Keane stands by United criticism

NEW Celtic midfielder Roy Keane has stood by his criticism of former Manchester United team-mates in the wake of the drubbing by Middlesbrough in October.

Keane said: "Lots of stuff was said when I left United but I didn't have a problem with the players. There was speculation about what I was supposed to have said to the club's television station.

"I watched a video recording of the programme with the players and they were all in agreement with what I said.

"If you are going to analyse a 4-1 defeat, then analyse it. I have no problems with any of the lads at United. If you ask any player I have played with from my schooldays through to Nottingham Forest and United, they will all say something decent about me."

Keane also maintains he will not shy away from letting his new team-mates know what he thinks.

"At Celtic, I'll settle in for the first few weeks and see how the lads operate. You know, find out the players who like a laugh and a joke, the quiet ones. After that, I'll speak my mind. Players appreciate that in the long run. It is better to say things face to face than behind a person's back. Players might not like me for it, but they will respect me."

However former Republic manager Jack Charlton believes Keane is only at Celtic because the 34-year-old midfielder is past his best and believes Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson is of the same mind.

Charlton said: "I think he has made the right decision as the SPL will not be so demanding as the English Premiership or a move to Real Madrid.

"Let's be honest, Roy is past his best, though he still has a huge amount to offer in his new 18-month contract under Gordon Strachan.

"It won't be as hectic playing club games in Scotland and Roy will find it easier to push forward from midfield.

"I have always admired Alex Ferguson as a manager his record at Old Trafford says it all. I am convinced that Keane would never have been allowed to leave Manchester United if the manager felt that the player could still make a major contribution in bringing back the glory days."

Former Celtic manager Martin O'Neill said: "If I had been the manager, I would taken him. He can offer Celtic an awful lot. Roy Keane has the competitive instincts that has set him apart.

"Loads and loads of footballers across the country are competitive generally, professional players thrive on that. But Roy Keane has something special. He is a wonderful footballer one of the great players Manchester United have had over the last 30, 40, 50 years."

And former Celtic striker Charlie Nicholas believes the Corkman may have been lined up as a future manager at Parkhead.

"If it does not work out the way Gordon would like, in terms of winning the SPL or seeing the season out well, then there is only one guy who will be labelled with that problem Gordon Strachan.

"It won't be the board. They will not worry about systems or how certain players have to adapt because Roy has arrived. I see no problem for Roy, but I just wonder overall if this is a move to possibly look long-term, or possibly getting Roy to become manager."

Keane's former Old Trafford colleague Paul Tierney believes Roy Keane will be a terrific influence both on and off the pitch for Celtic.

Livingston defender Tierney trained with Keane at Manchester United for several seasons and made a handful of appearances alongside the Old Trafford legend before joining the Lions in the summer.

"He'll help the younger lads in training. At United he used to watch the reserve games and if he was on the way back from injury he'd go and watch the young lads and give tips from time to time.

"I remember one of the first times I travelled with the first team it was a game at Ipswich and I sat next to him on the plane back.

"I was thinking 'Oh my god, is he going to be snappy after a game?' but he was fine, he was good to speak to.

"You are in awe of someone like that when you're 18 as I was. He's got a presence."

Tierney also felt Keane's acid tongue after a mistake in a pre-season game.

"We were once playing a pre-season friendly in Ireland and I came on for the last five minutes and he was still on the pitch," he said.

"I gave the ball away and got an absolute blast, it's that kind of thing you don't forget. He's also the most dedicated in training, he'll have the lowest body fat at the club - he's just a total professional."