---------------------------------
[25] QTR FINAL EURO DRAW
---------------------------------
Posted Friday, March 16, 2001 by bar-knee:
Utd v Munich
Galatasaray v Real Madrid
Leeds v Coruna
Arse v Valencia
---------------------------------
[24] Lot of gumph being spoken
---------------------------------
Posted Friday, March 16, 2001 by bar-knee:
11.07 still to be drawn. Any minute now!
---------------------------------
[23] Draw starting in Lyon now!
---------------------------------
Posted Friday, March 16, 2001 by bar-knee:
By silly bloke with glasses. He starts off by telling teams to act responsibly and
'set an example...sadly there have been some negative episodes in recent matches. We
have a permenant task to set a good image. For the sake of all teams involved we have
to invest all our energies in an appeal to players, coaches, media and fans to behave
in a sporting like manner".
---------------------------------
[22] OT gets England game
---------------------------------
Posted Friday, March 16, 2001 by bar-knee:
'England's final 2002 World Cup qualifier against Greece in October will be played at
Old Trafford. The Football Association have confirmed the potentially-decisive Group
Nine game will be staged at the home of Manchester United.
Old Trafford last staged an England game in May 1997 when Glenn Hoddle's side beat
South Africa in a friendly. The FA's director of marketing Paul Barber said:
"We are delighted to be bringing the senior England team back to Manchester United.
Old Trafford is an obvious choice for such an important fixture. It's a fantastic
stadium in which the supporters generate an atmosphere which is second to none. I know
that Sven-Goran Eriksson has been hugely impressed on his visits to the stadium and he
is relishing the prospect of bringing England here."
---------------------------------
[21] More Chelsea crap
---------------------------------
Posted Friday, March 16, 2001 by bar-knee:
more from Melchiot diary, after Craig David comments, this...
"I just can't wait to get back in the team. There's only so long you can be out of
action before you start to get a bit itchy. I'm not the kind of person who can switch
off by just watching any old thing on television. I'm not a great couch potato, I
tend to watch the music channels like The Box and MTV, or the movie channels, and
occasionally if I'm really bored I'll tune in to a talk show.
Really, I'm more of a DVD fan. I've found a great music shop in the Portobello Market
that gets the US movies in early so I go there to stock up. I got the latest Keanu
Reeves thriller long before it came out here, but I have to say the best film I've
seen recently is Gladiator, with Russell Crowe. That's a top film.
So I have more than enough viewing options; I'm not even bothered that I don't have
Dutch television over here. But having said that, I can't really say I'm a big fan of
English TV either. I haven't even been caught up in the Big Brother craze, but that's
mainly because we had Big Brother in Holland already, so to me it was nothing new.
Some of the players have been talking about it but then players talk about anything
that's news - movies, football, music, television - it's the language of the dressing
room! It's good to hear that language again - I've missed it."
And you thought my drunken ramblings last night were bad!
---------------------------------
[20] Jordi does the business, again
---------------------------------
Posted Friday, March 16, 2001 by bar-knee:
scorer from Rayo Vallecano 0 CD Alaves 1
(Jordi Cruyff 19)
---------------------------------
[19] Bizarre story of the day
---------------------------------
Posted Friday, March 16, 2001 by bar-knee:
'Scientists studying monkeys may have explained why soccer teams wearing red shirts
such as Manchester United do so well. Research on African primates found their colour
vision is highly sensitive to red on green. They say the human eye is also
highly-tuned to identify the colour red which can help team members spot each other.
Researchers at the University of Hong Kong say primates can easily spot the red tinge
of young leaves that are tastier and more tender than older leaves. Humans have
inherited this skill, the researchers say in the science magazine Nature.
Sir Alex Ferguson famously ordered his team to strip out of their grey kit at
half-time during a match with Southampton. His players complained they couldn't see
each other properly without their traditional red strip.'
---------------------------------
[18] Becks on being dropped
---------------------------------
Posted Friday, March 16, 2001 by bar-knee:
"We all knew what was going to be made of it if I didn't play in a game, but it's one
of those things, I've had it through my career and I'm sure I'll have it all the way
through. I think a lot of fuss has been made over nothing - I'm enjoying training,
I'm enjoying my football and enjoying life.
Fergie is like a father figure and all the young players that have grown up with him
will go and talk to him, whether it's about the game or whether it's about something
that's going on outside of Old
Trafford. He is that father figure that we all look up to and we all go and talk to
him about things.
He knows there is a lot of pressure on all the players and he's
always been supportive of me as I've been growing up. I've been there since I was 15,
16 and it's great to have someone like that behind you."
