www.red11.org DAILY NEWS
Date: Wed Oct 13 GMT+00:00 1999
Mail: barry@www.red11.org
This Issue:
1. A secret well kept -Personal Report by OUR SALFORD LASS,
2. Kids get call: Curtis, Wilson, Chadwick, Greening, Wallwork, O'Shea and Clegg
3. UNITED SEEDED IN BRAZIL
4. MEN - Oh what a Knight for United boss
5. BECKHAM HAPPY AT UNITED
6. NO GOING BACK FOR SCHMEICHEL
7. FERGIE'S EUROPEAN CUP OF CHEER
8. Wanted: A safe pair of hands - Jim White in the Guardian
9. FERGIE SWOOPS FOR NEW 15-year-old 'KEEPER
++++++=========+++++++========+++++++++========++++++++
MANCHESTER UNITED DAILY NEWS Wednesday 13th Oct 1999:
Barry Comment:
Well tonight we are off again, MATCH NIGHT with a RESERVE team in WC v Villa!
Enjoy another tremendous SALFORD LASS reports as article nr1 in todays bulletin.
PAUL HINSON comment: Fergie's Big Night Out
Having shared in the Wizard's tribute night, didn't the sight of the 'Dream Team'
strolling on remind you how privileged we have all been to see some of the
greatest players in the world in the past ten years under his guidance?
Could there be anyone who bleeds the RED of United more than Sparky?
What a man. Robbo. What an inspiration. Will we ever have a better pairing
at the back than Dolly and Daisy? I know we will never sign a better goalie
than Schmeichel. Will Dwight ever score as often as Sunbed? Was Sharpie
sold because of the increasing drug-testing?
Was the team of '94 better than the team of '99? A recurring question.
Without the restrictions on non-Englishmen would they have lifted the
European Cup?
The final poser as we filed out of the stand was, how does anyone follow
Fergie in the hot seat?
Paul
*** MANCHESTER SENIOR CUP
Manchester United Reserves will play Manchester City Reserves in the
Manchester Senior Cup to be played at Gigg Lane, Bury on Thursday 28th
October, kick off 7 p.m.
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
*** PREM FIXTURES ON 16/10/99 ***
Arsenal v Everton
Coventry City v Newcastle United
Derby County v Tottenham Hotspur
Leeds United v Sheffield Wednesday
Leicester City v Southampton
Liverpool v Chelsea
Manchester United v Watford
Wimbledon v Bradford City
*** FIXTURES ON 17/10/99 ***
Middlesbrough v West Ham United
*** CONDENSED LEAGUE TABLE AS AT 04/10/99 ***
Pos Team P W D L F A GD Pts
---------------------------------------------------------
1 Leeds United 10 7 1 2 19 12 7 22
2 Manchester United 10 6 3 1 23 15 8 21
3 Sunderland 10 6 2 2 18 8 10 20
4 Chelsea 8 6 1 1 15 3 12 19
5 Arsenal 10 6 1 3 13 9 4 19
6 Everton 10 5 2 3 16 10 6 17
7 Leicester City 10 5 2 3 17 13 4 17
8 Aston Villa 10 5 2 3 11 9 2 17
9 West Ham United 8 5 1 2 11 6 5 16
10 Tottenham Hotspur 9 4 2 3 16 14 2 14
11 Middlesbrough 10 4 0 6 11 15 -4 12
12 Liverpool 9 3 2 4 10 10 0 11
13 Southampton 9 3 2 4 16 19 -3 11
14 Coventry City 10 2 3 5 12 14 -2 9
15 Watford 10 3 0 7 6 11 -5 9
16 Derby County 10 2 3 5 10 18 -8 9
17 Wimbledon 10 1 5 4 14 23 -9 8
18 Bradford City 9 2 2 5 4 13 -9 8
19 Newcastle United 10 2 1 7 20 23 -3 7
20 Sheffield Wednesday 10 1 1 8 8 25 -17 4
---------------------------------------------------------------
NEXT MATCHES
---------------------------------------------------------------
TONIGHT [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)
27-OCT-1999 [19:45] Manchester Utd. vs NK Croatia (UEFA Champions 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 testimonial Home F L 2-4 [RED LEGENDS]
Tonight 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
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|
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Subject: A secret well kept -Personal Report by OUR SALFORD LASS,
There was no sign earlier in the evening that this was going to turn out to
be so special. Going to Old Trafford on the bus, I met a fellow Imusa
member and we chatted about general United-related topics - the players,
the injury crisis, the upcoming game. Most of the regulars we knew had
decided not to bother for this one and this was apparent as we arrived on
Sir Matt Busby Way to find it crammed with "first-timers" - taking photos,
holding the kids up to see the new stand and asking the way to the stadium
(I kid you not!). After having a chat with Barney (who wasn't moaning for
once!) and picking up my copy of the new book (a must-buy - it's wonderful)
I headed off into the stadium nice and early to soak up the atmosphere. I
know that these occasions are often disappointments and that managers and
players are over-paid already these days, but I was as excited as a little
kid at the thought of not only paying tribute to the man who has brought us
the success we now take for granted, but also at seeing Eric again. It
doesn't matter to me whether he's fat and slow these days, it's Eric and
I'd pay to see him grace the green turf of OT even if he were too fat to
lace his own boots!
