Fair play mate you've got some good quotes there. I do think the top players need a bit more pandering than less talented players though and I have trouble envisioning Keane ever being able to handle the likes of those. Having said you've changed my mind a fair bit on him.
I don't like to think of it as changing anyone's mind because I try to respect everyone's opinion – some love Keane, some hate him. I suppose it's just putting some less well reported information and widely held views out here, making a case, then it's up to anyone if they think it makes sense and want to take it into account or not.
About what you said above, I would argue it's the other way around; top players are likely to possess more quality, dedication and work-rate which are attributes Keane admires. Any who don't – less talented players - will be quickly out of his plans. One of Keane's former Sunderland and Ipswich players explains it: -
“I think he will be more successful the higher up he is. He demands the standards of Manchester United and when people don't match those standards, he seems to have a problem.
“He needs to be working at a higher level to be successful. If he tries again in the Championship or possibly lower, I'm not sure he will get what he wants from the players.”
~Jon Stead
Apart from that, it shouldn't be forgotten that Keane very successfully captained a whole Manchester United dressing-room of top players both young and old from around the world for over seven years...
“He (Keane) is the player that has the most influence in a dressing room that I have ever seen.
“I have been in many dressing rooms and with very important players but I remember reaching half time in games and it was only him that spoke, the one that made the speech.
“Sir Alex Ferguson was to one side and he (Keane) spoke. I am still profoundly affected by him.”
~Gerard Pique
“Roy Keane's charisma, his personality on and off the pitch - he's a gentleman.
“In training he'd explain things in a good way - and sometimes in a bad way, because it mattered.”
~Diego Forlan
Favourite played that you played with at Manchester United?
“Roy Keane”
What was your former team-mate Roy Keane's greatest strength?
“Leadership!”
~Ruud van Nistelrooy
Even the most talented player of them all: -
“I had a good relationship with Keane. I was very pleased that a great player with a big name in football told the manager to sign me.”
“[Keane was] always screaming to me: "Cristiano! Pass the ball!"
“But it was good! At the end of the day, I feel happy because I learned a lot from them.”
~Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano has played under some great managers: -
His relationship with Keane is no different: -
Of course those were all players Keane captained so I will finish with one Keane managed, one of the most talented, in my opinion, being former Tottenham, Aston Villa and England striker, Darren Bent: -
“Personally speaking he was fantastic for me. He always made me feel good and he always put in some good finishing sessions. I can’t speak highly enough of him and for me he was fantastic.
“If you want to improve as a player and get better you need people to tell you the truth. And he was definitely one for that.
“I think he got on with the players. I think what people most respected about him is that he told it as it was, to be fair.
“And if you weren’t playing well he would tell you. He wouldn’t hide from the fact and yeah as I said personally he was fantastic for me. I had a lot of contact with him on different aspects of the game and I’m sorry to see him go.
“Obviously we wish him all the best and hopefully he does well in whatever venture he does next.”
~Darren Bent
In all I would say that worries of Keane not forming good relationships with the type of top players we want at United are media driven fears and unfounded.