---------------------------------
[17] Goma slags off Geordies
---------------------------------
Posted Friday, March 16, 2001 by bar-knee:
'New Fulham signing Alain Goma has blasted his old team-mates at
Newcastle'
"I expect the training will be very different under Jean Tigana. It is important to
work hard pre-season and then work very hard consistently week-in, week-out through
the season. I'm not a manager so I can't say what you should or should not do. But
perhaps we did not work hard enough at Newcastle - and that is what I missed. I don't
think Newcastle shared the same motivation and ambition and that is what I need. I
always did my best yet I needed this challenge. I'm very ambitious and I want to
improve as a player."
---------------------------------
[16] Latest team news
---------------------------------
Posted Friday, March 16, 2001 by bar-knee:
Becks expected to return, Giggs in contention, possibly as sub. As Denis Irwin excited
about potentially making his 500th appearance.
---------------------------------
[15] Matt Eliott on Leicester
---------------------------------
Posted Friday, March 16, 2001 by bar-knee:
"Whenever we beat one of the big clubs in the Premiership there always seems to be
another reason for it other than our
performance. We must be really fortunate to come across so many teams that don't
perform on the day! After our last home league game with Liverpool, Gerard Houllier
wasn't over-complimentary about us. He was clearly disappointed with the result and
the way they played. But perhaps that was down to us, and I certainly felt it was
one of our strongest performances of the season."
---------------------------------
[14] Keano on chances
---------------------------------
Posted Friday, March 16, 2001 by bar-knee:
"You can't look too far ahead, and we have an important match on
Saturday against Leicester. We've got ourselves in a good position in the league, but
there's still a lot to play for. This is when it matters now in the last six, seven
or eight weeks of the season. It's important we keep going because no trophies have
been given out yet. The trophies are given out in May, and we want to be part of that."
---------------------------------
[13] EURO DRAW HERE AS IT HAPPENS
---------------------------------
Posted Friday, March 16, 2001 by bar-knee:
>From 11am.
---------------------------------
[12] Ole speaks
---------------------------------
Posted Friday, March 16, 2001 by bar-knee:
"We're better than most over two legs
Everything went by the book against Sturm Graz on Tuesday night. Our
tactics before the match were simple - only a heavy defeat would keep
us from the quarter-finals, so we just concentrated on putting in a
good performance.
We controlled the game from the first minute. I was close to scoring
after just a couple of minutes when I got a pass from Roy Keane three
metres out. I should've scored, but the ball bounced right in front
of me, and I couldn't make up my mind whether I should head it or
shoot it.
After five minutes Nicky Butt gave us the lead with a shot from
outside the box. That goal really finished the game off, but we
wanted more. We wanted to show our best for our supporters, so we
continued to go forwards. We created lots of chances, and won 3-0
with Sheringham and Keane getting the last two goals.
We'll meet a group winner in the quarter-finals, so we'll have to
take good care of the chances we get. But still, I strongly believe
that we're better than most teams over two matches.
We ended up number two in our group and therefore the first game in
the quarter-finals will be played at Old Trafford, and I think
that'll be a great advantage for us. For us, it's always best to put
pressure on the opposite team by playing a good home game.
On Saturday it's back to the League again when we play Leicester. I
hope my performance on Tuesday night will earn me a place in the
team. I feel that I'm on good form."
---------------------------------
[11] Opta stats for Leicester
---------------------------------
Posted Friday, March 16, 2001 by bar-knee:
Us first
29 Games 28
ATTACKING
66 Goals scored 31
2.28 Ave goals per game 1.11
46% Shooting Accuracy 49%
16% Goals to shots % 14%
PASSING
15121 Passes 10383
78% Pass completion % 70%
DEFENDING
76% Tackle success rate % 72%
19 Goals conceded 29
0.66 Ave goals conceded per game 1.04
DISCIPLINE
340 Fouls 352
33 Yellow cards 34
2 Red cards 2
Ref - A Wiley (check out this bizarre quote from the Opta site!)
'IF you ever need to hire a Premiership referee for a charity match,
chances are it is not a good idea to book Saturday's official Alan
Wiley. The Staffordshire-born ref could be prone to award a penalty
for a blatant dive by S Club 7's Rachel, while may even spoil the
good-natured event by cautioning all of Westlife. In the top flight,
no other officiator has pointed to the spot more than Wiley, while
few have dished out more yellow cards.'
---------------------------------
[10] Funny story via Computer Weekly
---------------------------------
Posted Friday, March 16, 2001 by bar-knee:
Stuart Hall (yes that one) admitted in his autobiography to thinking
of setting up a travel company called Stuart Hall International
Travel.
