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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 Sep 19 1999 08:48:06 GMT
Mail: barry@www.red11.org
This Issue:
1. TEAM STATS - MAN UNITED - AS AT 18/09/99
2. Manchester United 1-1 Wimbledon
3. GIGGS OUT OF GRAZ CLASH
4. TOP DOC TO SEE KEANE
5. BOSNICH WILL NEVER BE NO1 WHILE I AM HERE SAYS TAIBI
6. BOSNICH DEAL IS A REAL SAVER FOR EDWARDS
7. New contract deal for Mark Wilson
8. Stam is best in the world, says Ardiles
9. Carlos' United swipe
10. REDitorial: A rather worrying trend - by DMC
++++++=========+++++++========+++++++++========++++++++
*** RESULTS AND ATTENDANCES ON 18/09/99 ***
Aston Villa 1-0 Bradford City 28,083
Derby County 0-5 Sunderland 28,264
Leicester City 2-2 Liverpool 21,623
Manchester United 1-1 Wimbledon 55,189
Southampton 0-1 Arsenal 15,242
Watford 1-0 Chelsea 21,244
*** FIXTURES ON 19/09/99 ***
Everton v West Ham United
Leeds United v Middlesbrough
Newcastle United v Sheffield Wednesday
Tottenham Hotspur v Coventry City
*** CONDENSED LEAGUE TABLE AS AT 18/09/99 ***
Pos Team P W D L F A GD Pts
---------------------------------------------------------
1 Manchester United 8 6 2 0 20 7 13 20
2 Arsenal 8 5 1 2 11 7 4 16
3 Aston Villa 8 5 1 2 10 6 4 16
4 Sunderland 8 4 2 2 13 8 5 14
5 Chelsea 6 4 1 1 9 3 6 13
6 West Ham United 5 4 1 0 9 3 6 13
7 Leeds United 7 4 1 2 12 9 3 13
8 Middlesbrough 7 4 0 3 10 10 0 12
9 Leicester City 8 3 2 3 11 10 1 11
10 Everton 7 3 1 3 13 9 4 10
11 Tottenham Hotspur 6 3 1 2 10 8 2 10
12 Liverpool 7 3 1 3 10 9 1 10
13 Southampton 7 3 0 4 10 13 -3 9
14 Watford 8 3 0 5 5 8 -3 9
15 Derby County 8 2 2 4 7 14 -7 8
16 Wimbledon 8 1 4 3 12 17 -5 7
17 Coventry City 7 1 2 4 8 10 -2 5
18 Bradford City 7 1 2 4 3 9 -6 5
19 Newcastle United 7 0 1 6 8 19 -11 1
20 Sheffield Wednesday 7 0 1 6 3 15 -12 1
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
*** To date our unbeaten runs stand currently as:
Unbeaten League run = 28
20 1998/99
+8 1999/00
Unbeaten League and Cup = 42
20 League 1998/99
+8 League 1999/00
+8 FA Cup 1999/00
+6 CL 1998/99
+0 LC
Unbeaten Domestic League and Cup = 36
20 League 1998/99
+8 League 1999/00
+8 FA Cup 1998/99
+0 LC
figures by Masterfan Paul Hinson
************************
99/2000 fixtures/match reports are at
http://www.red11.org/mufc/992000.htm
---------------------------------------------------------------
MANCHESTER UNITED STATS v ALL teams on the Web
http://www.red11.org/mufc/stats.htm
---------------------------------------------------------------
NEXT MATCHES
---------------------------------------------------------------
22-SEP-1999 [19:45] Sturm Graz vs Manchester Utd. (UEFA Champions League, AWAY)
25-SEP-1999 [15:00] Manchester Utd. vs Southampton (FA Premier League, HOME)
29-SEP-1999 [19:45] Manchester Utd. vs Marseilles (UEFA Champions League, HOME)
03-OCT-1999 [16:00] Chelsea vs Manchester United (FA Premier League, AWAY)
*** 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 KO Time
--------------------------------------------------------------------
22/09/99 Sturm Graz Away EC 19.45
25/09/99 Southampton Home PL 15.00
29/09/99 Marseille Home EC 19.45
3/10/99 Chelsea Away PL 16.00 "live on sky"
*11/10/99 Sir Alex Ferguson's testimonial OT [Schmeichel + Cantona]
13/10/99 ? WC 3
16/10/99 Watford Home PL 15.00
19/10/99 Marseille Away EC 19.45
23/10/99 Tottenham Hotspur Away PL 15.00
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
-------------------------------------
THE FANTASTIC TRIPLE WAS WON!!
