Re: [RedDevils] 7 - 1

2002-12-26 Thread helene blatte
Stuffed at Christmas. I can't believe the players can forget so quickly how
they scared the shit out of the Arse. This afternoon we looked as if we
couldn't be Arsed. 50/50 balls - let the Boro have 'em. Pathetic.

I can't believe players earning £20, 30, 50, 80,000 a week can play like me.

Yeah, we can all have off-days but the players have the right to at least
try. 

There's no doubt we have the talent, but commitment - I have my doubts.

I think more hairdryers in the players stockings are called for.


Dave Blatt


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Re: [RedDevils] Ruud and Python

2002-12-26 Thread helene blatte
 
> 
> I am both a Red and Python but I was not amuse to say
> the least albeit more on the Python angle because I
> feel it is a sell-out whereas I expected that from
> Manchester United.


Sorry, but I can't agree with you on this one, Chksum. Like you I am both a
Red and Python fan but I fail to see the down side.

The club's politics are one thing, but footballers since commercial times
began have earned extra wedge by putting their name to football boots and
the like. True the last decade or two has seen a more substantial and
sophisticated marketing machine at play, with players used in a similar role
to all people in the public eye such as pop stars, actors and actresses,
etc...

In fact many a struggling and successful actor has kept the Rolls from the
door by doing TV voice-overs and corporate videos.

And let's face it, who's the biggest sporting earner in Britain but our own
Becks.

The main point here is, demand for player and club endorsement is fuelled by
their performances on the pitch/stage/screen/charts. This is the crux to
everything. Once this suffers at the expense of the extra terrestial
trappings then it's time to pull up the drawbridge and let the agents who
feed like pirhanas off their clients suck their own dicks.

As for the beloved Monty Python, individual members of the cast have been
doing ads for years. Where have you been?

One final point though. After this afternoon's performance, the only ads our
players will be doing will be Senategin.


Dave Blatt 


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Re: [RedDevils] FOR SA REDS ONLY

2003-01-16 Thread helene blatte
As an UK Red exiled in France, I know what it feels like to be so near
(spiritually) but so far (physically).

I've followed your exchanges with the suits at OT for the past 3/4 years and
its history of olive branches and broken promises. Why am I saddened but not
surprised at their antics and your action.

May I wish all your fellow Reds the very best for the future. Your own,
overwhelming personal contribution should be recognised by Reds all over the
world. Keep the faith and it's great news to hear that your branch will
rise, phoenix like, from the flames. As they say in the adverts... the new,
improved model will be available from 2003/2004.


regards


Dave Blatt


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[RedDevils] Just the ticket

2003-03-31 Thread helene blatte
Friends, Mancunians, countrymen, lend me your ears.

I come to bury my pride and praise you.

I've already booked my flight from the hell that is the warm and sunny south
of France to the heaven that is Old Trafford, for the Leeds game on Sunday
4th May. Unfortunately Brutus has stabbed me in the back and my promise of a
ticket has disappeared.

Can anyone help me out with a ticket for this game? (Lick, Lick, Grovel,
Grovel)

Also, can anyone recommend a cheap, but not nasty hotel near the ground or
near Manc centre?

Keeping various bits of my anatomy crossed, I await the flood / trickle of
responses.


Red regards



Dave Blatt



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[RedDevils] SIR ALEX: WE WANT VIEIRA

2003-06-26 Thread helene blatte

EXCLUSIVE: United plan £22m swoop for Gunner

By David McDonnell
 

SIR ALEX FERGUSON is ready to launch a staggering £22million bid for
inspirational Arsenal skipper Patrick Vieira.

The Manchester United boss has instructed his board to make a formal offer
for long-term target Vieira, right, who he tried to sign two years ago.

Vieira has just one year left on his current deal and it is understood the
Highbury board, while reluctant to lose their most influential player, feel
they could not turn down such an offer. The signing of Vieira would
represent the biggest transfer coup of modern times but it is one Fergie and
the Old Trafford board feel they can complete following the sale of David
Beckham.


Fergie and the United board expect an initial hostile response in their
attempt to sign the prized asset from Arsene Wenger's title rivals, but
believe the size of the offer could clinch the deal.

United will be able to finance it with money from the Beckham deal and the
expected £14.2m transfer of unsettled midfielder Juan Sebastian Veron to
Juventus.

Juventus general manager Luciano Moggi has been in touch with United about
Veron via his son, Alessandro, and a deal is expected to be concluded in the
next fortnight. Vieira is known to have become disillusioned with Arsenal's
lack of success in the Champions League and the lack of spending power.

There are no such restrictions at United and Vieira knows he would almost
double his current £60,000-a-week wages at a club who do not possess such a
strict wage structure as Arsenal.

United are ready to offer the 26-year-old a four-year deal.

Only last season, Fergie made the bold claim that every player wanted to
join United. "They all want to come here," he said. "Even Vieira wanted to
come here a couple of seasons ago."

With Roy Keane not the force of old, Fergie has been looking for a dynamic
figure to command the centre of midfield.



 
 
 


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[RedDevils] GUNNERS FEAR VIEIRA OFFER THEY CAN'T REFUSE

2003-06-26 Thread helene blatte

United v Arsenal: The battle to prise £22m skipper from Highbury Wenger must
decide whether it is now or never to sell his talisman

By Martin Lipton, Chief Football Writer
 

IF there is a prospect designed to send a shudder down the back of every
Arsenal fan, it is the idea of Patrick Vieira leaving Highbury to join the
club's bitterest rivals.

Vieira, more than any of the other players Arsene Wenger has brought to
North London, represents the heart and soul of the club the Frenchman has
built over the past seven years.

Losing the captain, to Manchester United of all teams, would be a signal
that the ambitions that have driven Arsenal since the beginning of the
Wenger revolution are over.

No wonder, then, that Arsenal vice-chairman David Dein reacted with such
speed to Mirror Sport's revelation that Sir Alex Ferguson is willing to
launch a £22million raid for the midfielder.

Dein insisted the captain is not for sale and so far he and Wenger have been
able to head off all attempts to seduce Vieira away from Highbury, spurning
the entreaties from United and Real Madrid over the past two years as the
player's reputation has continued to soar.That has been done by a mixture of
soft-talking and ego-massage, allied to Vieira's decision to dump agent Marc
Roger in favour of Highbury's favourite representative, Jerome Anderson and
his Sports Entertainment Media group.

Yet with Vieira so far proving reluctant to sign the new deal that has been
on offer for months, the reality is that the club may have to consider the
inconceivable.

With only a year left on his contract, Vieira knows all the cards are
stacked in his favour.

Unless he decides to put pen to paper, the Frenchman can sign a pre-contract
agreement for a free transfer to the overseas club of his choosing on
January 1.

As the best holding midfielder in world football, Vieira is aware that his
value has held up. Even in what is a receding global market he is one of the
untouchables.

Yet if he will not sign a new contract in the next few weeks, then Arsenal
have to decide whether they should not cash in on the asset while they can.
But it is impossible to believe that the Gunners would be willing to sell to
United - whatever the offer.

Dein, as much as Wenger, would not countenance the prospect of his captain
replacing Roy Keane as the fulcrum of the Old Trafford side, a constant
reminder of what the Gunners had let go.

But if £22m were on the table from elsewhere, a figure that would dwindle
away to nothing in just 12 months' time, the arguments in favour of cashing
in grow swiftly.

Wenger knows he has limited funds available this summer in the wake of the
cash problems caused by the delays on the Ashburton Grove stadium project.

That is why Arsenal are discussing a cash-plus-player exchange deal to land
Harry Kewell from Leeds.

If Wenger could be persuaded of the merits and exact a promise that any
money raised by selling Vieira would be put into his transfer pot, that
could see him bring in four or even five top-class players.

Should Real be tempted again - and their desire to see Vieira in a white
shirt has not been abated by the capture of David Beckham - Wenger could
demand Claude Makelele as the relatively-inexpensive makeweight.

In addition, Wenger would have the funds to bring in the central defender,
right-back and goalkeeper that he has admitted are essential to challenge
United for the title.

Wenger has vowed once again this week that he will see out the remaining two
years of his own Highbury contract, despite the interest of Real and other
clubs.

The French manager, though, could justifiably argue that he was being
undermined if Vieira was allowed to go against his will.

If he departed, then the other French musketeers - Thierry Henry, Robert
Pires and Sylvain Wiltord - will surely follow.

Arsenal cannot allow that to happen.

The hard talking begins now and Arsenal must be willing to bend as far as
they can in order to ensure Vieira signs an extension until at least 2006.

That might mean a private promise to the player that he will be allowed to
go to the club of his choice that meets Arsenal's valuation if Wenger's side
can neither recapture their Premiership crown next May nor reach at least
the last eight of the Champions League.

It is not a particularly good deal for the Gunners. But it is far better
than the alternative.

President Richard Nixon's advisor Chuck Colson explained US foreign policy
in the early 70s in simple terms: "When you've got them by the balls, their
hearts and minds will follow."

Vieira has an iron grip on Arsenal. And he knows it.




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[RedDevils] QUEIROZ ... praise for Ferguson

2003-06-26 Thread helene blatte




CARLOS QUEIROZ took control of Real Madrid yesterday and told Alex Ferguson:
"I love you". 



The former Manchester United No2 will be David Beckham's new boss at the
Bernabeu.

But the Portuguese coach had tears in his eyes as he said: "This is the
proudest, happiest day of my life and it's thanks to Alex Ferguson that I'm
able to accept this great honour.

"You can tell him that I love him. I went to speak to Alex personally about
this opportunity and it was not a surprise to me that he told me to grab it.


The former Manchester United No2 will be David Beckham's new boss at the
Bernabeu.

But the Portuguese coach had tears in his eyes as he said: "This is the
proudest, happiest day of my life and it's thanks to Alex Ferguson that I'm
able to accept this great honour.

"You can tell him that I love him. I went to speak to Alex personally about
this opportunity and it was not a surprise to me that he told me to grab it.

"Alex Ferguson is football itself. No, that's wrong, he is more than
football, he has a great sensitivity and humanity that people don't know
about.

"He is a gentleman and a fantastic person. I'm proud to call him my friend."

 QUEIROZ ... praise for Ferguson
MORE STORIES
€ Becks is runderful
€ Silvestre raps flop guns
Queiroz: Alex's my great hero

By MIKE JEFFREY

CARLOS QUEIROZ took control of Real Madrid yesterday and told Alex Ferguson:
"I love you". 



The former Manchester United No2 will be David Beckham's new boss at the
Bernabeu.

But the Portuguese coach had tears in his eyes as he said: "This is the
proudest, happiest day of my life and it's thanks to Alex Ferguson that I'm
able to accept this great honour.

"You can tell him that I love him. I went to speak to Alex personally about
this opportunity and it was not a surprise to me that he told me to grab it.

"Alex Ferguson is football itself. No, that's wrong, he is more than
football, he has a great sensitivity and humanity that people don't know
about.

"He is a gentleman and a fantastic person. I'm proud to call him my friend."


Real Madrid have now stolen two of United's major assets in the space of one
week following Beckham's amazing £25million transfer.

Even though Queiroz still had two years left on his contract at Old
Trafford, it seems that United have allowed him to go without compensation.

The new Real Madrid coach, 50, said: "Such things as this can only happen
between two great clubs when there is respect and great dignity in the
relationship. That is why we have been able to do these pieces of business
with style.

"I am here because this is the greatest club in the world. But I will bring
this club many things which I learned at Old Trafford."

Queiroz denied that he was inheriting Becks as his star player because the
relationship between Fergie and the England skipper was in pieces.

He said: "The words which Alex Ferguson used about David were like a father
talking about his son. I was not aware of anything going wrong in that
relationship."





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[RedDevils] QUEIROZ ... Becks fan

2003-06-26 Thread helene blatte
 

 

CARLOS QUEIROZ kicked off his first day in charge of Real Madrid by singing
the praises of David Beckham.

