---------------------------------
[35] Bobby Charlton - best ever Utd?
---------------------------------
Posted Wednesday, March 14, 2001 by bar-knee:
"I think this is a better team than the team I played with which won the European Cup
in 1968. The more often you win it, the greater your name becomes. I think those three
players will stay because I don't believe it's because of the money - they have got
into the habit of winning. I know these boys and I know they love the game and want to
achieve. I don't think they can achieve what they've achieved anywhere else. Contracts
are important - but these boys are footballers because they want to be footballers,
not because they want to be rich. They have really good contracts but they don't take
them out on the pitch
with them".
---------------------------------
[34] Is that because total offers = 0?
---------------------------------
Posted Wednesday, March 14, 2001 by bar-knee:
'Manchester City manager Joe Royle has said that defender Andy Morrison will not be
leaving to go on loan to another club.'
---------------------------------
[33] You didn't think we were going to ignore this did you?!
---------------------------------
Posted Wednesday, March 14, 2001 by bar-knee:
Yesterday
'The trial of Lee Bowyer has been adjourned so he could change his trousers after he
admitted he was not wearing any underpants. Bowyer, 24, was asked by the defence to
get changed into the trousers
and shoes he claims he wore on the night of the alleged attack on
Asian student Sarfraz Najeib. The prosecution claims the shoes the footballer was
shown wearing on a video had a large ornamental buckle on and were not the ones
handed to police as evidence after the incident in January last year.
Bowyer re-entered court wearing the black trousers and black shoes he
said he had been wearing on the night of the incident
He was asked by Mr de Silva to walk in front of the jury box at Hull
Crown Court and up and down a step to demonstrate how he would have
been seen on video entering the Majestyk nightclub on the video film.
The trial judge Mr Justice Poole left his chair to walk over and
watch Bowyer's demonstration, which he then had to repeat on the
other side of the courtroom for prosecuting counsel Nicholas Campbell
QC. Mr de Silva took Bowyer through police interviews in which he had
told officers that he had run down Boar Lane in pursuit of Woodgate
and his friends but had fallen over and received a blow on the side
of the face from an unknown attacker as he tried to get up.
He had told police: "It's just that I haven't done anything apart
from take a whack so I can't understand why I am here."
---------------------------------
[32] Reserve goalie speaks
---------------------------------
Posted Wednesday, March 14, 2001 by bar-knee:
>From official site
Paul Rachubka:
On being No.2 at the mp
"It's been great - it's been a great surprise, especially as I was fourth choice at
the start of the season and a long way off. I wasn't even getting a game in the
Reserves. I'm learning every day. Fabien's great, he's shows what a great goalkeeper
he is with the saves he makes to keep us in the game. The Panathinaikos game was a
great one to watch.
I've got a lot to do if I'm to play for United. He's one of the best
goalkeepers in the world and if you play for United you've got to be
the best. I've had two great goalkeepers to watch and learn from -
especially their training methods. They are different goalkeepers but
you can't fault either of them. I've been watching everyone, including Raimond and
Bosnich and the 'keepers that come to Old Trafford. I take a bit from everyone's
game and hopefully patch it into mine so I've got a good all-round game.
I also watched Martyn a lot when Leeds came. Sometimes it distracts
you from watching the game, but I can learn more from watching the
keepers than watching the games. I never had chance to play American football as I
came over here when I was six. I've been here for thirteen years now. I started
playing lacrosse and football came my number one sport after that. Lacrosse was fun
when I was young but now I love playing football. "That love came from schoolfriends.
They told me to play for the school team, and I started as an outfield player but one
day the goalie had a bad day, and I thought I could do better. From then on, I've
been a goalkeeper.
I've been here since I was ten, so it's not been like jumping in at the deep end.
I've been progressing through the teams, and hopefully one day I'll make the regular
first team goalkeeper."
---------------------------------
[31] Teddy on stick
---------------------------------
Posted Wednesday, March 14, 2001 by bar-knee:
>From the official mag on the stick he got on arrival.
"I fully understand what the talk was about. And I know what was going on when I first
came. But you do it for yourself really. That's why you put yourself in this position,
of coming to a great club. You know you're going to be targeted and if you're not up
to it, you're going to get stick. It's what drives you on.
