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www.red11.org DAILY NEWS
Date: Mon Mar 22  GMT+00:00 1999
Mail: barry@www.red11.org

This Issue:
1. MAN UTD 3 EVERTON 1 
2. Man United v Everton 21/03/99 3.00
3. Sunday Times - BSKyB bid effects
4. A true fan died this week
5. FERGUSON SETS SIGHTS ON HISTORIC TREBLE 
6. Red Devils brush Everton aside BBC Report
7. Teamtalk report
8. £30m bonanza: Seedorf, De Boer and Van Der Sar on Fergie hit-list

++++++=========+++++++========+++++++++========++++++++

Daily RED Trivia  Monday 22nd March 1999:

22/3/1968: William Sarvis died in Llanelli. Sarvis joined United from Merthyr Town
 and the likeable Forward made his sole appearances at Coventry City in September
 1922. His career was set back by a car accident in which he sustained serious head
 injuries. After recovering he later played for Bradford City and Walsall.

1995: In the Premiership United beat Arsenal 3-0 at Old Trafford watched by
 43,263. Mark Hughes, Lee Sharpe and Andrei Kanchelskis scored for the Reds.
 Team was: Schmeichel, Keane, Irwin, Bruce, Sharpe, Pallister, Kanchelskis, Ince,
 Cole, Hughes, Giggs.  
 

***************

Barry Daily Comment:

Real Audio worked well today if you want live comms for the next match
just go to  manutd.com.
Another good win, goal nr 2 for Gary Neville today came in his 200th match for UNITED!

Juve Watch    Juventus    1 - 1    Roma
               Iuliano (72)         Delvecchio (52)
 P   W   D   L   F   A   PTS
26  11  8   7   31  26  41

Previous News:
 Brian Kidd Press conference, pic, real audio
  http://www.iol.ie/~redcafe/kidd.htm
Peter Schmeichel's last Season at United!
   http://www.red11.org/mufc/news/schmeichel.htm

Next games: 
ALL Result/Fixture Index:
http://www.red11.org/mufc/fix9899z.htm

Next Games:
April 3 Wimbledon (A)  15.00 PL
7 European Cup Semi draw today....
11 FAC Semi Arsenal at Villa Park  12.30 UK Live Sky Sports Uk
17 Sheff Wed (H) 15.00 PL
21 European Cup Semi draw today...
25 Leeds (A)  11.30 {am} UK PL Live Sky Sports UK 


UNITED Stats v All teams:
http://www.red11.org/mufc/stats/


*** RESULTS AND ATTENDANCES ON 21/03/99 ***
         Aston Villa   0-3   Chelsea               39,217
   Manchester United   3-1   Everton               55,182

*** LEAGUE TABLE AS AT 21/03/99 ***

Pos Team                  P   W   D   L   F   A   GD  Pts
---------------------------------------------------------
 1  Manchester United    30  18   9   3  68  31   37   63
 2  Arsenal              30  16  11   3  42  13   29   59
 3  Chelsea              29  15  11   3  44  23   21   56
 4  Leeds United         30  15   9   6  49  27   22   54
 5  West Ham United      30  13   7  10  34  39   -5   46
 6  Aston Villa          30  12   8  10  39  37    2   44
 7  Derby County         30  11  11   8  32  32    0   44
 8  Wimbledon            30  10  10  10  34  44  -10   40
 9  Liverpool            28  11   6  11  52  37   15   39
10  Tottenham Hotspur    29   9  12   8  34  34    0   39
11  Middlesbrough        29   9  12   8  39  40   -1   39
12  Newcastle United     30  10   8  12  38  41   -3   38
13  Sheffield Wednesday  30  10   5  15  35  33    2   35
14  Leicester City       28   8  10  10  28  37   -9   34
15  Coventry City        30   8   7  15  31  42  -11   31
16  Everton              30   7  10  13  23  35  -12   31
17  Blackburn Rovers     30   7   9  14  32  42  -10   30
18  Southampton          30   8   5  17  28  56  -28   29
19  Charlton Athletic    29   6  10  13  33  40   -7   28
20  Nottingham Forest    30   4   8  18  27  59  -32   20

