What are your feelings on Roy Keane?

ryansgirl

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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.
And so say many of us. Well done sir for your post - a point of view backed by facts.
 

Eoin McMahon

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And so say many of us. Well done sir for your post - a point of view backed by facts.
Much appreciated and as they say facts don't lie :lol: Was delighted to see this thread as Keane is a player of which the likes of we'll sadly never see again. Players will always have technical ability, physical attributes and football knowledge but players with leadership qualities that can spur on their team are few and far between now more than ever. I would argue Keane was and is the greatest captain of his era.

I always look at the teams that are winning leagues and are hard to beat and almost every one of them has at least one player that the team will look to for that encouragement and that assurance that whatever the situation not to give up. It really shows how much our struggling team is missing someone that will do just that. What we would do for a prime Keano to be playing with us now, I'd even think that Sir Alex would agree with me on that one.
 

Foxbatt

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I just saw the Paul McGrath on Off the ball. He sounded exactly like Keane (obvious with the Irish accent) but says the same kind of words about Paul Pogba and his antics that is going on. Maybe it is the Irish thing in them that leads them to say what they feel without beating around the bush. McGrath said he may not train properly but gave all on the pitch and was very critical of current players jogging on the pitch. He also said Pogba is treating Manchester United like a bunch of idiots.
Keane would not tolerate these antics and I still feel he would make a good assistant to Ole if only to scare these bunch of pansies at United.
 

poleglass red

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I just saw the Paul McGrath on Off the ball. He sounded exactly like Keane (obvious with the Irish accent) but says the same kind of words about Paul Pogba and his antics that is going on. Maybe it is the Irish thing in them that leads them to say what they feel without beating around the bush. McGrath said he may not train properly but gave all on the pitch and was very critical of current players jogging on the pitch. He also said Pogba is treating Manchester United like a bunch of idiots.
Keane would not tolerate these antics and I still feel he would make a good assistant to Ole if only to scare these bunch of pansies at United.
The way our midfield has been in recent seasons I'd actually want him back playing haha
 

Eoin McMahon

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I just saw the Paul McGrath on Off the ball. He sounded exactly like Keane (obvious with the Irish accent) but says the same kind of words about Paul Pogba and his antics that is going on. Maybe it is the Irish thing in them that leads them to say what they feel without beating around the bush. McGrath said he may not train properly but gave all on the pitch and was very critical of current players jogging on the pitch. He also said Pogba is treating Manchester United like a bunch of idiots.
Keane would not tolerate these antics and I still feel he would make a good assistant to Ole if only to scare these bunch of pansies at United.
Paul McGrath was a player that going by what the stories we've heard, what he says in his book and what alot of his past teammates have said, is a player that was considered one of if not the best center backs in the PL for years all while being boozed up to the last in training sessions, league games and European games so him just saying he wasn't able to train properly is the understatement of the year. The people around him knew he liked to drink but it wasn't until after he retired we got to know the full extent of his alcoholism. I still struggle to comprehend playing some of the best teams in the world in front of thousands of fans against top strikers and usually playing a stormer of a game, all while being about ten vodkas in before the match and not to mention the night before the game and the day before that and so on. You'd have to wonder would he be a better player with or without the booze.

Being Irish myself we did not so much now always had a bit of a repressed attitude to life from previous generations having such tough lifes back in the day. With the likes of Keane, Mcgrath, Robson, Bruce and I could go on but they all played at a time when if the likes of Pogba or Neymar were playing at that time and acted and behaved as they do in todays game they would simply would't be tolerated and wouldn't have a choice in the matter. But this change with time and the modern player is earning money the generations before could only dream of. That's simply just the way it is but for the players mentioned from the past its obviously hard for them to accept how the game you they devoted most of their life to and will always hope to be involved in has become a far different game to the game they knew.
 

Inter Yer Nan

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He's definitely a polarizing character but two things can't be denied. He was an incredible captain and despite some ridiculous revisionism about his qualities, he's one of the best players to ever play for the club. You shouldn't have to like him to agree with those statements. The man was brilliant and incredibly consistent.
 

Ooohlala!!!

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The man, the myth, the legend.
If I was asked what was SAFs best signing I'd be torn between Cantona and Keane. Ask me SAFs top 2 signings then my life would be a lot easier.
Between the 2 of them (and of course SAF) they transformed us into serial champions. It's no surprise Roy is so angry about us today. Years of winning mentality instilled only for it to be thrown away in such a short space of time. It really is tragic.
 

Ace Krampus

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Much like my ability to compartmentalize my affinity for the Original Trilogy of Star Wars movies, nothing that Roy Keane does in the media or as a coach will affect my love for him as a player and captain.
 

