Sir Alex Ferguson's continuing dilemma over how best to deploy the six international midfielders at his disposal will become mathematically easier should Roy Keane be suspended for the contents of his autobiography.
The Football Association confirmed yesterday it would not be prevented by other actions from bringing its own charge over Keane's admission in the book, published on August 30, that a tackle on Manchester City's Alf Inge Haaland was intended to cause injury.
City and Haaland have initiated legal proceedings against the United captain but the two processes would be viewed as completely separate. The United manager Ferguson thus faces the possibility of a lengthy ban being imposed on his captain for bringing the game into disrepute.
The FA will not base any case on excerpts which appeared in a newspaper serialisation of the autobiography but its chief executive Adam Crozier suggested likely action when he said on Saturday that, "unless there's something particularly different in the book, we will be taking a very close look at it indeed". He added: "If there's a charge to be answered, then a charge will be answered."
A claim yesterday by Keane's ghostwriter Eamonn Dunphy that he used "artistic licence" and paraphrased Keane's quotes about the incident are unlikely to sway that opinion, not least because Dunphy admits that both Keane and Ferguson approved the manuscript before serialisation. Keane is the last midfielder Ferguson would choose to lose but Saturday's narrow if deserved victory emphasised the selection difficulties he faces with or without Keane.
At the start Nicky Butt had a holding role in front of United's back four, Juan Sebastian Veron was in the centre of midfield, David Beckham played wide right while Keane and Ryan Giggs took it in turns to partner Ruud van Nistelrooy up front.
At times the system looked fluid and formidable; on other occasions, when Giggs in particular seemed unsure of his position, it looked shapeless and slipshod. The loss of Keane would give Paul Scholes the chance to re-establish himself but of more concern to United's fans is Ferguson's persistence with Veron. At times Veron's vision and execution of passes were of a quality that no one in the Premiership can match. But equally often passes were hit with the inaccuracy of an over-enthused pub player. Yet his importance will increase should Keane be banned.
Such is the Argentinian's obvious class that Ferguson clearly feels he should stick by him, not least because he offers a different problem for opponents used to facing the 4-4-2 formation which has served United so well but in which Veron does not thrive.
The alternative is to revert to the trusted formula of Beckham, Keane or Butt, Scholes and Giggs lining up across the midfield and saying to opponents: "You know what we've got. Now try to deal with it."
The debate, should Ferguson keep Veron, will rage all season. On Saturday the former United player Lou Macari said: "Deep down Ferguson knows Scholes is a better player than Veron. A 4-4-2 formation is staring him in the face."
Albion's manager Gary Megson, on the other hand, suggested the formation meant his players had been sucked towards the ball and allowed United's midfielders to run beyond his own midfield. He said: "Their passing and movement was terrific. They are the yardstick for everybody."
United's fans seem unsure. After a fruitless 59 minutes Veron was replaced with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who eventually won the game with his 100th goal for the club, and immediately the home support seemed to relax, happy to see their team playing 4-4-2. Yet not until after the introduction of Scholes with 20 minutes left had United's domination been rewarded; the midfielder's instinctive pass found Solskjaer, who finished with typical conviction.
Yet their fans, compared with Albion's who were eager to make the most of their first day back in the top flight for 16 years, were almost sombre. Indeed the away support could have left even happier had Derek McInnes not been sent off after 64 minutes for a two-footed lunge at Butt.
Where United's fans were more vociferous was in their support of Keane. "Roy Keane - Adored in Manchester" read one banner. Its tone of provocative loyalty suggests that United's supporters are ready to thrive on another season of them versus the rest.
United's failure to win a trophy last season for only the second campaign in 11, coupled with the Keane saga, are perceived injustices which could create a siege mentality at Old Trafford. The fans hope the manager, captain and players approach their task with their grievances in mind - whatever the obstacles.
Man of the match: Russell Hoult
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