As I arrived, there was a five-a-side going on between the Street team and
the Stadium team. Not Coronation St as I first thought - it's not my
fault, they always have these bloody things in front of the Stretford End
so I can't see what's going on! It turned out that these two teams were
kids representing the charity to which some (all?) of the money raised by
the match is going - it's called Streets to Stadium and is about funding
sports facilities for local kids - what a pity the papers didn't bother to
mention that this morning when they quoted Fergie as having earned a "cool
£1 million, tax free". Sir Alex Ferguson has been a massive supporter of
local childrens' charities in and around Manchester, something for which he
seldom receives the credit he deserves and, I suspect, as important in the
decision to award him his knighthood as his exploits in football - but I
digress. The game ended 2-1 to the Street team and the boys and girls were
applauded off the pitch.
At that point, it appeared that my evening was about to be spoilt as a
party of four scousers turned up behind me. Screaming down my ear in that
awful twang, dropping their fag ash down my back and gesticulating madly
(calm down, calm down!), it was like a scene from the Harry Enfield show
and I was rapidly getting totally pissed off. It was impossible to ignore
them and I was having major problems trying to figure out exactly what was
going on. One had a United shirt on, so presumably was a United fan. One
professed himself a Chester fan, and one didn't seem to have any allegiance
at all. But the fourth one? The devil incarnate - a Liverpool fan! At
first I thought "Oh dear" (or words to that effect) as he phoned his mate
on his mobile and loudly informed him what a "s..t heap" OT was. It was
still fairly early at that point and there weren't too many people around,
so as long as I managed to keep my temper, he was safe. Then, just as I
was about to explode the players came out and he was like a awe-struck kid
- pointing out the United players and getting so excited I thought he was
going to wet himself. He was particularly excited about seeing Becks and
Scholes and I was muttering a chorus of "Argentina" under my breath. As
time went on I realised that he might call himself a Liverpool fan, but
this lad had never been inside Anfield and had no idea about what being
either a Liverpool fan or a United fan meant. At that point the
son-and-heir arrived, the place started to fill up and him (and his daft
mate who had been to watch Chester play once!) became minor irritants,
rather than a real pain in the arse.
The Rest of World team arrived on the pitch quietly. Peter was first on to
a standing ovation from those of us already in the stadium. He came to our
end and enjoyed himself trying to score goals and conversing with East
Stand. The son-and-heir had to be held back otherwise he might have made a
fool of himself by begging the Big Dane to come back to us! Then we
realised that whilst we had been watching Peter, Eric had quietly come onto
the pitch and was standing right in front of us - a little plump maybe
(though nothing like as fat as the pictures in the papers this morning make
him look) but still the imperious Eric we know and love. After dragging my
eyes away from Eric and Peter, I looked around the pitch and there was Fat
Lad looking leaner than I've seen him in years (honest!), Weah looking
massive, and West with his hair blue rather than green! Then the real
excitement - the Sausage Man arrived! He proceeded to entertain us with
tales of his gardening exploits (which he seems to prefer to football these
days!) and a three-legged mole (I've been in touch with the RSPCA, and they
will be around in the morning Alan!).
The players went off and the opera singer from Salford (Russell somebody)
came on and sang Barcelona. The son-and-heir gave his (unwanted) opinion
that people from Salford had no right to become posh things like opera
singers whilst I just thanked Eric that it wasn't Mick Hucknall again.