Foxbatt

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Eoin, The issue is that McGrath, Keane and Robson are as much as talented as Pogba. Then they also give their all on the pitch. Yes the may be drunk off the pitch but what matters is what they do on the pitch. I think this was the point McGrath was making. Even if he was drunk all the time, on the pitch they gave it all. I would rate Robson above Keane as a player and also as a Captain too. I do not think Robson had a weakness. He can tackle, can defend, can head, can pass, can dribble, can shoot from long range, had pace and does not lose his cool either. Not normally.
 

Eoin McMahon

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Eoin, The issue is that McGrath, Keane and Robson are as much as talented as Pogba. Then they also give their all on the pitch. Yes the may be drunk off the pitch but what matters is what they do on the pitch. I think this was the point McGrath was making. Even if he was drunk all the time, on the pitch they gave it all. I would rate Robson above Keane as a player and also as a Captain too. I do not think Robson had a weakness. He can tackle, can defend, can head, can pass, can dribble, can shoot from long range, had pace and does not lose his cool either. Not normally.
Yes but regardless of how many of ex players who are voicing the same issue they have with Pogba and the modern day footballer shouldn't be doing this and that,at the end of the day it won't change a thing. Mcgrath, Keane and Robson they were all great players who along with with being good footballers were loyal and hardworking to the last but we have to remember that back then there was no such thing as player power, players holding clubs to ransom and getting their own way the majority of the time.

Back in their playing days clubs had all the power which and im not trying to take away anything from the players but if you didnt perform or weren't committed to the club they were cast off to the reserves until further notice. It was heavily unbalanced in favour of the clubs then but today its heavily unbalanced in favour of the players. This has meant players now have a completely different mindset to the one the likes of Keane and Robson had. This development has allowed players to do almost whatever they please whenever they want to which has promoted this attitude while killing off values like loyalty and commitment to clubs.

Keane and Robbo is a close one but i have to go with Keane on that one. Both have alot of the same strengths and weaknesses and had a very similar play style and mentality on the field but Keane just can't be matched for his leadership quality, he set a standard at the club that remained right up to around Ferguson's retirement, 8 years after he left the club. Robson was a great leader in his own right but just can't say he achieved even close to what Keane did with United.
 

Green_Red

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Paul McGrath was a player that going by what the stories we've heard, what he says in his book and what alot of his past teammates have said, is a player that was considered one of if not the best center backs in the PL for years all while being boozed up to the last in training sessions, league games and European games so him just saying he wasn't able to train properly is the understatement of the year. The people around him knew he liked to drink but it wasn't until after he retired we got to know the full extent of his alcoholism. I still struggle to comprehend playing some of the best teams in the world in front of thousands of fans against top strikers and usually playing a stormer of a game, all while being about ten vodkas in before the match and not to mention the night before the game and the day before that and so on. You'd have to wonder would he be a better player with or without the booze.

Being Irish myself we did not so much now always had a bit of a repressed attitude to life from previous generations having such tough lifes back in the day. With the likes of Keane, Mcgrath, Robson, Bruce and I could go on but they all played at a time when if the likes of Pogba or Neymar were playing at that time and acted and behaved as they do in todays game they would simply would't be tolerated and wouldn't have a choice in the matter. But this change with time and the modern player is earning money the generations before could only dream of. That's simply just the way it is but for the players mentioned from the past its obviously hard for them to accept how the game you they devoted most of their life to and will always hope to be involved in has become a far different game to the game they knew.
Im reading his book at the minute. Hes had an incredible life. Its worth reading for anyone out there that hasnt.
 

Ban

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Is the Jib who is shitting on a club legend Keane the same one who would have Pogba's babies if it was possible?
 

Foxbatt

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Yes but regardless of how many of ex players who are voicing the same issue they have with Pogba and the modern day footballer shouldn't be doing this and that,at the end of the day it won't change a thing. Mcgrath, Keane and Robson they were all great players who along with with being good footballers were loyal and hardworking to the last but we have to remember that back then there was no such thing as player power, players holding clubs to ransom and getting their own way the majority of the time.

Back in their playing days clubs had all the power which and im not trying to take away anything from the players but if you didnt perform or weren't committed to the club they were cast off to the reserves until further notice. It was heavily unbalanced in favour of the clubs then but today its heavily unbalanced in favour of the players. This has meant players now have a completely different mindset to the one the likes of Keane and Robson had. This development has allowed players to do almost whatever they please whenever they want to which has promoted this attitude while killing off values like loyalty and commitment to clubs.

