Sky Sports pundit Micah Richards has revealed his feelings on why Manchester United legend Roy Keane has never adopted an in-depth tactical analysis approach to football punditry.
Roy Keane has become a staple addition to Sky Sports’ punditry line-up for Premier League matches and the 54-year-old Irishman has been no-nonsense with his style.
The Manchester United legend, who also does punditry for ITV for major international tournaments, pulls no punches when he is on the microphone on TV.
Keane has been cutthroat with his opinions, including towards United, and the Irish hardman has become widely popular with fans for his outspoken views on football.
READ MORE: Wes Brown weighs in on Paul Scholes’ Man Utd and Michael Carrick criticism: ‘I can see it both ways’
How many of Sir Alex Ferguson’s 13 titles were achieved without Man Utd being the OUTRIGHT top scoring team?
Can you name each of them?
Gary Lineker quizzed Micah Richards on Man Utd icon Roy Keane’s lack of tactical analysis as a pundit
Gary Lineker admitted that Roy Keane’s approach has been entertaining, but he has limited experience of working with the legendary former Manchester United captain.
Micah Richards, on the other hand, has worked closely with Keane for Sky Sports and struck up a close friendship with the iconic former Red Devils midfielder.
Speaking on his podcast, Lineker raised the question as to why Keane is never provided the opportunity to tactically dissect a match as a Sky Sports pundit.
“But so why doesn’t he do it on Sky? I mean, he plays Roy Keane and he does it,” he said on The Rest Is Football podcast.
“And he is absolute box office. And he’s much-listened to and his opinions are strong. But I’ve never seen him dissect [a match].”
Richards said that Keane has not been afforded the opportunity to tactically analyse a match due to the formatting Sky Sports adopts outside of Monday Night Football.
“I think it’s a format [issues] because Sky is, say, it was like a Monday Night Football. He did one Monday Night Football and [it was] really interesting,” he responded to Gary Lineker.
“But don’t forget, you don’t really get time, but you’re talking about an opinion on something.”
Who is Manchester United’s best manager since Sir Alex Ferguson?
Gary Lineker immediately challenges Micah Richards about his defence of Roy Keane’s punditry style
Gary Lineker wasted no time in bringing up that Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher – both Sky Sports pundits – will analyse matches unlike Man Utd icon Keane.
“Gary Neville will do it. Jamie Carragher does it in particular,” he responded to Richards.
Richards proceeded to point out that Keane’s signature style of punditry is adopting his personal views as part of his analysis, which were a core part of his identity as a player.
“I think he just enjoys the strong opinion,” he added.
“You know, I think that’s just what gets him going. You know, because he was such a great player.”
Richards continued: “And when he sees people not doing the basics correctly, it frustrates him.”
Keane is widely regarded as one of the best captains in Premier League history and enjoyed a prolific Old Trafford playing spell under United legend Sir Alex Ferguson.
Receive a digest of our best United content each week direct to your mailbox
