The Better Player – Roy Keane or Casemiro? Neil Lennon Weighs In

on January 4, 2023 at 8:15 am

Roy Keane is one of the greatest midfielders to ever don the red of Manchester United but Casemiro’s recent performances for club and country have us wondering who’s the better player?

We put the question to Neil Lennon who was also a midfielder back in his playing days.

Check out Lennon’s answer below along with his thoughts on George Best’s standing among the all-time greats, if Caoimhin Kelleher should push for a transfer and the chances of Brendan Rodgers managing Ireland.

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Who was the better player, Casemiro or Roy Keane?

Roy Keane was special and one of the best midfielders in the Premier League. He was really good on the ball and really intelligent. In his younger years, he was a great box-to-box midfielder too, he was like a 400-metre runner when he got going.

Keane was also a great leader and had a brilliant temperament. Casemiro has won everything bar the World Cup, it’s still early days in Manchester United career but you can see how much he has benefitted the team.

I would pick Keane over Casemiro, maybe because it was more my generation, but they’re both outstanding players.

Casemiro reads the game so well and passes the ball well too. He does not cover the ground as much as Keane did, but he is a powerhouse. Casemiro is the type of player Manchester United have been missing for years.

Marcus Rashford has been ranked as top five in the world by Casemiro if he continues his form for an extended period of time, with today’s quality of players, would that make him better than George Best?

George Best was the best player in the world in his time. He was European player of the year in 1968. Marcus Rashford is not as skilful as Best, but you see a huge difference in him physically now. Whatever work he’s been doing in the summer has paid dividends now.

He lost his way for a while, but now he’s back and is making a difference for Manchester United. To compare him to George Best is folly, he’s not at that level yet.

Was Pele the greatest football player of all time? And would you rank Best in that same category Pele, Messi, Ronaldo and Maradona are in?

You have to put George Best in the same category as Pele, Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo etc. Best had a short career but at his peak at Manchester United, he was an amazing player, when he scored those goals against Benfica and went on to win the European Cup, it put him on the world stage. He was dazzling, players loved him and hated playing against him, you would happily pay money to go watch him.

Pele is before my time, but his goal record and three world cups would make him a lot of people’s favourites as the best player ever. Mine is Lionel Messi, but everyone has their personal preferences, but Pele always makes it in the top three no matter what.

Is it time for Kelleher to leave Liverpool with him having virtually no chance getting a first team spot for Liverpool?

Caoimhin Kelleher is still young for a goalkeeper and is very talented. He knows his role at Liverpool. It will be hard for him to get chances in the Ireland team with Gavin Bazunu getting the nod recently.

I’m sure Kelleher wants to play more, there may be a time when he leaves Liverpool because he is capable of taking on a first-team role. But, Kelleher is working with one of the best goalkeepers in the world in Alisson and that’s priceless for a young goalkeeper.

Jurgen Klopp has a lot of faith in him and won’t want him to leave. For now, Kelleher is in a good place.

When I’ve seen Kelleher play, he’s been excellent, the Liverpool players trust him too. Playing at that level won’t give him any worries on going to any Premier League club and being the number one.

Would Brendan Rodgers be a good fit for Ireland manager?

Brendan Rodgers would be a top choice for the Northern Ireland job, he’s won the FA Cup with Leicester and nearly reached the top four a couple of times which is incredible. It’s very difficult to maintain that level with the competitiveness in the Premier League now.

Rodgers has been an elite manager for years and would be amazing for Northern Ireland.

Rodgers would a dream for the Republic of Ireland too. He can get a top international job with no problem.