---------------------------------
[11] You can tell it's the silly season
---------------------------------
Posted Sunday, June 24, 2001 by tb:
When stories like this get an airing
Life in the Beckham household would make a computer game that would take the market by
storm, according to a new survey.
Games fans reckon Posh, Becks and Brooklyn's home life would be a far better subject
for a game than the Windsors or the Blairs.
Nearly 40% of fans surveyed by online company Amazon.co.uk said they would choose the
Beckham household for a simulation game.
The Royal Family came second with 29%, followed by TV's Royle Family at 14%. Just 8%
thought the Blairs would make a good game in the poll of 500 players.
Christian Harris, of amazon.co.uk, said: "Celebrity-endorsed sports games are already
common and, rather than playing God with made-up characters, gamers would relish the
chance to escape into the world of the Beckhams or Buckingham Palace."
---------------------------------
[10] Charity Shield chaos
---------------------------------
Posted Sunday, June 24, 2001 by tb:
As we've reported before, there will be chaos getting to the Charity Shield, but don't
forget, the FA have put the KO forward an hour 'to help the fans' - read article 4
again before proceeding!
>From the Mirror's Fanzone:
LONDON-based fans of champions Manchester United and treble-winners Liverpool are
accusing rail company First Great Western of ripping off supporters wanting to travel
to the Charity Shield at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium on August 12.
Fans are furious that First Great Western have effectively doubled the price of travel
by not allowing reservations and APEX fares on trains returning to London after
4.30pm.
Even though kick-off has been moved back to 2pm the vast majority of travellers from
London will be unable to take advantage of the cheaper APEX fares unless they leave
the match well before the final whistle.
The normal return APEX fare between London and Cardiff is pounds 23 but virtually all
fans attending the Charity Shield from London will have to pay the full fare of pounds
46.20. Fans leaders have warned that First Great Western's pricing policy will bring
about a repeat of the road chaos at Liverpool's Worthington and FA Cup Finals against
Birmingham and Arsenal last season.
Andy Walsh of the Independent Manchester United Supporters' Association said: "The
police expressed surprise last season at the number of fans travelling to the two Cup
Finals in Cardiff by road. The roads in and out of Cardiff were totally blocked. It
was chaos.
"It looks suspiciously as though private rail companies like First Great Western have
exploited advice to use the train.
"The normal APEX fares don't apply to trains returning to London after 4.30pm and that
means thousands of fans will have to pay double the APEX fare to watch the game.
"We have already received complaints and it is clear First Great Western's pricing
policy will mean even more fans will drive, contrary to police advice.
"The supporters I have talked to feel they are being badly ripped off. One who
complained to us wanted to book four train tickets to Cardiff. He was told the
cheapest ticket from London was a pounds 23 APEX return.
"But First Great Western told him he needed to reserve a seat to get the APEX fare
and, because congestion is expected at Cardiff station after the game, no reservations
are available.
"The fan was quite prepared to buy the tickets and take a chance on getting a seat but
was bluntly told 'No reservation, no APEX ticket'.
"The FA need to look into this blatant exploitation of fans."
A First Great Western spokesman admitted fans were unable to take advantage of APEX
fares, but insisted it was a "logistical impossibility" to issue fans with seat
reservations after matches.
"There is no problem with reservations from London to Cardiff," said the spokesman.
"Unfortunately,with things like extra time and penalties it is impossible to guarantee
seats on specific trains, as we saw with last season's Liverpool-Birmingham
Worthington Cup Final.
"The Charity Shield is on a Sunday and we do have a Super Saver fare of pounds 37 and
there are discounts for groups of 10 or more fans travelliing to matches."
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
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[9] Robbo not amused
---------------------------------
Posted Sunday, June 24, 2001 by tb:
As a 'close friend' says
"Robbo is livid. It took him a lot of time to rid the club of that image and he is
devastated people are talking about it after he has left."The stories of a drink
culture are absolute garbage and Robson wants everyone to know that. "About 12 of the
first team squad he had didn't even drink - they were teetotal! ''It's making him sick
that he is having to listen to the issue being brought up again."
---------------------------------
[8] More French targets?
---------------------------------
Posted Sunday, June 24, 2001 by tb:
According the People:
MANCHESTER United are making a pounds 4.4m double bid to sign French teenage
sensations Anthony Le Tallec and Florent Sinama-Pongolle.
Le Tallec, dubbed the new Zinedine Zidane, and red-hot striker Sinama- Pongolle both
made secret VIP visits to Old Trafford last week for talks.
