retired_jgirl87

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">********************************************* ************************************************** *** European Champions Cup - Wednesday 26th October 2005********************************************** ************************************************** **================================================ ================================================== 2005/6 Tables============================================ ================================================== ====Phase 1 Group CPos Team Pld Won Drn Lst For Ag Won Drn Lst For Ag Pts--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1st FC Bayern GER 5 3 0 0 7 1 0 0 2 2 4 9 2nd Lyon FRA 5 2 0 0 4 1 1 0 2 4 4 9 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------3rd Celtic SCO 5 1 0 1 2 4 1 0 2 2 3 6 4th MAN UNITED ENG 5 2 0 1 4 3 0 0 2 1 6 6 </pre>

retired_jgirl87

For the game against Tottenham at White Hart Lane there were two changes from the side that defeated Lyon in the Champions League. Scholes went out as usual for a league match and was replaced by Richardson whilst Halford replaced the injured Ferdinand. Despite his attempts to complete the transfer of his star midfield recruit, Fred West was unable to finalise the deal so the identity of the player was still unknown. However West promised that the deal was all but done and that the formal signing of a contract would take place early next week.

29.10.2005

v. Tottenham (A) Premier League

(2-4-4 Attacking) Howard; Silvestre, Heinze; O’Shea, Halford, Richardson, Evra; Solskjaer, Akinbiyi, Rossi, Ronaldo.

subs: Gray, Fortune, Fletcher, Neville, van der Sar.

Although both managers had signalled their intent to go into the match with attacking line-ups, it turned out that the first quarter of an hour hardly gave the fans anything to be joyous about. That was ended by Keane’s shot for Tottenham that fizzed just a few inches wide of Howard’s net after 16 minutes. Rossi belied his small stature by holding off King in the 20th minute and laying off a pass for Akinbiyi to hit a shot from fifteen yards which Robinson parried and Dawson hacked clear. Howard then had to punch away a Mido shot after 25 minutes before United won themselves a corner in the 28th minute. Richardson’s pinpoint delivery found Heinze rising high above Naybet to power home a header and the visitors found themselves 1-0 in front. A shoving match between Akinbiyi and Naybet found them both booked in the 33rd minute and lucky to still both be on the pitch before Manchester United ended the half with a chance to double their lead when Rossi’s stinging drive flicked the top of the crossbar on its way over in the 41st minute. Ghaly and Ronaldo traded headers that both went just wide of the post early in the second half before an incisive Tottenham attack in the 54th minute bought the home team the equaliser. King sent Keane running free on the left wing and his cross into the middle found Murphy whose diving header flew past Howard to make the score 1-1. The introduction of Jenas just before the goal had given new impetus to the Spurs midfield and he started to play an important role. Twice Jenas set up chances which Keane fluffed with a weak shot after 61 minutes and which Ghaly wasted by heading straight into Howard’s arms after 65 minutes. Jenas decide to take matters into his own hands after 69 minutes when he latched onto a loose ball in the midfield. The surging run of Jenas took him past Halford and Silvestre and was completed when he hammered a shot from twenty yards into the roof of the net via the crossbar to put Tottenham 2-1 in front. United poured forward again and only the agility of Robinson denied Rossi a first league goal when he tipped the youngster’s header over in the 81st minute. A similar fine save from Solskjaer’s volley kept Tottenham’s lead intact after 85 minutes before a late counterattack in the 87th minute saw Murphy break down the right and send over a cross which the unmarked Davids buried with a firm downward header past Howard to clinch the game at 3-1.

Tottenham 3-1 Manchester United
Murphy 54, Jenas 69, Davids 87 – Heinze 28

League Placing: 17th

There were unpleasant scenes outside White Hart Lane when the Manchester United coach left with the players and staff on board after the team’s 3-1 defeat. The police on security duty were overwhelmed by the sheer mass of United fans that had stayed behind to voice their disapproval over Fred West’s handling of first team affairs. The disgruntled fans broke through the police cordon and many supporters hurled objects at the coach. Several windows were cracked and one small window near the front shattered and sent glass scattering all over Fred West himself. As the coach driver frantically accelerated the vehicle away from the mayhem West calmly sat in his seat and proffered an upturned middle finger to the fans that ran alongside the coach shouting abuse at those inside. He was thoroughly enjoying himself.

