Date: Fri, 28 May 1999 00:04:54 -0500 Reply-To: "Manchester United Football Club (soccer)" Sender: "Manchester United Football Club (soccer)" From: Automatic digest processor Subject: MUFC Digest - 26 May 1999 to 27 May 1999 (#1999-38) To: Recipients of MUFC digests There are 63 messages totalling 4241 lines in this issue. Topics of the day: 1. A Day To Remember (2) 2. Guardian report 3. ITN report 4. Soccernet report 5. Telegraph report 6. Times report 7. Teamtalk report 8. (Times) Hitzfeld maganimous in defeat 9. United's sheer marvels prove Ferguson wrong 10. 365 report 11. "We are the Champions, and we'll keep on fighting to the end" 12. A Medical Advisory and Blasphemous Statement 13. Denis Irwin 14. BETTER THAN ORGASM 15. Who the f*** are Man Utd!!! 16. Post match reaction (365) 17. How Fergie compares to the greats (2) 18. Full Time 19. Start of the Bus Tour (3) 20. Some more thoughts on yesterday's game (2) 21. The treble is ours ! 22. Just in case ... 23. Champions League Music (2) 24. Official MUFC Website Match Report 25. YEESSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!! 26. Official Web site party details 27. (Fwd) UNITED STREET PARTY BACK ON THE ROAD 28. We've done it. 29. Van der Sar joins Juve 30. Love song 31. World Champions (3) 32. Attn. Masterfan 33. "Football is an easy game"(result) (2) 34. Thank You God!!!!!! 35. goalkeeper news (2) 36. PARADE/VAN DER SAAR/SIR ALEX? 37. vd Saar to Juve 38. So proud 39. Must be time for a party.. 40. Query about European Rankings (2) 41. Two home-made pictures 42. URL correction 43. Who put the ball in the Germans' net? 44. MANCHESTER UNITED...THEY CAME, THEY SAW, THEY CONQUERED! 45. Something good about ESPN 46. European Player of the Year 47. Help required.. 48. Same old United ... 49. Match Report - from an Evertonian! 50. what a perfect day 51. FREE Treble Celebration Screen Saver 52. Attention: Oz Reds + Medals + ABUs ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu, 27 May 1999 00:26:41 -0500 From: Dan Dewberry Subject: Re: A Day To Remember > From: Andrew Falconer > Subject: A Day To Remember > > Treble Champion Reds, > > The Munich goal was a fluke, from foul that wasn't. > Go back and watch it again. Johnsen is fouled. I must agree after rewatching it. Johnsen even changed his course to try & avoid contact because the ball was in the air long enough for the defense to converge. Anyway, MANU are CHAMPIONS of EUROPE & the WORLD and I will never forget this season. Dan ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 27 May 1999 15:52:09 +0930 From: Ken Simpson Subject: Re: A Day To Remember Andrew Falconer wrote: > Munich sat back and waited to be handed the Cup. The > only guy I might feel remotely sorry for is Kuffour, > who played his heart out, and showed it at the end. I might have felt a bit sorry for Kuffour as well, until Martin Tyler informed us he was a Manchester City fan! Seriously though, I do feel a bit sorry for Bayern as they were a little unlucky. If either of the shots that hit the woodwork had gone in, they would now be European Champions (how I love the sound of that term). All that matters now though is that we have finally won the bloody thing again! After 90 minutes I thought we were dead and buried. Thank f**k the players didn't feel the same way... Cheers, Ken (still buzzing, and soon off to the pub to celebrate big-time) PS Happy Birthday, Sir Matt - this one's for you. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Ken Simpson Tel: +61-8-8303-5036 High Energy Astrophysics Group Fax: +61-8-8303-4380 University of Adelaide email: SA 5005 ksimpson@physics.adelaide.edu.au AUSTRALIA or simpson@booboo.physics.utah.edu ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 27 May 1999 09:33:25 +0300 From: Triple Dale Subject: Guardian report United shatter Bayern with double strike in injury-time By Martin Thorpe Wednesday May 26, 1999 Manchester United sealed a historic Treble last night. That was predicted. But what could not have been foreseen was the manner of their victory. Two goals in injury-time by substitutes Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer handed them a victory every bit as remarkable as their first European Cup at Wembley win 31 years earlier. Yet the start for United could hardly have been worse. The game was merely heading towards the fifth minute when Bayern's giant striker Carsten Jancker burst towards the opposing penalty area only to be unceremoniously brought down by Ronny Johnsen's tackle some 19 yards out on the left. As the Germans loitered over the free-kick, United arranged a long wall into which Markus Babbel infiltrated. As Mario Basler hammered his shot towards the crimson sentries, Babbel appeared to peel off backwards, taking the end of the wall with him and the ball fizzed around the defensive line with Peter Schmeichel, in his final game for United, left angrily rooted to the spot as it hit the net. Neither the United players nor the fans could believe they were losing. After all the hope they had invested in this tie, was defeat going to be the reality? About half the giant bowl of the 90,000 capacity Nou Camp wallpapered red by United supporters, a colourful backdrop made even bolder by Alex Ferguson's starting line-up. In the absence of the suspended Roy Keane and Paul Scholes, the United manager took a huge gamble in this, without doubt the most important game of his life, by risking David Beckham alongside Nicky Butt in midfield. The player constantly praised as the best crosser of the ball in Europe and prior to the game rated by Pele as currently the third best player in the world behind Rivaldo and Zinedine Zidane, has filled this central role hardly at all in his career and just once this season - in last Saturday's FA Cup final. But the move did not entail just one risk. To accommodate Beckham's switch, Ryan Giggs was relocated to an equally unfamiliar position on the right wing, and the squad player Jesper Blomqvist brought in on the left. Going a goal behind so early offered an even stiffer test of the effectiveness of Ferguson's brave redesign. But slowly, as they have done so many times before, United worked their way into the game. Andy Cole bundled a shot under pressure just wide and Dwight Yorke met Beckham's ball to the near post with a turn and shot which the Bayern goalkeeper Oliver Kahn rushed to punch away. But the difficulty of United's task was frequently exposed. Beckham is great going forward but when, on 29 minutes he was naively dispossessed by Jens Jeremies just inside the Bayern half, the ensuing counter-attack ended with Alexander Zickler shooting just wide of Schmeichel's goal. Johnsen, preferred in central defence to midfield, proved an unexpectedly wobbly compatriot for Jaap Stam, while Blomqvist was also fitting uneasily into the United reshuffle, not only leaving the left side virtually a cross-free zone but directing too many passes to players in grey. But Ferguson's team were pressing for the equaliser even if they were not getting very far. The closest to a chance early on in the second half fell, actually, to Blomqvist, whose outstretched foot directed a deep cross from the right over the bar. But Bayern's well-organised and quick-witted side always remained a danger as United pushed forward. Not for the first time Jancker ran uninterrupted into the area only to see his acute-angled shot shovelled away by Schmeichel and then Basler nearly chipped the keeper from the halfway line before Stefan Effenberg blasted just wide from 25 yards and forced Schmeichel to tip over from close range shortly after. A United change was inevitable and on 67 minutes the ineffective Blomqvist made way for Saturday's man of the match Sheringham. And twice Bayern could have stretched their lead as shots rebounded from the United woodwork. Bayern would regret those misses as they missed a chance of their own Treble. Manchester United (4-4-2): Schmeichel; G Neville, Johnsen, Stam, Irwin; Giggs, Beckham, Butt, Blomqvist (Sheringham, 67min); Cole (Solskjaer, 81), Yorke. Bayern Munich (3-4-1-2) : Kahn; Linke, Matthaus (Fink, 80), Kuffour; Babbel, Jeremies, Effenberg, Tarnat; Basler (Salihamidzic, 88); Jancker, Zickler (Scholl, 71). Referee: P Collina (Italy). ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 27 May 1999 09:35:41 +0300 From: Triple Dale Subject: ITN report Manchester United 2 Bayern Munich 1 Manchester United sensationally snatched victory from the jaws of defeat to win the European Cup and complete their historic treble. One-down to the German champions, Bayern Munich, after only five minutes, they didn't equalise and then go ahead until injury time. Teddy Sheringham got their first; Ole Gunnar Solskjaer - also brought on as a substitute - got the clincher. United trailed for nearly the entire game after falling behind to Mario Basler's sixth-minute free-kick. But the most amazing finish in the competition's history, United levelled through substitute Teddy Sheringham when he shot on the turn from eight yards. That had seemed enough to take the match into extra-time and a possible golden goal finish - but United were not finished. David Beckham's corner was flicked on by Sheringham and the other substitute, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer rifled the ball into the roof of the net to spark incredible scenes among around 40,000 United fans in the Nou Camp. United, without the suspended Roy Keane and Paul Scholes, played Beckham through the middle with Ryan Giggs on the right flank and Jesper Blomqvist surprisingly given a start on the left. But the ploy seemed to backfire after Basler's free-kick gave the German champions the lead and United were dominated for most of the game by a physical Bayern side, with the 38-year-old Lothar Matthaus directing things from the back. Everything United tried seemed to end in frustration but Alex Ferguson refused to bring on fresh legs until 23 minutes from time when Sheringham came on for Blomqvist. Bayern could have wrapped the game up when firstly substitute Mehmet Scholl hit the post and then giant striker Carsten Jancker saw the ball bounce back off the bar from an audacious overhead kick. But the goal United had been so frantically searching for came 40 seconds into stoppage time when Sheringham turned home substitute Solskjaer's shot. Then, unbelievably, two minutes later United went ahead when Sheringham flicked on Beckham's free-kick for Solskjaer to crash the ball home. It left the disbelieving Germans slumped on the floor - and within seconds of the restart, Italian referee Pierluigi Collina blew the final whistle and Unite d had won their second European Cup. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 27 May 1999 09:41:00 +0300 From: Triple Dale Subject: Soccernet report The European Cup has never, ever seen anything like this. Manchester United seemed to have lost the only thing they truly cared about. The game really was over. The huge clocks at both ends of this magnificent stadium had both just clicked on to 45:00. Time was up, Bayern were winning and Alex Ferguson's team just had not performed. Teddy Sheringham's young son was looking forlornly up at the clock. Then his father scored and everything went crazy. Just as United had done so many, many times this season, they were back ... somehow. Then, amazingly, they had won. It all happened so fast that even Ole Gunnar Solskjaer probably doesn't know how he did it, but he did. The evening had started so differently, though. In a cauldron like this and with the May sunshine making Barcelona a steamy host city, the last thing you would have expected was that United would freeze. But they did in the first half-hour. This fine team has made enjoyment of big occasions their trademark - fear of failure has been absent from their vocabulary. Yet, before Mario Basler placed his sixth-minute free kick beyond a badly organised wall, and then repeatedly once Bayern were ahead, players like Ronny Johnsen, Jesper Blomqvist, Nicky Butt and even the laid back Dwight Yorke just seemed overwhelmed. Certainly, they fought and were not found wanting in attitude, aggression and even flair intermittently. Still, the fact remained, it was for desperately long periods a lame imitation of how United normally play. Bayern started precisely as it had been predicted they would, with a blizzard of energy and threat just like Borussia Dortmund did in defeating Juventus two seasons ago. Not for Ottmar Hitzfeld's teams the conservative approach to major Finals, he likes to see his players start like streetfighters, grip the game like a vice once ahead and then go for the killer blow when opponents think they are back in the contest. And, in Basler, the Bayern manager found such an eager disciple. It will nag at Ferguson and his players that referee Pierluigi Collina seemed to share their big-match nerves. When Johnsen's attempt to deal with the mammoth Carsten Jancker ended with the German centre forward on the ground, the Italian official seemed deeply unsure of his decision. To anyone familiar with the mental procedures of top-grade referees, it was quite evident that when he set off at a sprint to reach the spot where the incident took place, he was using the running time to make up his mind. Was it a penalty? Was it outside the box? Was it even a foul? When his decision was shared with the 22 players, the crowd and the TV-watching millions, it seemed like nothing more and nothing less than a fudge. Whatever anger United felt about Collina's ruling, it was not enough to jag them out of their torpor. The defensive wall was bedraggled, Jens Jeremies stood at the extreme right-hand end of it and the man known only as 'Super Mario' to Bayern's fans really had no problem in slotting in his goal. In fact, he looked as if he might have had more trouble lacing up his boots or pulling on his grey jersey, so simple was the strike. Poor old Nicky Butt, the man who had to step into Roy Keane's boots, was most exposed by the devastating moment. Jeremies was jostling him, Collina was not interested in interceding and as the midfielder tried to get behind his opponent, Jeremies rolled with him, exposed a vast gap and Basler scored. Simple as that. It was the same goalmouth into which United had conceded a much more thrilling, much better crafted free kick to the Brazilian Rivaldo against Barcelona but this time, again, Peter Schmeichel was left rooted to the spot. When the United players traipsed off the pitch at half-time, United were at their lowest ebb for many, many months. Shoulders were low, body language was sending out messages nobody in red wanted to see and only Ferguson had the key to building something inspirational from the rubble which surrounded him. Somebody in the Nou Camp clearly either had United's cause at heart, or a malicious sense of humour, when they pumped out the strains of Chumbawumba's hit record Tubthumping as the play-ers wandered off. 'I get knocked down, but I get up again' go the lyrics. That has been so true of this mighty season for United, but it just didn't look feasible at that time last night. The initial efforts to claw back parity - and pride - had been too stodgy to upset the authoritative Germans. David Beckham produced surge after surge, but either his thigh strain was telling on him or he should have been used on the right wing where he excels, because nothing he did could galvanise his team-mates in the customary manner. He might well have been United's most prominent and brave player of the first half, but the game was crying out for his return to the flank and those explosive, dangerous crosses. When Beckham did revert to type, in the 20th minute, his deflected cross left Yorke defying geometry to put a flick on the ball which had Oliver Kahn scrambling furiously to paw it off the line. Beckham also struck two fabulous corners in that first half-hour but, typically on the night, the chances fizzled out. Conversely, Munich were causing havoc at the other end. Johnsen and Schmeichel just could not get their act together and for some reason the Danish goalkeeper ended up kicking clear in three panicky situations in that woeful first half. Even when Beckham struck a free kick, it floated harmlessly past the woodwork instead of putting fear into the opposition. Then, as United's conviction returned and they desperately fought off the tiredness of their ravaging season, their luck appeared to run out. Little dummies between Ryan Giggs, Yorke and Cole which have unlocked defences all season suddenly went awry. Blomqvist started giving the ball away, just as he did with such terrible consequences in Milan when he caused Keane to make his bookable tackle which led to suspension from the Final. When the Swede went off for Sheringham with 25 minutes left, it looked overdue. He had missed United's best chance to that point when Giggs' penetrating cross dropped for Blomqvist to score, but he somehow managed to scoop the ball over the crossbar. Even when the usually impeccable Kahn bumped into his two defenders, Markus Babbel and Michael Tarnat, the ball sat up invitingly for Yorke or Cole, but the ball would not go in. There were some chances at both ends. Jaap Stam headed over in the 67th minute and Effenberg smashed a long drive just past soon after. Munich then created some spectacular efforts. Schmeichel saved superbly from Effenberg's lofted effort on his last night in United colours, Scholl's lob came back off a post and Jancker again hit the woodwork. The game was a minute into injury-time when Schmeichel ran the length of the field for a corner and in the confusion as Bayern failed to clear, Sheringham side-footed the ball into the corner following a shot by Giggs. Incredibly, the game was won within seconds when from another Beckham corner, Sheringham flicked on and Solskjaer stabbed home from close range. