---------------------------------------------------------- RED NEWS - MUFC Daily News by Email. For the very latest news, the fans forum, and more, check out the website at http://www.rednews.co.uk ----------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------- [26] Blanc confirms --------------------------------- Posted Wednesday, July 3, 2002 by redend: Blanc has confirmed what we told you, exclusively, months ago - that he will stay for another year. He has now put pen to paper amd signed a one year contract. Don't suppose the official site will give us credit for this after they take the p1ss out of press rumours etc. Nobody gives you more exclusives than RED NEWS (the huge red head of this upstanding organ is throbbing at this point) - for example remember we were first with the biggest story in years - that Fergie was leaving because the board wouldn't give him a new role/contract and then the campaign to keep him which ended in a new role been offered and eventually him staying on as manager. How the Blanc story developed: 28 March He states that there would be no U-turns and he was defineitely leaving. [16] Blanc definitely to call it a day Thursday, March 28, 2002 "There is nothing to make me change my mind. I will definitely retire at the end of the season, I have been a professional for nearly 20 years and that is long enough. I will miss everything about the game, but more than anything being involved in big matches. I have won World Cup and European Championship medals, but I have never won a medal at club level and it would be wonderful to round off my career by winning two medals with Manchester United." Pretty conclusive that? April 3 - Only days later RED NEWS was first to report a possible U-turn: [21] Larry White hesitates Wednesday, April 3, 2002 Blanc was asked after the game if these kind of nights could make him change his mind about retiring in May. A clearly hesitating Blanc : "I always take pleasure from the pitch and I will have to take pleasure till the very end. This can make me think about it a little more of course, but as far as I am concerned, my decision is taken." The first signs of a possible u-turn? Marc B April 16 [25] Blanc hope? Tuesday, April 16, 2002 his agent Oscar Damiani hints he might stay on for a year if United offer a deal. May 31st RED NEWS was first to confirm it would happen: [41] Exclusive: Blanc Staying Friday, May 31, 2002 Our Carrington snout tells us Larry is staying - well at least if he's not then he's left all his gear in his locker at Carrington. [45] RN exclusive - Blanc to stay Friday, May 31, 2002 You read it here first. Following earlier rumours on the site we have it from a source VERY close to Blanc that a one year deal will be signed and has been agreed. Watch this space. --------------------------------- [25] Important message for Mr Kenyon. --------------------------------- Posted Wednesday, July 3, 2002 by redend: RED NEWS has the solution to get Peter Kenyon off the uncomfortable horns of his dilemma - Paddy please pass this important message on. PROBLEM: Mr Grimsdale will not part with his Rio for less than 30-35 mill - innit. Our Mr Kenco - he no want to spend this much. BIG PROBLEM? NO, READ ON. SOLUTION: Get some Irish millionaires together (there are loads knocking around nowadays) - preferably with a horse racing connection - and preferably with no connection to MU PLC. At least no connection that would stand up in a court of law. Give aforementioned Irish milionaires a name made up from the following words : Cubic Mountbarrow Coolmore Mafia Partners Expression Lansdowne Investment RED NEWS. Or CMCMPELIRN for short - an anagram of which is MC PLC Miner strangely enough. Starting to make sense now? OK Peter (Kenyon not Grimsdale) get MC PLC Miner to buy up 51% of Lids through various investment vehicles. This should cost about 10 million quid. Then remove Lids PLC's entire management and install lackeys. Next send Rio plus Kewell and Bowyer [what?] on £1 transfers to any club within a 100 mile radius who have more supporters, play in red, and have the initials MUFC. Now sell Bowyer, because he is scum, back to Lids for £10 million plus £3. Liquidate your assets at Leeds. Don't be greedy - give proceeds to local (Yarkshire) charity for rehabilitation of abused sheep. Jobs a good 'un. Rio plus Kewell for £0 and Leeds up sh1t creek, abused sheep sorted, good PR into the bargain. Its a plan. PS. MC PLC Miner? - perhaps city could be next target? They could only be worth a quarter of a Ferdinand at most? [Thank you to tw@tengine for sending this plan] --------------------------------- [24] Blomqvist future unknown --------------------------------- Posted Wednesday, July 3, 2002 by bar-knee: after being released by Everton "I would prefer to play in England but haven't ruled out playing for a Swedish club" --------------------------------- [23] Transfer talk denied --------------------------------- Posted Wednesday, July 3, 2002 by bar-knee: Paris Saint-Germain coach Luis Fernandez on Ronaldinho talk "Whatever the offer, I will say no" --------------------------------- [22] Another