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[25] Latest team news
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Posted Friday, April 13, 2001 by bar-knee:
>From PA
'Jaap Stam has recovered from his groin injury and is fit for Manchester United's noon
showdown with Coventry at Old Trafford. Gary Neville will move back across to
full-back to accommodate the Dutch international, while David Beckham is expected to
start on the bench again. Sir Alex Ferguson has yet to decide on his strike-force and
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer could start after coming off the bench to score the winner
against Charlton on Tuesday. Definitely out is Denis Irwin, who picked up a knee
injury against Charlton. Coventry are expected to make just one change for tomorrow's
match at Premiership champions-elect Manchester United.
Team (from): Barthez, Goram, G Neville, P Neville, Stam, Brown, Silvestre, Keane,
Butt, Scholes, Beckham, Giggs, Chadwick, Cole, Yorke, Solskjaer, Sheringham.
Team (from): Kirkland, Quinn, Shaw, Breen, Hall, Thompson, Telfer, Eustace, Carsley,
Bellamy, Hartson, Chippo, Williams, Zuniga, Hedman (gk), Edworthy, Delorge.
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[24] TBC on Old Trafford seats closure - the world goes mad
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Posted Friday, April 13, 2001 by bar-knee:
'Parts of Old Trafford will be closed down because of persistent standing if
Manchester United reach the semi-finals of the Champions League. Trafford Metropolitan
Borough Council have said they will shut down sections of the West Stand after fans
ignored pleas and stood during the quarter-final against Bayern Munich. The council
claims the fans' behaviour has left them with no alternative but to put rows of seats
off limits to comply with safety regulations.
ouncillor Barry Brotherton claimed it was too early to say where, and how many seats
would be sectioned off.'
But if it is just the West Stand and not K it proves that the reason this has become
such an issue is that the club put the Fanzone up there when TBC are worried about
safety.
Brotherton also stressed that the ban would not apply to any of United's remaining
Premiership matches.
"If United win at Bayern and there is another match at Old Trafford, then because of
the standing that took place at the last match we will look to reduce the capacity in
the west tier two," he said. "Just where they are or how many has yet to be decided.
We have to do this because fans have not really heeded the warnings and so the
capacity in that part of the ground will be reduced."
IMUSA chairman Mark Longden claims supporters will always stand because of the
excitement of watching games and that the only long-term solution is a return to safe
stand