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 27 May 1999 09:47:04 +0300 From: Triple Dale Subject: Telegraph report (Apologies for the poor formatting in the last part of this article.) Wondrous finish covers up tactical frailties by David Miller Bayern Munich (1) 1 Man Utd (0) 2 THIS magnificent Manchester United side simply refuse to give up. Yesterday, when all seemed lost, when the German jinx again appeared to hold sway over an English side, United scored twice in the final seconds through Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to lift the European Cup on the day that marked Sir Matt Busby's 90th birthday. Amazing. United have this alarming habit of making life difficult for themselves in Europe. Scarcely five minutes had elapsed when the champions of England conceded the sloppiest of goals, the devastating early blow emanating from the confusion between Ronny Johnsen and Jaap Stam. Communication and positional sense, the staples of central defensive pairings, appeared minimal as Carsten Jancker, Bayern's burly striker, muscled down the inside-left channel. The area appeared Stam's zone of responsibility but there was Johnsen diving in and fouling Jancker. Bayern eyed up the situation, 20 yards and with promise writ large. United realised the danger and quickly gathered in a wall. Germans, though, are past masters at opening walls through run or tug. Jancker and Markus Babbel made the key moves. Jancker was first to peel away, taking Stam chasing after him. Then Babbel went, nipping behind the wall itself and applying a slight tug to Nicky Butt's shirt on the way. The cover was blown, the hole opened. Basler, having bided his time, stepped up and sent his free-kick curling into the space vacated by Babbel and Jancker. Peter Schmeichel, captain on his last appearance for United, stood helpless as the ball swerved in to his left, sending the Germans into paroxysms of delight. A brutal lesson unlearned, United still struggled defensively. Still the mix-ups came, most notably between Schmeichel and Johnsen, although Bayern failed to press home an unexpected advantage. Lacking Roy Keane's midfield drive and leadership, United desperately sought for one of their rank to stand up and lift them from this mess of their own making. David Beckham picked up the gauntlet. As United's faithful ran through their song-book, Beckham ran through his passing repertoire. This was his stage, his hour but the experienced Germans refused to buckle. The strivings of England's finest midfielder were watched and assessed by the great and the good of the global game, Pele even taking time out to describe Beckham as one of the world's great players just behind Rivaldo and Zinedine Zidane. Of Alex Ferguson's decision to hand Beckham the central play-making role, Brazil's most famous son said: "With a player like David Beckham, you must give him his freedom." Now it was United who needed liberating from of Bayern's cold clutch. Beneath a sea of banners, one of them proclaiming "Spirit of 68. Class of 99", Beckham kept trying to release a low-key Jesper Blomqvist down the left, Ryan Giggs down the right and Dwight Yorke and Andy Cole through the middle. One clever ball saw Yorke flicking goalwards only for Bayern's excellent goalkeeper, Oliver Kahn, to punch clear. Beckham's first-half promise foundered on the rock of German determination and organisation. Whenever Beckham gained possession, Jens Jeremies powered in, making control and composure even more crucial assets. Bayern's tactics were so clever, so efficient. When Schmeichel had the ball, only one grey-shirted striker stayed up while the other two fanned towards the flanks, filling the space that the English love to exploit. Giggs looked ill at ease on the right, adding to Bayern's sense of control. When United did break through, Kahn was there to quell the danger. One quickfire link-up between Yorke and Cole did release Giggs, ripping United's supporters from their seats in fevered anticipation. Yet there was Kahn, so calm and canny, advancing to seize the ball. As United themselves have done across Europe this extraordinary season, Bayern threatened on the break. After 28 minutes, Lothar Matth?us showed his enduring class, taking the ball away from the hard-tackling Jeremies and sweeping forward, brimming with intent. Having driven deep into United's half, Matth?us slipped the ball to the ungainly but effective Jancker, who found Alexander Zickler. The ensuing shot scarcely worried Schmeichel, sliding apologetically into the hoardings, but United had again been reminded of the need to re-gather when their own attacks broke down. At least the half finished on a promising note with Irwin and Cole combining to create a header for Giggs, which proved too weak to alarm Kahn. The second half beat to the same rhythm: United pressuring and Bayern parrying. Jancker sent Schmeichel into a slithering save and then Babbel misjudged a header with United's goal gaping. Giggs fashioned chances for Yorke, whose header was blocked, and then Blomqvist, who could not keep his shot down. As the clock ticked ever louder, urgent action became essential. Sheringham came off the bench for Blomqvist, yet it was Bayern who threatened, Jancker turning the ball into the path of Stefan Effenberg, whose attempted lob was pushed over by Schmeichel. Then Mehmet Scholl chipped Schmeichel but the ball rebounded into the 'keeper's arms. But then a miracle. Beckham's corner swung over and there was Schmeichel, up from the back, pressuring Bayern's proud defence. Yorke headed back, Giggs shot in and there was Sheringham playing the poacher. In added time, Beckham swung in another corner, Sheringham headed on and there was Solskjer to hook the ball in. The Treble was complete. Amazing. Manchester Utd: Schmeichel; G Neville, Stam, Johnsen, Irwin; Giggs, Beckham, Butt, Blomqvist (Sheringham 66); Yorke, Cole (Solksjaer 80). Subs: Van Der Gouw (g), May, P Neville, Brown, Greening. Bayern Munich: Kahn; Matth?us (Fink 80); Linke, Kuffour; Babbel, Effenberg, Jeremies, Tarnat; Basler (Salihamidzic 89), Jancker, Zickler (Scholl 70). Subs: Dreher (g), Helmer, Strunz, Daei. Booked: Effenberg. Referee: P Collina (Italy). ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 27 May 1999 09:50:47 +0300 From: Triple Dale Subject: Times report BAYERN MUNICH 1 MANCHESTER UNITED 2 MANCHESTER United last night sated the magnificent obsession that has inspired their strivings these past 31 years when they pulled off one of the most astonishing victories in the history of the European Cup and finally emulated the great team of Sir Matt Busby. In the end, it hardly seemed to matter that they had won the treble. That was almost forgotten in the incredible drama of a match that seemed to have been lost, of a triumph so sudden and shocking that it almost defied belief. It had seemed that United's attempt to win the trophy for the first time in 31 years had slipped to an anticlimactic failure, that they had fallen to a sixth-minute free kick from Mario Basler, that Bayern Munich had maintained the hold that German football seemed to have established over its English counterpart. But as the red digital clocks at either end of the Nou Camp here showed that 90 minutes were up and Alex Ferguson began to prepare for the misery of defeat and the brave words of congratulation for the Germans, the unbelievable, the unthinkable, began to unfold before his eyes. United's desperation had already forced them to rely on a huge chunk of good fortune as they saw shots from Carsten Jancker and Mehmet Scholl rebound off the woodwork. With injury time beckoning, Peter Schmeichel joined the rest of the United team in the penalty area as Beckham prepared to take a corner. It was cleared only to the edge of the box and when Ryan Giggs volleyed it back in, Teddy Sheringham, a second-half substitute, side-footed it into the corner of the net. United went wild; Bayern could not believe it. Yet two minutes later, the match lapsed into surreality. Beckham took another corner, Sheringham flicked it on and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who had been on the pitch for only eight minutes, hooked it into the roof of the net. The Bayern players stood disbelieving as United fell into ecstasy. A few seconds later, the final whistle went, the Germans flung themselves to the floor in utter despair and the victory was complete. Even United could scarcely believe it, but, when they wake this morning, they will know that they are the first English team for 15 years to lift the European Cup and that they have finally dragged themselves out of the shadow of Busby, George Best and Sir Bobby Charlton. They are their own men, now, they have gone from excellence to greatness, they will be f?ted as the most resilient, adventurous English side of all time. They have developed a reputation for coming back from the dead, but this was beyond anything we could have expected. Now, we will talk about the moment when Sheringham scored, about the disbelief at Solskjaer's strike in the same breath as we talk about Best's goal against Benfica at Wembley all those years ago. Nothing could equal the drama of what United achieved here. From before the start, the atmosphere surrounding the game had been laden with the weight of history and expectation. Eric Cantona sauntered around the white marquees that ringed the stadium, Charlton sat nervously in the stands with the rest of the United directors. In the opening minutes, in particular, it all seemed like a crushing burden on Alex Ferguson's players. They looked as though they were frozen with tension, with the realisation of how close they suddenly were to the prize that they had sought for so long.Schmeichel, playing in his last game for the club, appeared to be particularly badly affected. Usually the epitome of decisiveness and urgency, he twice fell into the grip of hesitation before his team had had time to settle and was forced into hasty, inelegant clearances that hinted at panic. The United goalkeeper was also partly to blame when Bayern took the lead in the sixth minute. Passes from Jens Jeremies and Michael Tarnat had split the United defence and forced Ronny Johnsen into making a clumsy foul on Carsten Jancker, but Schmeichel arranged a long wall of red shirts on the edge of the area that should have been unbreachable. Basler took the kick. He did not do anything fancy or attempt to bend the ball over the wall and under the crossbar. Instead, as Marcus Babbel dragged Nicky Butt out of the way, he clipped it round the side of the United players so that it arrowed straight into the right-hand corner of the net. Schmeichel stood rooted to the spot. It was then that attention began to focus on Ferguson's bold experiment of playing Beckham in the centre of midfield, with Ryan Giggs switched to the right wing and Jesper Blomqvist stationed on the left. In the first half, it simply did not work. It was not Beckham's fault. When he did get possession, he used it wisely and well, spraying passes right and left towards Andy Cole, Giggs and Blomqvist, but far from being discomfited by the sight of Beckham occupying his unfamiliar role, Bayern seemed to be encouraged by it. When United had possession, Bayern pushed Lothar Matth?us forward into midfield, where Beckham was already facing the formidable twin obstacle of Stefan Effenberg and Jeremies. It was simple enough, but it had the effect of swamping Butt and Beckham and denying them the time or space to operate. When the German champions chose to counter-attack, United missed the doggedness of the suspended Roy Keane and Paul Scholes and Bayern sliced through them. Oliver Kahn was forced to make a save for the first time midway through the half, when he punched Yorke's flick away at the near post, and Beckham nearly created a chance for Cole with a raking, 50-yard pass that split the Bayern defence. Still Bayern seemed the more dangerous side, though, still it was their counter-attacks that carried the most penetration. From one of these on the half-hour, Jeremies burst into great expanses of space, but, when Jancker back-heeled his pass to Zickler on the edge of the box, Zickler dragged it wide. The start of the second half did not bring any change of fortune or incisiveness for United. Nine minutes after the interval, Babbel could have put Bayern farther ahead, but, under pressure from Johnsen, he glanced his header from a corner by Basler just wide. Two minutes later, Blomqvist wasted an excellent chance when he scooped a cross from Giggs over the bar from six yards. Nothing was working for United. Giggs tried to sell a dummy to Basler and saw it intercepted, Cole tried an audacious overhead kick and almost missed it completely. The Germans were proving far more resilient opponents than any other of the teams that United have played so far this season. Midway through the half, Ferguson bowed to the inevitable and introduced Sheringham for Blomqvist. Yet that did not turn tide immediately, either. The more they pressed forward, the more desperate and vulnerable United became. In the 73rd minute, Schmeichel made an outstanding save from Effenberg after Jancker's first-time pass had put him clear. A few minutes later, after Basler's run had turned Johnsen inside out, Schmeichel was powerless as he watched Mehmet Scholl's delicate chip float over him. To the relief of the United section of the crowd, the chip rebounded off the post. United had another lucky escape a few minutes later, when Jancker's overhead kick crashed off the underside of the crossbar. They forced a couple of opportunities of their own through Solskjaer and Sheringham, but the Germans remained defiant and resolute - until United's desperate last assault. BAYERN MUNICH (3-5-2): O Kahn - T Linke, L Matth?us (sub: T Fink, 79min), S Kuffour - M Babbel, J Jeremies, S Effenberg, M Basler (sub: H Salihamidzic, 89), M Tarnat - C Jancker, A Zickler (sub: M Scholl, 70). MANCHESTER UNITED (4-4-2): P Schmeichel - G Neville, R Johnsen, J Stam, D Irwin - R Giggs, D Beckham, N Butt, J Blomqvist (sub: E Sheringham, 67) - A Cole (sub: O G Solskjaer, 81), D Yorke. Referee: P Collina (Italy). 112 seconds that made history Manchester United's fortunes were transformed in the space of 112 dramatic seconds in injury time at the Nou Camp. A match that seemed destined to be settled by Bayern Munich's early goal erupted into a sensational climax. 90.25: With goalkeeper Schmeichel having joined the attack, Beckham swings over a corner from the left. 90.35: Ball has bobbled around the area and Giggs has miscued a shot that finds Sheringham lurking in front of him. The substitute swivels and drills home the equaliser. There is no time for celebration as the stunned Germans kick off in search of the winner. 92.15: With 45 seconds officially to play, Solskjaer wins another corner and Beckham attempts to work the oracle again. 92.17: Sheringham latches on to Beckham's delivery and glances a header towards Solskjaer, who sticks out his right boot and gets a solid touch. Ball flies into top left-hand corner of Kahn's goal and United have won. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 27 May 1999 09:52:29 +0300 From: Triple Dale Subject: Teamtalk report CHAMPIONS OF EUROPE Manchester United - 2 Bayern Munich - 1 Sheringham, 90 Basler, 5 Solskjaer, 90 Man U: Schmeichel, G. Neville, Irwin, Johnsen, Stam, Beckham, Butt, Cole, Giggs, Blomqvist, Yorke. Subs: Van der Gouw, May, Sheringham, P. Neville, Solskjaer, Brown, Greening. Bayern: Khan, Babbel, Kuffour, Matthaus, Effenberg, Basler, Jeremies, Tarnat, Jancker, Zickler, Linke. Subs: Dreher, Helmer, Scholl, Strunz, Fink, Salihamidzic, Daei. Manchester United are Champions of Europe after literally snatching victory from the jaws of defeat in a thrilling encounter at the Nou Camp stadium. Late goals from substitutes Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in the very last minute cancelled out Mario Basler's fifth minute free-kick to hand United a unique domestic and European treble. It had all started so badly for The Reds. With just five minutes gone Ronnie Johnsen brought down Bayern striker Jancker just outside the area, and Basler stepped up to curl his shot round the United wall and inside Peter Schmeichel's right-hand post. Having taken the early advantage, Bayern looked content to soak up United and play on the break. For their part United quickly put the early disappointment behind them and pushed forward, searching for a reply. On fourteen minutes, Beckham's long throw found Andy Cole on the edge of the box. His footwork found an opening only for Effenberg's lunge to deny the England striker at the very last moment and send his shot ballooning to safety. Seven minutes later, Dwight Yorke ghosted in to help on Beckham's right wing cross, but didn't get enough on his flick to find Cole, and Kahn gathered comfortably. Veteran Lothar Matthaus, a rock at the heart of Bayern's defence surged forward on the half-hour, only to see his long range effort sail harmlessly over the bar - the best the German side could muster. On 37 minutes Andy Cole was once more denied when his effort on the turn bobbled through to the grateful Bayern keeper. With the half nearing it's close there was just time for Ryan Giggs to utilise his pace in a bid to get United back on level terms. Yorke's through ball - looking for Cole - found it's way through to just inside the area. Giggs chased, and looked to have the better of the Kuffour, but he was denied at the last by Kahn's speed off his line. Despite having the lion's share of possession in the first period Alex Ferguson's men struggled to create one clear-cut opportunity infront of goal, with Giggs, Cole and Yorke all frustrated by stubborn Bayern defending on the edge of Kahn's area. The second half opened with Bayern looking to further their advantage, inparticular down the flanks, but the Germans attack found Jaap Stam and Peter Schmeichel inparticular in every bit as stubborn mood. Ten minutes into the second period, United had arguably their best chance of the night thus far. Giggs read Jesper Blomqvist's run to perfection before swinging in an inviting cross for the Swede to lunge at, however he could only direct his effort wide of Kahn's left-hand post. On sixty-six minutes, Alex Ferguson made the first of two substitutions which would change the fate of the game, with Teddy Sheringham replacing Blomqvist. With time running out, the German side really should have put the game beyond The Reds when Scholl and Jancker hit the post and bar respectively in the space of three minutes, however United were by no means finished yet. On 80 minutes Andy Cole was replaced by Norwegian Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, and the United fightback began in earnest. Solskjaer went close with his very first touch of the ball, a firm header from Gary Neviile's cross bringing a fine save from Kahn. On 86 minutes, the new strike force combined well. Solskjaer's back-heel finding Sheringham, only for Kahn to again deny the England forward's goal bound volley. In the very last minute, Bayern failed to clear Beckham's corner and it fell to Ryan Giggs on the edge of the area to rifle in a shot, with Sheringham on hand to guide it into the net. With the German side clearly shaken and extra-time looming, United marauded forward and within a minute had forced another corner. Yet again Beckham swung it in, and Sheringham's flick found Solskjaer all alone at the far post, and the Norwegian made no mistake from all of two yards out. So, the dream is realised. Thirty one years after Sir Matt Busby's United side were crowned Europe's finest, now it is Alex Ferguson's turn to add his name to history. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 27 May 1999 09:56:20 +0300 From: Triple Dale Subject: (Times) Hitzfeld maganimous in defeat Hitzfeld magnanimous in defeat So this is what it takes to break the spirit of the Germans. When Ole Gunnar Solskjaer scored his winning goal, half the Bayern Munich side fell to the ground and only reluctantly responded to the pleading of Oliver Kahn, their captain, to restart the European Cup final. For once, this formidable race of footballers could not be persuaded that any hope remained. The Germans, rightly renowned for their powers of recovery, accepted that time had run out on them. As with any contest that is so hard-fought, an entirely different course might have been taken. Had Mehmet Scholl, a substitute, or Carsten Jancker added to the lead instead of hitting the frame of the goal, ecstasy would have taken root at the other end of the Nou Camp. In practice, it is the Bundes-liga's finest who will have to lie awake and torment themselves with the thoughts of what might have been. English glee must be forgiven. The wait for the role-reversal has been a long one and the only trick still beyond Manchester United may be the gift of uniting the entire country. Their power and wealth will continue to irk some and cause envy in others, but, at Old Trafford, England's "30 years of hurt" have been avenged. "It was inconceivable for us," Ottmar Hitzfeld, the Bayern coach, said of the climax to the match. "You can lose a goal and expect that you might have to play extra-time, but what happened was a tragic loss for us. Manchester United never gave up. The equaliser came as a shock to my team, but they can go home proud of their performance. We were a little unlucky, but United deserve to be champions." His magnanimity was all the more laudable, given the lack of practice. The World Cup may have gone badly last year, but Germans, at club or international level, have not adjusted to inadequacy. Their powers are depleting only slowly and it took stoppage time to bring to them to complete collapse. Instead of being a hallmark of excellence, Lothar Matth?us, the veteran, had to epitomise the exhaustion of gifts. He had been encouraged, at 38, to be forthright, to work in midfield as much as he did behind the defence as a sweeper. His capacity for such a performance is much smaller than his lingering legend and, eventually, he signalled that he would have to be substituted. "I wanted him to play constantly, but he was not fit enough to do so," Hitzfeld said. The trauma of the night will prove all the greater for its unexpectedness. Bayern's training ground is on Under Sabener Strasse, but the players seemed to think they were on Easy Street as they prepared there. Even if it would be wrong to deem them complacent, the visitor to their premises a fortnight ago could not mistake the poise of Hitzfeld's team. On the open day held for the international press, bland compliments to United were rolled out along with the red carpet. None of that respect, however, was paid at a cost to trust in themselves. At the Nou Camp, United had to contend with a side that is absolutely convinced of its capacity to accomplish a given task. Where Bundesliga footballers are concerned, the term arrogance is often bandied around, but it is a poor fit for the true mental state. Arrogance rests on miscalculation, whereas the Germans have thrived on being absolutely correct in their calculations. Ferguson's squad is hardly tremulous, but the players began the European Cup final as if they hoped they might be given a spell to settle. In that period, by contrast, Bayern were concerted in their work. The Bundesliga champions possess less talent than the serial winners of the FA Carling Premiership, but, this season, they have, until now, made every ounce of their gifts tell. There were no grand performances to stretch across an entire evening, just significant touches in the merest shavings of time. Still, the parings of quality could glimmer, as when, early in the second half, Stefan Effenberg's pass, delivered with quicksilver touch, took play into the path of Matth?us. The move continued and Basler forced a corner. Matth?us's doomed search for the one winner's medal that he has craved and so far lacked was a romantic quest, but it was couched in a team dedicated to pragmatism. At the beginning of the week, Hitzfeld had announced that Markus Babbel, a centre back, would play on the right instead of Thomas Strunz, an adventurous wing back. The precautions did not save them from anguish. "My players will need days and weeks to recover," Hitzfeld said. United have other plans for the summer. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 27 May 1999 10:02:43 +0300 From: Triple Dale Subject: United's sheer marvels prove Ferguson wrong United's sheer marvels prove Ferguson wrong FROM MATT DICKINSON (Times) SHAME on the Manchester United supporters who sneaked out before the dramatic denouement. They should have known that, in this year of living dangerously, Alex Ferguson's team would conjure their most extraordinary comeback yet. Their fightback against Juventus in Turin was classed among the greats, most people assumed that it would prove unique and even the United manager believed that his side had run accolade out of luck. "My players never give in," he said. "I always expect that they can do something, but this time I thought we were beaten. It is fantastic. The players are incredible human beings." Just as they had in the semi-finals against Juventus, United appeared to have been outfought before the match had even begun and they quickly found themselves chasing the game. "You can talk all you like about tactics," Ferguson countered, "but the spirit is unbelievable." Ferguson was forced into throwing on Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer more in hope than expectation and the weight of United attackers eventually paid off. "I had to gamble," Ferguson said. "It's a European final, so why not do it? I brought on Teddy and Ole and it paid off. We didn't play as well as we can, but I feel we were the better team over 90 minutes. We had a bad start and had a bit of luck in the last 20 minutes, but we deserved it." The finale to the game also witnessed the closing moments of Peter Schmeichel's eight-year career at Old Trafford and he can never have anticipated it concluding with him in an opposition penalty area and contributing to a winning goal. Schmeichel, 35, admitted that he had no hope of touching the ball when he charged forward, but a glancing header played a part in Sheringham's equaliser. "I went up to create chaos and confusion and, at 6ft 4in, I probably did it," Schmeichel said. "They had been very strong at set-pieces, so we had to try something different. Maybe that was the thing that worked. "It is not very often that I get to be in the penalty area when all the players are celebrating, so that was different and great." Schmeichel is expected to announce shortly where he will move to this summer, but last night he was too carried away with emotion to even think about packing his bags. "You'll have to ask me about this game again in two weeks because I cannot even think of summing it up now," he said. "I said back in November when I announced that I would retire from English football that I would work until my last day to help United win trophies and now we have lifted all three. It is a fantastic feeling. "Even though time was running out, I thought we might get something because we played the game as we have this whole Champions' League campaign by being positive. "Obviously you can feel sorry for Bayern after being 1-0 up for so long, but that is the beauty and cruelty of football." ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 27 May 1999 10:22:00 +0300 From: Triple Dale Subject: 365 report SUBS' STANDARD PROVES UNITED'S CLASS Bench Boys Sheringham And Solskjaer Seal Heart-Stopping Treble Clincher By Ian Cruise MANCHESTER UNITED 2 BAYERN MUNICH 1 Dwight Yorke and Andy Cole have made the headlines all season. When it mattered most though, it was two of Old Trafford's bit-part players who stole the glory in the most dramatic finish ever to a European Cup Final. With the clock ticking into injury time, substitutes Teddy Sheringham and Old Gunnar Solskjaer wrote their names indelibly into the Manchester United history books. They may have suffered long spells of frustration on the sidelines this season, but it all came good for them in two unforgettable minutes in Barcelona's Nou Camp stadium. With the German players and fans getting set to celebrate Bayern's first European Cup triumph since 1976, United snatched the giant trophy out of their grasp. With the clock already showing 90 minutes, goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel raced upfield for a corner which David Beckham swung into the box. The big Dane's presence may or not have had an effect but, either way, Yorke's ball back into the danger zone found its way to Ryan Giggs on the edge of the area and his volley was turned into the bottom corner by Sheringham. That though, was merely the start of the drama... As the players began to prepare for extra time and the Golden Goal, United once again ripped up the script as they clinched a thrilling victory in a sensational climax. Yet again a Beckham corner caused the damage and Sheringham's header was prodded into the roof of the net by Solskjaer to spark wild scenes, both on the pitch and on the terraces (and in the Football365 office, frankly). For the Germans, though, there was disbelief. Bayern's players collapsed to the turf in tears unable to comprehend the turn of events that left them broken-hearted, having led from the sixth minute and having hit the post and the crossbar in the previous ten minutes. Ultimately, though, there was nothing but pain for the Bundesliga champions. However, while the end of the match was a dream for the team in red, the beginning was more like a nightmare. Manchester United started nervously and struggled to find the fluency which has been a hallmark of their play in recent weeks. They have, for the most part, been slow starters in Europe this season but have proved, as they did against Juventus in the second leg of their memorable semi-final in Italy, that they are capable of overcoming their sluggishness and going on to success. However, although they captured the nation's imagination with that stunning comeback in Turin last month, Alex Ferguson would have been hoping for a better start in the Nou Camp, but what transpired certainly would not have been in any pre-written United script. With just five minutes gone, Ronny Johnsen was penalised for a foul on Carsten Jancker just a couple of yards outside the United penalty area and Schmeichel, playing his last game for the Reds, and as captain in place of the suspended Roy Keane, was rooted to the spot as Mario Basler curled the ball around the wall and past the stranded Dane. . It was the worst possible start for Ferguson's Treble chasers and it could have been a lot worse just three minutes later when Alexander Zickler got in front of Jaap Stam at the near post to meet Basler's right-wing centre. Fortunately for United, the German striker was unable to steer the ball on target and shot harmlessly wide of the post. A second goal then could have spelled the end of United's dreams but they slowly began to impose themselves on the game, although still they were struggling to create clear-cut goalscoring opportunities. Their first half chance came in the 14th minute when Gary Neville's long throw was headed on by Stam towards Andy Cole, but the striker could not get a clean strike on the ball and the German defence was able to clear, off the Old Trafford marksman, and behind for a goal kick. Six minutes later, Yorke came the closest to opening the scoring for the Premiership champions when he met Beckham's cross at the near post and helped the ball on towards the top corner. However, Bayern keeper Oliver Kahn, while not looking altogether comfortable, was able to half punch and half flap the ball away from the danger. Beckham, by now, was becoming more and more instrumental in the unfamiliar central midfield slot which he has coveted for so long and last night he was handed the responsibility in the absence of the suspended Keane and Paul Scholes. His range of passing was causing problems for the German defence and, from one raking 40-yard cross-field ball, he offered an opportunity to Cole. The striker took the ball cleanly with his first touch - something which isn't always the case - but he scuffed his first shot, left-footed, at two defenders closing him down and then, when looking for attack partner Yorke at the far post, succeeding only in crossing the ball against another of the Bayern rearguard. in, but there would have been a few nervous flutters when Zickler took aim from 25 yards out and sent his low shot skidding just narrowly wide of Schmeichel's right post. But although the Red Devils appeared in little danger of conceding a second goal, equally they never really looked like scoring an equaliser in the opening period. They were struggling to create chances from the flanks, maybe missing Beckham's crossing ability from wide on the right. Although Giggs, playing Beckham's usual role, saw plenty of the ball in the first half his final pass was largely disappointing, while Jesper Blomqvist, on the left flank, was enormously ineffective. However, although he must have been tempted to make changes at half-time, Ferguson sent out the same XI after the interval but, once again, they began in lucklustre fashion and were almost made to pay in the very first minute of the second half when Jancker's strong run took him into the danger area. Johnsen recovered well to make a saving, sliding tackle and, although the German striker was able to get a half-hit shot on target, it lacked power and Schmeichel was able to parry comfortably. Eight minutes later, though, the Dane would surely have been helpless had Markus Babbel - a former United transfer target - connected with a free header just six yards out. Basler's right-wing corner caught Fergie's side asleep but the German defender, who stole in completely unmarked, failed to get his head to the ball cleanly. How United would have reacted to that setback we will never know, but they did respond well to the near-miss. Giggs, who had been struggling all night to deliver the required service into the middle, produced a better quality ball deep into the penalty box where Blomqvist sneaked in on the wrong side of Babbel but could only scoop his shot over the bar. Still, though, they struggled to open up a well-organised Bayern defence and the growing confidence in the German ranks was emphasised when Basler almost embarrassed Schmeichel with an audacious effort from 50 yards which was reminiscent of the goal that launched Beckham's career against Wimbledon almost three years ago. Fortunately for Schmeichel, and United, the shot cleared the bar. With a little under 25 minutes remaining, Ferguson played his first card when he took off the hapless Blomqvist and replaced him with Saturday's FA Cup Final man of the match Sheringham. It was Cole, though, who was the recipient of United's next opening when he found some space in the area but could only send his attempted overhead kick, from Giggs' cross, well wide of the post. By contrast, Bayern had more of a threat about them whenever they ventured forward. Steffen Effenberg was narrowly wide with a 30-yarder in the 72nd minute, and two minutes later he forced the save of the match from Schmeichel. Jancker headed a great ball down into Effenberg's path and the midfielder lofted the ball towards goal but the United keeper leapt superbly to claw his effort over the bar with his fingertips. Had the veteran keeper been only 6-foot-2, rather than 6-foot-4, the match would have been over. But five minutes later not even the great Dane could do anything about a sublime effort from substitute Mehmet Scholl. A storming run from Basler, half the length of the field, created confusion in the United defence and, when he fed Scholl, the midfielder cut back across the front of the defenders before sending a glorious chip over Schmeichel but, agonisingly for the Germans, against the post. However, as the game entered its final ten minutes, the gaps began to appear and the chances came thick and fast. Nicky Butt lifted a good centre across the face of the goal but there was no-one in a red shirt on hand to provide the simplest of finishes. Then substitute Solskjaer, who had been on the pitch just a matter of seconds after replacing Cole, sent a flashing header towards goal which was gratefully clutched by Kahn at full stretch. But as United surged forward, so the danger posed by Bayern on the break became ever more apparent. Scholl forced Schmeichel into another splendid diving save in the 82nd, before Jancker was denied by a coat of paint when his overhead kick crashed against the underside of the bar. Still the Red devils surged forward and Sheringham and Solskjaer both forced Kahn into saves, although on neither occasion was the German keeper seriously tested. Yorke wasted a great chance when he completely missed his kick from Neville's cross and it appeared then that United's chance had gone. However, no-one could guess at the drama that was to follow in the last three minutes... ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 27 May 1999 09:05:06 +0000 From: P.L.Hinson@AIS.SALFORD.AC.UK Subject: "We are the Champions, and we'll keep on fighting to the end" "We are the Champions, and we'll keep on fighting to the end" Never did Freddie Mercury write such prophetic words. It is not the United way to win in a clinical manner. The emotions that went with last night typified what being a Red is all about. Supporting United is not for the faint-hearted. This season we have seen similar late, late drama. Giggs saved us from defeat against Juventus. The late goals that saw off Liverpool. When five minutes were left on the clock I was just willing us to drag it into extra time. The longer the game went, the more Bayern concentrated on steely defiance. Hitzfeld is a great tactician, and for much of the game he stifled our attacking strengths. It can be argued that they hit the woodwork twice in the closing minutes, but that was only because Ferguson chose to gamble to win. In the end, Bayern could not keep the lid on the United coffin - faced with more and more attacking options they finally cracked. German arrogance proved their undoing at the death, they did not contemplate us scoring, and could not pull themselves together as the trophy slipped from their grasp. All hypothetical, but with Keane and Scholes in midfield, Beckham on the right and Giggs on his natural left wing, surely we would have broken them down sooner. As it was, someone in the gods belatedly realised that it was indeed Sir Matts day as much as it was Alex Fergusons day. Debates will rage over which was the greatest United team. The side that was cruelly decimated at Munich in 1958 never had the opportunity to show us how truly great they were. They could have been crowned Champions of Europe 40 years ago and opened up an even bigger dynasty for us to cherish in years to come. The 1968 side probably peaked before their golden night at Wembley, but still managed to land the biggest prize. The 1994 team for some is a contender as the best, but was restricted in Europe due to the 'foreigner' rule. One thig we can be sure of, this is the best SQUAD that Old Trafford has ever assembled. To be able to being on the likes of Sheringham and Solskjaer off the bench to clinch a European Cup is remarkable. To do it without two key midfielders is magnificent. It must be only a matter of time before Ferguson is knighted and joins the elite club that already includes Busby and Charlton. His players typified the man - stubborn, no surrender, never give in. The 'big' treble even eluded the Liverpool side of 1977. And this was done the United way, in the tradition of entertaining and skilful football, not the containing and dour way others have adopted. Seeing an emotional Bobby Charlton in the stand was indeed poignant. Even the manager was lost for words at the end. The achievement has not fully sunk in to all of us just yet. For the 1968 side it was the pinnacle of a dream, and the end of the road. For the 1999 side, they have the chance to repeat their glory. Next season, everybody both at home and abroad will be giving their all to depose the English and European Champions, we can be sure of that. Until then, savour the moment. Older supporters will recall many heartbreaking moments through the years, many disappointments, and that is what makes winning the sweeter. It may seem strange to say this now, but no matter what Martin Edwards may say, now is the time to look at improving the squad where necessary. A goalkeeper may not be enough. If United are to stay as Europes Number 1, they have to show ambition to achieve it. Paul Hinson (email p.l.hinson@ais.salford.ac.uk) MUTV Masterfan Quiz Champion 1999 http://mufc.simplenet.com The best STATS on the 1999 English and European Champions on the Web http://mufc.simplenet.com/mufc/stats.htm STATISTICS http://mufc.simplenet.com/mufc/pontin.htm RESERVES And JUNIORS Try the MUFC Quiz http://mufc.simplenet.com/miva/quiz/quiz.mv ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 27 May 1999 17:02:57 +0800 From: Sivaganesh Subject: A Medical Advisory and Blasphemous Statement This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_004B_01BEA862.C4DAFD60 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="Windows-1252" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable It is Official. The Ministry of Health has now issued a health warning = for all United games involving top class opposition. All heart patients, = hypertension sufferers, pregnant women and those of nervous disposition = are warned not to put themselves through games whereby those great men = from Manchester take it to the wire by conceding a goal and leaving it = till the last moment to grasp victory when the rest of us are gasping = for our last breath. The Editors of the Oxford Comphrehensive Dictionary have also agreed to = include a new terms of art into the English Language i.e. To do a = Liverpool, "Liverpooled" - to make United fans endure 90 minutes of agony and anguish while = boosting the level of overconfidence of opposition fans , only to make a = comeback at the eleventh hour leaving United fans in eurphoria of = orgasmic proportions and the opposition with egg on their faces. For example, United 'liverpooled" Bayern Munich today, Giggsy did a liverpool on Arsenal in the FA Cup = Semi-finals..... On a more religous note, I now believe that God lives in Manchester or = at least wears a Red jersey. I mean how else due explain how United = Shanghaied Bayern Munich. In all fairness, it was Bayern Munich's game = in the 2nd half. They were denied twice by the posts and further by the = Great Dane's skills. To throw the game into overtime was the most I = would have expected, but to win it altogether was a dream. I still have = not slept for the past 28 hours as I am in a total daze.I don't want to = wake up to find out it was all a dream. Here's to Bayern Munich for being worthy opponents and to United for = never giving in till the end. THE FAT LADY IS SINGING HER ASS OF = NOW....GLORY GLORY MAN UNITED!!!!!! S.B.Sivaganesh E-mail: cantona7@singnet.com.sg Webpage: http://web.singnet.com.sg/~cantona7/ ------=_NextPart_000_004B_01BEA862.C4DAFD60 Content-Type: text/html; charset="Windows-1252" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
It is Official. The Ministry of Health has now issued a health = warning=20 for all United games involving top class opposition. All heart patients, = hypertension sufferers, pregnant women and those of nervous disposition = are=20 warned not to put themselves through games whereby those great men from=20 Manchester take it to the wire by conceding a goal and leaving it till = the last=20 moment to grasp victory when the rest of us are gasping for our last=20 breath.
