -2 20
14 Newcastle United 17 5 4 8 28 30 -2 19
15 Aston Villa 17 5 4 8 14 19 -5 19
16 Southampton 16 4 5 7 20 25 -5 17
17 Bradford City 16 3 4 9 13 25 -12 13
18 Derby County 17 3 3 11 15 29 -14 12
19 Watford 17 3 2 12 13 33 -20 11
20 Sheffield Wednesday 16 1 3 12 14 40 -26 6
*** TEAM STATISTICS - MANCHESTER UNITED - AS AT 04/12/99 ***
AVERAGE HOME ATTENDANCE: 55,171
HIGHEST HOME ATTENDANCE: 25/09/99 - Southampton (55,249)
LOWEST HOME ATTENDANCE: 11/08/99 - Sheffield Wednesday (54,941)
BEST WIN: 11/08/99 - Sheffield Wednesday (4-0)
30/08/99 - Newcastle United (5-1)
04/12/99 - Everton (5-1)
HEAVIEST DEFEAT: 03/10/99 - Chelsea (0-5)
BEST HOME WIN: 11/08/99 - Sheffield Wednesday (4-0)
30/08/99 - Newcastle United (5-1)
04/12/99 - Everton (5-1)
BEST AWAY WIN: 22/08/99 - Arsenal (2-1)
25/08/99 - Coventry City (2-1)
11/09/99 - Liverpool (3-2)
20/11/99 - Derby County (2-1)
HEAVIEST AWAY DEFEAT: 03/10/99 - Chelsea (0-5)
NEXT MATCHES
---------------------------------------------------------------
18-DEC-1999 [15:00] Manchester Utd. vs West Ham (FA Premier League, AWAY)
26-DEC-1999 [15:00] Manchester Utd. vs Bradford C (FA Premier League, HOME)
28-DEC-1999 [20:00] Manchester Utd. vs Sunderland (FA Premier League, AWAY)
06-JAN-2000 [18:15] Manchester Utd. vs Necaxa (World Club Championship, AWAY)
Current Injuries Possible return
Jesper Blomqvist ankle early Dec
Ronny Johnsen knee January
Wes Brown knee August
*** 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 Testimonial Home F L 2-4 LEGENDS 54,842
13/10/99 Aston Villa Away WC3 L 0-3 - 33,815
16/10/99 Watford Home PL W 4-1 2 55,188
19/10/99 Marseille Away EC L 0-1 - 57,745
23/10/99 Tottenham Hotspur Away L 1-3 3 36,072
27/10/99 Croatia Zagreb Away EC W 2-1 - 30,000
30/10/99 Aston Villa Home PL W 3-0 2 55,211
2/11/99 Sturm Graz Home EC W 2-1 - 53,745
6/11/99 Leicester City Home PL W 2-0 1 55,191
20/11/99 Derby County Away W 2-1 1 33,370
23/11/99 AC Fiorentina Away EC L 0-2 - 40,000
30/11/99 Tokyo Palmeiras N WCC W 1-0 - 53,372
4/12/99 Everton Home PL W 5-1 2 55,193
8/12/99 Valencia CF Home EC W 3-0 - 54,606
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"
pp 3/01/2000 Middlesborough Home PL ??? *No new date yet
pp 27/11/1999 Sheffield Wednesday Away PL ??? *No new date yet
****************************************************
JAN 05-14 Brazil WTC [3-4 games]
----------------------------------------------------
06/01/2000 Necaxa (Mexico) Neut WTC 16.00
08/01/2000 Vasco da Gama (Brazil) Away WTC 16.00
11/01/2000 South Melbourne (Australia) N WTC 16.00
Final? 14/01/2000
****************************************************
15/17? /01/2000 Leeds Away PL 15.00
24/01/2000 Arsenal Home PL 20.00 "live on sky"
5/02/2000 Coventry City Home PL 15.00
12/02/2000 Newcastle United Away PL 15.00
26/02/2000 Wimbledon Away PL 15.00
1/03/2000 FC Girondins de Bordeaux Home EC 19.45
4/03/2000 Liverpool Home PL 11.30 "live on sky"
7/03/2000 FC Girondins de Bordeaux Away EC 19.45
11/03/2000 Derby County Home PL 15.00
15/03/2000 AC Fiorentina Home EC 19.45
18/03/2000 Leicester City Away PL 15.00
21/03/2000 Valencia CF Away EC 19.45
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
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
24/05/2000 ? EC Final
http://www.red11.org/mufc/match.htm
++++++=========+++++++========+++++++++========++++++++
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Result Manchester United Reserves Scarborough 1 Manchester United Res 2
TWO cracking goals from Mark Wilson and Erik Nevland helped United reserves
to come from behind against Scarborough at the McCain Stadium last night.