Then some Irish guy, who was introduced as a friend of Fergie's (but I
believe to be Keith Fane's Irish cousin) decided to spoil the atmosphere by
playing daft music, very loudly, so that we couldn't welcome the players
onto the pitch in our own way - why do they do it? Do they know we hate
it? Perhaps we should all write and tell them. Anyway, each United player
was introduced, then the Rest of the World team, and they lined up either
side of the tunnel. There was some disappointment that Eric wasn't in the
starting line-up but that was soon forgotten as the great man himself, Sir
Alex Ferguson appeared to the sound of 55,000 people cheering and clapping.
Unfortunately that was the last bit of excitement for some time. The game
started, the atmosphere died and it was all rather tedious! Where we were
sitting, there were virtually no regulars, it was all tourists -with their
cameras and their megastore bags, they sat in silence staring at the pitch.
There seemed to be plenty of action to our right, where they seemed to be
having a good time, but we three were the only ones singing in our section
and when a woman behind us laughed out loud at one chant cos there was
swear word in it, I began to wonder why we were bothering - it was
embarrassing. At least against Wimbledon the Wombles were singing up in L
Stand! On the pitch, they were taking it much too seriously. We didn't
want a serious game, we wanted a bit of fun, a bit of a laugh. Schmeichel
did the odd run downfield which livened things up a bit, but he must have
been thinking to himself "nothing's changed here then!" as he stood in
front of a very quiet East Stand - so quiet indeed, that I heard every
crunch of the popcorn from the scouser behind me! Things livened up a bit
when Eric came out to warm up, over to our left, and there were choruses of
"Ooh Aah Cantona", the "The twelve days of Christmas" and "What a friend we
have in Jesus" but few joined in around us .
Vialli had been getting booed (in jest I assure you, he was enjoying every
minute of it) and of course he just had to score! A chorus of "Fergie,
Fergie, sign him up" came from our right. Then not too long after that (I
can't remember exactly when because the Sausage Man was telling his tale of
the mole) a lovely move down towards the goal in front of us saw (Cole?)
pass the ball to Phil Neville on the wing, he crossed it to Teddy and Teddy
scored passed Peter. As Peter was picking the ball out of the back of the
net scowling (friendly? what's that?) Teddy jumped on his back and they
both ended up grinning as we cheered. Then Eric came on at last and that
livened things up still further as we were at last able to worship at the
shrine again (the Sausage Man had such a big grin on his face, I thought he
was thinking about his little furry friend in the garden, but he was just
pleased to see the King).
Half-time gave Bosnich what he has been waiting for - his chance to show
what he can do ……… in a penalty shoot-out where a fan won a shirt signed by
the Rest of the World team. I thought this meant he would come on for the
second half but he never appeared again - even I'm beginning to feel sorry
for the poor b.....d! Joe Kinnear drew the half-time lottery ticket and
then it was back to the game and huge disappointment - no Eric!! We'd been
looking forward to seeing him playing towards our end but after about 20
minutes on the pitch, it seemed he'd had it. Peter had also not
re-appeared, but he had a more than capable deputy in Olmeta who carried on
where he left off last time, dancing for the Stretford End, making runs
downfield and encouraging the crowd to inform Fergie how much we needed him
to "sign him up". We found ourselves booing our own players when they
tackled him and thwarted his ambition to score at least one goal! Careca
scored a cracker down our end and then Scholes scored up the other end and
there were constant substitutions as players came and went. All the action
seemed to be going on up the other end and we were moaning about the
atmosphere in general and the fact that Eric seemed to have disappeared,
when (about 15 minutes before the end) the fourth official held up the
board yet again.
We couldn't believe our eyes - the board said 11, twice! What? Perhaps we
were substituting one number 11 with another number 11? But no, the
announcer said "all the players from the Rest of the World side please
leave the pitch." As they trooped off, going over to Fergie to shake his
hand and then heading off straight down the tunnel, no-one in the stadium
could figure out what was going on. I thought perhaps the eleven players
from the first half were coming back on again, but there were no Rest of
the World players in sight - just the eleven United players in red (plus
Gazza hiding over in the corner, who didn't want to come off!) For a few
minutes there was confusion and then the announcer asked us to welcome
their replacements - "First in goal and No 1: Peter Schmeichel". Then,
"No. 2 : Paul Parker". And at "No 3 : Clayton Blackmore". Then the truth
started to dawn. I held my breath - it wasn't really going to be the lads,
not really? But it was - we welcomed onto the pitch Stevie Bruce, Gary
Pallister, Darren Ferguson, Lee Sharpe. By this time I was like a kid
going to see Father Christmas. With every name, I was getting more excited
and jumping up and down (embarrassing the son-and-heir in the process). By
the time he announced the name I had been waiting for - "Mark Hughes" - I
was beside myself, with unashamed tears in my eyes and a grin on my face
only bettered by the one that was there on the 26th May. The whole stadium
roared "Hughesie, Hughsie". But the best was yet to come as the announcer
brought on the "three number 7's". First the familiar figure of Becks, but
then Robbo and Cantona. All around us eyes and faces were shining as the
legends of the first Championship winning side lined up once more in United
shirts. OK, some of them were overweight and unfit, but who cared - this
was something we thought we'd never see again and was the perfect end to an
evening dedicated to our Fergie.
