Roy Keane's United all-time XI

[Fortitude]

Controversial and perhaps tilted, but you be the judge. Probably keeping it in relation to what Keane would have experienced in his time at the club? I cannot believe he left out Scholes. Already knew he didn't like Rio and that ruled him out, but Scholes? Quite shocked he picked Rooney over Cantona, that's massive, considering what Keane witnessed of Cantona. Ronaldo up front instead of Ruud?


Anyway, here's the side, 4-4-2:

- --------------------------Ronaldo
--- ----------------------------------------Rooney
Giggs--------------------------------------------------------------------Beckham
------------------------------Robson-----------Ince
Irwin------------------------------------------------------------------G.Neville
-----------------------------Pallister---------------Stam
-- -------------------------------------Schmeichel

Sky has this as a 4-4-2, but it can't be with Ronaldo up front?

What's your take on the side?

 

[charlenefan]

CB and CM is a bit of a joke

 

[Attila]

He picked Ron Atkinson for manager

 

[arnie_ni]

He said rio and Scholes just missed out. Ince was just before my time, so I can't really argue it, but Scholes not being in is the big one.

CB is a tough choice.

 

[United492]

Good team, obviously everyone will have their own opinions and there are so many good candidates to choose from for each position, but I can't see many having Ince in ahead of Scholes.

 

[arnie_ni]

He picked Ron Atkinson for manager

He was joking and followed it up with no way when they were all laughing

 

[The Corinthian]

I never get the outrage with these types of things. He chose his 11 and gave his opinions. You might choose otherwise, but it’s a hardly controversial 11.

Anyway, he changes this everytime he’s asked. Last time he had Ruud up top with Rooney and Ronaldo out wide instead of Becks. He might’ve even had Paul Parker as RB instead of Nev.

 

[Fortitude]

I never get the outrage with these types of things. He chose his 11 and gave his opinions. You might choose otherwise, but it’s a hardly controversial 11.

Anyway, he changes this everytime he’s asked. Last time he had Ruud up top with Rooney and Ronaldo out wide instead of Becks. He might’ve even had Paul Parker as RB instead of Nev.

He ever have Rio in?

 

[SeanyC]

Lost count how many times Keane mentioned to word Character…he loves a good character for sure

 

[The Corinthian]

He ever have Rio in?

I think last time it was Bruce and Pally at the back actually but can’t say for certain. The only two that make it in constantly is Irwin and Giggs.

 

[Irwin99]

Scholes is the obvious absentee but not a bad team. Swap Ince (who was great player btw) for Keane/Scholes and it's an even better one.

I'd like to hear more about Pallister as i was probably a bit too young to appreciate him. I remember his double against Liverpool in 97 and him being a good passer but was he better than Rio? His PFA team of the year inclusions are very impressive, also won a player of the year award.

 

[Robbie Boy]

Never knew he didn't like Rio tbh.

 

[SalfordRed18]

What's his beef with rio?

 

[Random Task]

No Scholes, no party.

Cantona should be in there too.

 

[Still ill]

He's having the craic, lads.

 

[Chesterlestreet]

He might’ve even had Paul Parker as RB instead of Nev.

He did - in that thing he did with Vieira some years ago.

That team was blatantly anti-Fergie (no Scholes, Giggs or Neville - but if I remember correctly, he did have Beckham in it, with Ronaldo on the left).

So, now Giggs (who has become a controversial pick for non-football reasons) and Neville are back in his good graces.

Who knows with Keano - he's an odd fella.

Seems he rates Ince very highly (he was in the other one too). Or he dislikes Scholes - again, who knows with him.

 

[Tom Van Persie]

I can't take any United XI without Scholes seriously.

 

[Tom Van Persie]

He picked Ron Atkinson for manager

 

[Dazzmondo]

Ince was a brilliant player tbf, definitely massively underrated (him going to Liverpool and generally being a bit of a twat didn't help his reputation). Considering this is a PL XI I'd argue Robson was actually the worse of the 2 since Robson was like 36 or 37 by the time of the 1st PL season (obviously prime Robbo was incredible). Scholes is still the best passer I've seen in the PL. I think it's probably a stylistic thing for Roy. I think Roy likes energetic, box to box players like Robson, Ince, Vieira, Gerrard since they're more similar to the role he tried to play himself, and that is not Scholes. Scholes was a Xavi before that type of player became respected (at least in England). Rio exclusion is bizarre but didn't realise they had beef so that probably explains it. Vidic being missing I would simply put down to Keane never playing with him. Pallister was also an excellent cb so I think that's a fair shout. Stam was incredible too.

 

[Mickeza]

He never played with the best version of Rio and he admitted himself it was down to getting on well with Pallister so I get that - I’m fairly sure the last time he was on MNF he said Scholes was the best partner he played with so feck knows what that was about - he did admit he’d have to apologise when he inevitably sees him in the next few weeks

 

[The Corinthian]

Scholes is the obvious absentee but not a bad team. Swap Ince (who was great player btw) for Keane/Scholes and it's an even better one.

I'd like to hear more about Pallister as i was probably a bit too young to appreciate him. I remember his double against Liverpool in 97 and him being a good passer but was he better than Rio? His PFA team of the year inclusions are very impressive, also won a player of the year award.

They never get mentioned in Premier League Hall of Fame duos, maybe because they started their partnership before the Premier League was the Premier League, but for me, Bruce and Pallister are up there with the likes of Rio&Vidic, Terry&Carvalho in terms of the best ever CB partnership.

Pally was a big unit but was excellent with his feet. Both he and Brucey are massively underrated by footy fans imo.

 

[Paul_Scholes18]

Always hard to rate different sides and players that never played together or against each other.

Scholes, Giggs should surely be in the team though given how long they played and how much they won.

