---------------------------------
[24] Transfer rumour of the day
---------------------------------
Posted Saturday, December 16, 2000 by bar-knee:
Ronnie Johnsen could be a target of Barca in the summer?
---------------------------------
[23] Matchday ref info
---------------------------------
Posted Saturday, December 16, 2000 by bar-knee:
Yes - as one reader pointed out - it wasn't Mike Riley who did the
goal celebration - "clenched fist in front of shorts". It was actually Mike Reed.
Apparently Riley was a guest, and speaker at Fergi'es big party on the evening after
the 7-1 West Ham game, which Riley refereed. Hopefully he'll be sending off a few
Scousers on Sunday then.
[Thanks for that info Peter]
---------------------------------
[22] First goalscorer odds
---------------------------------
Posted Saturday, December 16, 2000 by bar-knee:
FIRST GOALSCORER ODDS
click odds to place bet Man Utd:
Solskjaer 4/1
Sheringham 4/1
Scholes 7/1
Giggs 9/1
Beckham 9/1
Greening 10/1
Healy 10/1
Keane 11/1
Chadwick 14/1
Fortune 16/1
Irwin 16/1
Butt 18/1
Wallwork 25/1
Silvestre 40/1
Johnsen 40/1
G Neville 40/1
P Neville 40/1
Brown 50/1
No Goalscorer 8/1
Liverpool:
Fowler 13/2
Owen 13/2
Heskey 13/2
Barmby 11/1
McAllister 12/1
Smicer 16/1
Biscan 16/1
Hamann 20/1
Gerrard 20/1
Ziege 25/1
Murphy 25/1
Hyypia 33/1
Babbel 40/1
Carragher 40/1
Traore 50/1
Henchoz 50/1
No Goalscorer 8/1
---------------------------------
[21] Odds for the game
---------------------------------
Posted Saturday, December 16, 2000 by bar-knee:
ODDS
4/7 Man Utd win
5/1 Liverpool win
9/4 Draw
---------------------------------
[20] Giggs on the game
---------------------------------
Posted Saturday, December 16, 2000 by bar-knee:
"Losing the title at Anfield in April 1992 was terrible. Leeds had won in the
morning, so we knew we had to beat Liverpool on their home patch to keep our
faltering challenge alive. We lost 2-0, which confirmed Leeds as champions. Anfield
was in raptures and their fans took a lot of pleasure from our failure. After the
game, on my way to the team coach, a couple of Liverpool fans asked me for my
autograph.
I obliged, only for them to tear it up in front of me. The manager always reminds me
of that incident to motivate me when we play Liverpool.
Against Charlton I saw Solskjaer out of the corner of my eye and the goalkeeper off
his line, so when the ball fell to me I just thought 'What the hell?'. I watched the
ball after I hit it and it was almost like it was in slow motion. I was waiting for
it to drop but as it went nearer and nearer I thought it was going to go in.
I took a chance because I had nothing to lose. I am disappointed that I have not
scored more goals this season because I always aim for double figures, but there is
still some time left."
---------------------------------
[19] Stapleton on the clash on Sunday
---------------------------------
Posted Saturday, December 16, 2000 by bar-knee:
"It has got to the point of being close to hatred. I think it has a lot to do with
jealousy from both sets of supporters. It is the biggest game of the season for
Liverpool and for Man Utd it's on a par with Leeds because it's that sort of
atmosphere
I think it's been a place like Anfield was some years a go when
people used to go there and tremble and didn't perform. In the last few years when
I've seen Liverpool play at Old Trafford they have not played too badly and had most
of the play. I think Michael Owen can cause problems for any team. I think it's down
to the service he gets. The problem for the team generally is to make sure they don't
get overrun.
Liverpool haven't really been given much chance in this match I think most people are
thinking they are going to go there and get beaten so this could be the occasion
where they turn it round. I don't think Sami Hyypia has played as well as he did last
season. Him and Henchoz have looked stretched all the time and the goalkeeper has
had a little bit of a confidence crisis.