Most of our first team players had gone off the pitch and the United side
was predominantly made up of youngsters. These youngsters were then
embarrassed by the other United side who proceeded to run rings around
them. Eric almost scored and then I thought I'd died and gone to heaven as
Sparky (the best player on the pitch) scored right in front of me. I have
tears in my eyes now as I think of that moment - my Sparky, scoring for
United again, in front of the Scoreboard - absolute bliss. And then a few
minutes later, he scored again, doubling my excitement and winning the game
4-2. There were plenty of laughs as Brucey went in goal and Schmeichel did
his best to score but it was all over too quickly and it was with enormous
regret that we heard the referee blowing his whistle.
Once the game had finished, with "his" players on the pitch alongside him,
Fergie paraded the European Cup and then did a short walk around the pitch,
applauding the crowd, after thanking the fans, the players and the club.
It seemed fitting that the Rest of the World players had gone and left him
with the team that started it all, the team that if there was any justice
in the world would have won the European Cup themselves. Fergie had the
last word when he said how lucky he was to have worked with "his lads" and
what a fine bunch of players they were. The 93 team came into the middle
of the pitch and applauded the crowd and then we applauded them off for the
last time. Like in Barcelona, the game had been nothing special, but the
last 15 minutes - a time I will remember all my life. A time to relive old
memories, celebrate our achievements and say goodbye (at last) to that team
that meant so much to all of us. I was privileged to be there but just
have one question still nagging at me this morning - how did they keep it a
secret?
Copyright OUR SALFORD LASS, 1999
No part of this work to be used without the author's permission
|
Click On pic - for all latest pics from OT |
Subject: Kids get call: Curtis, Wilson, Chadwick, Greening, Wallwork, O'Shea and Clegg
Kids get call for Villa ««
Young guns Curtis, Wilson, Chadwick, Greening, Wallwork, O'Shea and Clegg
are all set to start tomorrow's Worthington Cup clash at Aston Villa.
Alex Notman and Erik Nevland could also find themselves with parts to play
on the night, as Sir Alex Ferguson sticks with his policy of giving players
on the fringe of the first team picture the opportunity of facing top class
opposition.
There is a slight question mark over Wilson's inclusion, after he picked up
a hamstring strain in training yesterday but, subject to a late fitness
test, he remains a likely starter.
Of the experienced first team brigade, only Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Jordi
Cruyff, Phil Neville, Denis Irwin and Mickael Silvestre are being
considered for selection.
However Ferguson is keeping everyone guessing as to which of his three
international goalkeepers will start in goal for United.
Ex-Villa stopper Mark Bosnich is favourite to start his first senior match
since he limped out of the mid-August win over Leeds United, although the
United boss may elect to spare the Australian the inevitable abuse from the
home crowd who idolised him until his move to Old Trafford last summer.
Massimo Taibi could see a call-up as a demotion after a recent series of
high-profile blunders, while Fergie could elect for the safe option of
handing the number one shirt to Rai van der Gouw - United's regular
goalkeeper in this competition over the years as Peter Schmeichel's deputy.
|
Click On pic - for latest interviews from OT |
Subject: UNITED SEEDED IN BRAZIL
Manchester United will be kept apart from Real Madrid when the draw is
made for the FIFA World Club Championship on Thursday.
Showing a predilection for forward planning that would surely bemuse the
authorities at UEFA, the world governing body have said United and Real
will be in different groups as will the two Brazilian sides Corinthians and
Vasco da Gama.
FIFA spokesman Andreas Herren said: "The seedings have yet to be
determined, but it is my understanding that the two European teams and the
two South American teams will not be in the same groups."
The remaining three confirmed teams are Oceania Champions Cup holders South
Melbourne, Asian Super Cup winners Al-Nassr of Saudi Arabia and CONCACAF
Champions Cup winners Rayos del Necaxa of Mexico.
The eigth and final place will be taken by Africa's representative in
December.
