KEANE'S STAMP SPEAKS OF FRUSTRATION

Last updated : 27 February 2004 By Editor
‘United have been on a downward slide for some time now,
gradually slipping away from the magnificent standards they
have set for themselves over the past decade or more. No
supporter I spoke to during the build-up to the match in
Porto was anything other than downright apprehensive about
the outcome, due mainly to a defence which is providing all
the security of a paper-tissue truss. In the wet.

‘One player's demeanour expresses this far more eloquently
than a thousand words on this page. I speak of course of Roy
Keane. He is supposed to be the embodiment of his manager on
the pitch. When the United manager pulls on the leash, Keane
barks loudly on his behalf. But if that bond truly exists,
we can only assume Ferguson may suspect he has no answers
left this year and is boiling over with frustration at the
thought.

‘Although he has cleaned up his act on the pitch in recent
seasons, Keane's occasional eruptions are preceded by tell-
tale signs. Vesuvius gives seismologists fewer clues. Back
in 2001, just after United had been knocked of the Champions
League by Bayern Munich, Keane said: "We're not good enough.
Maybe it's the end of the road for this team". Lo and
behold, a few days later he was making mincemeat of Alf Inge
Haaland's leg with his studs.

‘Just before taking a swipe at Alan Shearer at Newcastle he
was complaining bitterly that footballers were being
"treated like expensive pieces of meat". And that clash
between Keane's elbow and Jason McAteer's earhole was also
preceded by the Republic of Ireland World Cup row and his
walk-out. It seems Keane's dismissals are always preceded by
anger which he simply cannot bottle up.

‘So why is he furious now? It's probably for exactly the
same reasons as most of the fans paying at the gate. Here's
a quick list:

‘United allowed the England captain to join a European rival
and spent £12million on a replacement they dare not use when
it matters.

‘Ferguson has tried SIX players on the right and has yet to
fill the void.

‘Over £45million worth of substitutes were on the bench
against Porto - but were any really capable of turning a
match at the highest level?

‘Neither of those Djembas are any bloody good.

‘A team that used to have leaders all over the field - Bryan
Robson, Mark Hughes, Peter Schmeichel, Paul Ince, Steve
Bruce, Teddy Sheringham to name but a few - had precisely
none when Keane got himself sent off in Portugal.

‘United not only lost their chief executive to Chelsea, one
of their Premiership rivals.

‘United also lost their coach to Real Madrid, one of their
European rivals.

‘The stupidity over Rio Ferdinand and the missed drugs test
is well-documented. But when they heard he was out for eight
months, why didn't United sign a centre half?

‘All of the following have all been played out of position -
Gary Neville, Phil Neville, Wes Brown, John O'Shea, Quinton
Fortune, Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs and Kleberson.

‘Diego Forlan. No further comment necessary.

‘Barring divine intervention, United will be left with one
league title to show for three years work, and that one came
courtesy of an Arsenal collapse. Would Milan or Juventus
stand for that? Possibly not.

‘Ferguson's position is undoubtedly stronger because of his
achievements over the years and he still has an interest in
two cup competitions. So this is no over-reaction or call
for his head, that would be met indignantly by Old
Trafford's fans at this stage.

‘But how much longer will that be the case? Looking at the
list of self-made problems Ferguson faces, any United fan
would want to stamp his foot like Keane right now.’