I think Wes Brown is an outstanding young player. Everybody has great hopes for him
for many years being the England centre back. He will be first choice, himself and
Jaap Stam, as soon as Stam gets himself fit and back playing. I think they will be a
formidable defensive partnership for United. It's a vital fixture for United to
maintain their lead over everybody else. I don't think Liverpool are in the title
race. They have lost to many games in the league up to now to be realistic
challengers.
But the game itself means a lot to them. I think it could give them a new sense of
belief. If they beat United at Old Trafford they will know they can go anywhere in
the country and win. I think it will be a tough game and United will come out on top.
There is always goals scored. I think there will be a minimum of three and United
will win 2-1."
---------------------------------
[18] What a home record
---------------------------------
Posted Saturday, December 16, 2000 by bar-knee:
United's complete Premiership home record since losing to
Middlesbrough reads:
P 36 W 30 D 6 L 0 F 106 A 26 Pts 96
---------------------------------
[17] Silvestre - I'm glad I didn't join Liverpool
---------------------------------
Posted Saturday, December 16, 2000 by bar-knee:
"I was very close to signing for Liverpool, but after the manager
[Sir Alex Ferguson] came in for me there was no doubt that I would sign for
Manchester. I'm quite happy when I think about all that I have done at United in one
year. It was amazing for me to start against Liverpool in my first game in the
English league; it was an amazing, very quick game.
Maybe I prefer playing at centre back, but everybody says I am
better at left back so I don't really care what everyone says. I try my best every
time I play, whichever position it is. We are already 13 points clear of them, so I
think they have no chance of catching us."
---------------------------------
[16] Yorke on watching from sidelines
---------------------------------
Posted Saturday, December 16, 2000 by bar-knee:
"Over the past two seasons it has been Andy Cole and myself as the two main strikers
with Teddy third or fourth in line. He was getting a few games and was the man to
come on in matches. But, at 34 or 35, you would have thought he would want regular
first-
team football.
Obviously, that was what he was thinking about in the summer when he had to make up
his mind whether to stay at United. But credit to him - he has hung on. We all knew
what he could do but to be top scorer in the country with 15 goals so far has
surprised a lot of people.
Teddy is a real thinking man's footballer. He anticipates situations and sees things
better than most players. He has great experience and know-how. I think our styles
of play are similar because we are not just out- and-out goalscorers but people who
can link up play as well."
Not so long ago players were finishing the game at 32. But nowadays in football the
financial rewards are so enormous you really want to be playing on at the top as long
as you can. To do that you have to look after yourself and keep fit and Teddy has
been a great example.
It certainly has been a year of two halves for me. After finishing top scorer for the
second season running and winning another championship to finding myself sat on the
bench. Then just when I'm getting back into it I'm sent off for a bad challenge.
That was my own fault.
Looking back, I probably did take my foot off the pedal a bit at the start of the
season. But I'm determined to come back. I think Manchester United put everyone in a
panic, including Liverpool. As this club began to dominate everyone started making
wholesale changes to try and catch up. Everyone is throwing money at the situation
to try and find the right formula rather than develop a team as Alex Ferguson has
here and Liverpool used to do. I believe Gerard Houllier is starting to do that
again and I can see
them getting much stronger."
---------------------------------
[15] More from Gary Nev
---------------------------------
Posted Saturday, December 16, 2000 by bar-knee:
"In my mind, there are four teams who can win it. United, Arsenal, Leeds United and
Liverpool, who we meet at Old Trafford tomorrow. I think Chelsea are too far back to
make an impression. It will take only one of those teams to put a run of results
together and they will be right back in the race very quickly.
