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Compiled by 
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by 
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McArthur Canada
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The
Devil's Advocate "REDitorial"
commentary by Alex Paylor "RED
sky at night UNITED delight!"
www.red11.org DAILY NEWS
Date: Sun May 16 08:42:57 GMT+00:00 1999
Mail: barry@www.red11.org
This Issue:
1. Official Match Preview Download Program UNITED REVIEW 20 mins before Koff!
2. Keane fit to boost Fergie's dream
3. Home run will give us title - Cole
4. Ferguson optimistic United can win title again
5. A Tribute to my Heroes by S.B.Sivaganesh
6. Keane born to be a warrior - Sunday Times
++++++=========+++++++========+++++++++========++++++++
*** RED CHAMPIONSHIP DECIDER DAY! ***
Ready for the crunch! Three Matches = Three Trophies!
TODAYS INTERVIEWS x 3
(Real audio files archived at http://www.red11.org/mufc/sound/99)
Teddy Interview today by former Spurs player Teddy May 15th
http://www.red11.org/mufc/sound/99teddy_before_spurs.rm
259k 3m 49s
Players Thought before Spurs
Dwight Yorke Andy Cole + Nicky Butt comments
http://www.red11.org/mufc/sound/99/dwight_andy_nicky_before_spurs.rm
1.48 mins 117k
Alex Ferguson on todays game
http://www.red11.org/mufc/sound/99/alex_before_spurs.rm
2.19 mins 151k
1 Manchester United 37 21 13 3 78 36 42 76
2 Arsenal 37 21 12 4 58 17 41 75
****** Becks wonder goal *****
>URL does not exist barry !>> /mufc/sound/mov/beck_wonder.zip
Oops fixed! sorry wrong url here are the correct ones
Choice of two
214756 May 15 07:27
http://www.red11.org/mufc/sound/mov/beck_wim_wonder96mpg.zip
892809 May 15 02:29
http://www.red11.org/mufc/sound/mov/beck_wonder_mov96.zip
This one is Pete Schmikes Goal in 1995!
841007 May 15 07:26
http://www.red11.org/mufc/sound/mov/schmikes_goal95mov.zip
Cheers barry
"Here comes the PL"
RED Barry
Daily RED Trivia Sunday 16th May 1999:
16/5/1979:
United draw 1-1 with Chelsea at Old Trafford in a Division 1 game watched
by 38,109. Steve Coppell scored for the Reds. Team was: Bailey, Albiston, Houston,
McIlroy, McQueen, Nicholl, Coppell, J.Greenhoff, Jordan, McCreery (Grimes), Thomas.
16/5/1984:
Clayton Blackmore made his debut against Nottingham Forest. A versatile
performer, he wore every shirt number between 2-11 in making 244 appearances
and scoring 25 goals between 1984-94. Blackmore won an FA Cup winners medal
in 1990, and appeared in the 1991 League Cup final, as well as winning a European
Cup Winners Cup medal that year. He joined Middlesbrough in May 1994, and
has won 39 Caps for Wales.
*********************
Barry Daily Comment:
THIS IS THE BIG DAY RED's!
I for one will be glued to the screen in Denmark with my Man Utd Beer
We have to do it Fergie's big wish is to win the Premiership at OT.
Anyone at the Throstles Nest Pub Manchester before/after the game
ENJOY THE ATMOSPHERE! SING OUT FOR Manchester United Football Club"
TODAY! Tottenham PL
6 days Newcastle FAC
10 days Bayern Munich CL Final
I will be leaving Denmark for Barce in 6 days time after the cup final
RED sky at night BARCE' delight
More fun here: http://www.red11.org/mufc/barcedance.htm
Enjoy ALL 3 CHAMPIONSHIP matches, one and ALL!
"We haven't won anything yet," he said. "It's an opportunity that might
not come again in a lifetime so it's one you don't want to mess up.
We all know how much it has taken to get us near to the top of the mountain.