EC links + Personal diaries here:
http://www.red11.org/mufc/barcelona.htm
Its the presentation of the European Cup at Nou Camp
Video including sound 57secs 1.5 meg
++++++=========+++++++========+++++++++========++++++++
Click On pic - for latest interviews/pics from OT"
Subject: TEAM STATS - MAN UNITED - AS AT 18/09/99
*** CONDENSED LEAGUE TABLE AS AT 18/09/99 ***
Pos Team P W D L F A GD Pts
---------------------------------------------------------
1 Manchester United 8 6 2 0 20 7 13 20
2 Arsenal 8 5 1 2 11 7 4 16
3 Aston Villa 8 5 1 2 10 6 4 16
4 Sunderland 8 4 2 2 13 8 5 14
5 Chelsea 6 4 1 1 9 3 6 13
6 West Ham United 5 4 1 0 9 3 6 13
7 Leeds United 7 4 1 2 12 9 3 13
8 Middlesbrough 7 4 0 3 10 10 0 12
9 Leicester City 8 3 2 3 11 10 1 11
10 Everton 7 3 1 3 13 9 4 10
11 Tottenham Hotspur 6 3 1 2 10 8 2 10
12 Liverpool 7 3 1 3 10 9 1 10
13 Southampton 7 3 0 4 10 13 -3 9
14 Watford 8 3 0 5 5 8 -3 9
15 Derby County 8 2 2 4 7 14 -7 8
16 Wimbledon 8 1 4 3 12 17 -5 7
17 Coventry City 7 1 2 4 8 10 -2 5
18 Bradford City 7 1 2 4 3 9 -6 5
19 Newcastle United 7 0 1 6 8 19 -11 1
20 Sheffield Wednesday 7 0 1 6 3 15 -12 1
*** ATTENDANCE TABLE AS AT 18/09/99 ***
Manchester United @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ 55,127
Liverpool @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ 44,663
Sunderland @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ 40,461
Leeds United @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ 39,628
Arsenal @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ 38,085
Newcastle United @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ 36,336
Chelsea @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ 34,998
Everton @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ 34,571
Middlesbrough @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ 33,459
Tottenham Hotspur @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ 33,084
Aston Villa @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ 28,350
Derby County @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ 26,190
Sheffield Wednesday @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ 25,841
West Ham United @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ 24,984
Coventry City @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ 20,289
Leicester City @@@@@@@@@@@@@@ 19,952
Bradford City @@@@@@@@@@@@@ 18,118
Watford @@@@@@@@@@@@@ 17,870
Southampton @@@@@@@@@@@ 15,073
Wimbledon @@@@@@@@@@ 14,165
*** TEAM RESULTS - MANCHESTER UNITED - AS AT 18/09/99 ***
Date Opposition Score Pos. Attend.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
08/08/99 Everton Away D 1-1 10 39,141
11/08/99 Sheffield Wednesday Home W 4-0 3 54,941
14/08/99 Leeds United Home W 2-0 1 55,187
22/08/99 Arsenal Away W 2-1 1 38,147
25/08/99 Coventry City Away W 2-1 1 22,024
30/08/99 Newcastle United Home W 5-1 1 55,190
11/09/99 Liverpool Away W 3-2 1 44,929
18/09/99 Wimbledon Home D 1-1 1 55,189
*** TEAM RESULTS SUMMARY - MANCHESTER UNITED - AS AT 18/09/99 ***
P Won Drawn Lost For Against Points
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Home 4 3 (75%) 1 (25%) 0 (0%) 12 (3.0) 2 (0.5) 10 (2.5)
Away 4 3 (75%) 1 (25%) 0 (0%) 8 (2.0) 5 (1.3) 10 (2.5)
Total 8 6 (75%) 2 (25%) 0 (0%) 20 (2.5) 7 (0.9) 20 (2.5)
Averages per game in (brackets)
League position: 1st
Form position: 1st (Index: 48%)
Predicted position: 1st
(The higher the form index, the higher the average
league position of the recent opposition)
Highest league position: 1st
Lowest league position: 1st
(Excluding the first 4 matches)
*** TEAM STATISTICS - MANCHESTER UNITED - AS AT 18/09/99 ***
AVERAGE HOME ATTENDANCE: 55,127
HIGHEST HOME ATTENDANCE:
