Roy Keane digs out captain Bruno Fernandes after Man City outclass United at Old Trafford
City dominated as they often do, but Keane didn't see the kind of reaction you'd want from United players in a big game — especially from one man in particular.
Manchester United legend Roy Keane had little positive to say about his former team’s performance against Manchester City in the derby on Sunday but chose to dig out club captain Bruno Fernandes, in particular, during his disappointed post-match analysis.
The ex-Man United midfielder has never been one to shy away from criticising the Red Devils even when he was still at the club, so after Pep Guardiola‘s side cruised to a comfortable 3-0 win over the home side in the Manchester derby, Keane was brutally honest as usual, with Fernandes receiving the brunt of it.
Speaking on the panel alongside Jamie Carragher, Micah Richards and former teammate Gary Neville, Keane began by stating that the fact “one bad decision seems to follow another” is symptomatic of the overall problem at the club, which he admits is in stark contrast to the days under Sir Alex Ferguson.
The 52-year-old then went on to insist that they’re taking the backroom and structural “chaos… onto the pitch” and after Carragher insisted Erik ten Hag has got it wrong, stating that “Bruno Fernandes should not be a captain”, Keane went on to say that it “should be taken off him”.
"He's the opposite to what I would want in a captain!"
Acknowledging that ten Hag has already stripped one player of the captaincy after struggling to perform this season in Harry Maguire and that to do so again might be a big decision, the Irishman went on to argue that “Fernandes is not captain material”.
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Taking issue with the Portuguese player’s behaviour on the pitch as opposed to his ability — confessing “he’s a talented player, no doubt about it” — Keane says that Bruno’s “whinging, moaning [and] throwing his arms up in the air constantly” isn’t acceptable from a leadership figure, adding that his demeanour this weekend was just one example of something that has been noted “many times before”.
The former player and coach turned pundit summarised by saying that based on what he saw on Sunday, he would take the captain’s armband away from the 29-year-old moving forward, going so far as to say, “he’s the opposite to what I would want in a captain”.
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Fernandes only earned the captaincy back in July after the manager saw fit to remove the stress of the position from Maguire’s shoulders given his ongoing struggles with form and confidence, and it’s safe to say it wouldn’t look great for the Dutchman to change his mind once again so soon after. You can watch the Manchester derby debrief in full here.
Nevertheless, a former club captain himself, Keane said ten Hag can comfortably hold his hands up and say, “I got it wrong”, and that this step is a crucially feasible one for him to take, whereas questions surrounding ownership, the board and so on are simply aren’t within his power.
Keano’s criticism didn’t stop there either, as he described the entire showing as “a really poor day at the office for them – very, very poor”, remarking that “they are so far off it, it is hard to watch.”
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He signed off by saying that you simply “never know what you’re going to get with Man United” from week to week and that this isn’t something you can accept if you want to be a big club challenging for silverware.
To make matters worse, Man City‘s latest derby day victory made for a less-than-appealing record for their neighbours, as it also marked United’s 34th defeat at home since Sir Alex retired — the same amount of games he lost there in his entire 26 years at the club.
Manchester United Premier League losses at Old Trafford under Sir Alex Ferguson: 34
Manchester United Premier League losses at Old Trafford since he retired: 34
Featured Images — Sky Sports/Man United/Man City (via X)
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First look images released of new BBC drama series from Happy Valley creator filmed in Yorkshire
Emily Sergeant
A new BBC series telling the story of five women who come together to create a makeshift punk-rock band is set to air later this year.
Riot Women, the brand-new drama from the multi-BAFTA award-winning writer Sally Wainwright – best known for being the creator of Happy Valley – is a six-part series set and filmed in Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire.
First look pictures of the new show have now been released.
Starring Joanna Scanlan, Rosalie Craig, Tamsin Greig, Lorraine Ashbourne, and Amelia Bullmore as band members, alongside a talented supporting cast consisting of Taj Atwal, Chandeep Uppal, and Macy-Jacob Seelochan as the band’s riotous backing singers, the newly-released pictures show the women in action.
First look images have been released of a new BBC drama series filmed in Yorkshire / Credit: BBC
According to a synopsis on the BBC website, Riot Women dives headfirst into the world of five women who come together to create a makeshift punk-rock band in order to enter a local talent contest.
But, in writing their first original song, they soon discover that they have a lot more to say than planned – and this is their way to say it.
As they juggle demanding jobs, grown-up children, complicated parents, husbands who’ve buggered off, and disastrous dates, and relationships, the band becomes a catalyst for change in their lives, and it’s going to make them question everything.
📸 Here's your first look at Riot Women – the new drama from Sally Wainwright coming to @BBCiPlayer and @BBCOne in 2025
New pictures feature Joanna Scanlan, Rosalie Craig, Tamsin Greig, Lorraine Ashbourne, Amelia Bullmore, and more
Creators and producers say the show is a testament to the power of friendship, music, and the resilience of women who “refuse to be silenced by age or expectation”.
Speaking ahead of the show airing later this year, Riot Women creator, Sally Wainwright, commented: “I’m having a whole new buzz of excitement about the show as we bring it together in the edit, and I can’t wait to share it with everyone.”
Riot Women will premiere on BBC One and iPlayer in the UK later this year.
Featured Image – BBC
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A Manchester barbershop is offering a ‘pay what you can’ service this month
Danny Jones
Amidst the tidal wave of January deals on food and drink in Manchester, a local barbers is championing their own ‘pay what you can’ offer to help people along this month.
Jefe’s Barbershop, located in the heart of Manchester’s Northern Quarter, is one of the best barbers in the city centre, offering a wide variety of cuts and facial hair grooming services – they even offer a subscription service that helps people save money on regular trims.
That being said, they are well aware of those January blues and the mounting obstacles and anxieties that come with weeks of penny-pinching to make it to month’s end, as well as the general toll it can take on people’s mental health.
So this January, Jefe and his team are doing something different – as he puts it, “something special”: the barbershop is allowing customers to simply pay what they feel comfortable handing over and, in the case of those struggling, whatever they can afford.
It’s a simple gesture with a big purpose which helps ensure no one has to miss out on a feel-good moment or the confidence that comes from a fresh trim.
“All we do is laugh and joke about life—that’s why people come here,” Jefe explains. “I don’t want anyone to lose the chance to be present, to feel good, and to laugh with us.
“Men often need more help than they’re willing to let on and we want to be a helping hand they can rely on.” Now that’s a cause all of us can and should get behind.
Community support has remained at the core of Jefe’s Barbershop since the beginning when he swapped a basketball career for providing a much-needed service to Mancunian men.
From partnering with Manc sandwich shops and offering free haircuts for the homeless, to hosting street parties with local events companies and providing £5 trims to promote men’s mental health in 2023 when the cost of living crisis really kicked in – Jefe’s is always trying to make a difference in the area.
You’ve got to love businesses that go the extra mile.
If you want to make the most of this wholesome deal or just feel like you’re in need of a trim, you can book HERE or call them directly on 0161 818 7659.
The ‘pay what you can’ offer runs Monday to Thursday, 9am-7pm, subject to availability. You’ll find Jefe’s Barbershop on Stevenson Square
Because as the man himself puts it, “Everyone deserves to feel their best”.
Danny Jones -
30th October 2023 