 
The Editors of the Oxford Comphrehensive Dictionary have also = agreed to=20 include a new terms of art into the English Language i.e. To do = a=20 Liverpool, "Liverpooled"
- to make United fans endure 90 minutes of agony and anguish = while=20 boosting the level of overconfidence of opposition fans , only to make a = comeback at the eleventh hour leaving United fans in eurphoria of = orgasmic=20 proportions and the opposition with egg on their faces.
 
For example, United 'liverpooled" Bayern Munich = today,
           =20         Giggsy did a liverpool on Arsenal = in the=20 FA Cup Semi-finals.....
 
On a more religous note, I now believe that God lives in = Manchester or=20 at least wears a Red jersey. I mean how else due explain how United = Shanghaied=20 Bayern Munich. In all fairness, it was Bayern Munich's game in the 2nd = half.=20 They were denied twice by the posts and further by the Great Dane's = skills. To=20 throw the game into overtime was the most I would have expected, but to = win it=20 altogether was a dream. I still have not slept for the past 28 hours as = I am in=20 a total daze.I don't want to wake up to find out it was all a = dream.
 
Here's to Bayern Munich for being worthy opponents and to = United for=20 never giving in till the end. THE FAT LADY IS SINGING HER ASS OF = NOW....GLORY=20 GLORY MAN UNITED!!!!!!
 
 
S.B.Sivaganesh
E-mail: cantona7@singnet.com.sg
We= bpage: http://web.singnet.com.sg/~= cantona7/
------=_NextPart_000_004B_01BEA862.C4DAFD60-- ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 27 May 1999 09:58:50 +0000 From: Michael Langan Subject: Denis Irwin Many many congratulations to Denis Irwin, surely MU's most successful player, and to Roy Keane as well, the Lion of Turin. From the Cork Examiner. Relatively speaking ... it was just out of this world by Conor George THE only giveaway was the shirt on his back! Denis Irwin's brother-in-law John Keating and the United star's sister Colette Irwin were indistinguishable from the rest of the fans that packed into the Metropole Hotel, Cork, to watch one of the most amazing matches ever witnessed on the European stage. The only difference between the Irwin family and the rest of the punters who celebrated almost in disbelief at the final whistle was that the Manchester United shorts John wore had the number three and the name IRWIN on the back and was one actually worn by his famous brother-in-law. After what will undoubtedly go down as the most amazing comeback in the history of football, the significance of the achievement that Denis and his team-mates had orchestrated had barely begun to register on either as they were swept away on a wave of cheering as images of Denis laying his hands on the precious trophy were beamed across Europe. "My mother certainly picked a good match to go to, didn't she" said Colette, in reference to her mother's tradition of not watching her famous son's matches. "After so many years of being too nervous to watch the matches, she definitely picked a good time to change her mind." Neither Colette nor John could properly put into words the sense of undiluted joy they at what had been accomplished in Barcelona, but the smiles of contentment on their faces told the story far better than any words could. "This is the best feeling in the world. What a way for them to win and for Denis especially. He has now won every honour that is available at club level. Towards the end I just couldn't see them doing it but ... WOW ... " was John's flabbergasted reaction. On a night when the red shirt of Manchester United was worn with pride by the large gathering at the hotel, the thoughts of both Colette and John were naturally focused on Denis and the reception they will be planning for his return to Cork. "Hopefully, he will come back home at the weekend. It is too early to say what he will do but I am certainly hoping that he will be in Cork at the weekend and the celebrations can continue with Denis and his three medals holding pride of place," Colette added before once again joining the rest of the supporters in full voice as they saluted United's achievement ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 27 May 1999 09:41:49 +0200 From: Himal Govind <971162544@STU.UND.AC.ZA> Subject: Re: BETTER THAN ORGASM hehehehe, I came THRICE last night, what a spectacle of sheer perserverance= from the lads. Their never-give-up attitude will go down in history as = being the finest team that ever graced the shores of Britain. This season = will go down in history as the finest to ever be a part of. I can't wait = for the day when I'll be telling my grand-children about the 26 of May = 1999 when I was sitting /shitting on my bed listening to BBC 5-live and = Alan Green screaming his head off in disbelief. There I was with 2 minutes = to go and I went up to a picture of God on my wall and prayed to him and = asked him to let United win tonite. And before I knew it Sherringham had = scored and the man - whose feet I'll kiss for the rest of my life, the man = whose name will be chanted at OT and the rest of the world for the next 10 = years OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER scored the winner. Man I tell you,I've never had sex before and I must say that now I'll = ldie a happy man. I remember last year when Real had won the cup, I sent a = mail on this list saying that United will win it next year coz fate had = scripted this entire episode. Sir Matt was smiling down last night, he = lifted Schmichal o make that all important save. Duncan Edwards headed = those shots by Bayern onto the bar and I was losing my virginity. Gosh, and Alan Hanen said you never win anything with kids. OLE,OLE,OLE,OLE,OLE,OLE Himal >>> John 05/26 2:20 PM >>> This is the greateast day ever!!! Winning the European Cup is better than orgasm! Fergie is a genius - bringing on Sheringham and Solskjaer who got the = goals!!! YOU BEAUUUUUUUUUUTTTTTTTTTTTYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Some Treble pics can be found at my website Oz Red, John www.nettaxi.com/citizens/mufc ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 27 May 1999 10:31:37 GMT From: Berni Li <66963338@MMU.AC.UK> Subject: Who the f*** are Man Utd!!! Yippee. It was unbelievable. Absolutely unbelievable. I thought we had lost but luckily the players didn't. Sheringham has scored twice and had two assists in the last two games, and i'm sure he has converted even the most anti-Sherry fan. He has influenced many of the games he has played in this year and hats off to the guy as he has had to come through a lot. The treble, it rolls off the tongue!!! (Only if if you're sober!) Manchester was bloody crazy, i cycled into the centre on my bike and it was heaving. I only stayed there for ten minutes or so as i had assignments to do but the parade this afternoon will be crazy!!! Just got me film for me camera. I woke up this morning at 6am for no reason but for the fact that i was still buzzing from last night's result. The people off this list who went to Barca, well i envy you. Two of my mates went and i didn't cause i couldn't afford the time or money but c'est la vie!!! I distinctly remember someone on this list saying we would probably do the treble cause it was so difficult, we actually might end up actually doing it. Whoever it was, good call!! This was way back in February or something when someone said this. If i get any good photos from the open bus top tour, i'll try to scan them in and stick them up on a website for people to see, or send them to whoever can be bothered to view them or stick them up on a website. Best wishes to everyone, have a nice summer!!!!!!!! Berni ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 27 May 1999 13:00:18 +0300 From: Teddy the Medallion Man Subject: Post match reaction (365) WHAT THEY SAID AFTER THE MATCH Reaction From The United & Bayern Camps Alex Ferguson: They never gave in and you always expect they can do something like that. Its fantastic and those players are incredible human beings. You can talk about tactics but it was spirit than won that match. We got off to a bad start but they kept at them and got their reward. We were fortunate in the last 20 minutes when they caught us on the counter-attack but at that stage we had to gamble. I don't think we've played as well as we have done but Teddy's come on and then Ole, and they've repaid the faith I showed in them.'' ''This is the best moment of my life. I'm really proud of my players, proud of my heritage and my family for what they have given me and this is the greatest moment of my life. I simply don't know where to begin but you can't deny people with this spirit we have and that's why we have won this trophy. I was stunned when they scored. "I was starting to adjust to losing the game and I kept saying to myself keep your dignity and accept that it's not your year. But football is such a funny game and it's a fairytale really. It's the anniversary of Sir Matt Busby's birthday and I think he was doing a lot of kicking up there. I just could not take it in and it happened so quickly. When it went to 1-1 Steve McClaren said to me we should regroup back to a 4-4-2 for extra-time but I said this game isn't finished - and it wasn't. I just felt that with Sheringham and Solskjaer coming on fresh that they are always liable to score goals. You can't top that because that's the pinnacle but you cannot equal it." Ole Gunnar Solskjaer: Its unbelievable. Its so difficult to describe. The team spirit at the club is unbelievable and everybody works for everybody else. After all the pressure we had, someone had to do it! We had to score goals. Someone had to do it, fortunately it was me. Some people wonder why I have stayed at the club but tonight is the answer. Sir Bobby Charlton: ''This has been a sensational season. It's been marvellous for the fans - in the FA Cup, the Champions League and in our own championship the players have just been great. I'm really proud of them. English football has been in the wilderness for a long time and now we're back on the world stage. It's been all right saying English football is the healthiest and the best to watch, but you really need to have something to show for it and to win the Champions League, there's nothing bigger in world club football. I might even have a couple of drinks tonight now.'' Ottmar Hitzfeld: ''I feel so sorry for my team because they were so close to winning this match but they have lost. It's really difficult to digest and this is inconceivable for us but then this is what football is all about. Normally when the opposition equalise you are expecting extra-time and it was a shock to our team when they scored the winner two minutes later. It could take days or even weeks to recover from this but I must say that Manchester are great champions. They have played great this season and their football has been excellent. I think they have deserved to win the Champions League.'' Lothar Matthaus:''Tonight it was not the best team that won but the luckiest. But we must not blame anyone. Especially in normal time. To lose a final is always hard, especially this way.'' Stefan Effenberg: ''I don't have the words to describe such a sickening moment. It is too brutal.'' Jens Jeremies: ''It's unimaginable. We need several days to recover. In the last seconds we made individual mistakes we should have never made. Everyone should have marked his player.'' ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 27 May 1999 13:02:09 +0300 From: Teddy the Medallion Man Subject: How Fergie compares to the greats HOW FERGIE COMPARES TO THE GREATS Manchester United's European Cup success, which has completed an historic Treble, confirms Alex Ferguson's standing as a living legend. The United boss is now just one trophy behind Liverpool's Bob Paisley in the all-time standings. Heres how he compares to English club football's other greats... Bob Paisley (Liverpool) - League championship: 1976, 1977, 1979, 1980, 1982, 1983. League Cup: 1981, 1982, 1983. European Cup: 1977, 1978, 1981. UEFA Cup: 1976. Alex Ferguson (Manchester United) - League championship: 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1999. FA Cup: 1990, 1994, 1996, 1999. League Cup: 1992. European Cup: 1999. Cup Winners' Cup: 1991. Sir Matt Busby (Manchester United) - League championship: 1952, 1956, 1957, 1965, 1967. FA Cup: 1948, 1963. European Cup: 1968. Brian Clough (Derby County and Nottingham Forest) - League championship: 1972, 1978. League Cup: 1978, 1979, 1989, 1990. European Cup: 1979, 1980. Bill Nicholson (Tottenham Hotspur) - League championship: 1961. FA Cup: 1961, 1962, 1967. League Cup: 1971, 1973. Cup Winners' Cup: 1963. UEFA Cup: 1972. Frank Watt (Newcastle United) - League championship: 1905, 1907, 1909, 1927. FA Cup: 1910, 1924, 1932. George Graham (Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur) - League championship: 1989, 1991. FA Cup: 1993. League Cup: 1987, 1993, 1999. Cup Winners' Cup: 1994. Herbert Chapman (Huddersfield Town and Arsenal) - League championship: 1924, 1925, 1931, 1933. FA Cup: 1922, 1930. Bill Shankly (Liverpool) - League championship: 1964, 1966, 1973. FA Cup: 1965, 1974. UEFA Cup: 1973. Kenny Dalglish (Liverpool and Blackburn Rovers) - League championship: 1986, 1988, 1990, 1995. FA Cup: 1986, 1989. Don Revie (Leeds United) League championship: 1969, 1974. FA Cup: 1972. League Cup: 1968. European Fairs Cup: 1968, 1971. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 27 May 1999 01:15:55 +0300 From: hamzah Subject: Full Time We've done it, we did what we set out to do, i never lost hope i knew we would score, but to get two in injury time was unreal or was it? how many times have we done it, not only this year but as long as i remember, i think what Ruud said after the game about Bayern being crap was spot on, if they hadn't got that early goal they would've not been able to play the way they did, and we would have buried them much more earlier, Finally i would like to congratulate all of you out there on a great great achievement! Hamzah Saudi Arabia ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 27 May 1999 11:08:34 +0100 From: Andy Mountford Subject: Start of the Bus Tour Does anyone know the exact location of where the United Bus is starting from this afternoon ? I know its somewhere in Sale but was wondering if anyone knows the exact location. Cheers, Andy. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 27 May 1999 11:16:02 +0100 From: Chris Gowland Subject: Re: Start of the Bus Tour I'd like to know the whole route that is planned, and approx. timings. Anyone out there know? On Thu, 27 May 1999, Andy Mountford wrote: > Does anyone know the exact location of where the United > Bus is starting from this afternoon ? > > I know its somewhere in Sale but was wondering if anyone > knows the exact location. > > Cheers, > > Andy. > ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 27 May 1999 11:24:56 +0000 From: P.L.Hinson@AIS.SALFORD.AC.UK Subject: Re: Start of the Bus Tour > Does anyone know the exact location of where the United > Bus is starting from this afternoon ? > > I know its somewhere in Sale but was wondering if anyone > knows the exact location. > Andy. Marsland Road Paul Hinson (email p.l.hinson@ais.salford.ac.uk) MUTV Masterfan Quiz Champion 1999 http://mufc.simplenet.com The best STATS on the 1999 English and European Champions on the Web http://mufc.simplenet.com/mufc/stats.htm STATISTICS http://mufc.simplenet.com/mufc/pontin.htm RESERVES And JUNIORS Try the MUFC Quiz http://mufc.simplenet.com/miva/quiz/quiz.mv ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 27 May 1999 13:26:34 +0300 From: Teddy the Medallion Man Subject: Some more thoughts on yesterday's game Reading through German teletext and messages posted to the Bayern mailing lists I'm on, it seems the Germans may take some time to recover. Yesterday's (German) commentator that I had to listen to summed up the game rather ungraciously by saying United didn't win it, Bayern lost it, and that's a common theme running through the German reaction to the game that I've seen. There was quite an amusing message posted to the Bayern list from a supporter of one of the Berlin clubs. He was enjoying the Munich agony as much as any ABU would have enjoyed our misery if we'd lost. Kaiser Franz (Beckenbauer) was gracious in defeat as was coach Hitzfeld, but generally there is a prevailing 'We wuz robbed' attitude which is based entirely on the 10 minutes of pressure that Bayern exerted towards the end when they hit the woodwork twice. Apart from that, what did they do in attack? These Krauts just don't like it up 'em, as the ancient and venerable Matthaeus showed when he took off his losers' medal withing 10 seconds of having been given it. In all the 'lucky b@st@rds' nonsense that will come our way in the next few days, we shouldn't lose sight of the fact that United are the ONLY team of all the Champions League teams to remain UNBEATEN throughout the competition, and, with Barca, Munich (3x), Juve and Inter, we didn't exactly have an easy ride. True, it was not a stirring display yesterday but one can't help thinking that with Keano and Scholes in the centre and Giggs and Becks back where they belong, we would have beaten this unconvincing Bayern team with something to spare. Yesterday, we won despite everything. Fergie's miscalculation with the team tactics might easily have been punished by the Juve team we saw at OT, but Bayern fortunately weren't able to exploit our obvious lack of shape as well as they should have. I hope we never have to see Giggsy out right again or even ... heresy! ... Becks in the central role. He's okay in the middle but he is without equal anywhere in the world when he's out right, and that has to be where he stays, at least until another KanKan comes along and Keano hangs up his boots. In other words, never. Apart from Becks and Jaap, I can't honestly say that any United players were outstanding yesterday and that's a pity on such a world stage. Butty, I'm afraid, needs Keano next to him. Yorkie and Andy just didn't click, nor did Giggs and Jesper. But the strength of the squad prevailed. It was the forgotten men who saved us. By the way, I was just watching BBC World and they did a short piece on Nevada Smith's in NYC. Were any Reds from the list in there during the game? Yesterday, the BBC also devoted a few minutes to Malaysian Reds. Truly we have a worldwide following, something to be proud of just as we can be proud of the team itself and its manager. ________________ Terry Saudi ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 27 May 1999 11:30:57 +0100 From: Mark Foulkes Subject: The treble is ours ! Congratulation to every United Fan the world over. We have realised the impossible dream and nothing can seem important after this. No-one has ever achieved it, and probably no-one ever will again (unless we do it again next season !!!:^) ABUs from everywhere will no longer be able to say, "Well Europe is still beyond you." Liverpool fans will have to stop harping on about their European record all those years ago - it's old news and we have achieved it this generation. The lads made us all proud and I'm not afraid to admit that I had a tear in my eye. Only one thing remains to be said: _____ ____ ___ ____________________ / \ | | \\_ _____/\_ ___ \ / \ / \ | | / | __) / \ \/ / Y \| | / | \ \ \____ \____|__ /|______/ \___ / \______ / \/ \/ \/ __ __ .