---------------------------------
[8] Team from last night
---------------------------------
Posted Thursday, December 7, 2000 by bar-knee:
United: Barthez, Brown, Neville G, Silvestre, Irwin, (Neville P 90), Beckham, Butt
(Giggs 80), Scholes, Keane, Sheringham, Yorke (Solskjaer 90)
Subs not used: van der Gouw, O'Shea, Fortune, Greening (strange how many attackers?)
Bookings: Butt 58,
Goals: Scholes 17, Giggs 89
Attendance: 16,500
---------------------------------
[7] Alfie is a blue, he is so sad
---------------------------------
Posted Thursday, December 7, 2000 by bar-knee:
Extract from Manchester City skipper Alfie Inge Haaland's recent week:
"This week I went to see AC/DC in concert, along with my friends Egil Ostenstad,
Stig-Inge Bjornebye and Veggard Heggem. It was a great gig, and they played all their
hit songs such as Back In Black and Highway To Hell - the show went on for well over
two hours. It was a real inspiration to see the band, particularly Angus Young,
running around like kids, with the sweat pouring off them. It made me think that, if
a bunch of middle-aged guys can run around like that for two hours, we shouldn't have
any problem, being in our mid-20s, performing for 90 minutes! I'm into all kinds of
music, not just heavy metal, but AC/DC just have quality songs and I have to say that
it was one of the best concerts I've ever been to."
And now we easily realise why he's such a hero to the Bitter Blue ranks - and why he
hates Utd so. Mr Bean has more fun in a week.
---------------------------------
[6] Stop that pre-season, we want to get on board!
---------------------------------
Posted Thursday, December 7, 2000 by bar-knee:
With Peter Kenyon set to announce our Far East tour dates later today marketing
company IEC want us to include Australia as part of a pre-season tour.
The marketing company's managing director Dominic Galati admitted that he was in
talks with the Premiership champions - and that an arrangement would be mutually
beneficial.
"We are in negotiations with them, we're talking to them about 2001
and 2002. We'd like them to come back, they had a great experience in Australia with
us previously, we treated them well. They loved Australia, but it's more of a
business proposition for them. They set up a lot of stores in Asia and any tour is
for two-fold reasons - it's to promote their team and promote their stores."
Soccer Australia chief executive David Woolley is worried after the aggro during the
last tour.
"We went through some difficulties last time and we'd need to be sure
that didn't happen next time. The public deserve better entertainment value then
they've had in the past and are very mindful of that. As far as the club were
concerned it didn't create any animosity with the Australian soccer federation."
---------------------------------
[5] Kaiser waxes about Becks
---------------------------------
Posted Thursday, December 7, 2000 by bar-knee:
Franz Beckenbauer said:
"David Beckham is the most exciting, talented footballer in the world. Beckham this
year has been fantastic. If I had to pick a No1 player in the world this year, a
player who has dominated football, then it would have to be Beckham.
All the great stars this year have had periods when they have had a break or haven't
been at their best. Zinadine Zidane and Rivaldo, for example, have not been at their
peak for the whole season. But Beckham has not faltered. He is the man who all year
has been very consistent and who can continue to get better. I really like him. I
like the way he passes the ball and the way he shoots. It's fantastic. There is
nobody in the world like him."
Don't we know it.
---------------------------------
[4] Bowyer gobs off
---------------------------------
Posted Thursday, December 7, 2000 by bar-knee:
Lee Bowyer: "I think we can match United. We just have to keep our feet firmly on the
ground and keep concentrating and trying our best," said Bowyer. But we're also
growing up. We must be because we produced a good, mature performance against
Lazio...We think we can beat near-enough anybody on our day as long as we all play
well...We have so much will and determination to win and if we can beat Lazio in Rome
then we can beat anybody."
Apart from Manchester United...
---------------------------------
[3] Graz response
---------------------------------
Posted Thursday, December 7, 2000 by bar-knee:
Graz coach Ivica Osim once again talking in circles.
"I think some of my players had too much respect for the Manchester United players.
But my players gave everything in this game and it wouldn't be right for me to
criticise any of them. I'm not that disappointed because I appreciate the quality of
the Manchester United players and you can't compare my players with theirs."
