[RedDevils] Quality of Keane shines in the dusk
Quality of Keane shines in the dusk Liverpool v Manchester United: Kevin McCarra Saturday November 8, 2003 The Guardian Popularity is the one surprise that Anfield will not have in store for Roy Keane tomorrow. Unwavering hostility from the Liverpool supporters can be relied on during an otherwise unpredictable match, but the Manchester United captain is refashioning his reputation. A man previously regarded as a terrorist of the football field has begun to look statesmanlike. I nearly fainted at the Arsenal match when he got a hold of Patrick Vieira to keep him out of trouble, said Pat Crerand, the great United midfield player of the 60s. It must have been a revelation for Keane to appreciate that his fists could be used for peacekeeping. Opponents have often regarded him as a devil and he has had demons of his own to tame. The former United head of security Ned Kelly, in his recently serialised memoirs, spoke of the effect that alcohol could have on the player and recalls being alerted that Keane was running around the street with a knife and a stick after an argument with a neighbour in 1997. That same year Keane, suffering from sleep deprivation and emotional havoc after a drunken brawl in midweek, tore his cruciate ligament as he tried to foul Alf Inge Haaland. It is injuries which have begun to direct Keane's career. That one made him determind to prize his fitness in future and, in August last year, there was further harsh enlightenment when a red card at Sunderland was the cue for him to undergo a long-postponed hip operation. The scalpel was in the hands of Richard Villar, but further reconstruction work had to be carried out by Keane himself. In my life, I am trying to get things level, he had said just before walking out of the 2002 World Cup finals. After the surgery, it became a necessity to re-evaluate himself as a footballer since he could no longer trust in reckless energy or aggression. The introspection led him to talk about the end of his career as if it were imminent, and a return to action which coincided with defeats at Blackburn and Middlesbrough recruited observers to his pessimism. It has been surprising, therefore, that Sir Alex Ferguson, by restricting his appearances, has encouraged the emergence of a Keane whose influence is more judicious yet as extensive as ever. While still a youngster at Cobh Ramblers, he modelled himself on the United captain of that time. Bryan Robson wasn't brilliant, Keane has written, but he was awesome. He might have been describing the sort of overpowering effect he himself had at, say, Newcastle in August. His former hero is repaying Keane's compliments. As soon as players have an operation, people get carried away and talk about all the things they won't be able to do any more, said Robson, but the likes of Alan Shearer and Roy will prove them wrong again and again. He used to be able to do everything anyway. He could sit and hold or get forward and score goals. So it's not a problem to someone of Roy's talent when Sir Alex asks him nowadays to stay closer to the back four. He's got the football brain to adapt to different roles. It's not just about getting your tackles in and getting up and down the pitch. He can pass, he's got a good touch on the ball and he's strong in the air. Robson's life at United had a similar pattern as Keane's, with injuries teaching him that vitality is a precious substance to be dispensed with care. Sir Alex just wanted me to hold back and let the young lads like Lee Sharpe, Ryan Giggs and Andrei Kanchleskis do the running, he said. The idea was to use their legs and save yours. Though Keane is far from sedentary, he is more discriminating in his rushes downfield and his existence has been pared down in other regards as well. It must be great for him that there are no Ireland games to worry about and a bit less travelling to do, said Crerand, who works for United's TV channel. Now that he's fit and focused only on the club, it's a big bonus for United. Roy's got his old zest back. Before Tuesday's win over Rangers in the Champions League, Ferguson commented that Keane could no longer shuttle constantly between penalty areas, but the observation was made without regret and once the Scottish champions had