30/08/99 - Newcastle United (55,190)
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)
HEAVIEST DEFEAT: none
BEST HOME WIN:
11/08/99 - Sheffield Wednesday (4-0)
30/08/99 - Newcastle United (5-1)
HEAVIEST HOME DEFEAT: none
BEST AWAY WIN:
22/08/99 - Arsenal (2-1)
25/08/99 - Coventry City (2-1)
11/09/99 - Liverpool (3-2)
HEAVIEST AWAY DEFEAT: none
Click On pic - for latest interviews/pics from OT"
Subject: Manchester United 1-1 Wimbledon
Cruyff rescues below-par United
Goals:
Cruyff(73) : Badir(16)
Paul Wilson at Old Trafford
Saturday September 18, 1999
Leaving David Beckham out completely is one way of avoiding the
ongoing debate over his best position, but Alex Ferguson's
latest attempt to rotate his players between European
engagements almost backfired. A rare Jordi Cruyff goal spared
United's blushes in the end, but one was reminded of his
father's withering comment on the state of English football: 'Is
Beckham the only one who can cross the ball?' United began with
Dwight Yorke in Beckham's wide position, reasonably enough since
he once filled that role for Aston Villa, but it was evident
when he managed to miss the Wimbledon penalty area with his
first cross that Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer could
not look forward to the usual Rolls Royce service from the right.
Yorke made so little impression on the wing he was switched with
Solskjaer just before the half hour, and immediately made his
most telling contribution of the afternoon so far with a neat
ball into the box from which Sheringham should have done better
than roll a shot the wrong side of Neil Sullivan's post.
It never rains but it pours in Manchester, however, and no
sooner had United shored up their right wing than they had to
make a rapid adjustment on the left when Ryan Giggs limped off
clutching a hamstring. Cruyff proved an adequate replacement,
but the crossing remained a long way below United's normal
standards.
At one point in the first half, when Paul Scholes sent a corner
from the right straight into the side netting, the Wimbledon
fans chanting 'You're not very good' seemed to make a fair point.
Scholes was actually United's best player, at his happiest when
initiating attacks through the middle and always capable of
exploiting the inviting amount of space behind Wimbledon's back
line. It wasn't his fault that Giggs, Cruyff and Yorke all
passed up clear chances from his promptings. Scholes brought a
splendid save from Sullivan and Yorke could have had a hat-trick
in the space of 10 minutes at the end of the first half, yet
despite their wealth of chances it took United 73 minutes to
equalise Walid Badir's opening goal.
Wimbledon are supposed to be the ones experiencing problems with
the zonal marking system, but the consistently impressive Carl
Cort highlighted a few deficiencies in the home defence by the
simple expedient of wandering from the right wing and popping up
on the left.
After just four minutes he found himself in a shooting position
with a clear sight of goal, only to miss the target by a couple
of feet. Cort atoned in full 12 minutes later, appearing on the
left again to leave Jaap Stam stranded and then beat Mikael
Silvestre en route to the byline, from where his cut-back across
the face of goal was met unstoppably by Wimbledon's summer
signing from Israel for his first Premiership goal.
United's victory at Liverpool last week broke the 43-year old
club record of 26 league games without defeat set by the Busby
Babes, but as more chances came and went in the second half it
began to look as if this side's proud record of remaining
unbeaten in serious competition throughout 1999 might be under
threat.