Beckham "We always knew it would be a tough game but we're pleased with the result"
this coming on German tv channel RTL which showed the game live and who showing how
strong the media are in UEFA world, interviewed both Becks and Fergie straight after
ITV. Not in German though.
---------------------------------
[2] More from Fergie
---------------------------------
Posted Thursday, December 7, 2000 by bar-knee:
"Scholes' was a marvellous goal and you forget, that because he's a midfield player,
how many goals he has scored - and they've all been important goals" 14 goals in fact
- just 3 behind Cole.
"He has certainly scored a lot for us. I think we have good finishers at the club and
he did start out as a striker. He was never the striker that Dwight Yorke or Andy Cole
was. He was always the type to drop into midfield, but he's always been a good
finisher from when he was a kid.
It's always good to win a game like this, simply because it gives us six points going
into the break, and by the time we come back, hopefully we will have everyone fit. We
should have Jaap Stam and Andy Cole available by then and in the first half in
particular we played very well. We had a good flow to our game, the tempo of our
passing was good and I was pleased with the first goal.
They had one or two moments in the second half, but you expect them to improve their
performance when they're 1-0 down on their own ground. They've got to have some change
of pace, but once we weathered that they didn't look like beating us. We probably
created more chances in the second half and we're satisfied because it's a good result
for us."
---------------------------------
[1] Fergie happy with result
---------------------------------
Posted Thursday, December 7, 2000 by bar-knee:
Aren't we all really - we certainly did slightly more than we had to in the cold of
Graz but trying not to get carried away, I'm starting to see signs of '99 with the
team. Talk ends there from me - but Ferguson was beaming after our first Euro away win
in 6 games.
"We expected them to have a real go after half-time and they did that. But we
weathered it and maybe when the boy hit the bar, there was a bit of luck there, but in
main we controlled it quite well - not as good as the first half, but we still had one
or two chances in the second half.
"I thought the Teddy Sheringham goal should have stood because the boy passed it back,
but nonetheless we have got a good result and the first (away) for a while. I thought
they acquitted themselves better in the second half and had a real go which maybe
caught us off balance a little bit - carelessness at times, but not overly."
We are very pleased. We are in a good position. We are getting better. We have six
points and a double-header now against Valencia who we played last season and if we
could get the same result (a draw in Spain and victory at Old Trafford), we would be
delighted with that."
Other group result...Panathinaikos 0 Valencia 0.
---------------------------------
[47] On the spot report
---------------------------------
Posted Wednesday, December 6, 2000 by tb:
The atmosphere was the best seen (and heard) for many a year, with much mutual piss
taking between the two sections of Utd supporters. Our man was off to sooth his vocal
chords
---------------------------------
[46] Full Time from Graz
---------------------------------
Posted Wednesday, December 6, 2000 by ps:
Graz 0 United 2
Scholes (18), Giggs(88)
---------------------------------
[45] Half time
---------------------------------
Posted Wednesday, December 6, 2000 by tb:
Graz 0 Utd 1 - The Ginger Prince
---------------------------------
[44] More idle transfer talk
---------------------------------
Posted Wednesday, December 6, 2000 by bar-knee:
"Manchester United, Leeds and Chelsea have joined the race to sign 20-
year-old attacking midfielder Yossi Benayoun. The Israeli international playmaker,
who has a £7m price tag on his head, is in a strange contract situation at present.
Israeli league leaders, Benayoun's current club, Maccabi Haifa 'own' half of him,
while second
division Hapeol Beer Sheva own the other half."
Er, can we bid for the good half then - preferably the one that includes the foot he
shoots and passes with...
---------------------------------
[43] Fergie's last word on tonight
---------------------------------
Posted Wednesday, December 6, 2000 by bar-knee:
"Anyone who changes their defence at the start of the season and then has to change
again during the season does not normally find it easy. We started off with great
promise at the start with all the players fit and then we lost Jaap Stam and Ronny
Johnsen, and we had to make a new partnership with Gary Neville and Wes Brown. They
are both young but they have grown into it and developed very, very well together.
The best will come from them in games like tonight. It
is a big game for them. But they will get better in these types of games. That's a
promising part for us.