*** TEAM RESULTS - MANCHESTER UNITED - AS AT 21/03/99 ***

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



*** TEAM RESULTS SUMMARY - MANCHESTER UNITED - AS AT 21/03/99 ***

       P   Won       Drawn     Lost      For        Against    Points
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Home   16  11 (69%)  4 (25%)   1 (6%)    38 (2.4)   16 (1.0)   37 (2.3)
Away   14  7 (50%)   5 (36%)   2 (14%)   30 (2.1)   15 (1.1)   26 (1.9)

Total  30  18 (60%)  9 (30%)   3 (10%)   68 (2.3)   31 (1.0)   63 (2.1)

                                         Averages per game in (brackets)


*** TEAM STATISTICS - MANCHESTER UNITED - AS AT 21/03/99 ***

AVERAGE HOME ATTENDANCE:  55,183
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 Final Draw to be played 7th, 21st April
Manchester United v Juventus  [OT 7/4]
Bayern Munchen v Dynamo Kiev 

++++++=========+++++++========+++++++++========++++++++


Ole Scores the first today [click on pic for Match report]

Subject: MAN UTD 3 EVERTON 1 Another league match, another three points - that's the increasingly familiar outcome for Manchester United after they recorded their ninth win in their last 10 Premiership outings. Even at half pace Alex Ferguson's treble-chasers were far too good for Everton. United gave one of their worst first-half performances of the season at Old Trafford before they slipped up a couple of gears after the interval to take a Sunday afternoon stroll to victory with three goals in a 12-minute burst. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Gary Neville and David Beckham scored the goals before a Don Hutchison consolation strike. And an important win it was too for United because it re-opened their four-point lead at the top of the Premiership over Arsenal going into the two-week break for the Euro 2000 qualifiers. Everton boss Walter Smith will be a busy man during the coming fortnight as he tries to figure out a way of keeping his side in the Premiership and they are now just two points above the drop zone. If Everton's job had not appeared hard enough against United, it looked even more difficult after two minutes when Ibrahima Bakayoko pulled a hamstring in a tussle with Henning Berg and went off. Fortunately for Everton, the expected United onslaught did not materialise. Instead, just as manager Alex Ferguson had feared, his players were not focused on the job in hand following their midweek heroics against Inter Milan. United's 4-3-3 formation with Solskjaer partnering Dwight Yorke and Andy Cole up front was making little impression on the massed ranks of the Blues' defence. Ferguson had opted for three up front because Jesper Blomqvist was missing with an ankle injury and Ryan Giggs had a calf strain, while Roy Keane and Paul Scholes were suspended. United, who have been so devastating down the flanks in recent wings, were clearly a poorer team for having their wings clipped. Solskjaer did force one save from Thomas Myhre at his near post on 24 minutes in a rare moment of excitement. Everton, encouraged by their hosts' dour display, pushed forward. Peter Schmeichel parried a 25-yard free-kick from Marco Materazzi and Berg completed the clearance with David Unsworth lurking. Apart from these two efforts, though, it was a game which brought a new meaning to the word dull. No doubt spurred on by a few choice words from Ferguson, United finally put the visitors' defence under some pressure and Myhre saved a rasping drive from Gary Neville following a poor clearance by Unsworth. The home side did not have much longer to wait to make the breakthrough and it came in the 54th minute courtesy of Solskjaer. The Norwegian striker played a one-two with Yorke just inside the Everton penalty area before unleashing a shot past Myhre for his 16th goal of the season. Without really trying United doubled their lead on 63 minutes. Yorke jinked his way into the Blues' box before slipping the ball to Gary Neville on the right who fired home his first goal in nearly two years and only his second in the league for United. Beckham really brought the United crowd to life with a free-kick special three minutes later. Myhre got a hand to his 25-yard curler from in front of goal, but he could not keep it out. It was Beckham's fifth of the season, four of which have been free-kicks, and his first strike since November 4. With yet another three points in the bag, Ferguson brought on Jonathan Greening and Teddy Sheringham with 20 minutes remaining. Greening seems set for a bright future at Old Trafford and within two minutes of coming on he demonstrated why when he hit a shot against the post. Everton skipper Hutchison salvaged some pride for the Merseysiders when he scored a great 25-yard free-kick 10 minutes from time. It was never going to change the outcome of the game and Yorke almost added a fourth only to be denied by a fine save by Myhre.
Ole Scores the first today [click on pic for Match report]