Ferguson was concerned enough to send Andy Cole on for the last
20 minutes, although when the breakthrough finally arrived it
actually came from the right. Cruyff exchanged passes with
Scholes before rounding Sullivan and slotting home, to the sound
of one of Old Trafford's most thunderous sighs of relief for
some time. The home team then had enough chances to win it
before the end, but so did the visitors.
Cort and Jason Euell arguably had the best opportunities of the
afternoon after being played clean through to confront Massimo
Taibi by passes from John Hartson and Duncan Jupp respectively.
The Italian saved well on both occasions, which should help
cement his place in the team, but on each occasion the Wimbledon
player showed him fractionally too much of the ball. Never mind
the defending, Egil Olsen could do with better finishing.
Man Utd: Taibi; Irwin, Berg, Stam, Silvestre, Neville, Scholes,
Giggs (Cruyff 31), Solskjaer (Cole 69), Sheringham, Yorke. Subs:
Bosnich, Cruyff, Wilson, Wallwork, Cole.
Wimbledon: Sullivan; Cunningham, Blackwell, Andersen, Thatcher,
Badir, Roberts, Euell, Gayle, Cort (Jupp 80), Hartson. Subs not
used: Davis, Kimble, Earle,Leaburn.
Referee: R Harris (Oxford)
Click On pic - for latest interviews/pics from OT"
Subject: GIGGS OUT OF GRAZ CLASH
By David Anderson, PA Sport
Ryan Giggs faces another spell on the sidelines after injuring
his hamstring - but Roy Keane could return for Wednesday's
Champions League game against Sturm Graz.
Giggs limped off after he'd pulled a hamstring during Manchester
United's 1-1 draw with Wimbledon at Old Trafford and could be
out for some weeks.
Concerned United boss Sir Alex Ferguson said: "Obviously Ryan
Giggs is certainly out with a hamstring which is a worrying
aspect for him.
"It looked like a pull to me and we will send him for a scan on
Monday.
"It seems he gets two hamstring injuries a season now, although
it's usually in March.
"He's a fast player and a lot of fast players get injuries like
that."
Ferguson reported better news on the injury front when he
revealed that Keane trained on Friday and will fly with the
squad to Austria.
The United skipper saw a specialist on Friday about his knee
injury and has been told to carry on for now.
Ferguson said: "I will take him with us to Sturm Graz.
"He may have a chance of playing if he picks up where he left
off in training yesterday.
"He went to see the specialist on Friday who told him just to
carry on because there's nothing they can do at the minute. He
just has a bit of pain inside his knee."
Ferguson also hopes Nicky Butt will recover from his groin
injury to play against the Austrian champions, while David
Beckham and Andy Cole who were rested because of ankle and
hamstring niggles respectively, should also be available.
Click On pic - for latest interviews/pics from OT"
Subject: TOP DOC TO SEE KEANE
ROY KEANE will visit German specialist Dr. Hans-Muller Wohlfahrt
in a bid to cure his hamstring injury.
The Manchester United captain could be out of the side for the
next month or more, an obvious blow to their trophy hopes.
Now manager Alex Ferguson wants Keane to seek advice from
Wohlfahrt, who was brought in by Liverpool when Michael Owen had
similar trouble. Keane himself is willing. This could be the
biggest few months of his career because his contract expires at
the end of the season. He is also suffering pain in his knee and
it is believed to be from the way he runs.
Keane has adopted a new style since he had cruciate ligament
surgery and Wohlfahrt will try to plan a new training programme
for him.
Click On pic - for latest interviews/pics from OT"
Subject: BOSNICH WILL NEVER BE NO1 WHILE I AM HERE SAYS TAIBI
MASSIMO TAIBI last night told goal-keeping rival Mark Bosnich to forget
about ever becoming Manchester United's first choice.
Italian giant Taibi returns for the visit of Wimbledon today and is
already ruling the roost at Old Trafford.
And Taibi hammered home his message that he is determined to keep winning
the bitter three-way battle to be Peter Schmeichel's long-term successor.
Taibi, a pounds 4.5million signing from Italian Serie A club Venezia, has
already ousted Bosnich as United's first choice in the Premiership.