No doubt in true bitter fashion it was going to cater for those
massive away trips in Europe that City were going to go on.
Sadly someone had a word in his ear and he forgot about it. Not sure
if he was told that City will never go on a Euro away (unless they
bring back Jeux Sans Frontieres), or that S.H.I.T. wasn't the best
name for a travel company. You be the judge.
---------------------------------
[9] Big Fat Ron on our Champ League chances
---------------------------------
Posted Friday, March 16, 2001 by bar-knee:
"And I think we'll see a more tigerish and effective Manchester United. I fancy
they'll produce performances more in tune with those
against Juventus and Internazionale in 1998-99 when the chips were
down.
The little dip David Beckham has had should help them because I
expect he'll reassess and start to zip about again. On top of that
Roy Keane's hunger will be a real force because he didn't play in the
1999 final. Although he got a Champions League winner's medal I think
he wants to be the one who lifts the cup this year."
---------------------------------
[8] Stam speaks
---------------------------------
Posted Friday, March 16, 2001 by bar-knee:
"So after a few hitches we ve finally booked our place in the quarter finals of the
Champions League with a 3-0 victory over Sturm Graz. To be among the eight best
teams in Europe for the third year running is a real achievement, but no-one is
congratulating themselves at Old Trafford. We know the hard work really begins now
and we have to start playing a lot better if we want to do well.
It was important that we put on a good performance. This point was made perfectly
clear by the manager. As you ll have seen from his quotes in the newspapers, he was
not at all happy with us after our draw in Panathinaikos. He said he d not stand for
such poor performances again.
He rightly said that we were lucky to have avoided a real beating in Athens, and that
was only down to Fabien s saves. We spoke about these issues behind the scenes. The
players talked to each other as well in an effort to rediscover our form and get rid
of any problems. We really want to win the Champions League again. We have to work
harder if we want to get to the final in Milan and win it once more.
>From the defence s perspective, I don t think our organisation at the back has been
>perfect, something that was apparent in the 1-1 draw with Panathinaikos. We gave the
>Greeks far too many chances, but as you will have seen, we sorted that out against
>Sturm Graz, kept a clean sheet and restricted them to very few chances. After last
>week, we owed it to Fabien to give him an easier night.
To be honest, Sturm Graz didn t really put us under much pressure. They needed to
score at least three goals, but didn t come at us as much as we thought they might.
Maybe they were waiting to catch us on the counter attack, but that didn t happen.
They had a few shots from range that Fabien found quite comfortable, but they never
really got behind us. We held the line well in defence.
Nicky Butt gave us such a good start with a goal after only five minutes. Playing
at home, especially in Europe, it s so important to score an early goal to calm the
team down, satisfy the fans and assert some authority. Teddy s goal soon after killed
the game and we knew we were going to be all right. The game went into a bit of alull
and then Roy finished it off nicely with a well taken goal.
The manager was relatively pleased with us after the game. We had done the job,
scored three goals and kept a clean sheet. Some people might dismiss our performance,
saying it was only against Sturm Graz, but they are a good team, who finished top of
their first phase group, beating plenty of good teams in the process.
Again, I came close to scoring. Trust me, I m getting closer and closer, and will
score soon. I got up well to a header, but the goalkeeper saved it. The referee
actually blew for a foul, so if I had scored it wouldn t have counted. Personally, I
just went for the ball. I don t think I fouled him. So I m still waiting for my first
goal for United for two years. It will come
We came back into the dressing room hoping Valencia had failed to beat
Panathinaikos, so we d finish top of the group. At one point we had heard that it was
1-1, but we were disappointed to hear that the Spanish had got a winner. We finished
level on 12 points, but they got a better set of results against us, so win the
group.
It shouldn t be forgotten that we avoided defeat in the group in six games with three
wins and three draws. If we can manage that without being at our best, then hopefully
we can really find our form for the knock out stage, about to start.
So we re left waiting for Friday s quarter-final draw. At this point we know we ll be
drawn against either Real Madrid, Deportivo la Coruna and the winners of the Arsenal
and Bayern Munich group. Whoever we get it s going to be tough. You have to be a very
good team indeed to get through two group phases. Friday s draw will be interesting,
and I can t express a preference at this point".
---------------------------------
[7] Giggs speaks
---------------------------------
Posted Friday, March 16, 2001 by bar-knee:
"So after a few hitches we ve finally booked our place in the quarter finals of the
Champions League with a 3-0 victory over Sturm Graz. To be among the eight best teams
in Europe for the third year running is a real achievement, but no-one is
congratulating themselves at Old Trafford. We know the hard work really begins now
and we have to start playing a lot better if we want to do well.
