There is only one Roy Keane ..
Only Roy Keane is capable of doing what he does AND doing it best. Cutting through the crap and bullshit and delivering a damning and very accurate verdict on the recent demise of the Manchester United squad..
After Roy Keane's huge tirade against the current squad was barred off the television by Sir Alex himself, many questions were raised about the Manchester United Football Club.
Are they in crisis ? Is Sir Alex leaving ? Are the Glazers giving $$$ for the January transfer window? (doubt it)
I got myself thinking about the recent happenings and how it all started.
Effectively, Sir Alex Ferguson killed his golden goose. After the glorious, glorious TREBLE of '99 (unlike the Mickey Mouse 'treble' won by Liverpool FC), United were undoubtedbly one of the very best in European football. They always got close but after winning it in 1999, the squad had it all.. experience, maturity, a right balance of youth and senior players and most importantly an abundance in attacking options. United could score at will and were afraid of no one. This mentality delivered the Premiership year after year.. The mentality of we'll concede 2 and score 4 more excited the footballing world (take the Spurs Vs Man Utd match, 0-3 United trailing at half-time, 5-3 the final score).
But unfortunately, losing in the European Cup 2000 semifinals to eventual winners Real Madrid (thanx to that unforgettable back-heel by Redondo to set-up Raul) made Sir Alex decide on buying 1 player who would change United forever - welcome Seba Veron. Having Juan Sebastian Veron in the squad meant Sir Alex had to ditch the very, very entertaining 4-4-2 formation for the 4-1-4-1 formation to accomodate Veron, Kene and Scholes in the line-up. While Veron (Kleberson and Djemba-Djemba have all gone, thank God) the formation stayed. United basically, never recovered from that.
Many formations were tried and tested, the latest, and the very, very hated 4-3-2-1 formation seems to stiffle United and with players like Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo and Ruud Van Nistelrooy, this formation has got to be the stupidest thing since releasing Jaap Stam to Lazio. (and buying Laurent Blanc)
A few clubs can prosper with this 4-3-2-1 formation (? Bolton, Chelsea) Taking the latter, the midfield trio in Chelsea are spectacular as much as I would hate to admit it.
Frank Lampard has got to be one of the best midfielders in Europe at the moment. And comparing Uniteds' midfield of Keane who no longer has the legs for box-box running, Paul Scholes who has lost ALOT of form and goals, Ryan Giggs whose role in the United midfield is limited to the Carling Cup and Darren Fletcher (alot of promise, but not yet the finished article), Alan 'Eminem-look-a-like' Smith (who is a bloody striker for God's sake) United will NEVER win the Premier League with this midfield options let alone the UEFA Champions League.
United need a Keane replacement (someone with leadership and the ability to score goals and take games by the scruff of its neck and win games for United) [ Michael Ballack (somehow doubt he'll come), Javier Mascherano (still unproven in Europe).. ]
Other reasons why United are suffering - Carlos Quieroz is running the show now ..training, tactics and formation.. what does Sir Alex do now ?
Continuous tinkering with the formation (4-3-2-1, 4-4-1-1, 4-4-2.. ) does not help the squad.
Roy Keane has NEVER shirked from his responsibility, as a captain, as a football player and most importantly as a fan of Man United, he's always honest about his performances and others. His words during the interview of "Just because you earn $120,000 a week does NOT make you a superstar". Step up please, Mr Rio Ferdinand. To be honest I was hurt the way he held the club to ransom. A club that stood by him when he was stupid, who never criticized him and yet he waited for more $$$ when the transfer talks came. Nobody is bigger than the football club, never will be.
Roy Keane has been known to Sir Alex's voice both on and off the pitch and is one of the most talismatic and influential captains United have had for the past decade. Ferguson has said publically many times how much he saw a mirror image of himself in the United skipper.
Why has it all gone so horribly wrong ?
Keane's values - the remorseless pursuit of excellence at all costs; the bristling intolerance of the bullshit and excuses of modern sport - have not changed. Ferguson's have. Sir Alex has become resigned to and tolerant of a mediocrity that Keane cannot countenance.
This is not about a lack of respect or gratitude towards Sir Alex Ferguson. What he has done for United will be unforgettable for the rest of many fans' lives. He delivered the Premiership after so many years and the European Cup after more than 30 years. But lets not kid ourselves, with the performances in the last 4 seasons, United have got just progressively worse. (in the Premier League and the UEFA Champions League definately) Maybe Sir Alex might not be the one to lead United into the next season after all. Afterall, a great manager knows how to get the best out of his team week in, week out and to bring the team together after a morale sapping loss, but judging from the way United performed in Lille, I'm not sure if Sir Alex has it anymore. Reputation and gratitude alone in this game are just not enough.
The next couple of months will be exciting times for United.. the transition will be interesting, whether Sir Alex is there to lead United into another glorious chapter of our rich footballing history, remains to be seen ...
