THERE IS ONLY ONE KEANO!!!!

Shocked. Disbelief. Sad. Confused. I was trembling. I just can’t believe what I have heard in the news. Is it true or I am just hearing things. It can’t be true. It just can’t. Keano no more???!!!! Keano quit United???!!! It just can’t be true.

It was no shock when United sold Stamp to Lazio. It was no shock when David “Golden Balls” Beckham was sold to Real Madrid. But Keano quitting United 12 games into the season and United european challenge this season still on the wire, it just can’t be happening. It is a catastrophe.

I am not ashamed to admit that I cried. I shed a tear, just a bit, because the thought of Keano is no more a Red Devil is too much. Even when he was hinting that he might not be a United player next season is hard to accept but losing him now, suddenly, was something all United fans in the world have not expected. Our talisman is no more. 12 years of service just suddenly ended. What happen? Mutual consent?? Nobody is gonna believe that he left because it was mutual consent. Nobody. I certainly did not believe it.

Whatever happens behind the curtains of the Theatre of Dreams that leads to Keano leaving with “mutual consent”, no one knows. Rumours of a row between Keano and Assistant Coach Queiroz is one of them. There was also the infamous interview he gave on MUTV. But nobody actually knows what happen that made him leave. Oh, how I wish I know. Such a great player and a loyal servant for United have now gone forever.

12 wonderful years has this man given to United. He has won almost everything when he was with United except for that elusive European Cup that he did not play in. he have been United Captain for almost 8 years when he took over from Cantona. He played like a true professional when he was on the field. Every football players acknowledge this Cork man talent and commitment to the cause of the team, even Vierra, yes even Vierra. The never say die attitude and his natural leadership on the field have always push United through games that United look likely to loose. I just can’t describe what have this man given to team. Simply said, when he plays, no one notice but when he is not in the team, the whole team looks disoriented and lost. He was United heart and soul but now he is gone. Will it ever be replace?

Who can take the void Keano have left? Players come and go, trying to be the successor and to fill the boots of the Irish hard man. Djemba-Djemba, Kleberson and Miller came and taunted as the new Keane but they failed miserably. All of them have left even before Keano did. Djemba-Djemba is with Aston Villa now but he is not even making grade in that team. Kleberson left and now plying his trade in Turkey and Miller is on loan at Leeds. In Keano absent through injury before he left United suddenly, Smith is the next candidate for the post and to be fair to him, he is trying but will he ever be in the same class as Keano was, personally, I don’t think so but for the sake of the team, I hope he succeed.

Keano have left and as of today, the United camp has not named the successor to the arm band. For the past 5 games, Ruud have taken the responsibility as the captain but I would dare say that Gary Neville would probably take the nod from Fergie. And of all the players in the team right now, he has the most experience and also fairly good leadership skills to lead post Keano era. I just hope he can continue the great United Captain tradition. I hope he can carry the team just like past Captain have.

Time of reflection for United fans. Hard it is to admit, but our Captain Keane is gone. Where he goes, where he plays, no one knows now but any team who he choose to sign with will definitely acquire a player who will play with his heart and who will give everything he have on the field. He may be 34 years old now, but Keane still have maybe 3-4 years in him. The youngsters in the team should take the opportunity to be playing with him and learn what this great player has to offer.

For me, he will always be Mr. United to me. He is just not merely my favourite player but he is also my idol. His attitude, commitment, It is because of him I always insisted on wearing the no 16 in hope that I can immaculate the great man on the field. So far, I fail miserably…hahahaha but just wearing that number makes me feel a bit more confident of my own ability as a player. I grew up idolizing him and now as an adult, I still idolize him. It is really hard now to even see a true professional. Keane is. He plays because he loves the game. He plays with his heart and he plays because of his pride. When he is on the field, he will sweat blood for the team. He gives 110% every single time he puts on the red or a green jersey on his back. He wants the team to succeed even if everyone in the stadium hates him. He criticizes players who are slacking. And when he has something to say, he says it even if he gets into trouble because of it. His determination to succeed has always there since he was a little kid. Deemed to be too small to be a professional player, he rose up to be one of the most celebrated hard man and midfield force in the world. From club level with Cobh Ramblers to Nottingham Forest and to Manchester United and also on the international level with Ireland, he proved to everyone that if you believe and if you work hard, you will succeed. He proved it and because of that he is where he is right now.

Player come and go in any team but how the team rebuild itself and cope with the lost of great players will show the real character of a team. United have said goodbye to a lot of great players before such as Cantona, Bruce, Robson, Smeichel, Edwards, Charlton, Best, Kidd and lots and lots more and now Keano is the latest to join them. We have always bounced back from the lost of these players and with the current crop of players we are still having a lot of future great players in our ranks. Rooney would of course be on top of the list to be the next talisman for the team, Ronaldo is also on his way to legend status at United and of course, Ruud the man is still there banging all the goals for us. With or without Keane, United will march on and still is one of the best team in England and also in Europe. I think in a few months time, I will eventually accept the fact that such a glorious player like him is gone. A new hero will rise up. All we can do is wait and see who is the player who is gonna take the mantle from the great man.

How will United cope with the post Keane era? We have to wait and see till the end of the season. If we succeed, the people would be saying that United is more than just a one man team but if we some how fail to live up to all the expectation that have always been connected to any great team, they would say that United just cannot handle the lost of a leader in the team. The team depended too much on Keane to lead them. So for now, millions of united supporter and well, anti united camp are waiting for what could be the most controversial season so far under Fergie’s reign. A season that started with the take over from the Glazer family, protest and boycott from supporters, criticism of the 4-5-1 style of play and now Keano sudden exit and oh….the latest one, Vodafone, the jersey sponsor for United have cut short of their 4 years deal to only 2 years. The mobile phone service company cut short the contract because they have sign a new agreement with UEFA to be one of the major sponsors for the Champions League next season. Meaning starting next season, a new name will be on the front of United jersey. They have only been 2 jersey sponsors since 1982, Sharp and Vodafone. The season has a long way to go, so we just have to wait and see what will it bring for the Red Devils……and as a United supporter, I hope it is gonna be good things from now on.