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--------------------------------- [24] United deny Tudor bid --------------------------------- Posted Friday, December 28, 2001 by bar-knee: Kenyon on Igor Tudor talk... "We are definitely not interested and haven’t made any bids for anyone. There is nothing in the pipeline" But what about Di Canio cuddly Pete...? --------------------------------- [23] What Cole said yesterday on links --------------------------------- Posted Friday, December 28, 2001 by bar-knee: "That is absolute rubbish. I don't know anything about it and I don't know where that suggestion came from. I want to stay." --------------------------------- [22] More Souness on Cole --------------------------------- Posted Friday, December 28, 2001 by bar-knee: "There's a lot of water that has to pass under the bridge yet, but he is the sort of player we would love to have here. I think he is second only to Alan Shearer in the Premiership goal-scoring charts, and his vast experience would be hugely beneficial to some of the young lads we have here." --------------------------------- [21] United tipped --------------------------------- Posted Friday, December 28, 2001 by bar-knee: Mark Lawrenson continues to tip us in the Mirror... 'Sir Alex Ferguson has got the look of a championship-winning manager again because Manchester United are ready to storm to another thrilling title success. At least we can be thankful that United's stumblings this season have made the Premiership very interesting - but all of a sudden the league table has a familiar look about it. Just weeks after their title chances were written off, Fergie's champions are six points behind surprise leaders Newcastle and are ready to overhaul Arsenal, Leeds, Liverpool and the other title pretenders. There is no doubt that Liverpool and Arsenal will push United harder than ever before but, come next May, Fergie will once again be celebrating championship success - his eighth. Newcastle have been the fairytale of the Premiership season and I would travel 200 miles and happily pay £40 for a ticket to watch them every week, but they do not have the staying power to achieve anything more than a UEFA Cup place... It leaves United ready to take the title in what will be the most exciting race for years.' --------------------------------- [20] Paul Merson doesn't tip Scousers --------------------------------- Posted Friday, December 28, 2001 by bar-knee: "Liverpool beat us on Wednesday but they didn't impress me. We played a good team but you wouldn't have thought they were the team near the top and we were the team that is struggling. People often say that if you can play badly and win football matches then you win championships. If they keep grinding out results... but I don't see it. Arsenal and Manchester United look the main two to me for the title. They are the only two teams in the league who are capable of winning 10 games on the trot. When United recently went out to 10-1 with the bookmakers, I thought that was a bit steep especially given the games that they had coming up. Liverpool have now signed Nicolas Anelka and to me he is one of the best centre forwards that I have seen. But I still see the other two (Manchester United and Arsenal) scoring more goals. In any case, Anelka has got to get back being used to playing in the Premiership. It's not like French football, is it?" --------------------------------- [19] Last trophy of the season --------------------------------- Posted Friday, December 28, 2001 by bar-knee: Liverpool's Sami Hyypia has been named Finland's Sports Person of the Year. Wow. --------------------------------- [18] Spot the difference --------------------------------- Posted Friday, December 28, 2001 by bar-knee: The SUN - Michael Dubbery signs new five year deal with Leeds Mirror - Michael Duberry to leave Leeds for Leicester in a £3m deal --------------------------------- [17] Today's Becks story --------------------------------- Posted Friday, December 28, 2001 by bar-knee: >From Ananova 'David Beckham bought son Brooklyn a new bike for Christmas but insisted it was painted Manchester United red. He and wife Victoria picked the £80 bike at a shop in Manchester but they didn't like the yellow colour. The England captain asked the shop owner to paint the bike red instead. "It's perfect - but can you paint it United's colours instead?" said Beckham, before asking for Brooklyn lettering on the frame in black and silver, alongside the figure 7, for the footballer's shirt number. Mike Doolan, who owns the shop in Middleton, Manchester said: "I couldn't believe it when the Beckhams pulled up in a Mercedes. They were looking