__ __ .__ .__ / \ / \ ____ ____ |__|_/ |_ _____ | | | | \ \/\/ / / _ \ / \ | |\ __\ \__ \ | | | | \ / ( <_> )| | \ | | | | / __ \_| |__| |__ \__/\ / \____/ |___| / |__| |__| (____ /|____/|____/ \/ \/ \/ ____ ________ ________ ______ /\ ________ ________ /_ |/ __ \/ __ \ / __ \ / / / __ \/ __ \ | |\____ /\____ / > < / / \____ /\____ / | | / / / / / -- \ / / / / / / |___| /____/ /____/ \______ / / / /____/ /____/ \/ \/ All the best to you all out there and heres to next seasons successes, Mark Foulkes. eMail: foulkesm@plcman.siemens.co.uk & marky@clara.net ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 27 May 1999 11:48:48 +0100 From: Chris Gowland Subject: Just in case ... .... any of the MUFC staff are secret members of this list... THANK YOU Alex (a knighthood must be forthcoming) THANK YOU all the players for a truly wonderful season. and PETER .... please, please, please stay. Is there anyone else out there who was disgusted with the ITV coverage after the final whistle? Five minutes of adverts,straight after the final whistle, thus missing all of the players celebrations. They were back on air for the medal giving, then a few words from el Tel and Ruud, then that was it, more adverts, then the next programme. Fortunately, I have Sky, so I was able to watch the players celebrations on the German channel. Their programme continued for a further hour after the match, so guess what I was watching. I couldn't understand a word, but I loved watching all the replays of the goals! :-) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chris Gowland | Email: cg1@york.ac.uk Computing Assistant | Phone: +44-(0)1904-433823 University of York Computing Service, | Fax: +44-(0)1904-433740 Heslington, York, YO1 5DD, England | http://www-users.york.ac.uk/~cg1/ ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 27 May 1992 11:57:11 +0100 From: Roger Tinsley Subject: Champions League Music Does anyone know where i can download the Champions League theme(it was played when Pete and Alex was lifting the European Cup) in MP3 or WAV? Cheers, Roger ICQ : 12537469 Red till im dead ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 27 May 1999 13:08:11 +0000 From: P.L.Hinson@AIS.SALFORD.AC.UK Subject: Official MUFC Website Match Report CROWN CLINCHED IN FANTASTIC FINISH Look up the word "occasion" in any dictionary - English, German or Spanish, and you should see a picture of the Nou Camp stadium, taken in the minutes before kick off in the 1999 European Champions League final. To say it's big is to damn it with faint praise. The European Cup final. On what would have been Sir Matt Busby's 90th birthday. Peter Schmeichel's last game with the club. At the Nou Camp, Barcelona. It couldn't be bigger if it tried. A fantastic stadium, an incredible atmosphere, and the biggest game in club football to look forward to. If you could bottle this feeling, you'd make a fortune. But back down to earth. When the team sheets were passed around, the name of Jesper Blomqvist was on everyone's lips. Many column inches have been filled recently speculating how Alex Ferguson would fill the midfield gap left by the suspended Roy Keane. In the end, he did the unexpected, which, ironically, we should have expected. David Beckham recovered from the knock he picked up in training, and moved into centre midfield while Blomqvist patrolled the left flank, moving Giggs to the right. Despite his match winning performance on Saturday, there was no place for Teddy Sheringham in the starting eleven, the resurgent England man having to be content with a place on the bench alongside David May, who many expected to fill in at centre-back. With Ronny Johnsen not being deployed in midfield, he was not needed. The Bayern team came as no surprise, largely because Ottmar Hitzfeld named it 48 hours ahead of the match. A supreme show of confidence, or an act of gross stupidity. Only time would tell. A spectacular, colourful opening ceremony got the evening underway, with dancing girls, inflatable statues and loud music getting proceedings off to a lively start. I wouldn't like to think what Sir Matt would have thought about it all, but it certainly heightened the party atmosphere within the ground. Monserrat Cabelle, the opera singer, made probably not the most graceful entrance of her career, on the back of a truck, to serenade the crowd with a rendition of "Barcelona." Then the football, never in danger of being overshadowed, started. The roar that greeted the teams was something to behold. This is what we were here for. The first event of the match was a free-kick awarded to Bayern after Jancker was felled on the edge of the area by Johnsen. The Bayern fans called for a penalty, but the Italian referee was sure it was outside the box. It did not matter to Mario Basler. Just outside the box, he struck a sweet shot that curled past Peter Schmeichel on his left hand side and into the net. 1-0 to Bayern after just five minutes. But we've been here before. Don't panic. That is what Schmeichel seemed to do just two minutes later. A misunderstanding with Johnsen almost let Jeremies in, but the Dane got himself out of trouble with a hasty clearance. Bayern chances were coming thick and fast, and Basler put in a great ball to Zickler in the ninth minute. A well-timed interception took the ball to safety. Nervous times. United's first real chance came in the 14th minute, when Jaap Stam rose well to head the ball on to Cole. The striker lost the ball at his feet, but fortuitously regained it, and got off a shot that looped off a defender's boot. The whole stadium watched as the ball, almost in slow motion, passed just wide of Kahn's post. Effenberg did well in the 16th minute to create a chance for Jeremies, but the German international did not get a proper shot off, and Schmeichel saved comfortably. Kahn had to be at his best in the 20th minute, when Andy Cole motored into the area, and got up well at the near post. He met Beckham's corner with his head, close in on Kahn, but the goalkeeper did well to punch clear. United began to put some of the pressure back on the Germans in the following six minutes, culminating in a good move involving Butt and Giggs. Butt received the ball on the edge of the area, shimmied, trying to make a yard of space for himself, but his touch was too strong, and gifted the Bayern defence the ball. Zickler had a shot from distance after Beckham has been dispossed by Jeremies a minute later, but his shot went wide of a diving Schmeichel. United just needed a change in luck. They were making all the right moves, but the final ball was more often than not cut out, or a weak shot came at the end of a good move. That was well illustrated when Giggs broke with pace down the right, delivered a good ball to Yorke, only for his shot to take a deflection, which took all the sting out of it. United were on the back foot again in the 36th minute, when Basler made a darting run towards the area. Butt tackled well, but the rebound fell to Zickler. He tried hard to get a shot in, but was tackled before he could do so. Beckham struck a good free kick from 30 yards with five minutes to play, but Kahn just watched as it curled wide of his right-hand post. Giggs almost broke through in the 42nd minute, but the throughball was just too weighty, and Kahn claimed at the winger's feet. That summed up United's frustrating half perfectly. Panic almost set into the United defence in the dying moments of the half, as all three Bayern strikers converged on goal. Johnsen kept calm to bring the ball clear. No changes were made at half-time. Maybe the change of ends would suit United, attacking towards their own fans. Bayern started as they had finished - pressurising. Matthaus played a sweet ball through to Jancker, and Schmeichel got down well to put the German's opportunistic toe-poke out for a corner. A comedy of errors ensued in the 50th minute, when Butt stooped to head back Irwin's throw-in. The defender's resultant back-pass to Schmeichel put the keeper in trouble, and his clearance was blocked by an onrushing striker. Fortunately, it rebounded to safety. Still no improvement from the first half. Giggs pounced on a loose ball in the 53rd minute, and crossed for Yorke. Linke got his head in first, however, and nullified the threat. Blomqvist had United's best chance of the match so far, when Giggs again broke free on the right. His pinpoint cross only needed the slightest touch to be diverted into the goal, but the Swede got under the ball, sent it flying high over the bar, and was left holding his head in his hands, prone in the Bayern six yard box. Effenberg was booked in the 59th minute for a tackle from behind on Giggs. Mario Basler attempted a Beckham-like shot from just inside United's half in the 63rd minute, seeing Schmeichel off his line. The shot was just too strong, however, and sailed over Schmeichel's bar. 24 minutes to go, and Teddy Sheringham was introduced in place of Jesper Blomqvist. His arrival was greeted by the crowd similar to that of a prodigal son. Yorke dropped off the two strikers, in search of space, and more importantly, the ball. Gary Neville's throw-in in the 68th minute saw Yorke touch it on to Cole, whose attempted bicycle kick did not come off, sending the ball away from goal. Mehmet Scholl came on for Bayern in the 70th minute, replacing Alexander Zickler. In the next minute, Effenberg struck a great shot from way outside the area, but the rocket flew just wide of Schmeichel's left hand post. Jancker and Effenberg combined well with 72 minutes on the clock, and Schmeichel had to pull off a world class, fingertip save to deny the midfielder. Basler made another great run with 12 minutes to go, and set up Scholl on the edge of the area. His little chip beat Schmeichel all ends up, and came back off the post. United breathed again. Lothar Matthaus was replaced by Thorsten Fink with 10 minutes to go. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer came on for Andy Cole a minute later. United forced a couple of good opportunities, but the Bayern defence held firm. Schmeichel saved well again in the last eight minutes, turning away Babbel's shot for a corner. From the corner, Jancker's athletic overhead shot rebounded off Schmeichel's crossbar to safety. Twice had the woodwork come to United's rescue. That tells its own story. Sheringham almost performed the heroics again after being put in by Solskjaer, but his shot was weak and presented Kahn with no problems. A minute later, Yorke missed the ball completely after Beckham's little touch in the area. One minute to play, and Sheringham came to United's rescue. Beckham's corner fell to Butt on the edge of the area, he shot and Teddy deflected the ball into the net. Unbelievable. 1-1. Better was still to come. Another Beckham corner. Another Sheringham touch. This time Solskjaer hooked it in. Two goals in a minute. Liverpool revisited. Absolutely incredible! 2-1 to United. Bayern were finished. We hardly had two chances all match, then two late, late strikes won us the European Cup and the treble. What a team. What a night. One word - fantastic!! Paul Hinson (email p.l.hinson@ais.salford.ac.uk) MUTV Masterfan Quiz Champion 1999 http://mufc.simplenet.com The best STATS on the 1999 English and European Champions on the Web http://mufc.simplenet.com/mufc/stats.htm STATISTICS http://mufc.simplenet.com/mufc/pontin.htm RESERVES And JUNIORS Try the MUFC Quiz http://mufc.simplenet.com/miva/quiz/quiz.mv ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 27 May 1999 13:06:25 +0100 From: Mike Connolly Subject: YEESSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!! .......UNNNNBEEEEFFFFUUUUCCCCKKKKIIIINNNNGGGGGLLLLIIIIIEEEEVVVAABBBLLLEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What an incredible feeling! I thought I had a big smile after the Premier League - I think my whole face has turned inside-out today! I got home last night at about 1.00, ran out on the street and called my mate in Barcelona who was still in shock himself, and then just stood around grinning and trying to work out what I was thinking, unable to even consider sleep, so I finished off the Malt Whiskey and all the Guinness in the fridge and sat down to watch the whole match again on ITV (yes I was pissed off by their cutting the celebrations short with ads). Second viewing puts the match in a new light for me. It was still Utd trying to knock down a brick wall of giant Germans, who played a fantastic tactical game on our boys. They virtually man marked every Utd player, including Jankers directive to hassle Schmeichel onto his left foot at every oportunity, and play heavy on Stam, and it's the first time I've seen him out-muscled while he's played for Utd. Utd didn't really play badly, they just stopped us playing forwards. The whole game we just probed, looking for a gap in their Iron Curtain defence. The German defenders were pulled to shreads by our attacking in the last few minutes, and the strain showed on all their faces, but the goals... oh what joy, and Ole the winner, and... Ferg.... and... Bobby in the stands, and, and... bloody hell we've done it! Excuse my French, but I just don't care, and I'm off to Manchester to watch the victory parade, and I feel on top of the world... MC -- "Let Chaos storm, let clouds shapes swarm, I wait for form..." UNKNOWN mcon@millfilm.co.uk ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 27 May 1999 13:10:24 +0100 From: Mike Connolly Subject: Official Web site party details For all those asking about the party, here's the details: The open-top bus parade will start at 6 pm in Marsland Road, Sale. It will proceed down the A56 into Stretford, along Talbot Road past Trafford Town Hall and then into the city centre along Deansgate. The final stop for the bus is the Manchester Evening News Arena, where a reception will be held for the club. 9 pm is the estimated time of arrival there. Tickets for the Arena, priced at £3 each, will be on sale to the general public at the venue's box office from 9 am on Wednesday morning. No tickets will be available from Old Trafford. MC -- "Let Chaos storm, let clouds shapes swarm, I wait for form..." UNKNOWN mcon@millfilm.co.uk ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 27 May 1999 13:17:29 +0000 From: P.L.Hinson@AIS.SALFORD.AC.UK Subject: (Fwd) UNITED STREET PARTY BACK ON THE ROAD Reposted by request........ STREET PARTY BACK ON THE ROAD Tuesday, May 25, 1999 11:50 The streets of Manchester and Trafford will be filled with colour and noise on Thursday evening when the residents welcome home their United heroes. Whether they win or lose in Barcelona, the players can expect a red hot reception from their supporters, who will line the route from Sale to the city centre in their thousands. Conservative estimates suggest there will be at least 250,000 fans on the streets, eager for a glimpse of the Premiership trophy, the FA Cup and hopefully, the European Cup. "It's something the players want to do, and they're looking forward to it," said David Beswitherick, Company Secretary for Manchester United PLC. "We hope that everyone enters into the spirit of the occasion, gets bladdered and enjoys themselves." "We really wanted Manchester City to parade a trophy too, but we'll all pop our clogs waiting for that eventuality." The open-top bus parade will start near the 1999 MUTV Masterfans house at 6 pm in Marsland Road, Sale. It will proceed down the A56 into Stretford, along Talbot Road past Trafford Town Hall and then into the city centre along Deansgate. The final stop for the bus is the Manchester Evening News Arena, where a reception will be held for the club. 9 pm is the estimated time of arrival there. Tickets for the Arena, priced at =A33 each, will be on sale to the general public at the venue's box office from 9 am on Wednesday morning. No tickets will be available from Old Trafford. The proceeds from the reception will go to 'Buy Sheringham a new Ferrari," the first charity chosen by Alex Ferguson to benefit from his testimonial year. News of the parade will delight the United fans who were so disappointed last weekend when the traditional event was shelved. David Acton, Leader of Trafford Borough Council, explained why there had been a change of heart: "Over the last few days, the two local authorities of Trafford and Manchester have had very constructive discussions with the football club and senior police officers. "We managed to resolve the very real concerns we had over security and safety, Mr Edwards was overcome by the weight of opinion, bunged us a few quid,and consequently the two local authorities have now invited Manchester United to parade through Trafford and Manchester on Thursday night. "We can now look forward to the biggest street party Manchester has had for some years." "We have laid on extra tankers of Boddingtons Bitter for Mick Meade and the Throstles Nest regulars who return in time from Barcelona, and some wacky baccy for the locals. Barry Leeming is stopping off to act as DJ en route, and for those wanting a request playing on the route, his mobile number is 00 45 10203040." Paul Hinson (email p.l.hinson@ais.salford.ac.uk) MUTV Masterfan Quiz Champion 1999 http://mufc.simplenet.com The best STATS on the 1999 English and European Champions on the Web http://mufc.simplenet.com/mufc/stats.htm STATISTICS http://mufc.simplenet.com/mufc/pontin.htm RESERVES And JUNIORS Try the MUFC Quiz http://mufc.simplenet.com/miva/quiz/quiz.mv ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 27 May 1999 15:19:28 +0800 From: "P. Markandu" Subject: We've done it. Well, knowing what they've put us through this season, I wasn't surprised that we went behind. I was still calm, but as the match progressed I thought it would get harder, Bayern being a German team with 10 German internationals on the field and all the experience in the world. They made huge mistakes in taking off Matthaus and trying to close shop early against us. When the 2 shots hit the bar, I just knew we would score, we had to. You could have felt Sir Matt helping the team. When we scored, i checked the time on the screen and it showed 2 minutes left.Without Matthaus, there would be panic in the German defence and when we got the corner, I knew we had won the game. When Ole scored, I didn't jump up or run around the hall, just slumped to the sofa. All those nights when I didn't dare go to sleep (including today) in fear of missing these matches finally paid off. I was in tears, most of joy, but there were some for Bayern too. I just wondered if we were in their position, how cruel. But the fact remains that they underestimated us during the last 10 minutes. Jancker and Scholl's reactions after their efforts hit the bar were not of disappointment at all. They felt one goal was enough. Expect Fergie to be knighted by this year. And one more thing : BUY HIS DIARY!!!!! I'll wait for Schmikes tribute tape to come out. How will we ever replace him? Congrats to all REDS (we've officially taken this title from the scousers) in the world. It's been a hell of a season. Now all of us can get our much needed rest. We deserve it. Next season, we can relax as there is the small matter of dominating Europe, and more matches, including the World Club Championships. ----------------------------- Corner from Beckham, Teddy gets the header, It falls to Ole's right foot, The Rest Is History. ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 27 May 1992 13:23:58 +0100 From: Roger Tinsley Subject: Van der Sar joins Juve Just heard Van der Sar has moved to Juve... Barthez the #1 replacement now?? ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 27 May 1999 22:29:45 +0000 From: "David Marshall, Brisbane, Australia" Subject: Love song If you are old enought to remember Oklahoma, sing - I'M IN LOVE, I'M IN LOVE, I'M IN LOVE, I'M IN LOVE, I'M IN LOVE WITH A WONDERFUL TEAM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Cheers, David Marshall Brisbane, Australia. Red 'til I'm dead - treble achieved, I'm ready to go! ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 27 May 1999 13:37:16 +0100 From: Paul Bragg Subject: World Champions Now that we're champions of Europe, I was wondering who we'll play 2 become WORLD champions? When will the game be played? Where will it be played? Champions!!! ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 27 May 1999 13:39:44 +0100 From: Mike Connolly Subject: Attn. Masterfan Here's a question for you. A celbrating Red's train arrives in Manchester at 5.30 (hopefully if Virgin don't screw up), and he needs to get to a good vantage point for the parade, hopefully able to see the bus go by and get some decent B/W photos (I'll eMail them to Barry for his site). Should he get the Metro to a) to Deansgate b) GMEX c) some other spot to be recommended by masterfan Answers as quickly as possible please 'cos my train leaves at 3.00. ta MC -- "Let Chaos storm, let clouds shapes swarm, I wait for form..." UNKNOWN mcon@millfilm.co.uk ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 27 May 1999 13:54:41 +0000 From: P.L.Hinson@AIS.SALFORD.AC.UK Subject: Re: World Champions > Now that we're champions of Europe, I was wondering who we'll play 2 become > WORLD champions? When will the game be played? Where will it be played? In recent years the European Champions have met the South American Champions in a one-off game at a neutral venue. This was the 1997 match...... TOKYO (Dec 2, 1997 - 10:17 EST) - Borussia Dortmund won the world club championship with a convincing 2-0 win over Cruzeiro on Tuesday. Goals from Michael Zorc and Heiko Herrlich gave the European Cup holders a well-deserved victory over Brazilian opponents reduced to 10 men after right-back Vitor was sent off for arguing with the referee in the second half. The efficiency of the German side was characterised by their Brazilian defender Julio Cesar who marshalled the Dortmund defence and kept fellow Brazilian international Bebeto under wraps throughout. Zorc opened the scoring on 34 minutes when he fired home a cross from Stephane Chapuisat from the edge of the six-metre box. Herrlich added the second five minutes from time when he latched on to a low cross from Dortmund's Portuguese international Paulo Sousa. Three Dortmund players were booked -- Andy Moeller, Stefan Reuter and Herrlich -- in a sometimes scrappy match. Paul Hinson (email p.l.hinson@ais.salford.ac.uk) MUTV Masterfan Quiz Champion 1999 http://mufc.simplenet.com The best STATS on the 1999 English and European Champions on the Web http://mufc.simplenet.com/mufc/stats.htm STATISTICS http://mufc.simplenet.com/mufc/pontin.htm RESERVES And JUNIORS Try the MUFC Quiz http://mufc.simplenet.com/miva/quiz/quiz.mv ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 27 May 1999 15:17:01 +0200 From: Tore Salte Subject: "Football is an easy game"(result) > Lothar Matthaeus: > "I once heard Gary Lineker say that football is a very simple > game, "For 90 minutes, 22 men go running after the ball and > at the end the Germans win"". Hi guys, looks like the above saying needs a little bit of rewriting. I suggest: "For 90 minutes, 22 men go running after the ball, and at the end MANCHESTER UNITED WIN!" But then, why do United have to try to kill me in every single important game. I must admit I had almost given up when Sheri put it in, and after Solskjaer put us up with one goal with 3 seconds or left to playof injury time, I was a complete nervewreck. Anyway, listened to the "Believe"(or was it "Belief"?) song afterwards and when I heard the line "It's all about believe" I wondered whether the songwriters were psychic, because that is excactly what the lads showed us yesterday and in all the games of this season. They believed that they could win, they never gave up at anytime during the course of the 90 minutes that constitutes a football game. Congratulations to the lads and every single red around the globe! WE ARE THE TREBLE WINNERS 1999! Tore Salte ---------------------------------------------- "This could be our year", It certainly was! MANCHESTER UNITED TREBLE Winners '99 ---------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 27 May 1999 21:24:00 +0800 From: Michelle Lim Subject: Thank You God!!!!!! God? What did I ever do to deserve this honour? The treble -- in 3 consecutive matches -- in my lifetime!!!!! It's a full 15.5 hours after the match (which ended at 5am here), and the mad incoherence-causing euphoria has worn off. I'm actually able to string sentences together now. But that Literature essay test I took at 9:30 in the morning -- it's a gone case I think. Never mind -- IT'S ALL BEEN WORTH IT!!!! US Reds -- I think I must be the only person in the world who actually voluntarily watches the Champions' League on ESPN. The ITV coverage and commentator are mind-numbing, and I don't need any help falling asleep at 3am. Besides, Smyth and Dellacamera are immensely amusing. Everyone, meet our new assistant manager -- Brian McClaren. :-) Strange-looking team today, to say the least. I don't think it was effective, but then we really didn't have many other choices. We arguably looked worse than we've done for a long long time. Where on earth was Sheringham? I was calling for him after 20 minutes were up. Thank God the Wizard finally brought him on. We started to look a bit better after that. (Sorry, Bloms, but you just weren't effective against them Germans.) And Solskjaer -- what a stroke of genius! Once he came onto the field, the whole game just changed. Our attack actually began to look purposeful. Before that, we'd been seeing a lot of the ball but weren't doing anything much with it. Babbel and Matthaeus coming off (thanks for that one, Becks!) was an excellent move -- for us. We were looking much better than them now. As the minutes ticked down I yelled at the TV: "Five more minutes now boys -- pull back one goal, and if it goes into extra time it's OURS!" Shades of Liverpool -- Ready Steady Teddy scores and I'm elated (understatement of the year). Looking forward to extra time like a predator closing in on his prey. Just waiting for that whistle when -- OLE! Ole Gunnar Solskjaer scores the most important goal ever ever ever!!! Well, for him and us at least! I leap vertically 4 feet into the air -- quite a feat considering I'm seated -- and scream loud enough to wake the whole neighbourhood. My maid and I then dance around the living room in absolute distilled concentrated pure joy such as I have NEVER ever felt. The previous uncertainty and frustration and occasional downright crappiness of the previous 86 minutes are forgotten. As Machiavelli would say, the ends justify the means, and what an end!!! WE'VE WON THE EUROPEAN CUP! AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!! I walk around the rest of the day beaming barmily into everyone's faces, and it takes but the slightest stimulus such as the word "Man" to get me grinning and lost in memory. It's always great to be a Red, but never more so than today! Life is sweet. And as I said to my Lit teacher: "Manchester United, Champions Of Europe. Kinda has a nice ring to it, huh?" This one's for you, Sir Matt. Wish you were here. We know you'd have been so proud. Michelle -- very humbled and grateful at being privileged to be alive at a time like this. And she's not even thinking of the treble here. PS: I felt so so so so sorry for Sami Kuffour (he was the only one I felt for, believe you me). He's Ghanaian and will likely never play at the World Cup, so this is effectively the most important match of his life. And he knew it too -- he had a blinder today and was responsible for the relative anonymity of Cole and Yorke. To top it off, he was responsible in part for Ole's match-winner. He was crying in a heap on the ground at the final whistle, and hadn't stopped even by the time it came to collect his runners'-up medal. Inconsolable would seem to be the word. Poor thing. PPS: If those earlier Bayern shots -- Basler doing a Becks, Bicycle Jancker, Scholl chip -- hadn't come off the goalposts and upright, we would have never ever come back like we did. So, Nou Camp woodwork, thank you so so much! ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 27 May 1999 06:38:02 -0700 From: Steve Edge Subject: goalkeeper news Ajax keeper Edwin Van der Saar has just signed for Juventus! And Everton's Thomas Myrhe has broken a leg in a training accident. Monaco's Fabien Barthez is now the favourite to join United. Keep an eye on Oliver Kahn and even Angelo Peruzzi as outside bets! Steve Edge Vancouver Red ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 27 May 1999 14:34:50 +0000 From: Michael Langan Subject: Re: World Champions > In recent years the European Champions have met the South American > Champions in a one-off game at a neutral venue. > This was the 1997 match...... > > > TOKYO (Dec 2, 1997 - 10:17 EST) - Borussia Dortmund won the world club > championship with a convincing 2-0 win over Cruzeiro on Tuesday. > etc. This used be the case but I think it's being changed, perhaps this year. FIFA have a mini-tournament in mind between the winners of Europe, South America, Asia and Africa. AFAIK it will be held over a week or so somewhere in South America next December. I'm open to correction in all of this of course. Opinion on Irish (RTE) TV last night was divided as to whether we deserved the victory. Panellists Liam Brady and John Giles said we were lucky and scarcely deserved it while Eamon Dunphy, surprisingly, had a lot of praise for MU and said we were worthy winners for our spirit and resilience, which is quite true. The competition is as much a league as anything else and as we all know you win a league over a long spell of matches, not just a once-off. Sorry to be pedestrian at a time like this but does anyone know where / if the digest of postings is stored? I'm going no-mail for a couple of days and I'd hate to miss out on all the reports. La la la la-la-la-la la, la-la-la la, Keanoooooo. Cheers, Mike. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 27 May 1999 15:43:10 +0200 From: Tore Salte Subject: Re: "Football is an easy game"(result) > Anyway, listened to the "Believe"(or was it "Belief"?) song afterwards >and when I heard the line "It's all about believe" I wondered whether the >songwriters were psychic. Hi guys, just making a little correction. I did not mean psychic, but rather clairvoyants or second-sighted. I sent the message before checking out with my dictionary on this one! Tore ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 27 May 1999 14:46:15 +0000 From: P.L.Hinson@AIS.SALFORD.AC.UK Subject: PARADE/VAN DER SAAR/SIR ALEX? MANCHESTER, England, May 27 (Reuters) - The city of Manchester braced itself for a 500,000-strong victory parade on Thursday to welcome home its European Cup-winning side. Wednesday's all-night revelling in the centre of the city was expected to follow through well into Friday as Manchester United supporters celebrated the team's 2-1 victory over Bayern Munich in Barcelona to take the cup for only the second time in its history. One local Manchester disc jockey tore off his clothes to go on air in the nude in celebration, living up to a vow to bare all if the team won. In the city, thousands of Manchester United fans chanted slogans through to the early hours after the club's treble-clinching win and convoys of cars circled around, sounding their horns. Other supporters climbed monuments, waving banners and singing. Some 4,000 people gathered around the club's empty Old Trafford Stadium. "This city is absolutely buzzing," said Paul Horrocks, a local journalist. "It has never seen anything like this euhporia." The United squad were travelling a seven-mile (11 km) route through the centre of Manchester later on Thursday in an open-topped double-decker bus. AMSTERDAM, May 27 (Reuters) - Ajax Amsterdam goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar will join Italian Serie A side Juventus next season, the Dutch club said on Thursday. Van der Sar was the only current Dutch national team player left in the Ajax squad. Ajax did not say how much Juventus would pay for the 28-year-old, nor who would replace him. "Ajax respects that he wants to take a further step in his career, but is sorry that one of the best 'keepers in the world is leaving the club," Ajax said in a statement, adding his decision to leave had been amicable. Van der Sar joined Ajax in 1989, helping the club to five Dutch championships, three domestic cup wins, UEFA cup success in 1992 and the European Cup title in 1995. Until Thursday, many had linked him with a move to European Cup champions Manchester United as a replacement for Peter Schmeichel or to UEFA Cup winners Lazio. Instead, he joins compatriot and midfielder Edgar Davids at Juventus and his move extends the long list of Dutch internationals playing abroad. LONDON, May 27 (Reuters) - Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson deserves a knighthood after the English club's triumphant treble-winning season, British sports minister Tony Banks said on Thursday. "If anyone asks my opinion...yes, he most certainly should," Banks told BBC radio when asked whether Ferguson should be awarded a knighthood for winning the European Cup like one of his predecessors at the club, Sir Matt Busby. Paul Hinson (email p.l.hinson@ais.salford.ac.uk) MUTV Masterfan Quiz Champion 1999 http://mufc.simplenet.com The best STATS on the 1999 English and European Champions on the Web http://mufc.simplenet.com/mufc/stats.htm STATISTICS http://mufc.simplenet.com/mufc/pontin.htm RESERVES And JUNIORS Try the MUFC Quiz http://mufc.simplenet.com/miva/quiz/quiz.mv ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 27 May 1999 23:49:04 +0000 From: "David Marshall, Brisbane, Australia" Subject: vd Saar to Juve Well, van der Saar is NOT the one Fergy is after - just heard on the Beebs that he's signed fot Juventus. BTW, great interviews with Fergie (great pride in this team and the club), Teddy (I thought we'd had it) and Ole (I'm so happy at Manchester United and I thought we could do it right to the end) on the same programme. Cheers, David Marshall Brisbane, Australia. Red 'til I'm dead - treble achieved, I'm ready to go! ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 27 May 1999 23:49:04 +0000 From: "David Marshall, Brisbane, Australia" Subject: So proud Hi All, I'm so proud of the lads, and when Gulaf Bashir signs off - University of Manchester Department of Rheumatology Hope Hospital Salford M6 8HD ENGLAND - and I'm so proud to have been born at that very hospital at 12.35 PM on June 26 1938! I know because I just found the info in a baby book my mother sent me some years ago before she died. You can't come much redder than that and, as my brother in Cheadle Hulme said during our fifth phone call today, "Thank God we weren't born Blue!" Cheers, David Marshall Brisbane, Australia. Red 'til I'm dead - treble achieved, I'm ready to go! ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 27 May 1999 06:39:23 PDT From: Ian Spick Subject: Must be time for a party.. Now that we have reached the heights of greatness, surely the list should try and have some kind of gathering to celebrate. What does everyone think? I am presently based in London, but would really like to go up to the legendary Throstles Nest to celebrate with fellow Reds. I am also considering whether or not to scive off work and shoot off to Manchester today...any London Reds doing the same? Want to meet up. I work right next to Euston so its really convenient. Anyone interseted e-mail me quick. Cheers Ian London Red ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 27 May 1999 15:50:32 +0000 From: P.L.Hinson@AIS.SALFORD.AC.UK Subject: Query about European Rankings Can anyone post a recent European Club Rankings list, or reveal where is the best site where it is regularly updated? I have tried UEFA's and others and only found old Listings. Paul Paul Hinson (email p.l.hinson@ais.salford.ac.uk) MUTV Masterfan Quiz Champion 1999 http://mufc.simplenet.com The best STATS on the 1999 English and European Champions on the Web http://mufc.simplenet.com/mufc/stats.htm STATISTICS http://mufc.simplenet.com/mufc/pontin.htm RESERVES And JUNIORS Try the MUFC Quiz http://mufc.simplenet.com/miva/quiz/quiz.mv ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 27 May 1999 23:28:06 +0800 From: Boon Wee Subject: Two home-made pictures Allo to all, I have just created two pictures of the team and Alex Ferguson celebrating their win over the three cups. Download them if you are interested. The URL is the same as my European Cup Final Special Page. It's at http://members.xoom.com/heathens/ecfinal/index.html I am now asking for contributors who wished to comment/pour their hearts out over last night's win to send their contribution to me. I would like to include Manchester United's fans' perspective of the game in my Special Page. Please feel free to send me your contributions via email. Again for the end of the season survey, http://members.xoom.com/heathens/form.htm Cheers Boon Wee ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 26 May 1999 11:58:13 -0300 From: Edouard Cruz Subject: Re: goalkeeper news Peruzzi has already signed for Inter. I would go for Chilavert. Edouard Cruz Quebec, Canada luced@sprint.ca -----Message d'origine----- De : Steve Edge À : MUFC@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU Date : 27 mai, 1999 10:35 Objet : goalkeeper news >Ajax keeper Edwin Van der Saar has just signed for Juventus! And Everton's >Thomas Myrhe has broken a leg in a training accident. Monaco's Fabien >Barthez is now the favourite to join United. Keep an eye on Oliver Kahn and >even Angelo Peruzzi as outside bets! > >Steve Edge >Vancouver Red > ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 28 May 1999 00:04:25 +0800 