The tournament runs from January 5th-14th, with all the matches being
played in Rio's Maracana stadium - which makes Wembley look like soemthing
out of the 21st century - and the 80,000-capacity Morumbi stadium in Sao
Paulo.
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Subject: MEN - Oh what a Knight for United boss
Oh what a Knight for United boss
By Stuart Mathieson
WHAT A KNIGHT . . . Sir Alex Ferguson parades the European Cup last night
SIR Alex Ferguson thrust the European Cup into their air at Old Trafford,
his Manchester United Dream Teams paid tribute as 54,842 fans stood in
acclaim.
Was there a prouder man around last night?
For 22 minutes Fergie's contribution to the club's history was there for
all to see as Cantona, Schmeichel, Bruce and Pallister mixed it with Yorke,
Cole and Stam.
The soccer riches on display in a surprise finale was testimony to the
United manager's impact in the 90s.
A veritable Who's Who of Manchester United legends he created replaced the
Rest of the World XI en-masse in a 68th minute switch which astonished Old
Trafford.
Fergie was watching 13 years of trauma and triumph in front of him as the
leading men he chose to fashion United's glories paid homage to him.
It was the emotional climax to a glittering night for Fergie.
The lucrative benefit match will net him and local charities a shared pot
of around £1m with more to come when his testimonial season kitty is
finally totted up.
But last night the money was judged well spent by those who chose to cram
the Theatre of Dreams for a manager who has made that commercial title for
the stadium a justified one.
The dreams have become reality during Fergie's tenure and they turned up in
force to say ``Thank You.''
Not unexpectedly it was a strolling showpiece with the inevitable
sprinkling of humour and tricks thrown in to entertain.
The clowning came once again from French goalkeeper Pascal Olmeta who
illuminated the Munich Memorial match 15 months ago with his eccentricity.
Villain for the night was Chelsea boss Gianluca Vialli who added to United
fans wounds from the 5-0 Stamford Bridge defeat by stroking in the first
goal after some Weah and Cafu magic in the 11th minute.
Brazil's 1990 World Cup striker Careca may be pushing 40 but he showed a
neat turn of pace to slip behind United's defence to put the visitors back
in front.
The match was dying on its feet, despite Olmeta's best efforts, when the
organisers pulled out their ace.
Gazza didn't appear to be in on the surprise and seemed reluctant to leave
as his team-mates trooped off down the tunnel.
But he eventually departed and Schmeichel returned to the action after his
interval substitution along with Paul Parker, Clayton Blackmore, Steve
Bruce, Gary Pallister, Darren Ferguson, Mark Hughes, Lee Sharpe and the
`Magnificent Sevens' Cantona, Bryan Robson and David Beckham the men who
had exclusive use of the number 7 shirt in Fergie's time as United boss.
It was a tremendous moment and the old boys - plus Beckham - won their
segment 2-1 largely thanks to a trademark stunner from Sparky in the 75th
minute, another from the Welshman before Paul Scholes pulled one back.
Finally, the stirring apt anthem from Star Wars belted out as Sir Alex
Ferguson took his bow amid a tumultuous show of gratitude.
Giggs could be on his way back
RYAN Giggs is back on course for a first team return after a 35-minute run
out in Sir Alex Ferguson's testimonial match, writes STUART MATHIESON.
The Welsh winger was eased back into the action against the Rest of the
World XI and could be set for another outing this week.
The Reds could add to Giggs' comeback minutes at Villa Park on Wednesday in
United's Worthington Cup match against Aston Villa.
Or Fergie may prefer more training and then consider the 25-year-old for
another work-out against Watford in the Premiership at Old Trafford at the
weekend.
``It showed last night that Ryan needed games but it was a start for him,''
said the Reds' boss.
Giggs has been sidelined with a hamstring injury since mid-September when
he pulled up against Wimbledon at Old Trafford.
Captain Roy Keane returned to training yesterday following his three week
rest due to a knee injury.
The Irishman hasn't played since United's Champions' League victory in
Austria on September 22 against Sturm Graz after a specialist ordered him
to take a break in a bid to clear the knee trouble.
The Reds will discover their World Club Championship opponents for the
inaugural FIFA tournament in Brazil in January on Thursday.
The draw for the eight team nine-day competition in South America will be
made in Rio de Janeiro in the morning.
Seven of the competing teams are now registered with FIFA.
United, as European Cup winners, have been joined by Real Madrid (last
season's Intercontinental Cup winners), Al Nacre from Saudi Arabia (Asian
champions), Mexican side Nevada (Concacaf representatives), Australian's
South Melbourne (Oceania), current holders of the South American equivalent
of the Champions' League Vasco Da Gama from Brazil and Corinthians of Sao
Paulo.