been beaten 3-0 he picked Keane out as the best player of his 17 years at Old Trafford. Crerand considers that the captain, 32, will be capable of bearing out the truth of that accolade for some time to come. You don't have to be a box-to-box player as you get older, he said. You pass it better and you realise you don't have to make that 40-yard run because the ball will do it for you. Keane is now on the same sort of regime that was once set out for Robson in his closing phase at Old Trafford. Robson said: When you get older you just need to keep your body ticking over. The games will keep you fit once you get into the season. The manager had a modified training routine for me and it will be the same with
[RedDevils] United eye Anelka - claim
Manchester United want to sign Manchester City striker Nicolas Anelka, the Sunday Mirror claims. United will try to sign the Frenchman if they fail in a bid for AC Milan's Andrei Shevchenko, the paper says. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Yahoo! Groups Sponsor -~-- Buy Ink Cartridges or Refill Kits for your HP, Epson, Canon or Lexmark Printer at MyInks.com. Free s/h on orders $50 or more to the US Canada. http://www.c1tracking.com/l.asp?cid=5511 http://us.click.yahoo.com/mOAaAA/3exGAA/qnsNAA/tsUolB/TM -~- *** Reply to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe to the list: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe from the list: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
[RedDevils] Ferguson set to sign new United deal
Sir Alex Ferguson could stay in charge of Manchester United until 2007 at least. He is set to agree a new deal to stay at Old Trafford beyond his 65th birthday, which is on December 31st 2006. Ferguson is close to securing his future with the club he has managed for 17 years and said: We have had good discussions and we are not far away. It could be done in the next week. The length of the contract is open to discussion. That is one of the areas we are discussing. How long should I stay on? It is a difficult one. I would probably think until I am 65 years old. I have made the point of saying that I am enjoying it and I have my health, and I think that is the way of looking at it. Ferguson will reach his 65th birthday midway through the 2006-07 season, and says if his appetite for the job remains as it is now he could work on. He plans to prevent a repeat of the situation which occurred when he made his original retirement plans public. At that time he announced that he would quit at the end of the 2001-02 season and blamed that for a drop in form. That is one of the issues we are discussing at the moment, said Ferguson, rather than putting a date on something. Time is important. If you have got time you can plan. Not everybody is in that luxurious position in management I'm afraid, but I have been lucky in that way. Ferguson scrapped his original retirement plans on February 26 2002 when he did what he described as an amazing U-turn and signed a new three-year deal. I do think about that sometimes. It wasn't my decision to stay, it was my wife's, but I think it was what I wanted to hear when she said I should. When I think about it now I wonder what I would have done. I could travel and go throughout the world because you could afford to do it, but there are only so many times you can go to New York or any of these places.'' [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Yahoo! Groups Sponsor -~-- Buy Ink Cartridges or Refill Kits for your HP, Epson, Canon or Lexmark Printer at MyInks.com. Free s/h on orders $50 or more to the US Canada. http://www.c1tracking.com/l.asp?cid=5511 http://us.click.yahoo.com/mOAaAA/3exGAA/qnsNAA/tsUolB/TM -~- *** Reply to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe to the list: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe from the list: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
[RedDevils] BROWN READY TO RETUR
