Saturday, November 19, 2005

Keano Leaves The Red Devils





I'm sure that every Man Utd fan all around the globe felt very shocked and disappointed today.
Well, I'm certainly surprise too when I saw the the headlines on the sports section of the newspaper today. And that's because our favourite captain, Roy Keane leaves Man Utd today! I actually expected him to leaves soon but not today... and not now (especially when Man Utd is struggling to catch up with leader, Chelsea in EPL and struggle to play well in the Champions League). I really think that it is the wrong time for him to leave now. The players need some motivation now and his leave will not boost the team's morale. I didn't even knew why he wanted to leave. He is one of my favourite footballer and he even started playing football before I was borned. I think now he will be heading to his childhood favourite club, Celtic (Scotland). But I do hope that when he retires, he will returns to Man Utd as a manager someday.

Roy Keane is a player for the ages, but he's likely to be remembered more for his rage. He has gone from a angry man to a fire spitting warrior who would kick his own grandmother to win a 50-50 ball. He has opinions on everything and is loathed by many of his fellow pro's, but as a player he 's magnificent. Bought from Nottingham Forest for 3.8 million in 1993, Keane has been the driving force behind Man Utd's years of dominance. He's most probably one of Alex Ferguson's best buys. When Paul Ince and Bryan Robson left the club, he seized his opportunity and was made captain when Eric Cantona left Man Utd. For United, he has won everything but missed the Champions League final against Bayern Munich because of suspension.

Roy Keane, 34, is leaving after playing for the club 12 years. He is most probably the most influential player in the squad. He is most probably the most suitable and the best captain to lead the squad. He is also a very dicipline player and his existance gave a lot of motivation to the team. He shows a lot of leadership and without him, the team usually plays badly and inconsistently. But when he returns to the team after recovering from an injury or a ban, the team plays like a champion. Without him, Man Utd and even his national team, Ireland plays badly. He is probably the best defensive midfielder in the world. To bad, he did not wins the World Player of The Year award (I think that he deserves that award). He's a hard-tackling player that is never afraid to make a tackle even if it will causes him the red card. Do you remember the Alf Inge Haaland injury incident in year 2001? Well, he got himself sent off during the derby match against Manchester City for a very bad tackle to Norway's Alf Inge Haaland. The injury is so bad that his career in football ended. He had to retire from football because of that injury.

He is also a very honest person who never afraid to say the truth to the press even criticism to his own team. Do you remember in 2002, he quit the Irish World Cup squad, days before the competition started? Well, he had some argument with the manager, Mick McCarthy. He quit the international squad and only comes back when Mick McCarthy was not the manager. A few weeks ago, he gave some criticisms to the Man Utd squad for their poor performances and results. He even suggested to the manager to get rid of some of the under-performing players. When Roy Keane said Manchester United needed to get rid of players, he probably didn't mean himself. The team responded really well to proof Roy Keane wrong. The team which is hit by injury problems, had beaten the league leader, Chelsea.

Man Utd hasn't really found a replacement for Roy Keane. Alan Smith is playing well in the defensive midfielder position. But Man Utd will not be satisfied will Alan Smith alone. If Alan Smith gets injured, there will be no replacement for him. So, in January, Man Utd will most probably buy a defensive midfielder and the person is most probably Aldo Duscher or Micheal Ballack.

Roy Keane Factfile :

1971 : Born August 10 in Cork, Ireland

1980s : Plays for Cork club Cobh Ramblers

1990 : Signed by Nottingham Forest in England

1991 : Win first international cap for Ireland against Chile

1993 : Joins Man Utd for a then British record transfer fee of 3.8 mil

1994 : Wins double of the Premier League and FA Cup with United. Plays for Ireland in World Cup Finals in USA

1996 : Wins another league and FA Cup double.

1997 : United retains league title

1999 : Captains United during their treble winning season of Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League, although he misses the Champions League final against Bayern Munich through suspension.

2000 : Leads United to another league title. Voted Player of The Year by both fellow professionals and football writers.


2001: Sent off during derby against Man City for bad foul on Norway's Alf Inge Haaland. Captains United to third league title.


2002: Signs new four-year contract with United. The team fail to win a trophy, finishing third in Premier League and losing in the Champions League semi-finals to Bayer Leverkusen.

May - Keane walks out on Ireland’s World Cup squad in S. Korea before tournament starts after row with manager Mick McCarthy.

August - Reveals in autobiography his intent to injure Haaland with “revenge” tackle in previous season and is charged by FA with bringing game into disrepute.

2003: Leads United to their eighth Premier League title.

2004: March - Banned for one match by UEFA for stamping on Porto keeper Vitor Baia during United's 2-1 Champions League defeat in Portugal.

May - Lifts fourth FA Cup title in win over second division Millwall, setting a modern record with his sixth appearance in the final. Ends his international exile by returning for Ireland, under coach Brian Kerr, in a 1-0 friendly win over Romania.