Subject: Man United v Everton 21/03/99 3.00 Man United (0) 3 Everton (0) 1 FT Solskjaer 54 Hutchison 80 G. Neville 63 Beckham 67 Another league match, another three points. That's the increasingly familiar outcome for Manchester United after they recorded their ninth win in their last 10 Premiership outings. Even at half pace Alex Ferguson's treble-chasers were far too good for Everton. United gave one of their worst first-half performances of the season at Old Trafford before they slipped up a couple of gears after the interval to take a Sunday afternoon stroll to victory with three goals in a 12-minute burst. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Gary Neville and David Beckham scored the goals before a Don Hutchison consolation strike. And an important win it was too for United because it re-opened their four-point lead at the top of the Premiership over Arsenal going into the two-week break for the Euro 2000 qualifiers. Everton boss Walter Smith will be a busy man during the coming fortnight as he tries to figure out a way of keeping his side in the Premiership and they are now just two points above the drop zone. If Everton's job had not appeared hard enough against United, it looked even more difficult after two minutes when Ibrahima Bakayoko pulled a hamstring in a tussle with Henning Berg and went off. Fortunately for Everton, the expected United onslaught did not materialise. Instead, just as manager Alex Ferguson had feared, his players were not focused on the job in hand following their midweek heroics against Inter Milan. United's 4-3-3 formation with Solskjaer partnering Dwight Yorke and Andy Cole up front was making little impression on the massed ranks of the Blues' defence. Ferguson had opted for three up front because Jesper Blomqvist was missing with an ankle injury and Ryan Giggs had a calf strain, while Roy Keane and Paul Scholes were suspended. United, who have been so devastating down the flanks in recent wings, were clearly a poorer team for having their wings clipped. Solskjaer did force one save from Thomas Myhre at his near post on 24 minutes in a rare moment of excitement. Everton, encouraged by their hosts' dour display, pushed forward. Peter Schmeichel parried a 25-yard free-kick from Marco Materazzi and Berg completed the clearance with David Unsworth lurking. Apart from these two efforts, though, it was a game which brought a new meaning to the word dull. No doubt spurred on by a few choice words from Ferguson, United finally put the visitors' defence under some pressure and Myhre saved a rasping drive from Gary Neville following a poor clearance by Unsworth. The home side did not have much longer to wait to make the breakthrough and it came in the 54th minute courtesy of Solskjaer. The Norwegian striker played a one-two with Yorke just inside the Everton penalty area before unleashing a shot past Myhre for his 16th goal of the season. Without really trying United doubled their lead on 63 minutes. Yorke jinked his way into the Blues' box before slipping the ball to Gary Neville on the right who fired home his first goal in nearly two years and only his second in the league for United. Beckham really brought the United crowd to life with a free-kick special three minutes later. Myhre got a hand to his 25-yard curler from in front of goal, but he could not keep it out. It was Beckham's fifth of the season, four of which have been free-kicks, and his first strike since November 4. With yet another three points in the bag, Ferguson brought on Jonathan Greening and Teddy Sheringham with 20 minutes remaining. Greening seems set for a bright future at Old Trafford and within two minutes of coming on he demonstrated why when he hit a shot against the post. Everton skipper Hutchison salvaged some pride for the Merseysiders when he scored a great 25-yard free-kick 10 minutes from time. It was never going to change the outcome of the game and Yorke almost added a fourth only to be denied by a fine save by Myhre. Man United: Schmeichel, G. Neville, Berg, Stam, P. Neville, Beckham (Greening, 71), Butt, Johnsen, Cole (Sheringham, 71), Yorke, Solskjaer (Curtis, 90). Subs not used: Van Der Gouw, Brown. Everton: Myhre, O'Kane (Jeffers, 60), Short, Materazzi, Ball, Weir, Grant (Degn, 64), Unsworth, Dacourt, Hutchison, Bakayoko (Cadamarteri, 5). Subs not used: Watson, Simonsen. Booked: Weir, Hutchison, Dacourt. Attendance: 55,182. Referee: M Riley (Leeds).
Ole Scores the first today [click on pic for Match report]

