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©INPHO/Billy Stickland

Roy Keane fires a fresh broadside at the Irish team

The older members of Giovanni Trapattoni’s squad come in for some particularly harsh criticism.

ROY KEANE HAS gone even further in his criticism of the Irish team at the European Championships and says he will take on anybody that disagrees with him.

The former captain caused a furore with some outspoken views on ITV after Spain schooled Ireland last Thursday, and has used his column in The Sun to stick the boot into the older member of Giovanni Trapattoni’s squad, in particular.

“The likes of (Robbie) Keane, Shay Given, Richard Dunne, John O’Shea and Damien Duff are picked every game as they have a big reputation. A reputation for what? They hadn’t qualified for anything in 10 years,” he wrote.

“They love having a dig back when I say something but I tell you now, I’ll be ready if they do because players have to be accountable for how the team did.

“I’m trying to be constructive but the manager and players all have to be accountable. It’s not good shrugging our shoulders and having a sing-song.”

Ireland opened their Group C campaign with a 3-1 defeat to Croatia last Sunday, before they were torn apart by the likes of Fernando Torres, Xavi, Andres Iniesta and David Silva.

“You’ll never beat the Irish?” added Keane. “It’s time for that song to be put away because, at the moment, everyone is beating them. I’m sick of this ‘win, lose, we’re on the booze’ mentality. It has to change.”

The fans

If there was one note of conciliation in Keane’s piece, he did seek to clarify his comments about the Irish supporters, who serenaded the Irish side on Thursday despite the 4-0 capitulation to Vicente del Bosque’s men.

“People seem to have misunderstood me. I’ve no problems with the fans singing. It’s great that they back the team during and before games – but should they really stay on long after the final whistle cheering?

“There’s a danger that the players think that what has happened on the pitch is acceptable, when it’s not.”

Doyle and Hunt

The Wolves pair of Kevin Doyle and Stephen Hunt were not spared Keane’s ire, either.

“I can’t think of one player who has had a good season at club level.

“A couple of years ago Kevin Doyle was linked with Arsenal. Now he’s heading back to the Championship. Stephen Hunt has been relegated three times in five years.

“Their club form is poor and no player has come out of the two games with any credit. Not one. That’s why Giovanni Trapattoni should make 11 changes against Italy tomorrow.”

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    Mute Winston
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    Jun 17th 2012, 10:42 AM

    His comments may be harsh at times but his winning attitude is relentless and that has to be admired

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    Mute Sean Slevin
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    Jun 17th 2012, 10:48 AM

    Why does he have to be admired?
    I decide who I admire and it isn’t Roy Keane.

    A new 11 players for Italy?
    Maybe that’s why he failed as a manager with daft ideas like that.

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    Mute feargalgarvin
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    Jun 17th 2012, 11:02 AM

    He didn’t show much of a relentless winning attitude against Spain in Saipan.

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    Mute limofax
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    Jun 17th 2012, 11:09 AM

    A bit rich coming from the man who walked out on his country when he was needed most.

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    Mute RDX862
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    Jun 17th 2012, 11:24 AM

    Netherlands and Sweden have 0 points the same as Ireland but I think conceding 7 goals in 180 minutes is what is unexpected. They don’t seem to be playing to their potential even if they are not the greatest players. Older players like Keane and Given need to retire after the Euros.

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    Mute Pig Boy
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    Jun 17th 2012, 11:58 AM

    I agree with Winston , Success has many levels .It was seen as a success just to get to the Euro’s .We now need to take the next step

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    Mute Andrew Troy
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    Jun 17th 2012, 12:07 PM

    The media twisted the 1st interview on ITV. He was right. I can live with the results but the performance was shocking. Have these football supporters that just appear at tournaments haven’t a clue about sport and are just there to drink and party. We qualified to make up the numbers.

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    Mute KieranCal
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    Jun 17th 2012, 12:13 PM

    @feargalgarvin – He didn’t show much of a relentless winning attitude against Spain in Saipan.
    when have we ever played spain in saipan? bandwagon supporters sticking the boot in. idiots. Keane is right. we’re all delighted to have the laugh and be on the piss for a few weeks. disagree with him on 11 new players. think dunne, st ledger and andrews (our best player so far) have been ok.

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    Mute Ru Ni Digs
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    Jun 17th 2012, 1:11 PM

    “He didn’t show much of a relentless winning attitude against Spain in Saipan.”

    You all seem to forget that he was him to dragged us kicking and screaming to the World Cup.And he was sent home…

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    Mute Brian Mulligan
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    Jun 17th 2012, 1:26 PM

    I understand what you mean but I am slow to admire any man that deliberately ended the career of a fellow professional. A winner he is, to be admired he is not!

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    Mute Stephen Madden
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    Jun 17th 2012, 1:32 PM

    Keane is proposing making 11 changes. i.e. Bringing in Green and McShane. Small wonder he never made it in management.

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    Mute limofax
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    Jun 17th 2012, 2:15 PM
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    Mute Mensah Mensah
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    Jun 17th 2012, 2:16 PM

    And he is the best decorated irish player with medals to prove..so he may be harsh but he got a point..

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    Mute jason corbally
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    Jun 18th 2012, 1:42 PM

    oh man, so boring reading about Saipan ten years on – whether he jumped or was pushed is immaterial at this stage.

    Let’s face facts, Keane as a player was magnificent, as a manager he was a mixed bag, took Sunderland from bottom to Champions in one season and kept them there – then lost the dressing room and walked. Went tio Ipswitch, lost the dressing room and walked.

    Now he’s a washed up pundit in a foreign country licking English arses by playing up to his own ego and persona waiting for the phone to ring with another crappy job offer.

    If he has something to say about the fans he should keep it to himself as they are the people who paid his wages for so long – talk about kicking a man when he’s down…

    With regards the team I think he is right – they let us down badly as did the tactics which were just terrible – who in their right mind would try play Spain at their own game? Who would leave players in form (mcClean) on the bench and bring in guys (Cox) who have hardly kicked a ball all season? Keane, Duff, Given and Dunne all need to look at themselves and ask themselves are they the right lads to bring through t he younger fellas in the team. Trap needs to look at his opposition before deploying certain tactics – no plan B???? Play the same game against The Faroes as Spain – pathetic!

    Are the FAI doing enough for Irish football? Another League Of ireland club called it a day this morning – RIP Monaghan Town – another provincial club will be badly missed, as will all their players, their youth set up, their coaching staff etc etc and again let’s not forget their fans – the people who have tried so hard to keep the club afloat for so long – I was there myself with Drogheda United over and over… LOI is a heartbreak..

    I didn’t miss a game home or away for over 10years from Italia 90 to 2001 (Saipan being just too dear) and as Irish fans yeah we love to party but we care passionately about our team and country – please don’t make us out as fools Keane – we don’t like it.

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    Mute Keith
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    Jun 19th 2012, 12:42 AM

    He’s just to much,ya hear me Roy to much I tell ya,a winner u were yes but ur a big girls blouse these days who loves listening to himself talk the big talk,nothing but a bully.

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    Mute Joe Hunter
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    Jun 17th 2012, 10:42 AM

    I agree completely with roy!

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    Mute Tony Skillington
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    Jun 17th 2012, 11:19 AM

    Ditto…tells like it is.

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    Mute Paul Robinson
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    Jun 17th 2012, 11:40 AM

    in england keane is regarded as an entertaining clown, nothing more, and no-one pays a blind bit of notice to anything he says. it’s only in Ireland he gets this publicity, so naturally he keeps having a pop at the Irish. he must be having a laugh this morning looking at his bank account.

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    Mute Andrew Troy
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    Jun 17th 2012, 12:16 PM

    He is highly respected in England. Where do u come up with this crap like. He is one of the most decorated players of all time, arguably the greatest captain, we would not have even qualified Japan 2002 only for Roy Keane. ITV were delighted to get as people tune in to hear what he says. He is a legend who speaks the truth.

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    Mute Joseph McGranaghan
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    Jun 17th 2012, 12:16 PM

    No one takes a blind bit of notice? That’s why he has a role on national tv?

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    Mute Kevin O' Brien
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    Jun 17th 2012, 12:34 PM

    @ Paul: He’s also from cork the langer! :)

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    Mute Loucetios
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    Jun 17th 2012, 4:27 PM

    @ Paul Robinson

    Mate what are you on about?

    He was part of the Man U inner circle, Keane is one of the GOATs as far as football goes.
    Typical GAA player comment there.

    Quality players like Paul McGrath, Phil Babb, Ronnie Whelan, Roy Keane, etc are just completely absent from the Irish football team today. All we have now are just ‘the boyyyz’ of Irish football. If you look back at the 2002 team and previous ones, all the players we had came from premiership teams. We’re scraping the barrel and everyone knows it.

    The problem is the youth system is shite and riddled with problems.