Taibi was signed too late for the Champions League campaign and it was
Dutchman Raimond van der Gouw who got the nod for the goalless draw with
Croatia Zagreb on Tuesday night.
And Aussie Bosnich's dream move from Aston Villa appears to have turned
into a nightmare and he is already being linked with a move out of Old
Trafford just weeks after being signed. Taibi claims he will confirm
himself as the best - and it has nothing to do with him being the most
expensive of the three keepers.
Taibi said: "I've been faced by competition throughout my career and it
does not scare me.
"I'm not worried about the others because I'm confident in my own ability.
"All that matters is the way I play. There are other keepers to consider
here and a player should be picked on merit, not the size of the transfer
fee.
"But it's down to me and the way I play - that's all that matters.
"I don't assume I'm No.1 but I want to play every week and I believe that
I will." Bosnich arrived at Old Trafford assuming he would be first
choice. But Bossie could have been saved a lot of heartache if Ferguson
had managed to sign Taibi when he first made an attempt to bring him to
Old Trafford in March.
And it is something Taibi regrets, too, because he wanted to learn from
United legend Schmeichel.
But Taibi is warning United fans not to compare him with the most
successful keeper in the club's history.
Taibi, who was impressive on his United debut at Liverpool last Saturday,
said: "I would have loved to work under Peter. I knew I wouldn't get
first-team football ahead of him. But he has such a big reputation, he
would have eased me into the move.
"Peter is such a hard act to follow and I can understand anyone having
reservations about stepping into his shoes.
"It would be pointless to analyse his game - it was almost faultless. He
won every honour and was so consistent. Everything is a challenge, but
without them what's the point of playing?
"I'm not going to stand here and claim that I'm going to be better than
Schmeichel.
"That chapter has gone. I can take the criticism but I will take this
opportunity.
"I owe it to Sir Alex Ferguson to justify the faith he has shown in me."
Taibi's desire to be United's first choice is emphasised by his
determination to settle in the England.
He is busily taking English lessons and his wife Giovanna and children
Luigi, five, and three-year-old Eleanora will join him as soon as he finds
a house.
Taibi added: "I can barely speak a word without a translator. But I will
learn the language as quickly as possible. I've seen the problems that
other players had when they cannot communicate and I don't want to have
the same problems.
"I'm very excited about the league. We have started really well. English
football is very tough and it will be a testing season but I've joined the
best club in Europe and I'm confident I will share in their success."
Bosnich signed a pounds 30,000-a- week contract hoping to be part of the
treble winners' push for more glory.
But Taibi's arrival has left him out in the cold and he suffered the
humiliation of playing for United's reserves in front of empty stands at
Anfield in midweek.
The Aussie keeper's move is rapidly turning sour and his dreams of joining
United's glory charge are lying in tatters.
BosnIch started the season as first choice but a groin injury forced him
out of the side and it is clear Ferguson has now changed his mind about
who will be United's number one.
Italian giants Roma were at the head of the queue for him but Bosnich
snubbed their pounds 50,000-a-week contract offer in favour of joining
United.
He has again been linked with a host of top European clubs, with this time
Real Zaragoza believed to be interested.
Click On pic - for latest interviews/pics from OT"
Subject: BOSNICH DEAL IS A REAL SAVER FOR EDWARDS
(from the Daily Mirror)
Examine this picture from the Mirror on June 3, and take in the expression
on Martin Edwards's face as he "welcomed'' Mark Bosnich as the
highest-paid employee, outside of himself, to Old Trafford.
It is a face which says: "How has this third-choice Aussie managed to con
pounds 30,000-a-week out of me, and a pounds 2million signing-on fee when
we've been trying to sign someone else all year, the manager has a grudge
against him, and a limbless war veteran has as much chance of filling
Peter Schmeichel's boots and gloves?''
The figures had clearly shocked him. But in typical Edwards style he was
panicking for no reason. He was in fact riding the only horse in a
one-horse race. Here's why.
From the moment Schmeichel announced he was off, Fergie alerted his
European scouts to find him a replacement, and the words Edwin van der
Saar of Ajax came back.
