Martin O'Neill and Roy Keane

[DeLorean]

Thanks for all the support lads, I didn't take any offence from Owls reply at all. There are a lot of Keane bashers about, I get frustrated watching him sometimes too but there is no doubting his commitment or record. But yes, Stutts reply was the kind of conversation I was hoping to create. From watching the training session yesterday it looked like the team is being set up around Robbie, I know it was the first training session but I was just thinking, why? Looking at Shane Longs performance at the weekend and Alan Shearer raving about him, is it not time to give Long a stable position in the team and give him the confidence to develop as an international striker for next September. I feel Shane Long has lost confidence within the Ireland setup. No 'facetious' replies please

I would also like to see Long get an extended run of starts, but alongside Keane.

[DannyInvincible]

Some quotes from Keane's press conference: http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/irish...ress-comments/

Roy Keane met the press for the first time today since agreeing to become new Ireland manager Martin O'Neill's assistant, here are of some of his comments from his debut at Malahide.

Keane on Martin O’Neill:

"I've massive respect for Martin ... we're not buddies, but hopefully we can work well together."

"People might see me as a threat or a troublemaker of some sort… It’s a compliment to Martin that he thinks I can help him."

"I’m going to have to be the good cop, you obviously don’t know Martin the way you think you do. He makes me look like Mother Teresa!".

"If you'd asked me six months ago or a year ago if Martin would be the kind of manager I'd like to work under - absolutely."

Keane on taking Ireland post:

He says he "would have been crazy to turn down" the assistant manager's job and "I always had an open mind ... opportunity too good to turn down."

Keane says he can bring lots of experience, lots of knowledge and high standards to the Ireland set-up and: "I feel lucky to be back in Ireland set-up."

Keane says not here to change people's opinion of him ... "I spent years trying to please everyone."

Keane on Alex Ferguson:

Keane says he will not defend himself today after Alex Ferguson comments but he can't stop himself and adds:

“I have no issues. Everyone has opinions. The issue I have is when people tell lies about me. But today is not for that.”

Keane makes Saipan reference:

“Hotel’s been great, the food has been lovely, the training ground is lovely – no potholes, we’ve footballs, there’s even bibs. Major progress."

On Giovanni Trapattoni:

Keane said former Ireland manager Trapattoni did a very good job but "players need different ideas and a different voice".

As for Keane's Euro 2012 comments, he said they were not over the top and "players could have done better".

On John Delaney:

Meeting with John Delaney was "very straightforward ... the past is the past."

Keane raises a couple of laughs:

He denies telling Ray Houghton that some of the current squad are better than him. Jokes that Houghton had a few pints on him.

Keane, on being asked if he spoke to any of the players in the squad he played with, said: "Absolutely not, that's a ridiculous question."

Keane signs off with: “We have to kick on and not just be happy to qualify for tournaments, we have to go there and have an impact.”

The link also features an audio recording of Tony O'Donoghue's assessment and a video.

[OwlsFan]

I think M@ttitude's question was a fair one and fairly put too, not deserving of such a facetious answer..

It wasn't facetious at all. It was a genuine response. Robbie's role has always been to put the ball in the back of the net and until he is no longer able to do that, then that should be his role. People have been questioning whether he should start since I think the very first post in this whole thread and I see no reason for it now if you look at his recent goal tally. I got a ticket for the recent Samoa v Ireland rugby match and the hero worship for "Drico" around me made me annoyed at the attitude of so many football fans to one of our greatest players ever.

There's only one Keano.

[Yard of Pace]

The link also features an audio recording of Tony O'Donoghue's assessment and a video.

I've met this man numerous times late at night around the chinese takeaway and in the pub in a Dublin suburb. He's not the worst but there's no way in hell this man should ever be deciding the channel of thought on the Irish soccer team. He's no more knowledgeable than anyone on here. And a lot less so than many of the fellas on here.

I just say this as I worry to, what I perceive to be, his growing influence.