The new Bernabeu coach chose the Bruce Springsteen anthem Born to Run to sum
up the strength of the England skipper and what he can bring to the Spanish
giants. 

Former Old Trafford No2 Queiroz, who has signed a two-year contract,
declared: "David is a brilliant professional, the type of guy who didn't
miss one training session while I was at Manchester United.

"He is born to run - and I say that because it's as if he's addicted to
training and working, making himself fitter and stronger.

"I like that ethic. And when people ask me whether having Luis Figo and
David Beckham in the same team means that one of them will have to sit on
the bench, then I answer that will only happen when one of them is injured
or out of form." 

Portuguese star Figo currently occupies Becks' usual position on the wide
right of midfield. 

And Queiroz, 50, hinted the time may have arrived for his £25million new boy
to move to a more central position.



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[RedDevils] Butt kicks butt

2003-07-25 Thread helene blatte


DAVID BECKHAM has gone ‹ but the spirit at Manchester United remains as
strong as ever.

That is the message from Nicky Butt, who insists the departure of England¹s
captain will do nothing to hamper the Old Trafford will to win.

When Becks was sold to Real Madrid some claimed it was the beginning of the
end of the United empire.

Yet midfielder Butt is sure it will be business as usual, with the Red
Devils eyeing yet more success next season.

Butt, 28, said: ³Bigger players have left in the past and will leave in the
future. But the spirit will stay in the team because we still have a big
group of players here who remain the heartbeat of the side.

"Not just me, Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs and the Nevilles ‹ but the likes of
Roy Keane, who has been here 10 years, and Ole Solskjaer ‹ who has been here
seven years.

³We have been together so long you know you can trust each other. You are
confident that, whoever you sit next to in the dressing room, they have the
right ability and spirit.

³And on the pitch you get to know each other so well. I know if I give the
ball to Paul Scholes he will perform some magic.

³If Gary Neville is being challenged one-on-one he will defend the ball ‹
and so on.²

Phil Neville echoed Butt¹s upbeat approach, adding: ³David is a good friend
and I still speak to him ‹ but it is no different to when Eric Cantona or
Bryan Robson left.

³Manchester United will move on, as we have done in the past. Inside the
club, we have ALREADY moved on.²

With Becks training in the Far East with Real, Gary Neville ‹ the best man
at his wedding ‹ is staring at life without his big pal.

Yet, rather than the break-up of the famed United youth team Class of 92, it
is the emergence of new talent that keeps the England right-back¹s mind
alive to the future.

He said: ³We all know that, one day, our time at this club will end.

³But it was my dream as a youngster to play for United ‹ and I will fight
for every single minute while I¹m at this club to make it last as long as I
can.

³I don¹t feel under any threat. What excites me and reinvigorates me and
gets me going are the lads coming through, like Darren Fletcher, David
Bellion and Kieran Richardson, who want your place.

³It gives the rest of us a new lease of life.

³There has been a lot made of the break-up of the Class of 92 but we play
for Manchester United as individuals ‹ not as a group ‹ and you just get on
with it.

³The spirit within the camp has been fantastic in pre-

season ‹ just as it has throughout my time at the club ‹ and nothing that
happens this summer will affect that.²

The evidence of United¹s pre-season so far does, indeed, suggest nothing has
changed. Even in eight-a-side training matches the players have been
delivering crunching tackles on each other, fighting for every ball and
loudly demanding better.

All of which will come as a shock to new-boys Bellion and Eric Djemba
Djemba, Klebersen and Tim Howard ‹ who will soon join up with the rest of
the squad.

Butt added: ³Whether it is five-a-side or a Premiership match we are always
competitive. That, for us, is the right way to go about it.

³It will take time for new players to get used to that ‹ but it shows them
the high standards at this club.

³The new players see the likes of Roy Keane, Ryan Giggs and Ruud van
Nistelrooy working hard, tackling and swearing in training ‹ and they know
it is a very serious game they are in.

³It is that spirit which sets us apart. We are really United together and we
know what we are capable of. And if someone wants to beat us, we don¹t like
it.²

Butt leaves us in no doubt as to where that steely approach comes from ‹
boss Alex Ferguson.

He added: ³The gaffer will be competitive until his dying day. We could tell
how excited he was by last season¹s title triumph and we felt the same. We
were 10 points behind Arsenal, not playing well and knew it was going to be
hard to salvage.

³But he told us it would be our best achievement if we did it ‹ and we did.

³When someone says they are going to go through a season unbeaten, like
Arsenal did, it gives you a push and makes you want to beat them. There is
no way we would have said anything like that.²

However Butt and the lads want more. He admitted: ³We want to be known as a
great team. We¹re a brilliant team, who have won loads of Championships. But
you are recognised worldwide for what you do in the European Cup.

³Over the last four or five years we should have won more than one.²

So how about a dream final against Real ‹ and Beckham?

Butt, in typical fashion, added: ³I could not care if we were playing
against the Dog and Duck in the final ‹ just as long as we win it!²




 


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[RedDevils] United in first for Spanish striker

2003-07-27 Thread helene blatte
 

Fergie is offered Raul



MANCHESTER UNITED have been offered Real Madrid superstar Raul.

We can reveal United were contacted BEFORE Chelsea made their shock
£37million bid for the Spanish striker last week.

Last night Raul's agent, Gines Garvajal, refused to deny our story, saying
only: "I do not want to talk about this."

But he did add: "Raul regards Manchester United as a fantastic club.

" Although he doesn't know Sir Alex Ferguson on a personal basis, he has the
highest regard for his professionalism."

Chelsea made their move on Tuesday, although their bid was nowhere near the
widely-reported figure of £71m.

Real would sell for far less ‹ around £40m. With United getting £25m for
David Beckham and another £14m From Back Page

if they sell Juan Veron to Chelsea, then Raul could be theirs.

Fergie has always valued the Spaniard. He said: "You can buy Figo, you can
buy Zidane, you can buy Ronaldo ‹ but the best player in the world just now
is Raul." 

We understand United would be willing to match Raul's current £7m-a-year
wages, but they have not yet discussed a fee.

Although Raul, 26, is an icon for Madrid fans, Real president Florentino
Perez is willing to sell their most-prized player after a bitter row between
the pair. 

Perez forged a strong business relationship with United's chief executive
Peter Kenyon during negotiations over Beckham's move.

Raul has two years to run on his contract and Real have no plans to
negotiate a new deal.

His agent Garvajal admitted: "There have been no discussions regarding a new
contract. If Raul left Madrid, he wouldn't go to another Spanish club."

It is well known in Madrid that Raul has fallen out with Real's president
after the sacking of ex-boss Vicente Del Bosque and legendary defender
Fernando Hierro at the end of last season.



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[RedDevils] Deals, Deals, deals

2003-07-27 Thread helene blatte
MANCHESTER United are poised to sign up ANOTHER feeder club ‹ Scottish side
Livingston. 

They have agreed a deal in principal with the Scottish Premier League outfit
and will sign next month ‹ making it their SIXTH partnership of the summer.

Livingston are THE success side of football north of the border.

Formerly Meadowbank Thistle, they have risen from non-league football to the
Scottish top flight.

Crucially, they are based in between Glasgow and Edinburgh ‹ giving United
the pick of the best Scottish talent.

Sport of the World can reveal that the Premiership champions will have 12
deals with clubs across the globe by September which will give them access
to the top young prospects.

This summer they have signed up Brazilian outfit Sao Paulo, Nantes in
France, Sporting Lisbon in Portugal, Welsh side Connahs Quay Nomads and
First Division Walsall.

They already have links with Royal Antwerp in Belgium, Parramatta Eagles in
Australia, Brommapojkarna in Sweden and Oslo Ost in Norway and are now also
in talks with North Wales based Newport and Dutch outfit MVV Maastricht.

United Chief Executive Peter Kenyon (left) said: "We have just tied up a
relationship with Livingston because we're conscious we used to get so many
players coming from Scotland and sadly I think that has dried up in the last
few years. 
 


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[RedDevils] Rio - Ron who?

2003-07-27 Thread helene blatte
RIO FERDINAND last night insisted that Manchester United are better off
WITHOUT Ronaldinho, blasting: We only want players who will die for this
club. 

The England centre-half believes Ronaldinho could have destroyed the
dressing room harmony that led to Premiership glory last season because the
Brazilian would not have been fully committed to United.

Ferdinand insists the World Cup winner's hesitation about joining United,
coupled with his lavish demands, proved the club were RIGHT not to match
Barcelona's £21million bid.

Rio opened his heart about the transfer saga and the secrets behind his
roller-coaster debut season at Old Trafford. He also told how:

He FAILED to meet his own high standards.

Was FRUSTRATED by three operations.

Felt winning the title JUSTIFIED his decision to quit Leeds.

Ferdinand, 24, said: "We only need players who want to play here. If
Ronaldinho doesn't want to join then good luck to him.

"He can go and play where he wants. It doesn't matter to us.

"I don't know how much you can read into his demands for helicopters and
other stuff. 

"In the end, only one thing really mattered ‹ that he had the chance to play
for Manchester United.

"I don't know why the transfer collapsed but if he had really wanted to come
here, really wanted to become a Manchester United player and really wanted
to wear the red shirt then he would have done.

"He, obviously, didn't want it enough."

Ferdinand knows this is a big year for both himself and for United.

He admits he failed to hit the standards expected of a £30m British transfer
record signing, even though he won a Premiership medal.

A series of niggling injuries coupled with three operations hampered his
first season at Old Trafford and left some critics claiming that United had
bought the wrong man.

But Ferdinand insists he will prove the doubters wrong next season by
rediscovering the form which made him one of the world's most wanted
defenders. 

He said: "In the end, it was a good first year. Coming to United and winning
the championship at the first attempt ‹ I couldn't have asked for much more.

"I left Leeds because I wanted to go to a club where I had a chance of
winning things and that happened.

"The downside of last season was that my injuries were frustrating. I had
never been injured until I came here.

"Now I've had three operations, although I am not using that as an excuse.

"Injuries get on your nerves but you have to get on with it. These things
happen for a reason and you have to get through it.

"Of course, when you go somewhere new you are eager to do well. You want to
go out there and put in 100 per cent performances‹ but I didn't play well
consistently enough.

"But we won the League with the best defensive record and if I have that as
a starting point then I've done all right.

"Winning the title shut up a lot of people and justified why I joined
United." 

Speaking at Nike's multi-billion pound world HQ in Oregon, Ferdinand also
revealed how the team's desire left him wanting to join the world's sporting
greats. 

He added: "You don't realise just how big this club is until you get here.

"The expectations of the supporters and the people in and around the club
are enormous. 

"I learned a lot about Manchester United last season and the character and
belief among the players here.

"We believe in each other and feel that if we win one or two games we can go
on a run of 10 or 11 victories.

"We won the League with that incredible run of nine wins and a draw in our
final 10 matches. 

"Before Christmas, people were saying we weren't going to win anything.

"And that is why we celebrated so much when we picked up the trophy on the
last day of the season at Everton. You could see players who had won the
title six or seven times were enjoying the occasion as much as those who
were winning it for the first time.

"We have a genuine belief in each other. Our manager Sir Alex Ferguson
demands we do well and no one sits on their laurels.

"Winning the title was fantastic for me ‹ but it is not enough.

"I want to win the European Cup and the FA Cup because I haven't won either.

"The players are hungry and the boss will bring in more players who are just
as hungry. 

"As for me, I want to be the best. You look around the Nike HQ and see
people like Lance Armstrong, Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods all have
buildings named after them.

"That's what I want, Ferdinand Towers in my honour! I want to join the
legends." 

Ferdinand also insists United will be the team to beat again next season,
despite the cash Chelsea are spending and the departure of David Beckham.

He added: "It is sad to see someone go. Becks has been such a great player
and done so much for us but Manchester United is bigger than anyone.