Problem was, van der Saar fancied Italy, stalled to get the best deal,
then knocked United back.
By now, Fergie was homing in on the Treble with little time to contemplate
next season. Bosnich, meanwhile, might as well have been streaking through
the Old Trafford boardroom with the words "sign me'' daubed on his
buttocks, so obvious was it that he wanted to join United on a free.
Fergie, however, fancied him about as much as he fancies criticism. He
lacked Schmeichel's frame, presence and athleticism, he made too many
erratic decisions and had a suspect temperament.
In fact, the only words Ferguson had spoken publicly about the Aussie he
once had on his books, came when Bosnich signed for Aston Villa after
gaining a work permit: "After all we have done for him I am very
disappointed. We had a definite understanding if he came back to England
he would join us," said Sir Alex.
Now Fergie is someone who is obsessed with a player's personality and
attitude. He also bears grudges. So it was always going to take an
exceptional set of circumstances to allow Bosnich to park his immense ego
in the Old Trafford dressing-room. And they arrived. With United's season
over, Ferguson realised he had no goalkeeper.
He also had been told after the Murdoch deal broke down he had little to
spend to defend his Treble. He knew he needed to strengthen his midfield
with a world-class player and the money he could save signing Bosnich on a
free would give time and space.
So hours after winning the European Cup, realising he had nothing to lose,
he set the Bosnich deal in motion.
And thus was born the son of Bosman. The Bosnich Ruling.
And it is yet another scandalous diversion of power and resources to the
rich, which, if it goes unchecked, will ensure football moves one step
closer to death.
It says you take a player who is highly re-sellable, on a free, and if
things don't work out, flog him on sharpish.
Which is why I can only conclude Edwards had a furrowed brow on that
picture because his mental calculator had over-heated, and he got the
jitters.
But with Bosnich, United had nothing to lose. He's only 27 and valued at
pounds 4.5m. Offer him a pounds 2m signing-on fee, spread over his
contract, get rid of him early on, and you've got pounds 2m in the bank.
For no outlay.
United win, Bosnich wins. But what about Villa, who got nothing for
Bosnich and had to buy a replacement?
What if Steve McManaman fails to keep up his bright start for Real Madrid,
and they flog him back to an English club for pounds 10m, which is clear
profit on a player Liverpool nurtured for a decade, and whose final season
threw them into turmoil? Imagine the effect on the game if every
over-hyped player reaches the end of his contract and big clubs, realising
they have nothing to lose by taking him for free then pocketing a tidy
profit months later, make their move.
The Bosnich situation is the tip of a very profitable iceberg. A
risk-free, 100 per cent guaranteed, cynical exercise which will fleece
smaller clubs who are powerless to react.
And something must be done. Surely there should be another ruling which
states that if a Bosman player is sold on within two years, half the fee
goes back to the club who let him go for nothing.
Click On pic - for latest interviews/pics from OT"
Subject: New contract deal for Mark Wilson
MANCHESTER United want to tie up new boy Mark Wilson on a
long-term contract to avoid another Roy Keane crisis.
Sir Alex Ferguson has already given the nod for the midfielder,
20, to be offered an improved deal.
Wilson made his first start in a big game in the Champions
League clash with Croatia Zagreb and will keep his place against
Wimbledon today.
United are concerned that he will leave on the cheap when his
current contract runs out at the end of next season. Wilson
would be a target for Premiership clubs and United do not want
to lose control of his destiny as they have done with Keane.
Click On pic - for latest interviews/pics from OT"
Subject: Stam is best in the world, says Ardiles
Jaap Stam is now the most accomplished defender in world
football. That accolade was heaped on the Dutchman's broad
shoulders by Ossie Ardiles, whose highly technical Croatia
Zagreb spoilers denied Manchester United a Champions League
victory on Wednesday night.
Ardiles said: 'Stam is the world's best defender. My players
came off the pitch shaking their heads in amazement at Stam's
performance. They couldn't believe it.
'The word they all used was "magnificent". It was the only way
to describe what he did for United. He is an immense player,
untouchable in his defensive role.'