Subject: Sunday Times - BSKyB bid effects Future on hold as Ferguson is forced to play waiting game UNCERTAINTY over the ownership of Manchester United is restricting the club's preparations for next season, likely to be among the most demanding in their history. As United seek to take their place among the European superpowers in an enlarged Champions' League tournament, their plans to strengthen the squad are on hold, pending government decisions on the takeover bid by British Sky Broadcasting. A ruling on the £623m bid, which has been fiercely resisted by supporters' groups and media organisations, is expected from the Department of Trade and Industry in three weeks' time, after Stephen Byers, the Secretary of State, has studied a Monopolies and Mergers Commission (MMC) report on the deal. For United manager Alex Ferguson, a judgment, either way, cannot come soon enough. Having guided his team to the semi-finals of this year's principal European competition, and kept them in sight of a unique Champions' League, Premiership and FA Cup treble, he anticipates a summer transfer market in which Europe's leading clubs chase ever-stronger squads ahead of a campaign that will make huge demands on stamina and offer unprecedented rewards for success. "You're going to have to have some range of players next year," Ferguson said. "The Champions' League next season is going to be different, and more difficult, whether we like it or not. It could take 17 matches to get to the final. Most European clubs will be assessing that at the moment, seeing how many players they are going to need. We certainly have got to think about it. "The problem is that we don't know who owns the club at the moment. Once we know where we stand, we can get down to assessing what funds we have and if, and how, we can add to the squad. Nobody knows what's going to happen with BSkyB. That's not the problem, it's just a matter of the timing: you don't know where you stand. We should know in three weeks about the BSkyB thing." The MMC completed its findings 10 days ago. Press reports on Wednesday said the commission had ruled the takeover of United by BSkyB, the satellite television station in which News Corporation has a 40% stake, was against the public interest. Many of the arguments against the deal surround the possibility that the club could give information on rival bids for television rights to BSkyB, and that a marriage of the dominant sports broadcaster and England's wealthiest club was anti-competitive. The Manchester United Independent Supporters' Association argued against the takeover. Ferguson insists that the club's 1998-99 ambitions are not suffering from the distractions of the boardroom, and the midweek success against Internazionale in the European Cup quarter-final suggests as much. "It doesn't stop the ship from carrying on," he said. "It's just a question of timing. The gratifying thing is that the team are looking very strong, and the motivation is there." Yet a number of issues, including Ferguson's future, are on United's immediate agenda. A few hours after the 1-1 draw in Milan, the club chairman, Martin Edwards, invited reporters to an audience in which he apparently committed the board to their manager for several seasons to come. "We have no problem with Alex being here as long as he wants," said Edwards, who expects Ferguson to sign an improved contract in the summer. Among the playing staff, uncertainty surrounds the future of captain Roy Keane, who will also enter negotiations with the chairman; and the reserve midfield player Jordi Cruyff, who is on loan at Celta Vigo in Spain and may not return to Old Trafford. Assuming United qualify for next season's Champions' League - either as holders of the title or by finishing in the top three of the Premiership - Ferguson believes they will need two or three high-quality new recruits. One will replace Peter Schmeichel in goal; the Dutch international goalkeeper, Edwin van der Saar, is among the favourites and attended Wednesday's game as a guest of United defender Jaap Stam. "We've got a good squad at the moment," Ferguson said. "We've got 24 good first-team players. We may have Cruyff back, we don't know that yet. What's been encouraging is that the younger players, the likes of Jonathan Greening, who is 20, and Wes Brown, 19, are going to be better. They're already good players. Young Mark Wilson, 20, is also going to be a good player. And it was a relatively youngish side out there on Wednesday: David Beckham [23], the Nevilles [24 and 22], Ryan Giggs [25]." The first months of the 1999-2000 season will provide opportunities for all of them. In addition to fixtures in the Premiership, League and FA Cups, the first round proper of the Champions' League will include 32 clubs playing in eight groups of four. The teams finishing first and second in each group then enter one of four groups of four, from which they must again finish in the top two to reach the quarter-finals. "It's going to be a delicate balancing act next year," Ferguson said. "It's difficult to know how many games we're going to be playing next season. It's going to mean at least 12 European games up until January." In the meantime, United meet Everton at home today, followed by a break for international duty and then a period of six games in 22 days, including the two European semi-final matches against Juventus and the FA Cup semi-final with Arsenal at Villa Park. Should that go to a replay, expect frantic talks between the clubs, FA and Birmingham police about where on earth they can fit it into the calendar. Manchester United - The Legend - http://manunited.net
Ole Scores the first today [click on pic for Match report]