In this league, you can easily have setbacks such as the one we had at The Valley. We
had another one at Ipswich Town earlier in the season and West Ham came back at us to
draw. If you get into the second half of the year and suddenly lose your form and
someone else comes with a run, it is difficult to hang on. We don't for a second
entertain any of the talk about the championship being over.
Liverpool, actually, have always done well against us at Old Trafford. Together with
Chelsea, they seem to be the team that causes us the most problems and I don't
anticipate it being any different tomorrow. Liverpool have been written off, too, but
they are only a couple of wins from being right back in it.
People know I don't have any great affection for them, but I do admire them in many
ways. I think they have gone about things in exactly the right way in recent years.
They have bought a lot of good, young English players, including Emile Heskey and
Nick Barmby, to go with the lads who have come up through their youth system, such
as Steven Gerrard, Michael Owen and Jamie Carragher, and now they have a great mix of
Englishmen and talented foreign players.
I saw some of the articles about Michael this week now that he has turned 21 and I
couldn't believe that some were implying that he was past his best. He seems to have
been around for a long time, that much is right, but that's only because he made such
a huge impact at
such a young age.
He's had a terrible time with injuries since then, but everyone goes through lulls in
their career and Michael has been through his now. He's scoring goals again and
looking sharp. I've played directly against him for United and he is hard to mark
because he is so quick. I won't be underestimating him, put it that way.
Sometimes I think that people have got this idea in their head that Owen and Robbie
Fowler are struggling when actually they are getting back close to their best. The
evidence of how good they are is that 99 per cent of other Premiership clubs would
put both of them in their team without even thinking about it, but Liverpool have got
the luxury of having Heskey to fit in as well.
It will be a tough game tomorrow but, even if we win, nothing will have been decided.
In football, Christmas is far too early to start handing out the presents."
---------------------------------
[14] Gary Nev is a Red speaks
---------------------------------
Posted Saturday, December 16, 2000 by bar-knee:
"The first time I had to leave the house on Christmas Day to go training, it was a
real shock to the system. We've always had quite a big family Christmas, with about
15 people round at my Mum and Dad's house, and it didn't seem right having to leave
it all in the middle. I've got used to it now, though. It's going to be the same
this year. We're away to Aston Villa on Boxing Day, so that means having a
mini-Christmas dinner, then wobbling around on the training pitch for a bit in the
afternoon and then climbing on the coach for the journey to Birmingham.
Last year, I did manage to get out on New Year's Eve to see in the Millennium; I had
a party for some friends in Manchester because there was no game the next day. This
year, though, we've got West Ham United at Old Trafford on New Year's Day, so I don't
think I'll even bother staying up until midnight. I'll be in bed by about 10.30.
As usual, it will be a crucial period for us and the rest of the teams who are in the
running for the championship. It made me laugh when I heard some people saying that
the title race was wide open again after we drew with Charlton Athletic last weekend.
I feel as though I've said it until I'm blue in the face, but it's farcical to talk
about the championship being decided before Christmas.
We famously overhauled Newcastle United when they went into late February with a
12-point lead, and we once lost the title when we had a healthy lead in January. To
talk about it all being over because we, at one stage, had an eight-point lead in
December was ridiculous."
---------------------------------
[13] More from Houllier
---------------------------------
Posted Saturday, December 16, 2000 by bar-knee:
"United are the best in the world and they have a good chance to win
the Champions' League this season. The team goes from strength to strength, and their
players are not old. To get level with them is asking a lot. In a race, you need two
things: for you to keep up your momentum and for them to have a slip, which has not
happened.
It's so difficult to close the gap. They're playing on a different planet. Even if
we beat them, they will still win the league. We can't be compared to them at the
moment.
You can't compare us. We are a young team that has been together only 15 months. When
you look at the average (age) of the squad, it is only 24 or 25. We have put up the
foundations of the team. What we need now is experience."