Sir Alex Ferguson believes Wes Brown could make a shock return to the Manchester United first team in three weeks. The England international suffered a cruciate knee ligament injury against Everton on the final day of last season and was not excepted to return before the turn of the year. Brown, though, has made good progress and United boss Ferguson feels he will be ready to return in The Red Devils' upcoming Carling Cup clash with West Brom. Wes hopefully will play in the Carling Cup tie at West Brom in three weeks, said Ferguson. He is over the injury completely and he's looking terrific. I am just praying now that he can stay fit. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Yahoo! Groups Sponsor -~-- Buy Ink Cartridges or Refill Kits for your HP, Epson, Canon or Lexmark Printer at MyInks.com. Free s/h on orders $50 or more to the US Canada. http://www.c1tracking.com/l.asp?cid=5511 http://us.click.yahoo.com/mOAaAA/3exGAA/qnsNAA/tsUolB/TM -~- *** Reply to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe to the list: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe from the list: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
[RedDevils] Liverpool v Man Utd inc score
Liverpool 1 Man Utd 2 Manchester United claimed a third successive Premiership victory by beating Liverpool 2-1 after a frantic second half at Anfield. Two goals from Ryan Giggs did the job in a 12-minute spell, and although Harry Kewell pulled one back, the champions had shown Liverpool what the winning business is all about. There was no Michael Owen for the hosts after he failed to make a good enough recovery from his ankle injury to even make the 16-man squad. And the first half was a bitter disappointment with both sides respecting each other too much and rarely threatening to break the deadlock. Liverpool had plenty of early pressure but did not give Tim Howard a shot to save, just a hasty snap shot over from Vladimir Smicer and a couple of efforts from Kewell, one a dipping 20-yard volley. The pace quickened from both sides after the break, Kewell forcing Howard into a leaping save at one end while Djimi Traore's clearance stopped Diego Forlan's cross reaching Ruud van Nistelrooy. Then Jerzy Dudek brought back memories of last season's howlers when he cleared poorly on the left of his box. The ball found Giggs, some 40 yards out, and the Welshman's instant drive back was goalbound had not Dudek somehow managed to hurl himself back across goal to get a glove in the way. The breakthrough, when it came, was somewhat fortunate. On 57 minutes Giggs swung over an angled cross which van Nistelrooy attacked with a run across Dudek, but he did not get a touch and the ball sailed straight into the far corner of the net. And on 69 minutes it looked all over. Forlan crossed from the left, van Nistelrooy missed it and Giggs, unmarked on the right of the box, had time to control the ball and lash it past an unprotected Dudek. Anthony Le Tallec immediately replaced El-Hadji Diouf, and Liverpool found some fight, pulling a goal back on 75 minutes. Florent Sinama-Pongolle's clever overhead kick from the byline was neatly side-footed home by Kewell. Then Pongolle got through the middle and went down in the area but referee Graham Poll rightly waved away appeals for a penalty with no contact made. Danny Murphy created a gilt-edged chance for Emile Heskey in injury time, but the striker fell and managed only a faint connection, the ball slipping wide and United were home and dry. Referee: G Poll Attendance: 44159 Liverpool: Jerzy Dudek, Steve Finnan, Igor Biscan, Sami Hyypia, Djimi Traore El Hadji Diouf (Anthony Le Tallec, 70), Danny Murphy, Steven Gerrard, Vladimir Smicer (Florent Sinama Pongolle, 63), Emile Heskey, Harry Kewell Subs: Chris Kirkland, Salif Alassane Diao, John Arne Riise, Anthony Le Tallec, Florent Sinama Pongolle Man Utd: Tim Howard, Gary Neville, Rio Ferdinand, Mikael Silvestre, John O Shea, Quinton Fortune (Darren Fletcher, 83), Phil Neville, Roy Keane, Ryan Giggs, Ruud van Nistelrooy, Diego Forlan Subs: Roy Carroll, Cristiano Ronaldo, Nicky Butt, Eric Djemba-Djemba, Darren Fletcher Action: 33 min - Booking, Ruud van Nistelrooy (Man Utd), Persistent infringement 53 min - Booking, Gary Neville (Man Utd), Unsporting behaviour 59 min - Goal, Ryan Giggs, (Man Utd) 63 min - Substitution, Sinama Pongolle on for Smicer, (Liverpool) 64 min - Booking, El Hadji Diouf (Liverpool), Unsporting behaviour 70 min - Substitution, Le Tallec on for Diouf, (Liverpool) 70 min - Goal, Ryan Giggs, (Man Utd) 76 min - Goal, Harry Kewell, (Liverpool) 83 min - Substitution, Fletcher on for Fortune, (Man Utd) Yahoo! Groups Sponsor -~-- Buy Ink Cartridges or Refill Kits for your HP, Epson, Canon or Lexmark Printer at MyInks.com. Free s/h on orders $50 or more to the US Canada. http://www.c1tracking.com/l.asp?cid=5511 http://us.click.yahoo.com/mOAaAA/3exGAA/qnsNAA/tsUolB/TM -~- *** Reply to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe to the list: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe from the list: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