United slipped behind on the half-hour to a Steve Brodie goal in a match
staged as part of the arrangement that will see Boro's 16-year-old
goalkeeper James Jowsey move to Old Trafford next summer.
Wilson put the Reds on terms in the 37th minute with a 30-yard screamer
after meeting a cross from defender Danny Higginbotham. And Nevland grabbed
the winner in the closing stages with a fierce drive after sweeping past
Boro defender Shaun Rennison.
Quinton Fortune and David Healy both went close for United and Michael
Twiss looked certain to score with a 30-yard shot, but substitute 'keeper
Kevin Martin just managed to get his hands to it.
Reds defender John O'Shea was involved at both ends of the field in the
last couple of minutes, almost increasing the lead one moment and seconds
later heading off his own line from Darren Roberts.
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Keane deal puts - United on another level
10 December
Players' chief Gordon Taylor believes Roy Keane's new contract underlines
the widening gap between Manchester United and the rest of the country.
The Republic of Ireland international has signed a new four-year deal,
reported to be worth #50,000-a-week with the European champions.
But the Professional Footballers Association chief executive insists there
should be no danger to the game as long as clubs weigh up their finances.
"It would be wrong to say we're fearful for the game - unless the club
hasn't retained an objective judgment," said Taylor.
"In this case, it was a judgment that the club could afford. It is an
indication that they are going for the major trophies.
"I think Alex (Ferguson) would have given a welcome sign to their
opposition that they were prepared to lose one of their best players. It
would have sent out the wrong message.
"Bearing in mind they were going to lose him for nothing at the end of the
season, you have got to weigh up what it would cost to replace him."
Taylor sees more contract wrangles on the not-too-distant horizon at Old
Trafford at least.
He said: "There will be other top quality players at United who will be
knocking at the door. So there will be serious discussions with lots of
their other stars.
"On the other hand, United's balance sheet shows that players' wages are
certainly at a very manageable income for the money they are bringing in."
(c) Copyright Press Association Ltd 1999, all rights reserved.
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Have a Trebley Christmas - from www.red11.org
Latest cartoon from Nick Oldham at The Theatre Of dreams!
Index click on at
http://www.red11.org/mufc/images/nick_oldham
http://www.red11.org/mufc/images/nick_oldham/trebley_good_xmas.jpg
Index of /mufc/images/nick_oldham
Name Last modified Size Description
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Parent Directory 09-Nov-1999 13:03 -
jaap_xmas.jpg 10-Dec-1999 09:22 69k
mariah_cracker.jpg 10-Dec-1999 09:22 34k
nicky_xmas.jpg 10-Dec-1999 09:22 71k
trebley_good_xmas.jpg 10-Dec-1999 09:22 126k
yorkie_xmas.jpg 10-Dec-1999 09:22 71k
xmas_passion.jpg 10-Dec-1999 09:21 198k
becks_xmas.jpg 10-Dec-1999 09:21 69k
gary_xmas.jpg 10-Dec-1999 09:21 68k
phil_xmas.jpg 10-Dec-1999 09:21 68k
schmikes_xmas.jpg 10-Dec-1999 09:20 80k
keano_xmas.jpg 10-Dec-1999 09:20 68k
sheri_christmas_full..> 02-Dec-1999 14:34 86k
sheri_christmas.jpg 02-Dec-1999 14:33 36k
sheri_christmas_tin.jpg 02-Dec-1999 14:33 9k
united_world_cracker..> 30-Nov-1999 09:07 62k
united_world_cracker..> 30-Nov-1999 08:43 120k
RED sky at night UNITED delight
barrylee@post3.tele.dk
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Old Fart/David Sadler Video's available now
All "Pete" Audio Video files available here:
click on links at http://www.red11.org/sound
DETAILS - REAL VIDEO FILES x 2
2.55meg Dec 10 1.44 pete_mutv.rm
MUTV Pete Hargreaves phone in with Davis Sadler
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443k Dec 10 18secs mutv_winner_99_pete.rm
MUTV Pete Hargreaves a winner!
