www.red11.org DAILY NEWS
Date: Sat 30 Oct 1999 01:43 GMT
Mail: barry@www.red11.org
This Issue:
1. RED ISSUE www.redissue.co.uk
2. I couldn't get a pie! Manchester Senior Cup by The Old Fart
3. BOSNICH: 'THE CRITICISM SPURRED ME ON'
4. The Treble DVD Release Date: 01 November 1999 Rating
5. Dates of Phase 2 CL Games
6. Site Visitor from South Africa Kabelo and the Statman
7. Ask the StatMan
8. Bosnich chooses to fill a giant's boots
9. UNITED FANS FEEL CLUB IS DIVIDED
++++++=========+++++++========+++++++++========++++++++
MANCHESTER UNITED DAILY NEWS Saturday 30th Oct 1999:
Barry Comment:
WEB NEWS - www.redissue.co.uk !NEW!
RED ISSUE's new all-singing all-dancing website is open to
Reds surfers from tomorrow (Saturday) morning at www.redissue.co.uk
We are carrying almost all the content from our new magazine which goes on
sale at OT tomorrow afternoon including a world-exclusive Alex Ferguson
interview. We hope this new site will be welcomed by Reds across the world
who obviously can't get to the game and buy it.
The site also has unmoderated chat, bulletin board and shockwave cartoon
strips as well as a mid-day comprehensive new service
The DVD version of the treble is on sale at the DVDstreet web site
www.dvdstreet.com for 15-99 Pd Strlg RRP 19-99 excluding delivery for those
of you who might be interested.
ECL Group D ** Manchester United **
Olympique de Marseille * NK Croatia Zagreb * SK Sturm Graz
Manchester United FC Champions League Squad List
1 Mark John Bosnich 2 Gary Alexander Neville 3 Dennis Joseph Irwin
4 David May 6 Jakob Stam 7 David Robert J Beckham
8 Nicholas Butt 9 Andrew Alex. Cole 10 Edward Sheringham
11 Ryan Joseph Giggs 12 Philip Neville 14 Johan Jordi Cruyff
15 Lars Jesper Blomqvist 16 Roy Keane 17 Raimond RJH Van der Gouw
18 Paul Scholes 19 Dwight Yorke 20 Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
21 Henning Berg 23 Michael Jamie Clegg 25 José Quinton Fortune
26 Massimo Taibi 31 Nicholas James Culkin 33 Mark Antony Wilson
34 Jonathan Greening
Group D P W D L F A PTS
Manchester United FC 5 3 1 1 7 3 10
Olympique de Marseille 5 3 0 2 8 6 9
SK Sturm Graz 5 2 0 3 4 10 6
NK Croatia Zagreb 5 1 1 3 5 5 4
Real Audio - Last weeks Daily News Sound Archive:
Click on INDEX at http://www.red11.org/sound
************************
99/2000 fixtures/match reports are at
http://www.red11.org/mufc/992000.htm
Mark Bosnich's Personal Details
http://www.red11.org/mufc/bosnich.htm
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
MANCHESTER UNITED STATS v ALL teams on the Web
http://www.red11.org/mufc/stats.htm
Previous News:
BSKYB Takeover news/pics at http://www.red11.org/mufc/bskyb.htm
Brian Kidd Press conference, pic, real audio
http://www.iol.ie/~redcafe/kidd.htm
Peter Schmeichel's last Season at United!