"The manager has been in the market for years. He knows who he is buying and
we have to trust his judgment.

"He has proved it time and again with the success he has brought the club.

"We know it will be tough next seaso

[RedDevils] If....then why not?

2003-07-27 Thread helene blatte
If, and I repeat, "if", we feel it's neccessary to sign a big name to
complete the jigsaw, then why haven't more people suggested Ronaldo?

1) It's easier to spell and pronounce than Ronaldinho

2) He has more natural skill, a better temperament and more European
experience than Ronnie who.

3) In the world of lower (despite Chelski) transfer fees, if we're going to
spend silly money on a striker to partner Ruud, or if Ruud gets injured,
then Ronaldino is one of the best.

4) Since the crowd at OT reacted with the highest possible respect and
dignity to Ronaldo's hat trick, he must emotionally favour us above all
other clubs on the planet.

5) If he can play as spectacularly as that night whilst still carrying a
little weight, think how he could actually improve within a strict
Manchester regime. 

6) The fickle fans at Real Madrid have made their feelings known. Ronaldo
himself has stated they are a very difficult crowd to play for. Wouldn't he
want to play for a club where he would be wanted, nay "loved"?

7) He has all the money in the world, therefore it's the football challange
that should appeal.

Alex, are you reading this?


Dave Blatt



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[RedDevils] Roman's football crazy

2003-08-22 Thread helene blatte
I know this is not United related, but I'm thinking - if I had all the money
in the world, wouldn't I do something similar?

Take away all the crap, jealousy and media speculation, and I believe we are
left with a man who has actually got the bug and genuinely loves football.

It would be easier if he were a Maxwell or a Murdoch. We could hate him as a
one dimensional villain (booo!). But I don't think he is.

Just my 2 euros worth.


Dave Blatt 



SUPERFAN ... Red Rom will do just about anything to watch the footie

CHELSEA new boy Adrian Mutu has lifted the lid on Roman Abramovich¹s amazing
football obsession.

The £15.8million striker revealed Red Rom once flew NINE hours in his
private jet to watch Match of the Day-style highlights after his telly
packed up.

Romanian star Mutu declared: ³With that kind of guy in charge of our club,
everything is possible.²

Chelsea¹s billionaire owner regularly sits glued to the football on his
hi-tech satellite systems in the remote Russian province of Chukotka in
Siberia. 

He also monitors Chelsea¹s progress from his yacht in Alaska.

But Red Rom once exploded with frustration when his satellite went dead just
before a vital match ‹ and flew 3,900 miles simply to make sure he could
watch the highlights on TV!

Former Parma star Mutu said: ³Abramovich has turned me into his No 1 fan
since he informed all the Chelsea players how crazy he is about our game.

³When he spoke to the squad last week, he told us he was once sitting in his
house in Siberia excited about a vital game from the Russian championship.

³Suddenly his satellite connection wouldn¹t work and it became impossible
for him either to see the game or get the system fixed in time.

³It was incredible what he did next. He took his personal jet and flew for
nine hours to ensure he was somewhere he could see the highlights on TV.²


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[RedDevils] DIAMOND PORTU-GEEZER ... wonderkid Cristiano Ronaldo

2003-08-22 Thread helene blatte



NEWCASTLE have been told to expect the unexpected when wonderboy Cristiano
Ronaldo swaggers into St James¹ Park tomorrow.

The warning comes from the Manchester United star¹s best pal ‹ Newcastle¹s
Portuguese midfielder Hugo Viana.

The twinkle-toed pair have known each other for eight years ‹ and Viana
reckons his Geordie boys have an even tougher task trying to avenge last
season¹s 6-2 thrashing with winger Ronaldo around.

The 18-year-old, signed by United for £12.4million from Sporting Lisbon a
fortnight ago, set the Premiership on fire with last Saturday¹s electrifying
debut.

His speed and trickery had Bolton¹s back four spinning ‹ and now every
top-flight defender will be panicking.

Viana predicts magic every time Ronaldo gets the ball.

He said: ³Ronaldo is a very good player for England because he is quick and
strong and has great technique.

³For a winger, you have to be skilful and he has the technical ability. You
can give him the ball and he will make something happen.

³I¹ve known Ronaldo since I was 12 years old, we played in the same team at
Sporting.

³He is my closest friend and we used to do everything together. We trained
and played in the same teams and dreamed we would play for Sporting and for
Portugal.

³Ronaldo was always a special talent and very confident he would achieve his
goals ‹ even when he was 12 and I am happy for him that he has joined
Manchester United.²

Viana, 20, is desperate to play against his mate tomorrow, even though a
back injury ruled him out of the Toon¹s 2-2 draw at Leeds last weekend.

But he hopes his 90-minute run-out for Portugal in Wednesday¹s 1-0 win over
Kazakhstan may convince Newcastle boss Bobby Robson he is ready.


VIANA ... big Cristiano fan

Viana is determined to earn a run in the side after starting just 17 games
for the Magpies.

He declared: ³My back is fine and I lasted the whole game for Portugal. I am
fit for the next game and I want to play against Ronaldo.

³We need to have a very good game against Manchester United because last
time it was 6-2 and the fans want us to put it right. We know we need to be
at our best.

³I saw the game against Leeds and Newcastle played well. It was a hard game,
although all the away games are hard ‹ so it was a very good result.²

It has been a long journey from Sporting¹s academy to the hard-knocks school
of the Premiership.

Viana is two years older but he and Ronaldo were inseparable in their
formative years.

They would travel to training sessions together and hone their skills late
into the night in a bid to make the grade.

And, side by side, they plotted a path into Sporting¹s first team and even
made their debuts in the same game ‹ against Academica on August 15, 2001.

Viana¹s superior strength saw him make rapid progress and, a year later, he
was on his way to Newcastle for £8.5m. But the Toon midfielder always knew
his mate would quickly follow.

Now Ronaldo has done just that and is looking to cap the most amazing week
of his life tomorrow, following on from his Old Trafford bow and first
senior international on Wednesday.

United know they have a gem, with Reds youth coach Francisco Filho praising
Ronaldo as one of the best talents he has seen.

Brazilian Filho was hired by Alex Ferguson last year to boss the Under-18s
after being recommended by his old assistant and current Real Madrid boss
Carlos Queiroz.

Filho said: ³Cristiano Ronaldo is a fantastic player and United captured him
at the right time.

³Ronaldo is an exceptional case because he is only 18. Usually, players have
to wait until they are 24 or 25 before they are good enough to play for a
club like United.

³Usually, the best foreign players play for around three years at a
Premiership club if they are good enough and then go back but Ronaldo has
the chance to be here a long time.²

Boss Fergie has placed United¹s future in Filho¹s hands ‹ with orders to
churn out players to follow homegrown stars like Ryan Giggs, Gary Neville
and Paul Scholes.

And Filho is now working hard to establish an exchange programme with
Sporting so United can tap into the conveyor belt that produced Ronaldo.

Filho said: ³Lots of them will certainly play in the first team later on.

³I would like the English players and the Portuguese players of Sporting to
do some exchanges. 

³When they are young and, if they have talent, an exchange is beneficial for
both sides.²



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[RedDevils] Haaland raps Roy - again

2003-08-22 Thread helene blatte




ALFIE HAALAND announced his retirement from football ‹ and said he will
never forget Roy Keane for the tackle that allegedly ended his career.

Manchester City midfielder Haaland, 30, has called it quits after visiting a
specialist in the US.

The Norwegian was hurt by a horror tackle from Manchester United skipper Roy
Keane in April 2001.

Keane received a five-game ban for admitting in his autobiography he
deliberately fouled the City star.

And Haaland said: ³As for the Roy Keane issue, I shall never be able to
forget the incident or his comments in his book.²

He added: ³After three operations and extensive physio, there comes a time
when there is no point carrying on.

³I realise my situation could not go on for ever ‹ I almost had my own
treatment table at the training ground.²

United boss Alex Ferguson will use midfielders Keane and Eric Djemba-Djemba
as emergency defenders this season.

The Scot, who has failed to buy any defensive cover, admitted: ³We could
have a problem.

³But I think Djemba-Djemba can play at right-back. Roy can also play
centre-half.²

Captain Keane still rates Arsenal as the biggest threat to United.

The Irishman said: ³They have probably had a stronger squad than us over the
last year or two.

³And getting Robert Pires and Patrick Vieira to sign new contracts was
probably more important than buying new players.²

United defender Gary Neville has hit back following a row over his
two-footed tackle on Blackburn¹s Corrado Grabbi in a reserve team game on
Wednesday.

Rovers boss Graeme Souness rushed from the stands after referee Steve Brand
decided not to give a free-kick for the challenge.

But Neville, who declared himself fit to face Newcastle tomorrow after a
hamstring injury, said: ³The ball is there to be won. That¹s my job.

³I didn¹t go over the top. I never want to try to hurt anybody.²



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[RedDevils] SVEN'S BACKS FERDINAND TO BEAT FORM SLUMP

2003-08-22 Thread helene blatte



SVEN Goran Eriksson has refused to push the panic button over England's
slack defending, but admitted Rio Ferdinand slumped last season.

Ferdinand's central defensive partnership with Sol Campbell was the bedrock
of England's World Cup campaign as Eriksson's team conceded just three goals
in five games. But the defensive problems that surfaced against Slovakia
last June showed no signs of being cured in the win over Croatia as John
Terry suffered an uncomfortable first start alongside the sluggish
Ferdinand.

With barely two weeks before the testing trip to Macedonia, it demonstrated
the need for Campbell to conquer his concerns that he is being unfairly
targeted by the FA and return to harness with the Manchester United man.

Eriksson, though, insisted he was not unduly concerned about the way the
space behind Ashley Cole was exploited for the second game running and the
lapses that should have been punished.

He said: "I'm not worried about the defence. When it is a real game we
nearly always defend very well. Remember the World Cup? We were one of the
best teams defending."

In the World Cup, of course, that defence was drilled by Steve McClaren, who
left his part-time role last October and whose role has not really been
replaced. Eriksson added: "Against Croatia we defended badly in the last 20
to 25 minutes of the first half. For the rest I think we did okay."

Ferdinand's poor form over the past year since his £30million move to Old
Trafford has not gone unnoticed, even from Eriksson. The Swede added: "I saw
Rio in Cardiff in the Community Shield and he was excellent.

"During the practices he did with us he was much, much better than last
season and I'm sure he will have a great, great season.

"I think he has no problems with injuries any more and I'm optimistic about
him. I don't think he has to have Sol alongside him to be good."

It does seem, though, that Campbell's physical presence and quietly-spoken
defensive leadership keeps Ferdinand more focused. In the 10 competitive
games they have played together for Eriksson, England have conceded just six
goals. They have let in the same number in just six games without them as a
pair.

Eriksson, meanwhile, dismissed the suggestion that Paul Scholes'
international goal drought could endanger his automatic place in the England
team. Scholes has now gone 23 games and more than two years since his last
England goal, in Greece in June 2001, while Frank Lampard's stunning first
international goal summed up his quantum leap forward.

Eriksson said: "Frank Lampard is growing as a footballer. He's getting
better and better, stronger and stronger and scored a marvellous goal. He
did very well when he came on. But I would be very surprised if I dropped
Paul. I've never had a problem with him. I know he can play better than he
did against Croatia but it was a friendly and he's Paul Scholes, he's very
important.

"It doesn't concern me at all that he's not scored for two years. He scored
a lot for Manchester United last year."


 


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[RedDevils] Yahoo - Barney!

2003-09-09 Thread helene blatte
Hi Barney

Your editorial email address is rejecting my messages. Please contact me off
list so that I can send you my revised intro to the MMMoM article.


regards

Dave Blatt


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[RedDevils] too close for comfort?

