November 21st, 2005
Keane and Vieira to be teammates?
Apologies for the lack of posting, I’ve been in mourning for Roy Keane and extremely busy.
There has been enough commentary and op-ed stuff about Keane doing the rounds over the weekend, but all I can say is that it proves what an arrogant fool Alex Ferguson is and I for one have increasingly fallen out of love with the team my Liverpool-supporting friend Harry calls “the T-shirt factory”. Ferguson seems obsessed with the idea that no man is bigger than the team (David Beckham anyone?) but his assertion that Roy brought the team into disrepute with his accurate MUTV comments is nonsense. What about Rock of Gibraltar? (Keane’s alleged retort to him during their bust-up last week).
According to a story on RTE today, Juventus are interested in signing the midfielder. The thoughts of seeing him and former Arsenal nemesis Patrick Vieira playing alongside each other is a mouth-watering prospect. The BBC reckon Juve have denied the claims saying: “Juventus is very strong right now and we do not need any more players.”
Personally, I think Keane will stay in the UK. He has already stated that playing in Premiership would be tough (despite leaving United under a cloud, he admits it would be difficult to go to Old Trafford and head for the away team dressing room) but it seems the most likely option for him. He may opt to join former United teammate Bryan Robson at West Brom and he’s on good terms with Ferguson’s former assistant Steve McClaren who’s the boss at Middlesborough. It’s unlikely Roy will skip across town to play for Man City, but then Stuart ‘Psycho’ Pearce is there and they’d probably get on like a house on fire. Wigan (who are currently one point above United) are also said to be keen on Keane. The Corkman has expressed an interest in playing for Celtic, but the club’s chairman was quoted last week as saying the current team looked “settled”.
Paddypower.com are offering various odds on who he’ll pull on a jersey for next. Celtic are an extremely unrewarding 1-2, The Italian trio of Juventus, AC Milan and Roma are 7-1, 13-2 and 40-1 respectively, while Portsmouth are 33-1 (I’d be surprised if he went here), West Brom are 10-1, Man City are 12-1 and Wigan are worth a flutter at 18-1. Paddy Power obviously live in hope of Roy’s return to domestic football with odds of 125-1 on Cork City and 500-1 on Cobh Ramblers. And if he decides to jack in football altogether, couldn’t he make a career playing himself in an updated version of I, Keano?
November 21st, 2005 at 1:55 pm
Celtic is his dream but maybe Barcelona? Their midfielder Van Bommel has just done his cruciate in.
November 21st, 2005 at 3:16 pm
I’d love to see him in a match against Man U at some stage. Pure entertainment.
November 21st, 2005 at 4:45 pm
I’d also love to see him play against United. Imagine him scoring the goal that knocks them out of the Champoins League at the ripe old age of 35. Or being part of the City team to win at OT for the first time in a gazillion years (or whatever the record is). He does have a lot of good things to say about ‘Psycho’ Pearce in his book. And that’s saying a lot. I think it would be a real pity if he went to Celtic and played in that Mickey-Mouse league. Although there would be the advantage of Champions League next year, assuming they win the league. (How could they not with Captain Fantastic at the helm?) Juve would be another dream come true, but I don’t really see ‘homebody’ Keano leaving the wife and kids to move to Italy. But Keane and Viera in the same team - I’ve got a couple of spare arms and legs I’d gladly give to see that. I haven’t heard the Barcelona one before, but they’re hardly going to buy a player who can’t play in Europe for the rest of the season. I think that if he stays in England it will be either Bolton or ‘Boro as they’re both in Europe and have a chance of being there again next year. If he goes abroad, he’d only go to one of the big clubs like Juve or Milan (maybe Milan as they’re playing catch-up in Serie A). My sneaking (depressing) feeling is that he’ll choose Celtic to avoid meeting United and to stay close to home - ho-hum….It doesn’t mean that I can’t dream of a midfield comprised of Keane, Viera and Nedved, with Keano giving Zlatan a bollicking every time he tries something fancy and doesn’t quite pull it off.
November 21st, 2005 at 5:07 pm
Keane-o should do what he does best, which is walk his dog and shout at cameramen!
November 21st, 2005 at 10:46 pm
He should go to Sunderland!