Is Keano Immune To Criticism?

Roy Keane was one of six managers who reportedly spent over £30m this summer - the others being Juande Ramos, Rafa Benitez, Sir Alex Ferguson, Martin O'Neill and Mark Hughes. One of those number has already gone, three have started the season strongly and the other is under significant pressure for only being mid-table.

So why does nobody question Keane when his team are in 14th - a massive one place above where they finished last season - despite investment on the scale of Champions League hopefuls this summer?

Sunderland have the biggest squad in the Premier League - with 33 players having squad numbers and another ten players out on loan. That's more than all the clubs who are competing in European competition as well as the Premier League.

They have a grand total of 12 strikers on their books - including forgotten men like David Connolly and Rade Prica - and still only Fulham have scored fewer goals in the Premier League. And they managed just one shot - on or off target - against Chelsea at the weekend.

They have won only one of their last six league games and are yet to earn a single point from a losing position this season.

And yet, when it comes to questioning what progress Keane is making at Sunderland, the silence is deafening.

The truth is that Keane is immune to criticism through a mixture of fear and respect. Not respect for his achievements as a manager but respect for his achievements as a player, and a fear not only of an angry reaction from a man with a celebrated temper but a withdrawal of media co-operation from one of the most quotable managers in the game.

Just as there was scant condemnation for Harry Redknapp's second exit from Portsmouth despite his earlier protestations that he would never leave the club, there are no questions being asked of Keane's management despite his vast summer spending (£12.5m on two West Ham defenders for a start) and results that have not reflected that spending.

If any other Premier League manager had fielded an 18-year-old striker who has been out injured since February against the title favourites while leaving Djibril Cisse and El-Hadji Diouf on the bench, people would be queueing up to ask whether said manager had lost the plot. Keane does it and - outside of local newspaper reports - you will struggle to find a mention of Martyn Waghorn's name in reports until you get to the bit at the end that says 'Waghorn, 4'.

I'm not saying Keane is a poor manager and of course I accept the notion that Keane is trying to 'build' a team and that will take time, but I will be very interested to see whether there are any dissenting voices in the press if Sunderland are still only a point clear of relegation in January or February. I suspect not.

Sarah Winterburn

seems like they got better depth compare to big 4.. heh.. plus, they only play bpl, fa and carling..

He has a problem that the other big sides don't. Sunderland doesn't quite have the same appeal for players. It isn't a nice place to live to begin with and it's not as though they are known outside of England. He may have had money to spend but it's still up to the player to decide if he wants to sign.

Which is why I think Cisse would probably sign a permanent only if Sunderland breaks into top10...Thats probably why his move is a loan move in the 1st place....

Well Cisse isn't exactly in the position to be picky at the moment is he? He wasn't even starting for Marseille. He had been playing really well though which prompted me to pick him as an outside chance to challenge for the golden boot.

Good article. Yes, it does raise the question whether Keane is sackable or not, despite being the one who brought them to the Premier League after dropping back a couple of times before. With the money being spent you'd expect them to be fighting a place in Europe, not relegation battles. Niall Quinn's a pretty nice guy, so I don't think he's the kind that would be looking at switching managers, unless of course the fans begin taking it to the streets. Keane's still inexperienced though, so I think they'll be keeping him for a while yet.

Good article. Yes, it does raise the question whether Keane is sackable or not, despite being the one who brought them to the Premier League after dropping back a couple of times before. With the money being spent you'd expect them to be fighting a place in Europe, not relegation battles. Niall Quinn's a pretty nice guy, so I don't think he's the kind that would be looking at switching managers, unless of course the fans begin taking it to the streets. Keane's still inexperienced though, so I think they'll be keeping him for a while yet.

Only Arsenal fans may disagree with this fact. Not to mention Chelsea, Liverpool or any other clubs.

No doubt at all. Sir Alex Ferguson is the best manager of all time. And definitely best of our time. Wenger has nothing on Fergie. He's nothing compared to Fergie.

Only Arsenal fans may disagree with this fact. Not to mention Chelsea, Liverpool or any other clubs.

Fergie has led Manchester United to so many trophies, including the Champions League (which Wenger has not won in his entire managerial career).

Did you even read my question? Ferguson has spent a crazy amount of money to improve his squad.

Jose Mourinho.. 2 years in Porto Win everything, 3 years in EPL won EPL twice, 2 carling cup and 1 FA Cup, 1 Charity Shield..