for a bike for Brooklyn and I showed them the yellow JCB Junior. They really liked it but didn't think the colour suited the son of a Red Devil. So I arranged for the bike to be professionally sprayed red. They also wanted it customised with Brooklyn's name and the number 7." The JCB bike is made by the firm famed for its huge trucks and mechanic! al diggers, reports The Sun. Mike, 40, who runs Middleton Cycles, Greater Manchester, added: "The paint job was no bother because the Beckhams were so nice. We were just making sure a little boy got what he wanted for Christmas." Doting dad Becks added one final touch - paying £3.50 for a Thunderbirds bell attached to the handle bars. --------------------------------- [16] Early team news --------------------------------- Posted Friday, December 28, 2001 by bar-knee: Fulham (from): Van der Sar, Brevett, Finnan, Melville, Goma, Clark, Collins, Legwinski, Malbranque, Davis, Ouaddou, Taylor, Boa Morte, Hayles, Saha. Manchester United (from): Barthez, P Neville, Blanc, G Neville, Silvestre, Veron, Keane, Butt, Giggs, Solskjaer, van Nistelrooy, Beckham, Scholes, Cole, Yorke, Wallwork, Chadwick, Irwin, Carroll. --------------------------------- [15] Blackburn lead the Cole hunt --------------------------------- Posted Friday, December 28, 2001 by bar-knee: Sourness "Anyone would be interested in a player like Andy Cole, and if he's available that's something we would consider." --------------------------------- [14] Kenyon on possible Cole move --------------------------------- Posted Friday, December 28, 2001 by bar-knee: "We have had initial approaches from several clubs in England and held initial discussions with Blackburn Rovers. These kind of things can either go off the boil or they can accelerate dramatically. We don't know how this will progress." --------------------------------- [13] Cole on the move? --------------------------------- Posted Friday, December 28, 2001 by bar-knee: Andy Cole's agent Paul Stretford: "There have been discussions with Manchester United and there have been a number of discussions with a number of other interested clubs. However, there is no definitive position or offer as yet. But the next phone call could change everything." --------------------------------- [12] Blomqvist on playing --------------------------------- Posted Friday, December 28, 2001 by bar-knee: "This has been a big step forward, it feels good to be back playing. I was definitely nervous, but more looking forward to it all. It was the next step to starting my career again. I feel good, I had 75 minutes and it got better and better for me. I believe there is more to come from me, but that was a decent start. I will be looking no further than one game at a time, training hard and seeing what happens, but I am encouraged." --------------------------------- [11] Blomqvist on Ryan and Becks --------------------------------- Posted Friday, December 28, 2001 by bar-knee: "That has been United's way of playing for 10 years, with wingers putting crosses in and creating chances. And there's none better than Giggs and Beckham. United are right in there again, they have definitely got a real good chance now even if they have made it hard for themselves." --------------------------------- [10] Longer than us... --------------------------------- Posted Friday, December 28, 2001 by bar-knee: Racing Club won their first Argentine league title in 35 years this week. --------------------------------- [9] Di Canio rumours grow --------------------------------- Posted Friday, December 28, 2001 by bar-knee: You'll remember Red News wrote on Boxing Day: "As we have said before - we expect one of Dwight or Andy to be putting in a request by the Spring or to have left. Many Utd fans would want it to be Dwight out of the two. We shall see how this pans out but we have it on good authority that if this did happen, then Di Canio may well be on his way to Old Trafford." Two good sources report that United have upped the anti in the quest for Di Canio - Fergie wants him appears to be the case. Whether or not it will happen is another thing - but watch this space. --------------------------------- [8] Top Scorers --------------------------------- Posted Friday, December 28, 2001 by redend: UNITED van Nistelrooy 18 Solskjaer 8 Beckham 7 Giggs 5 Cole 5 Veron 4 Scholes 3 Keane 2 Blanc 2 Yorke 1 Johnsen 1 Phil Neville 1 Fortune 1 FULHAM Hayles 8 Saha 5 Malbranque 5 Legwinski 3 Boa Morte 2 Collins 1 Brevett 1 --------------------------------- [7] Goals statistics --------------------------------- Posted Friday, December 28, 2001 by redend: Fulham first | Manchester United second: Avg goals scored 1.1 | Avg