2003-09-09 Thread helene blatte
 
> REUTERS; LON; 04 SEP 2003; SP
> 
> Upton Park Chief Terrence Brown has promised
> supporters that the hammer
> sales are over after selling fans in the Bobby Moore
> lower to Chelsea for
> GBP8m, despite claims he would only have to sell the
> fans in the Chicken
> Run. Brown had claimed in May, that the 'nucleus' of
> West Ham support
> would be kept.
> 
> Brown's statement released yesterday read:
> "Chelsea now have an array of talent on the field, but
> because they have
> no fans, and the ones they do have are crap, Roman
> came in and bid for
> some fans, I had to say yes. Plus they were getting on
> my nerves a bit"
> 
> As the deal was sealed, those entering the stadium for
> last nights game
> against Bradford, were whisked down to Stamford Bridge
> in coaches and
> ordered to support Chelsea.
> 
> One former Hammers fan said:
> 
> "The board and I had been in discussions for 18 months
> about the renewal
> of my season ticket, but ultimately I just wanted
> Champions League
> football to further my enjoyment of the sport,
> something the club couldn't
> provide. So I've fcuked off to Chelsea with the
> players"
> 
> Another supporter said:
> "I was preparing for life in division 1, when the
> board told me they'd
> sold me to Chelsea cos their fans are so pony. But now
> i'm here I'll
> 
> forget about my past and start wearing naff earrings,
> mind you, it seems
> like yesterday I was telling fellow supporters not to
> pi$$ off and leave
> just cos we got relegated"
> 
> Trevor Brooking insisted today that no more supporters
> would have to be
> sold, despite claims in a newspaper this morning which
> suggested some fans
> would be loaned out to Portsmouth till the end of the
> season.
> 
> However, Portsmouth club source stated "that's
> 
> fiction, because even if we
> did, we'd have nowhere to put them... because our
> ground is a $hit hole."
> 
> Brown was unavailable for comment today as he had
> changed the GBP8m into
> five pound notes and was rolling in the money in his
> garden, laughing.
> 


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[RedDevils] Much Ado about Little

2003-09-10 Thread helene blatte
Virtually all the media speculation/frenzy since the announcement of Peter
Kenyon's departure has been oh so predictable. I imagine we all could have
written the articles ourselves. From the analytical ramblings of the
broadsheets, stating the obvious, but using some long words to justify their
inflated journalistic wages, to conspiracy theories from the tabloids about
horse trading and the like.

It goes without saying that the Board's plans for globalising the brand
(pass the bucket, mother) will continue unopposed, with those in charge only
a fraction less capable, as Kenyon came from a marketing background and Gill
comes from a financial background. The club's creativity and vision may be
partially curtailed, but whether that is a good or bad thing is open to
debate. 

My principal concern, is that coming from a Martin Edwards financial
background (pass the other bucket, mother) David Gill is more likely to sing
from the Edwards hymn book and put more severe restrictions on Ferguson's
dealings in the transfer market, which I believe would be counter productive
in establishing Manchester United as the biggest and best football club in
the world. 

Without the firmest of foundations in place you cannot build the tallest
buildings. United's foundation is the team. It's the team's successes and
glorious failures over decades that has built up our world-wide reeputation
and support. Without the team and its fans the PLC's global strategy is
built on a house of cards.

The best team means the best players, home grown and transfers, and the best
manager. Much of our success in the 1990's was in spite of, not due to
Fartin' Martin's fiscal policy.

I fervently hope that David Gill turns out to be a goldfish. By that I mean
when he has transferred from his goldfish bowl to the pond, he grows within
his new environment and expands his vision outside the spreadsheet.

Only time will tell. Meanwhile I'm counting down the days to the next United
AGM.  


Dave Blatt


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Re: [RedDevils] 1958 v Arse

2003-09-20 Thread helene blatte
A couple of years ago I submitted an article to Red News entitled "My very
First Time" in which I recollected my first match going experiences.
Included was a brief reference to my first ever United game, and believe it
or not, it was THAT game. I was 9 years old.

Read On.


Dave Blatt
> 
> Arsenal 4-5 Man Utd (Feb 1, 1958)
> As their last game on English soil, this enthralling victory will forever be
> remembered as a fitting tribute to the 'Busby Babes', eight of whom died
> five days later in Munich.
> 
> 
> I spotted the above in a post pre- tomorrows game .
> 
> Much is often written about the POST Munich game(s) , but I've never
> personally seen any account of this game .
> 
> I know it's a long shot , but was anyone on the list(s) actually there who
> can give us their memories ?
> 
> Only Pete's Dad comes to mind , but there must be others .



>

³O² - MY VERY FIRST TIME


I was born on 17th June 1949 at the Middlesex Hospital in Mortimer Street in
Central London. I was zero at the time ­ but not for long. I began life with
my parents in boring suburbia, South Woodford to be exact. In 1956 we owned
our first television set, a black & white Ferguson. (If you¹re looking for
omens, go no further. Spooky!)

It wasn¹t long before my mother came out with a line that only mothers could
ever come out with.

³If you sit in front of the television all day, you¹ll end up with square
eyes.²

Now, hang on a minute here. With the value of hindsight let¹s examine that
statement. In 1956 television programs only came on at something like 3.45pm
in the afternoon, then finished abruptly at 6.00pm, so as not to temp the
little lady of the house from her duties for the 2.4 family. Resumption at
7.30pm consisted of programs that no seven year old would be remotely
interested in anyway.

Square eyes. I don¹t think so.

Didn¹t parents get away with murder in those days? Still, at the
impressionable age of seven years old you believed everything your parents
told you. I didn¹t want to succumb to this new disease that doctors had yet
to find a cure for, so it fell to my Dad to find an answer. (We didn¹t have
marketing bollocks words like ³solutions² in those days either ­ thank
fuck!)

So what was the ³answer²? You¹ve guessed it ­ football.

Now this is quite interesting because my Dad didn¹t actually like football.
Poor man. He paid lip service to Aston Villa, but only because, as a
sargent, he was posted to an Italian prisoner-of-war camp  in Aston,
Birmingham during World War Two. Some of the local sqaddies followed The
Villa and I suspect it was more a case of joining in so as to be accepted
than some dark, recessed longing for the claret & blues.

Also, for no apparent reason, he chose a boy from my class, Stephen Moy, to
accompany us to our very first football match. Why Stephen Moy you ask?
Beats me. He wasn¹t even a friend of mine at the time, just a kid in my
class at Oakdale County Primary School in South Woodford. In fact, if the
truth be told, he was a bit ³ruff² and not the sort of boy Mum would
normally let me play with. He dropped all his ³aitches² yet had the most
beautiful handwriting. (I told you I was impressionable). A strange package
indeed. So, what was our first match?  Leyton Orient V Brighton & Hove
Albion in the old Second Division of course.

You see, The ³O²¹s were my nearest league team, so it was logical they would
be the first team I actually saw live. But I want you to know that I didn¹t
go all the way. Not on a first date. It was OK I suppose. It was cold and
everyone seemed bigger than me. I remember one team played in royal blue and
one team played in orange. Orange! M, nice. So that was the team I
supported that day. It was only as we came out of Brisbane Road that I
overheard a conversation that lead me to the conclusion that I had
mistakenly supported Brighton & Hove Albion in their away colours. Still, no
lasting psychological damage was done ­ the game ended 2-2.

For the next two years my Dad took me to the Bermondsey Triangle of First
Division clubs, namely Arsenal, Tottenham and West Ham. At these larger
grounds the weather was colder, people were taller and I saw even less.

So, as you can see. Lots of dates. The odd kiss but I never went all the
way.

Then one night at Highbury it all changed. Even walking to the stadium I
could feel the electricity in the air. I began to tingle. Inside the ground
I entered a new dimension. WOW. The noise, the atmosphere. And when the
teams came out ­ that ROAR.

This was foreplay above and beyond anything I had experienced before.

³What team¹s that, Dad?

³Manchester United, son.²

³Well Dad, that¹s the team for me.²

At last - penetration. That all encompassing feeling when you know
everything has finally come together. That spark that had been missing
suddenly exploded in front of me, inside me and all around me. I was in
love. This really was the first day of the rest
of my life.

The speed, the skill, the sea-saw of scoring and emot

Re: [RedDevils] boring 0-0 draw? I don't think so.

2003-09-22 Thread helene blatte

> From: "helene blatte" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>> Arsenal must have come in at half time and thought "How
>> the fuck did we get away with that?"
> 
> as the person sitting next to me pointed out - we had a huge Scholes-shaped
> hole in our team and it really brought it home today. I think if he'd been
> there we would have won. That's easy to say, but I truly believe it. Hope
> he's back soon.
> 
> Bruce


I couldn't agree more about Scholsey. It was so apparent to me as well as
the match unfolded. That one extra dimension that would have unlocked
Arsenals predictable but effective defence.

Now, what about Ronaldo? Pretty or effective, or pretty effective?
On the ball he's wonderful to watch and excites the crowd, but unlike our
Georgie in the sixties who poccessed a myriad of virtuoso ball skills,
Christiano's mesmorising reportoire consists of feinting his feet over the
ball as the ball runs on in a straight line. Lovely to see, but if the
defender is doing his job properly he just waits for moment to go for the
ball whose trajectory is predictable - it continues in a straight line. Then
if the defender doesn't like looking a plonker in front of a lot of people
he brings Christiano down.

I'll now answer my own question. First of all, by bringing our man down we
gain a free kick in a dangerous (for the opposition) part of the field. And
Giggsy is almost Beckham in these situations.

If anyone saw Ronaldo's performance for Portugal Under 18's in their win
over Eng-er-land, he was running the show and damm effective in the bargain.
I believe once he has gained a bit more confidence by being able to
communicate with his chums on the field and once he and his team-mates work
out the best way of harnessing his talents for the benefit of the team as a
whole we will be able to translate football eye candy into goals. Like
Forlan before him, once he gets his first goal the floodgates will open and
unlike Forlan (who I love as a player for his attitude but have severe
reservations over his class) he will soar.

As Carole King once sang, "It Might As Well Until September", so being there
or there abouts at the moment without firing on all cylinders is better than
par for the course for us. It's just that Arsenal were there for the taking
but in the end their take-away was a point when we should have had three.

Will it be significant come next May? Don't ask me, I'm not a fucking
fortune teller. What a stupid question.

Oh well. It's off to work we go, hi ho hi ho hi ho hi hoetc.


Dave Blatt  






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[RedDevils] Fergie telling it like it was

2003-09-22 Thread helene blatte
I saw it. Fergie saw it. Everybody saw it except Wenger, of course.

Whatever the scenerio, the reaction by Arsenals players at the end was the
most dispicable I have ever witnessed in the UK. The FA, including David
Dein, should throw the book at all of 'em.

But we all know what will happen, don't we? As Edwin Starr once sang,
"War,absolutely nothing. Say it again y'all."

Dave Blatt



.Ferguson was even angrier the Arsenal players attacked Van Nistelrooy
at the end.

Martin Keown jumped on him, landing an arm on his shoulder, and Lauren trod
on him and pushed him.

Ashley Cole then barged past him and Ray Parlour hit him in the ribs.

Ferguson said: ³I think the FA should look at that terrible behaviour out
there. You do not want to see that kind of behaviour. It¹s beyond the pale.

³Everyone in the country will be disappointed to see that kind of
behaviour.²


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[RedDevils] Arsenal players at the end were NOT in their right mind.

2003-09-22 Thread helene blatte
>From the soaraway Scum


Dave Blatt



the events at the end of a match yesterday that saw eights bookings and
a red card for Vieira was probably worse than anything we had seen before.

What they will make of it all in Istanbul doesn¹t bear thinking about as the
countdown starts to England-Turkey on October 11.

Before the disgraceful scenes that saw four Arsenal players push, jostle and
hit Ruud van Nistelrooy after the final whistle, there might have been
sympathy for the Gunners.

Never more so than when referee Steve Bennett handed Vieira his first yellow
card for a challenge that saw the Arsenal skipper clearly take the ball not
the man. 

