Poll: The Roy Keane Interview

[listen_up_fergie]

Everyone's talking about the interview with Roy Keane that was scrapped by MUTV. According to the Mirror, Keane launched a verbal attack on Alan Smith, Kieran Richardson, John O'Shea, Rio Ferdinand, Darren Fletcher and Liam Miller. There's already a thread on this, but I thought I'd just start up a poll to gauge what the bigsoccer fans' opinions are on the interview.

[Motterman]

Well, based upon our first result after the interview, or moreso the performances of some of the players "called out", I'd have to say that the interview had no effect, at best, or it has crushed the confidence and morale in the dressing room, at worst. :(

[Dark Savante]

or it has crushed the confidence and morale in the dressing room, at worst. :(
Winner!!

[Vermont Red]

Everything that he said had probably already been said behind closed doors. This team deserves it. As someone else pointed out, if this crushes their confidence, then it is unlikely they would have succeeded at United anyway.

[littleman]

More than that, it is *extremely* unlikely that they would have been "crushed". Big ego stars who think that Keane is a fading force (and think that they've accomplished everything) wouldn't really give a balls about his criticisms, and would have just wanted to perform well yesterday to mack it in his face. Unfortunately, Keane knows better.. :)

[Alan_V]

Left out the option "It was unprofessional and should have stayed in the dressing room."

Keano has just finished his career with United. He will never again have the support in the dressing room that he wanted. First it was the realese of a statement that he wouldn't be playing for Utd next year. Then Fergie announces he wants to open up discussions regarding a contract extension. Now he publicly lambasts his team and names names. Four years ago, he basically put the FAI in the same position he has put Utd in, with his statments about Mick McCarthy. They have to get rid of him. He'll be gone in January IMHO. Nobody, not even Roy Keane, is bigger than the team and the manager makes the decisions for the team, not the captain.

[littleman]

Left out the option "It was unprofessional and should have stayed in the dressing room."

Keano has just finished his career with United. He will never again have the support in the dressing room that he wanted. First it was the realese of a statement that he wouldn't be playing for Utd next year. Then Fergie announces he wants to open up discussions regarding a contract extension. Now he publicly lambasts his team and names names. Four years ago, he basically put the FAI in the same position he has put Utd in, with his statments about Mick McCarthy. They have to get rid of him. He'll be gone in January IMHO. Nobody, not even Roy Keane, is bigger than the team and the manager makes the decisions for the team, not the captain.

But Roy Keane ISN'T bigger than the team. Nor does he think he is. He simply thinks that as captain, and a senior player, it is his duty to lecture the younger players who are underperfomring and have a large ego. He did not do this while thumbing his nose at the club --- you have to clearly separate the issues. You are clearly wrong. He did it out of love for United, and not out of love for himself. It is hard to imagine Keane as a "backstabbing" figure who came out publicly without telling the players themselves. I think it would not be a suprise if he's told them repeatedly without them heeding his words.

It was an inappropriate action in some ways -- destabilizing, most importantly. But bigger than the club? No way hosay, Keane is anything but deluded in THAT sense.

[Motterman]

Everything that he said had probably already been said behind closed doors. This team deserves it. As someone else pointed out, if this crushes their confidence, then it is unlikely they would have succeeded at United anyway.

If that it truly the case, then it's better that it's happened now and not later, or is it?

However, the club might not be in a position to make very many changes in January anyways. A major overhaul of our midfield is apparently needed, or is it all fixed by maybe bringing in one player next year? Not likely.

If we were still a PLC, it might take one or two transfer window sequences to move in 4 or 5 players and get rid of 5 or 6 players. I don't think anybody has an idea on what to expect with Glazer. But now with us teetering on the edge of getting dumped out of Europe in the group stage... it might all come crashing down if we don't qualify, and then any talk of signing a big player is purely spurious.

[blackadder]

There was no spirit in the team before he gave the interview and no spirit afterwards. The only thing it really did is let the supporters know that somebody else actually sees what is going on at the club.

It's much more preferable to the usual propaganda that comes out of the club and I couldn't give a toss if somebody's feelings are hurt.

As for January transfer window, we all, deep down, know what will happen. Nobody shipped out, no big signings and a lot of "the funds were there, we just couldn't find a player who wasn't tied in Europe," "we had full backing from the owners to buy any player, but we won't be held to ransom over transfer fees," "with Gary Neville back in the team and more players coming back from injury, our squad can compete with any in Europe.

But now with us teetering on the edge of getting dumped out of Europe in the group stage... it might all come crashing down if we don't qualify, and then any talk of signing a big player is purely spurious.

Why would this necessarily be a bad thing?

[jammybastard]

So what's the chance this tape sees the light of day?
I wonder how hard The Sun and Mirror are trying to bribe someone to get it.

Bottom line: Roy's right to call b-u-l-l-s-hite on the team.
He did it a few years ago in his bio, and I'm sure he's going to do it again in the future.
After all, what do you do to motivate when the players get used to the famous SAF "hairdryer"?

[Achtung]

Keano should've just handed them all copies of his book. And put the quote in my sig on a sign in the tunnel, akin to Liverpool's "This Is Anfield".

[littleman]

So what's the chance this tape sees the light of day?
I wonder how hard The Sun and Mirror are trying to bribe someone to get it.

Bottom line: Roy's right to call b-u-l-l-s-hite on the team.
He did it a few years ago in his bio, and I'm sure he's going to do it again in the future.
After all, what do you do to motivate when the players get used to the famous SAF "hairdryer"?

Reports have it that Manchester United have burned the tape. Note that this comes from those dubious sources like The Mirror (and don't forget the alleged transcripts came from Mirror as well)..

[littleman]

There was no spirit in the team before he gave the interview and no spirit afterwards. The only thing it really did is let the supporters know that somebody else actually sees what is going on at the club.

It's much more preferable to the usual propaganda that comes out of the club and I couldn't give a toss if somebody's feelings are hurt.


Agreed, in a way. The message that comes out from the people like Ferguson, Quieroz, etc, are all so "diplomatic". It's truly like a professional business now... Sure, diplomacy does have many many advantages, more stability, and maybe they can leave their lamblasting behind the scenes etc. But the passion is lost. The fans just don't see the degree of concern they would want to. And talk about FC United...

[jammybastard]

Reports have it that Manchester United have burned the tape. Note that this comes from those dubious sources like The Mirror (and don't forget the alleged transcripts came from Mirror as well)..


"Burned"?

That's good.
Nobody ever "burns" anything in the video biz. They make copies.
I guarantee someone made a dub, and they are trying to find away to make it public w/o losing their job.

It'll show up in time, especially if the team turns the season around.