Manchester United and Manchester City played out a dull 0-0 Manchester Derby on Sunday afternoon, with Manchester United failing to secure back-to-back wins over Manchester City for the first time in five years - a feat last achieved under Ole Solskjaer pre-Covid.
Start as you mean to go on seemed to be the motto of the day, and both teams certainly delivered. It was an underwhelming opening 45 minutes that Roy Keane aptly described as a 'friendly derby', with Ruben Amorim's counter-attack making the home side seem marginally more dangerous at Old Trafford.
Like the first, the second period started slowly, with the most excitement coming in the fourth quarter when both sides gained attacking momentum, and the feeling quickly emerged that the result would not lie in one side outclassing the other, but rather in one moment of magic.
Ultimately, however, a share of the spoils was the fairest result for the two sides, neither of whom did enough over 90 minutes to justify three points. Of the two star-studded line ups few stood out, other than Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes who was by quite some way the best player on the field on Sunday evening.
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Roy Keane and Micah Richards clash over impact of Amorim's 'philosophy'
Discussing the affair, it was little surprise that Ruben Amorim's tactics were once again a subject of debate in the Sky Sports studio, where Micah Richards and Roy Keane clashed over Manchester United's 'divine right to win'.
Speaking after the match, Keane was reluctant to get drawn into discussions about Amorim's choice of tactics, instead putting the responsibility back on the players to perform, and going on quite the rant about philosophy.
Well the managers gonna stick with it isn't he, that's the gamble he's taking. If he's not getting football results, and we're talking about next year when he will no doubt get an opportunity to bring players in.
That's his beliefs and his philosophy and that's fine, but I liked to play for teams who's philosophy is we like to win football matches, I like that philosophy. I don't ever remember sitting in a dressing room with any players I played with, and some decent players at other clubs including Forest, and brilliant managers, where we discussed our philosophy. We'd find different ways to play.
If they're gonna go down that road and they're picking up results (fine), but I don't see it, my eyes don't lie to me. Now I'd like to prove wrong and Man Utd are in the top five or six next year and you're going I'll take it all back but I don't see it.
When we sit here and watch Man United, I'm getting fed up of this 'have you seen signs?', signs of what, getting the odd throw?
You can watch Keane's rather extensive breakdown of the current state of affairs, and Keane and Richards getting tetchy with each other from about 8:00 below.
Richards wasn't convinced by Keane's dismissal of the manager's tactics, rather helplessly trying to convince the Corkonian that Manchester United's current woes were a mere by-product of this system.
"Roy that's where they are at this moment of time, that's what you have to judge them on. You've said it right, the players at this moment, I believe in the system doesn't work," explained Richards.
When Keane pushed on with his argument that Manchester United's players had to do better individually and regardless of tactics, Richards bit back with a brilliant one-liner that left Keane looking less than pleased and quickly correcting him.
Richards: They don't have a divine right to win, Man United, do they?
Keane: I never said they did, I never said they did.
Richards: They're playing at the level of which they are right now, you throw the system on that, that's the results of what you're getting. I believe if they were playing 4-3-3 which the players are familiar with, they'd be doing a lot better than they are now, the system is hindering them, but long term with Amorim I think it will work well for them.
Keane: You're talking about expectation, they beat Man City at Man City, they beat Arsenal in the cup down there, so they have shown moments where they can do it. Every time we come to Old Trafford they're getting applauded off the pitch for getting draws, that's where the mindset of the club is.
Regardless of the tactics, it was hard to leave Sunday's emotionless derby without relating to the wants of Keane in some shape or form.