player link --------------------------------- Posted Wednesday, July 3, 2002 by bar-knee: Cafu --------------------------------- [21] Blanc's out of contract return --------------------------------- Posted Wednesday, July 3, 2002 by bar-knee: >From 4thegame 'French defender Laurent Blanc is expected to join his United team-mates for pre-season training even though he is now out-of contract. The veteran World Cup winner has not yet decided whether to sign a new one year deal at Old Trafford, but Sir Alex Ferguson expects him to return for training in 12 days' time.' --------------------------------- [20] More transfer gossip --------------------------------- Posted Wednesday, July 3, 2002 by bar-knee: again from Marc situation regarding french targets : - Not a word on "the Julien Escudé to United" story anywhere. Escudé is Rennes left back but he played in the middle for the U-21 in the European Championship last month (France lost in final). He is still relatively unknown in France and his name has never been mentionned for the France full team. He has never been voted in the team of the season. Still very unproved quality if you want my opinion. - Not much on Lilian Thuram to United. A few papers reported yesterday the story published in Italy about him joining United very soon but nothing else. His transfer to United seem far from done from France. - Absolutely nothing on Barthez leaving United. - As for Ronaldinho, Paris SG has repeated on several occasions that they won't sell him at any price. The player himself has never said that he wanted to leave the club. L'Equipe suggest today that an offer of £30M would be hard to turn down for Paris. --------------------------------- [19] Red News summer offer --------------------------------- Posted Wednesday, July 3, 2002 by bar-knee: Red News published 9 issues last season, of which we have limited stocks of 8 still available. As a special offer you can purchase ALL eight issues together with a FREE copy of Red News' book celebrating the Nou Camp triumph in 1999 - European Glory - all for the bargain price of just £13.50 including postage and packing. This is a must have offer so go on! 8 issues + book for £13.50 inc p&p in the UK 8 issues + book for £16 inc p&p in Europe and rest of the world. Send your order by cheque, made payable to Red News, to Red News, P.O.Box 176, Manchester, M16 8LG or you can now order by credit card. click on --------------------------------- [18] Order a RN sub online --------------------------------- Posted Wednesday, July 3, 2002 by bar-knee: Thanks to our new link with the safe, simple to use and world wide massively known paypal you can now order your 10 issue subscription to Red News the fanzine via credit card payment, ordering online from wherever you live in the world, getting the mag to your door. To order the 10 issue sub to be sent to a UK address click on To order the 10 issue sub to be sent to an address in the rest of the world click on And those philanthropists out there can help with our costs by making an online donation via paypal. Doesn't matter how small the amount is, every bit helps with the costs of the site - thanks. click on. --------------------------------- [17] Transfer latest --------------------------------- Posted Wednesday, July 3, 2002 by bar-knee: >From our French correspondent, Marc A french weekly today has a big piece on Ronaldinho to United. See below for details. They produced every week at least 30 pages on transfers, so they are either very creative or have plenty of sources. But the mag is relatively new so it's hard to say whether they are reliable or not. Ronaldinho to United. Basically they say : - a meeting will take this week between a United official and a Paris SG official (apparently their financial director) in Paris, to United request. Sir Alex knows that they don't want to sell the player but he also knows that the financial situation of Paris is not perfect (Canal + has stopped giving them money). - We would be ready to pay 50M Euros (around £30M). - We are favourites if he is sold but Madrid and Inter Milan are also on his trails. They also have some infos on Thuram. They say that Sir alex and Thuram met in Paris before the World Cup. According to them, we are still in negociations with Juventus and an agreement is close. --------------------------------- [16] Hartson on O'Neill future --------------------------------- Posted Wednesday, July 3, 2002 by bar-knee: "My mates down in Wales have been phoning me up and asking me what's going on with the manager, but all I can say is that I honestly don't know, and I don't think any of the lads do. The manager is his own man, and he is a very private person. He'll do what he thinks is best for him and what's best for the club. I don't think anyone can influence his decision, but all I can say is that from a personal point of view I certainly hope that he stays. He's done exceptionally well and you only have to look at what he has achieved here to see what an incredible job he has done since he took over. I'm sure Celtic fans wouldn't want to lose him, and neither does anyone else