Roy Keane Versus

Farewell friends - we'll see you out there. Special thanks to all the guests who have joined me over the past ten episodes: Don Eke, Alex Barnett, Jelena Milosavljevic, Claire Solan, Chris Hemmings, Darren Richman, James Foley, Ray Brennan, Matt Dyson, Rob Smyth… and a special thanks to Paul Ansorge of the United Rant Cast. Hail To The Tempest by Musa Okwonga - superstar poet and writer: @okwonga Fiachra McCarthy mastered the episode, Derek Doyle did our logo. If you liked the show, tell your pals - thanks for giving us a shot. Email roykeaneversus@gmail.com, Twitter: @roykeaneversus THANK YOU ROY

The 1996 FA Cup Final is remembered for cream suits, King Eric's late goal and being a stinker of a game. But for football writer Rob Smyth, it's also Roy Keane's second greatest game for United. He joins Neil to talk about the underrated aspects of Keane's game, the special magic of 1990s football and what question he'd ask Roy if he could be guaranteed an honest answer. Oh, and those fucking suits. Fiachra McCarthy mastered the episode, Derek Doyle did our logo. Email roykeaneversus@gmail.com Twitter: @roykeaneversus

Now that's what I call timing. In the week that Roy Keane returns to Nottingham Forest (as assistant manager), we focus on his time there as a player. His run-ins with Brian Clough, his evolving style of play, what he learned from Stuart Pearce - Matt Dyson of Absolute Radio and the Gameweek podcast takes us through it all. Fiachra McCarthy mastered the episode, Derek Doyle did our logo. Email roykeaneversus@gmail.com Twitter: @roykeaneversus  

The mighty Paul Ansorge from the best football podcast around, the United Rant Cast, joins Neil in a steamy car in Birmingham to dig into the most important relationship of Roy Keane's footballing life. Sir Alex Ferguson. For a while it was so good. Then it was so, so bad. But it was never less than compelling and we'll talk about why. Check out Paul on the Rant Cast every week for killer analysis of United, football and life. Fiachra McCarthy did Trojan work mastering the episode, Derek Doyle did our logo. Email: roykeaneversus@gmail.com Twitter: @roykeaneversus

We're back! Season 2 of Roy Keane Versus will (hopefully) round out Roy's story so far, as Neil Brennan continues to dig into just why the Corkman is such a hero. Stay subscribed for more episodes as we look at Roy at Forest, the Spice Boys, Fergie and a whole lot more. Fiachra McCarthy mastered the episode, Derek Doyle did our logo.

Was Roy Keane right to walk out on Ireland at the World Cup? James Foley joins Neil to talk about Saipan, Mick McCarthy, bibs, Roy Keane's part in Ireland's 1990s boom and whether we *actually* could have done better in the tournament if he'd stayed. Thanks so much for listening - this is the end of our first run of episodes but we're really hoping to bring you more Roy Keane Versus. Stay tuned to the end of the episode to hear the plans. I just have to go and get married first... Email: roykeaneversus@gmail.com Twitter: @roykeaneversus  

Whoa, no language advisory this week! (Although there are a few minor level swears in there, sorry Mam) Darren Richman joins Neil on the pod this week to talk about Roy's life after United. From pundit to celebrated author, briefly successful manager to cult figure, Roy has worn a variety of hats since that explosive day in 2005 when he left Old Trafford for good. Is Roy football's answer to Larry David? Would you ask Keano for a seflie? Can he ever patch things up with Fergie? We tackle it all. Fiachra McCarthy mastered the episode, Derek Doyle did our logo.  

This episode, we're talking that tackle on Alf-Inge Håland. The darkest moment of Roy's career... or the purest expression of everything that makes Roy who he is? Journalist and United fan Chris Hemmings joins Neil to talk about the macho side of Keane, from reducers to skinhead haircuts. They also debate whether Keane really was a true "hard man" and Chris makes the case that walking Triggs was one of the most macho things Roy ever did. Chris is the author of Be A Man: How Macho Culture Damages Us And How To Escape It. Fiachra McCarthy mastered the episode, Derek Doyle did our logo - which looks extra cool for this episode. Email: roykeaneversus@gmail.com Twitter: @roykeaneversus

Modern life might be rubbish, but modern football is worse. Or is it? This week radio presenter/producer/whizzkid Claire Solan joins host Neil to count down the most cutting Keano comments about the evolution of the modern game. Diving, superstar wages, breastfeeding. Was Roy right? Was he wrong? Will Neil ever eat a prawn sandwich and not think of Roy's scowling face? We also dig into some behind-the-scenes drama at Roy Keane Versus. Because Claire wasn't supposed to be the guest on this episode… but, as so often happens with Roy, you have to expect the unexpected. Stick around to the end to hear things get a bit emotional. Fiachra McCarthy mastered the episode, Derek Doyle did our logo.

Yes, we've already spent far too long looking at the moment Roy Keane and Patrick Vieira clashed in the Highbury tunnel. But now it's time to focus on all the other aspects of their dynamite rivalry. Who was better? Who had a bigger impact on the Premier League? And 13 years after they last played for Manchester United and Arsenal, why are both sets of fans still hung up on these "best of enemies"? Arsenal fan Jelena Milosavljevic joins Neil to talk about all that and more, including but not limited to: the Battle of the Buffet, the Battle of Old Trafford, and the Battle for Ruud van Nistelrooy's soul. Fiachra McCarthy mastered the episode, Derek Doyle did our logo and Don Eke provided invaluable production support.

The first proper episode of Roy Keane Versus looks at the Corkman's time at Manchester United - from fresh-faced record signing in 1993 to "disgraced" exit in 2005. To get the ball rolling, we look at the highlight of his United career: the night when he single-handedly slayed Juventus in the Champions League. (Well, more or less single-handedly, some other United players were on the pitch too. Allegedly.) MUFC diehard Alex Barnett joins host Neil Brennan to analyse just made Roy and United a match made in heaven and why it ended in a hellish departure. David Beckham, Cristiano Ronaldo, Alex Ferguson, Bryan Robson, Liverpool, Bayern Munich, Jesper Blomqvist's sleeves… don't worry, we get to it all. Thanks to Fiachra McCarthy for mastering the episode and Derek Doyle for our logo.

To give you a taste of what to expect from Roy Keane Versus, join host Neil Brennan and guest Donald Eke as they analyse one of the most notorious moments of the Corkman's career - and the glorious YouTube clip it spawned. Thanks to Don for production help, Fiachra McCarthy for mastering the episode and Derek Doyle for our logo.