It's safe to say that Roy Keane splits opinion. Many love his no nonsense approach to the game of football, while other find it all a bit off-putting. You can certainly see why people might fall on either side of that argument.
To be fair, his punditry on Sky Sports has been fairly well received. Keane has discarded many of the harsh takes he would often be associated, but his old school view of the game does come across at times.
One such incident occurred during the Manchester United and Liverpool game yesterday, when he jokingly complained about the pre-match pleasantries exchanged between the two sets of players.
"You're going to war. Hugging, kissing? You shouldn't be even looking at them.. Chat to them after the game, actually don't even talk to them then!"
Roy Keane is on fire today 😂— Balls.ie (@ballsdotie) October 20, 2019
This view has rubbed some people up the wrong way.
Danny Murphy appeared on talkSPORT earlier today, where the topic of Keane's punditry came up. He and the show's producer were certainly not fans of his style.
Joe: "I just hate this macho rhetoric in football." 😡
Danny: "I don't think Roy believes what's coming out of his mouth." ❌
@ProducerJoe1 and Danny Murphy disagree with Roy Keane's comments about the #MUFC and #LFC players. 🔴
What do you think? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/9ozzq28dIc— talkSPORT (@talkSPORT) October 21, 2019
I hate this macho rhetoric in football. It really isn't how I want the next generation of players to be, that we can't look at each other and have to go into war and battle.
I take issue with some of the words he uses to describe this. War is not football, it's a game where you play against each other. War is men going to different countries and losing their lives, putting their lives on the line. That's war, don't conflate those two things...
The argument that they are greeting each other and shaking hands makes them any less committed to the cause is nonsense.
Danny Murphy shared the sentiment, believing that what happens in the tunnel pre-game has absolutely no impact on the pitch.
I don't think Roy Keane believes what has come out of his mouth there...
It's perception. Roy Keane is talking about the perception, that it doesn't look good. As long as it doesn't change your attitude on the pitch.
Say there's two friends playing against each other in the Premier League, that shouldn't change one bit how you go into that tackle, how you play against them, wanting to dominate them, be the best player, personal pride.
I think it's a mountain out of a molehill.