We're three-quarters of the way there and now comes the final push for the
three trophies." ~ Dwight Yorke
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Latest sound interviews in Real Audio here:
http://www.red11.org/mufc/sound/99
Everyone who wants the goal in Real Time Video 300k now thanks to RED CAFE!
http://www.iol.ie/~redcafe/texts/report98/domestic/arse-fa2.htm
FA Cup Semi Final Replay
14 April 1999
Manchester United 2:1 Arsenal
Villa Park
Download Ryan Giggs Goal! (Real Video: 300K)
http://www.iol.ie/~redcafe/real/giggs-goal.ra
Thanks to the Theatre of Dreams
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
MANCHESTER UNITED STATS v ALL teams on the Web
http://www.red11.org/mufc/stats.htm
Previous News:
BSKYB Takeover news/pics at http://www.red11.org/mufc/bskyb.htm
Brian Kidd Press conference, pic, real audio
http://www.iol.ie/~redcafe/kidd.htm
Peter Schmeichel's last Season at United!
http://www.red11.org/mufc/news/schmeichel.htm
Next games:
ALL Result/Fixture Index:
http://www.red11.org/mufc/fix9899z.htm
If you would like ALL the final fixtures for
UNITED/Arse/Chelsea then go to http://www.red11.org/mufc/fix9899.htm
Next Games:
May
16 Tottenham (H) 16.00 PL Live on Sky Sports UK
22 FAC Final Wembley Newcastle (N) Live on Sky Sports UK
26 European Cup Final Bayern Munich Nou Camp
UNITED Stats v All teams:
http://www.red11.org/mufc/stats/
*** LEAGUE TABLE AS AT 12/05/99 ***
Pos Team P W D L F A GD Pts
---------------------------------------------------------
1 Manchester United 37 21 13 3 78 36 42 76
2 Arsenal 37 21 12 4 58 17 41 75
3 Chelsea 37 19 15 3 55 29 26 72
4 Leeds United 37 18 12 7 60 32 28 66
5 Aston Villa 37 15 10 12 51 45 6 55
6 West Ham United 37 15 9 13 42 53 -11 54
7 Derby County 37 13 13 11 39 43 -4 52
8 Liverpool 37 14 9 14 65 49 16 51
9 Middlesbrough 37 12 15 10 48 50 -2 51
10 Leicester City 37 12 13 12 40 45 -5 49
11 Tottenham Hotspur 37 11 14 12 46 48 -2 47
12 Newcastle United 37 11 12 14 47 53 -6 45
13 Sheffield Wednesday 37 12 7 18 40 42 -2 43
14 Everton 37 11 10 16 42 45 -3 43
15 Wimbledon 37 10 12 15 40 60 -20 42
16 Coventry City 37 11 8 18 37 49 -12 41
17 Southampton 37 10 8 19 35 64 -29 38
18 Charlton Athletic 37 8 12 17 41 55 -14 36
19 Blackburn Rovers 37 7 13 17 37 51 -14 34
20 Nottingham Forest 37 6 9 22 34 69 -35 27
*** TEAM RESULTS - MANCHESTER UNITED - AS AT 05/05/99 ***
Date Opposition Score Pos. Attend.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
15/08/98 Leicester City Home D 2-2 11 55,052
22/08/98 West Ham United Away D 0-0 11 26,039
09/09/98 Charlton Athletic Home W 4-1 9 55,147
12/09/98 Coventry City Home W 2-0 5 55,193
20/09/98 Arsenal Away L 0-3 10 38,142
24/09/98 Liverpool Home W 2-0 3 55,181
03/10/98 Southampton Away W 3-0 2 15,251
17/10/98 Wimbledon Home W 5-1 2 55,265
24/10/98 Derby County Away D 1-1 2 30,867
31/10/98 Everton Away W 4-1 2 40,079
08/11/98 Newcastle United Home D 0-0 3 55,174
14/11/98 Blackburn Rovers Home W 3-2 2 55,198
21/11/98 Sheffield Wednesday Away L 1-3 2 39,475
29/11/98 Leeds United Home W 3-2 2 55,172
05/12/98 Aston Villa Away D 1-1 2 39,241
12/12/98 Tottenham Hotspur Away D 2-2 1 36,079
16/12/98 Chelsea Home D 1-1 2 55,159
19/12/98 Middlesbrough Home L 2-3 3 55,152
26/12/98 Nottingham Forest Home W 3-0 3 55,216
29/12/98 Chelsea Away D 0-0 3 34,741
10/01/99 West Ham United Home W 4-1 3 55,180
16/01/99 Leicester City Away W 6-2 2 22,091
31/01/99 Charlton Athletic Away W 1-0 1 20,043
03/02/99 Derby County Home W 1-0 1 55,174
06/02/99 Nottingham Forest Away W 8-1 1 30,025
17/02/99 Arsenal Home D 1-1 1 55,171
20/02/99 Coventry City Away W 1-0 1 22,596
27/02/99 Southampton Home W 2-1 1 55,316
13/03/99 Newcastle United Away W 2-1 1 36,500
