I think , at this stage we should forget Keane . He really does not want to play for Ireland , if he did he would have said so Let him off to do what he wants and then we can get on with things ourselves. Ok we, probably won't qualify for The uros but at least the team will want to represent their country with pride.
Keane and Kerr have said nothing on the subject because they're due to have a meeting and it'd be unprofressional to say anything before hand, imo we should wait for the meeting to really draw conclusions.
Keane has said that he wants to play for Ireland again, just not under McCarthy! the paper interview with David Walsh in september shows this clearly : Three months have passed since Saipan. Some things have moved on. He accepts he will not play for Ireland under McCarthy: player and manager have decided they are not meant for each other. He is similarly certain he will again play for Ireland: “Things will work out okay in the end. I believe that. I will play for my country again. I can’t imagine finishing my international career on the note I have. What goes round, comes round.” Now unless ferguson can convince him not to play for Ireland, i think he'll definately come back. I mean i fairness, we only need Keane for the games that matter, he dosn't need to prove himself by playin in pointless friendlies, so i dont't think it is too much to ask of his fitness , that he just play in the Quailifers, and of course the Euro 2004 finals, if we get there. I think we will only get there if Roy Keane comes back.
Hmm!! What's an important game? What if he comes back, gets injured - perhaps he should have to prove his fitness in a meaningless friendly? Or are they beneath him? What about a competitive game against a minnow, like say Andorra? Another meaningless game? What, say hypothetically speaking, Ireland had to play a playoff, H & A against say........Iran? Say Ireland wins the first game at home, say....2-0 - [Keane, Robbie and Harte (pen.)]. I suppose the away leg is then meaningless and he doesn't have to bother himself with a long trip to Teheran to play? Hypothetically speaking of course. Final question - Who decides what a meaningless game is - Keane or Kerr? I suppose the answer is Keane, if you're Keane and you really want to come back and play for your country, and it's that important 'n all.
an interesting discussion on 'Off the Ball' the sports programme on Newstalk106 (dublin based news radio station) last night. there was an interview with the daily mail (spit!) journo who broke the story of kerr and keane meeting. his 'reliable' information leads him to believe that keane WILL return to the irish team on the provision that he doesn't have to play friendlies and will retire after 2004. that way he: (a) gets to spend more time with his family (b) gets to extend his club career (c) doesn't have to play 'meaningless' friendlies (d) gets to repay the faith shown by supporters (e) gets to go out on a high (f) gets to close the book on mccarthy makes sense to me!
One thing I find odd is the rumour that he agreed to come back if Robson was manager (surely the only possible reason Robson was even considered). Now if Roy is so concerned about professionalism and having the right setup etc, why would he ever want to play for Robson? I reckon Roy knew he would have called the shots if Robson was boss, but he can't be too sure what to expect from Kerr.
Irrc, Keane hadn't played a match for a decent period of time before the Iran match and missed the next Man U match, in fact him playing in the first leg was against some advice he got medical wise, you could clearly see his preformance going downhill towards the end of the game too. He should come back, not play in friendlys any more (And neither should Damien Duff for that matter but that's another subject) unless Kerr wants to try something new, like playing him centre half or something like that. He has nothing to prove and a medical history that would suggest he'd be better off staying at home. After Euro 2004 he was probably always planning to retire, I can't see a problem with it myself.
Where do you get you facts? You speak with authority on Keane's medical situation when I'd be reasonably sure you haven't seen his file. Yet on his planned retirement you suggest he was probably going to go after Euro 2004 when it has been confirmed by a number of sources that he had informed the squad, prior to Saipan, that he was quitting after the 2002 World Cup. As for your contention about him not playing certain games and your Damien Duff suggestion, well that's just plain ........ oh here, I'd better leave this to Samarkand - I'll just end up getting a further reprimand/yellow card from Ted if I continue!
Re: Re: I am just sick of him Its common knowledge that keane is prone to injury (as are many players of his age). He's been in and out of the treatment room all this season... Keane will never have anything to prove so long as he does the business, in the big games(quailifiers). Friendlies are just a risk not worth taking for roy. He never played in WC2002, so therefore it would be terrible way for him personally to end his international career, thats why he wants to end his career on a high note, by winnning Euro 2004(it could happen!) . Keano will return.
I understand that Michael Kennedy said tonight that, arising from the Kerr/Keane meeting in Warrington this afternoon, a statement on the question of Keane's international future will be issued over the weekend (or early next week at the very latest) by, wait for it, Manchester United. The fact that they will be issuing the statement can only mean one thing, he doesn't want to play for Ireland again. He'd rather indulge the ungrateful dipso that has made millions as a result of a generous gift given to him for nothing by a group of Irishmen. I hope his horse has no lead in its pistol.
You can read right? You did see the part about him not playing for Man U before the match and missed the one after it? Also, any idiot who knows anything about Keane knows he is very injury prone. What sources confirmed he said he would retire after 2002 before the team arrived in Saipan? I was saying that he would probably retire after Euro 2004 as injuries and age would take their toll even more so then they are now. As for Duff, I think it's pretty obvious we all know what he can do, why drag a VERY injury prone player to play in friendlys when he has nothing to prove? If the report on Man United being the ones to announce his international future is true then I'd imagine the only outcome would be that he will not return.
Re: Re: I am just sick of him Somtimes there's no need to do anything. It gets done all by it[him]self.........
Paul McGrath, didn't train in the latter part of his career and was still the greatest player I have ever seen play for Ireland. I don't remember all this fuss when he was given exceptional treatment by club or country, (Im not sure what his record concerning playing in friendlies was). As far as I remember his team mates had nothing but the upmost respect for him. If RK came back in to the fold, he would be, without question our best player, who would be one of our eldest players (assuming players such as Kinsella begin to take more of a back seat). I think it would be common sense to take measures that would ensure he is able to help bring success to the Irish team, if that means not playing in friendlies, so be it. There are plenty of players who need friendlies in order to show what they can do.
Re: Re: Re: I am just sick of him Just wondering, but was the last on topic football related post you made about there being nothing to worry about with the Swiss, and just because Basle, with Swiss internationals, done so well against Liverpool and Celtic means absolutley nothing, before Hakin Yakin, Basle player, scored one of the goals in our 2-1 loss? they're so few and far between it's hard to remember, but with insight like you have it's not hard to see why really.