http://www.red11.org/mufc/news/schmeichel.htm
*** FIXTURES ON 30/10/99 ***
Arsenal v Newcastle United
Derby County v Chelsea
Leeds United v West Ham United
Leicester City v Sheffield Wednesday
Manchester United v Aston Villa
Middlesbrough v Everton
Wimbledon v Southampton
*** FIXTURES ON 31/10/99 ***
Coventry City v Watford
Sunderland v Tottenham Hotspur
*** RESULTS AND ATTENDANCES ON 27/10/99 ***
Liverpool 1-0 West Ham United 44,012
*** CONDENSED LEAGUE TABLE AS AT 27/10/99 ***
Pos Team P W D L F A GD Pts
---------------------------------------------------------
1 Leeds United 12 8 2 2 25 16 9 26
2 Arsenal 12 8 1 3 20 12 8 25
3 Sunderland 12 7 3 2 21 10 11 24
4 Manchester United 12 7 3 2 28 19 9 24
5 Tottenham Hotspur 11 6 2 3 20 15 5 20
6 Leicester City 12 6 2 4 20 17 3 20
7 Chelsea 10 6 1 3 17 7 10 19
8 Everton 12 5 3 4 21 18 3 18
9 Liverpool 12 5 3 4 13 11 2 18
10 Aston Villa 12 5 3 4 13 12 1 18
11 Middlesbrough 12 6 0 6 16 16 0 18
12 West Ham United 11 5 2 4 12 10 2 17
13 Coventry City 12 3 4 5 16 15 1 13
14 Southampton 11 3 3 5 18 22 -4 12
15 Wimbledon 12 2 6 4 18 26 -8 12
16 Bradford City 11 3 2 6 9 17 -8 11
17 Newcastle United 12 3 1 8 23 27 -4 10
18 Watford 12 3 0 9 8 18 -10 9
19 Derby County 12 2 3 7 10 21 -11 9
20 Sheffield Wednesday 12 1 2 9 8 27 -19 5
NEXT MATCHES
---------------------------------------------------------------
30-OCT-1999 [15:00] Manchester Utd. vs Aston Villa (FA Premier League, HOME)
02-NOV-1999 [19:45] Manchester Utd. vs Sturm Graz (UEFA Champions League, HOME)
06-NOV-1999 [15:00] Manchester Utd. vs Leicester C (FA Premier League, HOME)
20-NOV-1999 [15:00] Manchester Utd. vs Derby C (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 Score Pos. Attend.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
15/07/99 Melbourne Australia pre-season W 2-0 - 60,000
18/07/99 Sydney Australia pre-season W 1-0 - 78,000
21/07/99 Shanghai Shenhua pre-season W 2-0 - 80,000
24/07/99 Hong Kong South China pre-season W 2-0 - 40,000
1/08/99 Arsenal Wembley Charity Shield L 1-2 - 70,185
3/08/99 Omagh Town Omagh Bomb Fund W 9-0 - 7,000
4/08/99 Wigan Athletic friendly W 2-0 - 15,000
08/08/99 Everton Away PL D 1-1 10 39,141
11/08/99 Sheffield Wednesday Home PL W 4-0 3 54,941
14/08/99 Leeds United Home PL W 2-0 1 55,187
22/08/99 Arsenal Away PL W 2-1 1 38,147
25/08/99 Coventry City Away PL W 2-1 1 22,024
27/08/99 Monaco - Lazio ESC L 0-1 - 15,223
30/08/99 Newcastle United Home W 5-1 1 55,190
11/09/99 Liverpool Away W 3-2 1 44,929
14/09/99 Croatia Zagreb Home EC D 0-0 - 53,250
18/09/99 Wimbledon Home D 1-1 1 55,189
22/09/99 Sturm Graz Away EC W 3-0 - 16,480
25/09/99 Southampton Home D 3-3 1 55,249
29/09/99 Marseille Home EC W 2-1 - 54,276
3/10/99 Chelsea Away PL L 0-5 2 34,909
11/10/99 Sir Alex Testimonial Home F L 2-4 LEGENDS 54,842
13/10/99 Aston Villa Away WC3 L 0-3 - 33,815
16/10/99 Watford Home PL W 4-1 2 55,188
19/10/99 Marseille Away EC L 0-1 - 57,745
23/10/99 Tottenham Hotspur Away L 1-3 3 36,072
27/10/99 Croatia Zagreb Away EC 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
4/12/99 Everton Home PL 15.00
8/12/99 ? EC
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
****************************************************
JAN 05-14 Brazil WTC [3-4 games]
----------------------------------------------------
06/01/2000 Necaxa (Mexico) Neut WTC 16.00
08/01/2000 Vasco da Gama (Brazil) Away WTC 16.00
11/01/2000 South Melbourne (Australia) N WTC 16.00
****************************************************
22/01/2000 Arsenal Home PL 15.00
5/02/2000 Coventry City Home PL 15.00
12/02/2000 Newcastle United Away PL 15.00
26/02/2000 Wimbledon Away PL 15.00
1/03/2000 ? 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
15/04/2000 Sunderland Home PL 15.00
19/04/2000 ? EC qf ii
22/04/2000 Southampton Away PL 15.00
24/04/2000 Chelsea Home PL 15.00
29/04/2000 West Ham United Away PL 15.00
3/05/2000 ? EC sf i
6/05/2000 Tottenham Hotspur Home PL 15.00
10/05/2000 ? EC sf ii
14/05/2000 Aston Villa Away PL 15.00
24/05/2000 ? EC Final
http://www.red11.org/mufc/match.htm
++++++=========+++++++========+++++++++========++++++++
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RED ISSUE www.redissue.co.uk
RED ISSUE's new all-singing all-dancing website is open to
Reds surfers from todfy Saturday morning at www.redissue.co.uk
we are carrying almost all the content from our new magazine which goes on
sale at OT tomorrow afternoon including a world-exclusive Alex Ferguson
interview. we hope this new site will be welcomed by reds across the world
who obviously can't get to the game and buy it!