goals scored 2.1 Avg goals scored at home 1.5 | Avg goals scored away 1.7 Avg goals conceded 1.0 | Avg goals conceded 1.3 Avg goals conceded at home 0.9 | Avg goals conceded away 1.7 Clean sheets 9 | Clean sheets 9 Clean sheets at home 5 | Clean sheets away 3 --------------------------------- [6] What's the score ... --------------------------------- Posted Friday, December 28, 2001 by redend: United to win by: 1-0 6/1 2-0 6/1 2-1 7/1 3-0 12/1 3-1 11/1 3-2 25/1 4-0 33/1 4-1 33/1 4-2 50/1 RHT: Correctly picked the correct score of 2-0 as the most likely v Everton although didn't back it myself - usually go for longer odds. http://www.sportingodds.co.uk/adserver/scripts/ict.dll?click?rnews0 Bet here --------------------------------- [5] Previous meetings --------------------------------- Posted Friday, December 28, 2001 by redend: Last Fulham win in this fixture was in 1964. last 6 results of this fixture English FA Cup Fulham 1-2 Manchester United 07-01-2001 English FA Cup Fulham 1-1 Manchester United 31-01-1979 English Division 2 (old) Fulham 1-2 Manchester United 05-10-1974 English Division 1 (old) Fulham 0-4 Manchester United 12-04-1968 English Division 1 (old) Fulham 2-2 Manchester United 27-03-1967 English Division 1 (old) Fulham 0-1 Manchester United 15-01-1966 Last Fulham win English Division 1 (old) Fulham 2-1 Manchester United 05-09-1964 --------------------------------- [4] Half Time : Full Time --------------------------------- Posted Friday, December 28, 2001 by redend: Fulham | Fulham 6/1 Fulham | Draw 16/1 Fulham | Manchester United 25/1 Draw | Fulham 8/1 Draw | Draw 4/1 Draw | Manchester United 4/1 Manchester United | Fulham 28/1 Manchester United | Draw 16/1 Manchester United | Manchester United 6/4 RHT: Value bet Fulham | Manchester United 25/1 Bet http://www.sportingodds.co.uk/adserver/scripts/ict.dll?click?rnews0 here --------------------------------- [3] Current Form - Fulham & United --------------------------------- Posted Friday, December 28, 2001 by redend: Form (most recent on right) FULHAM form LdWdLd home form WWLdWd games since win 3 games since loss 1 games since draw 0 home games since win 1 home games since loss 3 home games since draw 0 Last 5 Fulham results: English Premier Fulham 0 - 0 Leeds 02-12-2001 English Premier Fulham 2 - 0 Everton 08-12-2001 English Premier Liverpool 0 - 0 Fulham 12-12-2001 English Premier Tottenham 4 - 0 Fulham 15-12-2001 English Premier Fulham 0 - 0 Charlton 26-12-2001 UNITED form WLWWWW away form LLDLWW games since win 0 games since loss 4 games since draw 8 away games since win 0 away games since loss 2 away games since draw 3 Last 5 United results: English Premier Man Utd 0 - 1 West Ham 08-12-2001 English Premier Man Utd 5 - 0 Derby 12-12-2001 English Premier Middlesbro 0 - 1 Man Utd 15-12-2001 English Premier Man Utd 6 - 1 Southampton 22-12-2001 English Premier Everton 0 - 2 Man Utd 26-12-2001 SPECIALS As good as new 30/12/01 Min stake £0.5 Beckham to start and score v Fulham 7/1 BET Every Premiership team to score on Saturday 29/12/01 9 3pm ko Goal Spree 100/1 BET How many goals will be scored on Saturday? 29/12/01 9 3pm ko Under 22 11/8 22-24 Inc 11/4 Over 24 11/8 BET http://www.sportingodds.co.uk/adserver/scripts/ict.dll?click?rnews1 Check http://www.rednews.co.uk to view the image which has been removed from plain text email version of news Check http://www.rednews.co.uk to view the image which has been removed from plain text email version of news --------------------------------- [2] United to win ... --------------------------------- Posted Friday, December 28, 2001 by redend: .. again RHT: We got the win on Boxing Day as predicted and I'd go for it again at Fulham. The http://www.sportingodds.co.uk/adserver/scripts/ict.dll?click?rnews0 bookies have again made us favourite to get another 3 points. Fulham 100/30 Manchester United 8/11 Draw 9/4 http://www.sportingodds.co.uk/adserver/scripts/ict.dll?click?rnews0 Bet here --------------------------------- [1] All time record v Fulham --------------------------------- Posted Friday, December 28, 2001 by redend: All time results between Fulham and Manchester United FULHAM WINS | DRAWS | MANCHESTER UNITED WINS League 9 | 10 | 24 | FA Cup 1 | 2 | 5 | Total 10 | 12 | 29 | --------------------------------- [27] Transfer gossip --------------------------------- Posted Thursday, December 27, 2001 by bar-knee: >From Ananova 'Manchester United have reportedly offered Juventus £15m for defender Igor Tudor. But Juventus are keen to keep hold of the Croat and have turned down the offer. Tudor admits he rates United as the biggest club in the world but is happy at Juve. He told CEN: "United are always a dream-come-true