Subject: A true fan died this week While we are all still in the throes of rapture over United's European performance last Wednesday night, spare a thought for a departed Red. Popular British children's television entertainer Rod Hull, a lifelong Red, tragically died during United's thrilling return encounter with Internazionale with the score still at 1-0. He was 68 years old when he died and you might expect a heart attack to have been the cause. I am 24 years old and I almost went myself when Ze Elias burst into the area and looked certain to level the aggregate score. However a heart attack was not the cause of death. So how did he die? Well, at the beginning of the second half, Rod noticed that his TV picture had deteriorated slightly. So what did he do? 68 year old Rod Hull got a ladder from his garage and climbed onto the roof of his house in order to adjust his aerial so that he could see this monumentous match in all its glory. Unfortunately, he lost his balance on the slippery tiles and fell to his death. His death is a tragedy and I, like millions, grew up enthralled by his performances on television with his puppet, Emu. I can't quite seem to shake the feeling though that while his death is a tragedy, it is made even more tragic by the fact that he never knew that a certain ginger substitute popped up in the final minutes to secure a win that was well deserved over the two legs. I can only hope that all of you, like me, roared so loudly when United scored that it rocked the very foundations of the heavens and allowed a true fan to rest in peace. ----------- Thursday, March 18, 1999 Published at 13:32 GMT Rod Hull dies in rooftop fall The entertainer Rod Hull has died in an accident at his home in East Sussex. The 63-year-old - who entertained generations of children with his double act with Emu - fell off the roof of his cottage while adjusting his TV aerial. He was declared dead on arrival at the Conquest Hospital in Hastings. Hull was adjusting his TV aerial in an attempt to improve the picture as he watched Manchester United's football match against Inter Milan. His agent Laurie Mansfield said: "We're not 100% certain what happened but what we do know is that he was watching the football. "The picture was bad and he went up on the roof to adjust it and fell off. 'A unique entertainer'
Ole Scores the first today [click on pic for Match report]

Subject: FERGUSON SETS SIGHTS ON HISTORIC TREBLE Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson eyed an unprecedented treble after his side beat Everton 3-1 at Old Trafford on Sunday. The win made it nine wins in their last 10 Premiership games, and Ferguson is a confident man as his team embark on the final stretch of a bid to claim the European Champions' League, FA Cup and championship this season. "The evidence of the last 18 days when we have played six games and done so well is excellent," said Ferguson, whose team would become the first to claim the domestic Double along with Europe's premier club title - although Liverpool won the League Cup, championship and European Cup in 1984. "We are looking very powerful, very strong. I can see the players approaching the games in the right way," he added. "They are focusing on winning every game, and the evidence of how they are going about it is very encouraging." United have put together a 19-match unbeaten run and now face just eight more league games - with the FA Cup semi-final and possible final plus a two-leg Champions' League showdown with Juventus and another possible final - to complete what could be a historic season. Ferguson praised United's ability to shake off the emotional tiredness of their midweek triumph over Inter Milan, saying: "The way we responded after a dull first half, in which the plan of playing Dwight Yorke behind the front two didn't work, was magnificent. "When we switched back to our more normal style we were superb, particularly the first and third goals. It was good too that (David) Beckham got back on the scoring charts. He hasn't scored for a while, which is unusual for him because we can normal expect a dozen or so from him. "But the whole team have responded superbly to the six games in 18 days. A lot of them are off on international duty now - some will play, some won't - but I hope they will come back in a fortnight looking very strong for the run-in."
Ole Scores the first today [click on pic for Match report]