21/03/99 Everton Home W 3-1 1 55,182
03/04/99 Wimbledon Away D 1-1 1 26,121
17/04/99 Sheffield Wednesday Home W 3-0 1 55,270
25/04/99 Leeds United Away D 1-1 2 40,255
01/05/99 Aston Villa Home W 2-1 1 55,189
05/05/99 Liverpool Away D 2-2 2 44,702
09/05/99 Middlesbrough Away W 1-0 1 34,665
12/05/99 Blackburn Away D 0-0 1 30,436
*** TEAM STATISTICS - MANCHESTER UNITED - AS AT 09/05/99 ***
AVERAGE HOME ATTENDANCE: 55,188
HIGHEST HOME ATTENDANCE: 27/02/99 - Southampton (55,316)
LOWEST HOME ATTENDANCE: 15/08/98 - Leicester City (55,052)
BEST WIN: 06/02/99 - Nottingham Forest (8-1)
HEAVIEST DEFEAT: 20/09/98 - Arsenal (0-3)
BEST HOME WIN: 17/10/98 - Wimbledon (5-1)
HEAVIEST HOME DEFEAT: 19/12/98 - Middlesbrough (2-3)
BEST AWAY WIN: 06/02/99 - Nottingham Forest (8-1)
HEAVIEST AWAY DEFEAT: 20/09/98 - Arsenal (0-3)
*****
Champions League:
Group D P W D L F A Pts
Bayern Munich 6 3 2 1 9 6 11
Man United 6 2 4 0 20 11 10
Barcelona 6 2 2 2 11 9 8
Brondby 6 1 0 5 4 18 3
Dec 9 Brøndby 0-2 Barcelona
Dec 9 Man Utd 1-1 Bayern Munich
******
CHAMPIONS' LEAGUE QUARTER-FINALS
Manchester Utd 2 v 0 Inter Milan
Real Madrid 1 v 1 Dynamo Kiev
Juventus 2 v 1 Olympiakos
Bayern Munich 2 v 0 Kaiserslautern
**DYNAMO KIEV 2 v 0 REAL MADRID (Agg:3-1)
FC KAISERSLAUTERN 0 v 4 **BAYERN MUNICH (Agg:0-6)
INTERNAZIONALE FC 1 v 1 **MANCHESTER UNITED (Agg:1-3)
OLYMPIAKOS 1 v 1 **JUVENTUS (Agg:2-3)
Semi Finals
Manchester United v Juventus 4-3agg 3-2 [1-1]
Bayern Munchen v Dynamo Kiev 4-3agg 1-0 [3-3]
UEFA Champions League Final MANCHESTER UNITED v BAYERN MUNICH
Venue Camp Nou (Estadi FC Barcelona), Barcelona, Spain
Date Wednesday 26 May 1999 Kick-Off 20.45 CET (19.45 GMT)
++++++=========+++++++========+++++++++========++++++++
Your editor Barry Leeming say's "NOW FOR THE PREMIER LEAGUE!"
Subject: Official Match Preview Download Program UNITED REVIEW 20 mins before Koff!
Match Program is here from 15.40
http://www.manutd.com/matches/program.sps
Probable teams:
United: Schmeichel; Irwin, Stam, Johnsen, G Neville;
Giggs, Butt (or Keane), Scholes, Beckham; Yorke, Cole.
Spurs: Walker; Carr, Campbell, Edinburgh, Young;
Anderton, Sherwood, Freund, Ginola; Armstrong, Iversen
IT'S TOUGH AT THE TOP!
It's simple. Beat Spurs and the title comes back to Old Trafford
after its year's holiday in London.
It won't be that easy, though, and the players know it.
Tottenham are a side on the up, and are going to want to
finish their season on a high. And they don't come much
bigger than a win at Old Trafford. Both Alex Ferguson and George Graham have
tasted title success, and they are both hungry for more.
Spurs showed against Chelsea last Monday night that they
are capable of playing at the highest level, and with the joint
PFA and Football Writers Player of the Year, David Ginola,
on board, anything is possible for George Graham's
rejuvenated army.
Gary Neville and Denis Irwin agree that it will be a tough
game. "They're a good side with plenty of proud players.
They will be coming here looking for a win," said Gary,
before Denis echoed, "It will be a tough game. But if we
play to our potential, I'm sure we will be celebrating come
the end of the 90 minutes."
To play to full potential, Fergie needs a full squad to choose
from. Roy Keane and Jaap Stam are the main injury worries
going into the match, but both have a fair chance of making
it. Keane was jogging round the Old Trafford pitch on
Thursday, and when a practice ball fell to him by accident,
we all waited and wondered what would happen. Keane
took the ball in his stride, and played a confident pass back
to the warm-up group. Mission accomplished, but will be fit
enough to face Spurs? We won't know until about 3pm on
Sunday.