option. Manchester are the biggest club in the world and although I feel quite comfortable with Juventus at the moment, It has always been my dream to play in England. I love the English style of football but Juve are a big club as well and if I leave them, it will only be to play for a club of similar tradition. Such clubs can only be found in the English or Spanish league." --------------------------------- [26] More Smith --------------------------------- Posted Thursday, December 27, 2001 by bar-knee: "We needed that little bit of extra quality and that's what beat us in the end. United play with good economy. We had to work very hard to stay in it. That's where we suffered in the end when we got tired at the end. When you're having a good period and you don't get a goal, that's when you end up being punished later. That was the story of the game for us. When Manchester United got their superiority, they took their chances and won the game." --------------------------------- [25] More Walter Smith angst --------------------------------- Posted Thursday, December 27, 2001 by bar-knee: "We tired towards the end and they took advantage. You will find that United will score a lot of late goals because they use the ball so well and start to stretch you as the match progresses." --------------------------------- [24] Saturday's Premiership fixtures --------------------------------- Posted Thursday, December 27, 2001 by bar-knee: Arsenal v Middlesbrough Aston Villa v Tottenham Blackburn v Derby Bolton v Leicester Everton v Charlton Ipswich v Sunderland Newcastle v Chelsea Southampton v Leeds West Ham v Liverpool --------------------------------- [23] Cole denies transfer talk --------------------------------- Posted Thursday, December 27, 2001 by bar-knee: "I don't know anything about it and I don't know where that suggestion came from. I want to stay." Peter Kenyon also denied the story to the MEN at Everton. --------------------------------- [22] Giggs on Everton game --------------------------------- Posted Thursday, December 27, 2001 by bar-knee: "Everton made it hard for us. They press the ball and didn't give us any time on the ball. We had to be patient. In the first half myself and Seba Veron couldn't get in the game but we knew it would open up. You need a bit of luck to win matches and this year we've not had the best of it. But in past years maybe we've had a lot. David Unsworth's first half missed chance was the luck we needed. We killed the game with our second. We needed that second because they brought on Duncan Ferguson and Gazza and anything can happen when those two come on." In this case, nothing! --------------------------------- [21] Giggs on title scrap --------------------------------- Posted Thursday, December 27, 2001 by bar-knee: "We are still right in there. We have to concentrate on our own results. Over the previous few matches results have gone for us but they haven't done this time. But we have to keep winning because teams will keep taking points off each other. We just have to keep grinding results out. We probably didn't play our best against Everton but we just had to get the three points and now we have to keep on doing it." --------------------------------- [20] Fergie on title scrap --------------------------------- Posted Thursday, December 27, 2001 by bar-knee: "It has come to a stage now where we have to combine a lot of things like grit, determination and the patience to make sure we go to the wire." --------------------------------- [19] Gary Nev on Becks and Giggs --------------------------------- Posted Thursday, December 27, 2001 by bar-knee: "Now Ryan and David have got back in there will be no stopping them. We have some really top quality midfield players who have done nothing wrong. That is why it has been difficult for Ryan and David to get back in the side. It is a big boost to have David and Ryan back. It is a nice problem for the manager to have." --------------------------------- [18] Blomqvist on the game --------------------------------- Posted Thursday, December 27, 2001 by bar-knee: "For 75 minutes we were really in the game and deserved something from the game but the strength of United is to dig in and in the last few minutes they grab a goal. You have some ups and downs and United have had a really big down but now they are right back on track again and are looking more dangerous than ever. In the second half I thought we were the stronger side but then in the last 15 minutes they took over completely. It is getting harder and harder every year to win the title but I think United have a very big chance of doing it again. United have done fairly well without them