It was important that we put on a good performance. This point was made perfectly
clear by the manager. As you ll have seen from his quotes in the newspapers, he was
not at all happy with us after our draw in Panathinaikos. He said he d not stand for
such poor performances again. He rightly said that we were lucky to have avoided a
real beating in Athens, and that was only down to Fabien s saves. We spoke about these
issues behind the scenes. The players talked to each other as well in an effort to
rediscover our form and get rid of any problems. We really want to win the Champions
League again. We have to work harder if we want to get to the final in Milan and win
it once more.
>From the defence s perspective, I don t think our organisation at the back has been
>perfect, something that was apparent in the 1-1 draw with Panathinaikos. We gave the
>Greeks far too many chances, but as you will have seen, we sorted that out against
>Sturm Graz, kept a clean sheet and restricted them to very few chances. After last
>week, we owed it to Fabien to give him an easier night.
To be honest, Sturm Graz didn t really put us under much pressure. They needed to
score at least three goals, but didn t come at us as much as we thought they might.
Maybe they were waiting to catch us on the counter attack, but that didn t happen.
They had a few shots from range that Fabien found quite comfortable, but they never
really got behind us. We held the line well in defence."
---------------------------------
[6] Fergie looks forward to Real?
---------------------------------
Posted Friday, March 16, 2001 by bar-knee:
"If we are drawn against Real I think we can handle that. We always tend to do better
when we really have to go for it. The experience we had against them last season
would, I think, hold us in good stead. You go into Europe with the ambition of playing
all the best sides. Whoever you get you want to be playing in the Bernabeu again with
the atmosphere it generates.
I am not underestimating English teams. But European football is a different type of
football from our normal humdrum game - and it's a grind," he told his club's website.
When we play Arsenal or Leeds it is sometimes a battle. You play in an English game,
and it is an English game."
---------------------------------
[5] Latest from Best illness
---------------------------------
Posted Friday, March 16, 2001 by bar-knee:
Professor Roger Williams: "That has been a worry and because he has been in Northern
Ireland it has been very difficult to keep a track on him. George has a problem which
he has talked about openly and liver problems are a very serious matter. I spoke to
George's wife and she passed on a message from George wishing everybody every success
and wishing he could have been here."
---------------------------------
[4] George Best ill
---------------------------------
Posted Friday, March 16, 2001 by bar-knee:
'Fears were mounting for the health of George Best when he pulled out of an Old
Trafford charity dinner, held in his honour, due to illness. Best was due to be the
star guest at the Liver Research Trust event. But United officials got word at 6pm
from Best's agent Alan Platt that the former player was ill with liver problems in his
native Ireland.
Best has suffered a catalogue of alcohol-related problems, including a high-profile
relapse last year which doctors warned would cost him his life if repeated. Denis Law
and Bobby Charlton were also due to attend the 880-capacity dinner for which
businesses had paid a total of £45,000 to attend. The event was going ahead as
scheduled.
Ben Gardener, assistant marketing director with Manchester United Catering, said:
"Obviously it is a great disappointment that George is not here and that he is
obviously ill again."
---------------------------------
[3] Who do you think you are kidding Michael Owen
---------------------------------
Posted Friday, March 16, 2001 by bar-knee:
"We are now in the semi-finals of this competition and the FA Cup as well, having
already won the Worthington Cup, and that's not bad. The treble is on but our priority
is still to qualify for the Champions League. We are in two semis and we have a
fighting chance of winning three cups this season, we intend to try and win the lot."
Call that a Treble!
---------------------------------
[2] Houllier gets giddy
---------------------------------
Posted Friday, March 16, 2001 by bar-knee:
Houllier said: "I really don't care who we play next, on our day we can beat anyone.
But I feel a lot of teams will be very wary to play Liverpool now. Even Roma were not
happy to draw us in the last round. We don't fear anyone."
---------------------------------
[1] My head hurts
---------------------------------
Posted Friday, March 16, 2001 by bar-knee:
Why do we drink?
---------------------------------
[49] Remember keep with this site at 11am Friday
---------------------------------
Posted Thursday, March 15, 2001 by bar-knee:
For the Euro Qtr Final draw AS IT HAPPENS.
---------------------------------
[48] Only to be read by the drunken RN readers out there
---------------------------------
Posted Thursday, March 15, 2001 by bar-knee:
Maybe I'm being inspired by our forum community at www.rednews.co.uk to comment on
stuff like Exiled does on it but here goes...
The Red News crew for those who know us are a bunch of alcoholic degenerates...for
those who don't know us we're a bunch of level headed decent lads. Yeah, right.