Subject: Red Devils brush Everton aside BBC Report Ole Gunnar Solskjaer scores United's opener Manchester United 3 Everton 1 Three goals in 13 minutes extended Manchester United's lead at the top of the Premiership to four points and leaves Everton firmly in the relegation danger zone. John Murray reports for BBC Radio 5 Live http://news.bbc.co.uk/olmedia/300000/audio/_300411_mur.ram United were seldom required to move out of first gear, and second half strikes from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Gary Neville and David Beckham put the game out of reach for the Merseysiders, although Don Hutchison did pull one back with just minutes remaining. Everton manager Walter Smith could scarcely complain about the result, having been fortunate to face a United side shorn of skipper Roy Keane, Ryan Giggs, Jesper Blomquist and Paul Scholes and looking for all the world as if they were suffering a hangover from their midweek European heroics. In the absence of those players, Ferguson played three in attack, Solskjaer joining the pair of Dwight Yorke and Andy Cole. But the services from the wings was lacking, and it needed 24 minutes before United created their first chance, Solskjaer forcing a save from Thomas. The only other moment of inspiration in a dour first half came from the visitors, Peter Schmeichel blocking a 25-yard free-kick from Marco Materazzi and Henning Berg completing the clearance with David Unsworth lurking. Nicky Butt and Olivier Dacourt battle for the ball in midfield The home side came to the fore in the 54th minutes, Norwegian Solskjaer playing a one-two with Yorke just inside the Everton penalty area before unleashing a shot past Myhre for his 16th goal of the season. Nine minutes later, United doubled their lead, with Yorke powering into the Everton penalty area before slipping the ball to Gary Neville on the right who fired home his first goal in nearly two years and only his second in the league for United. Four minutes later, Beckham brought to an end his goal drought - his last strike was in November - when he characteristically curled in a 25 yard free kick. United manager Alex Ferguson brought on Jonathan Greening and Teddy Sheringham with 20 minutes remaining and the former hit a shot against the post to illustrate his potential. Everton skipper Hutchison, named last week in Craig Brown's Scotland squad for the first time, salvaged some pride for the Merseysiders when he scored a great 25-yard free-kick 10 minutes from time. But that never seemed likely to change the course of the game, and United remain unbeaten in all competitions in 1999. Man Utd: Schmeichel, G. Neville, Berg, Stam, P. Neville, Beckham, Butt, Johnsen, Cole, Yorke, Solskjaer. Subs: Van Der Gouw, Curtis, Brown, Greening, Sheringham. Everton: Myhre, O'Kane, Short, Materazzi, Ball, Weir, Grant, Unsworth, Dacourt, Hutchison, Bakayoko. Subs: Watson, Degn, Cadamarteri, Jeffers, Simonsen. Referee: M Riley (Leeds)
Ole Scores the first today [click on pic for Match report]

Subject: Teamtalk report MAN UTD 3 EVERTON 1 Solskjaer 54 Neville, G 63 Hutchison 80 Beckham 67 Man Utd: Schmeichel, Neville, G, Neville, P, Stam, Berg, Beckham, Butt, Johnsen, Solskjaer, Cole, Yorke, van der Gouw (s), Curtis (s), Brown (s), Greening (s), Sheringham (s), Everton: Myhre, Ball, Dacourt, Unsworth, Hutchison, Short, Grant, Materazzi, Weir, Bakayoko, O'Kane, Watson (s), Degn (s), Cadamarteri (s), Jeffers (s), Simonsen (s), A decisive second half performance was sufficient for Manchester United to see of the challenge of Everton at Old Trafford. Everton were hampered only five minutes into this afternoon's encounter, when Ibrahima Bakayoko was stretchered off; the Ivory Coast international replaced by Danny Cadamrteri. However, United were unable to capitalize upon The Toffees' early team problems, and moreover, were nearly 0-1 down when Peter Schmeichel had to scramble to his left to parry a Marco Matterazzi free-kick. Slowly United got into the game, but could muster few decent opportunities. Andy Cole fired straight at Thomas Myrhe, Ole Solskjaer saw his angled drive saved, whilst Henning Berg twice went close with headers. This apart, though, there was little excitement in the first period at Old Trafford. HT: 0-0 United looked a more determined and cohesive outfit at the start of the second half, and a superb passing move led to an opening goal in the 54th minute. Solskjaer picked up the ball twenty yards out, before playing a wonderful one-two with Dwight Yorke. Solskjaer then stormed into the area and fired a fizzing, angled shot past Myrhe. The Norwegian's strike opened the floodgates, with United doubling their advantage eight minutes later. Gary Neville got the goal, a rare strike, after more good work from Yorke. Everton were now deflated, and David Beckham duly added insult to injury. He scored his first since November with a trademark 25-yard free-kick. It now seemed a case of how many the Reds would accrue, but Everton were able to curb the United front-line, and even score a goal of their own. Don Hutchison was the scorer, the forward firing into the roof of the net from a twenty yard free-kick. That ended the scoring, with United running out comfortable winners and regaining their four point lead at the top of thy table. TEAM NEWS Nicky Butt and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer replaced the suspended Roy Keane and Paul Scholes for Manchester United this afternoon, whilst Denis Irwin was rested and Ryan Giggs also didn't play - the Welshman said to be injured. Solskjaer's inclusion meant United played with a 3-man strikeforce, the Norwegian alongside Andy Cole and Dwight Yorke. For Everton, John O'Kane replaced Richard Dunne, and Craig Short was back in at centre-half. However, Nicky Barmby failed a late fitness test, and took no part in proceedings.
Ole Scores the first today [click on pic for Match report]