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    Mute B7584
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    Jun 17th 2012, 10:45 AM

    As always, he’s right. People in Ireland are afraid to hear the truth.

    Que the usual boring dross comments about dogs & ipswich.

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    Mute Joe Hunter
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    Jun 17th 2012, 10:49 AM

    We irish have our heads in the clouds – we scraped through to get into the euros and we got taught a valuable lesson – we are crap! Sloppy defending abysmal passing! Fair play to the fans i jus wish the team could have given them what they deserved

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    Mute You Reacted Ha Ha!
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    Jun 17th 2012, 12:46 PM

    He should walk his dog to Ipswich

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    Mute Phil Mc Donald
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    Jun 17th 2012, 12:51 PM

    You’re the most boring commenter here!

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    Mute You Reacted Ha Ha!
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    Jun 17th 2012, 1:36 PM

    No you are

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    Mute Phil Mc Donald
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    Jun 17th 2012, 2:14 PM

    Not you, r2d2 is.

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    Mute You Reacted Ha Ha!
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    Jun 17th 2012, 2:39 PM

    Okay, we can be friends again

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    Mute Eoghan MacLochlainn
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    Jun 17th 2012, 10:46 AM

    Keane is 100% right ! We deserve more ! Having the sing sing is great but results are needed ! No one can argue with the facts ! Keane tells the truth !

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    Mute Tensing Norgay
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    Jun 17th 2012, 12:35 PM

    What total bullshit are you and the rest of the Keaneophiles saying that it took that walk away big mouth to tell us that the team was inferior than a world class Spanish , he speak the truth , who said they were good , no one , every clowns knows we are a million miles from the top sides and we want fans who spent a fortune to to escape the relentless misery to cry and ball , maybe have a scrap , here is the truth Keane was a great player , a tactical dunce and hated by all his players , now tell me are my lying ?

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    Mute limofax
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    Jun 17th 2012, 2:39 PM

    Like he told the truth when he said McCarthy accused him of faking injury. Then it turns out no one else in the room heard it apart from himself. Those voices he hears in his head, they have a name for it, schizophrenia.

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    Mute MojoRise
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    Jun 17th 2012, 10:47 AM

    I agree with roy 100% he says it just like it is. He has he view and sticks with it. No nonsense no bull no PR. I would love to see him in action in Dail Eireann.

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    Mute serenabella
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    Jun 17th 2012, 10:48 AM

    Well as much it hurts, he’s right regarding the players. As to the fans let them enjoy themselves and sing their hearts out.

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    Mute Susie Chester
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    Jun 17th 2012, 11:05 AM

    serenabella
    I absolutely agree . People paid a lot of money ( in these harsh times too ) to go and suppoprt the Irish team, and the team let us down , but the fans were outstanding and should not be criticised harshly. Roy Keane is correct , the team should have done better . It is not just good enough to get to the Euros .We want to see the team do their very best and move up. :)

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    Mute Mark Sutcliffe
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    Jun 17th 2012, 10:46 AM

    stop the rant Roy. we all know how bad we were but your kicking someone when there down.

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    Mute Ronan Leonard
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    Jun 17th 2012, 10:53 AM

    So nobody should say anything negative about the team before the Italy mAtch?

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    Mute limofax
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    Jun 17th 2012, 12:00 PM

    People can say whatever they want, but the only reason Keane hit the headlines this week was for his bitter views about the irish fans. Now he’s trying to move the goalposts. He spat on the irish fans the other night, just like 10 years ago when he walked out on his country. Traitor.

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    Mute Ru Ni Digs
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    Jun 17th 2012, 1:40 PM

    He said that we needed to change our mentality,he was right.As I said the other day,we in this country reward mediocrity and banality.RTE,Enda Kenny,Jedward and the Irish football team,to name four.

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    Mute Ronan Leonard
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    Jun 17th 2012, 2:02 PM

    limofax? what did he say, that they shouldn’t put with the way it is now and should better? Yeah that is incredibly bitter, NOT (trying to bring that back as a debating tool).

    I was wondering when someone would bring up Saipan, can we just put that to one side as noone will ever change their mind about that chain of events now.

    Question is if some other pundit said it, would you be equally offended? if so let’s look at the point itself
    if you wouldn’t be as offended with the point, then you have a problem with mr keane.

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    Mute Ronan Leonard
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    Jun 17th 2012, 2:11 PM

    agreed Ru, but I wouldn’t say reward so much as accept. I’d leave Jedward out of it, cos to be fair they are ultimately pop music stars/childrens entertainers and aren’t put themselves out there as any sort of people of “real importance”.

    The fact we got there is reward enough is just some awful attitude that you couldn’t accept, well I couldn’t accept that attitude anyway.

    “I got the college course, that’s reward enough?” – you’d be bollocked out of it.

    Is the Irish set up, on and off the field making the most of it’s resources? Simply no. It’s not a matter of saying oh “x is a crap player” and we’ve no better options. Could we producing better players yes?
    could we be trawling more players who might be eligible? I’ve the feelign we could

    Is our manager putting aside his ego for the better of the team? no.
    Is he exploring plan b’s and c’s – no

    Are the FAI even exploring the idea of a united Irish team? Even if it takes 30 years to happen? No, why because if the two associations merge, at least 1/2 will lose their cushy jobs and junkets.

    This is what Keane is getting at, the whole structure and culture needs a better mentality (and that feeds into our government/public service)… is this the best our country and national team can be? I certainly dont’ think so, and that’s the mentality he’s driving at.

    Too many people mistake a reason criticism as a personal attack.

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    Mute limofax
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    Jun 17th 2012, 2:19 PM

    He said the fans needed to change theit mentality. How? I thought they were brilliant the other night. They definitely weren’t celebtating an irish loss.

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    Mute Ronan Leonard
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    Jun 18th 2012, 12:06 PM

    so what were they doing? voicing their criticism? He is bang on that things have to change.
    and how will there be a ground swell for change to happen if all the fans do is plough on, sing and party.

    “I’m trying to be constructive but the manager and players all have to be accountable. It’s not good shrugging our shoulders and having a sing-song.”

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    Mute damien chaney
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    Jun 17th 2012, 10:49 AM

    This is the same Roy keane who got stuck into the prawn sandwich brigade at old trafford for not being proper fans, the same Roy keane who walked out on his country at a world cup, so should we take his highly critical analysis of our limited players and apply it to his limited managerial career?

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    Mute Paul Morrissey
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    Jun 17th 2012, 10:55 AM

    And the same Roy Keane who said the fans should get behind the team this time last week.

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    Mute B7584
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    Jun 17th 2012, 10:58 AM

    Fact is you know SFA about football if you think what Roy Keane said isnt true. You are another Anti-Keane, Anti-United bandwagoner.

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    Mute Paul Morrissey
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    Jun 17th 2012, 11:04 AM

    Fact is he’s playing up to the English media. Why have a go at the players? Why not have a go at the men who pick them to play?

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    Mute damien chaney
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    Jun 17th 2012, 11:20 AM

    @b75 or whatever you call yourself how you can come to the conclusion that I know SFA about football and I’m on the anti-united and anti-keane bandwagon from the comments I made? Did Roy keane not say that about the united fans? Of course he probably wasn’t talking about you. Did he as one of our greatest ever players not walk out on the Irish team
    At a world cup? And yet he’s highly critical of the players we have on show at this tournament ,shows your one of those blindfaited poor fools, kinda like the rest of us who got behind the Irish team. So why don’t you nip down to the shop and buy yourself a sun paper thats the rag your “hero” writes for and peruse through it for its fantastic and factual journalism:)

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    Mute Tony Skillington
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    Jun 17th 2012, 11:20 AM

    He didn’t walk from Saipan…he was sent home.

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    Mute limofax
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    Jun 17th 2012, 11:30 AM

    Sorry Tony, you’re 100% wrong. He walked, read it from straight from the traitors mouth : http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2139675/Roy-Keane-brings-old-grievance-Ireland-prepare-Euro-2012.html#ixzz1wGhK92b9

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    Mute Sheila Byrne
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    Jun 17th 2012, 1:03 PM

    @Paul Morrissey

    I suppose he’ll play up to the people that pay his wages. To look at the size, fitness of many of the other teams, I think whoever is going to be training them next time need to build them up like horses! Hugh body strength, so when the other team sees them coming towards them, they run the other way!

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    Mute Paul Morrissey
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    Jun 17th 2012, 1:58 PM

    @Sheila Don’t know about that, Spain are probably the smallest squad in the competition but they have the best technical ability and the squad we took out there aren’t good enough in that department. We left too many better players at home and on the bench.

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    Mute ponythegringo
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    Jun 17th 2012, 10:50 AM

    He should be given traps job …. Either we will be world champions or totally not and Roy would have to keep shtum from then on . He would be great on tv though after the matches giving out about everything ..

