When Roy Keane 's forehead vein was popping as he attempted to analyse Manchester United's defending against Spurs Friday night, there were a few words that may have jumped to mind.
"Too nice" would not be at the forefront and yet Keane himself believes his career was sometimes hindered by this facet of his personality.
His personal brand is marked by both the ferocity of his play and now his punditry - and yet he looks back over his years in the game with a regret that he didn't handle people differently.
He told the Sunday Independent : “Sometimes I was too hard. Sometimes I was too soft.
"If I was critical, looking back on my own career and how I dealt with people, even in management – and people mightn’t believe this – but I reckon that sometimes I was too nice to people.
“People stabbed me right in my chest, it wasn’t in my back. Because I was too nice to them.”
One of the most controversial incidents in the Irishman's career came before the Japan 2002 World Cup when a volcanic argument with manager Mick McCarthy led to his departure from the tournament.
He said: “I didn’t come away from Saipan thinking, ‘I can’t believe that’s happened.
“All the people – it was the same at Manchester United – who are now very good on the TV and are doing a lot of talking and are very good at the media, said very little at the time.
"They’re all found their voices, you know, 15, 20 years later. In the heat of meetings, these kind of leaders, shall we say – or alleged leaders – never said a word.”
Keane made headlines over the weekend with his furious reaction to David De Gea's goalkeeping and Harry Maguire's defending as this former side lost a poor goal to Tottenham in Friday night's 1-1 draw in London.
He said: "I'm shocked. I'm shocked at that goal.
"I've watched a lot of football over the years and to give away that goal... I'm fuming.
"I can't believe that's Manchester United. Luke Shaw, heading the ball up in the air and then running forward... I am staggered at Maguire, how an international player can just get done like that - and I am sick to death of this goalkeeper.
"I would be fining him [De Gea] at half-time, there is no getting away from that. I would be swinging punches at that guy. That is a standard save for an established international goalkeeper.
"I am flabbergasted. Maguire and De Gea... I wouldn't even let them on the bus after the match. Get a taxi back to Manchester. Do your job. We're trying to get into the top four - never mind win trophies - shocking. I am disgusted. They should hang their heads in shame."