It's just that I'm playing regularly in a truly outstanding team. If you look at the
midfielders at this club, it's absolutely frightening.
They're all world class. As a striker, it's a joy to play alongside them. And this
season, through one thing or another, I've had a chance to be in the team and I've
benefited from it.
When you're scoring goals your confidence is good and you're always hopeful of scoring
again. Richard Gough played against us the other week, and played very well. And he's
about 39. So who knows? I may just go in and see the chairman about a five-year
deal..."
---------------------------------
[30] Viduka doesn't fancy Sheep for much longer?
---------------------------------
Posted Wednesday, March 14, 2001 by bar-knee:
"I'm aware of Roma's interest. But when you go into a match thinking about other
things apart from the game then you start getting distracted. So tomorrow I will just
go out and do as well as I can for the team and worry about those things later on,
although it is very flattering to be linked with them. At the moment Roma are the best
team in Italy and the Italian League is probably one of the best in the world, but I
am very happy at Leeds. I admit it is an ambition to play in Italy or Spain. I've
always liked the football played in those countries, and who knows what the future
holds. In football anything is possible and things can change on a daily basis. It
depends on circumstances."
---------------------------------
[29] Utd goods by auction
---------------------------------
Posted Wednesday, March 14, 2001 by bar-knee:
'Signed Man Utd items are up for grabs in charity auctions
at Barry Venison's www.bid4sport.com website including items from Giggs, Barthez and
co.
Autographed items from the likes of Beckham, Cole, Stam, Scholes
and co have been a regular feature on the site, and United items will continue to
figure. 100% of profits going to child amputee charity, Peggy and Friends, of which
Barry is patron. Other children's charities are also to benefit from the site which
also features signed items from stars of the calibre of Rivaldo and Figo to Robbie
Williams and Gabby Yorath.
Registration is free, where from members will get a monthly newsletter from Venison
with details of forthcoming auctions, and other exciting site developments.
A great chance to own genuine autographed memorabilia and help good causes at the same
time, all at www.bid4sport.com
---------------------------------
[28] Er, right
---------------------------------
Posted Wednesday, March 14, 2001 by bar-knee:
'A man who urinated on a US police officer has been jailed for five years. Michael
Weaver relieved himself on the leg of a sheriff's deputy. Weaver was convicted of
contact by bodily fluids and jailed at Cass County Court, North Dakota. He maintains
he did not urinate on the officer.'
---------------------------------
[27] Zoff fancies English
---------------------------------
Posted Wednesday, March 14, 2001 by bar-knee:
Dino Zoff: "I really do think English teams are growing in strength and I think it is
possible one of them could win this time."
---------------------------------
[26] Soton game rearranged
---------------------------------
Posted Wednesday, March 14, 2001 by bar-knee:
Now on May 13th
'Manchester United have postponed next month's Premiership match against Southampton
because of their Champions League commitments. United were due to play Southampton at
The Dell on Easter Monday, April 16, which would have been one or two days before the
Reds' Champions League quarter-final second leg.
United will now play Southampton on Sunday, May 13, which is the day after the FA Cup
final. United are still waiting to confirm a date for their rearranged home match
against Charlton. The game was due to take place on Saturday, April 7, but has been
postponed because of the FA Cup semi-final between Arsenal and Tottenham at Old
Trafford the following day.'
---------------------------------
[25] Ole plays on
---------------------------------
Posted Wednesday, March 14, 2001 by bar-knee:
>From MEN
"OLE Gunnar Solskjaer played against Sturm Graz last night under the cloud of a
personal tragedy hanging over him. The Norwegian starred against the Austrians at Old
Trafford knowing that one of his best mates was fighting for his life in Denmark.
Solskjaer received the shock news prior to the match that former Wimbledon player and
a Norway national team buddy Stalle Solbakken had collapsed in training with FC
Copenhagen during the day. The 33- year-old, who had one season with the Dons in
1997-98, collapsed when his heart stopped during a training session.
It took a doctor seven minutes to revive Solbakken and get his heart beating again
and last night he was in a coma in Denmark."