[RedDevils] PREM: League update
*** RESULTS ON 09/11/03 *** Sunday 9th November 2003 Chelsea 5-0 Newcastle United 41,332 Liverpool 1-2 Manchester United 44,159 Manchester City 0-3 Leicester City46,966 *** CONDENSED LEAGUE TABLE *** (as at 09/11/03) Pos Team P W D L F A GD Pts -- 1 Arsenal 12 9 3 0 25 10 15 30 2 Chelsea 12 9 2 1 26 9 17 29 3 Manchester United 12 9 1 2 23 7 16 28 4 Charlton Athletic 12 6 3 3 19 154 21 5 Birmingham City 12 5 5 2 11 83 20 6 Manchester City 12 5 3 4 22 157 18 7 Fulham12 5 3 4 22 184 18 8 Liverpool 12 5 2 5 18 144 17 9 Southampton 12 4 5 3 10 73 17 10 Newcastle United 12 4 4 4 16 18 -2 16 11 Portsmouth12 4 3 5 17 161 15 12 Middlesbrough 12 4 2 6 11 15 -4 14 13 Tottenham Hotspur 12 3 3 6 11 16 -5 12 14 Bolton Wanderers 12 2 6 4 9 19 -10 12 15 Leicester City12 3 2 7 19 21 -2 11 16 Aston Villa 12 2 5 5 9 15 -6 11 17 Everton 11 2 4 5 12 15 -3 10 -- 18 Wolverhampton 12 2 4 6 8 24 -16 10 19 Blackburn Rovers 11 2 2 7 15 21 -6 8 20 Leeds United 12 2 2 8 11 31 -20 8 Theatre Of Dreams: http://www.Red11.org *** All you need to know about Manchester United Football Club Webmasters: Barry Leeming Bill McArthur Reports: Salford Lass Red Kelly Graphics: Sam Hayward Stats: Paul Hinson Official MuTV Masterfan 1999 To SUBSCRIBE/UNSUBSCRIBE to RED11 MUFC Daily News: Subscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Yahoo! Groups Sponsor -~-- Buy Ink Cartridges or Refill Kits for your HP, Epson, Canon or Lexmark Printer at MyInks.com. Free s/h on orders $50 or more to the US Canada. http://www.c1tracking.com/l.asp?cid=5511 http://us.click.yahoo.com/mOAaAA/3exGAA/qnsNAA/tsUolB/TM -~- *** Reply to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe to the list: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe from the list: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
[RedDevils] PREM: Manchester United
*** TEAM STATISTICS - MANCHESTER UNITED *** RESULTS / FIXTURES == Date Opposition Result Pos Attendance - 16/08/03 Bolton Wanderers Home W 4-0 2 67,647 23/08/03 Newcastle United Away W 2-1 1 52,165 27/08/03 WolverhamptonHome W 1-0 2 67,648 31/08/03 Southampton Away L 0-1 2 32,066 13/09/03 Charlton AthleticAway W 2-0 2 26,078 21/09/03 Arsenal Home D 0-0 3 67,639 27/09/03 Leicester City Away W 4-1 3 32,044 04/10/03 Birmingham City Home W 3-0 2 67,633 18/10/03 Leeds United Away W 1-0 2 40,153 25/10/03 Fulham Home L 1-3 3 67,727 01/11/03 Portsmouth Home W 3-0 3 67,639 09/11/03 LiverpoolAway W 2-1 3 44,159 NEXTBlackburn Rovers Home PW 3-1 RESULTS SUMMARY === __ __ __ | Home | Away | Total | _|__|__|__| | | | | | | Played| 6 (32%)| 6 (32%)| 12 (32%)| |_|__|__|__| | | | | | | Won | 4 (67%)| 5 (83%)| 9 (75%)| |_|__|__|__| | | | | | |Drawn| 1 (17%)| 0 (0%) | 1 (8%) | |_|__|__|__| | | | | | |Lost | 1 (17%)| 1 (17%)| 2 (17%)| |_|__|__|__| | | | | | | For | 12 (2.0/game) | 11 (1.8/game) | 23 (1.9/game) | |_|__|__|__| | | | | | | Against | 3 (0.5/game) | 4 (0.7/game) | 7 (0.6/game) | |_|__|__|__| | | | | | | Points| 13 (2.2/game) | 15 (2.5/game) | 28 (2.3/game) | |_|__|__|__| Current league position: 3rd Current predicted position: 1st Current form position: 2nd Current form index: 64% Average home attendance: 67,656 Home attendance position: 1st Average away attendance: 37,778 Away attendance position: 8th Highest league position: 2nd Lowest league position: 3rd Average league position: 3rd (all excluding first 4 matches) STATISTICS == __ ___ | | | | Best | 4-0 at home to Bolton Wanderers, 16/08/03 | | win | | |__|___| | | | |Worst | 1-3 at home to Fulham, 25/10/03 | |defeat| | |__|___| | | | | Best home | 4-0 at home to Bolton Wanderers, 16/08/03 | | win | | |__|___| | | | | Worst home | 1-3 at home to Fulham, 25/10/03 | |defeat| | |__|___| | | | | Best away | 4-1 away at Leicester City, 27/09/03 | | win | | |__|___| | | | | Worst away | 0-1 away at Southampton, 31/08/03 |