From: Boon Wee Subject: URL correction Allo all, The URL given for the EC Cup Special was the wrong one. Sorry about that. It should be http://members.xoom.com/heathens/archive/ecfinal/index.html Boon Wee ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 27 May 1999 11:42:00 -0500 From: Mike Keeley Subject: Who put the ball in the Germans' net? Greetings It is with still-trembling hands and dizzy head that I write to describe what happened down at Sedgwick's yesterday, what a day. We arrived about an hour or so before kickoff to scout out the best seats to watch the Final, and thankfully our lucky spots weren't yet taken. Pregame nerves were attempted to be eased by the good doctors Heineken and Guinness, but not to much avail. We kept trying nonetheless. Not much that hasn't been said already about the match could be said. We did have a very pathetic ABU seated near us who was getting very irritating around the 80th minute. There were loads of people in the bar, probably about 70 or so, with a handful of Germans in there (amazingly, they had the accents to match, not the Cockney ones that were expected). The other 60 or so were either trying grab a quiet lunch (ha) or were there for the Reds. When Sheringham put the ball home, the place went berserk. Ever the pessimist, I was waiting for the camera to swing over to a flag being raised by a linesman for offsides, or for the ref to indicate that there was a foul - something to go wrong. With United's luck the last few weeks I wouldn't have been surprised at something like that happening. It was pande-****ing-monium in that place, and beer, pint glasses, a 1970 (?)United guide (there was one on hand, the one that talks about what progress as a person and player Bestie would have made by 1975!), food, and bodies went flying all about the place. No the glasses weren't thrown, just casualties of a massive celebration. I was still celebrating like mad when I looked up to see that United had won another corner. An eerie hush came over the throng, as if it couldn't really be happening, then the shouts and screams willing United to grab the winner right here, right now. Amazingly Ole stuck the ball into the top of the Germans' net, and frankly I didn't know what to do. Instantly we were incredulous, then after about one-tenth of a second we nearly brought the whole place down. We were jumping, hugging, screaming, and whatever pints lasted the first goal certainly didn't survive the second wave. When the final whistle came, another massive celebration. The lunch crowd, what was left, was in utter shock to what was going on on a Wednesday afternoon, the Germans were head-in-hands, we were singing, dancing, applauding all the images coming across the TV... Champion-ees, champion-ees! After that was through, and seeing the celebrations on the TV, we finally settled - somewhat. We sang songs aplenty, and Ross the barkeep brought us a bottle of champagne. We all knew what we wanted to do with it, but who would have the guts? Finally one of the boys picked it up, shook it vigorously, and away we went. Fortunately (?) I was sat right across the table from him, and was instantly drenched, as eventually the rest of the boys were. Not to mention the drips that were put on the ceiling! We sang seemingly all of the songs - "Oh, Teddy Teddy", "Champion-ees", "Brian McClair, he may be fat", "Pride of all Europe", "Why don't City **** off home", "Who the **** are Man United", "Cheer up Alan Shearer", "Are you watching Merseyside", "We'll Drink a drink...", "You are my Solskjaer", "Ooh ahh, Cantona", "Keano's Magic Hat", and a couple that we made up along the way - "Brought the Cup back to Manchester", "Treble Treble"... too many more that I can't remember. Dinner came round, then the taped replay went up. A few poor souls who couldn't get off work came in to watch, and almost turned around and left when they saw that there were still United boys hanging around, totally pissed. A couple of them actually did, but the United supporters in their group stayed to watch. The yuppie dinner crowd could not have been much pleased as we assaulted the song book once again, and treated the goals that we saw at the end of the delayed telecast as if we had just seen them for the first time. After another half an hour of singing, drinking, and imagining just what it must have been like to be in Manchester or Barcelona, I left, for I had to be at work today. But there's one song that's still ringing through my loud head this morning... "Who put the ball in the Germans' net?" What an incredible day, what an amazing team. Thanks for a wonderful year, long may it last! ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 27 May 1999 12:46:09 -0400 From: "Grixti, Randy" Subject: MANCHESTER UNITED...THEY CAME, THEY SAW, THEY CONQUERED! > Is Alex Ferguson trying to weed out the old and the sick? This is one club >that should come with a warning "Anybody with heart problems should not watch >this club play...stick to the newspaper". >Once again they brought my heart and nerves to the brink of collapse. The 90 >minutes where up and all that stood between victory and defeat was injury >time. With my heart pounding at every failed attempt at goal, I grew more >and more solemn, until finally when all hope seemed to be lost...GAOL!!!. I >jumped, I screamed, I yelled and I sang. We are going into extra time. >Before my poor weak heart had a chance to calm down...GAOL!!! We were on top. > UNBELIEVABLE! Bang! Bang! Bang! My blood pressure rising to a dangerous >level, my body shaking from the adrenaline rush. I felt dizzy with >excitement. Is this real or only wishful thinking. Am I dreaming, is this >some kind of sick joke my mind is playing on me...NO, IT IS REAL! MANCHESTER >UNITED HAS JUST WON THE EUROPEAN CUP. They have accomplished what no other >English football team has ever done before, win the TREBLE. The dream is now >reality. > >Oh, how I wish I could be in Manchester on Thursday to join the thousands >lining the streets to welcome the heroes back. > >MANCHESTER UNITED...THEY CAME, THEY SAW, THEY CONQUERED! > > ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 27 May 1999 14:05:33 -0400 From: Gary McLaughlin Subject: Something good about ESPN After I returned from the pub where I watched the game yesterday, feeling exhausted and exhilirated beyond belief, I had to watch my tape of the game. I was too busy celebrating to notice this at the bar, but I was totally expecting ESPN to screw up the celebrations. But during the whole lap of honor, until it was almost over and they had to wrap up, Dellacamera and "Onion Bag" did not utter a word. I was shocked. There is never anything good to say about ESPN's coverage, but I was very pleasantly surprised that somehow those two managed to shut their traps for a few minutes and let the audience enjoy the celebrations. What a day, What a year, What an ending. Gary ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 27 May 1999 14:55:14 -0400 From: Ethan Fry Subject: Re: Champions League Music www.uefa.com has it somewhere. > Does anyone know where i can download the Champions League theme(it was > played when Pete and Alex was lifting the European Cup) in MP3 or WAV? > > Cheers, > Roger > > ICQ : 12537469 > Red till im dead > ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 27 May 1999 19:46:16 +0100 From: Paul Wharton Subject: European Player of the Year Does anyone know when the European Player of the Year is announced.Keano, Becks, Yorkie and the Mad Dane are bound to be in with a shout. RedPaul Northern Ireland ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 27 May 1999 19:20:45 +0300 From: Amir Inbar Subject: Re: Query about European Rankings > Can anyone post a recent European Club Rankings list, > or reveal where is the best site where it is regularly updated? http://www.dailysoccer.com updated every friday. Not too accurate, Bayern will still be way ahead of us tommorow. -- Amir Inbar Israel ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 27 May 1999 17:44:32 +0800 From: kcleong@CYBERWAY.COM.SG Subject: Help required.. Hi, Reds, I'm sorry, but can someone ( list master, Barry ? ) please post to the list or e-mail me privately the subscribing & unsubscribing instructions for this list ? Thank you. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 27 May 1999 15:55:14 -0400 From: Muna Abu-Shaar Subject: Same old United ... To all Reds around the world, I'm still pinching myself to see if it's all real! I can't remember a better day in my life than yesterday. I took Wednesday and Thursday off work - Wednesday because I didn't want to get trapped at work before the game and Thursday to recover. After all that's happened I feel like taking the next week off as well. The day started off at McCormack's. As soon as I entered the pub, I knew that it was the wrong place to be on the great day, full of ABU's and part-time supporters. Unfortunately, I couldn't go elsewhere until my friend showed up, which was almost five minutes after kickoff, about a minute before the typical United start to a Champions League game of going a goal down very early on. The rest of the first half was miserable - the mind full of recriminations (ranging from our ineffective midfield (Becks excepted) to our ineffective strike force to the lack of a player on the line to clear the free kick). When the half time whistle came, United had started getting into the game but going nowhere up front, and I knew that we needed Teddy and/or Ole to come on if we were to have a chance of getting past these gigantic Germans and scoring. I also knew that win or lose, I couldn't stand to be at McCormack's one more minute so my friend and I tried to get a cab to Nevada Smith's. My frustrations were compounded by the lack of an available cab but we finally found one and managed to get to Nevada Smith's before the second half kick off. We made our way to the big screen at the back and I immediately felt much better to be surrounded by a bunch of true Reds. The half kicked off and we still weren't able to create any clear cut chances for ourselves. I was praying to Alex for Teddy and Ole and surely enough, they were eventually both on and we started creating good scoring opportunities. Unfortunately we were unable to get any conviction in the shots as they all fell rather tamely to Bananaman. In the meanwhile, the Bayern lead was kept down to the single goal by saves from Schmikes/the post/the crossbar, which at the time were signs that we may yet equalise. However, as the minutes ticked by (helped by a lot of time-wasting by the Germans,including one corner which I calculated took a whole minute to get under way and a couple of players being subbed whom my arthritic gran could have beaten off the pitch) my heart told me it was not to be and I was resigned to losing the game. I felt that even though we were about to lose, we would come back and win it, so my sadness was directed towards Schmikes more than anyone else. All of a sudden it's extra time, a corner is taken, a goalmouth scramble takes place and the ball ends up with Teddy, who cooly slips it in the net. Cue pandemonium as everyone is up on their feet, jumping up and down and hugging their neighbours. My heart was beating like I'd been the one running on the pitch for the previous 90 minutes. The rest of the afternoon was surreal - we were still celebrating that first goal when the second went in and before we knew it, it was all over and we'd completed the final leg of the treble. The United songs blared, people were jumping and dancing and hugging each other, beer was being sprayed all over the place and a couple of people were injured - although I didn't see it apparently a young man took a big bash to the head which was cut open and bleeding, and my friend also took a knock to the head which resulted in a big bump and a bit of a headache. The way the fringe players - especially Rai, Superstar and Wes - celebrated the goals and the final whistle made me love this Red team even more. I must have been a tad delerious, because when the camera zoomed to Sir Bobby, I honestly believed it was Sir Matt until the commentators said it was Sir Bobby (I can only blame the euphoria, my closeness to the grainy picture of the giant screen, and the United Calypso playing at full volume) - of course when I went home and replayed the game on video (the last couple of minutes about fifty times), it looked clearly like Sir Bobby! Anyway, happy birthday Sir Matt and I know you were there in spirit if not in person. Througout the afternoon and evening, my friend (who likes United thanks to an ex-boyfriend but isn't a supporter) kept telling me she couldn't believe United had scored two goals at the death. I kept replying that I wasn't surprised because that's the United way - taking us from agony to ecstasy in a matter of mere seconds. The only thing could have made the day any better was for me to have been there in Barcelona - to have made my voice heard to the team and to have joined in the celebrations. During the game, we were being sporadically video'ed (sp?) and I couldn't figure out why. I guess Terry's report of BBC coverage from Nevada Smith's is the answer. When we finally left the pub there were Reds also being interviewed outside. Finally, a plea - if anybody has an extra piece of memorabilia from the match - a spare programme (they seem to have sold out really quickly from the official website as they're no longer listed), a photo of the players (esp Schmikes), anything that could only be acquired in Barcelona, please drop me a line as I would love to buy it from you. Muna ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 27 May 1999 21:58:40 +0200 From: Lance Gallant Subject: Match Report - from an Evertonian! My brother's on the Everton list and has forwarded this match report by a blue who was there. Pisses you of when you think of the reds outside, but anyway, I enjoyed reading it, despite a few comments. --------------------------------------------------------------------- ------- Forwarded Message Follows ------- From: "Kenny Fogarty" To: "Evertonia Mailing List" Subject: [Evertonia] Barcelona Date sent: Thu, 27 May 1999 20:08:12 +0200 Send reply to: evertonia@zogmeister.com The Netley Goes To Barcelona Okay the plan was hatched my my mate Pete, a Manchester United fan, seconds after his team had beaten Juventus 3-2 in Turin to clinch their place in the final. He went into work the next day, made some enquiries and dispatched a request to the Spanish FA for four tickets to the game. Incredibly, he received a fax back from the Spaniards saying that his request would be processed and the tickets are on the way. Sorted. He mentions it to a few guys here, and the normal response of "Yeah, I'll be in for some of that, no danger, no worries" is heard. However, the plan is to hit a slight hitch imminently. I'm requested to sort out hotels, so I hit the internet. We have flights booked, we're going from Amsterdam to Barcelona. It's not as busy as the normal routes, so our tickets are booked and waiting for us. I attempt to use KLM to book a hotel, and meet with success. It's the Intercontinental. Posher than Posh Spice, by a mile. My errand complete, I go home to England to see Everton wallop West Ham. When I return, KLM contact me and say there's been a change of plan. They can't book the hotel. It's full. We've been had over by the Spaniards. So we're homeless. For the rest of the month, we're faxing, emailing, calling and generally making a nuisance of ourselves in the hope of getting a room in Barcelona. However, it's not to be, as the city is hosting an Expo-style business conference, and also the Jerez Grand Prix is at the weekend, so we're packed to the rafters. No worries though, something will turn up, it always does. As the day draw nearer, we've heard nothing more from the Spaniards. Ultimately, they've made us a false promise and we're ticketless as well as homeless now. No worries though, something will turn up, it always does. The night before, we've made our arrangements, and despite the cry-offs from Amsterdam, we're going to be met at the airport by another friend of ours, who's coming up from Munich. He couldn't get a flight on the day, so he lied to his girlfriend and went to Loreta Del Mar on Saturday night, for a few days. Rumour has it, that a friend of ours, a life-long and passionate Manchester United fan is going to fly over from Australia. We're also going to meet some other lads, who've gone to Alicante for a week and are coming in for the game. It's on. There's a mob of us and it's going to be a right laugh. The rendezvous is set, all meeting outside Terminal B's arrivals doors. Couldn't be simpler. We're off with overnight bags, shorts, t shirts and the traditional smellies and refreshers. Passports and tickets are in the bag, and at 6:00am, my taxi picks up Pete and we're in the airport. Check in, and there's a problem. The flight is full. Very full. Seems that the Manc lads had sussed that Amsterdam is a reasonable place to fly from and there's a presence on the plane. However, lady luck smiles on us, an d we're upgraded to Business Class. Laffin' all the way. We're sitting there, lording it with our complimentaries, the suits are looking at us, but we're okay. Ruud Gullit joins us, and takes the seat behind. A cunning plan is hatched to see if the Dutch genius has any spares. We don't myther him on the plane, respect the guys privacy. Two bottles of champers and a warm breakfast later we've landed and we're off. Ruud is walking along in front of us, all in black, shades on, looking cool. Not as cool as me though, I aquired a lovely pair of Hugo Boss fr om the duty free selection, as my Calvin's are sitting, forgotten on the table in the hall. We approach him on the escalators down. "Hi Ruud" says Pete. "Hi" replies the great man. "How's it going today ? Are you going the game ?" offers friendly Pete. "Yeah, I am" replies Ruud. "Nice one. Got any spares mate ?" "Ha! No", and with that, he's off. We stroll out of the doors awaiting Sean, who said he'd be there, no sign. No worries though, Sean will turn up, he always does. We're mooching about and the first ticket tout of the day is spotted. Local fella. Wants 100,000 pesetas for a ticket. No chance, that's almost 400 quid we calculate, and offer him a more reasonable amount. There's no bar tering, so there's no sale. No worries though, something will turn up, it always does. Sean arrives, in a fisherman's hat and de rigeur cargo pants. It's his 'Ducking and diving hat" he says. He looks ridiculous, but it doesn't matter. I haven't seen him since December, so we're all laughing and joking and waiting for the arrival of the plane from Alicante. The plane shows, but the lads are missing. The lad from Oz obviously hasn't made it either, so there's the three of us, together again, and we're in business. In 1993, the three of us had taken the day off from work and aquired tickets for the Marseille v AC Milan european cup final. It was Marco Van Basten's last competitive game. He was