I have Carrick, Rio/ Vidic in it too unless I go for Keane, but I guess he do not want to pick himself.

 

[Pirlo'sBeard]

He's obviously had a fallout with Scholes at some point.

 

[Andersonson]

Robson is rightly there, Ince was class too, but I would've taken Scholes.

Keane didnt play with Scholes when he was a great CM though. In his early days he was often second striker or a winger. If I recall correctly Nicky Butt played as much as Scholes from around 96-2000.

Scholes became a world class CM when Keane started playing less around 03 ish.

In my opinion, Keane never really partnered the truly great Scholes, he came after Keane left

 

[Chesterlestreet]

Actually, I wouldn't disagree that Robson/Ince is a more natural partnership in the middle in a - let's say - functional XI (as opposed to just an all-time type of thing).

Then again, can you say that functionality is what he's gone for?

Ronaldo up front is ridiculous based on his United career: it would have to mean Keano rates his performances this season over the other alternatives.

 

[hobbers]

Swap Cantona for Giggs. 4-3-3. Easy.

 

[KeanoMagicHat]

It's common in these teams to pick a player that was established when you were starting out, that you looked up to. Ince was 4 years older than Keane and was United's main midfielder when he arrived. I think they were good friends. Ince was in team of the year the two years that Keane played with him. I'm not that surprised that he rates him highly.

 

[Blood Mage]

Surprising to see him leave out Scholes and Rio but still a damn good team nonetheless.

 

[Red the Bear]

I never understood his love for ince, he was good for us at first obviously but it all kinda got into his head.

Ronnie instead of rudd is pretty sensible?
No surprise in there at all.

 

[Frank Grimes]

It's common in these teams to pick a player that was established when you were starting out, that you looked up to. Ince was 4 years older than Keane and was United's main midfielder when he arrived. I think they were good friends. Ince was in team of the year the two years that Keane played with him. I'm not that surprised that he rates him highly.

Ince was a very good player and probably our player of the season in 92-93 when we ended our league drought. It was a massive shock when he left 2 years later.

 

[Red the Bear]

Also why isn't he himself in there?

 

[CloneMC16]

I like how he put Giggs in there and tried to talk about him. David Jones tried his absolute best to ignore discussing Giggs and talk about Beckham instead.

He did say that this was difficult to do. I can't believe that he left out Scholes. Ince was a little bit before my time, but he must have been an absolute beast to be better than Scholes. I would also have picked Rio.

Also why isn't he himself in there?

He said he wouldn't put himself in it.

 

[Red the Bear]

I like how he put Giggs in there and tried to talk about him. David Jones tried his absolute best to ignore discussing Giggs and talk about Beckham instead.

He did say that this was difficult to do. I can't believe that he left out Scholes. Ince was a little bit before my time, but he must have been an absolute beast to be better than Scholes. I would also have picked Rio.


He said he wouldn't put himself in it.

That's kinda self depreciating of him.

 

[Gazza]

In his appearance on the Overlap, Keane calls Scholes his best ever midfield partner. Also mentioned Nicky Butt. Not Ince. I think Roy's choices are kind of like asking someone to name their top five albums of all-time, in that they might give a slightly different answer every time.

 

[Tyrion]

He picked Ron Atkinson for manager

Tbh, he must be better at holding onto a grudge than anyone else in football.

Lost count how many times Keane mentioned to word Character…he loves a good character for sure

He thinks football is a test of character. Nothing about skill or tactics. Just character and "bottle".

 

[lex talionis]

Controversial and perhaps tilted, but you be the judge. Probably keeping it in relation to what Keane would have experienced in his time at the club? I cannot believe he left out Scholes. Already knew he didn't like Rio and that ruled him out, but Scholes? Quite shocked he picked Rooney over Cantona, that's massive, considering what Keane witnessed of Cantona. Ronaldo up front instead of Ruud?


Anyway, here's the side, 4-4-2:

- --------------------------Ronaldo
--- ----------------------------------------Rooney
Giggs--------------------------------------------------------------------Beckham
------------------------------Robson-----------Ince
Irwin------------------------------------------------------------------G.Neville
-----------------------------Pallister---------------Stam
-- -------------------------------------Schmeichel

Sky has this as a 4-4-2, but it can't be with Ronaldo up front?

What's your take on the side?

Absurd. Let's start from the top. But first, I assume we're talking during the Ferguson era.

Ronaldo was always a winger for us. You go with either Ronaldo or Beckham, but you can't have both.

Robson and Ince over Scholes and Keane? I realize Keane is too modest to name himself, but if that's the case then this can't be taken very seriously. But if Keane can't name himself in the name of modesty, then the holding mid has to be Carrick. I realize how outstanding Robson was, but it's really hard to ignore Scholes and Keane.

Pallister and Stam over Rio and Vidic?

I remember Irwin very well. I'd go with Evra, but Irwin is a reasonable shout.


Assume for fun 442, it has to be this:

Ruud Rooney
Giggs Scholes Keane Ronaldo
Evra Rio Vidic Neville
Schmeichel

A shame to leave Beckham off, but Ronaldo was on a different planet at his peak for United. Missing out from this XI but never forgotten are Cantona, Robson and of course Beckham.

 

[Who's Kissing Cameras?]

Lost count how many times Keane mentioned to word Character…he loves a good character for sure

“Trenches” and “character”

 

[The Corinthian]

He picked Ron Atkinson for manager

I mean, this was clearly a joke and not serious at all. Did you watch the program?

 

[Attila]

I mean, this was clearly a joke and not serious at all. Did you watch the program?

I did

 

[Frank Grimes]

He picked Ron Atkinson for manager

Did you not think when they all burst out laughing immediately after that it might not have been 100% serious?