Keane and Robbo is a close one but i have to go with Keane on that one. Both have alot of the same strengths and weaknesses and had a very similar play style and mentality on the field but Keane just can't be matched for his leadership quality, he set a standard at the club that remained right up to around Ferguson's retirement, 8 years after he left the club. Robson was a great leader in his own right but just can't say he achieved even close to what Keane did with United.
I think Robbo's peak was before the arrival of SAF. People talk about Juventus and Keane but I think that United team was also very good. People seem to forget about Barcelona and Maradona at OT. I think that night Robbo was much better than Keane ever had played for United. Because it was before the time of SAF and the team itself was not that good and did not win anything people tend to forget what Robbo did for the club. He certainly was a better player to me because there was nothing he could not do. If Robbo played well United won.
 

MisterLupus

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I once tried confessing my feelings to Roy Keane. He gave me a look of utter disbelief then shook his head, wandered off and grew a beard. I'm absolutely in love with that man - and despite his best of efforts towards making himself unattractive - not even that ugly beard nor a restraining order could discourage it.
 

Kerry Donaghy

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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
It's called being on holidays.

It's not as if he just randomly walked in and insulted them for no reason.
It's called an argument/debate if its a two way thing.
Plus, the thing that triggered the whole fall-out was Keano trying to warn Fergie that falling out with JP Mcmanus and John Magnier could prove detrimental to Utd, most Utd fans would agree he had a point on that.
 

clarkydaz

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It's called being on holidays.

It's not as if he just randomly walked in and insulted them for no reason.
It's called an argument/debate if its a two way thing.
Plus, the thing that triggered the whole fall-out was Keano trying to warn Fergie that falling out with JP Mcmanus and John Magnier could prove detrimental to Utd, most Utd fans would agree he had a point on that.
No its not a debate when you are lashing out at everyone. What are you implying, keane was hard done by? He wasnt kicked out for mentioning the board stuff. You are implying Roy keane has the right to behave and speak how he likes without accountability
 

GiddyUp

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Is the Jib who is shitting on a club legend Keane the same one who would have Pogba's babies if it was possible?
His Paul Pogba duvet cover gets a larger nose as each day passes.
 

Moiraine

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The same guy that has won all the titles possible and inspired Yaya Touré, Diaby, Pogba and a lot of other top midfielders.

His legacy is one of the greatest in the football world.

Vieira is also one of the only player to have said no to Real Madrid too.

Keane ?
:lol:
 

ryansgirl

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Is the Jib who is shitting on a club legend Keane the same one who would have Pogba's babies if it was possible?
Yes. I don't mind he defends Paul Pogba because I have too although the latest agent gobshite all over the media telling us and his employer who has him on a contract that 'Paul Pogba will be transferred soon' diminishes my respect for Pogba more and more.

However, when Jib posts useless, trollish assertions including telling somebody they are lying because they relate an opinion something their relative said, just report his or her posts. It's simple. The mods should know about posters wasting space on threads and posting out of context rubbish.
 

Kerry Donaghy

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No its not a debate when you are lashing out at everyone. What are you implying, keane was hard done by? He wasnt kicked out for mentioning the board stuff. You are implying Roy keane has the right to behave and speak how he likes without accountability
Yes, all along, I've been implying that he was hard done by.
On both of the big issues that caused the fall out, I think he had a fair point.
First of all, with the McManus and Magnier argument then with the match review of the 4-1 defeat to Middlesbrough.
On both occasions he was right in what he said, but because the truth meant criticising Fergie (rightly), then this lead to him being hounded out of the club, so yes I think that's being treated unfairly, considering what he'd done for the club.
Fair enough, the injuries had taken their toll and, from a playing point of view, he was possibly finished, but surely they could have let him see out the season or even keep him on, his leadership qualities are something that we have lacked since the day he left, so why would he not be considered for a coaching role?
Can our club not handle anyone who calls things as they are anymore?
Everyone is different I guess, I personally would rather my employees had the balls to suggest that I might be wrong on some occasions but others prefer their employees to lick their arse and tell them everything they do is brilliant, and if they have the audacity to suggest otherwise then they'll be fired.
Maybe our club just prefers to employ the media trained, spineless nodding dog type now, that's working out well isn't it?
(To be clear, I'm not having a go at Ole with that last comment, it's more our club ambassadors and some players that I'm talking about, the guys who are basically paid to go around telling the world how great we are regardless of how rubbish we actually are)
 
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We'll See Out There!