When, little more than a year ago, Alex Ferguson paid a world
record £10.7million for a defender, many doubted his judgment in
committing so much for a centre-back. But Stam, acting skipper
in the absence of Roy Keane, has swept aside the cynics.
United embark this week on their first European mission of the
season on foreign ground with Ferguson demanding they 'get the
show on the road' against Sturm Graz.
But Ardiles insists they have nothing to fear with Stam at the
back. He went on: 'I appreciate there were doubts when Stam was
signed for more than £10m. But just look at what he has achieved
since arriving at United.
'They made him defender of the year in Europe last season, and
rightly so. Now I can't name too many other candidates of his
stature in the world game. He is just a fantastic footballer.'
Click On pic - for latest interviews/pics from OT"
Subject: Carlos' United swipe
Brazilian left-back Roberto Carlos has taken a swipe at European
Champions Manchester United, labelling them as one dimensional
in attack. He is reported to have said that: "All United do is
give the ball to David Beckham on the right for him to cross."
Well, it seems United's "one dimensional play" is good enough,
it won them the treble last season!
Carlos believes his club Real Madrid have got a lot more about
them going forward - but it has hardly done them much good over
the past couple of years, has it?
Click On pic - for latest interviews/pics from OT"
Subject: REDitorial: A rather worrying trend - by DMC
www.red11.org REDitorial:
Published: Sat Sept 18 1999
A rather worrying trend - by DMC
Some of you may have noticed the other night that our 'friends'
down at Stamford Bridge only had one Englishman in their team.
No that wasn't Milan, that was Chelsea. In fact I hadn't noticed
until a friend pointed it out to me, but there again I didn't
even know the result 'til the following morning.
I was listening to the radio today and they were talking about
what has become an old chestnut, namely the amount of foreigners
in the British game. Several Chelsea supporters rang in to
justify their team's stance on this matter saying that Chelsea
were playing some of the best football witnessed in this country.
Now that's undoubtedly true as far as they are concerned, but
what of the impact on our national game? What about the young
British lads and their chances of making the grade in the modern
day world of Premiership football? Surely, under these
circumstances they have relatively no chance at all. The trouble
is they will surely not be encouraged by the Premiership
becoming the equivalent to the world trade centre.
Naturally this causes ripples of discontent and concern which
undermines confidence and turns potential away, but it's not
just the invasion of the foreign legion of mercenaries that has
caused an effect.
I have two young kids, both at school, and over the last few
years I have noticed a change taking place. Yes, you see the
normal array of football tops, but when you ask the kids who are
wearing the tops if they have ever been to watch the clubs
play, they always say "no". When you ask them if they play
football to any degree of seriousness, the vast majority of them
also say "no".
So these kids wear the football tops as fashion accessories, not
out of any particular allegiance to the teams whose colours they
sport. It is probably not a surprise to anyone that the kids
don't go and watch football, but it may be a surprise that they
don't play it either. The kids gravitate towards United,
Arsenal, Chelsea and surprisingly Liverpool and of course they
do so because these teams appear more often on television.
Television dictates, not local affiliation, in the main part not
even parental encouragement, but television.
But the problem goes even deeper than this. The superficiality
of TV watching is becoming the norm for these kids. When I was
their age and I watched football on TV it was a real treat as it
was only on on a Saturday night so if you wanted to watch your
team regularly the only way you could do so was to go to the
games. Now they can watch all the time if their parents have
subscribed to the digital revolution so it means very much less
than it ever did.
There's a surplus of football and a surplus of sport in general
and the kids are glued to the box and vulnerable to the
marketing message. But the message they are receiving is false,
it doesn't belong to the world we've been used to - it's dressed
up with dross.
These kids I'm taking about range from 9 - 14. They are supposed
to be the future of the game in this country and none of them,
apart from my own kids, have ever been to watch live football
and consequently they have no idea what it is like to support a
team. Even my own son first thought Manchester United were
called Sharp when he was a very young kid. That really shocked
and horrified me, and now all around them their friends are
responding to the norm and refer to us as Man U, repeating the
message almost parrot fashion. The ABU's are having their way,
they are indoctrinating them with their prejudices and the kids
think it's normal.