at the club because he's a fantastic manager. All the lads in the dressing room are obviously hoping that he stays because he has done such a fantastic job at Celtic but it's not really got anything to do with anyone else. No matter what happens, I'm sure that everyone here will respect his decision. Leeds are a big! club with some great players, but this club has some fantastic players and a huge fan-base and I certainly don't think Leeds are any bigger than Celtic. We also have the chance to play in the Champions League again this season and that is a massive thing for everyone at the club." --------------------------------- [15] Holiday --------------------------------- Posted Wednesday, July 3, 2002 by bar-knee: BBC Sport Website reports on where various Premiership Players Have been on Holiday. The United contingent spotted were: Giggsy - Puerto Banas, Marbella. Fabien - New York, Shopping. Luke Chadwick - Flying a Kite on Southport Beach. Sadly, the last one is 100% True. RN also had a reader who spotted Gary Nev and Nev Nev in Malta. --------------------------------- [14] Rio bigger than Leeds --------------------------------- Posted Wednesday, July 3, 2002 by redend: Its official. The saying that no player is bigger than the club can't be applied to little Leeds. The Leeds (Sporting) PLC share price has dropped to 5.75p from a high of 35p meaning that the club is now valued at a total of £20m - compared to Rio's supposed £30 million This follows the £96 million Leeds have gambled on "breaking the stranglehold of Manchester United, Liverpool [who?] and Arsenal". Stand by for at least another 30 Rio move stories by the end of the week. --------------------------------- [13] Rio move moves closer --------------------------------- Posted Wednesday, July 3, 2002 by redend: >From Guardian reports and a few bits we made up: With the collapse of Robbie Keane's transfer to Sunderland, Leeds will come under more pressure to flog Ferdinand. They had hoped to sell Robbie Keane, as well as transfer-listed Lee Bowyer and Olivier Dacourt, to raise about £35 million to reduce spiralling debts which have already reached around £77m. With the Keane deal scuppered and no bids received for the two midfielders, Mr Grimsdale may now have to resort to Plan B and listen to offers for his England centre-half. Fergie was back at Carrington yesterday and met Kenyon to discuss transfers, with a bid for Ferdinand his main priority. United won't pay £35m but, having seen the Keane deal die, Mr Grimsdale may find it hard to resist a seductive offer from Peter K. --------------------------------- [12] Madrid rake in 37 million --------------------------------- Posted Wednesday, July 3, 2002 by redend: Last season UEFA slipped 37 million euros into Real Madrid's sky rocket .... for last season's Champions League success. Leverkusen, also runners-up in the German title and the German cup, took 33.8 million euros while United trousered an embarassingly paltry 32.3 million euros 1. Real Madrid 37,000,000 2. Leverkusen 33,800,000 3. Manchester United 32,300,000 4. Bayern Munich 31,900,000 5. Nantes 29,500,000 UEFA dished out 523 million euros to the 32 Champions League participants, based on a cash-for-win basis. --------------------------------- [11]Berg to retire --------------------------------- Posted Wednesday, July 3, 2002 by redend: Former United defender Henning Berg plans to pull on the carpet slippers when his contract expires at Blackburn next summer. "I'm very happy at Blackburn and looking forward to playing another season here. After that, I will probably return to live and work in Norway. My wife and I have just had a baby son and I have family back home. I would like to see them more often." Berg will turn 34 on September 1. --------------------------------- [10] Ince Maine Road bound? --------------------------------- Posted Wednesday, July 3, 2002 by redend: He's made for city isn't he? Big time Charlie. And having refused to stay at the Smog Monsters ... you can't really blame him for that ..... he's looking to move back to the North West where he still has a home. Surely it can only be a matter of time before Wor Kev snaps up another ex-Red. --------------------------------- [9] More Reds Brum bound? --------------------------------- Posted Wednesday, July 3, 2002 by redend: Following Ronnie Wllwork's move to West Brom it now seems Denis Irwin and Ronny Johnsen could meet up again at Birmingham next season. Denis left Old Trafford looking for first-team football at the end of last season and is now set for talks with Steve Bruce. Johnsen could make the same move although Villa are also reported to be sniffing round him. --------------------------------- [8] Keano exit talk --------------------------------- Posted Wednesday, July 3, 2002 by redend: United are refusing to comment on reports linking Roy Keane with Celtic in a player-manager capacity if Martin O'Neill quits for Leeds. Is that it? Yep. Thanks for that. --------------------------------- [7] Greenhoff: Rio cost O'Leary --------------------------------- Posted Wednesday, July 3, 2002 by redend: Brian