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    Mute Alan Murphyâ„¢
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    Jun 17th 2012, 11:38 AM

    Keane will never be Irish manager. Most of the country hate him.

    Besides, the man wouldn’t be given another club job anyway because he is a rubbish manager. His comments and opinions should be taken for what they are…..utter rubbish

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    Mute Ian Walsh
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    Jun 17th 2012, 12:36 PM

    Really? He has failed as a manager every time. I would rather have Mickey Mouse as the Ireland manager than that pr#ck. His arrogance is sickening.

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    Mute Joan Ruud Donnellan-Wijnen
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    Jun 17th 2012, 10:57 AM

    Sure Roy Keane is only saying what most of us are thinking.. Great fans but shite team.. It’s been embarrassing all week reading the foreign press news headlines..” Ireland has the worst team but best fans” .. Gee great!… Where’s that going to get us..

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    Mute Audrey Dugan
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    Jun 17th 2012, 12:06 PM

    why would it be embarassing? It would only be embarassing if it was assumed we were going to win every game and come out top of the group. I dont think anyone actually believed that was possible and if they did were a bit misguided. Ireland went into a very difficult group as the 4th best team in that group, and left as the same, We took on teams with much higher rankings and experience, with players from Wolves compeating against those from Real and Barca. I dont think we need to be embarassed at all. As for Keane, He lost all rights to talk about whats best for the team when he walked out his team.

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    Mute limofax
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    Jun 17th 2012, 12:09 PM

    Thats not what he said the other night.

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    Mute Brian Tracy
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    Jun 17th 2012, 10:50 AM

    Neck like a jockeys bollix talking about managers or players.He lost that right when he walked out on his country and managerial responsibilities

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    Mute ciaran Murphy
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    Jun 17th 2012, 10:52 AM

    at least them players didn’t walk out on their country when it needed them

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    Mute Niall Skip Murphy
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    Jun 17th 2012, 10:49 AM

    11 Changes would mean playing Hunt, no?

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    Mute rodrigo detriano
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    Jun 17th 2012, 12:00 PM

    Susie! What are you on about? ” move up”! This country has moved up as far as it can! Qualifying was a major success! Look at the players we have FFS! Only for the miracle in Moscow, we wouldn’t even be there! Ireland isn’t a proper football playing country! Look at the league set up for starters! What is wrong with people on this? Producing players like Roy Keane only happens every few years! Be grateful for being a part of this, because it’s unlikely this generation of players will qualify for anything else anytime soon!

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    Mute rodrigo detriano
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    Jun 17th 2012, 10:51 AM

    Reading his comments would have you thinking that Ireland could one day win a major tournament! The chances of Ireland producing even one player of Keanes standard are remote at best, and imagine having a whole cluster at the same time! ” because that’s what you would need”! Qualifying for a major tournament once every 10 years or so is a great return for a small footballing outpost like Ireland!

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    Mute Richard Keogh
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    Jun 17th 2012, 11:09 AM

    And with a losing attitude like that once every ten years would be an achievement. Croatia has a similar population to Ireland, you wouldn’t hear that from them. We should be aiming for their position and we have the advantage of an additional pool of British players who qualify for us.

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    Mute Alan Murphyâ„¢
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    Jun 17th 2012, 11:40 AM

    And at the moment, Croatia have a fantastic pool of players to pick from as we did in 88-94. We haven’t that now. Reality check people

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    Mute Ian McGrath
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    Jun 17th 2012, 11:40 AM

    That’s loser talk! Croatia is, in population terms, the same size as Ireland. Not only did they serve our arse to us on a plate a week ago, they have only failed to qualify for 1 world cup and 1 european champioship since 1994……and came third in 1998 world cup. Not bad for a small footballing outpost….just like Ireland!

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    Jun 17th 2012, 12:51 PM

    They don’t play hurling, Gaelic football and rugby in Croatia, engage the brain before commenting

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    Jun 17th 2012, 11:16 AM

    Does Roy Keane think we’re all a pack of idiots? Does he think we can’t see these things ourselves? I’d challenge him to find one Irish person that hasn’t been calling for Robbie Keane to be dropped for years now, never mind this campaign.
    We do not have the same attitude that we used to have towards our teams, of “oh well at least we were there and we had a bit of fun so that’s all that matters.” Not one Irish person, at home or in Poland, is proud of what the players did on the pitch, not one of us is under the illusion that we just got a but unlucky. Yes, all three teams in our group are better than us, and yes it was pretty much a forgone conclusion that we’d be lucky to get a draw against Croatia, but Italy and definitely Spain were going to beat us. That doesn’t mean we should be chasing shadows all night and conceding goals in the first 3 minutes of both matches.
    We should have qualified for the Euros top of our group, we shouldn’t have needed a play off to get there, Trap should have picked an entirely different squad to bring with him, a lot of the older players should have been left at home, or at least left on the bench. We should not have been as badly beaten as we were.

    My point is, I can see all of these things without needing Roy Keane to tell me. As I’m sure anyone who is watching the football can see. There’s a reason he’s on British TV and writing in British newspapers. His opinion to me is irrelevant. You walk out on your country you forfeit the right to have anyone listen to you, regardless of what you’re saying.

    As for the fans singing after the match. As my mam so rightly pointed out, that will make the players feel worse than any booing or walking out before the end could ever do. The Fields of Athenry has never sounded so depressing, which is saying something considering it’s subject matter. Unless they’re beyond stupid I can’t think one of those players thinks the fans were celebrating their ineptitude on the pitch or their humiliating results. To me, the fans were supporting the country. I don’t want to get too sentimental but as a country we’ve had a hard time, we’ve all made the Angela Merkel jokes, but the fans were there reclaiming a little bit of our national pride, and it had very little to do with the football team.

    In short, yes this campaign was a disaster, yes mistakes were made, we were humiliated on the pitch, many players are too old or never had any ability in the first place. This is all obvious without Roy Keane sticking his nose in.

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    Jun 17th 2012, 11:36 AM

    Well said, best comment on this issue I’ve read so far

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    Jun 17th 2012, 11:37 AM

    That’s the best comment I’ve read all bloody wk. Well said

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    Jun 17th 2012, 11:38 AM

    Roy Keanes comments are not intended for you, just for those who can’t seem to connect the dots between results and the international Irish setup

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    Jun 17th 2012, 11:51 AM

    dead right, elmo

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    Jun 17th 2012, 11:51 AM

    Jordan, elmos point is that those people dont exist.

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    Jun 17th 2012, 12:25 PM

    Well done Elmo. By the way, my son loves you.

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    Jun 17th 2012, 3:34 PM

    Doing a great job of ignoring him elmo

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    Mute B7584
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    Jun 17th 2012, 11:12 AM

    Im not sure i get this ‘he hasnt the right to criticise ireland’, yes he very much does. Hes a pundit, just like viera, martinez, southgate etc etc. why not have a go at them for expressing their opinion? Because they will give you the sitting on the fence, cause nobody any offence, middle of the road, fill some airtime with bland cliche answers.
    Pundits like roy keane, jamie carragher, didi hamman, graeme souness, gary neville are who you want to hear on the TV, proper players with proper views on the game.
    If you want pretty boy redknapp and his non offensive opinion on EVERYTHING then you are missing out on true insight into the game.
    The more honest Keane type pundits there are the better, players & fans need to get over the wankfest Sky have turned football into, get back to real analysis but people who know the game & mentality of winning.

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    Jun 17th 2012, 11:15 AM

    Well said!

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    Jun 17th 2012, 11:18 AM

    Keane has the right to express his opinion as everyone does, but I have the right to think he’s a tool who walked out on his country and therefore chose to ignore anything he has to say, right or wrong.

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    Jun 17th 2012, 11:22 AM

    Spot on B7584.

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    Jun 17th 2012, 12:22 PM

    To be fair to him, he’s a crap pundit.

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    Jun 17th 2012, 11:00 AM

    “players have to be accountable for how the team did.”

    Thanks for clearing that up, Roy. Now, if you cast your mind back to 2002…..

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    Jun 17th 2012, 10:58 AM

    Is this the same man that walked away when the going got tough as a player and a manager and then he has the neck to talk about accountability.

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    Jun 17th 2012, 10:52 AM

    Maybe the FAI should say “right Roy, we’re giving you the job of Ireland manager, let’s see what you can do!!”
    And if he fails miserably, he should, as Michael O’Leary puts it, shut up and put up!
    I admire Keane as a player, but as a manager he’s nothing much on his C.V.

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    Jun 17th 2012, 11:17 AM

    He’s talking about attitude. The attitude needs to change. It’s nothing to do with how Roy would do as manager. Things really need to change at grassroots level too!

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    Jun 17th 2012, 11:25 AM

    He did have an astounding first season with Sunderland.

