Martin O'Neill and Roy Keane

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Well I have been at Pride Park enough to ascertain that he is not good enough to step up to International football and that would be the consensus of most Derby fans.

But if people think he should be in Ireland squads when we have O'Shea, Dunne, Clark, McShane, Delaney, Wilson, St Ledger and Pearce then that's their prerogative.

He also played every minute of every game for Coventry when they got relegated to League One!

[Charlie Darwin]

Has it occurred to you that you might not be the best judge of who can make the step up without actually seeing them in that environment? I wouldn't have him in the squad ahead of most of those named either but if he continues to succeed, I'd certainly like to have a look at him. I doubt many people around here would have predicted a year ago that Damien Delaney would be playing in the Premier League.

[Grafter]

McClaren rates Keogh from what I've read. Certainly deserving of Ireland game time at this moment in time IMO

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Ahead of Wilson, Clark, Dunne, O'Shea, McShane and Delaney?

Even Duffy and Pearce?

[Grafter]

To be fair, can we say Duffy or Pearce is a better defender at this point? With regards to the others, a couple of injuries and you would be on the phone to Derby for sure.

[geysir]

Well I have been at Pride Park enough to ascertain that he is not good enough to step up to International football and that would be the consensus of most Derby fans.
But if people think he should be in Ireland squads when we have O'Shea, Dunne, Clark, McShane, Delaney, Wilson, St Ledger and Pearce then that's their prerogative.

That statement has no value. Consensus indicates unanimity of opinion. "We" don't speak on behalf of others, especially when the others have not expressed any opinion on the matter. Do you seriously think there are more than 10 Derby fans would have a clue about our team?

Regardless, the general opinion amongst Derby fans about captain Keogh is favourable. We are the ones who have opinions about such and such a player being good enough for our team or the squad or worth a look at.

[SkStu]

Ah Jesus, lads give him a break, he's just giving his opinion on a player he has seen in the flesh a lot more than any of us probably! Tough crowd!

Though the penalty waiting to happen comment from Geysir made me chuckle. I thought PoS had intellectual property rights on that level of foresight!

[Charlie Darwin]

You'll all be glad to know that Richard Keogh gave away a penalty three years ago: http://forum.football.co.uk/about327777.html

Also, because I'm sure you're all dying to know, his namesake on the journal.ie site is dead against the death penalty.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Are you Richard Keogh's agent? That wasn't the last penalty he conceded.

[Charlie Darwin]

No, don't you know how this works? I'm a close admirer of Richard Keogh who in no way knows him but watches every game he plays and knows what he's thinking, but I am in no way the actual Richard Keogh. Just ask the doc, he's not a professional footballer either. Neither of us are.

[Crosby87]

Speaking of the doc how is Ruud doing?

[SkStu]

No, don't you know how this works? I'm a close admirer of Richard Keogh who in no way knows him but watches every game he plays and knows what he's thinking, but I am in no way the actual Richard Keogh. Just ask the doc, he's not a professional footballer either. Neither of us are.

Hmmmmmmm...I wasn't suspicious before but...that's exactly what the actual Richard Keogh would say.

[DeLorean]

Well I have been at Pride Park enough to ascertain that he is not good enough to step up to International football and that would be the consensus of most Derby fans.

But if people think he should be in Ireland squads when we have O'Shea, Dunne, Clark, McShane, Delaney, Wilson, St Ledger and Pearce then that's their prerogative.

He also played every minute of every game for Coventry when they got relegated to League One!

Derby are one of the few clubs I see from time to time, in the flesh, myself. The consensus amongst the fans I've been talking to is that he is solid. Of course, as SkStu points out, you are more than entitled to your opinion based on what you have seen. That said, he won all three Derby player of the year awards last season, including the fans vote. As someone else pointed out, the majority of Derby fans wouldn't care if he can step up to the plate for Ireland, but I do know the ones I've been talking to rate him a lot higher than Sledge. Granted I doubt they've seen him play for us very often. Nobody is campaigning for his inclusion a such, I just don't think we can afford to rule the likes of him out completely. Do you mind me asking what brings you to Pride Park (iPro!) so regularly?

Of the players you mention, Dunne, O'Shea and Delaney aren't getting any younger, and I think Delaney and Keogh are fairly comparable anyway. We've seen enough of McShane to have a look if Keogh could be a better option, certainly worth some more game time. There's a good chance Wilson will be used at left back and Sledge has his own problems. It will be interesting to see how the rest of the season goes for Keogh but I'd be happy that he's on the radar. He's a good age as well for an emergency centre back I think.

Keogh won Coventry's player of the year for the second season running the year they were relegated, got a swift transfer to Derby and was immediately installed as captain.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

http://thescore.thejournal.ie/christmas-report-card-ireland-team-2013-1214052-Dec2013/

Christmas report card.

[DeLorean]

Roy Keane's new book 'The Second Half' to come out this Autumn. Nothing like some Keano controversy and bridge burning to kick start the Euro qualifiers!

A short film in the pipeline too.