Thought one or two of you might find this interesting: Extracts from a Voetbal International interview with Jaap Stam.

"I was a first-team player for three years and there were never complaints. Never! I was chosen best defender in Europe, Alex Ferguson even included me in United's (sic) Team of the Century. And then suddenly, in a period of two weeks, nothings right anymore, three good years completely wiped away. It has the character of a robbery. That is just strange. What is also strange is that Ferguson's son, whose a football agent, suddenly was pressed into my transfer to Lazio. I'm not saying that he earned money from it, I don't have any insight into that. But what I do know is that everyone who gets involved in transfers primarily does so to earn money."

...........(after being dropped agains Villa) I travelled to the club to talk with Ferguson. I wanted clarification over stories in the papers that I'd been fined 100,000 pounds and that my team-mates didn't want to talk with me. When I walked into his office he was busy on the phone and when he saw me he was evidently shocked at seeing me. Later I understood why, and with whom he was phoning. Eventually we talked and everything became clear. He found it very difficult, said Ferguson, but there wasn't a first team place for me anymore. He had already bought another experienced defender alongside whom the younger Wes Brown must learn and develop. Then you stand there, 29 years old, and suddenly too inexperienced...I was perplexed. Completely when I heard that United (sic) had already accepted an offer from another club. In fact I was already sold, behind my back."

Do you feel Ferguson took you for a ride?

"Yes, of course. Because Ferguson seemed mostly concerned with his own reputation. 'What are people going to think of me if they read in your book that I gave instructions to take dives, or fling physio-tables?.' This when he wrote a book himself in which he criticised Gordon Strachan and Brian Kidd, and knows how the papers can twist things. Later Ferguson came out with the story that that I wasn't as fit since my achilles tendon operation last year. Complete nonsense as far as I'm concerned. But if you think that then say it to the player so he can work on it. I think United (sic) needed the money, and as a player your nothing more than a piece of livestock. I spoke about it later with Roy Keane, and he said too 'Its a cattle market'.

-- Anonymous, September 19, 2001

Answers

I suppose from the last line that Keane is on the way out now then?

-- Anonymous, September 19, 2001

Keane's still too important to their midfield. Despite the fact he occasionally acts like a thug, slags off their fans, demands huges wage increases and criticises his club's transfer policy...he must be Taggart's lovechild or something.

-- Anonymous, September 19, 2001