---------------------------------
[12] Wanchope Fifa's best - the City view
---------------------------------
Posted Saturday, December 16, 2000 by bar-knee:
You may recall that this story about Wanchope getting a vote as World Player of the
Year in the FIFA awards was brought to our attention ahead of the rest of the media
thanks to Red News reader, Lee - who has to put up with Bitters at work.
Well, he's kindly given us an update...
"A brief update to my post the other day ...The sad Massive I mentioned has this
morning referred me to a page on siddy's official website, where I found the following
'view' of the Wanchope debacle. At least it proves it wasn't his mum who voted, as
originally suspected. What odds Soccer AM do a piece on Wanchope being better than
Keane, etc on their show ?
>From city:
'STRIKER'S TOP FINISH. City's striker, Paulo Wanchope is the fifth best player in the
Premiership..and that's official. The enigmatic Costa Rican hitman has baffled the
armchair experts, knocked a few faces out of joint and probably just reinforced what
we knew already.
City's summer record signing is a better player than all but one of the squad on the
other side of Manchester, Keane included. His Premiership ranking has been endorsed by
Football's World governing body, FIFA when he finished 22nd in their recent world
player of the year award poll, won by French superstar Zinedine Zidane.
The only Premiership players to finish higher than Wanchope were David Beckham
(sixth), Thierry Henry (seventh), Fabien Barthez (17th) and Marcel Desailly (19th).
The twenty four year old, City's top scorer, finished in front of the likes of Kanu,
Dennis Bergkamp, Andy Cole and Roy Keane as well as Lazio's Pavel Nedved, Juventus
striker Alessandro Del Piero and gifted Portuguese star Joao Pinto.
"It is a great boost for him," said Joe on hearing the news today. "It has not been
easy for Paulo to settle in to what is his third Premiership club. He has just moved
house and his mother is over with him at the moment. We are now getting a continuity
of training with Paulo and that is reaping benefits. He has proved to be terrific
value so far this season and I don't just mean in the financial sense."
So how has the striker, who won over the Blues fans with a hat-trick in his home debut
earlier this season, knocked a few, "names" off their perch?
The rankings are compiled from a poll of each national coach from the 150 countries
registered with FIFA. They are asked to nominate their first, second and third placed
players. Wanchope received one first place vote, worth five points, and that was
enough to place him 22nd, according to FIFA's website.
But it appears his lofty place in the pantheon of the world's greatest players may
have been down to a bending of the rules. His solitary vote came from his own Costa
Rican manager, Gilson Nunez Siqueira, and coaches are not supposed to vote for their
own players. The Supreme Court will not be called for a final judgement!"
city humour, massive style at the end there!
---------------------------------
[11] Mexes transfer talk latest
---------------------------------
Posted Saturday, December 16, 2000 by bar-knee:
It appears to be us, Juve and Roma fighting for the signature of Auxerre's Philippe
Mexes now.
---------------------------------
[10] Scouse overload
---------------------------------
Posted Saturday, December 16, 2000 by bar-knee:
Alan Kennedy this time...
"Manchester United aren't invincible and I'm optimistic about Sunday's game. I'm not
saying that we'll win but we'll give it our best shot and come away with a draw.
Manchester United are a good team, probably the best in the country right now and
Liverpool will have to watch Man Utd's midfield as they tend to get a lot of goals
from midfield."
---------------------------------
[9] More United praise from Closseau
---------------------------------
Posted Saturday, December 16, 2000 by bar-knee:
Shouldn't he be talking about his own team? Or too many failings to report?
"Manchester United's main quality is their quality. You have to give them credit and
respect. They have gone from strength to strength. Their players are very skilful,
very competitive and very hungry."
When he said: "We will need another 50 games to get the kind of solidarity and
confidence they have." does he mean another 50 games against us?
---------------------------------
[8] Jaap going but not playing on Sunday
---------------------------------
Posted Saturday, December 16, 2000 by bar-knee:
And already knows what a Utd-Scouse game is all about...