Tottenham's deadly rivals are the team that would benefit
from an upset on Sunday, but no-one expects the visitors
to do United any favours to deny the Gunners. "That just
doesn't happen," claimed Fergie. "We don't expect any
favours from anyone, and we don't want them. We want to
win on our own merits."
Ryan Giggs came through the Blackburn match with no
recurrence of the ankle injury that kept him out for six
matches. Henning Berg aside, United are looking
surprisingly fit and fresh after such a long and trying
season.
Peter Schmeichel is set to play his last match at Old
Trafford on Sunday, and will receive a huge farewell from the
fans who have seen him become the world’s best
goalkeeper during his stay at United. He will wear the
captain's armband if Roy Keane is not passed fit to play,
and what greater honour for the player who has done more
than most to make United into the European force they are
today.
Dwight Yorke and Andy Cole are expected to carry on
upfront, although Cole has begun to look jaded in the last
few matches, as the toll of so many matches begins to
show. Hopefully he will be able to find a hidden reserve to
push him through the final stages of a gruelling season.
The visiting defence has troubles of its own, with Ramon
Vega already having been ruled out with an ankle injury.
Mauricio Tarrico will miss out through suspension, and
Justin Edinburgh will come in for the former Ipswich man.
Fortunately for them, their rock at the back, Sol Campbell,
continues to go from strength to strength, and will stand
firm in the way of Cole and Yorke.
Alongside Ginola, Anderton, Freund and Sherwood form an
impressive midfield, although reports that Anderton has
turned down a new contract will worry the White Hart Lane
faithful.
Matches between the two teams are usually evenly
matched, with ten matches in the last ten years seeing the
teams separated by a single goal. Two 4-1 wins, one for
each side, in the last five years, are the exception that
proves the rule.
It's a good job that the title can only be decided on goal
difference if the Reds lose by two clear goals, and Arsenal
draw. And the last time United lost by two or more goals at
Old Trafford was against York City in 1995. In the League,
you have to go back to 1992, and the visit of Everton when
the Reds went down 3-0. Even then United went on to win
the title. A scoring competition between United and Arsenal
is no longer on the cards!
It's a massive game on so many levels - the League can be
won on home turf for the first time in Fergie's reign, it's
Peter Schmeichel's last game at Old Trafford, and it's the
time to wish the boys luck for the two Cup finals. The
atmosphere will be electric. And you can sample it by
logging on to listen to our live match commentary, starting
just before kick off. See you there!
Probable teams:
United: Schmeichel; Irwin, Stam, Johnsen, G Neville;
Giggs, Butt (or Keane), Scholes, Beckham; Yorke, Cole.
Spurs: Walker; Carr, Campbell, Edinburgh, Young;
Anderton, Sherwood, Freund, Ginola; Armstrong, Iversen
Your editor Barry Leeming say's "NOW FOR THE PREMIER LEAGUE!"
Subject: Keane fit to boost Fergie's dream
By Bob Cass
Sunday, May 16, 1999
Roy Keane, the competitive heartbeat of Manchester United, will be back to
guide Alex Ferguson's team to the first stage of an historic Treble today.
When the Republic of Ireland international limped off at Middlesbrough last
Sunday with a damaged ankle, there were fears he had made his last
competitive appearance of the campaign.
But Keane has defied the doubters and will skipper United against Tottenham
at Old Trafford. A United victory will ensure they are crowned Premier
League champions.
United manager Ferguson describes Keane as his 'inspirational genius'. The
relieved Old Trafford boss watched Keane come through a tough training
session yesterday and said: 'Roy has responded well to treatment and he
will play against Spurs.'
The medical bulletin regarding £10million central defender Jaap Stam is not
so good.
The Holland international, a major influence this season following his
recruitment from PSV Eindhoven, will miss the
final League outing because of an achilles tendon injury.
Stam's place will be taken by David May, who will renew his defensive
partnership with Ronny Johnsen.
Keane's absence was felt in the disappointing midweek performance against
Blackburn Rovers when United failed to beat the team managed by Ferguson's
former number two Brian Kidd.
Now Ferguson believes Keane's return will be vital in United's quest for
that priceless win over Spurs.
Your editor Barry Leeming say's "NOW FOR THE PREMIER LEAGUE!"
Subject: Home run will give us title - Cole
Andy Cole is confident Manchester United's formidable home record will see
them clinch the Premiership title tomorrow.
