THE INDIE
The first encounter in the post-Keane epoch and Sir Alex Ferguson had the sweet satisfaction of victory and the sight of a goal from one of those so severely criticised by the now former Manchester United captain - plus two from the man now wearing the armband, Ruud van Nistelrooy.
That amounted to a ringing vindication for Alan Smith and Van Nistelrooy but it meant most of all to Ferguson. He knew that nothing less than victory would prevent the fiercest of firestorms following Keane's astonishing departure.
"It was a terrific result for us," Ferguson said. "No question about that. We could not afford a defeat." But then this manager has raged so hard against the dying of his own light that it should surprise no one that, once more, he induced a spark bright enough here to fuel belief that there is something after the passing of Roy Keane's cyclonic career. United will have to carry it on against Villareal in the Champions' League on Tuesday. "It's vital," said Ferguson who conceded that it had been "a difficult week". "But it's the nature of our club that we have difficult weeks from time to time," he added.
That was a breathtaking understatement, and Ferguson's insistence that Keane's departure was "amicable" had to be taken with a pinch of salt. Van Nistelrooy, the first United player to speak about it all, put the episode into context, revealing that he needed time to deal with the "big shock". The Dutchman added: "Roy will always be remembered as the greatest player to have played for the club. His leadership and quality of play and character will always be with us. He is the best player I have ever played with." Van Nistelrooy said the players had also been "motivated to do well" by Keane's departure, but no one believes that Smith is his heir. Apart from the scoring of his first goal of the season before the break, which Smith swept home after being set up by Darren Fletcher following a slick passing move, the converted striker did indeed appear the bewildered presence criticised by Keane. So, instead, it is surely Wayne Rooney, who carried the torch with an intuitive, threatening display, who will become the new talisman, if not the tactical replacement.
THE OBSERVER
A well-earned three points, a hearty sing-song and one hastily painted banner - '12 years of magic' - marked the beginning of life after Keano. The travelling Manchester United fans spent half the match chanting about heroes of old - Roy Keane and Georgie Best were both at the forefront of their minds, but there were also plentiful odes to another old renegade master, Eric Cantona.
So easy to wallow in the past. But what of the present? The future? United have tougher tasks than this on the horizon, but they constructed enough sweet moves and showed enough resilience to confirm the old maxim that no player is ever bigger than any football club. This was an archetypal team performance.
If the idea was to use their triumph over Chelsea as a springboard to bigger and better things, this showed another step in the right direction. More solid at one end, more dangerous at the other, a goal from Alan Smith and two for Ruud van Nistelrooy condemned Charlton to yet another miserable afternoon against their nemesis.
It was good fortune that the fixture list threw up opponents as placid as Charlton at a time when the Keane effect was under scrutiny. Charlton have enjoyed only one win at The Valley this season. This will help United's confidence in time for the crucial visit of Villarreal in the Champions League on Tuesday.
United, continuing with the 4-4-2 formation that underpinned their rallying call against Chelsea - the formation supposedly unsuited to Keane's ageing legs, and which was so badly missed when Carlos Queiroz fiddled with it - and they looked far more confident. More controlled.
THE SUNDAY TIMES
Who can lead Manchester United in the post-Roy Keane era? Ruud van Nistelrooy has the armband, and in yesterday’s victory, the Dutchman scored two fine goals. But the player who made the difference was Wayne Rooney, not only in the skills we know he possesses but in the dynamic determination he displayed, the ability he had to lift United’s performance seemingly at will.
Sooner or later we have to stop reverting to Rooney’s age, to stop calling him precocious, and to appreciate that when his temper is under control he is the best player not only among Englishmen, but in the Premiership. Rooney, the creator, filled any vacuum left behind by the departed King of Old Trafford.
Yet Sir Alex Ferguson still paid tribute to the departed Irishman. "Roy has left some big boots to fill," he said. "We have always known that. We have been looking for a new Roy Keane for years and you just cannot get one, Now we are looking for a different kind of player. When people look back at the history of his club, they will regard him as an all-time great."
Van Nistelrooy also gave an insight into the depth of feeling in the United camp. He said: "Roy’s character and leadership will always be with us. He is the best player I have played with at this club. It is just a shame that it stops now."
A single white sheet, draped over the railings in the United enclosure bore the message in red ink: "12 Years of Magic, thanks Keano". The United fans did muster the occasional chant of his name, but there was no accompanying rhyme, for they know not yet what reason to give for their former captain’s abrupt departure.
A clue was in the two formations adopted by United. On the pitch it was uncomplicated, back to the basic, hard-working 4-4-2 that was the norm before Sir Alex Ferguson and his coach Carlos Queiroz began tinkering.
And the other formation? Ferguson stood at all times in front of the dugout, two paces ahead of his entire coaching staff. This was the Celt fronting up, the knight showing his presence and his face to both the audience and the team. For 20 minutes the desired effect was movement and passing and control from United. History possibly wrote the script: Charlton have never beaten United at The Valley in the Premiership, and did not appear to hold the belief that they might start doing so now.
THE TELEGRAPH
Alan Smith made his own telling contribution to the Roy Keane debate yesterday. Scoring his first goal since United won here 4-0 in May, Keane's successor in midfield set his club on the road to another emphatic victory.
Ruud van Nistelrooy, wearing the captain's armband, completed the rout with a brace of his own after Darren Ambrose had briefly raised Charlton's hopes of taking something from the match.
Sir Alex Ferguson will have been delighted to see his side pick up where they had left off against Chelsea a fortnight ago. Especially so, given the difficult, unsettling circumstances in which United had travelled down to London. The danger was that there might be a reaction to the win against the runaway Premiership leaders, but the Keane furore seemed to give the manager and players a new focus.
The demonstrations in support of Keane were hardly overwhelming. There were a few obligatory choruses of "La-la-la, la-la, Keano" to the tune of Hey Jude from the United fans and a banner reading "12 Years of Magic. Thanks Keano", but that was about it. They were in a difficult position, of course: to support Keane was to castigate Sir Alex.
United certainly seemed no worse for the turbulence of Friday and the departure of the club captain, apparently in acrimonious circumstances.
Fielding the same team who had ended Chelsea's long unbeaten run and playing in the familiar 4-4-2 formation for which the fans have been longing, they threatened to destroy Charlton in the first 20 minutes.