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I think Robbo's peak was before the arrival of SAF. People talk about Juventus and Keane but I think that United team was also very good. People seem to forget about Barcelona and Maradona at OT. I think that night Robbo was much better than Keane ever had played for United. Because it was before the time of SAF and the team itself was not that good and did not win anything people tend to forget what Robbo did for the club. He certainly was a better player to me because there was nothing he could not do. If Robbo played well United won.
This 100%. My Dad was at the United Barca game with Maradona playing and he said OT was bouncing that night plus Robbo was the Boss. My man above calls it right, when Robbo played well United won matches. If both players where in their Prime Bryan Robson would have bullied Paul Pogba everyday of the week.
 

golden_blunder

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Much appreciated and as they say facts don't lie :lol: Was delighted to see this thread as Keane is a player of which the likes of we'll sadly never see again. Players will always have technical ability, physical attributes and football knowledge but players with leadership qualities that can spur on their team are few and far between now more than ever. I would argue Keane was and is the greatest captain of his era.

I always look at the teams that are winning leagues and are hard to beat and almost every one of them has at least one player that the team will look to for that encouragement and that assurance that whatever the situation not to give up. It really shows how much our struggling team is missing someone that will do just that. What we would do for a prime Keano to be playing with us now, I'd even think that Sir Alex would agree with me on that one.
I don’t disagree with your post but I think in terms of the question posed we have to seperate Roy Keane the player, arguably our best ever captain to Roy Keane the coach/manager and Roy Keane the person.
I don’t think he’d do anything good in a coaching capacity. Players are different now and he’d be construed as a bully, take the Harry Arter situation for Ireland for example.
As for Roy Keane the person, I don’t know him personally but he seems confrontational and angry. I don’t want him involved at United unless it’s to pull on his boots as a legend for charity.
 

golden_blunder

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Robson was something else too. Unbelievable player and captain. Shame he was part of the drinking culture at the time
 

Melville Red

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This thread caught my eye this morning and so I will simply answer the question.

Marvellous player, marvellous captain, a great leader much like Robbo but without the injuries and fitter because he was a great pro who didn’t drink as much, if at all.
In a word I miss him, I miss him a lot.
 

Vault Dweller

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This thread caught my eye this morning and so I will simply answer the question.

Marvellous player, marvellous captain, a great leader much like Robbo but without the injuries and fitter because he was a great pro who didn’t drink as much, if at all.
In a word I miss him, I miss him a lot.
Same, as I said earlier too I love him and he's a legend.
 

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Keane is up there with the club legens of the last 30 years for me. If I had to chose mye three fave United players since 1990 it would be Cantona, Keane and Scholes. The Juve match and his "fight" with Viera at Highbury stand out for me. Keane the player is one of the key things this club's missing at the moment, but I'm not sure you find any of his kind anymore. Playing against him in his prime must have been absolute hell.

He does seem a bit of a nutter as a coach/pundit though.
 
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TRUERED89

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Keane is up there with the club legens of the last 30 years for me. If I had to chose mye three fave United players since 1990 it would be Cantona, Keane and Scholes. The Juve match and his "fight" with Viera at Anfield stand out for me. Keane the player is one of the key things this club's missing at the moment, but I'm not sure you find any of his kind anymore. Playing against him in his prime must have been absolute hell.

He does seem a bit of a nutter as a coach/pundit though.
Think you mean Highbury 04-05!
 

patty123

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Paul McGrath was a player that going by what the stories we've heard, what he says in his book and what alot of his past teammates have said, is a player that was considered one of if not the best center backs in the PL for years all while being boozed up to the last in training sessions, league games and European games so him just saying he wasn't able to train properly is the understatement of the year.The people around him knew he liked to drink but it wasn't until after he retired we got to know the full extent of his alcoholism
Firstly I am also Irish born and reared on the site of an old English army barracks, that was renamed St Michael's's (mistake) estate, so I think you know where I going here, I watched Paul from the time he made his first appearance at Richmond park, and to just put his lack of training down to booze is a joke, as his knees were shot to bits and half the reason he couldn't train.And people knew long before he finished playing his problems with booze as Giles highlighted it prior euro 88.And remember AF got shot and said he didn't think unlike with Robbo he could get Paul to control it.

As for Roy heard stories (ex u16's Eire and Drogheda coach Noel White) about his weirdness and coldness towards people when he was picked along with others to do a FAI course when he was 15 and how he refuse to mix with the other lads.

As a player for us, Legend and I know that word is well over used at this club by fans, but this guy, yes, as a person, comes across as a arrogant bitter person, the kind you expect from a person who was 50 and live 42 of them homeless, but then there is Roy who will do anything for certain Charities, like the Blind one he really put effort into here in Eire.

Best way to describe him, he's an enigma.
 
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