Stam says: "I'll be at Old Trafford to see the lads take on our old rivals Liverpool
this Sunday. This is a really special game, the sort I don't like missing. These games
aren't just about points, they're about pride. The atmosphere will be fantastic,
especially as this is the first time we've played Liverpool in front of our increased
capacity of 67,000."
---------------------------------
[7] Blanc rules out move to England?
---------------------------------
Posted Saturday, December 16, 2000 by bar-knee:
>From our French correspondent:
Laurent Blanc on a small satellite channel TV :"I will stay with Inter for the rest of
the season, that's for sure. My contract ends in the summer. I think - I am almost
sure - that I will go on playing. Where? I don't know. Maybe with Inter, maybe
somewhere else. England? No, I think that I will either stay here or go back to
France. I have travelled a lot, my family needs stability. But you can never be sure
of anything..."
It seems that, contrary to reports, we won't see Blanc in a United shirt. This news
hasn't been covered by french media, yet - you read it first again at
www.rednews.co.uk!
---------------------------------
[6] Ole wants to emulate Teddy
---------------------------------
Posted Saturday, December 16, 2000 by bar-knee:
"Teddy's playing well and he's proved that if you get a run of games you get the trust
of the manager. I have to try and emulate Teddy. I have learnt a little bit from that
as well. He is a prime example of someone who is performing and because of it has kept
his place in the side. It gives you hope that you can do it too.
There are going to be more opportunities for me this season, starting with these three
matches, and I have to take them. I'm ready for this run of games but I'm not going to
put extra pressure on myself. It is a big chance for me but I'm not going to worry
about it"
---------------------------------
[5] UEFA think of fans?!
---------------------------------
Posted Saturday, December 16, 2000 by bar-knee:
'Uefa have blocked Celtic and Rangers' bid to join a lucrative EuroLeague because they
say the Old Firm are too obsessed with their bank balances and have forgotten the
fans' wishes.'
Uefa general secretary Gerhard Aigner insisted: "The officials from these clubs have
nothing against Uefa, but they wanted more receipts and a more attractive competition.
But they have forgotten an essential point, that the sole judge of football is the
supporter. How are the supporters going to react if we take away the tradition of
derbies?"
UEFA caring for fans...get Victor Meldrew out of cold storage.
---------------------------------
[4] Houllier praises...United...again!
---------------------------------
Posted Saturday, December 16, 2000 by bar-knee:
You have to laugh - as if you wouldn't but once again Inspector Closseau comes along
with his 'Utd are light years ahead of us' speech before our game - the Scouse fans
must be gutted to hear it time and time again, but as each year passes they never get
any closer to his version of 'this time next year we will be closer to them'!
Houllier said: "We have reached the fourth round of [Euro Vase] and the semi-finals of
the Worthington Cup. Those are signs of how we are developing. Even if we beat United
on Sunday they will win the league. You may say that is defeatist but I say it is
reality. We will need another 50 games to get the kind of solidarity and confidence
they have."
One year behind us, two years, even 5 we've heard before - now it's 50 games...
---------------------------------
[3] Westerveld has problems
---------------------------------
Posted Saturday, December 16, 2000 by bar-knee:
Ahead of Sundays clash with United, Liverpool keeper Sander Westerveld
reveals his inner feelings on his website:
"We had Thursday off and I don't think we'll be training too hard for the rest of the
week because the pitches at Melwood are also soft. I'm going to take as much rest as
possible between now and Sunday. I'm going to make sure I have a massage every day and
that I eat properly. Normally, three days should be enough time for us to be ready for
United. Hopefully, we'll be in top form when we play them.
Finally, I'd like to point out that I have not been able to reply to my e-mails
because of some technical problems. I don't want anyone to think I have forgotten them
or that I don't care. As soon as these problems are sorted out, I'll be in touch."
Technical Problems, yeah right!.Too busy having massages and stuffing
your face you lazy...?