kicked out of the match by the match wi nner Basil Boli. That day, we secured 8(!) tickets, in a row from a French guy, right behind the commentators. When we're together we feel lucky. We always get in. We hit the main station in Barcelona, Sanz, and there's a build up of fans. Rumours of tickets on sale in shops (yeah, right, I remember that one in 1985), and of people with 30 to sell, looking for a reasonable profit ar e doing the rounds. Pete's making contacts and looking around, and he's anxious to get sorted. I refuse to bow to the first offers, all from Spaniards, all for stupid money. I manage to talk Pete out of plumping, and we're off to Las Ramblas , where everyone is and we're bound to score some there. We see a few ticket sales, but again, the Spaniards want too much money. We're not biting. We see on Spaniard who wants a third of the price of his countrymen, and something smells. We examine the ticket and it's the wors t blag ticket I have ever seen. It's been scanned and the colours are faded and the whole thing looks as if its about to fall apart. Mind you, the geniune articles are no better. Not laminated, no watermarks, no embossed e mblems. Just skanky bits of paper with a shitty bar code attached. Eventually, Sean runs out of patience and makes a sign that says "Need 3 tickets". Amazingly enough, we're approached by a load of Bayern Munich fans who have the tickets and are looking to sell them. Now, I don't know if this is true for all of Germany, but in my experience of Bayern Munich fans, they will sell you tickets, ever so slightly over the odds. Okay, this is a big game, THE game, and Pete and I plump for th e best deal of the day so far. 200 quid, and we're in the ground, TOGETHER. Sean won't pay it, so we need one more. That is soon aquired as again, Sean is approached by a Munich fan. This guy is so inexperienced he asks Sean how much he will pay. Sean says 400Dfl and no more. That's about 160 quid. The guy's eyes light up and we're all sorted out. The pressure is off, we can enjoy the day. We stroll about the rest of Las Ramblas, then take a detour off the beaten track. The lads are hungry, so I treat them to my Spanish, and get the food and the ale in. We've got three hours to kill, then we're off to the s tadium at 6:00pm. A few more bars, a few more drinks and a few more "hola's" to the sultry Spanish women later and we're in a cab and off to Estadio Camp Nou. We get so far, and are forced to bale out by a police checkpoint. End of the taxi ride, but we're in sight of the stadium. Match programmes aquired, we go towards the turnstiles. We all still have our small backpacks etc, which are duly searched. Amazingly enough, the only things that are confiscated are our deodorants. I protest, and the guy says it's an aerosol and it's dangerous. I ask him what am I going to do with it, make the Bayern fans smell nice ? He's having none of it, and my last parting shot is "This is shit, now I'm going to smell like you do". H e isn't happy, neither am I, but I'm in the ground and we're on! Sean goes to his entrance, Pete and I make the journey towards our seats in the Bayern end. Early doors, and we have a few more drinks. Pete's on lager to sooth his nerves, I'm on mineral water because I want my wits about me, and want to take it all in. We find the seats and we're right behind the goal, opposit e the massed hoardes of Manchester United fans. There must be 60,000 of them, at least. Outnumbering the Bayern fans by maybe 4 to 1. The pre-match show is on, and it's amazing. UEFA also have the announcer from the Olympic Stadion in Munich, for the Bayern fans, and, I assume the announcer from Old Trafford for the United hoardes. Each is taking it in turn to play songs for their fans and the atmosphere is red hot. The teams come out and we settle down for the biggest club game in Europe. The game starts and Manchester United look edgy, and Bayern are looking well up for it. They're no mugs, and they pissed their league this season. United look to be missing Keane, and Ferguson has gone with Blomquist in a very attacking line-up. However, the worst possible start, and "Super" Mario Basler sends a screamer of a free kick into the net and the United boys are 0-1 down. Schmeichel is looking nervous,and his defence is rocky, as Munich are given a coup le of half chances and Schmeichel makes a few dodgy clearances. It's looking ominous, and it's not what I expected. However, United whether the early storm, and they settle into an attacking rhythm, without ever seriously stretching the Munich rearguard. Another peculiar trait about Bayern Munich fans, is that, apart from the mob on the Sud Kurve, the rest of them haven't got a clue. If you think that Manchester United fans are arrogant, you've seen nothing like the Bavar ians. A fine example of this was about 20 minutes in, and a fella behind me taps me and asks me to sit, as he and his wife can't see. I tell him in a friendly fashion that if I sit, I won't be able to see either, and he should stand up if he's missing any of the game. For the rest of the match, him and his wife are moaning on and on at their compatriots about how they've paid money for seats and should not have to stand up to see the match. Who'd be a football fan in the 1990's... Half time comes, and United have played themselves into the match, but the best chances have been Munich's. Pete's looking a bit anxious, and I try to tell him that it'll be okay, but we've all been a neutral at a game wi th a fan, and it's not easy. The second half starts and Munich have more chances to win. United have thrown on their subs, to try and take the game to the Germans, but they're hitting them on the break and ripping holes in the United defence at will. Basler tries to do a Beckham and sends a fifty yard shot just over, with Schmeichel scrambling, then the Dane palms an effort from Effenberg over the top. Another run from Basler sets up Scholl and he chips a beauty into the top corner..is it ? No! It comes back off the post and the keeper has it. Then the big number 19 of Bayern, who their fans have christened "Fussballgott" slams one against the bar. They're still in it, United, but they 're on the ropes and need a knockout to win. Pete looks at me, as United get a corner. "Last chance" he says, resigned. Schmeichel has legged it up the pitch to see what he can do. He gets some kind of a flick on, then its back in and someone's flicked it and it's g one in. The place goes fucking mental. We're up in our seats, the Germans have their heads in their hands. Flares have gone off and it's nuts. The Germans look at us and say that it was our last chance. Extra time it is then. Except that United have the ball again and they've got another corner, and it's flung in and it's hit the net and the place has gone abso- fucking-lutely bananas.. As a man, the German team are on the floor, the United subs, staff, friends, family have all ran on the pitch. The players are in the crowd, we're on our seats, the Germans are distraught, it's fucking nuts. I grap Pete's digital camera to get the snaps. He can't hold it steady. I talk with the Germans telling them how cruel it is, and how unlucky they are. They are so sporting and gracious in defeat. I dread to think what it would be like if the shoe was on the other foot. The game is over, United have the cup and the players are conducting the crowd, singing songs and revelling. More photo's then the players disappear. An appeal is made to the United fans to get into their busses, as the p lanes are leaving as soon as they can. We walk out into the warm night air, meet a Japanese lady in an England shirt. She's got a hotel, we're talking her leg off, there could be a chance, if we can get her to feel sorry for us, being homeless, but it's not to be, and she melts off into the night. Sean appears, frothing at the mouth. Eight and a half years of frustration he says, came out of him, as he laughed at the arrogant Munich fans, who cannot comprehend their defeat. They threw it away and don't know how. We walk off into the Barcelona night, I'm happy for Pete, who's delerious. However, the fact staring us in the face is that we've got nowhere to stay and we don't know what to do. Sean tries a few hotels, but he's always an optimist. We are refused, then we find our way to Las Ramblas. Take in a few drinks at the bars there and walk on towards the harbour. We walk into the masses of Man Utd fans, hundreds of them,going mental. There's a severe police presence, and El Baton is in attendance. We walk into it and out the other side. We're not the only temporary homeless it see ms. There's thousands of fans who have collapsed asleep in grass verges, traffic islands, parks. We hit the harbour, I find a comfortable bench and sleep for an hour. Sean has decided to go off into a club, but Pete and I are in t shirts and shorts and we're not even going to try. 4:00am comes and Sean comes back. He finds us again, and it's getting shady in this park where we are. Sean thinks that he's seen a guy rifling through the pockets of a passed out Man Utd fan. One of his countrymen and fe llow fan. What is it they say about scousers ? Poor white trash everywhere it seems. We're walking again, and the plan is to get back to Sanz. It's miles away though. A taxi stops and offers to take us. Five thousand pesetas for a one thousand peseta ride. I can swear in Spanish with the best of them, and he gets a mouthful. The metro has opened and we're in luck. We can get a train to the airport, as Sean has to check in and get home again. He's flying standby, and is heading for Turin, as the Munich planes are all full. Pete and I are out on our feet. One hours sleep in a park in 24 hours isn't enough, and our tickets are for the 19:30 flight back to Amsterdam. We chance our arm. Luck has been kind to us so far, and we ask if they can ch ange the time of the ticket. There's a flight at 10:30, and another at 12:30. She gives us a huge surprise when she tells us to check in right now, there's space on the 7:30 flight. We run to check-in, get our tickets, offer our goodbye's to Sean who has another hour to go, race to the gate, and we're on the flight back!!! I check my seat number, I'm in business class again!! Pete has to make do with economy, but it doesn't matter. I quaff my complimentary orange juice and tip my cap over my eyes and get some sleep. We land, at 9:30am, and we've done it. We've seen history made, it cost me about eight hundred quid, but fuck it. Memories are made of this. Cheers, Kenny ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 27 May 1999 22:00:06 +0100 From: Steve Searle Subject: Re: How Fergie compares to the greats Of course you could always chuck in Fergie's Scottish successes... Steve _______________________________________________________ From the computer of Steve Searle mailto:steve@starsoft.demon.co.uk http://www.starsoft.demon.co.uk/index.html ICQ 3075772 > -----Original Message----- > From: Manchester United Football Club (soccer) > [mailto:MUFC@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU]On Behalf Of Teddy the Medallion Man > Sent: 27 May 1999 11:02 > To: MUFC@LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU > Subject: How Fergie compares to the greats > > > HOW FERGIE COMPARES TO THE GREATS > Manchester United's European Cup success, which has > completed an historic Treble, confirms Alex Ferguson's > standing as a living legend. The United boss is now just > one trophy behind Liverpool's Bob Paisley in the all-time > standings. Heres how he compares to English club > football's other greats... > > Bob Paisley (Liverpool) - League championship: 1976, > 1977, 1979, 1980, 1982, 1983. League Cup: 1981, 1982, > 1983. European Cup: 1977, 1978, 1981. UEFA Cup: 1976. > > Alex Ferguson (Manchester United) - League championship: > 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1999. FA Cup: 1990, 1994, 1996, > 1999. League Cup: 1992. European Cup: 1999. Cup Winners' > Cup: 1991. > > Sir Matt Busby (Manchester United) - League championship: > 1952, 1956, 1957, 1965, 1967. FA Cup: 1948, 1963. > European Cup: 1968. > > Brian Clough (Derby County and Nottingham Forest) - > League championship: 1972, 1978. League Cup: 1978, 1979, > 1989, 1990. European Cup: 1979, 1980. > > Bill Nicholson (Tottenham Hotspur) - League championship: > 1961. FA Cup: 1961, 1962, 1967. League Cup: 1971, 1973. > Cup Winners' Cup: 1963. UEFA Cup: 1972. > > Frank Watt (Newcastle United) - League championship: > 1905, 1907, 1909, 1927. FA Cup: 1910, 1924, 1932. > > George Graham (Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur) - League > championship: 1989, 1991. FA Cup: 1993. League Cup: 1987, > 1993, 1999. Cup Winners' Cup: 1994. > > Herbert Chapman (Huddersfield Town and Arsenal) - League > championship: 1924, 1925, 1931, 1933. FA Cup: 1922, 1930. > > Bill Shankly (Liverpool) - League championship: 1964, > 1966, 1973. FA Cup: 1965, 1974. UEFA Cup: 1973. > > Kenny Dalglish (Liverpool and Blackburn Rovers) - League > championship: 1986, 1988, 1990, 1995. FA Cup: 1986, 1989. > > Don Revie (Leeds United) League championship: 1969, 1974. > FA Cup: 1972. League Cup: 1968. European Fairs Cup: 1968, > 1971. > ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 27 May 1999 15:12:48 -0600 From: Henry Fernandes Subject: what a perfect day What a perfect day yesterday was. By scoring the tieing and winning goals, Ole and Teddy are sure to stay with us. I had been worried about Ole in particular. I thought he might want to leave this summer, but I think he'll stay now. Yesterday, we were a bit lucky. But that's part of the game. Let's all remember Dortmund, West Ham, and Monaco from past years. We were clearly unlucky in those games, yet nobody (besides us) would really admit that. Now that we've finally had some luck, let's just accept it and enjoy it. Do you remember those games from a few years ago? We'd go down an early goal and we'd put on pressure for the rest of the game. But we'd never score, would we? I always felt that was a big weakness of ours -- losing the early goal and going close but not scoring. Well, this is a weakness no more. -H ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 27 May 1999 14:41:12 PDT From: Boston Red Subject: Re: Some more thoughts on yesterday's game Nope. I don't go there anymore as it's unlucky for me. United always lose when I'm there which is a shame as I think it's the unofficial HQ for USA Reds. I watched it in the Joshua Tree. I passed it on the way to another haunt (Kavanaghs) and thought I'd give it a try for the Inter Milan home game. So for me and my superstitions, it's Kavanaghs for the FA Cup and league, and Joshua Tree for Europe, and it worked this year! I won't talk about the game as I still can't find words to describe it or my emotions. Whenever I listen to the BBC audio clips of that second goal, I almost break into tears! Cheers, Paul >Terry wrote : >By the way, I was just watching BBC World and they did a short >piece on >Nevada Smith's in NYC. Were any Reds from the list in there during >the >game? Yesterday, the BBC also devoted a few minutes to Malaysian >Reds. >Truly we have a worldwide following, something to be proud of just >as we >can be proud of the team itself and its manager. >________________ >Terry >Saudi _______________________________________________________________ Get Free Email and Do More On The Web. Visit http://www.msn.com ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 28 May 1999 02:33:57 +0100 From: Geoff Carew Subject: FREE Treble Celebration Screen Saver WEB U NEW MANU - THREE STEPS TO HEAVEN - www.webu.nu/manu 27/5/99 email : manu@webu.nu Glory, Glory, Glory Man United!!! I haven't stopped smiling since Ole's goal. Contents: *Free Treble Screensaver *Site News *Happy Germans:) ------------------------- FREE TREBLE SCREENSAVER!! ------------------------- Celebrate the Historic Treble in style by downloading our Special Treble Screen Saver. Be the enemy/envy of your friends and workmates as you computer pays tribute to the Gods of Old Trafford. Features: *Over 50 High Quality Photos of Manchester United winning and celebrating the F.A. Cup, the Premier League, and the European Cup *Superb smooth transitions and effects *Fully user customizable *Easy to install and set up Find it at http://www.webu.nu/manu OR http://members.xoom.com/MirrorManU (it will take approx half hour but believe me it is well worth it!) For those of you without web access or with nasty bosses who don't appreciate the importance of lengthy MUFC related downloads send us an email with the subject 'Free Screensaver' and I'll see what we can arrange. --------- SITE NEWS --------- Check out the European Cup reports and thumbnailed pics at http://www.webu.nu/manu/champleag.htm Check out the Road to Barcelona reports and thumbnailed pics at http://www.webu.nu/manu/champleag1.htm Check out FREE MUFC software at http://www.webu.nu/manu/soft.htm Check out the Final Premier Table and Seasons Results at http://www.webu.nu/manu/table.htm Check out the FA Cup at http://www.webu.nu/manu/facup.htm Check out the best MUFC sites on the Net at http://www.webu.nu/manu/links.htm ------------- HAPPY GERMANS! ------------- We got this email last night:) Dear friends, we congratulate to the champions league won final. My son (Moritz,8 yrs.and midfield at TuS 09 Muelheim/Ruhr-Valley) and I,Wolfgang Schanze,M.D.)are very happy about that you won the champions league final. Maybe you know that Germany is divided in two parts,bavarians and non-bavarians,we are live in the western part and we are very happy that you won the Champions League and as well the championship in England. Greetings Moritz & W. Schanze Have a Great Day, A Happy Red:) http://www.webu.nu/manu email manu@webu.nu ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 28 May 1999 13:36:29 +1000 From: John Subject: Attention: Oz Reds + Medals + ABUs Hi fellow Treble winners Wonder if any Oz Reds heard the 2UE radio interview with the Fred Pollitt or Graham Shakespeare on Mike Carlton's program yesterday? The program's presenter actually contacted me to ask for Fred's number but managed to get him eventually. Also, does anyone know Graham's number or email so i can *finally* join the supporter's club? did anyone goto the St George League's Club for the match? How was it?? one more thing: Do only the players + subs on the day get medals? if so i think Greening and Brown or Van Der Gouw should offer their medals to Keane and Scholes, i know it sounds selfish but i think they deserve it more also to all those ABUs who say it was a fluke and that Blomqvist and Cole were shit again, i have this to say to u: WHO WON THE EUROPEAN CUP? WHO WON THE FA CUP? WHO WON THE LEAGUE? Not You!!! Glory Glory Man United - Piss Off u jealous ABUs John :) still pinching myself :) PS actually there a few Man U "fans" who i heard keep criticising Cole and Jesper, please stop it, please. ------------------------------ End of MUFC Digest - 26 May 1999 to 27 May 1999 (#1999-38) **********************************************************