United lead Arsenal by a point going into the final day of the season and
victory over Tottenham at Old Trafford tomorrow will seal their fifth
championship in seven years.
Alex Ferguson's Treble-chasers have been virtually unstoppable at home and
they have lost once in the past 14 months.
Cole is optimistic they can continue this fine form against Spurs and
relieve Arsenal of the Premier League trophy.
"We're a point ahead, and it's a good thing that we've got a home game," he
said. "It will be tough, but if we win the game, then we will win the title.
"It was a bit disappointing that we didn't beat Blackburn on Wednesday, but
they say if you win your home games, you will always have a good chance of
winning the League.
"We've done well in our home games so far this season, and hopefully, that
will continue tomorrow against Tottenham."
The Champions' League has been Ferguson's prime target since the start of
the season, and only Bayern Munich stand between him and his dream of
emulating Sir Matt Busby's 1968 triumph.
However all he is thinking about for now is getting his hands on that
silver Premier League trophy. Ferguson knows how
Your editor Barry Leeming say's "NOW FOR THE PREMIER LEAGUE!"
Subject: Ferguson optimistic United can win title again
By Jeremy Butler
BLACKBURN, England, May 12 - Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson said
he believed his team were in the perfect position to win the English
premier league title after their 0-0 draw with Blackburn Rovers on Wednesday.
The result meant that Blackburn, champions themselves four years ago and
now managed by Ferguson's former deputy Brian Kidd, were relegated after
seven years in the premier league.
Wednesday's draw put United on to 76 points with one match to play, one
point ahead of Arsenal who also have one match to go.
And it means that if United beat Tottenham Hotspur in their last match of
the season at Old Trafford on Sunday, they will win the title for the fifth
time in seven seasons no matter what Arsenal do.
Arsenal play Aston Villa at home on Sunday and the way the fixtures have
fallen Arsenal fans are now in the virtually unprecedented position of
actually wanting their arch-rivals Spurs to win on Sunday so that they can
retain their hopes of retaining the title they won a year ago.
But Ferguson is happy with the task United now face.
"If you said at the start of the season we needed to win the last home game
to take the title we would have taken it," he said.
"That's the situation we are in now and we are very happy with it. Now the
name of the game for us is to win on Sunday and forget about everything
else."
Ferguson had not realised until after the game that the draw had relegated
Rovers who started the season poorly under Roy Hodgson. Kidd replaced him
last December.
"I didn't know they were down. I haven't spoken to Brian. I don't know what
to say in these situations. Sometimes it isn't easy.
"He's got a rebuilding job to do and may be that's a good thing."
Kidd had attacked his players over the past few days for lacking the
commitment to win the battle against relegation -- and especially for the
way they played and lost 2-1 on Saturday against Nottingham Forest, who
join them on the way down.
Kidd, resigned to his fate, plans to use the lessons he learned under
Ferguson to revitalise the club.
"I have seen how the manager (Ferguson) has handled things in the past and
I know what I have to do. A lot was made of this game and the fact it could
be United that relegate us but it wasn't United who put us down.
"It was us that put us down and that started from the first game of the
season. I have no regrets about coming here and we are going to miss big
premier league matches like tonight.
"It is going to take more than pound notes to get us back. We need a
heartbeat and a spirit back in this club and we need to develop it and
build it."
There were emotional scenes at the end with Jack Walker, the club's
multi-millionaire benefactor -- whose millions revitalised the club in the
early 1990s after years in the doldrums -- in tears as were many of the
blue-and-white clad fans.
In a game of few incidents Ryan Giggs came closest to scoring a winner in
the 10th minute with a header that came back off the post.
Blackburn came into the game more in the second half but the tempo was
surprisingly slow considering there was so much at stake.
Peter Schmeichel tipped a long rang David Dunn shot over the bar and with
eight minutes left Ashley Ward missed Rovers' best chance of the match by
shooting weakly wide after Ronny Johnsen made a mistake in his own box.
Your editor Barry Leeming say's "NOW FOR THE PREMIER LEAGUE!"
Subject: A Tribute to my Heroes by S.B.Sivaganesh
What an end to a wonderful season today is going to be.Never has my blood
pressure reached new heights in excitement than in this season alone.(My
cardiologist can attest to this).Pure drama, end to end action, raw courage
in the face of adversity and above all pride and honour in wearing the Red
of United, filled this epic season.