retired_jgirl87

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">********************************************* ************************************************** *** English Premier Division - Monday 31st October 2005********************************************** ************************************************** **================================================ ================================================== 2005/6 Table============================================= ================================================== ===Pos Team Pld Won Drn Lst For Ag Won Drn Lst For Ag Pts--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1st Chelsea 10 5 0 0 10 0 3 1 1 8 4 25 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------2nd Arsenal 10 4 0 0 10 2 2 3 1 14 7 21 3rd Aston Villa 10 4 0 0 8 0 3 0 3 7 7 21 4th Blackburn 11 4 1 1 11 4 2 2 1 10 11 21 5th Fulham 11 5 1 0 14 1 0 3 2 4 6 19 6th Birmingham 11 5 1 0 19 6 0 3 2 3 10 19 7th Charlton 10 4 1 1 9 5 2 0 2 6 7 19 8th Tottenham 11 6 0 0 18 9 0 1 4 5 12 19 9th Liverpool 10 4 2 0 8 1 1 1 2 5 5 18 10th West Ham 10 4 1 0 14 5 0 1 4 4 13 14 11th Bolton 11 3 2 0 4 0 1 0 5 4 9 14 12th Middlesbrough 11 3 2 0 13 8 0 2 4 2 11 13 13th Newcastle 9 3 1 0 12 6 0 2 3 3 10 12 14th Man City 11 2 4 0 9 7 0 0 5 3 12 10 15th Sunderland 10 3 0 2 7 6 0 0 5 2 12 9 16th Wigan 11 2 2 2 9 14 0 1 4 4 14 9 17th MAN UNITED 10 1 1 2 6 6 0 4 2 7 11 8 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------18th Portsmouth 11 0 2 3 4 9 2 0 4 7 9 8 19th W.B.A. 11 2 1 3 10 10 0 0 5 3 14 7 20th Everton 11 0 2 3 4 7 1 0 5 5 15 5 </pre>

retired_jgirl87

02.11.2005

The media gathered at Old Trafford for a press conference that Fred West had called to introduce his new signing. Whilst they were keen to know who had decided to join Manchester United when the club was in this particularly dreadful position, they were also looking forward to questioning West further about his strange tactics and team selections. In fact what had happened was that the media had scented blood and now they were gunning for the under-fire Manchester United manager’s scalp. It was noticeable that only two chairs were placed at the table on the stage in front of the assembled reporters. Obviously they were for West and his new signing as no other representative of the Manchester United staff would be seen dead with the manager anymore. No-one wanted to risk being tainted by this man that chairman Malcolm Glazer had so strangely appointed as the successor to the deceased Alex Ferguson.

West entered from the rear of the room and took a seat at the table. “Ladies and gentleman, I am here to introduce the latest addition to the Manchester United playing staff. I am not here to answer questions about our league position or why certain players are not in the team. Please let me make that clear before I go on any further”. West took a break and looked around the room to make sure that he had been understood clearly and then he continued. “A week ago Rio Ferdinand broke his ankle and will miss the next four months as a result of that injury. Rio had been playing outstandingly in the defensive midfielder’s role and, with his natural replacement Alan Smith still out injured, it became clear that a new player needed to be drafted into the team. A name came to mind straight away as being the player that could take Rio’s place. I approached his club and was given permission to discuss a move. Immediately the player indicated his desire to join us here at Old Trafford. It took that as further proof that I had made the right decision by making a move for this player”.

West got to his feet and said “Ladies and gentlemen, I present you with the newest Manchester United player – Dennis Wise”. Wise himself then walked through from the rear of the room and shook hands with West before both men took a seat at the table. There was a tumult of noise as the assembled media representatives expressed their surprise at the identity of West’s big-name signing. As the noise died down West continued with his introduction. “Today I have made the bargain signing of the season – £30K was all it cost to bring Dennis Wise from Coventry for him to use all his experience in helping Manchester United get out of our current form slump. In fact I am so impressed with Dennis’s abilities that I am naming him club captain for the remainder of the season”.

West indicated that he would accept questions now and pointed to the journalist in the front with his hand raised the highest. The hack fired off an instant question to Wise. “Dennis, what does it feel like to be joining a team in 17th place on the Premier League table and one in which the manager refuses to pick Wayne Rooney and Ruud van Nistelrooy; his two best strikers?” West was immediately on his feet before Wise could answer. He stared fiercely at the journalist who had posed the question and then looked over the entire room. “Ladies and gentlemen, this press conference is over”, he announced and he walked from the room as Wise scuttled along behind him.