The site also has unmoderated chat, bulletin board and shockwave cartoon
strips as well as a mid-day comprehensive news service.
Congratulations to RED NEWS from The Web Team at The Theatre Of Dreams
http://www.red11.org
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I couldn't get a pie! Manchester Senior Cup by The Old Fart
Last night we witnessed a fantastic game of football when Manchester United
played Manchester City at 'home' (Gigg Lane) in the Manchester Senior Cup.
Dad and myself met at the ground fairly early as we suspected that there
might be a big crowd - it was far bigger than even we expected, and more
noisy! I think they had let the kids in for free as there were hundreds of
them, running about all over the place, screaming at a million decibels and
generally enjoying themselves.
Although I am a Manchester United fanatic, I am also a Manchester City fan.
What that means, of course, is that I understand how much it means to our
Blue brothers to beat us; it means EVERYTHING. So I said to dad that they
would put out a strong team and would be 'up for it'; I was correct on both
counts. The City side contained at least seven regular first-team squad
players. The conditions were very good. It was a typical autumn night, with
a chill in the air, but it was clear and pleasant (not raining!) and the
pitch was in absolutely tip-top condition.
It was end-to-end stuff right from the kick-off and City might have scored
after a few moments when Taibi made a right hash of a low cross/shot. We
were playing with Curtis and May in the centre of the back four and City
exposed this pairing a couple of times. On one horrendous occasion (after
fifteen minutes) both lads used the "After you, no, after you" tactic to
great effect and the City forward should have scored as he broke through
unchallenged.
Greening was running well and covering large amounts of ground. Mostly he
was playing outside right as we had Notman and Cruyff in the centre. After
fifteen minutes he made a good run and crossed only for Cruyff to head wide
when he should have done better. Then after thirty minutes the roles were
reversed as Cruyff and Notman combined well on the right flank for a cross
which Greening struck well, hitting the angle of post and bar. Unlucky.
Right at the end of the half City had another break away and Taibi made a
brilliant save, point blank, down to his left. Excellent save, very poor
defending.
During the first half the Australian lad, Tiatto, had pulled all the City
strings and had seemed to have a roving role across the middle of the
pitch. He had been probing mostly down their left flank and had exposed
Gary Neville on several occasions. Both dad and myself thought that Tiatto
was the man of the first half.
At half time we went down to get a pie only to discover that the queue was
about a half mile long! Had we decided to wait we would just have been
served about now! It was a bit of a disappointment but then remembering the
last pie I had at Gigg Lane (and how it 'danced' with my ulcer during the
second half) perhaps it was a bit of good fortune. I'm sure that all the
kids were spending their 'gate money' on sweets and pop and thus us
'regulars' couldn't get near the pies! Nip down to Gigg Lane this morning,
there will be pies going for next to nowt!
Both dad and myself agreed that the score reflected the match overall. Both
sides were attacking with great strength. City had far and away the better
chances, though we had had a few ourselves. Notman in particular was
running very well indeed and most of our better chances had come through
this lad. Notman appears (to this old fart's eyes) to be coming on in leaps
and bounds and I hope his progress continues. He makes such intelligent
runs wide, making space for oncoming players and that is a great skill.
Last night he also reminded me of another 'little man', Lou Macari and that
is high praise indeed.
Again it was end-to-end. Then after twenty-four minutes we broke down the
left flank, Wellens took the ball to the line and was heavily challenged.