download video:
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-------------
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Pete Hargreaves first phone in on MUTV - Real audio
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United eye Portugal star Vitor Baia
Bosnich blow as United eye Portugal star
By John Edwards
Mark Bosnich may have seen off the challenge of Massimo Taibi, for the time
being at least, but his position as Manchester United's first-choice
goal-keeper remains under threat.
Taibi's retreat to his native Italy, with his reputation in tatters and
pride badly mauled, was viewed by many as evidence that Bosnich had finally
won a protracted battle to establish himself as Peter Schmeichel's
long-term successor.
But while the £4.5million signing from Venezia attempts to repair his
shattered morale, after turning to his original goal-keeping tutor in
Naples, United's other summer arrival has yet to convince Sir Alex Ferguson.
Soccernetcan reveal that the vexed problem of finding a worthy replacement
for Schmeichel is still being addressed and that Portugal's Vitor Baia is
the latest candidate to come under review.
Sources at Porto, where Baia is on loan from Barcelona, have disclosed that
United were represented at last month's Champions League match with Real
Madrid and that enquiries were made about his availability.
The 29-year old is committed to remaining at Porto for the rest of this
season but will be made available by Barcelona next summer.
That would suit Ferguson, who is in no hurry to bring in a new face but
wants to be certain in his own mind that he has resolved the matter once
and for all in time for the start of next season.
Bosnich recently admitted he had struggled to meet Ferguson's exacting
standards in the wake of his Bosman free transfer from Aston Villa and
suffered another setback last Saturday when he hobbled off against Everton
with his second hamstring injury of the campaign.
Baia was taken to Barcelona from Porto by Bobby Robson. He rated him as the
best goalkeeper in the world and made an enquiry soon after his appointment
as Newcastle manager. Barcelona will ask £3.5m for Baia, a fee beyond the
means of Porto, the Portuguese champions.
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Envy Keane He's worth five of me says Neville
Matt Lawton
Roy Keane is used to being described as the new Bryan Robson, taking over
from his United predecessor as the finest midfielder in Europe. For years
his performances have attracted such praise, and with some justification.
Sir Alex Ferguson once said Keane was someone he felt privileged to work
with, a player who did not need his managerial guidance. Yet the tribute he
has received from Gary Neville, his Manchester United team-mate and an
England international, is perhaps the most glowing of all.
Such is the respect for Keane within the Old Trafford dressing room that it
seems unlikely he will be able to sense even the slightest hint of
resentment or jealousy after signing a new £12million contract that makes
him the highest-paid player in the Premiership.
Superstars they all may be, but when it comes to their captain they all
recognise his special qualities, so much so that Neville says he would not
be the least bit bothered if Keane was paid five times his own salary.
In an era when football is dominated by agent-driven players demanding as
much as the next man, it was an extraordinary thing to say. And for a
celebrated European Cup winner to make such a statement was remarkable
indeed.
"Roy is more important than any other player at this club," said Neville
after the emphatic Champions League victory over Valencia on Wednesday that
had begun with the announcement that Keane was remaining at United for
another four years.
Neville added: "That has been signalled by events over the last five or six
months, and that is why the club went to such extreme lengths to keep him.
If it was myself or any other player at the club, then the battle for a
signature would not have been so intense.
"We are talking about the most influential player in the team, the one who
is feared most by our European rivals, and if he was now earning four or
five times more money than me he would deserve it.
"He is more important than I am, so he deserves whatever he is getting."
That must be music to the ears of the United board, but whether it turns
out to be the case and individuals like David Beckham, Ryan Giggs, Jaap
Stam and Paul Scholes do not request financial parity with Keane when their
contracts are next up for discussion remains to be seen.