*** *** *** *** ***

There was a strange prequel to this game when new signing Dennis Wise was introduced to the fans. He was roundly booed by the Manchester United supporters and loudly cheered by the Chelsea supporters whom he had played in front of for many seasons in the 1990’s. Wise then took his seat in the stand to watch this League Cup 3rd Round match. In the time-honoured tradition of Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger, Manchester United manager Fred West sent out a reserve side to contest this game. Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho did not know of such traditions however and he selected a full-strength team for the London side. It looked as though United would have no chance and that a thumping was on its way for the Old Trafford youngsters.

v. Chelsea (H) League Cup 3rd Round

(2-4-4 Attacking) Steele; Ngalula, Pique; Gibson, Fletcher, Neumayr, Fortune; Solskjaer, Akinbiyi, Rossi, Giggs.

subs: Saha, Scholes, Halford, Brown, van der Sar.

Lampard and Crespo tested out Steele in the United goal in the first fifteen minutes as the home team’s youthful defence held surprisingly firm. However that strong beginning was ended in the 29th minute when Wright-Phillips beat Fortune on Chelsea’s right wing and crossed for Crespo to dart in front of Steele and head home at the near post for a 1-0 lead to the visitors. Rossi had United’s first attempt on Chelsea’s goal in the 34th minute when Cech held his header well, but the team went one better in the 36th minute when Fortune’s low centre was gloriously swept home by Solskjaer to make the score 1-1. Chelsea replied with a trio of headers by Lampard, Woodgate and Essien which all required Steele to make saves of varying difficulty. In fact the Blues could have gone into the break with the lead if Crespo’s low shot from twenty yards had not hit the post after 44 minutes. The second half began with a Crespo goal being ruled out for handball before Wright-Phillips sent a shot skimming off the top of the United crossbar. However United were amazingly starting to drag themselves back into the game, first by dampening Chelsea’s attacking fervour and then by creating some chances of their own. A 73rd minute Giggs run ended with a shot that flew into the side-netting whilst Akinbiyi headed just wide from a Neumayr cross in the 77th minute. In the final minute of regulation time Crespo wasted a good chance by shooting wide from Duff’s pass whilst Fletcher miskicked from a good position after Solskjaer set him up. A 1-1 score-line meant extra-time and in the first period Essien hit the post for Chelsea whilst Akinbiyi forced Cech into a great save from his close-range volley. In the second period Crespo fired just wide from a good position whilst United substitute Saha headed against the crossbar with a couple of minutes remaining. The deadlock could not be broken though and a penalty shootout was required. Chelsea went first and Terry scored. Neumayr equalised, Lampard put Chelsea in front and Saha equalised yet again. At 2-2 Crespo skied his attempt and United then took the lead at 3-2 when Solskjaer scored. Duff then fired high as well, but keeper Steele couldn’t win it when he saw Cech save his attempt. At 3-2 Chelsea’s Ferreira had to score to keep them alive, but he followed the lead of the previous two Blue’s penalty-takers by shooting high and miraculously United’s reserve team players had won 3-2 on penalties after a 1-1 draw.

Manchester United 1-1 Chelsea (Manchester United wins 3-2 on penalties)
Solskjaer 36 – Crespo 29

retired_jgirl87

For the home match against Charlton Fred West decided on a few changes. Wise took over the captain’s armband as he made his debut in the centre of midfield in place of the injured Ferdinand, but it was in defence where the major changes were made. Silvestre and Heinze had finally looked to be forging a decent partnership as the two-man back-line of the team, so they were dropped before they could cause further disruptions to West’s plans. Into the team came Neville and Brown to take up the duties as the protectors of keeper Howard. Up front Ronaldo had suffered a bruised shin against Tottenham the weekend before and Giggs took his place.

05.11.2005

v. Charlton (H) Premier League

(2-4-4 Attacking) Howard; Neville, Brown; O’Shea, Wise, Richardson, Evra; Solskjaer, Akinbiyi, Rossi, Giggs.

subs: Saha, Fortune, Halford, Heinze, van der Sar.