Gary Neville's future as a centre back is something I haven't thought about at the
moment really. He is a natural in the position though but once Jaap Stam comes back
we'll make another decision if we need to. At the moment I am very satisfied with him.
The players will want to improve on their away record this season. It has been
disappointing. We are not particularly pleased about it. When we lose a game it tends
to create news we don't want and I hope we can start winning some games.
Ole always gives me something to think about. It is always difficult with the strikers
we have got and having to leave one out. He's a fantastic player and I have to pick
the team I think is right on the night and it does include Ole in my thinking.
The midfield decision is an even bigger selection problem"
---------------------------------
[42] Giggs on tonight
---------------------------------
Posted Wednesday, December 6, 2000 by bar-knee:
"We all take the blame for our defending in both Brussels and Eindhoven this season.
We are confident we can do better than we did in both those away matches when we lost
2-1 and 3-1. Our success down the years has been based on being a team. We attack as
a team and we defend as one. Nobody shoulders the blame on their own.
As a midfield quartet we are a very important part of our defending. Generally in
that department we have done well protecting the back four. We have great attacking
talent in the engine room but we know our jobs and how to defend. Our experience
tells us that we have to keep Sturm Graz quiet in the first 20-25 minutes. A home
side will always come at you in those opening minutes and have a good go. Anderlecht
did in Brussels and we didn't stand up to it.
You know how teams will start and you have to subdue them and the crowd. That's
vital. We need to silence the crowd. If you get a goal fine, but if not you have to
make sure you keep the ball. I know a lot is made about me in the Champions League and
that's a pressure I love to have. I like playing in Europe. It is the next level up
from the Premiership and I enjoy testing myself against the very best.
I maybe under pressure to perform, but we all are and it is a nice pressure. However,
I know tonight that before I can cut loose there is a job to do containing Sturm Graz
so we get a foothold on the game. It was frustrating to be struck down with a
hamstring problem again. It is over a year since my last one and I thought I was rid
of them.
But I wasn't too disheartened because it wasn't the same leg again. However, I feel
fine now. I have had a good weeks' training and the 20 minutes I had against Spurs on
Saturday has helped me. I'm ready if wanted."
---------------------------------
[41] More from Graz coach
---------------------------------
Posted Wednesday, December 6, 2000 by bar-knee:
"Individually Manchester United are so strong. But their best quality is the fact
that together they play for one thing and that is the team. They play to win. Nobody
is just playing for himself. The players from Manchester don't play the same way as
those from Milan, Barcelona, Valencia - they are also good players - but they are
also playing for themselves. United don't do that and that's their strength. It is the
kind of character which has been built into their team.
Having said that, although United fans think their club can win the
Champions League, don't forget that Bayern Munich and the Spanish clubs are very
dangerous.We have a lot of respect for them but we are not scared. If we were really
afraid why would we be playing in the Champions League?
Teams come to Graz, though, and I am not too sure what they are actually thinking and
how much respect they have for us. If they are ignorant of what a small club can do
then they'll be in trouble.
We cannot influence players like David Beckham. Players like him are certainly not
afraid. It is very hard to put them off their job, they are true professionals."
---------------------------------
[40] Ruud back for PSV training in January?
---------------------------------
Posted Wednesday, December 6, 2000 by bar-knee:
Ruud Van Nistelrooy will join his PSV Eindhoven team-mates for a training camp in
January. He is being lined up to play for the Dutch champions in the Maspalomas
tournament against Bayer Leverkusen, Galatasaray and Rosenborg.
---------------------------------
[39] We shall see Graz
---------------------------------
Posted Wednesday, December 6, 2000 by bar-knee:
Their coach Ivica Osim seems to be coming out with differing signals every
hour..."It`s certainly no secret if Manchester United have a problem it is with their
defence because they are always under pressure. The problem is that other teams, on
paper, have better defences, yet they are always under pressure. United don't handle
it as well and they are unsure of themselves
Ferguson, however, is not underestimating the Austrian side,
adding: "Sturm`s home record is absolutely outstanding. They possibly
found the Champions League very difficult to begin with but now they
have grown into the competition."