Subject: £30m bonanza: Seedorf, De Boer and Van Der Sar on Fergie hit-list By Bob Cass {Daily Mail} Sunday, March 21, 1999 Alex Ferguson, on the brink of guiding Manchester United to a historic treble, is already planning a £30million transfer spree on three international stars. Clarence Seedorf, Real Madrid's tenacious midfielder, Ajax goalkeeper Edwin Van Der Sar and Barcelona's versatile Ronald De Boer make up a trio of Holland internationals who will be available when the Old Trafford boss decides on his specific targets in the summer. The Ferguson strategy will stun the rest of the Premiership, who believe he already has the most powerful squad in English football. But even amid the euphoria of reaching the Champions League and FA Cup semi-finals, as well as heading the race for the Premiership crown, Ferguson is single-minded in his pursuit of long-term glory. He is drawing up a hit-list from the cream of European football in his attempt to turn Manchester United into the team of the Millennium. The Old Trafford manager is waiting for the go-ahead to launch a recruitment drive which would take his squad up to the standard he believes will be required to cope with the exhausting Champions League programme that has been scheduled for next season. By that time, Ferguson hopes to be defending the European Cup but he still believes he needs to augment his current dressing-room strength. That will mean topping last summer's £26m investment, a splash of cash that clinched the club record signing of Dwight Yorke for £12.5m, the £10m outlay on Holland's towering central defender Jaap Stam from PSV Eindhoven and the purchase of Sweden winger Jesper Blomqvist from AC Milan. Ferguson said: 'We need two or three extra players of real quality. We already have a good squad and what has been particularly encouraging is that the likes of Wes Brown, Jonathan Greening and Mark Wilson are promising youngsters who are going to get better.' Ferguson is determined not to be left behind when the top clubs in Italy, Spain and Germany engage in a multi-million pound scramble to recruit the best available talent this summer. The Old Trafford boss is adamant he must augment his squad to cope with the demands the players will face. The revised Champions League format will mean an extra six matches for any team making it to the final, compounding what is already a punishing fixture schedule. 'It will be different next season and whether we like it or not, it is going to be far more difficult,' he explained. 'It could take 17 matches to get to the final of the Champions League and you're going to need some squad of players to handle that. 'You can't imagine a club like Inter Milan adding to their squad - they already have 25 or 26 top players. 'But I think most top European clubs will be assessing at the moment just how many players they are going to need.' The doubts and debate surrounding the proposed £623m takeover of United by BSkyB have created a minor complication. Ferguson explained: 'There's a problem over who owns the club but we'll know where we stand and what funds are available when that is all sorted out.' Such has been Ferguson's excellent judgment in the transfer market that whoever holds the purse strings when the takeover saga reaches its climax will be obliged to back the United manager's blueprint for the future. Goalkeeper Van Der Sar is set to arrive as the replacement for the departing Peter Schmeichel. Seedorf has told Real Madrid that he wants to leave and the 24-year-old's drive and versatility in midfield would provide competition on three fronts. The Spanish giants, whose defence of their Champions League crown ended on Wednesday with defeat by Dynamo Kiev, will demand £8m for Seedorf. De Boer is also a wonderfully gifted utility player. He joined Barcelona recently with his twin Frank. Barcelona really wanted Frank but Ajax insisted on a double deal. Ronald became a talented £6m makeweight but he is understood to have accepted that he is likely to be moving on again in the close season. United's progress to the last four of the Champions League, where they will meet Juventus, has impressed Sir Bobby Charlton, skipper of the 1968 European Cup-winning team and now an Old Trafford director. Sir Bobby said: 'There is an outstanding team in the last four . . . us. The manager and his staff have done a fantastic job. 'We are unbeaten in Europe this season after playing some very tough teams. There is no reason for us to be afraid because we have a real chance.'
Ole Scores the first today [click on pic for Match report]

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