Africa's representatives have not yet been nominated by their federation.
United and Real Madrid as European representatives will be kept apart in
the draw for the opening two groups of four as will the Brazilian
representatives from Vasco Da Gama and Corinthians.
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Subject: BECKHAM HAPPY AT UNITED
Daily Mirror fiction dept staff
David Beckham has assured Manchester United that he wants to carry on
playing for them.
The England star had to clarify his position after rumours that wife
Victoria - pop star Posh Spice - wanted him to find a club in London.
But Beckham knocked the stories and insisted his wife is happy in the North,
while admitting he does not want Victoria to feel a backlash from United
fans.
Beckham said: "I don't want to be anywhere else. I'm happy and my wife is
happy" he said as Arsene Wenger and George Graham dashed across the
road, wishing not to be spotted with a large suitcase of money.
"People are always going to say that I'm unhappy with things and also that
Victoria chooses what I wear and what I do with my hair and what I eat. But
it's a lot of rubbish. Just because she dresses me, feeds me and reads me
a story at bedtime the press get the wrong idea. Last night's story was
'London - The Best Place To Live" he confessed, glancing at glossy
property guides in the Mayfair area.
"Victoria's happy up here. We're living as a family and she could not be
more pleased. She loves the people up here, their Black Pudding, the
constant rain, Dwight on the blower all the time wanting a night out".
"I want everyone to know that. I don't want her not being able to go to Old
Trafford and watch me play. She appreciates that I need to live where my
fans are, it's just that she reckons most of them live in the smoke. She
told me she would work hard at settling in the North, well maybe Islington
at a pinch."
The stories of Beckham's glamour lifestyle and its effect on his career have
been growing in recent weeks.
Beckham was in trouble for going out with his wife to a fashion show during
the seond half of a Champions League game, bringing a club fine.
And he was back in London last week when he was supposed to be getting
treatment for an injury after pulling out of the England squad due to a strained
credit card.
The fact that Victoria wanted him to move to London in the past can hardly
be disputed. She mentions it to him every ten minutes.
Beckham claimed his family get on well with Victoria's parents, despite
rumours of Victoria's parents calling Ted Beckham "Old Steptoe". And he said
the birth of son Brooklyn has not helped him grow up. "I still throw the dummy
out of the pram when refs don't see me being fouled"
"Victoria wants me to be happy and play for the best team in the world, as
long as they have a London postcode"
© PA Sporting Strife
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Subject: NO GOING BACK FOR SCHMEICHEL
By David Anderson, PA Sport
Peter Schmeichel has ruled out returning to Old Trafford to solve
Manchester United's goalkeeping crisis.
The Treble winners have struggled to replace Schmeichel since he joined
Sporting Lisbon on a free transfer in the summer.
His initial replacement, Mark Bosnich, was quickly discarded after picking
up an injury while Massimo Taibi, who joined in a £4.5m move from Venezia,
has made a series of blunders.
No doubt many United fans will wish the Danish international still played
for them when he lines up in goal for the World XI in Sir Alex Ferguson's
testimonial.
But Schmeichel, who is not having the best of times in Portugal, insists he
would not come back even if United asked him.
"It's unrealistic to put me in connection with United," Schmeichel told the
Manchester Evening News.
"They haven't contacted me and if it happened I'd tell them that I am not
at all interested in reviving my eight years at the club. I cannot help
United any more."
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Subject: FERGIE'S EUROPEAN CUP OF CHEER
Sir Alex Ferguson has softened since his early days at Manchester United
when he struck fear into the heart of every young apprentice, claims Phil
Neville.
These days it is the United manager's reputation rather than his actions
which have them quaking in their muddy boots.
Speaking ahead of Ferguson's testimonial match at Old Trafford on Monday
night, Neville said: "I read stories from when Bryan Robson was here and
Steve Bruce when he used to be throwing tea-cups and everything.
"I've not seen him do that for a long time. When I was an apprentice
everyone was scared of him. It was like being at school - whenever your
headmaster walked into the room you'd sit up straight."
United and England star Neville will line up against a World XI including
Peter Schmeichel and Eric Cantona for the benefit match.
Neville has no doubt about whom he can thank for the success of his
glittering career.
"Along with my dad, he's been the most influential person in my career,"
said Neville.
"When he says he values you it makes you feel special. It makes you feel 10
feet tall.