And some may make a case that the kick Vieira aimed at Van Nistelrooy two
minutes later landed a good foot or two short of its mark.

And that the Dutchman was asking for ‹ or looking for ‹ some sort of
reaction with his clumsy initial challenge as he landed on the prone Arsenal
man.

When Van Nistelrooy, hardly the most popular player in the Premiership, then
smacked his added-time penalty against the Arsenal crossbar there may even
have been a certain poetic justice.

But what followed was a total and utter disgrace.

Even for a Sunday morning game on Hackney Marshes ‹ if that is not an insult
to those who turn out on the East London playing fields.

³Why are we always the devils . . . and play against angels?² enquired
Arsene Wenger a bit later.

Well, Arsene old chum, if you study the video closely you will find out for
yourself.

Except your version will probably cut out as Bennett blows his final
whistle.

After that Van Nistelrooy took a whack round the head from a celebrating
Martin Keown ‹ the look on the face of the Arsenal centre-half suggesting he
was close to losing touch with reality.

Then Lauren trod on Van Nistelrooy¹s left ankle as the striker was getting
off the turf.

And Ashley Cole gave the Dutchman a shove from behind before Ray Parlour
provided a slap in the chest for good measure.

While all this was going on, Wenger was applauding the travelling Arsenal
fans in the corner ‹ remembering just how Alex Ferguson went over to salute
his own supporters at Highbury on the night last April when United took a
giant stride to reclaiming their title.

The FA will now have to throw the book at an Arsenal side who clearly lost
all control at the end.

What a message to send out to kids watching both at Old Trafford and on TV.
Yes, Van Nistelrooy may be a total pain in the backside.

Yes, many fans up and down the country will applaud the action taken by the
Arsenal players in the euphoria of their escape from Old Trafford with the
point that kept them on top of the Premiership.

And, yes, Van Nistelrooy may be such a provocative customer that even Edgar
Davids ‹ one of his own Dutch team-mates ‹ had to be restrained in training
the other day.

But the evidence in front of his own eyes clearly spells out to Wenger that
his players were demonstrably in the wrong.

Unless, of course, he prefers to register as blind.

Then there is the small matter of all those other 51 red cards which Arsenal
had accumulated before yesterday¹s battle at OId Trafford.

Not to mention the disciplinary action currently still hanging over Sol
Campbell following the earlier incidents in the Community Shield at the
Millennium Stadium last month.

The case for the prosecution is damning. And Arsenal should be damned.

Afterwards both Vieira and Wenger accused Van Nistelrooy of cheating while
Ferguson hit back by condemning the Arsenal manager.

Fergie, in fact, went even further ‹ insisting the FA launch an immediate
investigation.

No one in their right mind can argue with that. Except certain Arsenal
players at the end were NOT in their right mind.

It was a day when England¹s two most famous clubs managed to produce a match
that dragged the national game down and through the gutter once again.

And to think there were some English journalists in Istanbul yesterday to
take in the full horror of the Galatasaray-Fenerbahce local derby . . .





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[RedDevils] OUT OF CONTROL

2003-09-22 Thread helene blatte


 

ARSENAL will be charged by the FA today for the disgraceful and violent
conduct of their players at the end of yesterday's ill-tempered clash at Old
Trafford.

Ruud van Nistelrooy was struck by Martin Keown, Ray Parlour and Lauren at
the final whistle after the Dutchman's role in the 80th-minute controversy
which led to Arsenal skipper Patrick Vieira's dismissal.

United boss Sir Alex Ferguson branded Arsenal's behaviour at the end "beyond
the pale" and called for the FA to investigate their bullying conduct which
marred the game.

And in a further twist, Vieira branded van Nistelrooy a cheat for the
over-reaction which led to the eighth red card of his career and sparked the
ugly scenes between both sides.

Television replays clearly showed Vieira made no contact with van Nistelrooy
and the Frenchman said: "I am really angry with Ruud, not the referee. Ruud
made more of the challenge than he should have done, and in that way he
cheated. He tried to stamp on me."

Wenger insisted the United striker should also have been dismissed for the
alleged stamp. "Van Nistelrooy is not the fairest player on the pitch," said
Wenger.

"What he did was a form of cheating. He should have been sent off for the
foul which Patrick ended up reacting to.

"Van Nistelrooy's behaviour on the pitch doesn't help. He is a great player
but he is always looking to provoke something by diving.

"He looks a nice boy on the pitch but his behaviour is not fair. If people
are trying to convince me that van Nistelrooy is an angel, they will have a
problem.

"Patrick retaliated, even though he didn't make contact. He had already been
booked, so he had go. But van Nistelrooy should have gone as well for the
way he behaved."

Ferguson reacted angrily to Wenger's claims and launched an impassioned
defence of van Nistelrooy who missed an injury-time penalty.

"I've heard what Arsene Wenger said about Ruud and I'm extremely
disappointed," said Fergie.

"I can defend Ruud completely. He is not a diver.

"Vieira committed some bad fouls throughout the game and he reacted badly to
Ruud's challenge. All Ruud did was look at the referee, as if to say 'what
kind of challenge was that?'

"And Arsenal's behaviour at the end was beyond the pale. You never want to
see that kind of conduct, and I think everyone in the country will be
disappointed with what they saw.

"But it's not for me to talk about Arsenal's disciplinary record. That's for
them to sort out. I can only talk about my players, who I thought acted
properly."

Vieira will receive a one-match ban for yesterday's dismissal and will miss
Arsenal's Premiership clash with Chelsea on October 18.



  
 
 


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[RedDevils] UNITED TO MAKE £6M FERGIE HIGHEST PAID BOSS IN EUROPE

2003-10-05 Thread helene blatte
  If ever a man deserved this kind of money (apart from me, that is) it's
Sir Alex.

Dave Blatt   


THE amazing details of Sir Alex Ferguson's new Manchester United deal can be
revealed today, writes STEVE BATES.

Talks on a new contract for the 61-year-old Scot will centre on a
£96,000-a-week basic package earning him a guaranteed £5million a year -
more than any United player.

But that super salary is just a starter for the Old Trafford general, who
has won 17 trophies in a reign spanning 17 years next month.

Bonuses would include the £10,000 he and the players received for beating
Panathinaikos in the Champions League group phase recently, plus £250,000
for winning the Premiership.

Add on £500,000 if United lift the European Cup in Germany next May and
Ferguson could earn close to £6m, eclipsing the £5.3m banked by Europe's
best-paid chief Marcello Lippi.

Negotiations between Ferguson's lawyers and United's new chief executive
David Gill are already under way to add an extra two years to a contract
with two years still to run.

It will put Ferguson in charge until 2007 and a United insider said last
night: "This will be the definitive contract for Sir Alex."
 


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Re: [RedDevils] Fernandez set to be Fergie's No 2 at United

2003-10-05 Thread helene blatte
 
> Frenchman Luis Fernandez last night emerged as the surprise front runner for
> the role of assistant manager to Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United.
> Fernandez, who has been out of work since the summer when he left Paris
> Saint-Germain, looks to have beaten the likes of Bryan Robson, Martin Jol
> and Mike Phelan to the coveted position.


Very interesting but suspect. It was Luis Fernandez who clashed with
Ronaldinho which led to the latter wanting away from PSG and resulted in
only intermittant performances from the Brazilian.

PSG fans adored him because he swore, smoked and spoke like them, reflecting
their passion for the club, but he often rubbed the authorities up the wrong
way with his forthright comments. Honest to a fault but tempermental. Is he
the right foil for Sir Alex? I have my doubts. His tactical awareness seems
average and his success with PSG has not been consistant.

Is he Don Howe in disguise? i.e. a better coach than manager. Don't know.
Perhaps like a goldfish (or poisson rouge in his case) he will expand in a
larger environment.

Personally I have my doubts. I don't think he's the one for us.

Salut les copains.


Concerned of Cannes


Dave Blatt 


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[RedDevils] VAN THE BAN: MY AGONY

2003-10-05 Thread helene blatte


 

RUUD van Nistelrooy has revealed his anguish at being suspended from
Holland's final Euro 2004 qualifier by boss Dick Advocaat.

As exclusively revealed by the Sunday Mirror three weeks ago, Advocaat will
not select the Manchester United striker against Moldova on Saturday.

Van Nistelrooy verbally abused Advocaat, kicked a water bottle and threw his
jacket around on the bench after being subbed against the Czech Republic.

He admitted: "I am a very emotional player, I could not hide my
disappointment. Immediately after the game in Prague I realised I had been
wrong.

"So I went up to the manager and told him I wanted to speak with him. We did
sit down and I told him how sorry I was. He accepted my apologies.

"But this week he phoned me in England and told me he could not tolerate
what I had done.

"I must say that I have looked at the incident since on television and admit
it looks pretty bad." Van Nistelrooy, on target again for United yesterday,
added: "I understand the manager's point and his explanation to me on the
phone was very clear.

"I have to accept what he is doing to me. However, I am still very
disappointed I am not part of the Dutch team now.

"I desperately want to go to the European Championships in Portugal. I have
never been to a major tournament in my career."

If Patrick Kluivert and Roy Makaay play well for Holland on Saturday, Van
Nistelrooy knows there is no way he will return in the team for the two
play-off games next month.

Advocaat said: "The only reason I waited so long with telling him, was
because I did not want to upset him even more at club level.

"He had a few very big games with United in the space of two weeks. But I
knew from the moment he misbehaved that I was going to leave him out for
Holland's next game."

Advocaat said he had to do something as a signal to the rest of the Dutch
camp, which has been a war zone for months.



 


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[RedDevils] KEW MADE A BAD MOVE

2003-10-05 Thread helene blatte
You live by the sword, you die by the sword.

Smallville Kewell gets what he deserves in limited granny stabbers land

Dave Blatt




Oct 5 2003

LIVERPOOL..1 ARSENAL.2

Anthony Clavane
 

AFTER 13 minutes of play the PA announcer put us on alert. "Standby for
Operation Anfield," he declared. Nobody knew what he meant until, a few
seconds later, Harry Kewell put Liverpool one up.

To those who questioned the Wizard of Oz's mysterious decision over the
summer, the announcement suddenly made sense. For Kewell had turned down
Arsene Wenger's all-singing, all-dancing all-stars in favour of Gerard
Houllier's perennial underachievers. And here, most emphatically it seemed,
was the reason why.

"Operation Anfield" was turning out to be an excellent move. Wrong. For a
player of Kewell's mercurial talents "Operation Highbury" would have been a
much smarter one. Or indeed "Operation Old Trafford". If you are in any way
patriotic, of course, the big story to come out of this game was Michael
Owen's injury. But while the nation is fretting over the striker's shin,
spare a thought for Kewell.

OK, he's an Aussie and he ran rings round the England defence at Upton Park
last season - but the more players of his calibre who flourish in the
Premiership the better. The former Leeds star performed brilliantly
yesterday. Once again he showed how, playing at the highest level, he has
the potential to be a world great. But that won't happen at Liverpool.

He is good for the Reds - but the Reds aren't good for him. Apart from the
goal, he was at the centre of a fine first-half display by the home side.
Playing through the middle alongside Owen, rather on one of the flanks as in
previous games, he helped rip the Gunners' defence to bits. Arsenal should
have been dead and buried after half an hour.

Kewell himself missed a glorious opportunity and Owen fluffed no less than
three. But once the visitors had drawn level, admittedly through a lucky own
goal from Sami Hyypia, Liverpool's limitations were cruelly exposed. The
intention, in paying Leeds £5m for Kewell, was to provide more width and
flair for Houllier's outfit.

But as Arsenal began to take a hold of the game, especially in midfield
where Brazilian pair Edu and Gilberto were again outstanding, Liverpool
resorted to that infamous tactic of pre-Harry days - "Operation Hit Owen".
And when their goal machine hobbled off with less than 20 minutes remaining
they had to switch to "Operation Hit And Hope". Kewell's preference for
Houllier over Wenger seems somewhat bizarre. As Arsenalshowed in the High
Noon clash they have a team capable of winning back the title from Fergie's
men.