Well, maybe not, 15 years on and sellers, editor and contributors alike we seem to
have the same set of values on mass that we did when we first started way back in 1987.
But every once in a while your equilibrium gets messed up - you get the phone call at
5pm on a non match day to got out for a drink, and inexplicably, you say yes. Add the
ingredient that, even though you consider yourself a drinker, the person with you can
drink like it's goneout of fashion and you have serious problems a few rounds later in
the fact that
a) you are legless
b) any comment on the Scouse game later is so biased that it's not worth bothering
about so you may as well drink more
c) you end up, again without reason, getting home, eating shite and watching German
music awards with no idea what is going on.
Don't let us portray that RN likes a drink, no we love a drink. So those who stumble
across this site and every once in a while e.mail us saying 'stop swearing on your
site' may as well realisen that we would rather vomit up own own innards than lose the
Red Army culture.
So it passes to be - and I know I'm copying Birdman with my views here - that I end up
rat-arsed on a Thursday, drinking silly drinks and taking exception to anything un-Red
that may be spoke by any bar I enter. The eventual vomit at the end of the evening may
be way in the distance but isn't it amazing how hard you find it not to talk about the
Reds. Yes, we are obsessed. I am talk about the team I love with the same ease that I
find not being able to chat a member of the opposite sex with.
After countless drinks of ill proportion and colour I end up home. Rather than once
again listen to Scouse praise from two of their ex-players (and Hansen and Lawrenson
are hardly going to really go for the jugular are they...like Bruce and Crerand) I opt
for the German channel. Instead of porn I get the German annual TV music awards.
Trying not to offend our German RN fans I admit I have not a clue what is going on -
bar trying to work out why Lionel Ritchie would travel all thway way to bloody mime -
except that your presenters are a whole lot more prettier than Gary Lineker.
Anyway, enough of that, perhaps it will be a whole lot easier if Reds admitted what
weknow deep down. We only want to socialise, communicate and mingle with fellow Reds -
so not only sod the rest of the ABUs but let us make every single bar a Red total
zone.
---------------------------------
[47] Utd youngster on the move
---------------------------------
Posted Thursday, March 15, 2001 by bar-knee:
>From Teamtalk
'Third Division promotion hopefuls Rotherham have taken Manchester
United's young defender Rhodri Jones on trial.'
---------------------------------
[46] Coruna latest!
---------------------------------
Posted Thursday, March 15, 2001 by bar-knee:
Thanks to Sean for this
'yup it does have a small airport transfers via madrid so far - no cheap flights
either £260 best so far for dates bearing in mind its easter week...no cheap ones to
madrid either all about £150-£200
Lets hope it's Munich!'
---------------------------------
[45] Forget trouble with Arse-Spurs, Virgin & BA are kicking off
---------------------------------
Posted Thursday, March 15, 2001 by bar-knee:
This argument is now getting silly.
'Branson insisted that the FA should swap the semi-final venues. 'This
would mean less travelling for fans, less congestion on the M6, more
train capacity and a far safer day in transport terms,' he said.
Chief executive Chris Green explained. 'There is no chance of running any specials in
either direction and the return on Sunday evening coincides with the busiest time of
the week. The west coast main line is currently undergoing massive engineering works
at weekends to replace damaged rails.'
Bernie Kingsley of the Spurs Independent Supporters' Association,
said: 'The Government should be saying to Virgin: 'We've given you
the franchise.You can make a lot of money out of this. Sort it'.'
'British Airways are to provide bigger planes in an attempt to ease transport problems
faced by Arsenal and Tottenham fans going to Old Trafford for the FA Cup semi-final.
Virgin Trains have already come under fire for failing to lay on extra services from
London to Manchester on April 8. But following negotiations between British Airways
and the Football Association, larger aircraft will be laid on.
FA spokesman Paul Newman said: "We are having discussions with British Airways. They
have already agreed to put on larger aircraft on Sunday for the semi-final to ensure
that more fans are able to travel up on the day. We are still talking to them, but it
will take a few days to see what they can offer in terms of more aircraft and bigger
planes."
---------------------------------
[44] FA semi - FA talks to BA!
---------------------------------
Posted Thursday, March 15, 2001 by bar-knee:
'The Football Association are in talks with British Airways in a bid to ease the
problems for Arsenal and Tottenham fans attempting to travel to old Trafford for the
FA Cup semi-final. Spurs have already hit out at Virgin Trains for only laying on one
extra train for the April 8 game, but now the Football Association and BA could have
come up with an answer to the travel tribulations of London-based fans.'
"We are talking to British Airways at the moment in an attempt to ease this problem,"
said an FA spokesman.