---------------------------------
[24] Keano on Becks
---------------------------------
Posted Wednesday, March 14, 2001 by bar-knee:
In MEN
"We probably all felt after last week that the manager might shake
things up. Every one of us, barring Fabien Barthez, could have been left out after
Athens. The manager made a few changes and it could have been any of ten of us. The
lads who were left out can feel unlucky because myself and the rest of the players
can count themselves lucky it wasn't us. Everyone will make a big thing about Bex
being left out but Wes Brown, Yorkie and Coley have all done well recently. It is up
to those left out now to respond. It is not the end of the world. You can get away
with one or two bad performances but eventually you pay the price. The players will
respond in the right way, I know they will."
---------------------------------
[23] Keano still wants improvement
---------------------------------
Posted Wednesday, March 14, 2001 by bar-knee:
"We have to step up another level now if we want to get to the
final. We were playing Sturm Graz and, with respect to them, we know if we want to
win the European Cup we'll have to play better opposition like Real Madrid or
possibly Bayern Munich. We know there has to be more to come. We know if we want to
get back to that final that we will have to set our standards even higher. All the
teams in the draw on Friday will be capable of winning the European Cup there is no
doubt about that. We know we have to do better. It has been a long week since the
Panathinaikos game. We set ourselves such high standards and we didn't reach that
last week in Athens. I hope we have learned from last week."
---------------------------------
[22] More from Fergie
---------------------------------
Posted Wednesday, March 14, 2001 by bar-knee:
"We experienced that last year and I think we would do better this time," said
Ferguson of the possibility of meeting the Spanish club who knocked United out of last
season's Champions League semi-finals.'
"I thought they did well. We kept the momentum of our passing going all the game. We
had good movement, I was pleased. We scored a couple of good goals. It was a good
result for us. The important thing was to qualify and we are in the next round. It was
a good night for us, the fans played their part. I thought they were terrific for us
tonight."
---------------------------------
[21] Graz on last night
---------------------------------
Posted Wednesday, March 14, 2001 by bar-knee:
Graz coach Ivica Osim: "They have already won enough and they can win more. Manchester
United are a team who we can only dream about, but when they play their next game they
might have problems, especially against teams who play collectively well."
---------------------------------
[20] Fergie on Qtr's
---------------------------------
Posted Wednesday, March 14, 2001 by bar-knee:
"It will be a difficult quarter-final whoever we get - Deportivo, Real Madrid and
whoever wins the group of Arsenal and Bayern. It goes back to the year we won it when
we had really formidable opposition in the quarter-finals. We know we need to perform
and that will help us. We can give more and our capabilities are as high as anyone in
Europe."
---------------------------------
[19] More from Fergie
---------------------------------
Posted Wednesday, March 14, 2001 by bar-knee:
"We have a good squad of players and we just felt this was the side we should play
tonight. I think David Beckham has had a lot of football and he needs a little break
from the first team. This will do him the world of good and he's had to put up with a
lot of nonsense in the media, so it will do him good. He's fine about it and there's
no problem.
We got the result we expected to get and the performance we should be getting on a
more regular basis. We played a simple game and we had good passing, good possession
and good movement. We stretched them most of the time and in fairness to them they
stuck to the job and kept to their task of digging in. It turned out a decent
performance by us and we got a good start, and Nicky Butt scoring early is always
handy in a European tie. It was good to see Teddy get back to scoring so all in all
we're pleased. There were some good performances tonight, no bookings, no injuries and
it's been a very good night for us."
---------------------------------
[18] Platini on the shirts
---------------------------------
Posted Wednesday, March 14, 2001 by bar-knee:
Michel Platini speaking on the Graz highlights :
"Manchester United play like in the books and that is very difficult. They always
have the collective faculty to make the right pass, the good cross...And Manchester
really represents what is the most beautiful in football, this simplicity. The
simplicity is the most difficult thing in football. They always attack with 5 or 6
players and it's beautiful, but they must attack, not defend."
thanks mate!