The ball broke for a corner and the City defender fell under the inertia of
his own challenge. The referee, predictably, gave a free-kick to City and
they broke very quickly. Whether Gary Neville had gone forward for the
'corner' I don't know, but I do know that our right flank was totally
exposed. They swarmed through down their left and then a square ball found
a City player (possibly Wright-Phillips) in acres of room, in the penalty
area. Good control, low shot. 0-1!
Almost immediately Twiss came on for Chadwick. Whether the lad's reputation
is going before him I know not but Chadwick was heavily marked last night.
He never really got going at all. He seemed to want to come inside all the
time, rather than going wide, and this meant he was easily closed down. The
boy lacks any real body strength at the moment and thus coming inside meant
easy pickings for the City midfielders. Chadwick needs a right good talking
too about 'tactical awareness' - as I've said a good few times before.
Twiss seemed to make an impact as soon as he came on. Whether this was
'fresh legs' or actual skill I don't know, but he did perk us up. From that
point on we seemed to control the game and had most of the attacking play.
Cruyff was put through after half and hour but was very slow and easily
dispossessed by a City defender coming back. Then an excellent cross from
Higginbotham was headed goalwards by Cruyff only for the (aging!) City
keeper, Wright, to pull off a brilliant diving save.
Our goal was a strange affair. I thought Gary Neville was miles offside but
it would appear that he was running back and thus 'technically on' when he
collected a through ball and set up an attack. The ball seemed to fly all
over the area before finally arriving at Wilson's feet, far post (I really
thought it was Greening at the time!). He had the simplest of tap-ins -
but, as I've said often in the past, you have to be THERE to tap it in. To
be honest the goal was just about all that Wilson contributed
constructively, though he defended very well indeed. On the balance Wilson
deserved the honour for his efforts in midfield and his defensive 'awareness'.
We grew in confidence from the goal and from that point on it was all
United. Just before the end Wilson should have hit the winner after a great
head-back by May, from a marvellous cross from Higginbotham. Wilson shot
wide! Then on the whistle Higginbotham had a chance which he also put wide.
Final score then 1-1 and it reflected the game, overall, just about right,
although we had finished the match far the stronger side.
So we went into a penalty shoot-out. We had had this last season in the MSC
game against City at Gigg Lane (most people missed it!), but then the
penalties appeared to be ignored in the final analysis! I have to say that
I was very impressed with all of our penalties and it crossed my mind that
the whole playing staff has been practicing this very necessary 'skill'
with the EC in mind. Each one of our penalties was struck well and with
control and Wright, in the City goal, had no chance with any of them.
Taibi, on the other hand, made good attempts at all of their penalties bar
one. He got his hands to one riser only for it to hit the underside of the
bar and go in. Unlucky. Then he saved one, down low to his right and that
was curtains for the Blues.
As I said at the beginning it means more to the Blue half of Manchester to
win these games than it does to the Reds. That's not to say that we are
happy to lose - we're NOT, but it is not the end of the world if we do. For
the Blues it IS and there will be a downturn in production in the Blue half
of Manchester this morning!
Overall we just about deserved the win. But whether we did or not - we DID
win it. Tough on the Blue boys!!! Right that's me finished. Now then, shall
I nip down to Gigg Lane for one of those pies?
Keep the faith, Pete
P.S. The team:
1. Taibi....... What I have seen of him thus far has worried me in that he
seems to be getting the fundamentals wrong. After three minutes last night,
City got a free-kick wide right, near the dead-ball line. The City player
merely hit it low and hard at the goal and Taibi allowed the ball to bounce
off his body. Fortunately nothing came of it. Then later he chose to punch
a cross when he could have caught it without pressure. The punch was low
and not too far. That is, once again, a basic
(shouldn't-be-seen-in-the-schoolyard) error. Other than that he had a
reasonable game, had no chance with their goal and saved the penalty (it
WAS a save and NOT a miss) which won the tie. Just about acceptable overall.
2. Neville.... didn't have one of his better games last night. City seemed
to favour their left flank and Gary was exposed on a couple of occasions.
But another game got through (after injury) for the lad and that is what
matters right at the moment.
3. Higginbotham..... another polished performance. Both at the back and
going forward. He supplied several very good crosses (which Chadwick failed
to do, as I said) and had a cracking game. My joint United m-o-t-m.
4. May...... good, solid performance as you'd expect from such a seasoned
campaigner. Never really looked troubled, other, that is, than when Curtis
got in his way!
