What are your feelings on Roy Keane?

ryansgirl

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Do you really not remember how bad Keane was at Celtic?

He was “forced out” of United because he was in massive decline, couldn’t come to terms with it and started acting like a twat and blaming everyone but himself. It must have been really difficult for such a driven perfectionist, but he was clearly finished.

None of that in any way diminishes the fact that he was an unbelievably fantastic player for us for an amazingly long time.
Nice twists of exaggeration there. Keano was not in 'massive' decline - he had lost some of his edge physically and of course he was frustrated about that. Sir Alex would have accepted that and even probably would have accepted the tongue lashing of the squad.

The real issue was Keano had criticized Alex Ferguson The Manager for a few things including the Magnier racehorse controversy. That was why he had to go. In his entire career Alex Ferguson never tolerated public or private criticism from or inappropriate communication in other ways from players.

His managerial style and success was based on being stronger than the players and they had to acknowledge that and respect him. Publicly and privately. They had to maintain awareness of media power and not put themselves or the club in the position where information or gossip was leaking. That was why Jaap Staam was sold despite the excuse he had supposedly lost half a yard of pace.

That was nonsense. Jaap was bundled out of the club because his book revealed some private matters of United. I didn't think the revelations were damaging but Alex Ferguson objected to them. As for the Magnier incident, can somebody remind me again exactly what Roy Keane said?
 
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Foxbatt

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Keane was told by "someone" in Ireland to tell Fergie that he is not going to win the legal case against the Magniers. SAF had filed a case against the Magniers on the ownership of Rock of Gibraltar. So Keane passed him the message and advised him to back of as Keane was right in that it was ridiculous to file the charge against the owners of the club in a matter that had nothing to do with Manchester United.
Keane as a Manager at United is something most people cannot accept. Keane as a coach or assistant is another matter.
 

Revaulx

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Bad at Celtic? I remember him being injured most of the time or playing as an emergency centre back for them but never ‘bad’ . Got the MotM vs Rangers too if I remember.

It was for the best that he left and in hindsight it was a good decision but he was actually still a decent player. The guy was definitely never the force he was after his hip surgery in 02-03 but his last full season in 04-05 was actually a pretty good one for form (Performances against Liverpool and Arsenal in particular). His stats for tackles won and passes were as good as ever and I’d take that over the hill version over Matic any day and that’s not an exaggeration.
Yeah I don't really disagree with the bolded bits. His decline was fairly precipitous; I remember his few performances at the start of 05-06 as being pretty awful.

I won't be at all surprised if Matic starts the season really well and there will be a good deal of I Told You So-ing. It won't last though.
 

clarkydaz

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Keane had a blazing row with querios and also the mutv interview was a big factor.

The dressing row must have been bad for fergie to state that if keane stayed he would have lost his authority over the squad.

I wish keane could have stayed and retired at united
he turned on Fergie aswell in that meeting questioning him saying "you too gaffer, we need more from you, were slipping". that's where he would have lost authority infront of the squad, and was gone
 

Sir Scott McToMinay

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he turned on Fergie aswell in that meeting questioning him saying "you too gaffer, we need more from you, were slipping". that's where he would have lost authority infront of the squad, and was gone
I remember reading that Fletcher said that Keane’s criticism pushed him to become a better player, I wouldn’t be surprised if that “rant” gave more our players that extra kick they’ve needed.
 

André Dominguez

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I remember reading that Fletcher said that Keane’s criticism pushed him to become a better player, I wouldn’t be surprised if that “rant” gave more our players that extra kick they’ve needed.
If only was that simple we would hire Connor McGregor as a motivator.
 

Kerry Donaghy

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Do you really not remember how bad Keane was at Celtic?

He was “forced out” of United because he was in massive decline, couldn’t come to terms with it and started acting like a twat and blaming everyone but himself. It must have been really difficult for such a driven perfectionist, but he was clearly finished.

None of that in any way diminishes the fact that he was an unbelievably fantastic player for us for an amazingly long time.
He's the hardly the first great player to decline rapidly because of injury.
Considering all he had done for the club, they could have at least let him leave that summer rather than shoving him out the door mid-season.
Plus, considering some of the players that have played for us since he left, surely he had a point when he raised concerns about the standards.
 

clarkydaz

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He's the hardly the first great player to decline rapidly because of injury.
Considering all he had done for the club, they could have at least let him leave that summer rather than shoving him out the door mid-season.
Plus, considering some of the players that have played for us since he left, surely he had a point when he raised concerns about the standards.
Yet he called out his team mates, insulted the coach and questioned the manager. He had to be removed from the enviroment
 

ZLATAN9

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I hear people saying Roy Keane for director of football at the club And even though he was a fantastic player with a never die attitude (even if he was a little crazy and scary at times)- Bruce ,Pallister And Neville would tell you that.
If he gets dof role we are doomed he will make Ole look stupid in front of the whole team Which would make them lose all Respect for him.
 

