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Not championship behavior Manchester United should clean up act
Manchester United is loved by millions of fans around the world. The team is also loathed in equal measure by many millions more. United plays some of the most attractive football in the world today and last season came close to finding the net 100 times in the English Premier League alone. But all too often, the 1999 European Champions show their dark side. Appropriate for the devil himself, but not so much so for the Red Devils, who are watched and adored by youngsters worldwide. The devilish side of United captain Roy Keane again surfaced Sunday as his team lost the Charity Shield 2-0 to Chelsea at Wembley Stadium. Keane was sent off for a rash and needless challenge on Chelsea's Uruguyan midfielder Gustavo Poyet , with whom he was involved in a first-half flare-up. It was a reckless form of retaliation for a clumsy challenge from behind on Keane by Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink earlier in the game. For the seventh time in his United career, Keane was shown the red card. The Irish midfield star is a player of drive and passion, an inspiration to his teammates who was voted footballer of the year in England by the players and writers last season. United can ill afford to play without him, which is why the Devils signed him to a club record contract last season But do without him they'll have to, at least for a couple of matches when his ban, as it were, kicks in. But worst of all, their captain has once again encapsulated what is wrong with this perennially successful Old Trafford setup. Last season, those who hate the English champions were given more ammunition by the countless times United players -- usually with Keane to the fore -- surrounded and hounded the referee when calls went against them. They were ugly scare tactics, which are becoming far too commonplace in the modern game. United has therefore developed a reputation as a side that can dish it out, but can't take it. As a side quick to capitalize when a dubious decision goes in its favor, but the first to complain when the opposite happens.
It's baffling that they so often walk away with the fair play trophy in England. Are referees truly intimidated to dole out punishment to United players? Sir Alex Ferguson was quick to defend his skipper, saying: "He's a fantastic captain and a great inspiration to the team," although he also added: "I couldn't believe it. I was saying to the players before the game to behave themselves." Even Chelsea boss Gianluca Vialli had sympathy for Keane (easy when you've won, I suppose) saying: "Roy Keane is a winner and, being a winner, you want to try to win and sometimes you get carried away. As a manager I would be happy with that as it means you care." But Keane can't care that much when his first thought in a preseason friendly in the name of charity is to brutally chop down a fellow footballer, leaving his team to lose without him and later fend without him when he is serving a ban. Take the aggression away from Keane and you lose a crucial part of his make-up. So I wouldn't suggest that for one second. But he has to channel his aggressions into fierce forays forward, biting-but-fair tackles and game-changing goals. Reacting the way he did against Chelsea was a case of pure stupidity. Referees come in for much stick, especially from Ferguson. He once again suggested the Charity Shield official Mike Riley should have booked Hasselbaink for the foul on Keane, and then none of this would have happened. But Peter Willis , president of the Referee's Association, said there should be no justifying the foul on Poyet. He pointed out that if Keane's blatant offense wasn't a sending off, then what is? "Do we need to see a leg with blood dripping off the stump?" he asked. Simply, Keane and United need to rein it in and realize that although they win most of the time, acting like spoiled brats when the chips are down is a sure fire way to bump up the numbers of people who despise them. Their wonderful, free-flowing football deserves better. Wouldn't grudging respect from their rivals be better than vitriolic hatred? Keane has to lead the way to change.
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