5. Curtis...... not a good game last night as far as I'm concerned. We
would have been much steadier at the back with Gary Neville alongside
Maysie. But the lad needs to have his chance. Somehow, though, I don't see
Curtis making it. But I've been wrong before!
6. Cruyff..... had one of his "I'm an international star" games. Pissed me
off most of the time with his 'laid-back', 'give-it-to-feet',
'I'm-not-breaking-sweat-if-you-don't-pass-to-me' attitude. Disappointing
performance.
7. Wellens...... 'bulldog' performance as always. Again got through loads
of work and to good effect. Not quite as good as last week but then a much
stronger opposition. For his work rate alone my joint m-o-t-m.
8. Wilson.... scored the much-needed equaliser. But did little else for me.
Having said that he defended very well and against a very strong City team
that was needed. On balance a good steady performance and he did score the
goal.
9. Greening..... worked hard, wide right. Made some good runs down the
flank but nothing much actually came from what he did. Needs to make more
progress for me.
10. Notman...... ran his trollop off again. Can't ask for any more from a
centre-forward, target-man. I like the way he has settled since he returned
from that loan spell. He seems a much more confident and aware player. I
hope he makes it, though he IS very small.
11. Chadwick..... not one of his better games. When he couldn't get down
the flank he came inside and was easily dispossessed. We improved when the
lad went off. Simple as that.
12. Twiss.... made a difference when he came on which is just about as good
as you can report for any substitute.
Copyright © 1999 The Old Fart. All rights reserved. Not to be
reproduced without permission of the author.
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BOSNICH: 'THE CRITICISM SPURRED ME ON'
Mark Bosnich has played five successive matches, the longest run any
United keeper has been afforded all season, but is not resting on his
laurels.
"People have been quick to criticise, but Peter Schmeichel took eight years
at United to achieve what he did. I've only been here a few months, so I
believe I am going to need a bit of time.
"Obviously people are entitled to their opinions, but I don't think I have
done too much wrong. It was good to play in Croatia and be able put a few
things straight.
"When I was back home in Australia we actually spoke Croatian all the time,
but obviously it's something I have let slip a bit over the years. But it
was nice to go to Zagreb, and I even managed a bit of the language in a TV
interview.
"My mother's parents are Croatian, although she was born in Australia,
while my dad was born in Croatia.
He added: "It's good timing for me to be back in the team having qualified
for the next stage in Europe just before I have to face Aston Villa again
on Saturday.
"It happened a few weeks ago when I was in the Worthington Cup side that
lost at Villa, so now it will be nice to face them again but this time at
Old Trafford. Hopefully we will have a different result this time around.
Bosnich continued: "Hopefully a few critics will take a step back now and
say, maybe, just maybe, that the things they said about me were a bit wide
of the mark.
"I could have sulked, but I think that is very child-like. I was denied the
chance to play for United several years ago because of work permit
problems, now the situation is in my own hands and I am very appreciative
about what I have got.
"I could have sulked, but sometimes you just need to look around at all the
problems elsewhere and you realise you are lucky with what you have.
However, the criticism was a spur to me. There were all those accusing
fingers.
"But I found it strange that after seven years at Villa playing at a decent
level, that I was judged like that. As far as I was concerned the only
thing I did wrong was to get injured. I know I didn't set the world alight,
but I wasn't playing that badly either. I suppose it comes down to the size
of the club you are playing for.
"But it's still early days and I still have a lot to prove at United."
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The Treble DVD Release Date: 01 November 1999 Rating
Taken from the site ........
List Price £19.99 Our Price £15.99 Buy Now
Football? Bloody Hell! The Gods in Red have done it again - hauled back
victory from the jaws of defeat to produce the most amazing comeback of all
time.
Add Your Review
www.dvdstreet
http://www.dvdstreet.infront.co.uk/cgi-bin/show?Key=dvd-mudvd1&OQ=manchester
+united&Zone=
Region Coding: Zone 2 (UK and Europe)
List Price: £19.99 Our Price: £15.99
(Includes VAT and FREE Delivery in the UK)
The story line
Football? Bloody Hell! The Gods in Red have done it again - hauled back
victory from the jaws of defeat to produce the most amazing comeback of all
time.
'Fact File' - did you know?
* Man U's first period of success was before the First World War, when the
team won two Championships and the FA Cup.
* David Beckham has appeared over 220 times for the club since joining in
1992, including 22 occasions as a sub.