Zarlak

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He seems like a dickhead of a person, always incredibly bitter, obnoxious and arrogant which some people seem to confuse with 'takes no shit' the same way Trump supporters says he 'tells it like it is' but was an incredible player for the club and a huge instrument in our success. The fire he demonstrated on the pitch is sorely lacking these days.
 

Guapa

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Love the guy. Total respect. Need more like him at UTD these days.
 
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Nucks

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He seems like a dickhead of a person, always incredibly bitter, obnoxious and arrogant which some people seem to confuse with 'takes no shit' the same way Trump supporters says he 'tells it like it is' but was an incredible player for the club and a huge instrument in our success. The fire he demonstrated on the pitch is sorely lacking these days.
Everything that made Keane a leader on the pitch, makes him a difficult person to deal with off the pitch. He's a the kind of guy who holds everyone to his(real or imagined) standard. On the pitch, it means 150% effort at all times, take no prisoners, make no friends with the other team and go out on your shield for your club and team mates. The problem is, while that might be an admirable trait for a captain and athlete in a team sport, people like that tend to apply the same sort of mentality to interpersonal relationships outside of the game. So they apply their own expectations on people outside of sport, and that doesn't really tend to wash.

That mentality in sport is also really only effective when you are at your peak, when you start to slide, other players are going to react like "Who the feck is this guy to treat me like this". At their best, players like that are force multipliers. They get on the field, and they raise the level of everyone around them through fear, respect and their own effort level. At worst they are cancer to the club, and this is never more obvious in the declining years of their career when they still have the mentality, and the expectations, but don't have the legs to back it up.

I like him, but I can see why people don't.
 

berbasloth4

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our greatest ever captain.. irelands greatest ever player.. we miss someone like him in the changing room. just get him in there in some capacity.
 

mariachi-19

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His personality traits tend to make me think he would never be able to work under a player he once captained. Not going to happen, not in a million years.

Keane was a great player, but is a massive flawed human being. He is far too bitter about life, but perhaps that is what makes Roy Keane, Roy Keane.

The only manager that would ever have the audacity or the ability to control him would be Fergie and neither of them take particular fancy to the other. Would rather see Cantona is support of Ole rather than Keane.
 

sglowrider

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He was a fantastic player for a period of time but he was 'protected' by Fergie towards his last 3 years at United by having runners ahead of Keano. We carried him and by Fergie's genius, we got away with it in large parts. Not sure his ego could eventually deal with that reality.

The downsides were that he was constantly full of negative stories in the Press with his drinking or anger management outbursts.

And finally, for all his whining about OT and the prawn sandwich brigade, wasn't it Keano who held the club hostage for nearly 18 months with what was then his outrageous salary demand, (highest paid in the league then)?

Otherwise, a top top player for United.
 

Zarlak

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Everything that made Keane a leader on the pitch, makes him a difficult person to deal with off the pitch. He's a the kind of guy who holds everyone to his(real or imagined) standard. On the pitch, it means 150% effort at all times, take no prisoners, make no friends with the other team and go out on your shield for your club and team mates. The problem is, while that might be an admirable trait for a captain and athlete in a team sport, people like that tend to apply the same sort of mentality to interpersonal relationships outside of the game. So they apply their own expectations on people outside of sport, and that doesn't really tend to wash.

That mentality in sport is also really only effective when you are at your peak, when you start to slide, other players are going to react like "Who the feck is this guy to treat me like this". At their best, players like that are force multipliers. They get on the field, and they raise the level of everyone around them through fear, respect and their own effort level. At worst they are cancer to the club, and this is never more obvious in the declining years of their career when they still have the mentality, and the expectations, but don't have the legs to back it up.

I like him, but I can see why people don't.
That's really not true, there's no inherent link between being good and passionate about something, and being a dick. It's just that when you're so good at something, people will make excuses for you and it's easier for you to feel self important and buy into your own bullshit because of your abilities and the adoration that you have. But it's also completely possible to be a decent person at the same time.
 

