Richard Dunne

Absolutely they are.

If the term is good enough for Richard Dunne it should be good enough for Robbie Keane. You just like Richard Dunne more, pure and simple.

Not that I think it's relevant but I thought there was considerable ambiguity over Dunne's likely selection under O'Neill. No less an authority than Charwin, for example, thought until recently that he wouldn't figure, my guess was that he would. That ambiguity wouldn't have arisen if O'Neill had pretty much said he'd be a nailed on starter for the last 9 months as you say.

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Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

So, there we have it folks. Richard Dunne "walked away". His own words, not mine. He didn't retire gracefully having served his country with honour and dignity and due to a creaking body like most of us assumed. What is it with these Tallaght lads? Were they taught to walk away?

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:)
That would be towking the article.

Okay then we'll just have to agree to disagree on whether someone in (likely) his last season, who is playing in the Premier League, who is 35 soon, who is much less likely to be guaranteed first team club football, who has just came back from a year on the sidelines, whose new contract was triggered by a set amount of appearances, who came back to play meaningless competitive and friendly games before deciding to retire, who likely would have had a pivotal role in the upcoming campaign retiring is the same as Robbie Keane's comments about, I quote, walking away if his place in the team was taken.

I think it being a case of me liking Dunne more than Keane is oversimplifying it a bit.

You can reconcile Keane's ego with a fantastic goalscoring record but I don't think you can reconcile those two other things.

I have come to terms with the fact that Keane is captaining us into the Euro 2016 campaign and will be starting. I eagerly anticipate it.

The way I see it is that one player walks away when he feels it's the right time to end his international career. The other says that he'd do the same when no longer needed or wanted. Both players use the terms walk away and retire interchangeably. I think it's that simple.

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Originally Posted by TheOneWhoKnocks

I have come to terms with the fact that Keane is captaining us into the Euro 2016 campaign

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Good grief, you make it sound like his captaincy means he'll be murdering a child before each game or something.

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Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

The way I see it is that one player walks away when he feels it's the right time to end his international career. The other says that he'd do the same when no longer needed or wanted. Both players use the terms walk away and retire interchangeably. I think it's that simple.

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Robbie cleared the whole thing up in an interview in November.

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Originally Posted by Robbie Keane

Listen, I want to play as long as I can.
But I'm not daft. I'm 33 years of age, so next time the Euros come around...
Ultimately it's the manager's choice. All I can do is keep playing well and keep scoring goals and if he sees that I can continue doing that, then there's no problem.
But I don't have any problems with people making decisions. If anybody feels that I can help them now until the Euros and there's a situation coming around to the Euros where for some reason my legs are gone, then I'll pack it in.
I’m not stupid. If I feel I can help the country and the manager I’ll do my best because that’s what I’ve done since I was 18 years of age.

- See more at: http://www.independent.ie/sport/robb....HkL5BigP.dpuf

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Pretty much says that he'll leave when he feels his legs are gone, and that he has no problem making decisions, assumingly about being on the bench or not.

Vague.

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Originally Posted by TheOneWhoKnocks

Vague.

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Thank you. Are these quotes from March 2011 vague?

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Originally Posted by Robbie Keane

I will make it clear: I have no intention to retire at all. I want to play as long as I can.
I think you have seen over years, I have always been committed and always wanted to play for my country, and that will never change.

I don’t like to predict what is going to happen in three or four years’ time with injuries and what have you.

I will just take each campaign as it comes, look forward to this campaign and hope we can qualify.

I was just asked the question that if someone came in and the manager felt it was time for me to be pushed aside, I would be fairly happy.

If someone young and fit came in and did a better job than me, I would be happy enough.

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http://www.breakingnews.ie/sport/kea...nt-498678.html

Let me guess, they are still too vague, because 3 or 4 interviews (Sep 2012? and Mar 2013) are too ambiguous in relation to the clear cut quote you keep referring to: February 2011

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Originally Posted by Robbie Keane

I have not really worried or thought about my position with the Ireland team," said Keane, ahead of tonight's trip to Blackpool.
"It is all about now and I've said before if I didn't play for Ireland and someone else came in, I have always said I would walk away.
- See more at: http://www.independent.ie/sport/socc....6u0mF5mW.dpuf

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Anyway back to Richard Dunne. I can't see QPR sticking with that formation for too long. Dunne rotating with Ferdinand would probably work out for everyone.

Looks like he might be off to Burnley, who are also still interested in Richard Keogh.

Back in the starting XI for QPR today, Rio taking his place on the bench

I have a feeling QPR will get mullered today. I foresee at least two Balotelli goals.

Always fun when Harry goes with three at the back. Think this'll be another Moscow affair.

Dunne is shackling Balotelli. He's having a great game, but he picked up an unnecessary booking right at the end of the half.

Dunne own goal.

They're really quick to bring up his own goals record, 11 goals to 10 own goals. I wonder if they would be so quick to bring up Jamie Carragher's own goals record?

At least Richard scored a few at the right end every now and then.

Was gonna say the goal might be a blessing in disguise, bucause QPR got a late equaliser
leaving Liverpool no time to respond, unfortunately Liverpool just score :(
but...as I was typing the in QPR scored again!! What a game!!

OMG 3 - 2 Liverpool!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Originally Posted by TheOneWhoKnocks

Dunne own goal.

They're really quick to bring up his own goals record, 11 goals to 10 own goals. I wonder if they would be so quick to bring up Jamie Carragher's own goals record?

At least Richard scored a few at the right end every now and then.

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Jamie lags behind with 7. In Spain the record is 6.

It's a pretty awesome record in fairness.

I had to go out at 1-0. He was a bit leaden footed for the OG but it was a certain goal if he had done nothing.

I often pick up on a dislike of the Irish from Martin Tyler. Nothing overt, just subtle stuff, snipes like "the Scotsman, capped X times by the ROI" and regular Little Englander stuff. John Motson must be his role model.

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Originally Posted by SwanVsDalton

It's a pretty awesome record in fairness.

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It's only about one a season, not excessive from a centre back. He'll always be a legend for me.