Yesterday I defended Roy Keanes action against Jason McAteer, but having had time to reflect on this incident I must now retract any defence of Keanes action. I have openly criticised Roy Keanes open verbal attacks on his own players and a section of the clubs fans, anything he says should be kept within the confines of Old Trafford, when Keane has put on his shirt and performed on the pitch for Manchester United he has had my full support. But recent events, the book, his constant outbursts on and off the pitch have made Roy Keane an issue that the club have to address, although I admire SAF defence of his club captain in the past I now feel that the manager should put the club first, no player is bigger than Manchester United, in fact nobody at the club is ever bigger than the club. If Roy Keane is to continue playing for our club he must now apologise for his recent actions, this must be addressed to his team mates, his manager and the fans, he will once again face a lengthy ban, at a time when the club has an injury crisis, Roy Keane is not the type of player to say “sorry” but he has to answer for his actions, he could apologise through the club, but it would be better coming from the man himself. If Roy Keane does not now changed his ways, then the club should act, sell or bench, what have we to lose, he is facing a decent ban already, Nicky Butt is ready.
Now for a dig at the FA, they constantly condom players who retaliate, as Keane did against McAteer, yet never address the problem, how many teams now use this type of ‘Tactic’ to try and get certain players red carded because they know they can provoke a reaction. McAteer at the Sunderland game went OTT on Keane and only the action of the ref prevented Keane getting hold of McAteer, but the ref should have carded McAteer and Keane in this incident, later the ref took no action against McAteer for the verbals he directed at Keane for the remainder of the match. The FA should warn managers and players that this type of ‘Gamesmanship’ is against the spirit of fair play, anybody who deliberately tries, through his actions, to get another player sent off should be red carded himself, come on FA, get your act together, now.
Now for a dig at the FA, they constantly condom players who retaliate, as Keane did against McAteer, yet never address the problem, how many teams now use this type of ‘Tactic’ to try and get certain players red carded because they know they can provoke a reaction. McAteer at the Sunderland game went OTT on Keane and only the action of the ref prevented Keane getting hold of McAteer, but the ref should have carded McAteer and Keane in this incident, later the ref took no action against McAteer for the verbals he directed at Keane for the remainder of the match. The FA should warn managers and players that this type of ‘Gamesmanship’ is against the spirit of fair play, anybody who deliberately tries, through his actions, to get another player sent off should be red carded himself, come on FA, get your act together, now.