Kerry Donaghy

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Yet he called out his team mates, insulted the coach and questioned the manager. He had to be removed from the enviroment
Yes, as I said, after a 4-1 defeat against Middlesbrough in an analysis that he was contractually obliged to do for MUTV.
Roy being Roy, had the balls to call the performance what it was, a shambles, I personally would rather pay money to hear an honest assessment like that over the usual nodding dog, media-trained, yes-man tripe that we normally hear from pundits.
 

clarkydaz

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Yes, as I said, after a 4-1 defeat against Middlesbrough in an analysis that he was contractually obliged to do for MUTV.
Roy being Roy, had the balls to call the performance what it was, a shambles, I personally would rather pay money to hear an honest assessment like that over the usual nodding dog, media-trained, yes-man tripe that we normally hear from pundits.
Yes thats great, now what about insulting the coach and manager infront of the sqaud
 

MancunianAngels

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he turned on Fergie aswell in that meeting questioning him saying "you too gaffer, we need more from you, were slipping". that's where he would have lost authority infront of the squad, and was gone
Again, he was spot on with that assessment. It was an attitude shared by loads of people around November 2005
 

royboy16

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He was a fantastic player for a period of time but he was 'protected' by Fergie towards his last 3 years at United by having runners ahead of Keano. We carried him and by Fergie's genius, we got away with it in large parts. Not sure his ego could eventually deal with that reality.

The downsides were that he was constantly full of negative stories in the Press with his drinking or anger management outbursts.

And finally, for all his whining about OT and the prawn sandwich brigade, wasn't it Keano who held the club hostage for nearly 18 months with what was then his outrageous salary demand, (highest paid in the league then)?

Otherwise, a top top player for United.
I wouldnt begruge him a decent salary.The man justified it on the pitch.
 

We'll See Out There!

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Again, he was spot on with that assessment. It was an attitude shared by loads of people around November 2005
Correct. We had two very rich United supporting guys on the hook seriously interested in owning the Club. Mega rich MoFo's. Instead we got the Glazers fleecing our club to the tune of 1 Billion sheets and of course, the no value in the market shite! All because of SAF's fall-out over a feckin horse. Keano was right to call the gaffer out on that score I'd say.
 

cyril C

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Everything that made Keane a leader on the pitch, makes him a difficult person to deal with off the pitch. He's a the kind of guy who holds everyone to his(real or imagined) standard. On the pitch, it means 150% effort at all times, take no prisoners, make no friends with the other team and go out on your shield for your club and team mates. The problem is, while that might be an admirable trait for a captain and athlete in a team sport, people like that tend to apply the same sort of mentality to interpersonal relationships outside of the game. So they apply their own expectations on people outside of sport, and that doesn't really tend to wash.

That mentality in sport is also really only effective when you are at your peak, when you start to slide, other players are going to react like "Who the feck is this guy to treat me like this". At their best, players like that are force multipliers. They get on the field, and they raise the level of everyone around them through fear, respect and their own effort level. At worst they are cancer to the club, and this is never more obvious in the declining years of their career when they still have the mentality, and the expectations, but don't have the legs to back it up.

I like him, but I can see why people don't.
Well said.
 

Irwin99

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Another underappreciated part of his character perhaps was that for all his wage demands and eventually breaking United's pay structure in 1999-00 he actually put some of his best performances of his career that season and won the PFA and FWA player of the year awards at at time when Juventus and Bayern Munich were ready to take him from us. For all this talk about players 'heads being turned' by transfers it's nice to remember a player giving his all. His future with us at the start if that season was very uncertain yet the guy fecking dragged us to victory at Highbury in August.
 

Pow

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For all the talk of him being past it at the time. Didnt he have a stormer of a game against liverpool near the end before he left ? Im sure he could have been managed like scholes and giggs were in the twilight of their careers. Though the new gen coming through did brilliantly themselves.
 

GBBQ

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I love Keane, he was my favourite player growing up and definitely a huge reason for me loving United. That being said, the guy is too volatile for what is required to rebuild United.

Plenty of stories of him losing the rag with players at club and international level. I think he was a good foil for Martin O'Neill because neither of them seem to be overly interested in tactics and prefer players with heart and application. One good season at Sunderland aside I've not seen any evidence that he has any coaching acumen and rather than add his volatility to the already fragile state of affairs i'd prefer we looked elsewhere.
 

Foxbatt

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Without Roy Keane we would not have won all that stuff. He is a flawed individual who led this great club to so many victories. He is also one of the best midfield players of his generation. I remember Keane dragging Ireland to the WC Finals against a tough group compromising Portugal and the Netherlands. It might be said that he expects everyone to be at least at his level and give the same commitments as he gives. He always said that he plays to win and it was not a just a game to him.
 

red4ever 79

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Who cares what Keane is like post Utd. We should all remember him for what he gave the club as a player. He gave his life, his body. Probably our greatest captain of all time and a true Manchester United legend. Our most influential player of the last 30 years along with Cantona.
 

