Look at the percentage of his passes that are positive. Hardly ever played a ball backwards. And he didn't need to move much, just had that positional awareness to move into space at the right moment and an awareness of what's around him to have the right pass instantly ready to go when the ball reached him. Makes it look so easy, but it's football nous of an exceptional order.
Always had time and made the game look so ridiculously easy. For a decade he was never less than an 8 out of 10. No-one has been as consistent in English Football in his era. Just imagine what a prime Keane would have been like in an Old Firm?
kept it ticking over in midfield. Good positive passing, accurate and to feet (or in the direction he wanted his player to receive it). Good firm tackles and excellent work rate. The complete midfielder
He always found the right pass and made pressure look easy when pressed, He would have been a very sought after player in todays game. In his later years when he had all that experience but with a bad hip, he played deeper as a sort of Deep Lying Defensive Playmaker and he was absolutely brilliant in that position. He always read the danger and smothered it, then found a simple pass forward. He was such an underrated progressive passer of the ball. Simple high speed accurate passes to the attacking line ahead of him. What a player.
That’s what people forget about Keane. Yes he was tough, he got booked and sent off more than most. But he was an incredible football player. I was a united season ticket holder for 18 years from 1991-2009. I saw him when he was at Forest under Clough and he was impressive. When he came to Utd he DOMINATED them all. Zidane. Viera. Gerrard. Lampard. Football is simple. Keane passed the ball forward to his teammates feet. He was the best at making football look simple.
Especially in this game, His game IQ is what put him ahead of the other midfielders. Ferguson was predicted too run riot over keane and dominate the midfield battle. Couldn’t get near Keane that day.
This is a great point. Keane couldn't train. He was in agony and needing a hip replacement. Yet he was still the best player in Scotland. That day he was class. Barry (8) was running about like the simpleton, tax avoiding, horrible wee hun bastard that he is. Barry who admitted in public that he used to square go himself and headbutted toilet doors before games. Suppose it makes sense they do like to drink out of urinals the silly billys
To those who are impressed (rightfully so) by Keano's passing, vision, precision, tackling & anticipation: This was Roy Keane at the back end of his career, playing with a persistent hip injury and of an advanced age. Add speed to it, the odd goal, and of course the famous Roy Keane aggression & you've got prime Keano, one of the most underrated players of his generation. The Man United midfield line with Keano, Scholesy, Giggsy and Becks was one of the best ever to play the game.
What are you going on about, underrated? He captained man united for nearly ten year, won 7 premier league titles, 4 fa cups, and a champions league, are you mad
At the time he wasn't underrated, but as the years have gone by people seem to have forgotten how good he was. It's odd. Maybe because he wasn't a flashy player. @@daveywhyte6254
The lad knew he had to have a good old firm game. He couldn't come up here and have that debut then also have a bad old firm. Man, wish we had got him a couple years earlier.
I was at this game. Keanes body was already giving up he couldn't train his hips were fucked. But he clearly wanted this and he made that ned Ferguson look like a wee boy. Keane was immense. Class is permanent. What a day.