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    Jun 17th 2012, 11:35 AM

    Michael O’Leary is another liar.

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    Mute rodrigo detriano
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    Jun 17th 2012, 11:44 AM

    @ Richard Keough! My attitude is realistic and honest! Ireland’s not geared to succeed in major football tournaments! You must be one of the deluded bunch that thinks Ireland can either win by blood and guts, or hoofing the ball up the park! Ireland just don’t produce enough natural footballers! Face facts and celebrate the fact that we qualify every now and then! It’s the best we can ever hope for!!

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    Jun 17th 2012, 11:00 AM

    He’s turning into a right bore to be honest.

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    Jun 17th 2012, 11:02 AM

    twitter app fail.

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    Mute B7584
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    Jun 17th 2012, 11:25 AM

    No, i’ll tell you whats a bore, irish journalists looking for a sensational roy keane story. His comments are no different to what a few other real pundits would say about the irish team IF they were asked but because its roy keane its blown out of proportion. Case in point last thursdays headline on here after the spain game – “keane fumes at irish fans sing song” was the original headline which was quickly changed to “roy keane fumes”, complete sensationalised rubbish where the journalist AND 95% of the idiots who commented here never even watch the interview. Funnily enough popular stories on the journal get about 150 comments, the roy keane story had 350+ comments in 3-4 hours. Enough said.

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    Jun 17th 2012, 11:29 AM

    Well said, but b7584, if you’re going to rant about journalists making cheap use of the roy Keane thing, then stop taking a side, you’re no better than any other commenter or journalist who has a side on this.

    No wonder journalists love the keane stuff, even people who oppose it still can’t help getting involved.

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    Jun 17th 2012, 11:37 AM

    I watched his interview the other night. Quite bitter really, especially towards the fans,”the players and supporters need to change their mentality”. Now he’s banging some quotes that everyone agrees with, damage limitation. This is like his, “I was sent home” yarn, when in fact he walked. Traitor.

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    Jun 17th 2012, 11:42 AM

    No r2d2′ the only one looking for a sensational Roy Keane story is Roy Keane himself. Not the media, they are just sheep just like the typical united fan who is backing this moron up

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    Jun 17th 2012, 11:53 AM

    Alan i hope you have some new and Original digs li ned up for august because, well, you need them.

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    Jun 17th 2012, 11:59 AM

    Fail to see what my comment has to do with Liverpool r2d2 but while you mention it, if we are going to need it don’t forget that those 2 players you rely on so much are not another year older and greyer. No more old man rescue packages available for fergie unless lee sharpe comes back on the market.

    What’s the plan for fergies replacement? The oracle that is Dave Whelan says he is gone the end of this season

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    Jun 17th 2012, 12:00 PM

    “now”

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    Jun 17th 2012, 12:19 PM

    Amazing you found your voice again alan, thought you’d fallen off the face of the planet after your worst league finish since 1841?
    Cant wait to see the new league campaign on merseyside.

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    Jun 17th 2012, 12:54 PM

    How many trophies did Man United win last season? (Apart from best inroads into Asian markets award)

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    Jun 17th 2012, 3:10 PM

    Who do you support Reacted?

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    Jun 17th 2012, 10:58 AM

    The man has lost the plot. In my opinion he’s playing up to the English media. The last time he had a pop at players like that Fergie ran him out the door.

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    Jun 17th 2012, 2:58 PM

    He left United after ‘criticising’ the effort of other united players, who then went on to win more titles without him. He was wrong that time anyway.

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    Jun 17th 2012, 3:21 PM

    Of course he was, especially to do it publicly.

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    Jun 17th 2012, 11:05 AM

    He’s an ignoramus. I always get the impression he knows he missed an oppurtunitty after Saipan. Undoubtedly an excellent and very committed professional, but far to fond of criticising from a distance.
    He would be better served filling in the chip on his shoulder and using the surplus polyfilla for his mouth.

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    Jun 17th 2012, 12:21 PM

    If only Roy could turn back the clock and correct the biggest mistake of his life. You can tell by his defensive demeanour and his bitterness when it comes to discussing Ireland that he regrets walking out on his country, he knows he was wrong, he has it written all over his face. But pride comes before a fall and Roy has fallen further than most.

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    Jun 17th 2012, 11:18 AM

    Roy is spot on – may seem harsh but it had to be said.

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    Jun 17th 2012, 11:16 AM

    Sorry but trap has nothing on his Cv either in regards to international management except 2 failed tournaments 1 with Italy ( first round out) and now Ireland at the same stage. U can say that we don’t have the players to compete at this level but what was his excuse for Italy, Roy is right !! but the problem is not only with the players it’s with the manager and his tactics. Yes he got us there but with a lot of luck aswell . The game in Russia for instance could just as easily had the same outcome as the Spanish game on any other day. We rode our luck and now its run out!!

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    Jun 17th 2012, 11:18 AM

    Still same sh talk…Roy Keane walked out..this that. Have you been there? Do you know the REAL reasons why he walked out?…I don’t. But I think sometimes it’s better to tell f#%^ off and keep your head high that to be one of the sheep. Just my 2 cents. And if you think that he slams supporters think again…he just says that theres no need to be over exited when your team doing extremely bad.

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    Mute Elmo
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    Jun 17th 2012, 11:22 AM

    His reasons for being annoyed at the World Cup were perfectly valid, but he should have sucked it up and done his bit for his team and then mouthed off to anyone that would listen when they got back. Instead he threw his toys and walked out. Putting your issues aside for the good of your team would’ve been the way to keep his head held high. Walking out made him look like a sulky little child, nothing at all to be proud of.

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    Jun 17th 2012, 11:53 AM

    Well said dude!

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    Jun 17th 2012, 11:54 AM

    As Keane pointed out last month when he was in Dublin doing his bit for Irish Guide Dogs, people seem to overlook the fact that on Saipan, his manager – in front of the entire squad – accused him of faking injury to get out of games and would not retract it or apologise. Keane was never going to accept that.

    And leaving Saipan had actually not a lot to do with what went on there. It had to do with years and years of amateurish organisation and attitudes at the FAI that culminated with a training camp on an island with no training pitches and no training gear and players who were too “tired” to train but had plenty of energy for a round of golf.

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    Jun 17th 2012, 12:27 PM

    Keane is the sole person who says McCarthy accused him of faking injury. Nobody else in that room seemed to hear McCarthy say that.

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    Jun 17th 2012, 1:04 PM

    Keane faked injury plenty of times for Alex Ferguson when he pulled out of numerous internationals and then miraculously recovered for Man United’s match the following weekend, I feel sorry for him, he’s a walking balll of misery

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    Jun 17th 2012, 11:16 AM

    Roy Keane is a plonker

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    Jun 17th 2012, 11:28 AM

    It’s amazing looking at the posts here just how many people “misunderstand” what Roy Keane says. Not just recently but since Saipan. Roy Keane has been shouting from the rooftops just exactly what’s wrong with the Irish international setup. Both at admin and player level. He’s not criticising fans at all and never has. He’s saying that if you want to be respected as a significant force as a team and a player you have to be professional and you have to be treated in a professional manner by the FAI. that was the purpose of the Saipan episode. But nobody listened! Result? Croatian and Spanish trashing! People, you are still not listening! There are none so blind as those who just don’t want to see!

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    Jun 17th 2012, 11:39 AM

    Sure all the experts on here know nothing about the FAI, who runs it now, who ran it previously etc.
    The FAI is another government department essentially staffed by the same no knowledge having clowns that run things like the HSE. There are more people ‘running’ the FAI who have NEVER kicked a ball in their lives, at any level for any team. FACT
    John Delaney is a disaster, a condecending muppet, his 33rd team in the 2010 WC & his most recent ‘UEFA should give tbe irish fans an award’ is the EXACT type of bullshit that roy keane talks about.
    John Delaneys father (ex-FAI president) managed to GIVE AWAY fans money to a ticket tout at USA 94 on the promise of tickets, the tout was never seen again, no tickets and fans lost major money.
    The FAI had to downsize a small bit recently, some staff had to go, who went? Some pen pusher? Someone who has no knowledge or experience playing football? NO! The fai let go one of irelands biggest heroes, Packie Bonner. This is typical FAI and the general fan in the street knows nothing about thid craic.

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    Jun 17th 2012, 11:44 AM

    What exactly is a pen-pusher by the way? Is it just some catchall phrase that people use when they dont know what they are talking about?

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    Jun 17th 2012, 11:48 AM

    Jordan.
    I don’t think YOU are listening.
    I’m not saying he doesn’t make some valid points but he is hypocritical.
    He needs to bring people with him but he can’t if he is hypocritical.
    He could accept no scrutiny of his time as a manager.
    He slagged off pundits and he’s doing it himself.
    He has lost credibility.