Kerry Donaghy

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yes hence why Keane was handed his arse. Glad we got that sorted
No, that would suggest it was personal, and when u make things personal then you're not putting the needs of the club first, he did the same with Becks and Jaap Staam.
Just to be clear, Ferguson will always be a legend to me, but, like everyone else, he made mistakes.
 

clarkydaz

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No, that would suggest it was personal, and when u make things personal then you're not putting the needs of the club first, he did the same with Becks and Jaap Staam.
Just to be clear, Ferguson will always be a legend to me, but, like everyone else, he made mistakes.
nice 2 week bump :D. You walk in work tomorrow insult your colleagues and bosses on the work floor and get back to us. Nothing personal about it
 

Green_Red

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What's the caf's thoughts on Ole hiring Keano as assistant ?

I think he should do it. Majority of these players play knowing theres no consequence for their shite performances week in week out. Don't think they'd want to face Roy in the dressing room after those losses to Cardiff/Huddersfield etc.
Roy Keane is my favourite player ever. Hiring him could be a huge mistake. He burns bridges and you can have a member of staff upsetting the apple cart. It's a romantic appointment but as an Ireland fan and Irishman I can say hand on heart if you're the type of person that would walk away from a world cup for your country then you have no loyalty to anyone. Teams are built on loyalty and teamwork.
 

Green_Red

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Technically poor, tactically awful, negative leader; a butcher on the pitch and a toxic person.

The most overrated player ever. Only rated in the UK and his country.

Vieira on his bad days was twice the player and if Keane played today, he would play for a championship side.

He's a terrible manager too.
Only rated in UK? You're talking absolute shite. My brother in law is from Turin and the first time I met him and he found out I was a United supporter he said "Roy Keane?! What a player". He would have named any club in the world at his peak and walked into the starting XI, no question.
 

Jib

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Only rated in UK? You're talking absolute shite. My brother in law is from Turin and the first time I met him and he found out I was a United supporter he said "Roy Keane?! What a player". He would have named any club in the world at his peak and walked into the starting XI, no question.
Why are you lying ?
 

cyril C

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He’s after leaving Forest.

Talks he wants to going back to management.
Keane has failed on so many counts in managing adults. Perhaps he should start with coaching U11, back to basics.
 

RedRonaldo

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He’s an angry man, sounds difficult to work with. But he looks like a reasonable person when he’s not angry. But problem is, he is always angry.

Great player and captain though, just abit insane sometimes.
 

jeepers

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I would take him as a coach or some made-up tough love motivator role. We need some grit and character. Our current roster are all a bunch of precious princesses and fannies. I would love to see Keane give Lingard (and all our other “superstars”) a right bollocking.
 

Eoin McMahon

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Firstly i'd like to say that its such a shame that Roy Keane is not involved with the club or held in the same regards as as Scholes, Giggs and Cantona etc.The legacy of Roy Keane will always be a touchy subject for some especially here in Ireland where Roy divides opinion to this day for his previous controversies. Unfortunately I don't think he will ever get the recognition he deserves for what he's achieved on and off the pitch and be remembered as. In my opinion he was the greatest captain and leader to play in the modern era, who drove this club to new heights in winning trophy after trophy every season, showing passion and pride every minute he was on the field.

He set the standard of which he made sure his teammates matched and if they didn't he was sure to let them know. It was this standard that continued to be expected even after he'd departed. All this aside he was an underrated footballer in his own right. Good tackler, read the game well and was a top class passer. However its was that drive, passion and strive for perfection that would also lead to problems, confrontations and more.

Roy Keane off the pitch is not dissimilar to the Roy on the field. Straightalking and sharp with a serious tone that can border aggressive at times you can see that passion still burns strong in the man. He can easily come across as arrogant or ignorant to some but to me he just tells it how it is. His fallout at United was something that was the collision of two men who are so alike that there was no chance of either backing down or apologizing. Roy Keane was the embodiment of Sir Alex Ferguson on the field of play. The two most influential people involved in the greatest period in our clubs history, manager and captain, winners. It was never going to last forever but to end how it did is a shame.

Roy Keane finally signed his first semi-pro contract at the age of 18 for Irish club Cobh Ramblers. He had been rejected from almost every club in Ireland and England since he was 14 with the reason being he was too small. 4 years later he signed for Man United from Nottingham Forest. 4 years after that he was made captain of the club and as they say the rest is history. Roy Keane may not be everyone's favorite person to say the least but for me he an inspiration, a legend and i think everyone can agree that the sheer passion that likes of Roy Keane, Viera and Gerrard had for their clubs and the game is truly missed.

"It was the most emphatic display of selflessness I have seen on a football field. Pounding over every blade of grass, competing as if he would rather die of exhaustion than lose, he inspired all around him. I felt it was an honour to be associated with such a player."
Sir Alex Ferguson on Roy Keane against Juventus in the champion League Semi-Final in 1999.
 
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