"There obviously is a problem with supporters trying to get to Manchester and we are
trying to arrange a deal for travel only. There is little else we can say at this
stage, but it would be for travel only and not include a ticket to the game itself.
There has been heavy criticism over the decision of Virgin not provide extra services
for the day."
"We are trying to work out a way of increasing the number of services on the day so
that the fans can get to the game," said a BA spokesman.
"We have spoken to the Football Association and have told them that we will do
everything we can to help. There are obviously a number of problems in trying to do
it, but we can't guarantee anything at this stage. "
Don't remember there being the same clamour to help us when we played Oldham at
Wembley, with ridiculous prices, etc just to aid the TV companies.
---------------------------------
[43] Coruna question answered!
---------------------------------
Posted Thursday, March 15, 2001 by bar-knee:
Thanks to a RN reader for this answer:
"There is an airport in La Corunna with scheduled flights from Madrid, Barcelona and
Bilbao. Other (nearby) alternative airports are in Santiago de Compostela, Vigo and
even Oporto in Portugal, Santiago being by far the nearest
by El Ingles"
---------------------------------
[42] Jesper Olsen on Chadwick
---------------------------------
Posted Thursday, March 15, 2001 by bar-knee:
"Luke has got something a bit special and there is no better place
for that to be brought out than at Manchester United. He's got everything going for
him at Old Trafford in that Sir Alex
encourages his wingers to play and keep having a go even if things
don't always go right. He also has a crowd behind him who love to see his style of
play. United fans want to see their wingers run at people and they'll be patient
with you as well. The fact he is also a home grown product also goes down well with
them.
He also has something that money can't buy and that is being
brought up at a club where he can smell and feel success. He's grown
up with United enjoying major triumphs and that kind of experience is
priceless. It has been with him every day and now he's in the middle of it himself a
bit it doesn't faze him. Someone new coming into United might find that a bit
difficult to cope with for a while. You can see on the pitch that nothings bothers
him. If he has a run
at a defender and it fails he doesn't shrink into his shell. He just
gets up and has another go. It's refreshing to see him.
It is obviously still early days for Luke and the question is now
how he actually develops. But you have to say at the moment that he's
a great prospect. In terms of providing cover and competition to the
likes of Giggs and Beckham, United have a potentially great player in
Chadwick".
---------------------------------
[41] Oh dear - M.E.N.
---------------------------------
Posted Thursday, March 15, 2001 by bar-knee:
>From MEN
'MANCHESTER City chairman David Bernstein believes Joe Royle will not
retire as Blues boss until he has made the Maine Road club a Premiership power once
again. Bernstein wants Royle to put his future retirement plans on hold and remain a
City chief for as long as possible as the club looks to rekindle past glories.'
Are you having a larf?
Speaking at a fans' forum at Spotland last night, along with Rochdale
chairman David Kilpatrick, he said: "It was made clear from the
beginning when I first arrived here three years ago that what the
club lacked was stability, and more specifically, stability with the
manager. I take what Joe says about retirement with a big pinch of salt, if the club
is successful, then I will be rather surprised if Joe left.
The less change we have in the club, the better. Joe enjoys
management greatly, despite the pressures that come with the job and
I'm sure he'd be happy to be the manager of a successful Manchester
City. Over the last two or three years we have made huge progress and are a
transformed club from the one I first got involved with, and Joe has been a major
reason for that".
---------------------------------
[40] City's massive games this weekend
---------------------------------
Posted Thursday, March 15, 2001 by bar-knee:
Ex-Bitter Peter Beagrie: "Bradford are doomed and City need a miracle to stay in the
Premiership - they have it all on with games running out. Both teams are poor up
front. Jim Jeffries has come from Scotland
to take charge of Bradford and his policy of trying to grind out
results has just not worked. He said I could stay at Bradford because I can still come
on and change a game, but at my age I need regular football.
Brian Horton was one of City's best ever managers who gave me and
Paul Walsh a license to play. The crowd loved wingers and we went out
and did the business for them."
Er, what did you win then?
"We had a five-man attack at times. City made a big mistake not
giving Brian another season, all he needed was a couple of new
players. I loved Maine Road's atmosphere and soon built up an excellent rapport with
those wonderfully loyal fans - we entertained and we played football how it should be
played. I'm now sad when I see Manchester City struggling and staring relegation in
the face. Bradford also slipped up when they let Paul Jewell go as manager. I just
wish I was playing at the weekend for either club. Ideally I
want both my old clubs to stay in the Premiership, but they've lost
too many points and not scored enough goals. This is a big match City must win if they
are to have any chance of staying up - it's the first results I will look for. My
loyalties are divided but with Bradford seemingly doomed, the last thing I want is
for City to go the same way. They are a big club who need to be playing Premiership
football and I desperately hope they can survive, but it looks a tall order."
