It pisses me off when fans come out and say something like "We should think about replacing Giggs cos he isnt what he used to be" and someone else comes and says that Giggs is untouchable and will never be replaced. Thats just daft - a players place should never be guaranteed, and some of our stars have definitely lost an edge to their game. Been saying it for ages, and so has Keano:
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Roy Keane has blamed his team-mates' passion for "Rolexes, cars and mansions" on Manchester United's failure to win a trophy last season.
The Old Trafford skipper launched a blistering attack on players he claims were no longer "hungry fighters" - and that the glorious treble of 1999 still cast a shadow over the club. And Keane warned another season without success could see some players being shown the exit door.
He said: "There is no way this United team would be allowed to carry on past two years without a trophy. We did a photo shoot on Thursday and I'm not bragging but usually there is something to put at the front of the picture."
He added: "We were looking at the gap and thinking: "We won't be here for this next season if that row is empty again'.
"Last season we didn't grind out results. People used to say we won when we deserved to get beaten. Last season we were just beaten.
"It was the team that leaked goals. The team. Finger-pointing was useless. We weren't hungry fighters anymore.
"That feeling in my gut the night we clinched the treble kept coming back to my mind.
"The champagne was flowing, people were going crazy - but my belief was we had been lucky against a Bayern Munich team that bottled it.
"The following year we won the league by 10 points and Bayern Munich knocked us out of Europe. I felt sick to my heart.
"We should have bought big after the treble, gone for the best, freshened things up, attacked the complacency and let those who didn't care if they never won another trophy join the sort of clubs that don't win any."
The former Republic of Ireland captain - now in the international wilderness following a dispute with boss Mick McCarthy prior to the World Cup - suggested his team-mates had become complacent.
He added in his autobiography, which is being serialised in the News of the World: "By last season, my inkling had become an obsession.
"We'd bought into the glory, our status as heroes and living legends.
"As we stood for the UEFA anthem before the second leg of the Champions Cup semi-final with Bayer Leverkusen, one of our players was shaking.
"He was afraid. Played for his country, won championships, big star - afraid of taking the step up."
He continued: "Blame Seba (Juan Sebastian Veron) - it's too easy. Some of the others were getting away with murder. Glory, believing the publicity, had cost us.
"Rolex watches, garages full of cars, mansions, set up for life - then forgot about the game and lost the hunger that got you the Rolex, the cars and the mansion."
Keane also revealed he almost quit United in the wake of their 4-3 defeat at Newcastle last season - but carried on for manager Sir Alex Ferguson.
Keane was sent off after a tussle with Alan Shearer in the St James" Park defeat in September - and in bed that night he decided to take action.
He said: "I went to bed but never slept a wink.
"Some time during the night I decided `give it up Roy. You've turned 30 - get out, get away, do something else'.
"`You've got to stop hurting yourself, hurting those you love'.
"I talked to my wife. She argued I would miss it. I said I wouldn't. Anything would be better than this madness, getting angry and frustrated, lashing out.
"I felt I'd lost the argument that some players were in the comfort zone. Too many people were content with what they had. It wasn't for me. I should go.
"Next morning I was waiting for Sir Alex Ferguson at the training ground at 8am. I told him I wanted to pack it in. He said it was a knee-jerk reaction."
Keane revealed the duo talked for a long time and he told Ferguson he would not play in the next game - the Champions League clash with Lille - but a walk with his dog changed the picture.
He continued: "On Sunday I walked Triggs a long way, running the options through my head. Another club, somewhere sunny. At least I could be miserable in a warm climate.
"I love my football, really loved it - but could I play for another club? My heart was in Manchester United.
"And if I couldn't play with my heart I couldn't play. My mind was settled. I felt calm - a big weight off my shoulders."
"I thought about it and talked it through with her. I decided to play against Lille.
"He (Ferguson) had stood by me - quitting would be a slap in the face for him - the last thing he needed when the club was struggling. I carried on for him.
"I've got another four years in me - I'm sure of that now."
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Roy Keane has blamed his team-mates' passion for "Rolexes, cars and mansions" on Manchester United's failure to win a trophy last season.
The Old Trafford skipper launched a blistering attack on players he claims were no longer "hungry fighters" - and that the glorious treble of 1999 still cast a shadow over the club. And Keane warned another season without success could see some players being shown the exit door.
He said: "There is no way this United team would be allowed to carry on past two years without a trophy. We did a photo shoot on Thursday and I'm not bragging but usually there is something to put at the front of the picture."
He added: "We were looking at the gap and thinking: "We won't be here for this next season if that row is empty again'.
"Last season we didn't grind out results. People used to say we won when we deserved to get beaten. Last season we were just beaten.
"It was the team that leaked goals. The team. Finger-pointing was useless. We weren't hungry fighters anymore.
"That feeling in my gut the night we clinched the treble kept coming back to my mind.
"The champagne was flowing, people were going crazy - but my belief was we had been lucky against a Bayern Munich team that bottled it.
"The following year we won the league by 10 points and Bayern Munich knocked us out of Europe. I felt sick to my heart.
"We should have bought big after the treble, gone for the best, freshened things up, attacked the complacency and let those who didn't care if they never won another trophy join the sort of clubs that don't win any."
The former Republic of Ireland captain - now in the international wilderness following a dispute with boss Mick McCarthy prior to the World Cup - suggested his team-mates had become complacent.
He added in his autobiography, which is being serialised in the News of the World: "By last season, my inkling had become an obsession.
"We'd bought into the glory, our status as heroes and living legends.
"As we stood for the UEFA anthem before the second leg of the Champions Cup semi-final with Bayer Leverkusen, one of our players was shaking.
"He was afraid. Played for his country, won championships, big star - afraid of taking the step up."
He continued: "Blame Seba (Juan Sebastian Veron) - it's too easy. Some of the others were getting away with murder. Glory, believing the publicity, had cost us.
"Rolex watches, garages full of cars, mansions, set up for life - then forgot about the game and lost the hunger that got you the Rolex, the cars and the mansion."
Keane also revealed he almost quit United in the wake of their 4-3 defeat at Newcastle last season - but carried on for manager Sir Alex Ferguson.
Keane was sent off after a tussle with Alan Shearer in the St James" Park defeat in September - and in bed that night he decided to take action.
He said: "I went to bed but never slept a wink.
"Some time during the night I decided `give it up Roy. You've turned 30 - get out, get away, do something else'.
"`You've got to stop hurting yourself, hurting those you love'.
"I talked to my wife. She argued I would miss it. I said I wouldn't. Anything would be better than this madness, getting angry and frustrated, lashing out.
"I felt I'd lost the argument that some players were in the comfort zone. Too many people were content with what they had. It wasn't for me. I should go.
"Next morning I was waiting for Sir Alex Ferguson at the training ground at 8am. I told him I wanted to pack it in. He said it was a knee-jerk reaction."
Keane revealed the duo talked for a long time and he told Ferguson he would not play in the next game - the Champions League clash with Lille - but a walk with his dog changed the picture.
He continued: "On Sunday I walked Triggs a long way, running the options through my head. Another club, somewhere sunny. At least I could be miserable in a warm climate.
"I love my football, really loved it - but could I play for another club? My heart was in Manchester United.
"And if I couldn't play with my heart I couldn't play. My mind was settled. I felt calm - a big weight off my shoulders."
"I thought about it and talked it through with her. I decided to play against Lille.
"He (Ferguson) had stood by me - quitting would be a slap in the face for him - the last thing he needed when the club was struggling. I carried on for him.
"I've got another four years in me - I'm sure of that now."