The irony of Robert Pires curling in the winner would not have been lost on
the Aussie. Pires has had injury and form problems this season and, if
things had gone differently, Kewell might have been lining up on the left
for the north Londoners. A potential goal of the season, Wenger described it
as "pure Pires". But at Anfield now, there's only one Kewell. There's no-one
else with his flair and creativity.

Perhaps he'd rather be, like at Leeds, a big fish in a small pond. But if he
really gives a  about fulfilling his awesome potential and shining at
the highest level, Harry should have met Arsene - or Fergie - in the summer.
Liverpool are no longer the Premiership's most boring club, as the first 45
minutes demonstrated. But his sublime skills are wasted at Anfield.
Alongside Henry, Vieira, Bergkamp, Pires they would have undoubtedly
blossomed. Houllier said yesterday was "make or break" for Liverpool's
season - the week's best soundbite, after Dirty Den's "Ello Princess" and
Tiger Tony's "No reversing."

But, for Kewell's own career, make-or-break time came in the summer when he
plumped for Anfield over both Highbury and Old Trafford.



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[RedDevils] Barthez set for move

2003-10-16 Thread helene blatte

 
Barthez has lost his first-team place

Fabien Barthez is on the brink of joining Marseille on loan.

The French club say they have reached an agreement for the goalkeeper with
Manchester United, who deny that a deal has been done.

"We are in discussions with Marseille but no final agreement has been
reached," said a spokesman for the defending Premiership champions.

Marseille president Christophe Bouchet, however, is convinced that the swap
will be confirmed by the weekend.

He announced the news on the club's website, and is awaiting Fifa
ratification because the proposed loan is taking place outside of the
allotted transfer window.

Barthez, who signed from Monaco for £7.8m in May 2000, has found himself as
third-choice at Old Trafford, behind summer signing Tim Howard and Northern
Ireland's Roy Carroll.

The 32-year-old played for Marseille until 1995, winning the European Cup
with them in 1993. 

He was also an important part of the French squad which won the World Cup in
1998 and the 2000 European Championships.

But national coach Jacques Santini has warned Barthez that his number one
shirt is under threat if he does not play regular first-team football. 


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[RedDevils] Ferguson faces hearing

2003-10-16 Thread helene blatte

Sir Alex Ferguson is set to appear before a Football Association
disciplinary hearing on Monday to answer misconduct charges.

The Manchester United boss was charged after his verbal outburst against
match officials at Newcastle in August.

He is facing a touchline ban or a heavy fine after being sent to the stand
by referee Uriah Rennie following heated words with fourth official Jeff
Winter. 

Ferguson elected to have a personal hearing to answer the charges.


The incident happened during United's 3-0 win at St Jame's Park on 23
August. 

Ferguson reacted angrily to Rennie's decision not to punish Andy O'Brien for
bringing down Ryan Giggs on the edge of the Newcastle area.

The manager kicked a ball away in disgust and remonstrated with fourth
official Winter on the sidelines before being dismissed by Rennie.

Winter was then subjected to a sustained four-letter tirade from the Scot.

Ferguson faces two separate counts, one relating generally to alleged
"improper conduct" and the other specifically to claims that he used abusive
language to the match officials.

The weight of television evidence suggests Ferguson will be hard pressed to
plead his innocence, and an FA commission would take a dim view if it is
proved Ferguson labelled any of the officials as "cheats".

But he can point to a previously unblemished record during his 17-year reign
as United boss, which is expected to count in his favour.





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[RedDevils] Man Utd agree Bellion fee

2003-10-16 Thread helene blatte



Sunderland have accepted a compensation package from Manchester United for
French striker David Bellion.

The deal includes an initial £2m fee payable immediately and could rise to
£3m depending on appearances and international call-ups.

The Black Cats will also benefit from any future transfer of Bellion due to
a sell-on clause in the deal.

"We're happy with the package and feel that it is entirely deserved as we
lost an exciting and talented young player," said Sunderland chairman Bob
Murray. 


"It is to the benefit of both clubs that we have been able to reach an
agreement without the need for a tribunal.

"We were very disappointed to lose David as he is a player who should make a
good name for himself in the future, but wish him every success."

Bellion, who moved to the Stadium of Light from Cannes in 2001, rejected an
improved Sunderland contract when his deal ran out in the summer and moved
to Old Trafford in July.

Ferguson faces hearing

Under Premier League and Nationwide League rules a club is entitled to
compensation if the out-of-contract player is under 24 and moves to another
club. 

Bellion made just three starts for the Wearsiders, but was used as a
substitute 15 times and netted the winner in the home game against Aston
Villa last season - his only goal for the club.

He has only played a peripheral role for United so far this season, although
he made a goalscoring debut in the pre-season defeat of Celtic in Seattle.

Sunderland turned down bids from United and Liverpool for the highly-rated
forward last season.

Murray accused the Old Trafford club of unsettling the youngster and trying
to get him on the cheap during the January transfer window.



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[RedDevils] UNITED FEAR ON BOOK ON STARS

2003-10-18 Thread helene blatte
This story below, which is taken from today's Daily Mirror, has more than a
passing interest for me. For a number of reasons.

1) As the father of a "personality", I have been witness to a number of
incidents and situations over the years that could possibly earn me a quick
buck in the media, but that thought is furthest from my mind due to trust
and confidentially. People confided in me knowing (or hoping) I would never
tell a soul. Anyone who betrays trust such as this creep, Ned Kelly, is to
be dispised as the lowest of low.

2) As an active campaigner for Shareholders United Against Murdoch, it was
Ned Kelly who frogmarched Richard Briers and myself from the forecourt in
front of OT before that year's AGM as we were handing out leaflets urging
fellow shareholders to vote against the proposed Murdoch takeover. (We made
the back page of the Daily Mail) As shareholders ourselves what we were
doing was perfectly legal, yet My Kelly took it upon himself to take the
Denis into his own hands. When, surrounded by the national press, Richard
and I asked Mr Kelly who had authorised his actions and he said "The Board."
When we him, "So, was it A?" "er, No". "So, was it B?", "er, No." etc..
etc.. Of course not. As over sensitive as the Board often is when faced with
real-life situations, it's often Ned Kelly who does their dirty work, but in
our case it was Mr Kelly himself.

3) A couple of years ago, soon after arriving in Cannes, I got a job selling
stands for "Football Expo", a football trade exhibition which used to be
held every January in Cannes. (It's now gone bust - serves them right for
not continuing my contract) Ned Kelly's security company was one of many
companies I was trying to convince to take a stand. Let's just say his whole
demeanour during my failed negociations left a lot to be desired.

Just thought you'd like to know.


Dave Blatt 



MANCHESTER United are desperately trying to block a book which lifts the lid
on the private lives of Premiership stars.

Lawyers will next week seek an injunction to stop the revelations by former
club security chief Ned Kelly being published.

A United source said: "Kelly has been privy to all kinds of things such as
flare-ups behind the scenes.

"This book would be a disaster for the game which has been rocked by a
number of scandals."

The book was due to be serialised in a newspaper from tomorrow and sold soon
afterwards.

But London-based O'Mara Books last night agreed to halt publication until
after a meeting with a High Court judge.

United claim ex-SAS man Kelly, 54 - who now lives in Florida - is in breach
of confidentiality.

The dad-of-two was close friends with Sir Alex Ferguson, David Beckham and
Ryan Giggs before he left over claims that he became a ticket tout.





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[RedDevils] WELCOME TO ELL

2003-10-18 Thread helene blatte

RYAN GIGGS on tomorrow's venomous Leeds v Manchester Utd clash There's often
too much hype but I've crossed the Pennines for ten years and this game can
be hottest yet

By David Mcdonnell
 

RYAN GIGGS has warned his Manchester United team-mates they face the
ultimate test of their temperament and resolve in the "unforgiving" hostile
atmosphere at Leeds tomorrow.

United are always assured a vitriolic reception at Elland Road and Giggs
believes the current turmoil at Leeds means Peter Reid's side will be more
determined than ever to beat their arch rivals.

Rio Ferdinand, making his first appearance since the drug test row which saw
him dropped from the England squad, can expect a relentless barrage of abuse
from Leeds fans who have never forgiven him for moving to United.

Leeds fans are certain to seize upon the controversy that has engulfed
Ferdinand in the past fortnight in an attempt to unsettle the England
defender.

And Giggs is convinced Leeds, despite their on and off-field problems, have
the capacity to dent United's title challenge, for the simple reason that
there is no expectation on them to win.

"There's often too much hype in the build-up to games these days," said
Giggs.

"But I know, from ten years of travelling across the Pennines with United,
this match really is as big as they come.

"There's never any love lost between the two clubs and I can't honestly see
that ever changing.

"And it could be one of the worst times in recent seasons to play Leeds
because now, more than ever, they will probably feel they've nothing to lose
- and that makes them more dangerous than ever.

"Going to Elland Road is always tough and our record there isn't the best.
More than at most grounds, you've always got to play against the crowd, as
well as the Leeds players on the pitch.

"Of course, that motivates us but it's an unforgiving atmosphere and you
really have to earn your points when you go there.

"Everybody knows what's happened at Leeds in the past year or so. They've
been forced to sell some of their best players to balance the books, and
they've been forced to bring in a lot of players on loan.

"They've also been struggling for form this season. But their backs are
against the wall and that's so often the worst time to face teams.

"Every Leeds player knows there's no better way to turn their season around
than by beating us in front of their own fans.

"The fact we're playing them again in the Worthington Cup at the end of the
month will only spice things up even more, because anything that happens on
Saturday will still be fresh in people's minds for the second game." United
occupy third place in the Premiership, just a point behind leaders Chelsea
and Arsenal. Giggs admitted United cannot afford to let their two main
rivals get too far out of sight.

"In terms of the title race, three points is obviously very important to
us," he said.

"Chelsea and Arsenal have started well and we know we can't afford to lose
our focus and let them edge too far ahead.

"It's not that important to be top of the table at this stage of the season,
but it's equally important not to let your main rivals put too much daylight
between you."

Chelsea, Arsenal and United have pulled away from the rest of the pack at
the top of the Premiership, with a four-point gap separating Sir Alex
Ferguson's side from fourth-placed Birmingham.

Giggs refused to discount the threat of Liverpool and Newcastle despite the
fact Liverpool are eighth and Newcastle are camped in the relegation zone, a
staggering 14 points adrift from thetop.

But, bizarrely, Giggs believes both have a shot at the title.

"There may be a small gap between the top three and the rest at the moment,
but no-one at United is thinking that it's going to stay that way.

"At this stage, all you need to do to transform the look of the table is put
together a run of six or seven games, and both Liverpool and Newcastle have
proved they're capable of doing that before."

Flop Roque Junior is likely to be dropped to the Leeds bench for the game.

The Brazilian is available again following his one-match ban, but boss Peter
Reid has hinted he will probably have to settle for a place among the
substitutes.

A HISTORY OF HATRED

FEB 8, 1993: Leeds 0 Man Utd 0. Leeds fans attack the United coach on Eric
Cantona's first return to Elland Road and Alex Ferguson said: "The hostility
towards him and Manchester United had to be seen to be believed."

SEP 27, 1997: Leeds 1 Man Utd 0. Roy Keane ruptures his cruciate ligament
trying to foul Alfie Haaland, sparking a feud between the pair.

AUG 14, 1999: Man Utd 2 Leeds 0. David Beckham gives Leeds fans the V-sign
in response to sick chants about his wife and son.

Sep 14, 2002: Leeds 1 Man Utd 0. Rio Ferdinand gets a fierce reception from
Leeds fans on his first return to Elland Road.


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[RedDevils] US tycoon ups Man Utd stake

2003-10-20 Thread helene blatte

 
Man Utd made full year profits of £39m

American sports entrepreneur Malcolm Glazer has increased his shareholding
in Manchester United to nearly 10%, the UK Premier League club said.