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    Jun 17th 2012, 11:58 AM

    @ Bryan, i know exactly what a pen pusher is, someone who does SFA in their job, theyre everywhere in every job, government appointed jobs in particular. Is this you Bryan? Been rumbled?

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    Jun 17th 2012, 12:58 PM

    John Delaney is a creep who is paid a crazy amount of money. I’m afraid people have very short memories

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    Jun 17th 2012, 11:34 AM

    good man roy say it as it is ,there are better on the bench and a few at home not picked ,we did not start our best 11 either game

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    Jun 17th 2012, 11:32 AM

    Keane is spot on in e everything he says. Remove that clown Delaney from the FAI with the rest of his parasite buddies get in some real people and hire Roy Keane as next manager. Do this If you want to be winners again, otherwise enjoy being the laughing stock of Europe.

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    Jun 17th 2012, 11:42 AM

    Winners again of what exactly? What have we ever won?
    Laughing stock of Europe? We qualified for the Euros ahead of a lot of teams, teams which much larger populations, better leagues, etc- hardly the laughing stock.
    I agree that we havent played well but Keane is in no position to criticise anyone.

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    Jun 17th 2012, 11:47 AM

    As a fellow Cork man I think Keane is a complete Langer, he write for the Sun which says it all, he’s a multi millionaire living in a mansion in England, completely out of touch with the common football fan who bust their bollocks to get out their and have a good holiday and enjoy the event. I agree loosing is not something to be celebrated, my sport is Rugby and I was gutted we lost to the All Blacks yesterday. The shite that comes out of Keanes mouth is just irritating. He’s a pest who thinks by staring people down he can intimidate them. Total has been, I don’t even know why his opinions are news, ad all the United fans on here writing pro Keane comments, why don’t ye support your local Irish soccer team instead of giving your money to English clubs. If all the Supporters of English teams here purchased their local teams jerseys we would have a fine league in Ireland instead of creating overpaid fairy’s across the water

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    Jun 17th 2012, 11:53 AM

    fair play, Spectrum. you don’t often get sense coming out of cork.

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    Jun 17th 2012, 11:57 AM

    So living in Cork, you would be aware of course that last month Keane was in Cork helping to raise thousands of Euros for his boyhood club Rockmount AFC, to help improve football at the grassroots level in Ireland?

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    Jun 17th 2012, 12:33 PM

    Theres only one langer here mate and that’s you, I suggest you read the his comments again. And tell me something else langer if you where offered a job in england ( although I doubt it somehow) and it meant that your wages would increase by ten fold as least plus you old job would benefit from it financially would you turn it down? Of course you would cause YOUR THE LANGER !!!

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    Jun 17th 2012, 11:19 AM

    I think most of us agree with some of Roy’s comments.. 1. Note that we are the first team to be going home and have the worst goal difference in the competition. 2. Maybe we shouldn’t be cheering and dancing long after the final whistle has gone after the results we’ve had … The displays have been awful and its hard to even think who has been ok for us.. Maybe it’s about time we demanded more in return for our support – we can’t celebrate these dreadful performances.

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    Jun 17th 2012, 1:28 PM

    Point 1 and 2 have little to do with each other tbh.
    Having a go at the fans for making the best of the worst possible tournament situation that could happen to travelling fans is actually very admirable and something all other fans should aspire to.

    The singing wasnt even about football anymore, it was about being caught in the moment, solidarity , maybe a culmination of 4 years of endless negative recession talk mixed with alcohol mixed with all the high hopes and expectations being shattered.

    I really really doubt for a second that even one player on that pitch felt any better or any less desire to perform well in the future because the fans made the best of a horrible situation.

    And one last thing, we were crap, we underperformed and frankly we bottled it. But theres one thing we cannot take away from the players , and thats they showed commitment and desire to do well. And really, we all want results, but also want the players to care. And in fairness, nobody can say they didnt care.

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    Jun 17th 2012, 11:23 AM

    Roy Keane feeds on a human trait. The desire to be associated with success.
    However, as with Keane it’s all soundbites. The players deserve to be scrutinised, sure.
    But this coming from Keane.
    The same Keane who after a series of defeats was asked was he considering his position. As usual the usual Keane response. Scowl while he thinks ‘will I hit him or not’…. Then he holds himself and then the best he can come up with is ‘I refuse to answer that question.’
    He failed as a manager and crucially, couldn’t accept the same scrutiny.
    The usual sh1te of ‘Keane calls it as it is’ ‘a born winner’. Really?
    Don’t remember Sunderland or Ipswich setting the world alight under him.

    He was a great player.
    End of story.
    He slagged off the football pundits and now it seems to be the only job he can get. In the past 8 yrs he has failed and is in no position to point the finger.
    They haven’t qualified for a tournament in 10 yrs.
    Roy, they got to the Q Finals of the world cup, without you.

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    Jun 17th 2012, 11:28 AM

    I agree with nearly all the above, except it was the second round that we got to and not teh quarter finals.
    As I said, he has become an annoying child actor- next stop is reality love island or the next big brother or something

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    Jun 17th 2012, 11:14 AM

    I think he’s forgetting that we don’t have a great pool of players to choose from and, against a team of the calibre of Spain, the odds were against us. We are a small country and we were drawn in a tough group. So why not enjoy the competition while we’re there?

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    Jun 17th 2012, 11:19 AM

    The reason we dont have a great pool of players is because the fai and delaney are useless! BBF (big back four) and to hell with the rest! We need to get rid of that mentality! Delaney as i said in previous post is strangling the game in ireland! We have good people out giving up their spare time to help bring the schoolboys up but funding and development at that level is sluggish! More is needed DELANEY OUT

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    Mute Paul Robinson
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    Jun 17th 2012, 11:19 AM

    keep fawning over keane and he’ll keep taking your money. pathetic.

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    Mute Denis O Loughlin
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    Jun 17th 2012, 11:06 AM

    Give it a rest Roy, why don’t you do something positive for the Irish team and shut the hell up. I don’t see teams lining up to sign u as manager. Ok the Irish team have done bad but gettin to this championship was a triumph only the best teams in Europe qualify. Keane given and dunne will walk away when they know it’s right just like u did in sipan.

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    Mute Joe Hunter
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    Jun 17th 2012, 11:11 AM

    Bad they were CRAP as he said you would see better on a sunday morning!

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    Mute Valerie O'Shea
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    Jun 17th 2012, 11:27 AM

    I agree with Roy completely. We are not good enough. The displays from the team have been terrible. It looks to me like they are actually afraid of the ball. The support we give the team is fantastic but what is received in return is not. We are never going to be of the calibre where we can win the European Championships or World Cup but we should be able to give a decent performance and at lease say we did our best.

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    Mute Liam Byrne
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    Jun 17th 2012, 11:43 AM

    A lot of comments about Roy Keanes reputation and his own failures; these same comments seem to ignore that what he has said is completely true.
    I’m no fan of Roy keane, but what was quoted in this article is 100% accurate. And as soon as people start seeing it from his point of view and start expecting more from our national team, the sooner we can have something to actually sing about.

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    Mute Nigel O'Neill
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    Jun 17th 2012, 12:31 PM

    Some of what he said is true but he seems to forget that the reason he’s a pundit is that he’s been sacked by his last 2 clubs also!

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    Mute Jane O'Sullivan
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    Jun 17th 2012, 11:00 AM

    Fair enough!

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    Mute Richard Lennon
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    Jun 17th 2012, 11:08 AM

    Roy is geting at John Delaney through the Irish team. Hes got a hidden agenda.

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    Mute Joe Hunter
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    Jun 17th 2012, 11:14 AM

    And he’s right delaney needs to go! All that tosser is interested in is getting photos taken and trips abroad! He needs to be sacked as he has no vision for the sport in ireland! Roy is 100% correct!

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    Mute Paul Barnes
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    Jun 17th 2012, 11:34 AM

    Richard completely agree, (this time) well said, I now need a lie down

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    Mute protective fences
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    Jun 17th 2012, 2:33 PM

    Roy Keane’s bang on as usual..

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    Mute Bryan Murray
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    Jun 17th 2012, 11:22 AM

    Roy turns from spitting venom towards journalists to being a rent-a-quote tabloid journo himself??
    Oh the irony-he is like an annoying child star actor at this stage- had his day in the sun but is now desperately needing to keep himself in the media and at the forefront of peoples thoughts.

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    Mute Kevin McCarthy
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    Jun 17th 2012, 11:39 AM

    I think he is on the pulse with his views. We already knew a lot before he confirmed it. Sometimes it’s painful to hear the truth.

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    Mute Johnnathan Biskalero
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    Jun 17th 2012, 11:57 AM

    Keano you are dead right……..Robbie Keane and Given were more after their own ego’s if i am very honest………Kevin Doyle plays very well against Croatia and he is dropped……Shane Long and Walters on the bench aswell……it all went downhill when Trappatoni dropped Foley for calamity McShane and the rest is history , Paul Green coming was an insult to those boys on the bench that i mentioned…..it was a disgrace to be honest!