recently but when Giggs and Beckham are at the top of their game I don't think anyone can keep them out of the United side" --------------------------------- [17] Fergie speaking to MUTV after the Everton game --------------------------------- Posted Thursday, December 27, 2001 by bar-knee: >From the official site 'Patience "It's come to that stage now where they (the players) have to combine a lot of things. Grit and determination which they've shown today and the patience to make sure we go to the wire." First goal "It was a fantastic cross from David, and a great run and finish from Ryan, his one header per season!" Late breakthrough "They (Everton) really had to go for it and they brought on Duncan Ferguson and Paul Gascoigne. That opened the game up. We could have scored two or three after that." Second goal "I was happy to get the second goal because it just settled us down and made it a bit easier for us. Ruud really hit it. If he gets the chances, he certainly doesn't mess about." The result "It's an important result, I think that's the way to look at it. Other teams around us have won today and it's important to stay up there with them." Better at the back "I think that's been the main difference between now and the early part of the season, when we were making uncharacteristic mistakes which cost us a lot of points. Hopefully now there's a steel about us and a determination to make sure we're going to defend properly." Team selection "I've had to pick the team that's winning. Players like David Beckham and Ryan Giggs have sat out and Paul Scholes was suspended today. Now I have to try and think about a team for Sunday's game at Fulham. But performance is always important and that's why I've picked the same team." Walter Smith "I hope he wins many more games, and I think Everton can do that with the way they played today." --------------------------------- [16] More Walter Smith --------------------------------- Posted Thursday, December 27, 2001 by bar-knee: "I am a bit disappointed. We started well and worked hard for most of the match. We had to play flat out while United could use some economy. They are always capable of getting goals late on in a game and it will happen again this season." --------------------------------- [15] Wenger on title race --------------------------------- Posted Thursday, December 27, 2001 by bar-knee: Premiership reports NEWCASTLE remain top of the Premiership after their 3-0 drubbing of North East rivals Middlesbrough. Goals from Alan Shearer, Gary Speed and substitute Olivier Bernard ensured the Toon Army completed the first part of the Christmas-New Year fixtures in fine style. Arsenal kicked off at noon and held top spot for a few hours after they saw off fellow Londoners Chelsea. England defender Sol Campbell scored his first goal for Gunners when he headed home their equaliser four minutes into the second half (above). ARSENAL 2 CHELSEA 1 ARSENAL fans had waited five months and 20 matches for just this moment. Sol Campbell's first goal in the red and white of Arsenal - and on the day Spurs were losing at Southampton. It could not have come at a more opportune time for a Gunners side whose curious vulnerability at Highbury was threatening to condemn them to their fourth home defeat of the season. Story continues below advertisement ADVERTISEMENT ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Trailing to a first-half goal from Frank Lampard and looking decidedly second best to resurgent Chelsea, Campbell strode purposefully to the edge of the box as Robert Pires lined up a 49th-minute corner. As the Frenchman arrowed the ball into the middle, Campbell held off the challenge of John Terry on a muscular run that was always going to end one way. Powering his way in through a spreadeagled defence, he met the corner at full tilt and not even the in-form Carlo Cudicini could prevent the inevitable. Delighted Campbell said afterwards: "It was a long time coming but that goal means an awful lot to me. "Everyone knows we have a lot of quality but you need fighting spirit as well. It was a hard game but we dug in." Campbell's equaliser was all Arsenal needed. The tide had been turned and now it was Arsene Wenger's team who were pouring down in numbers on a Chelsea defence that had never looked in danger of being breached in the first half. And with 20 minutes to go, substitute Sylvain Wiltord came up with the goal that took Arsenal temporarily back to the top of the Premiership. A Pires free-kick brought a desperate headed clearance from Mario Melchiot but the ball only reached Wiltord on the edge of the box. In situations like this, it is normally returned high to the stand