---------------------------------------------------------- RED NEWS - MUFC Daily News by Email. For the very latest news, the fans forum, and more, check out the website at http://www.rednews.co.uk ----------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------- [16] Dutch praise for Becks --------------------------------- Posted Friday, February 15, 2002 by bar-knee: Dick Advocaat "He is effective wherever he is operating because there is no doubt he is a world-class player, but he is most effective when he plays in central midfield, from where he can direct the play. His passing from there can do a lot of damage. Beckham was just tremendous, as he usually is when he plays for England. When you are on the bench, you can see just how hard he works for his players and how that is for the benefit of the team. He plays like a captain and he lifts the side by his example. When you look at his record, he very rarely misses a match for England and even at Manchester United it is only this season that his manager decided he needed a rest." --------------------------------- [15] More Ronnie Johnsen on comeback --------------------------------- Posted Friday, February 15, 2002 by bar-knee: "I was happy to play a full game and I was also pleased with the way everything went and how I felt afterwards. I am just looking forward to the next match now. The physios are planning everything for me and maybe it will take a game or two more to get back. I just have to look forward." --------------------------------- [14] www.rednews.co.uk news service next week --------------------------------- Posted Friday, February 15, 2002 by bar-knee: We have an even larger proportion of RN operatives than usual jigging off to Nantes for the euro away next week and all the debauchary that it involves. Don't worry - I know you're not - unfrotunately a few of the lads aren't going and will be showing the milk of human kindness by producing news whilst we're away Monday-Thursday. It may just mean that the news during those days is produced throughout the day so keep checking the site but you can do your bit by sending any news items you have to help the cause to [EMAIL PROTECTED] thanks! --------------------------------- [13] Saturday's FA Cup games --------------------------------- Posted Friday, February 15, 2002 by bar-knee: Walsall v Fulham 12:00 Arsenal v Gillingham 15:00 Middlesbrough v Blackburn 15:00 West Brom v Cheltenham 15:00 --------------------------------- [12] Player rejects United move talk --------------------------------- Posted Friday, February 15, 2002 by bar-knee: Fulham's Steve Finnan: "I signed a four-year deal with Fulham last summer and I couldn't be happier here. I'm at a club that is going places and I've no desire to play at Old Trafford or anywhere else. I think the same applies to all the Fulham players, especially the younger ones. The manager has been looking to tie us all up on long-term deals and he's got no intention of letting me or anyone else go. The chairman isn't exactly short of cash either, so there's really no need for the boss to even think about selling anyone." --------------------------------- [11] Fergie at the races --------------------------------- Posted Friday, February 15, 2002 by bar-knee: >From the Mirror 'SIR ALEX FERGUSON took time out from his new contract talks with Manchester United, to do some four-legged talent spotting on Newmarket Heath yesterday morning. Despite recently agreeing to continue in the Old Trafford hot-seat for a further three years, Sir Alex is not cutting back on his bloodstock interests and has five horses in training including 2,000 Guineas contender Rock Of Gibraltar. Well wrapped-up against the wind, Sir Alex was whisked up to the Warren Hill training ground by Becky Dunlop, wife of trainer Ed, after he had flown in from Manchester by private jet. "I couldn't have picked a better morning to come. It's always a great pleasure to be at Newmarket and enjoy the horses and fresh air," he said. "I had 14 players on international duty last night, which is why I decided to come. "There is a similar situation in three weeks time, so I may be back for another look," he added.' --------------------------------- [10] More fitness worries --------------------------------- Posted Friday, February 15, 2002 by bar-knee: >From Ananova 'David Beckham and Fabien Barthez are doubtful for Manchester United's Champions League clash against Nantes on Wednesday. Beckham will have treatment over the weekend after aggravating an ankle injury during the draw against Holland. Barthez missed France's midweek game against Romania after pulling out with a back problem. He was missing from the United line-up last Sunday and earlier this week there was a scare when the club's television channel MUTV announced he could be out for up to a month. United are hoping it will not be that serious although stand-in Roy Carroll is fit after a back scare kept him out of Northern Ireland's squad this week and will be ready to take over if Barthez fails to make it. United will decide on both players' fitness on Monday.' --------------------------------- [9] Becks injury latest --------------------------------- Posted Friday, February 15, 2002 by bar-knee: >From the Mirror ' DAVID Beckham is set to miss Manchester United's Champions League trip to Nantes next week after aggravating an ankle injury in England's friendly against Holland. He limped off at the end of the 1-1 draw in Amsterdam and underwent extensive treatment at United's training ground yesterday. The damage is worse than first thought. Beckham suffered the original injury in United's 2-0 win at Charlton last Sunday and two further knocks against the Dutch have left him doubtful for the match in France. Sir Alex Ferguson is understood to be furious that Beckham was forced to play