Keane's gut says Chelsea will pip Man Utd to title

Polaroid

source: soccernet


Roy Keane, the former Manchester United skipper and Old Trafford folk hero, has tipped Chelsea to prevent United from securing back-to-back Premier League titles.

On the eve of the new season the Sunderland manager has revealed his 'gut feeling' that Chelsea will prove to be too strong this term, not least because of the addition of new coach Luis Felipe Scolari, but also because United are lacking a striker.

United fans may wish to dismiss Keane's prophecy, but be warned: he got it right last year. Keane said: 'For me, it's Chelsea this year. I always felt that United would do it last year but I fancy Chelsea this time.'

Explaining his theory Keane added: 'There's no African Cup of Nations in January, they've got a new manager, they've bought one or two players and, for all the ups and downs, last year they still nearly nicked it.'

Last season Chelsea's title push was undermined by the departure of key squad players to the month-long African competition, including Michael Essien and Didier Drogba, while uncertainty over the future of then coach Avram Grant did not help.

'If United get a top striker in then they've got a chance. But my gut feeling this year would still be Chelsea,' says Keane who won seven Premier League titles with United between 1994 and 2003.

Manchester United do start the new season a little light in the striker department with Wayne Rooney only just ready to return after contracting a virus he picked up on a pre-season tour in Nigeria, Louis Saha still injured and last season's 42-goal hero Cristiano Ronaldo recovering from ankle surgery; leaving Carlos Tevez and youngster Frazier Campbell as the club's only fit forwards.

Over the summer United have been labouring to prise Dimitar Berbatov from Tottenham Hotspur and a deal finally looked to be nearing this week after both side's appeared to have compromised over the 27-year-old Bulgarian's transfer fee.

However, reports of renewed interest from Barcelona could yet scupper United's approach, with Spurs boss Juande Ramos thought to be unwilling to sell Berbatov to a Premier League rival.

olesmyhero

I respectfully say you are wrong, Mr. Keane.

RufRT

Maybe he is just trying to motivate the Reds to victory....nice way to do methinks

bergen

Nah he just speaks his mind.

I think he's just very aware of the fact that 3 titles on the trot is no joke, especially with three of the strongest clubs in europe alongside you in the league.

Can't say I blame him, I go into this season with little expectations, simply because of the massive achievement it would be to retain even just one of our titles, let alone both.

EspadaYdaga

we already secured back to back titles anyway and without another striker and with a new team who will be even better this season

River_Runs_Red

well exactly what i thought. which moron wrote that piece. It should say back to back to back.

EspadaYdaga

therefore keane is speaking from the heart of his bottom

2Bullish

I would prefer it is Keano would shut the fuck up, why cast doubt on our ability to his old team mates. Why not just keep your mouth shut?

EspadaYdaga

how would he eat?

2Bullish

or blow off Scolari, good point.

Ferguson

Why is it that players magically turn into idiots when they join Liverpool?

I like Robbie Keane. I like his passion. I liked what he gave at Tottenham.

But I can already foresee how easily he is going to succumb to the Liverpool psychology and turn into a complete idiot.

Hopefully the press will get tired of him and let him simply play his football.

By Christmas the reality of life at Liverpool will have set in.

IBleedRed

People seem to forget the ridiculous amount of luck chelski had all last year in all 3 competitions

I cant remember how many games they barely won by one goal or the comparatively farcical opponents they were handed in the CL

Brwned

Thought we were talking about Roy Keane here?

Brwned

And bad luck, seeing as they had plenty of injuries too. The best make their own luck, and persevere when luck goes against them. Both Chelsea and us do both very well.

francobaresi

A very good point sir

AlwaysRedwood

KeyserSoze

Somebody did not read properly then went off on an obligatory Scouse rant methinks.

Brwned

Yeah, but all he had to read was the first two words of the article "Roy Keane...".

samabachan

Lollenham Lolspur. Rivals. That's gold right there.

USDevil

Just what I thought, especially since it seems all media outlets refuse to remember that we've already done back to back to back.

Livvie

My initial thought was that Ferguson was being a tad sarcastic and knew full well it was Roy.

Name Changed

I think unless we sign a striker Keane will be right.

krazyrobus

Well he has valid pooints, no argument there, unless we sign that striker and improve that major flaw in that squad Chelsea will win.

ooeat0meoo

Keano has made a habit of opening his gob and allowing stupit shit to come out of it now and then...


This would be another slip of judgement.

Moston Red

How can anyone predict who will win the premiership??

It's ridiculous to say Chelsea will pip united...who knows what will happen...for all we know Hull could win

Red For Ever

Great player for us, one of the greatest ever

But I am not too convinced about his judgement

This is the man who paid too much to buy Richardson from us
and if the papers are correct, he is seriously considering Saha

and some of the comments he has made since arriving at Sunderland have left me cold

After saying that anyone could predict a close title race with either United or Chelsea, and at this stage it is difficult to predict, who knows what will happen, i personally think it will be United but can understand why some will think Chelsea.

hycool

Keano speaks his mind.

Red For Ever

I think you might have missed something here !!

VidaRed

that doesn't mean he's right.

VidaRed

peterstorey

This Chelsea for the league bandwagon is beginning to piss me off. They never really looked like winning it last year and were flattered by finishing above us (who really did have a go at it). They've been getting worse for two seasons now and don't have a much better chance this year than we do.

Spoony Youngblood

Media seems to be backing Chelsea for the title. Possibly because they can;'t see us winning the title three times in a row.

Who do you reckon will win it?

Red For Ever

If it isn't us, and I think it will be
Then I would prefer Arsenal, at least they try to play good entertaining football
Just not Chelsea or even worse Liverpool.
In fact if its not us I would prefer some complete outsider, but realistically its
going to be us or Chelsea with Arsenal pushing and Liverpool flattering to deceive for part of the season
A bit like last season really

giggs-beckham

Was gonna post something simillar, so now ill just say: agreed.

Alex

He must have eaten shit for breakfast

TomCat

Well at this point you could go right either way by picking us or Chelsea.

Now if someone starts talking about Liverpool's title challenge then I would say they're delusional.

peterstorey

Well you've got to be favourites (I'd have you at a shade odds against - say 11/10 with Chelsea at 3/1 and us about 4/1). We can win it but we'll need luck with injuries plus a few other things going our way plus steps ups from a few players

Brophs

I think Clichy is going to be immense for your lot this season. I was a bit unsure of him, but he's improving in leaps and bounds, and he has the most important asset modern footballers need-pace.

You need a keeper though. I don't think Almunia is up to it over the course of a tough season. Hard to see who's available though.

FlawlessThaw

That's a fair assessment. I don't buy the media bollocks that Liverpool will finish above Arsenal, just because they brought Robbie Keane . The title race will be a three horse race next year.

ooeat0meoo

Denial is a phenominal psycological house of mirrors...



He is still a legend that say stupit shit, is all.