"Roy's off on another rant", I've heard, or "That Roy Keane is having another go at the soccer lads, would he ever leave them alone.....", I've heard that too.
I think we need a few more men like Roy to shake up our little country. Someone to tell the truth, grab the bull by the horns, get things done. He might anger a few people, but am I bovvered? Not one bit. The more he annoys mediocre chancers the more I admire him.
For the record, this is what he said:
“When a team’s not performing and not winning football matches, you’ve got to look at who’s not being selected. If you keep picking the same players who are not performing all the time, it’s insanity — you get the same result.
“We all know which players we’re talking about. There’s a fine line between loyalty and stupidity. A very fine line. You’ve got to be loyal to lads who’ve done okay. But to keep playing them on reputations they’ve built up through the media or because they do lots of interviews, that is wrong — 100 per cent wrong.
“In Steve’s defence, a manager can only do so much. Come Saturday against Wales, the senior players have to step up to the plate. You look at some of the lads we have at the bigger clubs: Robbie’s doing okay at Tottenham, John O’Shea’s in and out at United, Duffer’s at Newcastle. Who else? Shay is at Newcastle. None of these players are setting the world alight at their respective clubs. The senior lads need to help the younger players and not expect young [Anthony] Stokes or Stephen Ireland to come on and do the business.
“If Miller was from further up the country, I’m pretty sure he’d be in the Irish squad. But if you’re telling me that he isn’t among the best 22 players. There’s lads in the squad who are not even in their own first team squads. I don’t just say these things. There’s no doubt in my mind that being from Cork certainly doesn’t help him. It happened to me when I was 17 or 18, not getting a game with Irish youth teams because there were lads ahead of you who were a year younger and could still have played a year later.
“It happened to me in Bray when we played France. The lads that got in ahead of me that night were from Dublin and the manager that night was from Dublin. I know Steve Staunton’s not from Dublin but a lot of the FAI are.
“If you’re celebrating on the pitch after beating San Marino then that does worry me. And that comes from the top, from the FAI. If you’re used to the mediocre, that will get through to the players. The ‘That’ll do’ attitude has been going on far too long. I think even the Irish fans are getting a bit fed up with it. All fans want is the players to give 100 per cent. Everyone needs to do a bit more.
“The FAI and the soccer can learn a lot from the rugby lads, even the cricket lads. If you go into something believing you’re going to get there, then there’s a good chance you’ll get there. If you think you’re not going to get there, it’s a guarantee you won’t get there. You cut corners, and that gets through to the team. It’s got to be all or nothing.
“It goes back to me in 2002. If you prepare for something and it’s not right, you’re going to get bloody nowhere. Have the FAI improved? I don’t know really. I don’t care. But you’ve got to treat the players right, you’ve got to prepare them properly. I said it before, 2002 with me was the tip of the iceberg. And that was a farce. But there have been others. I’m sure ex-players could tell you hundreds of stories. Eventually it has to stop.
“I don’t think supporters want to hear that. Then you’re beaten even before you start. You shouldn’t fear anybody. We’ve been in tough groups before and qualified. But if you’re going into it thinking, ‘we should be peaking in three or four years’ time’, then what message does that send to everybody? You’re getting your excuses in first.
“As an international manager you really can’t be looking four years down the line. Because you won’t be there four years down the line. If you keep losing football matches, it doesn’t matter whether you have a ten-year contract, you’ll be sacked.
“Look at the rugby lads. They don’t seem to be resting on their laurels or patting each other on the back for winning Triple Crowns. They want to be winning Grand Slams and going to the World Cup. That comes from the manager and the staff. I’ve met them and that’s what they believe.
“I was watching the cricket team the other night. Brilliant. Beating a country who live and breathe the game of cricket. You can achieve anything you want if you believe it. If you don’t believe it, and that’s coming, like I keep saying, from the FAI, or the manager or the staff, then you’re going to get nowhere.”
Thursday, March 22, 2007
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4 comments:
He was spot on, and I rather like the beard. But then I rather like beards. Fuck it, Steve 'I'm the gaffer' Staunton is not bad lad, just totally and completely out of his depth. If we are going to instill pride in our football its going to take skill, talent, commitment and most of all HEART. Go on Roy, I'll back you.
While the old 'I'm from Cahrk, loike and nobody loves us, they will yeh' paranoia is pushing it a bit, I have to say it's hard to fault the old traitor of Taipan's analysis when it comes to the FAI. I'd respect it a bit more though if I believed he was capable of showing loyalty to anyone but himself.
That's a tough call.I remember being rightly effed off with him in 2002.Contrast that with what he's brought to the Irish game though and he comes out on top.
His remarks on the FAI and the all pervasive mediocrity are deadly accurate and I have to ask is "Rhoy"the only one giving out about it ?( I mean in a qualified sense)
FMC, You're right, Stan was a super hero for Ireland as a player, but it hasn't translated. The FAI should never have thrown him in at the deep end. It wasn't fair to him or to anyone. I admire your good taste in Roy!
Liam g, we won't fall out over it, sure how could a Liverpool fan love Roy Keane! I actually believe that Roy is incredibly loyal. Yes, he looks out for himself, but is that wrong? I have read much about this man, and even as a young child his loyalty shone through, and still does - to his parents, brothers, sister, wife (one!), children (five), neighbours, Cobh Ramblers etc... - not forgetting Cork! As for the anti-Cork thing, well he's telling us what he experienced. He has nothing to gain from lying about it, has he? In fact, he suffers if e.g. Miller is picked for Ireland and gets injured! He's doing what he's done all his life - sticking up for the underdog, no matter what cost to himself.
Devin, Hi! Yeah, 2002 was very hard on us all! I love Roy, but he's an awful, awful man (in the Irish sense of that saying, not literally!). It's hard to predict what the Hell he'll do next. I really wish he had played in the World cup. Do I wish he had shut up, taken crap, said nothing and played in the World cup - NO! There are enough chancers saying nothing. We were all in bits that time, but imagine what it was like for him - unimaginable.
Is Roy the only one giving out about the FAI? No, the media have given the FAI and soccer manager and indeed team a fair roasting over the last while, but none have cast such deadly accurate arrows. None have such an attentive audience.
Is Roy the only one giving out about mediocrity in general, in Ireland? Probably not, but boy he is listened to and talked about every time he opens his mouth.
On a lighter note, did ye hear him this morning on 2day FM? Mario Rosenstock, who "does" Roy on GiftGrub interviewed the real Roy. It was a scream, and showed that his Corkness has a great sense of humour. I'm not sure that I could laugh at myself being impersonated to my face like that?? It might be on a podcast. I'll post a link if I find it.
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