Additional Information
Release Date: 01 November 1999
Cat. Number: mudvd1
Bar Code: 5 014138 024031
Label: VCI
Production Company: VCI
Copyright: Video Collection International Ltd.
Category: Sports
Colour: Colour
Video PAL: Yes
 |
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Dates of Phase 2 CL Games
Remaining dates for 1999/2000 Champions League are:-
2nd phase group matches
November 23/24
December 7/8
February 29/March 1
March 7/8
March 14/15
March 21/22
Quarter finals
April 4/5
April 18/19
Semi finals
May 3
May 10
Final
May24
Mike Dobbin
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Site Visitor from South Africa Kabelo and the Statman
In response to your question that you raised yesterday :
question: WHY ARE WE LOSING SO MUCH FOUR GAMES IN FIVE GAMES IS JUST TOO
MUCH. IS IT THE INJURIES OR THE OPPONENT ARE JUST TOO GOOD FOR US.
I would like to comment by saying that I fully agree with the STATMAN, YES
we do have injury problems, YES, the opposition is getting more tougher,
YES we have a goalkeeper crisis and YES the midfield understanding is
doubtful. Yes, new played need time to settle down.
In my opinion I believe that Sir Alex Furguson should bite the bullet now
and get these problems sorted out whilst we are only two to five points
adrift from the top of the log. Quinton Fortune is a brilliant midfielder
and should feature in more of the matches (I am not only mentioning this
because I am South African). Select a number one goalkeeper and stick with
him. Changing the squad after a game lost is not the way to do it. Firstly,
The goalkeeper or any other player starts feeling inadequate, de-motivated
and probably eventually accepts blame for a loss by thinking that this is
the reason why he is being left out.
Secondly, the new player being replaced, is bound to make mistakes as well.
Thirdly, we do have other talented players that can stand in the boots of
those injured, why don't we use them.
What I would try-out if I was the Manager......... and this is just a far
out suggestion.
If there is more than one defender, midfielder or strikeforce player
injured from the first team. Take the rest of them out and replace the lot
with the reserves. Let me explain.
Say for instance Gary Neville, Jaap Stam and Dennis Irwin are all injured.
I would bring up an entire reserves backline. Why ? These guys play
together every week and understand each other better. It makes much more
sense to do it this way than to bring up one ore two of the reserve players
to be slotted in the first team.
The same goes for the Midfield, etc.
I don't think this has ever been tried, but I do believe it is worth a try.
Anyway? Let me leave you with some encouragement. It is not important what
you win now ..... It is important what you win at the end !!!
Keep the Faith
Always deep in "RED"
Peter Russie
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Subject:Ask the StatMan - Do you think we gonna have Keane in our squad next season?
============================================================================
Date: Thursday, October 21, 1999
Time: 2:32 PM EST
Submitted by: Roar Jansson
Email address: roar_jansson@allkopi.no
Ask the StatMan
visitor_country: Norway
visitor_age: 30
question: do you think we gonna have roy keane in our squad next season?
============================================================================
I have no inside knowledge, so all I can say is that like all Reds I hope Roy Keane
will stay. If the stumbling block is just salary, then the club should explore all
avenues to keep him, as a replacement will cost more money long-term.
However, if the rumours about him having differences with the Chairman are true,
it may be that he will exercise his right as a free agent to go in the summer.
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Bosnich chooses to fill a giant's boots
By Ken Lawrence
Mark Bosnich has come through the growing pains and now hopes to become
the new goalkeeping giant of Manchester United.
Bosnich returned from his spiritual home of Croatia having finally
passed a revealing examination of his ability. His Old Trafford career
could have been finished by now but the half-Croat, half-Australian has
shown a maturity many doubted he possessed.
Bosnich could hardly have got his angles more wrong after Sir Alex
Ferguson made him first choice to follow the gargantuan presence of
Peter Schmeichel.
He had not even saved a shot for United when he ended up in police cells
over a stag night barney outside a lap dancing club in June.
Before he left Aston Villa he had fallen foul of the football
authorities for making a Nazi-style salute in front of fans at
Tottenham, a club with a strong Jewish affiliation.
He also allegedly exchanged insults with Everton fans behind his goal at
Goodison. Bosnich was on the books at United eight years ago but was
forced to return home to Sydney because of work permit complications.