---------------------------------
[17] O'Dreary gets giddy
---------------------------------
Posted Wednesday, March 14, 2001 by bar-knee:
"Any team that plays us will be given a game because we are a side which can score
goals wherever we go. We've players now who can perform in the big stadiums, and the
Champions League is all about performing on the big stage. These are the nights when
the big players should play and these are games they should want to play in, and show
what they are made of. But in each game the players have excelled themselves, and now
we are almost into the knockout phase, and that's the real big stuff - just four games
away from the final. As for the draw, we can't be choosy because of the teams we know
we can get. But we've dealt with the best in the past, and we'll just have to deal
with the best again."
---------------------------------
[16] Fergie on home leg first
---------------------------------
Posted Wednesday, March 14, 2001 by bar-knee:
"We have a good record playing the first leg at home and we are capable, if we get a
lead going into the second leg, of making it very difficult for teams - as we proved
against Inter Milan and Juventus."
---------------------------------
[15] Home draw first is good - Irwin
---------------------------------
Posted Wednesday, March 14, 2001 by bar-knee:
"We're not too disappointed about this because when we won the cup two years ago we
always played at home first, so maybe that is a good omen for us. We've had some
trouble away from home, although we have had some decent results. Sometimes we've not
been able to finish it off at home after playing away first. Really, at the end of the
day we're just glad to be through."
---------------------------------
[14] Fergie on leaving Becks out
---------------------------------
Posted Wednesday, March 14, 2001 by bar-knee:
"I took a look at David and thought he needed a rest. There has been a lot of
pressure on him. I decided to leave him out so that he could regain his game."
---------------------------------
[13] And no surprise here
---------------------------------
Posted Wednesday, March 14, 2001 by bar-knee:
>From the official site
'Roy Keane has been included in Mick McCarthy's Republic of Ireland
squad to take on Cyprus and Andorra in vital World Cup qualifiers
later this month. Roy should skipper the side, winning his 50th cap
in the process, against the Cypriots in Nicosia on 24 March, before
travelling to Barcelona to take on Andorra on 28 March.'
---------------------------------
[12] Another Utd player gets call up
---------------------------------
Posted Wednesday, March 14, 2001 by bar-knee:
'John O'Shea has been named in the Republic of Ireland's Under-21
squad for their European Championship qualifier with Cyprus on 23
March.'
---------------------------------
[11] Why are we not surprised?
---------------------------------
Posted Wednesday, March 14, 2001 by bar-knee:
'Violence flared at the Parc des Princes last night, with several supporters injured
and play suspended for 25 minutes in the Group B match between Paris St-Germain and
Galatasaray.
The referee Vitor Manuel Pereira took the players off the pitch on 59 minutes after
fighting in the stands. Officials considered calling off the game with PSG leading
2-0 but decided to resume as tempers cooled. There was no further scoring.
The violence began in the Turkish section, seats being ripped out and thrown. Some
supporters climbed out of the stands and wandered towards the pitch, clearly
bleeding, and two Galatasaray followers ran on to the pitch. Five fans were taken to
hospital.
Uefa is expected to comment today, with Galatasaray fans again in
trouble after serious clashes with Arsenal and Leeds supporters last
season.
There was trouble at the San Siro, too, after Milan were eliminated
in drawing 1-1 with Deportivo la Coruna, who took over top spot from
Galatasaray.
Riot police fought off dozens of Milan fans who tried to reach the VIP area.
Astonishingly, Italy has no club in the last eight of
either European competition.'
---------------------------------
[10] Quote of the day
---------------------------------
Posted Wednesday, March 14, 2001 by bar-knee:
>From the Fiver
"I have no respect for Arsenal. They are not an exceptional team. I
have plenty of respect for Manchester United, but none for Arsenal."
Giovanni Elber gets busy ahead of tomorrow's crucial Big Cup clash with the Gunners.'
---------------------------------
[9] REMEMBER EURO DRAW AS IT HAPPENS HERE ON FRIDAY
---------------------------------
Posted Wednesday, March 14, 2001 by bar-knee:
Log on at 11am and stay with us on Froday for the draw.
And Fergie gets his wish to play the big boys - we miss out on what once seemed the
deadly trio who we'd face of Arse, Sheep and Galatasaray (whose fans once again kicked
off last night) and instead now get Madrid, Coruna or Lyon or Munich. We'll let you
know as it happens - groups winners will play their first leg away from home -
therefore Utd play at home first, which is good news as Utd have not won a Euro tie
when playing home second since Honved (93 I think).