The pair are among the most coveted prospects in the world... and United are in
big-money negotiations to persuade them to sign.
Sir Alex Ferguson has told their club Le Havre that United are prepared to pay pounds
2.2m for each of the superkids, the largest offer on the table for the pair.
---------------------------------
[7] Utd kids off to Brazil
---------------------------------
Posted Sunday, June 24, 2001 by tb:
Ben Muirhead and John Rankin are to go to Corinthians for a two-week training camp in
Sao Paolo.
"It will be a great experience for us because the Brazilians are the best - or
supposed to be,'' said Rankin.
"Hopefully we'll learn a few of their skills and bring back useful bits of information
that will benefit us all. The idea of going abroad is a good thing because you gain in
confidence and get experience. It'll be great to see how they do things on and off the
pitch.''
Muirhead:
"You always learn when you play abroad because the styles of football are always so
different.
"Brazil have some of the best players in the world at the moment, like Rivaldo and
Roberto Carlos, so it's a great opportunity for us.''
---------------------------------
[6] O' Dreary had enough?
---------------------------------
Posted Sunday, June 24, 2001 by tb:
"People can't believe what's gone on off the field here. I'm totally fed up with it,
because I'm running a football club and then I'm dealing with solicitors — and
I've had enough of it."
"Yes, I would (consider quitting). Without a doubt."
---------------------------------
[5] O' Dreary attacks the sheep
---------------------------------
Posted Sunday, June 24, 2001 by tb:
"I called them prats at the time and it still stands. They're a bunch of prats.
"They annoyed me and my young team, who, when they needed help, didn't give it from
that certain section."
Those poor babies!
---------------------------------
[4] Why aren't we surprised
---------------------------------
Posted Sunday, June 24, 2001 by tb:
>From the Observer:
Football's rulers threatened to wreck the game's new 'independent watchdog' if an
ex-senior policeman they saw as too fan friendly was given the job.
The three football authorities made the threat as part of a determined campaign to
stop Sir John Smith from becoming the sport's first regulator as chairman of the
forthcoming Independent Football Commission.
Sir John is widely respected in the game for producing two hard-hitting reports for
the Football Association on betting and 'bungs' in the game. But his belief that the
game's governing bodies should be accountable, and sympathy with fans' concerns, are
thought to have made him unacceptable to football's power-brokers.
In a meeting with Government officials, Premier League chief executive Richard
Scudamore warned that the three football authorities 'would abandon the IFC proposal'
if Sir John was chosen, according to a detailed minute of the discussion.
The new body - which will monitor ticket prices, investigate complaints from fans and
probe financial irregularities - will be funded by the three authorities, so their non
co-operation would be disastrous.
Football seems to have won its behind-the-scenes battle to block Sir John. Observer
Sport understands that, although he was on a five-strong shortlist to become the IFC
chairman, Sir John has not got the job. Instead, an academic with no track record in
football, and who lists his sole recreational interests as bridge and squash, is
likely to be appointed.
So the next time some PR prat from the FA/PL/FL comes out with 'We've done this for
the fans' you know what response to give
---------------------------------
[3] That Eric charlie quote in full
---------------------------------
Posted Sunday, June 24, 2001 by tb:
>From the Observer ( The People typically got the wrong end of the stick)
'I prefer someone who takes cocaine on a Wednesday and plays football on the weekend
to win.
'He can still look himself in the mirror and be proud of himself if he has played hard
for the team to help them win. Some people don't choose drugs like cocaine, but they
use drugs to help them win. They are idols of people so how can they look at
themselves in the mirror?
'To play with the supporters' dreams they are a seller of illusions. I respect people
that don't choose anything, but I respect someone like Maradona more than somebody who
uses drugs to win. I think there is a misunderstanding with Maradona. I like these
kind of people, players who don't use drugs to win.'
---------------------------------
[2] Vierra strike threat?
---------------------------------
Posted Sunday, June 24, 2001 by tb:
The Mirror reckons that Vierra could throw a paddy and refuse to play again for the
scout master. The news of his potential departure has woken up Juve and Inter.
They also claim that the Arse have signed a 6' 1" japanese 'replacement'for Vierra.
---------------------------------
[1] Utd to use Petit as bait?
---------------------------------
Posted Sunday, June 24, 2001 by tb:
As the Moral claims that we have matched the Rent Boys offer of 7 million and the
deal could be wrapped up by Tuesday.