On his return to the Old Trafford club, he played just 201 minutes of
Premiership football before suffering a hamstring injury. He allegedly
disagreed with Ferguson over training methods and the manager brought in
£4.5million Massimo Taibi as replacement.
Bosnich's chance to play in the Champions League came about only because
the Italian's permit arrived 24 hours after the UEFA deadline. Now it is
Taibi who is on the outside.
Suddenly, Bosnich appears to fit his new role like a goalkeeping glove
and he has convinced a doubting Sir Alex that he takes himself far more
seriously than the United manager might have imagined. That is what
helped him stay sane after he was dumped into the Old Trafford reserves.
Bosnich said: 'When I was going through all my problems I could have
sulked. But that would have been child-like. What I did was remind
myself that I was still in a fortunate position. As a professional
footballer I get paid very well for doing something I love.
'I am fortunate to be playing at a club that is arguably the biggest
club in the world, a club I always wanted to play for and never wanted
to leave in the first place.
'As I said, I could have sulked. But sometimes you have to look around
you, look at all of the problems in the world. I decided that even if I
wasn't in the team at the time, I was still lucky.
'It was difficult, of course. There were people shouting at me left,
right and centre saying that I wasn't up to the job. But funnily enough,
I am more comfortable with criticism than with praise.
'People are entitled to their opinion but I found it a little peculiar
that, having played the last seven years with Villa at a decent level, I
was being judged so quickly at United, even if I did not exactly set the
world alight when I came back.'
Bosnich, whose father was born in Croatia and whose mother's parents are
from the same country, fittingly proved his return to form with a
faultless display in Zagreb.
That performance, watched by his Croat uncle and two cousins, has given
him a great advantage in the battle for possession of United's No.1
jersey. Taibi, having been originally told by Ferguson that he would be
first choice, has experienced his own disasters and remains ineligible
for the Champions League until February.
By then, Bosnich will have had the opportunity to prove he really can
fill the huge boots of Schmeichel, although he said : 'One swallow
doesn't make a summer. I know I have a lot of work to do yet.
'But Schmeichel was here at United for almost eight years. I've been
here about three months. What I do hope is that all the people who
pointed the finger at me and were so quick to criticise now accept that
I am making progress. Hopefully all the critics will take a step back
now.
'It means a lot to me that I'm in the team. I don't mind being up
against any keeper in a one-to-one. That doesn't worry me. But I still
have a lot to do here.'
Bosnich now faces his former club Aston Villa at Old Trafford tomorrow
in the Premiership. He suffered abuse at Villa Park a fortnight ago in
his Worthington Cup comeback, but said: 'It's just the three points I
want. It's just another match and I am looking forward to it.'
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UNITED FANS FEEL CLUB IS DIVIDED
The Independent Manchester United Supporters Association have expressed
major reservations over the club's confirmation they have withdrawn from
the FA Cup.
United have confirmed their decision with the Football Association ahead of
the Saturday evening deadline prior to the second round draw. IMUSA
chairman Andy Walsh believes that the decision has caused a rift in the Old
Trafford hierarchy after director Sir Bobby Charlton urged the club's board
to re-think their decision in midweek.
"What we have seen this week, with the comments by Charlton, is that a
division within the club has been created," Walsh said.
"The whole thing has been badly handled. We tried to ensure there would be
a stay of execution in the summer by meeting with the FA, the PFA and the
LMA and the FA refused to have the meeting.
"We had one meeting when the fans went down to see David Davies but he saw
the other groups separately.
"He promised to call us back but didn't and every step of the way, the FA
have dragged their feet and been uncooperative and the whole thing has been
a complete mess."
But IMUSA admit that the playing and managerial staff at United have no
blame in the affair. "We recognise that the club have been forced into this
position by the FA and the Government's desire to secure the 2006 World Cup
bid," Walsh said.
"We would far rather have United not enter the World Club Championship in
Brazil. The manager has already said that he fears for the rest of the
season because of the physical demands players will face.
"The players will playing at the height of the Brazilian summer in 90
degree heat and there are also the chances of injury. When we get back, we
play Arsenal and then it is straight into the Champions League programme.
"It just doesn't benefit United from a football sense at all. We are
worried that the plc's judgement has been coloured by the money they will
make from the tournament. I don't think the view of the manager, the
players or the supporters have been taken into account one jot."
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Pic Link today is http://www.red11.org/mufc/sound/99/