After Roy Keane's huge tirade against the current squad was barred off the television by Sir Alex himself, many questions were raised about the Manchester United Football Club.
Are they in crisis ? Is Sir Alex leaving ? Are the Glazers giving $$$ for the January transfer window? (doubt it)
I got myself thinking about the recent happenings and how it all started.
Effectively, Sir Alex Ferguson killed his golden goose. After the glorious, glorious TREBLE of '99 (unlike the Mickey Mouse 'treble' won by Liverpool FC), United were undoubtedbly one of the very best in European football. They always got close but after winning it in 1999, the squad had it all.. experience, maturity, a right balance of youth and senior players and most importantly an abundance in attacking options. United could score at will and were afraid of no one. This mentality delivered the Premiership year after year.. The mentality of we'll concede 2 and score 4 more excited the footballing world (take the Spurs Vs Man Utd match, 0-3 United trailing at half-time, 5-3 the final score).
But unfortunately, losing in the European Cup 2000 semifinals to eventual winners Real Madrid (thanx to that unforgettable back-heel by Redondo to set-up Raul) made Sir Alex decide on buying 1 player who would change United forever - welcome Seba Veron. Having Juan Sebastian Veron in the squad meant Sir Alex had to ditch the very, very entertaining 4-4-2 formation for the 4-1-4-1 formation to accomodate Veron, Kene and Scholes in the line-up. While Veron (Kleberson and Djemba-Djemba have all gone, thank God) the formation stayed. United basically, never recovered from that.
Many formations were tried and tested, the latest, and the very, very hated 4-3-2-1 formation seems to stiffle United and with players like Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo and Ruud Van Nistelrooy, this formation has got to be the stupidest thing since releasing Jaap Stam to Lazio. (and buying Laurent Blanc)
A few clubs can prosper with this 4-3-2-1 formation (? Bolton, Chelsea) Taking the latter, the midfield trio in Chelsea are spectacular as much as I would hate to admit it.
Frank Lampard has got to be one of the best midfielders in Europe at the moment. And comparing Uniteds' midfield of Keane who no longer has the legs for box-box running, Paul Scholes who has lost ALOT of form and goals, Ryan Giggs whose role in the United midfield is limited to the Carling Cup and Darren Fletcher (alot of promise, but not yet the finished article), Alan 'Eminem-look-a-like' Smith (who is a bloody striker for God's sake) United will NEVER win the Premier League with this midfield options let alone the UEFA Champions League.
United need a Keane replacement (someone with leadership and the ability to score goals and take games by the scruff of its neck and win games for United) [ Michael Ballack (somehow doubt he'll come), Javier Mascherano (still unproven in Europe).. ]
Other reasons why United are suffering - Carlos Quieroz is running the show now ..training, tactics and formation.. what does Sir Alex do now ?
Continuous tinkering with the formation (4-3-2-1, 4-4-1-1, 4-4-2.. ) does not help the squad.
Roy Keane has NEVER shirked from his responsibility, as a captain, as a football player and most importantly as a fan of Man United, he's always honest about his performances and others. His words during the interview of "Just because you earn $120,000 a week does NOT make you a superstar". Step up please, Mr Rio Ferdinand. To be honest I was hurt the way he held the club to ransom. A club that stood by him when he was stupid, who never criticized him and yet he waited for more $$$ when the transfer talks came. Nobody is bigger than the football club, never will be.
Roy Keane has been known to Sir Alex's voice both on and off the pitch and is one of the most talismatic and influential captains United have had for the past decade. Ferguson has said publically many times how much he saw a mirror image of himself in the United skipper.
Why has it all gone so horribly wrong ?
Keane's values - the remorseless pursuit of excellence at all costs; the bristling intolerance of the bullshit and excuses of modern sport - have not changed. Ferguson's have. Sir Alex has become resigned to and tolerant of a mediocrity that Keane cannot countenance.
This is not about a lack of respect or gratitude towards Sir Alex Ferguson. What he has done for United will be unforgettable for the rest of many fans' lives. He delivered the Premiership after so many years and the European Cup after more than 30 years. But lets not kid ourselves, with the performances in the last 4 seasons, United have got just progressively worse. (in the Premier League and the UEFA Champions League definately) Maybe Sir Alex might not be the one to lead United into the next season after all. Afterall, a great manager knows how to get the best out of his team week in, week out and to bring the team together after a morale sapping loss, but judging from the way United performed in Lille, I'm not sure if Sir Alex has it anymore. Reputation and gratitude alone in this game are just not enough.
The next couple of months will be exciting times for United.. the transition will be interesting, whether Sir Alex is there to lead United into another glorious chapter of our rich footballing history, remains to be seen ...
ads scored @ 11:19 PM
2 Comments:
Spot on commentary, my man.
Kept on nodding in agreement while reading.
Thanx Kenneth.
I was sure you would have felt the same way and be one who would understand.
Post a Comment
<< Home