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    Mute Oisín Barrett
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    Jun 17th 2012, 11:59 AM

    Paul Green as a very bad choice!

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    Mute Warren Kennedy
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    Jun 17th 2012, 11:50 AM

    He’s right lads c’mon stop bullshitting yourselfs! Yer all saying oh he walked out on his country! It obviously wasn’t an easy decision for him to do that! How about all he has done for his country?? Nobody can disagree or bad mouth the Irish team in this country without being crucified from others, it’s sad really!

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    Mute Brendan Bermingham
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    Jun 17th 2012, 12:12 PM

    More sense from CORK, Roy for Manager , a few langers out there

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    Mute A P Muldowney
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    Jun 17th 2012, 1:19 PM

    Roy keane is correct. You are all muppets.

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    Mute Andrew P
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    Jun 17th 2012, 11:45 AM

    Once again Keane says it as it is. Irish people dont seem to like the hard truth. The team were a disgrace to the country and the fans are a joke.

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    Mute Le Chop
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    Jun 17th 2012, 11:31 AM

    Roy Keane 2012 = Eamon Dunphy 1990

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    Mute Sean Slevin
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    Jun 17th 2012, 11:50 AM

    Agree.
    Let’s put out a completely new 11 for the last match.
    That’s exactly what Alex Ferguson does after a humiliating defeat.
    A completely new 11.
    Good idea Roy.
    Right.

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    Mute John Foody
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    Jun 17th 2012, 11:51 AM

    Poor Roy drama Keane, gone from legend player to shit manager and now the Simon Cowell of punditry, brutal honesty for the sake of sensationalism and self promotion. Sad to see.

    Can he possibly think the players believe the fans were singing because they approved of the performance.The singing was an emotional show of solidarity with each other and a group of players that weren’t good enough and/or got things wrong.

    Of course he’s a proven track record of having no interest in constructive criticism, he’s all about destructive criticism.

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    Mute Frank2521
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    Jun 17th 2012, 2:41 PM

    Roy was right about Delaney. His picture in the Sunday World was disgraceful. Delaney gets higher paid than Obama and our SOCCOR players are still changing at the side of the pitch at the back of cars. Same as our boxers. Yet the GAA have magnificent pitches and clubhouses for their members. After all the Pom years the only thing Delaney guarenteed was his own reelection and big salary. Shame on all in the FAI for failing their members and the Irish people. Will he be the next head of the Olympic Ireland of course he will as that is our corrupt way. Roy was right about him but wrong about Seipan.

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    Mute Dave Dawson
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    Jun 17th 2012, 11:06 AM

    What a shanker!

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    Mute Paul Robinson
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    Jun 17th 2012, 11:44 AM

    the amount of armchair fans here is staggering. judging by the comments most of you wouldn’t know football if it walloped you in the face. keane says these things for self publicity, nothing more.

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    Mute Bryan Murray
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    Jun 17th 2012, 11:49 AM

    I wonder when he is going to break out the leprechaun outfit and do another crisps ad?

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    Mute Paul Robinson
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    Jun 17th 2012, 11:52 AM

    exactly, Bryan

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    Mute Mark Power
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    Jun 17th 2012, 12:07 PM

    The fans were amazing. I know Roy was not attacking them. The rest is exactly true. Shay Given was there because there is nobody else. Robbie is pretty much worthless. Duff has nothing to offer. Roy Keane shoots straight from the hip and doesn’t filter his truths. The Irish soccer set up is rotten, from the core out. Agree/disagree, I really don’t care. The team were an embarrassment at the championships. Totally humiliating, playing with no apparent plan at all. 4:5:1 against Spain?! Go back as long as you like. Robbie Keane never had pace to compete like that.

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    Mute Jase
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    Jun 17th 2012, 12:25 PM

    Shay Given was there because he had a very good qualifying campaign and has been our most consistent player for the last ten years.
    Robbie scored five in qualifying. He’s definitely not suited to a lone striker role, but he didn’t decide on the tactics.
    Allied to his experience, Damien Duff is a technically gifted player who had a decent season at a top-half club.
    All of the above are well past their peak, and there’s no way they should have formed the core of the team or be seen as undroppable (I was always doubtful about Robbie having the captaincy for that reason…it’s hard to drop your captain, even if he’s not suited to the tactics), but to dismiss them in such an offhand way is just dickish.

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    Mute Mark Power
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    Jun 17th 2012, 12:31 PM

    Ireland needs youth to move forward. Semi-solid aged players is no platform on which to build a solid team for the future. That’s the point. The Euros were a monumental failure for Ireland. That a fact. Disagree however you want an call all the names you want. People like yourself can’t help it.

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    Mute Jase
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    Jun 17th 2012, 12:44 PM

    Sorry, “dickish” was a poor choice of word, I didn’t mean to be abusive…I’m not picking a fight…I agree with you to an extent. I think McCarthy, McClean and Coleman, to name but three, should have been utilised in qualifying. I just think the three lads you are using as an example were more than valid inclusions in the squad.
    …and yes, the Euros have been an unmitigated disaster, but I think it’s a more multifaceted problem than a reliance on older players…

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    Mute Mark Power
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    Jun 17th 2012, 12:50 PM

    No worries Jase. On mature reflection I admit that my comment may have shown no respect at all towards the players I named. It was not intended like that. It’s just that one day you realise that you can’t remember a time when you didn’t hear the names, Given, Duff and Robbie Keane when Ireland is discussed. The Euros showed that Given was off the pace, Duff was forgettable and Keano in my opinion was exposed as a spent force. They were the giants of a by gone age is what I ment I suppose. I apologise if my first comment seemed disrespectful

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    Jun 17th 2012, 1:04 PM

    Ah but there was a reason for their inclusion first on every teamsheet up until recently…They were the only three players that we possessed since Roy who even came close to being considered “world class” (whatever that is)…Once their respective stars started to fade, they didn’t automatically become poor players unworthy of selection. There is a definite problem of knowing when past quality and accrued experience is overtaken by the need for fresh blood and youthful exuberance. I agree that that time is probably now, but I certainly wouldn’t be sad to see a fit Shay Given playing for Ireland again, or Duff and Keane being included as old heads in squads (whatever about as first XI players)…

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    Mute Barry Patterson
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    Jun 17th 2012, 12:21 PM

    roy keane is right, the players are rubbish, no winning mentality. did people really expect us to win matches with this shower? we live in hope ever since ITalia 90. when roy makes a comment we harp back to saipan and blame him for that, some folks here need to get a grip and wake up. thats my rant for today!

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    Mute You Reacted Ha Ha!
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    Jun 17th 2012, 1:29 PM

    No winning mentality, what nonsense, did they all sit around in the dressing room and listen to Trap describe how they should lose on a flipchart? Other teams were better than us, it’s like expecting India to beat the All Blacks, people are confusing ‘winning mentality’ and ‘attitude’ with ‘we have a shit pool of players’

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    Mute Kieran O'Riordan
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    Jun 17th 2012, 1:49 PM

    He’s dead right and entitled to make his point. His beef isn’t with the supporters but with the players using the support to deflect their shocking performance and effort on the field. He’s right with the 11 changes too. Time to think about the future now. The older guys have had 2 chances and failed. At most keep Andrews and Given.

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    Mute limofax
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    Jun 17th 2012, 2:33 PM

    He shouldn’t have insulted those supporters the other night though.

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    Mute Alan Duggan
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    Jun 17th 2012, 1:19 PM

    Given his track record it is laughable that Roy Keane would offer tips on how Trap should manage the team.

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    Mute josephine byrne
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    Jun 17th 2012, 1:30 PM

    Trappatoni’s squad selection and tactics aren’t going to bring Irish football forward. This tournament has shown the level of football necessary and Ireland have come up disappointingly short. It’s hard to remember being so disillusioned so early when watching Ireland compete. The team needs to be changed, we need players who take responsibility and make things happen. Trappatoni persisting with under-performing players is destroying confidence.

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    Mute Sean Higgins
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    Jun 17th 2012, 11:04 AM

    It depends on what your attitude is, winning at all costs or its the taking part that counts, I’m not sure myself after all it is sport………

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    Mute Jordan Salanger
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    Jun 17th 2012, 11:33 AM

    This is professional football! It’s winning that matters! You want to take part play Sunday league

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    Mute Richard Fennelly
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    Jun 17th 2012, 11:39 AM

    @b5784 a united fan using the word bandwagon hillarious best comment of all time irish utd fans invented bandwagon support

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    Mute B7584
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    Jun 17th 2012, 11:50 AM

    You should come back when you have an original comment.