---------------------------------
[8] More in SU newsletter
---------------------------------
Posted Wednesday, March 14, 2001 by bar-knee:
By Michael Crick:
"Manchester United have finally agreed to erect a memorial to the three workmen who
were killed in separate incidents during the reconstruction of Old Trafford. The
decision follows a six-month campaign by the construction workers union UCATT, and
also a request last August by Shareholders United. Both UCATT and SU asked United to
erect a plaque on the outside of the stadium.
Initially United rejected the idea "It has not been our policy to
erect such memorials," they said. However they eventually climbed down after bad
publicity in the media, including an item by the journalist Jim White in his weekly
column in the Guardian. White, who is also a SU member, suggested United's refusal to
erect a plaque was particularly odd when anybody can pay £50 to have their name
inscribed on a stadium brick.
At a meeting in February, United's Communications Director Paddy
Harverson, finally told UCATT's regional organiser, Jim Woods, that the club would now
put up a plaque inside the club museum. "We're happy with the compromise," Woods
told United Shareholder. "We thank Manchester United PLC for recognising that three
construction workers paid the ultimate sacrifice."
---------------------------------
[7] Edwards still getting his dosh
---------------------------------
Posted Wednesday, March 14, 2001 by bar-knee:
Shareholders United have done some fine detective work - this in their latest mag.
"United are still paying Martin Edwards £100,000 a year, SU has learned, even though
he retired as Chief Executive last July. According to his latest contract, signed in
November, Edwards is paid as Chairman of the Football Club for a minimum of two days
work per week or three if the company so directs. That works out at roughly £1,000 a
day.
SU discovered these details by exercising the little known right of shareholders to
see the contracts of their company's directors. Shareholders United member and
accountant Henry Hyatt visited Old Trafford to examine the remuneration packages of
the entire United board.
Hyatt found that the new Chief Executive, Peter Kenyon, and his deputy, David Gill,
have broadly the same contracts, on basic salaries of £325,000 and £225,000
respectively. These are rich rewards by most standards, but only the equivalent of
six and four weeks of Roy Keane's reported salary. Both Kenyon and Gill are expected
to work at least 40 hours a week, and get company cars to a minimum value of a BMW 7
series, plus running costs, which include private use.
Martin Edwards, in contrast, gets a car to minimum value of Mercedes S500 for his two
or three-day week. All three men also get 25 days' holiday a year, together with
sickness benefits, company pension, personal health and life insurance, and medical
expenses for them and their families."
---------------------------------
[6] Milan sack coach
---------------------------------
Posted Wednesday, March 14, 2001 by bar-knee:
'AC Milan have sacked manager Alberto Zaccheroni in the wake of their
Champions League second-round exit. Former Italy manager Cesare Maldini has been
appointed to replace Zaccheroni, with Mauro Tassotti as his assistant.'
---------------------------------
[5] Leeds trial latest
---------------------------------
Posted Wednesday, March 14, 2001 by bar-knee:
'Lee Bowyer has been accused of telling "a pack of lies" to police and to the court
about the night an Asian student was attacked. The 24-year-old Leeds United player
told Hull Crown Court that injuries to his face and hand were caused when he slipped
after leaving a Leeds city centre nightclub. He told the jury someone gave him "a
whack" as he got up off the floor.
Bowyer, along with his team mate Jonathan Woodgate and two other men, is accused of
kicking and punching Sarfraz Najeib in Mill Hill in January last year. The former
England Under-21 captain has told Hull Crown Court that he was not involved in the
attack because of his fall in Boar Lane, which is near Mill Hill.
Bowyer, who was giving evidence from the witness box for a third day, admitted that he
"made mistakes" in a police interview several days after the attack on 20-year-old Mr
Najeib. Bowyer told the court: "I am not very clever. It's how I speak. What I have
told you is what happened on the night and it might be jumbled up. I cannot help that,
I am sorry. I am not very good with words. I made some mistakes in interview with
words and how it's jumbled up and that. I am sorry."
Bowyer said listening to the evidence over the past 21 days of the trial had "jogged"
his memory.'
Hmm - not very clever eh.
