RUMOURS, gossip and transfer speculation were plentiful at a rain-soaked Tolka Park yesterday, where Manchester United beat the National League All Stars 4-1 in a preseason friendly. A programme seller reported a sighting of Alan Shearer in Abrakebabra on Westmoreland Street in the early hours of the night before and took that as evidence, along with Andy Cole's absence from Dublin, that England's European Championship hero would make a sensational debut in a red shirt on Irish soil.
Guffaw and chuckles greeted the claim, but it didn't stop those who had heard it from paying extra attention to the announcement of the teams. Alas there was no Shearer, leaving the identity of the man in Abrakebabra a mystery, but there was a certain Frenchman. Collar up, chest out, number seven on his back, ah oui, Eric Cantona was in town.
The absence of Giggs, Cole, Schmeichel and the Neville brothers, as well as new signings Jordi Cruyff and Karel Poborsky, left Cantona as the centre of most of the crowd's attention and it was the United captain who set up the first of his team's goals in the 23rd minute, playing a perfect through ball to Lee Sharpe who rounded goalkeeper Alan Gough to score. Within three minutes however Eddie Gormley had equalised for the National League, chipping Raimond Van der Gouw from the edge of the box - just reward for the St Patrick's Athletic midfielder who had a fine first half.
It took United just two minutes to restore their lead when an unchallenged Gary Pallister headed home a Sharpe corner and the left winger was the provider again in the 43rd minute when he set up an easy goal for Paul Scholes. The soft centre of the home defence was punished with United's fourth and final goal of the match on the stroke of half time which, much to the crowd's delight, was claimed by Eric Cantona following fine work by Brian McClair.
By the time the second half started the heavens had opened and much of the football matched the miserable conditions. The bravest performance of the half came from the linesman who, having already ruled first half goals by Keane and Cantona as off-side, raised his flag again for a 58th minute effort which Cnntona had set up for Scholes. An unhappy Frenchman approached a nervous looking linesman, the crowd held its breath, but Cantona simply pointed to his eye and suggested to the official that his eyesight was not all that it should be. Phew.
Alex Ferguson was satisfied with his team's performance, the second of a seven match pre-season programme that includes next weekend's Umbro Tournament in Nottingham where they will play Forest, Chelsea and Ajax. After confirming that both Cruyff and Poborsky would be arriving at Old Trafford next weak to begin their United careers he refused to be drawn on whether or not Alan Shearer would be joining them. "I think the least said the better to be honest with you - they get very up-pity up therein Blackburn you known. I can't say that he might join United simply because we don't know their thoughts. We've made a bid and that's it."
Ferguson also stressed that Andy Cole (or Anti Goal as some United fans have now christened him) has a future at United and denied that the Shearer speculation has bothered him. "I don't think it's affected Andy at all. We don't want to sell anyone - we want a full compliment of players that will help us challenge for the Champions' League and also for the League. We were fortunate last year that none of our midfield or front players got injured, but we suffered with injury setbacks in the defensive positions - that took its toll in December when Bruce, Pallister, Irwin and Schmeichel at different times were all injured."
With success in the Champions' League clearly United's main priority for next season, Ferguson admitted his main concern is getting the full co-operation of the League as the team attempts to improve on previous European Cup struggles. "A couple of seasons ago we played Leeds on a Sunday and Barcelona on a Wednesday in the Champions' League which was a piece of nonsense really.
"You need to have help from the League - they wanted us to play Liverpool on a Sunday before a Champions League game next season so we talked to them about it and they changed it to a Saturday morning. If we can get the proper preparations and help this time it will give us a better chance. I think the players have improved tactically and in Cruyff and Poborsky we have two players who have plenty of experience of playing in Europe," concluded Ferguson.