But Neville believes his skipper's decision to stick around and hopefully
steer the side to yet more silverware should at least ease the fears
regarding one particular issue.
There was some concern that if Keane had gone, other key players might have
followed, but Neville said: "Giving Roy this contract is a massive move for
the club, because it would have been a huge loss if he had left us. The
fact that he has signed has given everyone a tremendous lift. He is the
heart of our team and it means the team stays together.
"Some great players have left here down the years, but if Roy had moved on
I think it would have been very hard to replace him."
Keane and his London-based lawyer, Michael Kennedy, knew that from the
moment negotiations began at the beginning of last summer. It was the ace
they held up their sleeve from start to finish.
When it came to the crunch, United simply could not afford to lose him
because even if it proved possible to find a replacement, it would have
cost the club far more than £12m.
"Over the last few months I have had to look at my options," said Keane.
"But my priority was always to stay at United. This is where my heart is,
and Manchester is where my family are happy.
"But the contract had to be right and as soon I was offered what I felt I
deserved it was quite easy to sign.
"It wasn't all about money, whatever people might think. My happiness is
worth a great deal, and I am driven more by success on the pitch than
anything else. And I believe this team can remain at the top and win more
trophies. If I didn't I would not have signed.
"If money had been the only motivation, I would not have joined United
seven years ago, I would not have signed a new contract three years ago,
and I would be leaving this year.
"Don't get me wrong. I've done well in these negotiations and United have
come up with the big bucks when they needed to. But it is the challenge of
the next four years that excites me.
"At 28 I am coming to my peak and I want to be remembered, when I finally
hang up my boots, in the same class as someone like Bryan Robson. That's my
aim. It's not in my make-up to walk away."
Even though it seems difficult to imagine United refusing to pay Beckham
whatever it takes to keep him for the remainder of his career - he is
expected to sit down in the summer when his current deal will still have
two and a half years to run - Keane suspects the events of the last few
months will not be repeated at Old Trafford for a while.
"I don't think United will now start to throw money around willy-nilly," he
said. "They will still be a bit wary of doing that, so I can't see what
happened to me occurring here again.
"I was in a very strong position. When I snapped my cruciate ligament two
years ago everything was put on hold and suddenly I was just a season away
from a free transfer.
"It's unlikely another first-team player will find himself in that
situation again."
If Neville is right there will not be any complaints either from the rest
of his team-mates - but we will just have to see about that.
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Rivaldo pips Beckham to European crown
By John Drayton
Rivaldo has beaten David Beckham in the battle to be crowned European
Player of the Year, according to reports from Spain last night.
Rivaldo, who guided Brazil to the Copa America and Barcelona to the Spanish
league title, was reportedly told of the honour by organisers France
Footballbut there has been no official word on who will take the award on
Tuesday week.
Beckham sits out third round FA Cup action today after Manchester United's
withdrawal but Watford boss Graham Taylor fears the Treble-winners may have
set the trend.
'The FA Cup still has the same attraction for me. It will be the last cup
final to be played at Wembley for a while,' said Taylor, whose team face
Birmingham at Vicarage Road today.
'It's a shame the holders are not in it, it doesn't seem right. The
European scene is taking over and we are finding that the FA Cup is being
affected and we'll see this all change.
'Football has changed radically over the last 10 or 15 years and will
continue to do so. You're now talking about 17 games to win the European
Cup. If that's not a league I don't know what is.'
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Why dis-United FA Cup will never be the same
By Ken Lawrence
David Beckham will probably be minding the baby while his wife Victoria is
out at work today, but he certainly won't be taking little Brooklyn out for
a quick spin in the car.
Roy Keane will have the time to think about all the money he'll earn from
his new contract. A spot of Christmas shopping, perhaps?
Sir Alex Ferguson, if he can't actually watch one of his horses running at
Haydock, is likely to be glued to Channel 4 Racing. Well, Grandstand's
hardly worth watching these days.
The Neville brothers would have headed for Gigg Lane to watch their first
love Bury had there been a game - though such is their addiction to
football they will be tempted by Bury's under-19 and under-17 matches
against Bolton Wanderers.
Wherever they might be, the one thing none of the Manchester United players
will be doing is playing in the third round of the FA Cup.