---------------------------------
[4] TBC congratulate Utd fans
---------------------------------
Posted Wednesday, March 14, 2001 by bar-knee:
But when will they issue another threat?
Press release
'COUNCIL LIFTS CLOSURE THREAT TO UNITED By David Anderson, PA Sport
Trafford Metropolitan Borough Council have lifted their threat to close parts of Old
Trafford after the vast majority of Manchester United fans sat down during the Sturm
Graz Champions League match.
The council were ready to shut down sections of the upper West and lower East stands
because of the safety risk caused by persistent standing in these areas. Council
officers monitored the Old Trafford crowd during last night's 3-0 win over Graz and
reported a substantial improvement in the numbers of fans sitting down.
Councillor Barry Brotherton, who is the council cabinet minister with responsibility
for community safety, claimed Trafford would not be serving any order to shut down
parts of the ground. He felt the fans had heeded the appeals from Sir Alex Ferguson
before the game and at half-time to sit down.
He said: "The council officers who attended the game were pleased with
the way the fans behaved. There were far less people standing. Some people did stand,
but it was far better. We've not had the meeting to decide what to do, but it's safe
to say now that we will not be serving a notice to close down parts of the ground.Sir
Alex Ferguson's appeal was heeded by the fans and I thank him for that and I would
also like to thank the fans. They showed a very responsible attitude."
Ferguson was also pleased with the conduct of the crowd and he was
delighted that they had sat down. "The crowd did well," said the United manager. "They
showed they can participate in a game just as well sitting as they can standing. The
did sit, OK they got up now and again, but that's what we want to see. I thought they
did very well and I'm very pleased."
Although fans did heed Ferguson's request to sit down, they feel the
long-term solution to the problem of standing in seated areas is the
introduction of safe standing. Some supporters made this point clear when they
unfurled a banner on the upper West stand which read, 'Chris Smith listen: safe
standing now'. They want Smith, who is the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and
Sport, to re-open the debate on standing, which so far he has been
unwilling to do.
Mark Longden, chairman of the Independent Manchester United Supporters
Association (IMUSA), said: "All the council's threat of closure has done is treat the
symptoms and not the problem. The problem is people want to stand up and come the
quarter-finals if we're playing Real Madrid and we're 2-1 down from the first leg,
you're going to get 20-30,000 people standing and an appeal from the Pope or the Queen
would not make any difference. We're not talking about standing areas for 30,000, but
small areas at the bottom of stands of, I would imagine, 4-5,000 maximum. This would
go a long way to alleviate the problem of standing in seated areas, which everyone
knows is dangerous."
---------------------------------
[3] It was a sad night
---------------------------------
Posted Wednesday, March 14, 2001 by bar-knee:
Not for the fact that K and the Fanzone sat, that had to be expected with the
unbelievable pressure put on us. When the one thing you cherish above all others -
your seat at OT - is at risk you'll do almost anything to protect it. Yet the shocking
second half atmosphere in K Stand as the action sprung on to the other side of the
pitch on field will surely have the club thinking about how they allowed TBC to do one
over on them. Keano can't have a go at K after that - and what from here on in. TBC
have praised Utd fans after last night - but will we get the same threats for the QTR
and onwards, and how will the players feel if the atmosphere suffers as a consequence.
The intimidating actions towards those lads dragged - yes dragged - out of J Stand was
unbelievable. Other Reds, as at away games, didn't get involved for the same reason as
this comment starts, for fear of their seats forever being taken away from them. But
the whole action seemed and smelt of a stitch up - to show who was boss. Why do it -
and the Execs in their boxes pointing them out summed up just why old time Reds hate
the new era at OT and new fan approach. A simple word in ear would have been best, and
then get some old stewards to work, not the suits who came mob handed and then when
that didn't work called their mates the dibble. The one thing that was apparent last
night, according to a mate is that this is some sort of last chance saloon for K Stand
- if they beat us over this then what is left? And, as he also said, let us not forget
the lads taken out. Hopefully IMUSA et al will get on the case for too many Reds have
been ejected and then banned from OT to be nev!
er heard of again. These lads last night deserve our thoughts now for being nothing
more than wrong place, wrong time. A sad night.
