Keane - Premiership's Best?

[Will317]

This is an article I found earlier. Some people say it's arrogant, and this time I'd have to agree :D :

BBC Sport - 25.07.04
Manchester United captain Roy Keane believes he is unrivalled by any Premiership midfielder. Despite being in the relative twilight of his career, the 32-year-old said he even rated himself more highly than Liverpool's Steven Gerrard.
He told the News of the World newspaper: "Sir Alex Ferguson was very complimentary of Gerrard and he is a very good player. But I still feel that I am better than him. That is not being big headed."
At 28 and 24 respectively, Patrick Vieira and Gerrard - arguably the Premiership's top two midfielders - still have youth on their side. And in the last two seasons, questions have been asked about the ageing Keane and whether he is now past his best.
But the Irish international said: "You are always going to get criticised, especially when you haven't won the league. I ask the same question of myself every morning: 'Have I got something to offer Manchester United?' - and the answer is always yes. But when I feel I can't compete with the Gerrards and Vieiras, then I will know it is time to pack it in. Without a doubt, I feel happy in the company of people like Stevie Gerrard and Patrick Vieira. People look at those two players because they are in my position but I still fancy my chances against them."

[Leon of Silvren]

Yeah I also think that it's arrogant saying 'I'm better than him', not even Zidane -argueably the best playmaker in the world- says that, he always says that he don't think he's better than no one, that's a great quality of him, he's humble.

And I would like to add something, that, contrary to what Roy says, I think that Vieira and Gerard are both better than him.

[MUFC4EVER]

[QUOTE=Leon of Silvren

And I would like to add something, that, contrary to what Roy says, I think that Vieira and Gerard are both better than him.[/QUOTE]

At their respective peaks I would rate Keane better than Gerrard and Vieira - but I agree that he is getting on and certainly can't live with the other 2 now

[Leon of Silvren]

That's fine MUFC4EVER, I can live with other's opinions. :D

But you can't deny that he's getting very arrogant saying that.

[artmilan]

Gerrard, Vieira and I will go as far to say Lampard is better than keane

[Will317]

Gerrard, Vieira and I will go as far to say Lampard is better than keane

Some would say Lampard is the best of all of those.
Anyway, imo, Keane is over the hill and sometimes comes across as over-rated, to make comments like his you'd have to be slightly big-headed.

[Becks]

Age is getting to Keane, he can't handle it that Gerrard is catching up, if not already passed, him. Keane could play some good ball back in the day though!

[Will317]

Age is getting to Keane, he can't handle it that Gerrard is catching up, if not already passed, him. Keane could play some good ball back in the day though!

True, there was a time not too far back when he was the best, but now he is getting to the has-been stage. :)

[Leon of Silvren]

Age is getting to Keane, he can't handle it that Gerrard is catching up, if not already passed, him. Keane could play some good ball back in the day though!
Yes, he was once a great player, but definitely his time has passed, I can understand that he's frustrated, but what he should did was talk good about Vieira and Gerard, but what he said just drowns him more.

[derodo]

I would have to agree with the statements saying that it is v arrogant for Keane to say that about himself, but when all is said and done, what really matters is what each player has at the end of their career in their home trophy cabinet.

The only one out of what is mentioned below would be Patrick (good Irish name lol) Viera over Keane.

We'd all be better waiting till their respective careers are over and then compare them

[Becks]

Keane has left a legacy that will be held high for ages.

[nachi88]

I think keane in his prime was definately better than Viera and maybe equal to Gerrard. Keane maybe a little arrogant in saying all this, but still, it reamins a fact that Man Utd rally around Keane's call to battle. Keane is definately better than Viera, as a footballer , as a thug and as a thug in the football ground.

[*Baby_Becks*]

I believe that Keane is/was a great player and since he is older and he does feel threatened, he wants to seem more confident about himself and his abilites, and that is coming off as arrogance.