the full 90 minutes against Holland. The Old Trafford boss wanted Beckham to play a limited role in the experimental friendly but England coach Sven Goran Eriksson kept him on till the end. Ferguson is desperate for Beckham to be fit for the resumption of the European competition, but he's not due to start training again until the middle of next week.' --------------------------------- [8] Ooops baby they did it again --------------------------------- Posted Friday, February 15, 2002 by bar-knee: Some RN readers wrote in yesterday to ask if we'd got our facts wrong when we said Mikael Silvestre didn't play in the France game on Wednesday, after reading on the official site that he had. He did not play...Christanval played alongside Desailly. Come on lads, keep up! --------------------------------- [7] Becks and cuddly Pete to meet --------------------------------- Posted Friday, February 15, 2002 by bar-knee: In face to face talks today over Becks' new deal according to the SUN. --------------------------------- [6] Open letter from Fergie on Kabul charity match --------------------------------- Posted Friday, February 15, 2002 by bar-knee: 'As a player and a manager, I've always wanted my teams to be the best - and I can promise that won't be changing now I'm staying on at Old Trafford. But there's a big match today where, for once, even I'd admit the result is nowhere near as important as the very fact it's taking place at all. For when local side Kabul United take on a mainly British team made up of soldiers from the international peace-keeping force in Afghanistan, it's a symbol of how life is getting back to normal there. It's a match, after all, taking place in a stadium where under the Taliban regime crowds watched executions, stonings and amputations rather than football. It's a game in a sports-mad country where the Taliban outlawed many pastimes along with TV and music - and went as far as banning kite- flying. Today's match should help bring home to everyone just how much progress there has been since that dreadful day of September 11. It's another sign of how the Afghanistan of today is a far better place than the Afghanistan of the Taliban and the terrorists - and why we should be proud of Britain's role in helping bring this about. So when I was asked to give my support to this game, I didn't hesitate for a second. And neither did the FA. We've sent out the kit needed - balls, strips, nets and boots - not just for use in this game but to help get football back off the ground in Afghanistan. Former Southampton manager Lawrie McMenemy and ex-Spurs star Gary Mabbutt have flown to Kabul to coach the two sides. And as another symbol of football's support in this country for the game in Afghanistan, the match will kick off with a ball signed by my United players - and those from Liverpool - before our big Premiership match last month. There's huge interest in the game in Kabul - they are expecting a 30,000 sell-out crowd - plus international media attention. I'm sure both sides will be keen to win. For the local players, it's the first chance for years to play against a team from outside Afghanistan. The international peace-keeping team, although a scratch side, will be looking forward to the match as well. And with players drawn from the British Army as well as Dutch, French and Norwegian soldiers serving out there, it will be pretty similar in its international make-up to many Premiership sides. Although I'm sure it will be a competitive game, what's more important than the result is that football, yet again, will be helping bring people together. The Afghan people have lived in terror under a regime as brutal and repressive as we've seen for decades, when they were cut off from the rest of the world. This game helps show they can now look forward to a better future. Which means we can all count ourselves winners from this match.' --------------------------------- [5] Becks on rugby man --------------------------------- Posted Friday, February 15, 2002 by bar-knee: "Being England captain is a massive honour. Jonny has all the right qualities to do the same job on the rugby pitch. He seems to be an inspiration to England. I would not be surprised if he is offered the captaincy at some stage. He's got a lot of responsibility because of the position he plays. When Jonny plays well and scores points, it seems England really raise their game. It's common knowledge I spend a lot of time practising free-kicks after training and it's no different for Jonny with goal-kicking. He has to be able to score points under pressure." --------------------------------- [4] Rugby man on Becks --------------------------------- Posted Friday, February 15, 2002 by bar-knee: Jonny Wilkinson "Whenever I'm practising my goalkicking I imagine each kick is to win the World Cup for England in the last minute of the game. That is virtually the same position that Becks was in - and he delivered the goods when it mattered. The whole country was holding its breath when David lined up that free-kick. You can try to imagine what the pressure was like, but I'm sure it's a million times worse to actually go through it. There can't be a more satisfying feeling in sport than to come through that ultimate test of your skill and temperament. It really is death or glory, and if I do find myself in the same boat I just hope I handle it as well as Becks did." --------------------------------- [3] Good betting offer --------------------------------- Posted Friday, February 15, 2002 by bar-knee: "MAKE A GIANT KILLING" Open an account at SportingOdds and they will give you £10 for every Premiership Team knocked out in this weekends televised FA Cup Matches. All you have to do is Register and place a £5 bet on any Fifth Round FA Cup market. PLUS Win or lose they will also give you a free £10 bet on the World Cup! Click here to register now: http://www.sportingodds.co.uk/adserver/scripts/ict.dll?click?rnews0 http://www.sportingodds.co.uk/adserver/scripts/ict.dll?click?rnews0 --------------------------------- [2] Red News exclusive on Utd pre-season --------------------------------- Posted Friday, February 15, 2002 by bar-knee: Regarding Uniteds pre-season tour, Terje Rorby of Oslo East says: "We do know for certain that United definitely will play one match in Scandinavia this summer, on either the 29th or the 30th of July. We do hope that the match will be against us at National stadium Ullevaal, but there are also other clubs in Norway, as well as in Sweden and Denmark who tries to get United for that one match." --------------------------------- [1] Only come to see United? --------------------------------- Posted Friday, February 15, 2002 by bar-knee: Red News can reveal Nantes have sold all their tickets for the game next week. It's not yet known if the Utd training session on Tuesday night will be open or closed. --------------------------------- [18] Choccy on reserves --------------------------------- Posted Thursday, February 14, 2002 by bar-knee: "Ronny and John got through with no problems. It's great to see Ronny come back from a long injury problem. He's come through 90 minutes, looked strong, fit and played very well. He looked very composed. I don't agree with what's been said about the United defence this season, I just think any players coming back is great considering the games that are now coming up for the first team in the Champions' League. In all the matches Diego's played and in training he is looking very bright, he looks as if he's got a lot of qualities that will make him a really top striker." --------------------------------- [17] Ronnie Johnsen on reserve comeback --------------------------------- Posted Thursday, February 14, 2002 by bar-knee: "It's very nice to be back. I enjoyed the game and everything went really well. I'm really happy to have got my first 90 minutes under my belt. I've been training for almost four weeks and feel really good." --------------------------------- [16] Gary Nev on England --------------------------------- Posted Thursday, February 14, 2002 by bar-knee: "You've got to play well in your first game for England. "I think you can either grow up from it or it can eat you up. Some players come in and you think 'He's made for it,' but others don't quite do the business early on and it plays on their minds a little bit. "Before you know it, the confidence is drained and they start to think they maybe can't do it at this level. "From Darius' point of view, I said to him that it was it massive for him to score in his first game. "I've seen many players come in and not score in the first few games and it seems to build on their shoulders. It seems to weigh them down slightly. "But the confidence that Darius, and Wayne Bridge, will get from Wednesday night and playing well in that arena will be incredible. "I know that from experience. You go from maybe struggling to get into your club side to playing for your country and all of a sudden you think 'I can do this,' - and they will feel that way. "It was a bit like Russian roulette on Wednesday for the young lads because they had to impress. They had maybe one chance before the World Cup to show what they can do. "Darius has taken his chance and that could play him into a World Cup finals squad place. He's got that eagerness and rawness about him and he's not going to be frightened of anybody. "What an experience that would be for somebody you would maybe have never have thought of six months ago. "But that's the way it happens in football. It happened with Michael Owen and I remember before Euro '96 that Terry Venables picked me after only 17 games for United. "Can Darius get in like Michael in 1998? Definitely. There will be two or three thinking they can do it. There's always someone who comes through at the last minute." --------------------------------- [15] Mark Hughes on Veron --------------------------------- Posted Thursday, February 14, 2002 by bar-knee: "Veron was always a threat, he's a wonderful player with great talent. Everyone wanted to see him because he's a world star. We had to take account of him, but the way we played helped stop his threat. But anyone could see what a class act he is. He has a range of passes, short and long, so he can change the point of attack. That's his strength, he's also able to carry the ball into dangerous areas. So if you don't concentrate he has the ability and vision to cause you problems." --------------------------------- [13] Choccy on Fergie --------------------------------- Posted Thursday, February 14, 2002 by bar-knee: Choccy on the rest of Fergie's reign 4thegame.com column by Brian McClair "Sir Alex Ferguson's ambition as a manager has never diminished. It has remained as a constant driving force in his professional life from the earliest days of his career in Scotland and with Manchester United. "Only those who don't know him or ever faced him would expect him to take his foot off the accelerator. But he has changed. He's more relaxed, he does delegate more and he has taken some of the pressure off himself. But while that's true there has been no loss of focus - nor will there be. "There was a time when he did everything, and I mean everything. He trained the players, coached the youngsters, planned every detail of matches and would be off scouting all over the country or watching the opposition night after night. It was a heavy workload but one he clearly has thrived on. But at a club with the resources of Manchester United you don't have to do all of that." For the full piece see: http://www.4thegame.com/features/feature/95267/ http://www.4thegame.com/features/feature/95267/