---------------------------------
[39] The old 'I've lost it chestnut!'
---------------------------------
Posted Thursday, March 15, 2001 by bar-knee:
'A Government minister in Ghana has resigned after losing a suitcase with over £30,000
cash inside. The money would have been paid to his country's football team if they'd
beaten Sudan in a World Cup qualifier. Mallam Yusif Issah had only been Sports
Minister for a month when he misplaced the suitcase he'd been carrying.
The politician denies doing anything wrong and has asked for an inquiry to be set up
following the Ghana team losing 1-0 in the match. A Government spokeswoman says the
minister has stepped down to avoid embarrassing the administration any further.'
---------------------------------
[38] Spanish TV expert on Utd
---------------------------------
Posted Thursday, March 15, 2001 by bar-knee:
Gerry Armstrong, former Northern Ireland assistant manager:
"The Spanish League is ahead of the Premiership at the moment. They have shown that
last year when Real Madrid and Valencia got to the final was no fluke. All three sides
won their groups this time and I feel confident that at least two of them will get to
the semi-finals. You can't under-estimate Manchester United but I think they have
stuttered a bit in the Champions League because some of the competition has not been
tough enough. In my opinion they've played at least seven league games where they've
not had to get out of second gear. In Spain the competition at the top is much tougher.
I don't think many people in Britain appreciate the strength of Deportivo, they are a
side full of internationals. Valencia have had some unbelievable results in the past
couple of seasons and their coach Hector Cupar is a master tactician. Real Madrid are
the bookies' favourites to win it and I go along with that. But they can be beaten."
---------------------------------
[37] Should think a bigger worry is us all
---------------------------------
Posted Thursday, March 15, 2001 by bar-knee:
landing in Spain for the away leg in the same couple of days...
'Uefa admit the prospect of three English teams playing home Champions League
quarter-finals over two days next month could cause some complications. But the
European game's governing body have ruled out any possibility of altering the match
schedules to avoid clashing.
Arsenal's defeat in Munich last night means the Gunners, Manchester United and Leeds
all finished as runners-up in their Champions League groups and will therefore all
have home quarter-final fixtures on April 3rd or 4th. The problem is mirrored in Spain
two weeks later for the return legs when Spanish group winners Real Madrid, Valencia
and Deportivo La Coruna will all be hosting matches.
Uefa's director of communications Mike Lee said: "It's happened before and clearly it
will require attention. It is a slight complicating factor, but it is not without
precedent and it's obviously all down to the luck of the draw. All games are scheduled
for the Tuesday and the Wednesday and that cannot be changed. It is just a by-product
of being successful."
---------------------------------
[36] See the Utd Chris Smith banner
---------------------------------
Posted Thursday, March 15, 2001 by bar-knee:
For those not at the game or who who missed the coverage in The Mirror and the
Manchester Evening News yesterday, a picture of the "Chris Smith Listen: Safe Satnding
Now" T2 banner can be seen on FA-Premier.com at:
(link:http://www.fa-premier.com/features/f14030105.html)
http://www.fa-premier.com/features/f14030105.html
Also check out and VOTE in the poll at:
(link:http://www.fa-premier.com/poll/index2.html)
http://www.fa-premier.com/poll/index2.html
---------------------------------
[35] Eamonn Dunphy on Fergie
---------------------------------
Posted Thursday, March 15, 2001 by bar-knee:
"HE HAS created on of the best football teams of all time. This has been achieved with
relatively modest resources. Manchester United are poised to claim their eighth
Premiership title in 10 seasons.
Alex Ferguson has declared that he will retire from management in 18 months time. I
believe he should reflect on that decision. Watching United hammer their nearest
Premiership rivals Arsenal 6-1, the scale of Ferguson's achievement struck me,
perhaps, surprising though it may seem, for the first time. The fluent football and
clinical finishing was glorious. This was just about as good as English football gets.
On a tricky pitch, against a formidable side Manchester United were truly majestic.
Watching intently, as always, Ferguson's touchline presence was palpable. This is
indubitably his team. Under his guidance we have seen them mature from youthful
promise to champions, a team not just immensely gifted but intense, aggressive and
disciplined.
It is in that intensity, aggression and discipline that United reflect the character
of their manager. Take him out of the equation and it's fair to wonder what would
remain. Much less I suspect.
As a critic, there are aspects of Ferguson's managerial persona that I find
unattractive. Being partisan to the point of fanaticism he is usually an ungracious
loser. In his book United never lose fairly, hardly ever play badly.