The future of our game under these circumstances dies with us.
Our own kids will follow in our footsteps if we can afford to
buy them tickets, if we can manage to get them tickets, but
gradually the continuity will die out. The OT crowd ages and the
diehard's replacement is a Johnny-come-lately who will not be
around for more than a match or two especially as the marketers
dream fades along with his lilac shirt.
But it seems that the majority of kids are gravitating towards
American based sport anyway. Basketball and wrestling are the
new wave favourites. Sky in particular, has changed the viewing
habits and perceptions of sport forever and it is definitely not
for the benefit of live football, or in fact live sport as a
whole.
If you have ever watched these sports, wrestling in particular,
and I watched a minute or two of the wrestling this morning
because my son was glued to it, you will have noticed they are
full of hyped up fantasy and US razzmatazz. Standard TV fodder
and little to do with UK sport as we have known it. But the kids
are hooked on the bizarre US oriented atmosphere generated for
television and so the profusion of Sunny Delight basketballs
being bounced outside school this last two weeks is only a
natural progression born out of the myth that TV has created.
It's the marketers who have created this monster and the
marketers at the top clubs have used Manchester United as a
benchmark and Manchester United have used the US as their
benchmark, but what they seem to have forgotten is that we are
two completely different nations. When we go to the States we
expect the razzmatazz, here we do not.
The future of our game is at stake. The totally lacklustre and
atmosphere-less Old Trafford is symptomatic of the future. It is
the marketeer and the television coverage which has changed
things and consequently, along with it, peoples' perceptions.
Everyone just sits there waiting to be entertained instead of
interacting and helping change the game to provoke a better
conclusion. The new wave fan has no idea how to do it. They are
so used to sitting down on their backsides waiting to be
entertained they know nothing else.
Let's look at football as though it were street theatre - in the
street you interact with the actors, they expect it, it's all
part of the performance and that is what football is all about -
causing an effect, interaction, passion for the play. The
ironically apt Theatre of Dreams is more akin to watching a
symphony concert - pay up and shut up, do not disturb and merely
watch the entertainment. The two scenarios are fundamentally
different.
At Manchester United we have a situation where we have been lead
into a merchandising heaven which provides the kids who adhere
to the marketer's dream the chance to buy in and identify. It
has provided the club with countless millions, some of which, it
has to be said, have been put to work for our advantage,
but.......... and it's a big but.......all this so called
progress has been at the expense of hard core support and thus, I
believe the future of the game.
There has got to be a compromise.
I don't decry all the merchandising because if people buying
replica shirts, false Giggsy chest hair and Beckham blond tinted
wigs brings money into the coffers then it presumably means we
have money to provide better facilities, buy quality players and
stock better pies, but............it shouldn't be at the expense
of the hard core support.
But it's all short term gain these days isn't it, and there's no
planning for the longterm future. So it's necessary for
supporters themselves to take action, form pressure groups,
write letter and fax campaigns and bombard the clubs with e-mail
in the hope that sometime they will see sense and return part of
the game to those who really care for it's future.
This short term gain scenario is epitomised by Chelsea and their
team of foreigners, their inflated wages, their desperate fans
and their bloody Chelsea Village. And when the only Englishman
in their team is Denis Wise, that doesn't really count either
because everybody knows he's from a different planet.
The only way forward is to try and encourage Martin Edwards to
see the future he and his gurus are creating. Show them what Old
Trafford will be like within the next ten years when it will
become all too obvious we have lost a whole generation and all
the generations which would have followed. Can't they see that
in the future when we're playing the likes of Wimbledon, the new
scoreboard and Stretford Ends will be half empty. And if they
think they can get around that problem by opting out and joining
a European league I'd like to remind them of last Tuesday night
when a few hundred Croats embarrassed 50,000 so called United
fans by outsinging them.
Anyone know where we can find the "Ghost of Football Future' so
we can encourage him to pay a visit to Martin's plush ensuite?
DMC
Click On pic - for latest interviews/pics from OT"
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