PRESS BOX VIEW – TELEGRAPH

From the Daily Telegraph:

‘United have won three and drawn one of their opening four games and conceded one goal. Yet they are already five points behind the champions, albeit with a game in hand at home to Wigan.

However, games in hand are fickle things, especially since Wigan at home is just the sort of occasion when Sir Alex Ferguson would rest Roy Keane. And resting Keane, even at 34 with his hip and knee operations behind him, is a dangerous business.

The Manchester derby was, however, a match in which Keane would have expected to play and the City manager, Stuart Pearce, said with some understatement that "it was good to see him out". Ferguson had his reasons - Keane would lead their Champions League campaign on Wednesday night and take the field against Liverpool on Sunday - but too often United without their captain have lacked direction.

In the past two seasons Ferguson has rested Keane 23 times, games in which United have dropped 31 points - which is worse than it sounds, since he is invariably left out against the weaker sides. Keane, for instance, has never played in a Premiership match against Portsmouth.

If there is a charge that can fairly be laid at Ferguson's door it is that he has not made adequate provision for his captain's retirement. With Kleberson and Eric Djemba-Djemba having failed to make the grade, the United midfield was anchored by Alan Smith, who will always be a converted striker.’