"He makes all the players feel like that; everyone wants to play for the
boss. Whenever he goes out in public whatever has been said in the dressing
room stays in the dressing room.
"He backs his players to the hilt in public and to the press, and that's
why he's got so much respect within the game and from within the club
because he'll die for his players."
Alongside Schmeichel and Cantona, Zinedine Zidane, George Weah and Gabriel
Batistuta will also be playing.
Another star from Serie A expected in Manchester is Roma's defender Antonio
Carlos Zago, and there are reports that Ferguson is interested in signing
the Brazilian.
Meanwhile, United's former youth coach Eric Harrison - who takes huge
credit for boosting Ferguson's fortunes by creating a production line of
youth talent from Norman Whiteside to Wes Brown - agrees with Neville that
few people deserve a rare managerial testimonial more than Ferguson.
"I was at the club when he arrived," said Harrison.
"He came through the door like a whirlwind. The first talk he had with the
players was in the gym, and he must have mentioned the word 'winners' a
dozen times. They knew exactly where they stood as far as the boss was
concerned."
Harrison, who now heads the Manchester United youth academy in tandem with
his role assisting Mark Hughes as manager of Wales, added: "He's always
very positive and tells you what he thinks.
"If I mention a player to him and he doesn't like him, he'll just say 'no,
no, no'. You can speak your mind, and we've had differences of opinion in
the past - but I always felt I could tell him what I thought.
"When he gets into work every morning I'm only just getting out of bed.
Everybody at Old Trafford wants a winner, and we've got one here in the boss."
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Subject: Wanted: A safe pair of hands - Jim White in the Guardian
Jim White Tuesday October 12, 1999
Perhaps the most telling moment in Massimo Taibi's short, ill-starred
Manchester United career came right at its beginning. Not half an hour into
his debut, playing away at Anfield, Taibi came out for a cross he should
have left, missed it and gifted his opponents an equalising goal.
Sensing the new man's discomfort in the immediate aftermath of his blunder,
Tony Coton, United's goalkeeping coach, decided a few calming words would
be appropriate. But Taibi doesn't speak any English and Coton's grasp of
Italian is on a par with Alan Shearer's acquaintance with humility. So he
sought out Taibi's interpreter and asked what the Italian for "never mind
son" was.
The interpreter told him, helpfully writing it out phonetically on a piece
of paper. Coton then sprinted from the dug-out and yelled the phrase at his
keeper. Judging by the look on his face, however, Taibi could not
understand a word he was saying.
It is probable that, a month into his sojourn in the Premiership, Taibi now
has a grasp of two important English words, which have been repeated in his
presence wherever he has gone: dodgy and keeper. But the communication
problems evident on that first outing have had profound effects on United's
defence.
Against Chelsea in their last league outing, they played like five men who
hadn't a clue what anyone was saying. In front of the Italian Taibi were a
Frenchman (Mikael Silvestre), a Norwegian (Henning Berg), a Dutchman (Jaap
Stam) and an Irishman (Denis Irwin). If they exchanged three words together
for the entire game, the television cameras missed them. With the silence
deafening, with no Roy Keane to protect them and with Taibi playing like a
startled rabbit, it was possible to watch collective confidence packing its
bags and looking for a new home.
When, at the beginning of last season, Peter Schmeichel announced that the
pressures of the Premiership were too much and he wanted to leave for the
quieter climes of Portugal, where he could spend more time with his
paying-in book, it was clear Sir Alex Ferguson had a problem.
Schmeichel would not be easily replaced. His contribution to Ferguson's
reign of triumph was almost as big as his own hands. Not just a
shot-stopper and organiser of the defence, he brought a presence that
achieved an extraordinary alchemy on the field; he could drain confidence
from his opponents and at the same time instil it in his team-mates. It was
a trick that won trophies.
And that was what Ferguson needed to replace. In January Martin Edwards,
the United chairman, thought he had solved his manager's problem when he
secured the services of Mark Bosnich. The Australian was still under
contract with Aston Villa, but his deal would run out in the summer and
under the Bosman ruling he could look for a new employer six months before
it ended. Edwards was particularly pleased with his arrangement. Here was a
youngish keeper with several years Premiership experience and - best of all
for the business end of United plc - he didn't cost a penny.
Ferguson, though, was unconvinced. He had known Bosnich as a young player
at Old Trafford, before work-permit problems forced his return to
Australia, and he was worried an ego that had swollen to the size of a
basketball in the meantime would not fit well into his ruthlessly
authoritarian regime.