Mr Glazer owns the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Florida-based winners of the
Super Bowl American football championship.

Man Utd said Mr Glazer has raised his shareholding to 9.66%.

It is the second time in a fortnight Mr Glazer has bought more Man Utd
shares - earlier this month he raised his stake from 5.9% to 8.94%.

Takeover talk 

Rumours of a takeover have swirled round Man Utd in recent weeks, as several
sporting entrepreneurs have increased their shareholdings.

Takeover speculation was sparked by satellite broadcaster BSkyB's decision
to offload its 10% stake in the football club.

Irish horse racing tycoons J.P. McManus and John Magnier snapped up BSkyB's
stake in early October, taking their joint holding to 23.15%.

That triggered a flurry of speculation that the Irish duo might be preparing
a full-blown takeover attempt

Mr Glazer has been named as a possible bidder for Man Utd, as has Dutch TV
entrepreneur John de Mol, who took his stake from 3.5% to 4.1% in early
October. 

Scottish mining entrepreneur Harry Dobson, and Dermot Desmond, the Irish
millionaire who owns 21% of Celtic football club, have also been named as
possible bidders. 

Institutional investors tend to steer clear of football clubs because their
financial performance is unpredictable, and most do not make enough money.

But analysts say Man Utd would make an attractive takeover target because,
unlike many of its Premiership rivals, the club is free of debt and makes
healthy annual profits.

Man Utd's has turned its success on the pitch into a worldwide merchandising
operation which generates hefty earnings. 


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[RedDevils] Re: If Premiership teams were ladies...

2003-10-22 Thread helene blatte

> If Premiership teams were ladies...
> 
> Arsenal - Angelina Jolie - Look good, a bit maverick at times and you
> know they have the potential to really f**k you over.
> 
> Aston Villa - Dido - One big hit. Fairly inoffensive really.
> 
> Birmingham City - Maria Carey - Occasionally interesting, frequently
> annoying. Supporters are thick.
> 
> Blackburn Rovers - Melanie Sykes - Common as muck Lancy, constantly
> worrying.
> 
> Bolton Wanderers - Natalie Imbruglia - Always looks like she might go
> down but never does!
> 
> Charlton Athletic - Martine McCutcheon - Chirpy Cockney with the
> ability to spring a few surprises!
> 
> Chelsea - Maggie Thatcher - Hated by millions,supported by idiots!
> 
> Everton - Barbara Windsor - Been laughing at those tits so long we
> forget that once upon a time they actually looked quite good!
> 
> Fulham - Andrea Corr - Not bad to look at but not much of her. Seems a
> bit awestruck with fame.
> 
> Leicester City - Patsy Palmer - Generally a bit crap and second rate
> really, but some people like her.
> 
> Leeds United - Christina Aguilera - Dirrrty.
> 
> Liverpool - Sophie Ellis Bextor - Individually all the components look
> fantastic - just doesn't work when put together.
> 
> Man City - Madonna - Have been big at times - now lost the plot a bit
> 
> Man United - Jordan - Dominated by tits. Quite repulsive really.
> 
> Middlesborough - Tara Palmer Tompkinson - Can look quite good at the
> back but nothing at all up front to speak of.
> 
> Newcastle United - Pamela Anderson - Can look good. Various unsavoury
> elements though.
> 
> Portsmouth - Chrissie Hynde - On the face of it a has-been but you're
> quite interested in what she's going to do next.
> 
> Southampton - Kylie Minogue - Sometimes you feel sorry for them,
> They're not huge and you've got a bit of a soft spot.
> 
> Tottenham Hotspur - Kim Wilde - Glamorous in the 80's not so nice to
> watch now.
> 
> Wolverhampton Wanderers - Lynda Lovelace - Big in the 70's guaranteed
> to go down.


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[RedDevils] Eric bedded girl in front of clubbers

2003-10-26 Thread helene blatte
BOOK THEY TRIED TO BAN: Man Utd laid bare




By Jules Stenson, Chief Feature Writer, News of the World

MARRIED Man Utd legend Eric Cantona had a threesome with a porn club beauty
and another man on a giant circular bed as a gang of revellers looked on.

The lovecheat Frenchman cast his vows to the wind when he visited the wild
Paris venue with his ex-SAS minder Michael "Ned" Kelly.

Kelly was appointed to look after the soccer star‹recently voted the club's
greatest ever player‹following his infamous kung-fu kick on a fan in 1995.

In his bombshell new book, Manchester United: The Untold Story, which the
club tried to ban, the author also tells how Cantona:

VISITED a brothel where all the prostitutes wore numbers for a kinky "pick
and mix" game.

BEDDED the beautiful and willing wife of a household-name United star.

SEDUCED a sex-mad woman employee at a Manchester club.

Kelly had little idea what was in store when he was appointed personal
bodyguard to 37-year-old Cantona.

But he soon discovered the truth about the love-rat star's repeated
betrayals of wife Isabelle in a string of debauched encounters.

Kelly recalled: "I was out on the town in Paris with Eric when he insisted
we end the night at his favourite watering-hole.

"We met up with a couple of Eric's friends, who I'll call Pierre and Luc.
The club had wall-to-wall porn beaming down from angled TV screens but, in
the basement bar, the action was strictly live.

"In the centre of the floor was a huge circular bed, so none of the
onlookers would miss an inch of the action.

Tongue

"All one had to do was climb on the bed and wait to be joined by another
enthusiastic participant, to have sex while everyone else looked on.

"After a few bottles of champagne, one of the club bosses‹a friend of
Eric's‹ joined us at the bar.

"The man called over a stunning woman he introduced as his wife. The
chemistry between her and Eric was electric‹but I thought I was seeing
things as I watched her lead Eric and Luc toward the bed.

"Eric flashed me a wink and stuck his tongue out like a schoolboy heading
for the cream bun counter in a baker's.

"ŒWhat the ?' I asked Pierre. But I was speaking to the back of his head
as he was also on his way to the bed wrapped around a tall blonde.

"Eric tried to call me over to join in with Luc and his romp. I later
discovered the wife was an ex-porn star."

Kelly describes the 1997 night out as "the most surreal experience of my
life". 

Cantona‹who has a son Raphael, 13, and daughter Josephine, six, with
38-year-old Isabelle‹moved them to Bar-celona, Spain, after quitting soccer
and turning to acting. In the spring of 1999, he invited Kelly for the
weekend. 

"Eric declared we must go out on the town," he said. As usual, after a few
drinks, the conversation turned to women and, after a few reminiscences, I
stopped Eric in his tracks.

"I told him, ŒI know who you were sing in my flat when you borrowed it
for your secret liaisons'. Eric was dumbstruck.

"ŒWho then?' he asked. I named the wife of a former top United star whose
car I often used to see parked outside my flat whenever she and Eric met.

"He exclaimed, ŒHow did you find out?' ŒIt's my business to know everything,
Eric', I told him."

Kelly adds: "Eric then drove us to a less salubrious side of town. We went
to an underground car park, then up by lift. Three floors later, Eric was
knocking at a flat door which opened to reveal wall-to-wall hookers.

"The girls were stunning and all had numbered badges. It was like a kinky
pick and mix." Cantona selected a girl and led her to a private room.

Kelly recalls: "From discussions I'd had over the years with Eric, I knew he
had a penchant for slapping women's backsides.

Flirting

"And from the noises coming from next door, this lady had apparently been
very naughty. 

"After that we headed for his favourite karaoke bar and the reception he got
from punters and staff told me he was as popular here as at Old Trafford."

But not as popular as he'd been in one Manchester sports club.

Kelly writes: "One woman there was very attractive and was extremely
hospitable to both of us‹especially Eric.

"She was always ushering him into an office and, while I socialised with
club members, he'd be taking advantage of the more exclusive services on
offer to him behind closed doors."

Kelly tells of another night in a Manchester bar where Cantona and a French
friend, Pascal, were flirting shamelessly with two pretty women‹ watched by
their irate husbands.

"In no time at all they were squaring up to Eric and Pascal," says the
author. 

"I offered sincere apologies to the well-built husbands. Eric bought the two
couples champagne and calm was eventually restored.

"To be fair, Eric rarely played away during his time in the UK.

"While at Manchester, I don't think it would be unkind to suggest that he
lived a pretty basic lifestyle and it was only on my own recommendation that
he and his family moved from the ex-council house t

[RedDevils] Fergie raged over sick chairman

2003-10-26 Thread helene blatte



SIR Alex Ferguson knew of disgraced Martin Edwards' perversions long before
the former chairman's sordid habits were exposed, Kelly reveals.

As long ago as 1998, Fergie and the SAS man discussed an incident where
Edwards‹who quit last year‹was caught following a woman into a toilet.

Ferguson raged: "It's unbelievable. The Press would have a field day." Kelly
replied: ŒI know, boss. I must be the only security chief in football who
has to try and stop the chairman going into the ladies' toilets." Kelly
first became aware of the problem in the Eighties when Edwards visited an
SAS barracks to award soccer prizes to soldiers.

"Edwards was seen following a soldier's wife into the ladies'," he writes.
"The lad concerned was all for tearing Edwards' head off, but I quietened
him down." 

In 1996 United press secretary Ken Ramsden warned him Edwards' visits to the
ladies' were "becoming more frequent". Kelly replied: "No problem, I'll keep
steering him towards the gents'." He writes: "The chairman's fetish was a
source of amusement to the players, but undeniably embarrassing. He seemed
to have a compulsion to invade women's space in their most private moments.
Eventually his deviations would destroy him."

Edwards, 57, was caught with a prostitute in Rio at the FIFA World Club
Championships in 2000. Another complaint of a ladies' toilet misdemeanour
brought him a police caution. Kelly said: "It seemed sad that a potentially
great man will now only be remembered as little more than a pervert."
BOOK THEY TRIED TO BAN: Man Utd laid bare

Married soccer legend bedded girl in front of clubbers


By Jules Stenson, Chief Feature Writer

MARRIED Man Utd legend Eric Cantona had a threesome with a porn club beauty
and another man on a giant circular bed as a gang of revellers looked on.

The lovecheat Frenchman cast his vows to the wind when he visited the wild
Paris venue with his ex-SAS minder Michael "Ned" Kelly.

Kelly was appointed to look after the soccer star‹recently voted the club's
greatest ever player‹following his infamous kung-fu kick on a fan in 1995.

In his bombshell new book, Manchester United: The Untold Story, which the
club tried to ban, the author also tells how Cantona:

VISITED a brothel where all the prostitutes wore numbers for a kinky "pick
and mix" game.

BEDDED the beautiful and willing wife of a household-name United star.

SEDUCED a sex-mad woman employee at a Manchester club.

Kelly had little idea what was in store when he was appointed personal
bodyguard to 37-year-old Cantona.

But he soon discovered the truth about the love-rat star's repeated
betrayals of wife Isabelle in a string of debauched encounters.

Kelly recalled: "I was out on the town in Paris with Eric when he insisted
we end the night at his favourite watering-hole.

"We met up with a couple of Eric's friends, who I'll call Pierre and Luc.
The club had wall-to-wall porn beaming down from angled TV screens but, in
the basement bar, the action was strictly live.

"In the centre of the floor was a huge circular bed, so none of the
onlookers would miss an inch of the action.

Tongue

"All one had to do was climb on the bed and wait to be joined by another
enthusiastic participant, to have sex while everyone else looked on.

"After a few bottles of champagne, one of the club bosses‹a friend of
Eric's‹ joined us at the bar.

"The man called over a stunning woman he introduced as his wife. The
chemistry between her and Eric was electric‹but I thought I was seeing
things as I watched her lead Eric and Luc toward the bed.

"Eric flashed me a wink and stuck his tongue out like a schoolboy heading
for the cream bun counter in a baker's.

"ŒWhat the ?' I asked Pierre. But I was speaking to the back of his head
as he was also on his way to the bed wrapped around a tall blonde.

