Keano’s contribution to the Madrid game:
KEANE SHOULD MOVE BACK
Keano’s contribution to the Madrid game:
‘There is no point in ignoring the evidence, like some Iraqi
'information' minister. If Sir Alex Ferguson is to have any
chance of rescuing his Champions League challenge then he
must make one of the toughest decisions of his career.
‘It is time to remove his lieutenant Roy Keane from the
midfield battle zone. In Madrid this week Keane was a
virtual spectator, reduced to near-immobility by the hip
problems which are pushing him towards a premature
retirement.
‘The most dominant Premiership player of the past decade now
looks old beyond his years and strangely sapped of his
hunger. This was never more apparent than when he was
chasing shadows in the Bernabeu this week.
‘At one stage I even saw Keane raise an apologetic hand to
Fabien Barthez, ruefully acknowledging his teammate's
complaints after another Real attack by-passed his half-
hearted challenge. There was a time when no goalkeeper would
have had a reason to question Keane's desire. There was a
time when they wouldn't have even dared to try.
‘If he is to have any future at the club the choice is
simple - he must re-invent himself as a central defender, or
step aside.
‘Ferguson has proved sufficiently ruthless on previous
occasions to make the tough call - dropping goalkeeper Jim
Leighton for an FA Cup final replay, dumping Paul Ince
without ceremony and rooting out the drinking culture he
found when he first arrived. He will not want to
unceremoniously bundle Keane away, but this commendable
loyalty may be working against him right now.
‘Even so, it would be unfair to make Keane shoulder all the
blame for the obvious gap in quality. There were many
reasons United were beaten like a Saddam portrait outside
the Baghdad branch of Russell and Bromley.’
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'information' minister. If Sir Alex Ferguson is to have any
chance of rescuing his Champions League challenge then he
must make one of the toughest decisions of his career.
‘It is time to remove his lieutenant Roy Keane from the
midfield battle zone. In Madrid this week Keane was a
virtual spectator, reduced to near-immobility by the hip
problems which are pushing him towards a premature
retirement.
‘The most dominant Premiership player of the past decade now
looks old beyond his years and strangely sapped of his
hunger. This was never more apparent than when he was
chasing shadows in the Bernabeu this week.
‘At one stage I even saw Keane raise an apologetic hand to
Fabien Barthez, ruefully acknowledging his teammate's
complaints after another Real attack by-passed his half-
hearted challenge. There was a time when no goalkeeper would
have had a reason to question Keane's desire. There was a
time when they wouldn't have even dared to try.
‘If he is to have any future at the club the choice is
simple - he must re-invent himself as a central defender, or
step aside.
‘Ferguson has proved sufficiently ruthless on previous
occasions to make the tough call - dropping goalkeeper Jim
Leighton for an FA Cup final replay, dumping Paul Ince
without ceremony and rooting out the drinking culture he
found when he first arrived. He will not want to
unceremoniously bundle Keane away, but this commendable
loyalty may be working against him right now.
‘Even so, it would be unfair to make Keane shoulder all the
blame for the obvious gap in quality. There were many
reasons United were beaten like a Saddam portrait outside
the Baghdad branch of Russell and Bromley.’
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