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    Mute Michael J Hartnett
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    Jun 17th 2012, 2:41 PM

    Im a Roy Keane fan & as usual he speaks as he sees it & he has a vast knowledge. I dont know if he’s right but he is still the most important sportsman Ireland has created & if you doubt me read every comment he writes on here & look @ the reaction. Ye all react to him he is legend & we love him.

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    Mute Fiachra Maolmordha Ó Raghallaigh
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    Jun 17th 2012, 12:21 PM

    Roy Keane is a total bollox. Never mind the fact that I can’t substantiate this assertion, the fact that I could never play soccer to save my life, or whatever – I’d make a right good manager, and I’d fix all the problems. He’ll I made a great Taoiseach too if I was given the chance. If you ever heard me talking at the pub, you’d know that I know EVERYTHING that’s wrong with the universe. :)

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    Mute Jase
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    Jun 17th 2012, 12:10 PM

    I’m going to preface this by saying that I respect Roy hugely for his playing career. I also think he’s right that there are deep-rooted problems with the Ireland setup. However, to dismiss good pros that he played alongside as being there purely on reputation is a bit bizarre to me.
    They’re an average squad who were hamstrung by an outdated and inflexible catenaccio system and Trap’s reluctance to make personnel changes. However, they did qualify for a tournament, however luckily. Is it the fault of the older pros that Trap picks them?
    People sure have short memories…Think of the head-scratching chaos of Steve Staunton’s reign, and the just-as-defensive-as-Trap-without-the-results Kerr period.
    As in most arguments, the truth lies somewhere in the middle. Roy is a winner, makes valid points, but he’s a polemicist who I believe is being prodded to ever more extreme views by his ties with tabloid news outlets. There is some room for softness in football, and Roy is coming across as a very bitter person. Blinkered focus on results without considering morale and team unity is as much a recipe for disaster as a “there-only-for-the-craic” attitude…just look at the way his own career petered out…

    Rant over…sorry for the length of comment…

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    Mute jake jennings
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    Jun 17th 2012, 1:42 PM

    The team was so shit the fans had to give Europe some lasting impression of ourselves that’s why the singing happened.

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    Mute christopher morley
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    Jun 17th 2012, 12:48 PM

    roy is is completely right we do need to change a mental attitude. we aa irish fans can live with the results, but we can’t live with the display of lack ability to play football when we know we are better than that. we also need to lose the “sure at lest we got here” attitude. whatever roy keane send something people bring up saipan and how he walked out. get over it he got sent home by the manager he didn’t walk out. he defended his player that was captian of and the lack of proper training facilities in which someone would get hurt before a major championship. we weezer the same with dunphy when he would criticize a team and were wrong to do so.it is about time we accept criticism and take it for what it is criticism. not an attack on our country, not an attack on us, just simple criticism. we’ve been bad and need to do better. rant over!

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    Mute Bryan Murray
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    Jun 17th 2012, 1:02 PM

    Is AA irish fans a Freudian slip?

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    Mute Bryan Murray
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    Jun 17th 2012, 1:04 PM

    Also he claimed a few weeks ago that he wasnt sent home and that he did walk out- you must not being keeping up with Roy’s almost daily tabloid insights

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    Mute Sesal OToole
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    Jun 17th 2012, 3:40 PM

    The team were a disgrace. The latest story is that they are up in arms with their manager. They have some cheek, none of the team would make a local parish team

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    Mute Liam Lyons
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    Jun 17th 2012, 6:11 PM

    Yaaaawwwnnnnnn This is getting boring reading through these comments. Its always the one that you love the most that hurt you the most. Anti Keane people here should really just get over it…He is telling it how it is and people are trying to hide from it. These people here saying “nobody cares what you have to say Roy” well obviously you do!!

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    Mute Richard Fennelly
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    Jun 17th 2012, 11:47 AM

    he is just a kevin myeres type character anything for notice.controversey is the only attention he can get.

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    Mute Sesal OToole
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    Jun 17th 2012, 11:59 AM

    I have Been reading all the comments. The majority of you were singing both the teams and the managers praises before the tournament.
    Soccer is a minority sport in this country. Kids play the game when they can’t make it on a hurling team.
    Our national soccer team is a national disgrace. I and many others are absolutely delighted that they have humiliated themselves on a world stage.

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    Mute Sean Slevin
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    Jun 17th 2012, 12:04 PM

    er. European Stage?

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    Mute Paul Robinson
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    Jun 17th 2012, 12:16 PM

    your name is o’toole? just leave the o and the apostrophy out and you have the perfect name for yourself.

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    Mute Jase
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    Jun 17th 2012, 12:33 PM

    I believe he was going for the name “Cecil”, but had never seen it written down before. Selection of name you can’t spell and unsubtle trolling style…
    Troll grade: D
    Must try harder…

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    Mute Nigel O'Neill
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    Jun 17th 2012, 12:49 PM

    You couldn’t be more wrong dude. Stats show there are more schoolboy football teams registered than juvenile gaa teams!!
    Also I’ve seen some schoolboy football players actually bullied by GAA Mentors not to play football. Disgraceful. And theyr only driving the kids away from GAA .. And I love hurling myself .. Gaelic Football is shocking these days tho

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    Mute Pat Kavanagh
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    Jun 17th 2012, 5:05 PM

    As much as I hate him he’s not wrong on this. The stadium was half empty during the qualifiers because fans ‘couldn’t afford it’. We need fans at the home games to make an atmosphere but most Irish fans seem to prefer a holiday, a singsong and a few pints. Noting wrong with that but I hope when they come home they will still be singing ‘you’ll never beat the Irish’ every couple of weeks and not just putting it away for another ten years. We need to support Irish football by attending the games and getting involved not going on holiday and getting locked.

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    Mute Séamus Ó Lochlainn
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    Jun 17th 2012, 1:37 PM

    You write for “The Sun” Roy. Any semblance of integrity you once might have had is gone.

    You make some valid points, but unfortunately coming from you they sound bitter and hypocritical. And as you can see from above they split opinion down the middle between Keanists and the rest of Ireland. And of course we’ll have to listen to this shite for the next week as players, management, experts etc. respond.

    I say forget about Keane and let’s agree on the real issue here – Trapattoni Out.

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    Mute Tom Kitt
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    Jun 17th 2012, 12:35 PM

    What happens when Roy has a go at the fans? He deflects the criticism of the management and the team onto Roy Keane. The guy just doesn’t have the capacity to see the Big Picture, hence his failure as a manager. Furthermore in a game of abusive fans, racist chants and rampant hooliganism the message that the Irish fans sent out was something that a performance on the pitch will never achieve. Very proud to be Irish once again!

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    Mute limofax
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    Jun 17th 2012, 4:34 PM

    On the money.

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    Mute John O'Neill
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    Jun 17th 2012, 1:53 PM

    The trouble with Keane is that he always let’s his mouth drive off without first putting his brain in gear. Wait……Cancel that comment, it infers that he has a brain.

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    Mute limofax
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    Jun 17th 2012, 5:25 PM

    He has a big mouth,
    Small brain,
    Bad attitude,
    Vindictive personality.

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    Mute Dick Byrne
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    Jun 17th 2012, 1:01 PM

    Why is this angry bitter ex player get such a reaction after slagging everyone off again. From what I can see he doesn’t seem to have a friend in the world. I’ve never heard anyone say a good word about him apart from how good a player he was. Did you see him at the celebrity and ex players charity match a few weeks ago, he just didn’t want to be there. Keane is just a miserable aul git who should be ignored, don’t feed the troll.

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    Mute Jack Leahy
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    Jun 17th 2012, 1:06 PM

    Does that opinion make what he said completely untrue? No. Head in the sand

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    Mute Tricia S.
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    Jun 17th 2012, 1:16 PM

    Read Gary Ablett’s autobiography, released after his death from non-Hodgkins lymphoma in January. Keane was in his hospital room, at his side, every day that he was receiving chemotherapy. Mrs. Ablett and his children can’t say enough about the support that the family received from Roy. He’s not a one dimensional villain, as much as you’d like him to be.

    Ablett wrote before his death: “I know well enough the image Roy has from the outside. He’s seen as abrasive, confrontational – he’s even considered to be trouble. To me, he is none of those things.

    “Roy has been caring, incredibly supportive and a true friend.

    “The professional relationship we had as manager and coach does not explain just how much time he has spent with me over the past couple of years.”

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    Mute Barry Curtin
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    Jun 17th 2012, 3:47 PM

    cant argue with the man he’s not afraid to express his views, most of which the fai lads agree with but are too scared to go public, traps tactics might have worked in the 60s but styles change

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    Mute fantellie
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    Jun 17th 2012, 4:43 PM

    I think you have to have watched the full ITV coverage, not just his comments, for the context of the other night. Adrian Chiles, as useless as ever, was mocking the fans singing. His theme seemed to me to be one of the Irish being the joker in the pack, only good for a bit of drinking and singing. I don’t think Roy was trying to rail against the fans. I think he was trying to rail against the impression the fans singing after defeat, the lack of effort by some players, and the player interviews focusing on the singing might be giving – ie the impression that Chiles was right. I loved the singing, it was fantastic support and a brilliantly good-natured response to disappointment.