"Eric tried to call me over to join in with Luc and his romp. I later
discovered the wife was an ex-porn star."

Kelly describes the 1997 night out as "the most surreal experience of my
life". 

Cantona‹who has a son Raphael, 13, and daughter Josephine, six, with
38-year-old Isabelle‹moved them to Bar-celona, Spain, after quitting soccer
and turning to acting. In the spring of 1999, he invited Kelly for the
weekend. 

"Eric declared we must go out on the town," he said. As usual, after a few
drinks, the conversation turned to women and, after a few reminiscences, I
stopped Eric in his tracks.

"I told him, ŒI know who you were sing in my flat when you borrowed it
for your secret liaisons'. Eric was dumbstruck.

"ŒWho then?' he asked. I named the wife of a former top United star whose
car I often used to see parked outside my flat whenever she and Eric met.

"He exclaimed, ŒHow did you find out?' ŒIt's my business to know everything,
Eric', I told him."

Kelly adds: "Eric then drove us to a less salubrious side of town. We went
to an underground car park, then up by lift. Three floors later, Eric was
knocking at a flat door which opened to reveal wall-t

[RedDevils] Fergie hired SAS to spy on players

2003-10-26 Thread helene blatte
Here we go, here we go, here we go.

Kelly's Heroes get knifed. What a nice man he must be;
`
Dave Blatt




BOOK THEY TRIED TO BAN:

Man Utd laid bare



By Jules Stenson, Chief Feature Writer

MANCHESTER United boss Sir Alex Ferguson used a task force of SAS soldiers
to spy on star players' private lives, the club's ex-head of security has
sensationally revealed.

In a shattering book United tried to ban, Michael "Ned" Kelly‹who spent 11
years in the elite Who Dares Wins regiment before moving to Old
Trafford‹details every covert operation he carried out.

His meticulously-planned missions, many involving former and even active SAS
chums, included:

TAILING an England international transfer target to see if he was a drug
user.

REPORTING on the movements of David Beckham so United could keep tabs on his
home life.

PROBING the lifestyle of a young Red Devils defender to see if he was
keeping bad company.

SWEEPING the paranoid manager's own family home for phone bugs and hidden
microphones.

Being ORDERED to sweep the home of one of Fergie's close associates.

INVESTIGATING the notorious drug habits of a top goalkeeper.

Says Kelly, 55: "There's little doubt in my mind that certain elements
within the United hierarchy let the sheer size of this club overtake their
sense of fair and proper behaviour. They were playing God."

United threatened an injunction to stop Kelly's shock manuscript being
revealed in the News of the World. But we successfully fought their legal
action and the club caved in.

Kelly told how Chris Sutton, a current Celtic star and former goal ace for
both Chelsea and Blackburn, was targeted by Fergie's spy network.

He says: "He'd never have been aware that, for two weeks of his life, he was
watched 24 hours a day.

"The then-head scout at United, Les Kershaw, wanted a report.

Rumours

"Chris played for Norwich at the time and the surveillance team went over
there, Œpicked him up' after a City home game, then followed and
photographed his every move and checked out his associates.

"There were four people tailing him including one woman. The team was led by
two SAS guys who'd previously been with the Army's 14th Intelligence Company
in Northern Ireland‹an elite unit that specialised in undercover
surveillance. 

"After that Norwich game they followed him in three cars, swapping places
regularly. The woman came in handy when Sutton went into a bar. Then she
could join one of the male watchers to look like a couple.

"The team would watch until he went to bed, then one of the boys would keep
his vehicle under surveillance by sleeping in the car park.

"They even followed Sutton when he visited his son. After two weeks, I
submitted the report to Les Kershaw and told him we'd found absolutely
nothing to substantiate rumours of illegal substance abuse."

Despite the all-clear, manager Ferguson did not sign Sutton.

Kelly says Sir Alex, 61, was meticulous about gathering information‹and even
used his services to probe England skipper David Beckham, now with Real
Madrid. 

He writes: "Fergie was adamant David should live within reasonable distance
of the stadium and training ground. Tales of him commuting from London after
he met Victoria would send Fergie into blind rages.

"The situation came to a head on a trip abroad. Fergie pulled me to one side
in the airport VIP lounge and barked, ŒRight, Ned. Don't lie to me. Where's
Beckham living?' 

"ŒLondon, boss, and travelling up and down to Old Trafford', I
replied‹inwardly cringing at having to tell tales on David.

Stare

"Fergie's face was a study in controlled anger. ŒThat Beckham is taking the
p**s,' he growled. ŒYeah, boss,' I volunteered. ŒMaybe you should sell him'.

"Fergie's blank stare told me he was thinking the same thing. But hearing it
from a third party must have brought home to him the enormity of losing
Beckham and he smiled, ŒNah, I'll sort him'.

"Fergie knew the toll it would take on Beckham's fitness if he had to face
motorways or airports before training. He did, indeed, clip Beckham's wings
and it was agreed he would live near his workplace."

Kelly, who ran security at United for 12 years before leaving last year, was
also told by Sir Alex to keep a watch on his England stopper Wes Brown. He
says: "Once Wes began earning big money at United, Fergie insisted he move
out of the family environment and get his own house.

"My contacts would tell me he was sometimes out in Manchester, at one of the
players' favourite haunts.

"There are five big crime families in the city who control things‹all very
well-known to the police.

"The worry was they'd befriend Wes then get into United, so you'd see them
in the players' lounge.

"I was told to make sure this didn't happen. The idea was to put a little
ring of steel around Wes.

"That didn't mean my boys would accompany him when he went out on the
town‹just that he was watched so we'd know if anything untoward happened.
Thankfully, it never did while I was at United."

Sir Alex 

[RedDevils] Betrayal of trust

2003-10-26 Thread helene blatte
As odious as Ned Kelly is as a man, I just want to raise the subject of
betrayal of trust. 

It doesn't matter to me if you are a butler, head of security or a lover,
unless the person(s) who employed you committed murder, plotted to blow up
the Twin Towers or supported City, your employment and your salary bought
your silence/trust. That's one of the reasons they employed you.

In business there are confidentiality clauses (Hello Peter). In affairs such
intimacy should bring its own rewards.

I get sick and tired of reading in the Sunday Papers all these revealing
stories. OK, you could say don't read the Sunday papers if it makes you so
mad, but hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil is not the solution.

We all have our own morality. I've been faithful to Manchester United since
before I was born but even I have seen Leyton Orient and Ilford (when they
were alive) play at home.

Ned Kelly was handsomely paid, even if he himself is ugly. As a former SAS
man surely he more than anyone should abide by the rule of silence. For me
this makes his revelations, whether true or exaggerated, even more
appalling.

As for the revelations themselves. Well, that's a debate in itself.


Dave Blatt   


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Re: [RedDevils] Fergie would sack drug takers

2003-10-26 Thread helene blatte

> Ferguson told the News of the World: "I would like our supporters to be sure
> of one thing: if there were any danger of one of our players dabbling in any
> kind of drug, be it to enhance his performance or for his social life, he
> would be quickly gone from Manchester United.


I feel Fergie, The FA, The Olympic Committee and my parents should make the
distinction between performance enhancing drugs and social drugs. To lump
them all together is lazy, predictable and does not address the problem.

Social drugs include tobacco and alcohol, which although legal, are far more
damaging than marajana (in my opinion). Does Fergie's blanket ban apply to
his beloved claret?

Social drugs, by their very nature, reduce not enhance sporting performance.
Any professional sportsperson should be big enough, old enough and ugly
enough to make their own choices between attempting to reach the summit in
their chosen sport, or have a good time. They shouldn't be punished by
outside agencies which have a political agenda and not the welfare of the
athelete at heart.


Dave Blatt  


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[RedDevils] Re: I know most of us don't like him

2003-11-12 Thread helene blatte
on 12/11/03 1:50 pm, [EMAIL PROTECTED] at [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

> and some of you will know I've had my own run in with him, but we have a
> chance to ask Ned Kelly some questions. If anyone has any (sadly why are you a
> twat is not one we can ask), can they let me know asap, Barney


If the contents of your book are nothing more than tittle tattle in order to
get money from the gullible media, why did your company have to change its
name once you left their employ?


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[RedDevils] Re: I know most of us don't like him

2003-11-12 Thread helene blatte
on 12/11/03 1:50 pm, [EMAIL PROTECTED] at [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

> and some of you will know I've had my own run in with him, but we have a
> chance to ask Ned Kelly some questions. If anyone has any (sadly why are you a
> twat is not one we can ask), can they let me know asap, Barney


Disregarding the contents of the book for one moment, one of the aspects I
find most distasteful is that your previous career was in the SAS. Surely
one of the fundermental things you are taught is not to break the code of
silence. Therefore how could you of all people produce such 'National
Enquirer' type revelations.  


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Re: [RedDevils] AGM

2003-11-13 Thread helene blatte

> To all those going tomorrow, to the plc's AGM, have a productive day and
> don't let them get away with anything.
> 
> Tanya

Right on, Tanya.

C'mon lads. Reds everywhere are with you. Sorry I can't be there this year
but I'm with you in (hic) spirit.

Dave Blatt
> 


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[RedDevils] Fergie hit by dosh bosh

2003-11-13 Thread helene blatte

ALEX FERGUSON has been told there will be no cash for him to splash when the
transfer window opens in January.

Manchester United boss Fergie is eager to add strength in attack to keep up
with big-spending Premiership rivals Chelsea.

Fulham striker Louis Saha, West Ham hotshot Jermain Defoe and Sao Paulo
marksman Luis Fabiano have been earmarked as long-term strike partners for
Old Trafford goal machine Ruud van Nistelrooy.

But chief executive David Gill, speaking ahead of today¹s United AGM,
insisted: ³If it ain¹t broke, don¹t fix it.

³I don¹t think we will be going into the transfer market in a big way in
January.

³We developed the squad in the summer so we¹d be challenging for all the
honours and we are challenging, so why would we want to make big changes in
January?²

Gill, who will announce yearly profits of £39.3million, added: ³I think
whatever we do in January will be consistent with previous seasons.

³The manager doesn¹t normally do major transfer work in mid-season even
before we had the window.²

It is no secret Fergie had an uneasy relationship with previous chief
executive Peter Kenyon.

And this block on a spending spree is likely to present the first major test
between the tough Scot and Gill following the Old Trafford chief¹s
appointment in September.

Fergie fears United¹s chase for glory could end in disaster unless a
top-class frontman is drafted in.

Diego Forlan has just two Premiership goals this season, while Ole Gunnar
Solskjaer continues to nurse a knee injury.

Chinese wonderboy DONG FANGZHOU is poised to join United.

The 18-year-old striker will move from Dalian Shide in a deal worth £1m.

But Ferguson insists the whizkid is a player for the future and will not be
thrown into first-team action.



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Re: [RedDevils] Fergie hit by dosh bosh

2003-11-14 Thread helene blatte
 
> ALEX FERGUSON has been told there will be no cash for him to splash when the
> transfer window opens in January. Chief executive David Gill, speaking ahead
of today¹s United AGM, insisted: ³If it ain¹t broke, don¹t fix it. We
developed the squad in the  summer so we¹d be challenging for all the
honours and we are challenging, so why would we want to make big changes in
January?²

Is a glass half full or half empty? Do we just want to be challanging or do
we want to be winning? I'm not saying spend for spending sake, but if an
opportunity came along to buy a world class player we should go for it and
not let out competitors get their debt ridden hands on him.

Gill the Accountant is continuing the small town mentality that has blighted
our club for over thirty years. Much of our success has been IN SPITE OF and
not due to the Board.

> 
>
 ³The manager doesn¹t normally do major transfer work in mid-season even
> before we had the window.²
> 
Of course the manager doesn't NORMALLY do major transfer work in mid-season.
It's only in the last couple of years that the January shop window has
actually existed.


Dave Blatt


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