Come what may today, I amongst the million others will always be proud to
consider myself a United supporter (albeit one who is 1000s of miles away
from OT). I also believe that we may have finally won the respect of other
fans as well..(then again ABU's will always be blind even when faced with
brilliance).Just thought of penning a few thoughts of tribute before I
embark on a marvelous nite with 2 other scarlet brethren, the Mulani
Brothers, in celebration of the team that is Manchester United FC 1998/1999..
Ferguson:- Fergie for Kinighthood.The man is a tactical genius and above
all, a person who has excelled in man management. How many managers would
have stood by Cole all these seasons. The man shoots from the hip and
speaks from his heart; told us how the Italians would come at us at San
Siro, didn't he.(I've never looked at pasta the same again...) Has to now
be up there with Busby, Paisley,Stein and Shankly.
Schmikes:- The great Dane plays his last game today at the Theatre of
Dreams. In all our seasons, he was the last line of defence that came good
in most situations. I can imagine that being a Defender in front of him
would fill one with confidence and a sense of security as well as a sense
of dread, because if you fouled up, you're gonna get a earful from the Big
Guy. We can easily forgive his occasional faux pas when we compare them
with his moments of brilliance. Who could forget how he sent Bergkamp's
world reeling this season with that astounding save during the FA Cup
Semi-final. As a golakeeper myself, watching him play is an education each
and every time. We are going to miss you , O Great Dane for you are and
will always be a legend to us all.
Giggs:- When injury took its toll on Giggsy last season, it really
showed how much we missed the creative spark that is so vital in the game.
I thought I had all but seen Giggsy array of skills when he took on the
Spurs and QPR defences a couple of seasons ago with individual talent so
reminiscent of Best. Then he decides to do it all again this season. Puts
United back in the fight with Juve and basically takes on the England
defence when he rips the Arses of the Gooners with skill so sublime that it
should go down as one of the greatest goals of the decade.How we hope you
outdo that other French "wing wizard" today Giggsy my boy.
Cole:- I will be the first to admit that I was calling for his head a
couple seasons ago when he went through his barren spell and seemed
destined to be another Birtles; an expensive mistake. I now apologise and
take great pleasure in having those words crammed down my throat. Before he
came to United, he was an out and out striker who made the runs so that he
was at the right place at the right time. Ferguson has basically shook this
boy up and made him one of the mot all around players in the league. The
way he contributes to the game by holding up the ball, making the killer
passes on top getting the goals is astounding and his England call up was
late in coming. Get one for us today Andy.
Yorke, Stam and Blomqvist:- 3 new buys which gave the team so much depth
and stability. Yorke has been all smiles since leaving Gregory's
boys....(does he ever frown?) and has shrugged off his price tag to form
one of the most lethal partnerships in England and Europe with Cole. His
touches are sublime, and he is so difficult to shake off the ball.
Moreover, his laid back style and attitude has been a positive influence on
Cole.
Stam has gone from strength to strength. ABU's were writing him off after
the 1st 5 games or so. Jaap quietly went about doing the business and in my
opinion is one of the best defenders around and in the mould of Baresi. His
pace and presence is phenomenal (Its like a T-Rex pursing its victim in
Jurassic park). Inzaghi could get around the Man. He has also stamped is
authority on the pitch. I still remember Zamarano backing up into Stam.
Stam just stood ther like a wall, as if to say this is my pitch and you're
not going anyway. He plays the ball out of defence instead of hoofing it
aimlessly and has given the Defence some new found shape. It is yet to be
seen who he will be able forge a partnership with comparable to Pallister
and Bruce. ( A little difficult when you have a squad rotation system such
as ours).
Blomqvist was here to give cover for the likes of Giggs but has gone to
prove that he will be in shadow of anyone.He has also shown his defensive
qualities in the game and adds to the depth of our team. A quiet season so
far but one filled with greater and more valuable contribution than most
people give him credit for.
Becks:- What can I say that has not already been said abt him. Week
after week, he takes the narrow minded abuse from fans all over England for
that one moment of provoked rashness.Well he has showed these feeble minded
plebians the finger by putting in a consistent performance week in week
out. Undoubtedly the best crosser of the game..Yorke can attest to that and
one of the most deadliest freekick specialist in the World today. If this
season is anything to go by, I would have said that the boy is now a man.
The rest: Irwin, May, Berg, Johnsen, Keano, Butt, Scholes,Sheringham,the
Nevs,Solksjear, Wes, Curtis,Raimond, - basically have embodied the Red
Spirit and pushed on proudly. Everyone has contributed to the Red cause and
we hold all of you proudly in our hearts.
Said my piece, now I get ready for History today.