For the first time since the war last year's winners of the world's oldest
cup competition will not be involved.
Whether any of the United players will realise at the stroke of 3pm that
they should really be somewhere else is open to question - though several
of them did voice the opinion that they would far rather be defending the
trophy than sitting idly by while another team profits by their loss.
The real pain will be felt around the country - and not only among the
legions of United fans who, despite the furore they kicked up over United's
withdrawal from the competition, were ignored at Old Trafford, Westminster
and Lancaster Gate.
Today, the full enormity of United's withdrawal will hit home harder than
one of Keane's tackles. No Manchester United, no dreams of visiting Old
Trafford for the likes of Rushden and Diamonds.
Even for the squads of the glamour clubs such as Chelsea, Arsenal or
Liverpool, no chance of pitting themselves against the best team of the
decade, the side with a record 10 FA Cup wins.
Even if one of those clubs were to triumph at Wembley next May, there will
be a hollow ring to the victory. Spiteful or jealous supporters of other
clubs can forget salivating at the prospect of seeing their heroes put one
over on the club so many love to hate.
Match of the Day won't be the same. The TV videprinters, while they will
chatter out a few shocks, will not relay to a waiting nation that United
are out of the cup or through to the next round. Simply because they are
not in it.
It can only get worse. The history, the legend of the FA Cup will be
irrevocably altered from today. It can never be the same again.
There will be a void and, in 100 years time, football's historians may tell
the generations of the future that something wonderful died on Saturday
December 11 1999.
Arthur Albiston, who won the old trophy three times with United, said
sadly: 'Only now will the realisation that the club are not involved really
kick in.
'The supporters will be tuning in to Match of the Day, watching all the
drama and the heroics, and there will be a void for them.' As the
competition progresses,
memories will come flooding back of United's exploits last season. When we
reach the semi-finals what United fan will fail to remember Ryan Giggs'
fantastic solo goal in the replay against Arsenal or Peter Schmeichel's
wonderful penalty save against Dennis Bergkamp?'
United have generated a million memories in the FA Cup. Remember Kevin
Moran becoming the first player to be sent off in an FA Cup final in 1985?
Or the debacle of defeat at Bournemouth?
Or the post-Munich reserve team who lost to Bolton Wanderers at Wembley
when Nat Lofthouse charged survivor Harry Gregg into the net?
There will be no such memories generated this year, no stories of heroism
either for United or against them.
On the busiest FA Cup weekend of the year, the most eagerly awaited by all
who dream of glory, the sound of silence at Old Trafford will be deafening.
What a tragedy.
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Peter Reid believes the FA Cup has been devalued
Reid: United have no excuses
Carl Liddle
Peter Reid believes the FA Cup has been devalued by the absence of
Manchester United and the club has no excuse not to be involved.
Sunderland manager Reid feels United, who take part in the World Club
Championship in Brazil next month, have a big enough squad to cope with
both competitions
He said: "What United do is their business but I've no doubt they should be
in the FA Cup."
Reid has no time for the excuses made by the FA in excluding United,
saying: "I hear talk about congestion and how it is hard on players with
the amount of games they play. But if you are successful then you play many
games - remember we have bigger squads now."
Reid is also annoyed with the FA at bringing forward the third round to
this weekend from its traditional first week in January in order to ease
congestion as Euro 2000 approaches.
Reid, whose side begins its campaign at home to Portsmouth on Saturday,
said: "The FA Cup still has that magic - it is the best one-off
competition, even though the FA has indirectly devalued it.
"I'm a traditionalist and for me third-round day should be the first week
in January.
"I would be happy if there were still third or fourth replays to ties and
they did not have to be settled by penalties."
Reid, meanwhile, dreams of leading Sunderland out at out at Wembley in the
last FA Cup final before the stadium is rebuilt.
"The first Wembley final involved Bolton, one of my old clubs, so to end
the sequence with Sunderland would be a dream come true," he said.
Club captain Kevin Ball, whose move to Fulham was completed this week, left
with the message that the Wearsiders can go from strength to strength.
He said: "The progress they have made in my 10 years at the club has been
tremendous and I just want that success to go on and on. Peter Reid has
done a great job and the squad is getting stronger all the time."
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