Keane's criticism is pulled from MUTV
Monday, 31 October 2005 20:12The impression of Manchester United as a club in crisis gained further credence tonight when Roy Keane's blunt assessment of Saturday's 4-1 humiliation at Middlesbrough was pulled off the MUTV schedules.
Keane carried out his brief to analyse the Riverside debacle in the regular 'Plays the Pundit' programme at United's Carrington training ground this lunchtime.
It is thought the Corkman, currently sidelined with a broken foot, offered his usual blunt assessment of United's tepid performance, widely acknowledged by supporters to be the worst since the 3-1 defeat at Manchester City four years ago after which Alex Ferguson famously threatened to throw open the dressing room doors so fans could tell his players what they thought.
But it appears Keane's condemnation was too vicious for some senior members of the Red Devils' hierarchy, who ordered the half-hour programme to be scrapped.
Instead, MUTV executives were forced to show academy action, offering no explanation for the precise reason behind the swift programme change.
United officials offered no comment either, while sources close to Keane claimed no knowledge of the editorial decision.
Other than criticising Ferguson or new owner Malcolm Glazer, it is difficult to imagine what ground Keane could have covered which he has not done before.
He has previously used the MUTV platform to condemn the attitude of some younger members of the United squad, while in a recent live phone-in, he stated his belief this season would be his last at Old Trafford.
Such an obvious silencing is not likely to enhance the prospects of Ferguson persuading his influential skipper to sign a one-year extension to his current deal, which expires in the summer.
Instead, it was left to Dutch duo Ruud van Nistelrooy and Edwin van der Sar to offer their verdict on the miserable performance on Teesside, which came just four days before the Champions League encounter with Lille and eight days ahead of the crucial Old Trafford showdown with runaway leaders Chelsea.