A low-key opening saw little of consequence until United were awarded a corner after 12 minutes. O’Shea’s delivery was accurate and Akinbiyi outjumped Fortune to head the home side 1-0 up with the fifth goal of his Manchester United career. Charlton’s possession on the wings was being wasted by poor delivery by Rommedahl and Thomas and Howard was having a trouble-free afternoon plucking their crosses out of the air. When Charlton finally decided to play the ball on the ground they were much more dangerous and Darren Bent’s dribbling run and pass after 34 minutes set up Marcus Bent, but the striker’s shot cannoned against the post and rebounded to safety. As injury-time began Wise made his first contribution as a United player by wriggling his way into the penalty area. Suddenly he was clear of the last defender and one-on-one with the keeper, but as he looked to go past Andersen the Dane clipped his ankle and Wise went down. Referee Graham Poll awarded a penalty and sent off Andersen for good measure. Darren Bent then made way for the reserve keeper Evans to take his place on the pitch. Evra was two for two this season from the spot, so there was no way that he was giving up the penalty-taking duties. Today however was not to be his day and Evans’ first contribution was to dive well to his left to catch Evra’s attempt. That miss left United leading 1-0 at half-time and facing only ten men for the upcoming second half. A defensively-minded Charlton emerged for the second period and they packed their own half of the park, but a Thomas breakaway in the 55th minute sprung the United offside trap. The winger laid a pass inside for Marcus Bent and he took a touch, spotted Howard slightly off his line and then chipped an exquisite shot over the keeper to make it 1-1. Evans then carried on his great start by denying Rossi and O’Shea as they looked to put United back in front whilst Rommedahl headed inches wide for Charlton. Marcus Bent nearly had his second as a half-volley flew inches wide and then Giggs fired an effort into the side netting as the game wound down. Despite their one-man disadvantage, Charlton hung on gamely and the match finished tied at 1-1.

Manchester United 1-1 Charlton
Akinbiyi 12 – M.Bent 55

League Placing: 16th

retired_milla0225

Have to say it, man after my own heart. Anything where ManYoo do badly plays well with me, but this has the added benefit of being well up to your usual writing standard.

Must get to bed now, as I do have work in the morning, and staying up to 1am isn't good preperation for it, even if I have only got 8 days left in that hole of a job.

retired_jgirl87

My shadow speaks :eek: or am I the shadow?

Thanks, cf2. This is certainly one of the more enjoyable games I've played in recent times, but the ultimate aim is perhaps more achievable by playing it on CM01/02.

retired_jgirl87

Whilst qualification from their Champion’s League group was still a mathematical possibility, in reality the best that fourth-placed Manchester United could hope for was a victory over third-place Celtic which would then move them into third spot on the group table and give them the consolation of dropping down into the UEFA Cup. Fred West made only one change from the league side that drew 1-1 with Charlton on the previous weekend as Fletcher came in for the cup-tied skipper Wise. Solskjaer was handed the captain’s armband.

08.11.2005

v. Celtic (A) Champions League Phase 1 Group C

(2-4-4 Attacking) Howard; Neville, Brown; O’Shea, Fletcher, Richardson, Evra; Solskjaer, Akinbiyi, Rossi, Giggs.

subs: Saha, Gray, Fortune, Scholes, Silvestre, Heinze, van der Sar.

The Celtic supporters taunted the Manchester United players and fans with chants that they were Britain’s best team as the game got underway. Manager West had no concerns about how the match might finish however, for he felt that United had no chance of increasing their goal-difference by enough to force their way into the second place on the group table. In the opening ten minutes the veteran winger Giggs twice had chances in his more advanced role as a fourth striker, but both efforts were well saved by Celtic keeper Marshall. Hartson then saw Neville clear his 13th minute shot off the line before O’Shea and Richardson combined in the 15th minute to set up Akinbiyi from close range and United were 1-0 up. That took the sting out of the Celtic supporter’s chants and the previously beleaguered visiting fans were able to make themselves heard at last. Celtic responded with a flurry of attacks and only a combination of good goalkeeping from Howard and poor finishing from the home players kept United in front. Hartson hit the post after 29 minutes and then Beattie, Pearson, Beattie again, Thompson and Beattie a third time all failed to equalise with glorious chances. The first half ended with Brown nodding Virgo’s header off the line to maintain United’s 1-0 lead. Evra volleyed over the crossbar in the 47th minute as the second half got underway, but it was then back to one-way traffic as Celtic poured forward again. Beattie was denied twice more by Howard, but the pressure was intense. Finally in the 79th minute Beattie got his reward when he slid in at the near post to steer home a low cross from Pearson and make the score 1-1. United defended desperately as Celtic searched for a winner and appeared to have them contained as injury-time began. The ball was up in the Manchester United forward line as Giggs took a corner, but Marshall plucked it out of the air. A quick long throw sent Zurawski racing down the right wing and the Polish substitute’s accurate cross found Hartson steaming into to ram a sidefooted effort past Howard to snatch a last gasp 2-1 victory for the Scottish team.