behind the goal. But this time Wiltord kept both his head and the ball down and, with the aid of one bounce, it arced its way round Cudicini into the back of the net. OUCH ... Patrick Vieira is clobbered by Graeme Le Saux With nine minutes left, Arsenal would have wrapped it all up but for a fine Cudicini parry at the near post after sub Gio van Bronckhorst connected well at the end of a superb move involving Dennis Bergkamp, Thierry Henry and Pires. Afterwards Wenger saluted the guts of a team that had held off a second-half Liverpool onslaught on Sunday and still come back from a goal down to beat a powerful Chelsea side just three days later. And the Arsenal boss further claimed that his side were now in a better position at this time of the season than in all his time at Highbury. Wenger said: "Chelsea were on top and much sharper in the first half. We needed to react and produce the sort of determination we showed at Liverpool. "We did just that - and Campbell's goal was a perfect example. Sometimes it is not just about technique. "After losing here against Newcastle, we had to go to Anfield and then play Chelsea. We could have been two games away from a crisis. After the miracle against Liverpool we had to make sure we did not slip up at home again. At half-time it looked as if we were going to but the way we reacted gives everyone confidence that we can win the Championship. Certainly, we are far better placed going into the New Year than we have ever been. In other seasons we have struggled early on - sometimes even 10 or 12 points behind Manchester United." --------------------------------- [14] More Cole speculation --------------------------------- Posted Thursday, December 27, 2001 by bar-knee: >From the SUN 'BLACKBURN are favourites to land Manchester United hitman Andy Cole, writes PHIL THOMAS. Boss Graeme Souness is so close to completing an £8million deal Cole, 30, could even be in the side to face Derby on Saturday. The striker has been told he can leave by United boss Alex Ferguson. Sunderland and Aston Villa are also keen but Souey was first to react.' --------------------------------- [13] Scouser thinks we can do it --------------------------------- Posted Thursday, December 27, 2001 by bar-knee: Everton captain David Weir: "Of course they are good enough to win it again." --------------------------------- [12] Walter Smith on the defeat --------------------------------- Posted Thursday, December 27, 2001 by bar-knee: "We played very well but we didn't take our chances when they came along. When United had theirs towards the end they took them, and that was the difference between the two sides." NB. Did Gazza touch the ball when he came on?! --------------------------------- [11] More Fergie --------------------------------- Posted Thursday, December 27, 2001 by bar-knee: "We still need a momentous run if we are going to win the title, but this was a good victory and we need to string together some wins now. I must admit I couldn't see where a goal was coming from, but David Beckham is capable of producing wonderful crosses like that. David doesn't have to prove anything to me. I didn't tell him to prove me wrong. It was a magnificent cross and we all know that he is capable of that." --------------------------------- [10] Fergie on Blanc --------------------------------- Posted Thursday, December 27, 2001 by bar-knee: "I should have got him five years ago. They will all say he's slow and all the rest of it, but there is not one goal he has been responsible for this season - not one. The press are not going to allow him to be successful. I think that's their intention and it's unfortunate that, because he is a fantastic character and he's added a lot to the team in terms of character and how he perceives the game. He talks such great sense about the game, and I think the players he is playing with today will look back years from now and say 'he was a great player. He taught us this, he taught us that and we learned from him.' The French players all looked up to him as the man, and it's just unfortunate that he is getting the criticism that he is. He's not the quickest. He never was the quickest, but that is never going to be accepted." --------------------------------- [9] Just one thing to add ... --------------------------------- Posted Thursday, December 27, 2001 by redend: ... re: the piss poor support from the Everton fans. Not even the bird with the bouncing bombs was there to warm our cockles. Now lets be fair - they were not "the worst pair of tits I've ever seen" - unless you've spent your life in some Californian plastic surgery commune. Personally I'd rate them in my top 20. I thank you.