Bad results, and there aren't many, are attributed to dodgy referees, sly opponents or
the (admittedly) overcrowded English season. A telling incident occurred a few seasons
ago when Newcastle were challenging for the Premiership title Ferguson believes
belongs to him.
Kevin Keegan's side were due to play Notts Forest away in a vital end of season game
which Ferguson publicly suggested Forest would be content to lose.
Why? Because Keegan had agreed to take Newcastle back to Forest to play in Stuart
Pearce's testimonial. This was an outrageous assertion which didn't stop Ferguson from
making it.
He may have believed what he said on that occasion. Alternatively Ferguson may have
been engaged in gamesmanship, putting pressure on Forest to go into a match that meant
nothing to them with something to prove. To him.
Ferguson also messed with Kenny Dalglish's head when Blackburn
(successfully) challenged United's Premiership supremacy. Dalglish was made of sterner
stuff than Keegan and growled back.
Bullying journalists is another unappealing Ferguson trait. Like his caring friends in
Britain's New Labour, Ferguson believes in free speech only when you agree with him.
Thus, his ghost written autobiography was used to settle old scores with Brian Kidd
and Gordon Strachan both of whom were damaged by cheap shots that ill-became a man of
Ferguson's standing in the game.
Tough, mean, unforgiving, Ferguson's character is reflected every time his team take
the field. Nice guys generally do finish second. But it would be unjust to make too
much of Alex Ferguson's faults: his virtues are far more important.
He remains, despite all the success, hard working and meticulous in
preparing his teams campaigns. He is respected and feared in equal measure by the most
talented squad of players in Britain. He is loyal to them, they to him. The old
football cliche that no player is bigger than the football club - first coined by his
illustrious predecessor Sir Matt Busby - applies at Old Trafford.
Except, notably, in the case of Roy Keane without whom, most agree, United would be a
much diminished side. To his immense credit, Ferguson has never disguised the debt he
owes to one of the greatest footballers of all time. When Keane was involved in tough
salary negotiations with United's board a year ago Ferguson offered public support.
His declaration that Keane was in fact indispensable was as generous as it was true.
Ferguson is a great manager - and a great manager of men. Keane is proof of this. An
angry and occasionally self-destructive young man the Corkman has matured to greatness
as a result of his relationship with a manager who respects and understands him. In
other circumstances Keane may never have fulfilled his potential.
If the present arrangement holds those other circumstances - a new
Manchester United manager - will obtain in 18 months time. But long before that the
consequences of Ferguson's departure will become apparent.
With another Premiership championship assured the Champions League remains the focus
for the weeks and months ahead. If you take the view, as I do, that United aren't
quite good enough to wrest this prize from Real Madrid then it is likely that this
season will end in disappointment.
And then the speculation about Ferguson's successor will begin. First as an
unnecessary distraction to plans for next season. Footballers like all performers of
illusive arts crave certainty. Now at Old Trafford the demon doubt will begin to cast
a shadow over all.
IN THIS particular instance that shadow will be long and dark. For as
remarked above this is Alex Ferguson's team, as dependant on him, as he is on them.
Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs, David Beckham, the Neville Brothers and Wes Brown have never
worked for any other manager.
Keane's greatness has been achieved leading this team through campaigns plotted by
Ferguson.
For those players the departure of Ferguson will herald the end of a
glorious era and be a psychologically dangerous time. That precious sense of common
cause, nurtured so astutely by Ferguson, will be harder to maintain as his going draws
closer with every passing day. Everything will be effected. New contracts must be
signed, new commitments made. Players may feel with some justifications that they will
be committing to the unknown.
Another practical problem will arise when, in the wake of Champions League failure,
the question of new signings comes into play. Ferguson's relationship with United's
board has always had an edge. He has never really been given the financial resources
to buy the best in Europe, such as Figo, Zidane, Veron or Batistuta.
With retirement imminent his bargaining position with the board is unlikely to
strengthen.
Thus, the lesson of the coming weeks...that United are a couple of world class players
short of European champion class....is less likely to elicit the required response:
the acquisition of those players next summer.
The best side in England has three or four great seasons to live. With the addition of
two or three top-class players United could go on to dominate Europe as they have the
Premiership.
All of that is predicated on Ferguson reversing his decision to retire at the end of
next season. He will be 60 in December 2002. He retains his appetite, his ability is
not in question. Every career has a natural life span and in this regard Ferguson's
decision to quit - albeit while ahead - simply doesn't make sense.
This Manchester United team has set the standard for all others in the
domestic game they dominate. They can get better. But only if Ferguson
stays."