Greenhoff, speaking on MUTV, said: "Leeds United are a plc and you have to toe the party line. You have got to say what they want you to say and when it comes to transfers you all have to be as one. It is obvious David doesn't agree with it and he has come out in public and said so. He is probably right in what he says but the plc will not see it that way." "The Leeds fans will be going absolutely bananas [ooh ooh ooh ooh?], they will just not like it at all but at the end of the day it is a plc decision and not a footballing decision. Leeds are £60-odd million in debt and if they get £30-£35million for Ferdinand then I am sure the plc is going to think they can slash half the debt just by selling one player." "I think if the money is right he will go anywhere." [Maine Road?] --------------------------------- [6] Vote the Pig out --------------------------------- Posted Wednesday, July 3, 2002 by redend: Nothing to do with United you might think but some things cross all borders. And the pig must go from Big Brother this Friday - otherwise she might become unmovable and the editor of this upstanding organ might win his bet on her. --------------------------------- [5]PPV games --------------------------------- Posted Wednesday, July 3, 2002 by redend: The Premier League have so far announced 13 of the 40 Pay Per View matches: OTHER GAMES - Aug 18: Aston Villa V Liverpool; Aug 24: West Brom v Leeds; Aug 27: Arsenal v West Brom; Sep 1: Bolton v Aston Villa; Sep 3: Manchester Utd v Middlesbrough; Sep 11: Newcastle v Leeds; Sep 15: Manchester City v Blackburn; Sep 22: Aston Villa v Everton; Sep 28: Birmingham v Newcastle; Oct 6: Arsenal v Sunderland; Oct 19: Leeds v Liverpool; Oct 27: Southampton v Fulham; Nov 3: Tottenham v Chelsea. --------------------------------- [4] Scousers steal youngster --------------------------------- Posted Wednesday, July 3, 2002 by redend: .... from Bayern. French defender Alou Diarra will sign a 5 year contract after his existing amateur agreement ran out. Diarra, 20, starred at the European Under-21 championships in May and was close to breaking into the senior team. He became a free agent last month when the Scousers mugged Munich for him. --------------------------------- [3] Keegan getting into his role --------------------------------- Posted Wednesday, July 3, 2002 by redend: The infamous "we're on course for Europe now" statement must be on the verge of slipping out: "My summer signings show that we are an ambitious club, they show that we mean business and we are staking a claim to be one of the very big [how big exactly] clubs in this country." "When I looked at the nationalities we had last year I couldn't believe it myself but we had no problems. They are all hungry for success and they all want to be at Manchester City [now you're pushing it]. Sylvain Distin could have stayed at Newcastle and played in the Champions League. [Maybe it won't be long before Champions League football comes to Maine Road - although city will be playing at Eastlands by then]. --------------------------------- [2] Veron Not To Return To Italy --------------------------------- Posted Wednesday, July 3, 2002 by Farrell: Seba has been accused, along with two Nazio executives, of trying to pick up a dodgy Italian passport by Italy's state prosecutor. Nazio's club lawyer Ugo Longo said "All of them have been accused of forging an official document, which in this case is the supposedly illegal documents regarding Veron's passport" Although both Cragnotti and Veron were cleared of any wrong doing by the Italian Sports Justice commission last year but it still has to go through the Legal Justice System before it can be put to bed. "Veron maintains that he did not have anything to do with this, that it was Lazio and an Argentinian agency who deals with the documents that were involved in this affair. "He does not have to go and will not come on July 12 for the hearing as it is not necessary. He will come when he has to give his side of the story. "Veron does not need the Italian citizenship as he is a world-class player and with his Argentina passport he has always been able to play at any club. He never went to pick up the Italian passport, but he did go and sign for Italian citizenship in September 2000. "If found guilty he could face a penal sentence but, according to Italian law, if you receive a sentence of less than two years and you have no previous convictions you will not go to prison.'' Sergio Cragnotti is also due to be called to explain his role in the affair at a hearing in october. --------------------------------- [1] Charlie: Getting More Big Time With Every Day --------------------------------- Posted Wednesday, July 3, 2002 by Farrell: Paul Ince has turned down a new contract with Boro and is now being lined up by one footballs superpowers, Bolton to replace Youri Djorkaeff should he decide to leave the Reebok Stadium this summer. ---------------------------------------------------------- This email has been filtered for swear words which cause some email systems to block messages. ----------------------------------------------------------