S.B.Sivaganesh
E-mail: cantona7@singnet.com.sg
Webpage: http://web.singnet.com.sg/~cantona7/
Your editor Barry Leeming say's "NOW FOR THE PREMIER LEAGUE!"
Subject: Keane born to be a warrior - Sunday Times
They took the boy Roy out of Cork, but they didn't take Cork out of the
boy, says David Walsh
This afternoon, the main bar at the Templeacre Tavern on Cork's north side
will fill around midday. In their Sunday clothes, the mostly middle-aged
and older men come for an experience every bit as religious as the mass
they will have been to this morning. They'll sit and watch Manchester
United play for the championship and feel again the thrill of watching
their boy lead the charge.
Proclamations of their devotion to Roy Keane hang on every wall. High above
the main bar a photograph of Keane is pinned alongside a framed print of
Christy Ring, the greatest hurler of all. In Cork there is no higher
praise. To the right of the big screen hangs a framed United jersey worn by
Keane, on another wall his Irish international jersey. And there is the
corner they call "the parlour".
On important evenings for Manchester United, you might find Roy's father
and brothers in that corner. The parlour is a shrine to the footballers of
Temple United, the local club for which Keane's brothers have played.
During his summer break, Roy himself will be back, sitting in that corner,
calling his round like everyone else, encouraging the singers to get
something going, and reminding his old cronies that while everything has
changed, nothing has changed.
In the Templeacre nobody bothers him. On the day in 1993 that Alex Ferguson
paid Nottingham Forest £3.75m for his services, Keane sat with his brothers
in the parlour like any other customer, happy to separate himself from the
brouhaha.
Formerly the bar manager at the Templeacre, Tony Maher makes an annual trip
to Old Trafford: "We ring Roy in advance, tell him we intend coming and
need tickets for, say, the Liverpool match. 'Jaysus, lads, could you not
pick a match where there would more of a demand?' he'll say. We know it's
not easy for him but, in the end, he'll just ask: 'How many?' 'Forty,' we
say. He'll meet us at the airport, give our tickets, and there will be a
match organised against a local team. Roy always comes to watch us play and
looks after us fierce well. He's never forgotten where he's come from."
Nor have they.
It is Thursday evening in the Metropole Hotel on MacCurtain Street. Timmy
Murphy takes a seat at the bar and orders a pint of stout. Back in the
1980s, Murphy managed the Rockmount boys team, the greatest schoolboy team
Cork has ever seen. "See this," he says, taking an old photograph from his
inside pocket, "this was the Rockmount under-11s, and Roy Keane's first
ever trophy in football."
Keane is at the back, by far the smallest of the team, and he holds the
statuette as if it were a dead fish. As if he already knew more important
battles were to come. But the expression on his face is unmistakable; no
smile, only the warrior's hardness.
That young side became a dominant force in Cork, winning the League and Cup
double for six consecutive seasons. Five of the team would play age-group
football for Ireland and most would get trials with English clubs. But
deterred by his lack of physique and volatile temperament, the scouts
passed on Keane. Timmy Murphy sensed they were missing the point. "We
really had some smashing players in that side," he says, "but Roy Keane had
attitude. He wanted to get on and wanted to do whatever had to be done."
To practise his heading, Keane hung a football from a clothes line at his
home in Lotamore Park. He got summer work in an off-licence so he could
strengthen himself by lifting crates of beer. Then there was his almost
manic desire on the pitch. "I used to call him the Boiler Man," says
Murphy. "You know, the fellow who mans the furnace, who gets things heated
up and keeps them that way. He was the motivator, the leader.
"When things were going bad for Rockmount, all you had to do was roar at
Roy. He would do the rest."
With Keane, it was never just words. "He was fiery alright," says Murphy.
"I was having a laugh with Roy about that a few weeks ago. He was saying
'Was I always this kind of player?' and I said, 'Yeah, you sure were'."
From that fine Rockmount team, Alan O'Sullivan signed for Luton Town, Paul
McCarthy went to Brighton and Keane yearned for a trial. So desperate was
he that he wrote to English clubs asking for one but, when scouts watched,
they reported he wasn't big enough. At 17, he joined League of Ireland club
Cobh Ramblers. Seven months later he was on his way to Nottingham Forest.
Noel McCabe, a Dublin-based scout, watched Keane play for Cobh in an FAI
Youths Cup game and decided he had seen something unusual. For his fine
book The Garrison Game, Dave Hannigan interviewed McCabe, who recalled his
first meeting with Keane: "The boy wanted to be a footballer so bad. He was
so eager and enthusiastic that I felt here was a boy who would swim to
England if I asked him to."