2005: May - United fail to win a trophy, losing in FA Cup final to Arsenal, while Chelsea win Premier League.

Sept 29 - Says he expects to leave United at end of season to continue playing for another club, possibly in another country.

Oct 14 - Announces retirement from international football after Ireland fail to qualify for the 2006 World Cup Finals.

November - Keane, then out of action with a broken foot, criticises teammates for United's poor results in a television interview which was pulled at the last minute by manager Alex Ferguson.

Nov 18 - Leaves United by mutual consent.



United's skipper is the team's heartbeat, the man that the players look to for inspiration and motivation. Roy is often described as Sir Alex Ferguson's representative out on the pitch, because he 's the one that will improve the team's performances.

Fan Chant : "Keano! There's only one Keano! There's only one Keano! There's only one Keano!

Quotes : " If I was going to put Roy Keane out there to represent Man Utd on a one to one, we'd win the Derby, the Grand National, the Boat Race and anything else. Roy is an unbelieveable player whose leadership, passion, and drive epitomise the best qualities of Man Utd. I think he is the best player I've ever had" - Sir Alex Ferguson

The games we lost this season we would never have lost with Keane playing. If he had been on the field, I think there would have been something different about the place. There has been a lack of leadership because of the youthfulness of the team." - Alex Ferguson on the absence of Roy Keane throughout 1997-98

"I love it when the team scores....the lads are always giving me stick because of it, but I'm just so happy I can't help it." - Keane on when United score

"Roy Keane's probably the funniest person in the team. In the changing room, he'll say `watch this' and he'll start humming or singing a song near Pally. Five minutes later Pally will be singing the same song! Never fails that one!" - Ryan Giggs on Keane

Roy Keane is Damien, the devil incarnate off the film The Omen. He's evil. Even in training." - Giggs on Keane the Red Devil

"I don't think I could have a higher option of any footballer than I all ready had of the Irishman, but he rose even further in my estimation at the Stadio Delle Alpi. The minute he was booked and out of the final he seemed to redouble his efforts to get the team there. It was the most emphatic display of selflessness I have seen on a football field. Pounding over every blade of grass, competing if he would rather die of exhaustion than lose he inspired all a round him. I felt it was an honour to be associated with such a player." - Alex Ferguson on Roy Keane after the European Cup semi-final tie against Juventus in the 1998-99 season.

"Patrick Vieira is 6 foot 4, and he starts having a go at Gary Neville, so I said 'come on have a go at me'. Simple as that. He's trying to intimidate my players and I'm not having it." - Roy Keane

"I'll never change my game. It isn't possible. If I did I would be half the player that I am." - Roy Keane

"I hate losing in training, I'm always arguing, having a go at everybody. I take my job very seriously." -Roy Keane

"The type of game I play, I'm going to pick up injuries and suspensions, unfortunately." - Roy Keane

More Qoutes :http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Roy_Keane

Honours with United :
1994 Premier League -Winner
1994 FA Cup - Winner
1996 Premier League - Winner
1996 FA Cup - Winner
1997 Premier League - Winner
1999 Premier League - Winner
1999 FA Cup Winner - Winner
1999 Intercontinental Cup - Winner
1999 European Champions League - Winner
2000 Premier League - Winner
2001 Premier League - Winner
2003 Premier League - Winner
2004 FA Cup - Winner

Roy Keane supported Spurs and Celtic as a kid. As a teenager, he wrote to several English clubs for a trial, but didn't write to United. He didn't think he was good enough. He used to be an amatuer boxer in his early days and his hero outside football was Mike Tyson. He was signed by Brian Clough for Nottingham Forest from Cobh Ramblers. Clough is the only man who has been able to dicipline him and his methods included the occasional punch in the face. Keno then joined Man Utd. Keano became Dr. Keano for a day in May 2002. He was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Law from Cork University. He has a wife, Teresa and three children : Shannon, Cara and Aiden. He would like to finish his career in Celtic (and his dreams had came true). Thank you, Keano for all the glory you have given to Man Utd. You will always be a Man Utd legend!! Glory, Glory Man United!!!

Friday, November 11, 2005

TECHNOLOGY IN FOOTBALL

What do you think about the introduction of technology in football (soccer)? I personally think that it is a brilliant idea. In my opinion, I felt that the referees really need some help. The responsibilities of referees are too big. They are given the power to make judgement in the game. Unfortunately, they sometimes make mistakes just like everyone else. Because of that, they are heavily criticised by the media, fans and clubs.

I guess the only way to solve this problem is through modern technology- Diego Maradona will be happy... if technology is introduced he will be the only one being called the Hand of God. 8)

On the other hand, I think that I really enjoy watching blunders by the referees and debating it after the match....