I'd say there are some truths in there, obfuscated by some exaggerations.
I heard O'Neill say that he doesn't feel Keane can do any of the required donkey work up front, for want of a much better phrase. I think he felt we'd have more of the ball in Georgia. I can't believe he'd be so blind as to insist on doing the same thing again.
But while Long doesn't deserve the criticism in that article it's not fair to say he has shown in the friendly games he can score goals, not reliably anyway. The friendly games have shown that he needs several clear cut chances to score. But as we all know, it's not his goals that are his best attribute, he has a strong case for selection for other reasons.
Joe Mason has been the topic of discussion here long before TOWK joined the forum. His career has had fits and starts and no consistency to date. Finally he now has a chance to shift his career up a gear and he's in a good run of form. He's definitely one of those outside the squad with a chance of playing himself in, but I wouldn't go as far as saying that he was warranted a call up before now (or even now).