Whatever Forest offered, Keane was prepared to accept: "I was desperate. I
was thinking, 'Well, I'm 18 now, so if Forest don't take me, this is
probably going to be it'."
On his frequent trips back to Cork Keane would tell people that it was
grand playing for Forest. Brian Clough just told him to go out and "get the
ball and give it to my Nigel".
Being in Forest's first team moved Keane into a world for which he was
unprepared. His aggression and short temper got him in trouble on the
field; his naivety and immaturity led to problems off it. Nothing that
threatened self-destruction, but sufficient for Keane to be dismissed as
another badly-behaved footballer. That was then. Keane is now married to
Theresa, has three children and a more mature attitude.
Even so, he is reluctant to speak of a transformation: "People always ask
if I've settled down and I'm afraid to say 'yes' because, as soon as I say
that, I go off and do something stupid." The perception of Keane as a wild
boy presented a stereotype that didn't stack with those who knew him. David
O'Leary remembers a conversation from their early days in the Irish squad.
"One day Roy came up to me and said: 'Dave, who looks after your affairs?'
I wasn't sure why he was asking me, maybe because I had been around for a
while. I said, 'Roy, he's a solicitor called Michael Kennedy and if you get
him looking after you, it'll be the best move you'll ever make.' Everything
Roy has done since then has been in close consultation with Michael. Roy
doesn't breathe without Michael knowing about it, and it has worked out well."
Back in Cork, those who knew Keane never thought much of the popular
perceptions. He came home in the early years with his red Mercedes and a
ROY 1 vanity numberplate and, sure, they thought that a bit much. A year
later they noticed the car and the fancy plate had been replaced.
John Delea has been a Rockmount man all his life and is now the chairman of
Keane's old club. "I've been going over to England to see Roy play for
years. I'd often go with Roy's uncle, Michael Lynch, Jamesie Corcoran,
Billy Cronin and Declan Courtney. In those early years Roy would put us up
at his house in Manchester. I had my own bedroom, my own key to the house
and this went on for two or three years, until Roy and Theresa had their
second child. I had to give my bedroom to the new arrival, which I suppose
was fair enough.
"Every year it just gets better and better with Roy. He collects us at the
airport, brings us to the hotel he has booked for us, gets us tickets for
the game, tickets for the players' lounge afterwards, and I have a photo of
myself with every Man United player. After the players' bar we'd go back to
Roy's house for something to eat and then down to the local with him for a
drink on Saturday night.
"Sunday morning, he would be outside the hotel, waiting to bring me down to
United's training at the Cliff. I'd stay in his jeep and watch from there.
One morning he brought over Alex Ferguson to meet me, another morning Eric
Cantona.
"On the Monday he would take us to the finest eating house in Manchester,
and without any flashness, none of this 'I'm Roy Keane, I have a table
booked'. Nothing like that at all, we go there quietly, everything has been
pre-booked and paid for in advance by Roy. We have a lovely lunch and he
drops us back to the airport. Unbelievable what he does for us. When I go
back to the brewery where I work, the people there just don't believe me."
Last season Delea and the men travelled over for a United v Liverpool game.
Keane offered the usual chauffeuring service and, on the Monday, as he
loaded their bags into the back of his jeep, he slipped a piece of paper
into Delea's hand. "Somethin' small for the club," he said quietly. At the
airport, the Rockmount chairman had a look: it was a cheque for £5,000.
Keane will not like his decency being publicly lauded because, for him,
that creates an impression of a "goody-two shoes", something he has
energetically managed to avoid up to now. Last Wednesday Roy's mother,
Marie, stopped by at Delea's house. She had a message from her son for the
Rockmount chairman. The white envelope simply said: "John Delea". Inside
were two tickets for the FA Cup final. Delea had half-expected them.
"When Roy got to his first Wembley final, in 1991, he sent the club two
tickets to be raffled among the members. We made £1,000 out of the draw.
Every time since then he has done exactly the same; one year United got to
the League Cup final and the FA Cup final and we did fierce well. Roy just
does it automatically now.
"I think so much of the man that it's got to the stage where I don't like
to go to a pub to watch United play anymore. I'd be afraid some Corkman
will be cheering for the other team, an anti-Man United fellow, and,
knowing what I know, I'll just get drawn into a row."
Manchester United - The Legend - http://manunited.net
Your editor Barry Leeming say's "NOW FOR THE PREMIER LEAGUE!"
Pic Link today is http://www.red11.org/miva/matchreports.mv
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