His initial misgivings were not helped when Bosnich, who had clearly
enjoyed his six-month lay-off as his contract petered out at Villa, arrived
for pre-season training overweight and nowhere near match fitness.
Moreover, Bosnich made it clear he did not much care for United's training
methods and preferred to do things his own way.
When he pulled a hamstring against Leeds in his fourth game in United's
colours, Ferguson acted quickly. He paid Venezia £4.5m for Taibi, a player
he had been tracking for a while and a big, strong keeper he likened to
Schmeichel. But when Taibi's registration for Champions League matches was
fouled up, it was not the fit-again Bosnich who stepped in, but the veteran
Dutchman who had understudied Schmeichel for years, Raimond van der Gouw.
The snub to Bosnich sent out important signals: to Edwards, reminding him
who was in charge of footballing matters at Old Trafford and to other
players about what happened to those who challenged the boss's methods. A
decision was made to sell the keeper as soon as the six-month period
designed to stop profiteering from the Bosman ruling had elapsed.
The plan, though, hit a problem. Taibi turned out less the new Schmeichel
than the new Paddy Roche, the hapless Irishman who replaced Alex Stepney
for a while in the 70s and is now the butt of Tommy Docherty's after-dinner
speech. Whereas Schmeichel kept four clean sheets in his first four games
for the club, Taibi conceded 11 goals. It is not the worst sequence in
United history (a certain Ronnie Briggs - not to be confused with the
train-robber - let in 14 in three games in 1961) but it is close.
Taibi's problem is not so much statistics as the fact his first-night
nerves have continued long into the run. At Liverpool, after his early
aberration, he played very well, apparently overcoming the debutant
jitters. But his howler against Southampton's Matthew Le Tissier (feebly
blamed on the wrong kind of studs) suggested a pattern, confirmed by his
mistakes for at least two of the goals against Chelsea. Worse, the errors
and misunderstandings were creeping forward through a defence in urgent
need of the absent Gary Neville's organising voice.
The other big difference with his predecessor is that whereas Schmeichel
came into a team only beginning to take shape as a force, Taibi arrived
into a side at its peak, where every sign of fragility is seized upon by
critics and rivals desperate for intimations of decline. Such a harsh
spotlight grants little room for the one luxury the Italian needs: time.
Three months into his defence of the treble, Ferguson has a choice of
goalkeepers few managers would envy. One with confidence resembling a
colander, a second unlikely to sweat blood for the cause after so public a
snubbing and a third who, while willing, is ageing and ultimately limited.
His choice for tomorrow night's Worthington Cup tie with Aston Villa, not
usually a competition that Ferguson charges with meaning, could take on new
significance.
In the meantime, virtually every young keeper on the continent is rumoured
to be a United target, from the 17-year-old Dane Jimmy Nyelsen, to the
19-year-old Norwegian Espen Johnsen. But the one every United fan wants
appears to have flown away forever. Schmeichel may not be having the best
of starts with Sporting Lisbon, criticised as he was for errors in his
club's 3-1 Uefa Cup defeat against Viking Stavanger. And he may have made
an appearance at his former home last night for Ferguson's lucrative
testimonial. But he gave not a hint of a return.
"I have no regrets about leaving Old Trafford because I am now seeing my
family more than I was ever able to in Manchester and they are enjoying the
life," Schmeichel said. "No matter what has happened, coming to Lisbon has
been a good choice for me."
It doesn't require an interpreter to untangle the meaning in that.
Manchester United - The Legend - http://manunited.net
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Subject: FERGIE SWOOPS FOR NEW 15-year-old 'KEEPER
There may have been many stars of the world game in attendance at Old
Trafford on Monday night, but the name of James Jowsey may not have been
one of those on everybody's lips.
James who? Indeed you may ask. But as United struggle to find a goalkeeper
capable of filling the boots left behind by the Great Dane, Peter
Schmeichel, Sir Alex Ferguson is putting down an insurance policy for the
future.
For 15-year-old Jowsey is the man who is being groomed for the new
millennium, precisely so that the club can avoid the current situation
where three players appear to be falling over themselves in their bid not
to make the No 1 jersey their own.
The schoolboy is currently with Scarborough, and if the deal to bring him
to Old Trafford is concluded, then it could be worth £250,000 to the
Conference club.
The youngster made his international debut for England Under 15's last
year, and John Russell, the Scarborough chairman said: "We are hopeful that
everything will work out for James. If it does it will be good for him, our
club, and the town."
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