Celtic 2-1 Manchester United
Beattie 79, Hartson 90 – Akinbiyi 16

Hartson’s injury-time winner ended Manchester United’s European campaign for the 2005/06 season. Celtic took third place and the UEFA Cup spot on offer whilst Bayern Munich and Lyon took the two qualifying positions from this Champions League group. Meanwhile Fred West’s mobile phone rang just as the team were boarding the coach for the trip back to Manchester from Glasgow. The screen indicated that it was Sean Manc that was calling, so Fred took the call immediately. “Well fûcking done”, said Sean gleefully after Fred had answered. “The club is out of Europe at the group stage and that will gut both the players and the supporters, as well as keep the revenue down. With the team sitting in 16th place on the Premier League table at the same time, I’d have to say that I certainly made the right choice by handing this task over to you, Fred. You’ve done yourself proud and I’m really pleased with your efforts. You’ll certainly be well rewarded when this whole episode is over – you can count on that”, said Sean as he ended the call. Fred placed his mobile phone back into his coat pocket and sat back in his seat and smiled. His future was certainly going to be secure after this particular job.

retired_jgirl87

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">********************************************* ************************************************** *** European Champions Cup - Tuesday 8th November 2005********************************************** ************************************************** **================================================ ================================================== 2005/6 Tables============================================ ================================================== ====Phase 1 Group CPos Team Pld Won Drn Lst For Ag Won Drn Lst For Ag Pts--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1st Q FC Bayern GER 6 3 0 0 7 1 0 1 2 2 4 10 2nd Q Lyon FRA 6 2 1 0 4 1 1 0 2 4 4 10 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------3rd Celtic SCO 6 2 0 1 4 5 1 0 2 2 3 9 4th MAN UNITED ENG 6 2 0 1 4 3 0 0 3 2 8 6 </pre>

retired_jgirl87

16.11.2005

The break for international matches didn’t do much to help O’Shea get away from the doom and gloom of Old Trafford. He played twice for Ireland in a World Cup Qualifying Playoff and saw his country lose 1-0 at home and 3-2 away to Ukraine to bow out 4-2 on aggregate. In friendly action Silvestre, Evra and Saha all played in France’s 1-0 win over Brazil whilst van Nistelrooy played 90 minutes for Holland in their 1-1 draw with Argentina for whom Heinze appeared. Giggs captained Wales to a 2-1 win in Latvia whilst Solskjaer played for Norway in their 2-1 home defeat by Switzerland. Up north Fletcher started the match as Scotland hammered Georgia 4-1 and in Sweden it was the visiting England who won 2-0 with Neville and Rooney appearing for their country.

19.11.2005

v. Newcastle (A) Premier League

(2-4-4 Attacking) Howard; Neville, Brown; O’Shea, Wise, Richardson, Evra; Solskjaer, Akinbiyi, Rossi, Giggs.

subs: Ronaldo, Smith, Halford, Heinze, van der Sar.

Newcastle went straight on the attack at St James’s Park and had a goal after only 4 minutes when a lucky deflection from Dyer’s attempted pass for Luque fell kindly for Solano to drive home a low shot from just inside the box. Bowyer then hit the post with an effort from 25 yards after 9 minutes and Shearer had a headed goal disallowed after 10 minutes when he climbed illegally over Neville. It wasn’t until the 22nd minute that United could muster their first shot on goal with Richardson sending in a low drive that Given saved without too much effort. As the first half wore on Newcastle’s domination foundered and United started to come further into the match. After 34 minutes Solskjaer made space on the right and drove over a low cross which found Evra on the far post and the Frenchman tucked it away neatly to make the score 1-1. There was a final chance in the first half for Owen, but the striker wastefully blasted Shearer’s layoff high into the crowd when confronted with only Howard to beat. A subdued Newcastle started the second half and they appeared more content on controlling United’s attacking forays. That limited the goalmouth action somewhat and it wasn’t until the 67th minute that Giggs produced a chance as he volleyed over the crossbar from the left-hand side of the penalty area. Out of the blue Newcastle retook the lead after 70 minutes when a long ball from the back by Boumsong found Luque and he forced Howard into a diving save with his looping header. The parried save saw the ball run free and Owen swooped to hammer it home for a 2-1 lead to the Magpies. The home side then defended their lead strongly and allowed United only a half-chance which came in the 90th minute when Solskjaer wriggled free of Bramble to poke O’Shea’s cross six inches wide of the post.

Newcastle 2-1 Manchester United
Solano 4, Owen 70 – Evra 34

League Placing: 17th

After the match Fred West took satisfaction in the updated Premier League table that he saw flashed on a television screen in the St James’s Park boardroom. Manchester United were now in 17th position and only one place above the relegation zone, however the bottom four teams were all on 9 points with only goal difference keeping United out of the drop zone. Today’s defeat for the Red Devils had left them with only one win so far this season and that had come on the opening day of the campaign against Middlesbrough. Since that win the ensuing eleven games had ended in six draws and five losses for West’s men – a record which Fred was now rightly very proud of.