[Charlie Darwin]

I've always felt Tony O'Donoghue to be a good journalist to be honest, although I'm open to correction if your experience tells you otherwise.

[tricky_colour]

Roy Keane arrives 90 minutes early for Republic training!!!!!!!!!!!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/24916323

Dunno if this has been posted already.

New assistant boss Roy Keane was the first to arrive at Republic of Ireland training in Malahide on Tuesday as preparations for Friday's friendly against Latvia got under way.

Keane, 42, turned up 90 minutes before Martin O'Neill and his players were scheduled to begin work at Gannon Park.

The Cork man checked out the training pitch before inspecting the nearby gym facilities at the north Dublin venue.

Keane returned to the training pitch well before the first players arrived.

The former Republic of Ireland and Manchester United captain, who was wearing full training kit, had time to sign autographs and pose for photographs with fans who had turned out to witness the start of the new regime.

I guess it would not be too clever if the pitch was rock hard and all the equipment had gone AWOL

[tetsujin1979]

Man arrives early for work!

[DeLorean]

To be fair Keane shrugged this off in the press conference himself. He said it would obviously be part of his job to get things organised before the players arrive. He was then asked if he is going to expect the same from the players, that they should be punctual... he just gave one of his squinty-eyed looks and replied with something along the lines of "Obviously.... do I expect them to be on time for work??? Hardly looking for miracles is it?"

[Lionel Ritchie]

To be fair Keane shrugged this off in the press conference himself. He said it would obviously be part of his job to get things organised before the players arrive. He was then asked if he is going to expect the same from the players, that they should be punctual... he just gave one of his squinty-eyed looks and replied with something along the lines of "Obviously.... do I expect them to be on time for work??? Hardly looking for miracles is it?"

Seeing as they're all staying in the same place it's assumable they arrive on a coach or something anyway no? Or do they stick their thumbs out and hitch up from the hotel?

[ArdeeBhoy]

Not a plug for the FAI but brings it home...

[back of the net]

Not a plug for the FAI but brings it home...

is that the actual cover ? or something u did yourself Ardee?

Me likes

[ArdeeBhoy]

Nah, from the FAI Fbk.page...

[back of the net]

Nah, from the FAI Fbk.page...

It reminds me of the below link:

http://www.impawards.com/2003/posters/bad_boys_two_xlg.jpg

Or in this case "Bad Cop, Bad Bad Cop 2"

[OwlsFan]

I've Tony O'Donoghuenumerous times late at night around the chinese takeaway and in the pub in a Dublin suburb. He's not the worst but there's no way in hell this man should ever be deciding the channel of thought on the Irish soccer team. He's no more knowledgeable than anyone on here. And a lot less so than many of the fellas on here.

I just say this as I worry to, what I perceive to be, his growing influence.

Journalists do not decide "the channel of thought" on football teams for the genuine supporters, most of whom are on here. Dunphy (and Giles for that matter) ranted for years against Charlton and yet he left when he decided the time was right and the supporters were loyal to him. Do you think people on here will pay any more heed to O'Donoghue's view that the view of the fans on here. The likes of Miriam Lord who did a piece in the Irish Times http://www.irishtimes.com/news/irela...ined-1.1594050 about "the glamorous Roy Keane" will interest the celeb followers or event junkies, many of whom will go to the Aviva tomorrow, but will it shape the opinion of the fans, I doubt it. Take Trap also: the media was 95% against him even going in to the qualification campaign but I doubt if it changed attitutes. Fans are well capable of making up their own minds whether pro or anti..

I wouldn't worry either about the huge hype that is surrounding the appointment of an out of work Corkman as an assistant manager. I will never like Keane following on Saipan but if O'Neill brings success, he can have Dunphy as his assistant for all I care. The team the team the team. As for the rest of it, I'll bite my lip and remember the latin phrase I learned at school: "Optimum est pati quod emendare non possis."

[tricky_colour]

is that the actual cover ? or something u did yourself Ardee?

Me likes

It actually a good cover, would make a good poster too.