---------------------------------
[2] Buy your Red News issue 73 at OT on Sunday
---------------------------------
Posted Saturday, December 16, 2000 by bar-knee:
Abd help the cause!
You'll be able to get issue 73 of RN - with Gary Bailey interview and great Weakest
link spoof - before the Liverpool game for £1.50 from sellers on Sir Matt Busby Way.
It would be rude not to!
---------------------------------
[1] The official site loses it...again
---------------------------------
Posted Saturday, December 16, 2000 by bar-knee:
Read below very carefully - from the official Utd site...
"The new World Footballer of the Year has joined the chorus of disbelief at David
Beckham's final ranking in the FIFA poll. Juventus star Zinedine Zidane, who claimed
the award in Rome last Sunday, said: "I think Beckham should have been higher than
sixth place. He is a tremendous player and he has contributed so much towards the
success of Manchester United." Zizou also took the time to again rule out a transfer
to England."
Zizou?! Please will someone let us know what that is all about or have the official
guys developed nicknames like 'babykins' and 'rabbitpouch'?
---------------------------------
[42] Mark Lawrenson predicts
---------------------------------
Posted Friday, December 15, 2000 by bar-knee:
"Here we have a team that attacks from all areas against one that can't defend away
from home. United have so many different match winners and greater mental strength. I
can only see one outcome.
Verdict: United win"
---------------------------------
[41] England's Number one!
---------------------------------
Posted Friday, December 15, 2000 by bar-knee:
Nickey Weaver: "I played one game with Mansfield in the third division, and I then
got a full season in the second division with City, which was a brilliant learning
curve for me. Then I jumped up to the first division. The gap between the second and
first divisions wasn't that massive, but the jump from first division to the
Premiership was huge.
You can't come out for the crosses like you can in the first and second divisions,
because the quality of the crosses is that much better, it makes it a lot more
difficult to come for them. From the team's point of view, every member of the
opposition teams seem to be very fast, and they all have great, instant first touch.
And the movement of the front players is brilliant.
In the Premiership, when a forward gets a chance, nine times out of ten he hits the
target, and a lot of the time he scores"
(well, against you they do).
"You don't have a great deal of saves to make."
(no, just picking the ball out of the net)
"You might let two or three goals in, and not have much to do for the rest of the
game."
(quote of the season - what honesty)
"But I think we're improving. Against United in the derby, we let an early goal in and
in previous games perhaps we would have crumbled, but we didn't. We showed a lot of
resilience and fighting spirit."
(and still lost...)
---------------------------------
[40] Another banner needed
---------------------------------
Posted Friday, December 15, 2000 by bar-knee:
The Indy pointed out yesterday (in relation to the Scouse V Roma game coming up) that
1984 was their last Euro triumph - 17 years in May!
Time for another flag me thinks!
---------------------------------
[39] Fulham confident
---------------------------------
Posted Friday, December 15, 2000 by bar-knee:
Sean Davis of Fulham said: "When the FA Cup third round game against Manchester United
does come along we will be looking forward to it. They are the best side in the
country. The league is our main priority and we have got to play Tranmere, Crewe and
then a big game against Watford before the cup match next month. But the first 90
minutes against Liverpool will give us confidence and we will be at home, where we
knock the ball about and create lots of chances.
I think we did ourselves and the First Division justice in the game at Anfield. I did
not feel there was any sort of gap between us and them. We held our own for 90 minutes
and in a league game we would have got an away draw. So taking on United after that
shouldn't faze us. We are looking forward to it."
Sean, check on Sunday the difference between us and them.
---------------------------------
[38] Will he, won't he - Berg joins Blackburn
---------------------------------
Posted Friday, December 15, 2000 by bar-knee:
Henning Berg has joined Blackburn in a £1.75 18 month deal with a further one year top
up.
Blackburn Chief Executive said: "We are delighred to have agreed a deal. To get
Henning to sign for us is a great boost for us".