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    Mute Brian Parle
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    Jun 17th 2012, 3:49 PM

    Is it just me, or has Roy mellowed over the years ?

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    Mute Oisín Barrett
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    Jun 17th 2012, 11:57 AM

    If he’s right or wrong, does it matter so much? We were beaten fair and square, I don’t know what he has against the team.

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    Mute Jack Leahy
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    Jun 17th 2012, 12:59 PM

    Fact of the matter is, only 2 Irish players play at a top-7 club in England: Gibson, on the bench, and Coleman, not selected. Stokes and Hoolahan had great seasons, but weren’t even considered. McGeady has never played well in green, not once. Shane Long has had a year of real quality, but when Doyle was finally dropped, Trap went for Cox, behind Long at West Brom. No effort made to look at players like Pilkington, who could add something if Trap wasn’t obsessed with blind notions of loyalty. Who cares if he’a not Irish – neither are Houghton, Kilbane, Cascarino, Townsend, etc. Paul Green, unwanted, plays a role in a major championship.

    Roy is right. Absolute joke. Irish fans will always be the best in the world, just do them some justice and show them some respect.

    Saipan was a reaction to this same attitude.

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    Mute Berney Pearce
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    Jun 17th 2012, 5:43 PM

    Its a new manager we want. Maybe Roy should take the job see if he can do better. The Irish fans are the best in the world. We may have lost the football but the Irish fans won the night.

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    Mute John McConnell
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    Jun 17th 2012, 12:28 PM

    The man does not understand loyalty. Slags off clubs and people who paid his wages man utd, Ireland etc but he’s a pundit now so it’s the Sun and ITV that now pay his wages and like it or not hell be a better pundit than manager as he has the “dunphy” factor. His points are spot on but what’s his solution? 11 new players?!? No wonder he was a shite manager!

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    Mute Ray Dempsey
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    Jun 17th 2012, 11:21 AM

    @joe hunter. Ya you are right we are crap. So what is the point in criticising players who are crap. We are an average team

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    Mute Daragh Devlin
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    Jun 18th 2012, 3:39 PM

    ABOY Keano Kid, The only man with a pair of balls and speak up. The tournament was a pure farce. None of them were any good and Crapatoni is a fossil who’s lack of modern football tactics has sent us back 50 years to the dark days of the 60′s.

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    Mute Irish Renters
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    Jun 17th 2012, 12:34 PM

    Niall Quinn is a creep.

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    Mute Bryan Murray
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    Jun 17th 2012, 1:00 PM

    Unless he is offering a tidt wedge in wages and a large transfer budget!
    I’ll forgot all previous assertions and integrity for a some sweet, sweet cash- a man of principle, my left one!

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    Mute Sean Slevin
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    Jun 17th 2012, 1:06 PM

    I agree.
    Giving the money from his testimonial to charity.
    Horrible man.

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    Mute Bryan Murray
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    Jun 17th 2012, 1:14 PM

    Thats a nice gesture- still doesnt change that fact that as a man lauded for his ‘principles’-he quickly forgot them when Quinn came calling with a bag of money

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    Mute Warren Kennedy
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    Jun 17th 2012, 1:02 PM

    Also another thing what is it with people saying that we are only an average team with average players, do yous only say that so when we play shit you can fall back to that same old excuse, it didn’t stop everyone singing “you’ll never beat the Irish” we have a good team when they want to play football! Look at the performances against Italy and France in the world cup qualifiers…..

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    Mute Sean Slevin
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    Jun 17th 2012, 1:08 PM

    Does it matter if the fans keep singing?
    The fans aren’t playing.
    Am I missing something?

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    Mute John Murphy
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    Jun 17th 2012, 6:19 PM

    Cork has been. A complete idiot.

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    Mute Patrick Ramseyer
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    Jun 18th 2012, 12:58 PM

    Roy keane Simply HATES the FAI… there is a lot of resentment there after all that happened, he is not letting it go… and at every opportunity he gets he takes a stab at the Irish setup—

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    Mute Conor Ruttledge
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    Jun 18th 2012, 2:01 AM

    Spain are the number 1 team in the world and may be considered one of the best international sides of all time , Croatia are ranked 7/8 in the world and Italy are also in the top ten.

    Ireland are ranked outside the top ten. Therefore the odds are we re gonna get beaten.

    Fair deuce to the guys and gals having the craic at the euros and singing their hearts out. It’s better than starting riots and fights!

    Sport is great but as everyone knows ya can’t win all the time so just get over it , we didn’t beat the odds this time.

    Trapp your a legend, cheers for bringing some smiles to us here in Ireland because god knows that’s a hard thing to do here these days.

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    Mute David Scott
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    Jun 17th 2012, 8:13 PM

    Why should given and keane and even duff retire? who do we replace these players with bud? idiot.

    keano been abit harsh, the team gave what they had, just as keano did in his day.

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    Mute Conor Flynn
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    Jun 17th 2012, 2:57 PM

    lots of the players are getting old and don’t have as much to offer anymore, if the team is to get better they need to bring in a lot of different players before the world cup qualifiers. Clarke, Coleman, hoolahan and McCarthy come to mind with Long, McLean and Walters too.

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    Mute Darren Burke
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    Jun 17th 2012, 12:35 PM

    11 changes would also presumably mean bringing in Doyle & Hunt (Unless Joe Forde fancies a pop outfield) who he also has a go at. Ridiculous thing to say.

    I don’t think players should be immune from criticism, and I was slightly disappointed with Richard Dunne’s comments yesterday, if you take them at face value, about how you have to hold your hands up, we gave our best etc. I think we’re much better than we showed in those two games. Our back 5 were particularly disappointing & I think 6 of our goals conceded were very preventable.

    Roy Keane’s way though, isn’t the right one either. Keith Andrews and Damien Duff for instance, played reasonably well in the circumstances, but he’d have them dropped like everyone else. You can’t keep lambasting & dropping everyone, or you’ll start running out of players & sapping morale. This attitude led to his United exit (MUTV interview) and his less than succesful spells as a manager.

    There’s a happy middle ground of constructive criticism, which I’d assume is going on behind the scenes anyway. Trap doesn’t need to go public with criticisms of players & nor should he have to. Personally speaking, I am still delighted that we managed to qualify, and it’s all too easy to gloss over the huge roles that Given/Dunne/Robbie Keane played in the games against Russia & Armenia etc right now. Roy Keane’s attitude would have you forget about all that in a flash & it’s just not right.

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    Mute Dreoleen
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    Jun 17th 2012, 12:36 PM

    I like most people here cannot stand Roy Keane but his insistence on higher standards from the fai is to be commended.

    I am proud of our team for having qualified for the tournament but am disappointed that they did not raise their game on the big stage as all previous Irish teams have.it is strange that our Ireland factor has been lost when we need it most.where is the team we saw play in Paris and Moscow?they are in effect broken.if we lose by more than 3 goals against the Italians and become officially the worst euro team ever I think we should accept that not just the team but the whole system is broken and start afresh.

    but please no more discussions about Mr uber Langer as its getting quite tedious

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    Mute Aleo
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    Jun 17th 2012, 2:59 PM

    Hot or cold won’t please him.

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    Mute Jim Sweeney
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    Jun 17th 2012, 6:01 PM

    i suppose Rebel Roy would rather have fans who have gained a reputation for racism, violence, civil disturbance instead of being supportive and cheerful. Roy is misunderstood al-right. he should listen to the old ‘Who’ classic and just “fade away” cause we don’t want to dig what he has to say.

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    Mute Richard Fennelly
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    Jun 17th 2012, 4:47 PM

    roy is proof money doesnt buy u happiness go away roy partridge didnt think anyone could be worse pundit then robbie savage

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    Mute Jim Sweeney
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    Jun 17th 2012, 6:08 PM

    George (misery personified) Lee will never be dead as long as (self) Righteous Roy is alive. make a list. Roy’s positive comments about anything to the Right and negatives to the Left. I’ve just keeled over all of a sudden with the weight. to the left of course.

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    Mute Teresa Leahy O Brien
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    Jun 18th 2012, 7:19 PM

    Think its about time Roy stayed out of Irish foot ball hasnt he done enough damage.. Roy you are no longer part oaf the team so leave it to whom is.. Big mouth catches a big fly and yours is heading that way.. Irish fans are a credit to the country.. and I hope they sing louder and longer tonight..

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    Mute David O'Rourke
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    Jun 18th 2012, 12:49 PM

    All you can expect from a pig is a grunt.

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