KEANE AND NEVILLE DOUBLE ACT PULLS NO PUNCHES
THE quiet eviscerator, Roy Keane. He barely even moves in his chair, rarely changes the tone or volume of his voice. Just hard, blood-curdling facts. As the camera panned to Sky’s five-strong panel last night, Keane sat motionless, leaning back in his seat, the pose he forever retains when on the box. That presence makes him television’s finest pundit and the Manchester United legend came bounding in off a long run, sending a beamer hurtling towards Paul Pogba. Keane’s jaw looked tensed after watching Pogba speak openly about United’s need to stand up
and take responsibility. ‘Erm… I wouldn’t believe a word he says,’ he deadpanned. ‘There is no meaning behind it. He’s talking about being a good team-mate but you’ve got to run back. My eyes do not lie to me.’ And then the cheek: ‘I heard they were throwing their hair gel at each other after Everton, it got that heated!’ We do not see enough of him on our screens, but maybe that is Keane’s beauty. Less is more. Studs up — he doesn’t even look at the ball —and then disappears back to Nottingham Forest. Keane dovetailed with Gary Neville effortlessly, the pair were measured while hammering Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s fractured squad before this United defeat. Afterwards, emotions ran higher than expected, Keane rolling his eyes as Neville stuck up for Fred after his role in Leroy Sane’s second goal. ‘His legs have gone?’ Keane asked. ‘He’s two yards away! Go and close the ball.’ Neville then asked when was the last time Matteo Darmian played — three months ago. ‘There is a reason for that,’ Keane replied. It was an intriguing, and slightly bumpy, exchange. Only after the event did the club’s former captain choose to loosen the shackles and gesticulate. Neville seemed emboldened with Keane alongside, the spotlight not merely on him to provide outrage at slipping standards. Both provided key context, but Keane was stronger. ‘I’m intrigued when people say, “We’ll be up for next game”. You should be up for every game, whether you’re United or Altrincham. These are the same players who threw Jose Mourinho under the bus. Leopards don’t change their spots. There are too many bluffers.’ Presenter David Jones’ followup was to ask more about the team full of bluffers. A misstep. ‘I didn’t say all of them were. I said a few,’ Keane shot back. Do not mess with him. ‘Standards have dropped. It’s not up to the manager to motivate players. ‘Ole must be hugely embarrassed he has to address this days after the game. They’re way behind. There is pressure on Ole now.’ Sky felt balanced last night, with Graeme Souness and Shaun Goater also in the studio. Save for a line about United being ‘pussycats who rolled over with a belly rub on Sunday’, Souness was overshadowed by the United double act for once. Jamie Carragher was a little circumspect, while Joe Hart was assured on how City’s mentality has changed since he was at the Etihad Stadium.