Delaney hits back at Keane.

[BigmanCas]

Apparently John Delaney is not allowed defend himself or the FAI without it being called an attempt to deflect the attention away from the DO'B contribution (supported by 75% of the people). Is one not allowed to defend one's self from snipings from the North East of England?

Keane is articulate but he hasn't learned yet that he doesn't have to answer every question he's asked. Every week there is a soundbite from him on just about every topic under the sun. Delaney said Keane should concentrate on his own job - not pontificate on goings across the water either in the FAI or GAA and I think he's correct. It's like as if he is some sort of Guru or prophet or has to make pronouncements and his devoted followers hang on every word.

I think you'll find that J Delaney/FAI look after the affairs of Our International Football team. I cannot stress OUR enough. The performance of this team has a direct/indirect effect on all who live on this Island and in many ways all from this Island, living elsewhere. So if its Roy Keane talking at a press conference in Sunderland or Declan Moffatt from Glenamaddy, talking on some outback radio show in Austraila about Irish International Football is irrelevant. They are both Irish people entitled to give their twopence on how they think the show is being run. It is obvious from Delaneys' recent attack on Keane that he is trying to deflect attention from all the fiascos which have occured under his tenure. The way the International Team is run, is a matter for us all. John Delaney would just like everyone to go away and give him peace to run the FAI. This will not happen on my watch. Good Man Keane. To think I defended Delaney from an irrate fan in Bratislava haunts me to this day. He is a idiot and should be raced!!!!!!

[jmurphyc]

John Delaney would just like everyone to go away and give him peace to run the FAI. This will not happen on my watch. Good Man Keane. To think I defended Delaney from an irrate fan in Bratislava haunts me to this day. He is a idiot and should be raced!!!!!!

What has made you change your opinion since September? Surely, whether it was by accident or not, you have to congratulate the FAI for the capture of Trapattoni and admit that Keane was way off the mark in regards to pretty much everything he said about the selection process.

Roy Keane's views are paid far too much attention to. He is not the voice of the Irish supporters.

[Greenforever]

I may be suffering from loss of memory but I don't remember RK giving quite so many interviews etc when he was a successful player, likewise he didnt spend his time last season criticising the FAI, as he was quite happy to wallow in his own success before he blew €50m or more

Also can someone remind me how long it took SUnderland to appoint a new manager when Quinn and Co took over, taking into account the number of cometivie games in the period etc?????

[BigmanCas]

What has made you change your opinion since September? Surely, whether it was by accident or not, you have to congratulate the FAI for the capture of Trapattoni and admit that Keane was way off the mark in regards to pretty much everything he said about the selection process.

Roy Keane's views are paid far too much attention to. He is not the voice of the Irish supporters.

I was one of the fans who went to Bratislava and Prague thinking that we could get six points from the two games....

[Lionel Ritchie]

Another nothing story.

I heard the interview and JDs remarks were quite casual and flippant -almost jovial if you can imagine the clown being jovial.

The RTE report, which doesn't tell you these "Harsh words" were spoken in an interview with the utterly clueless Marian Finucane deliberately spins it like he's issued a press statement or something.

[jmurphyc]

I was one of the fans who went to Bratislava and Prague thinking that we could get six points from the two games....

That's what made you turn on him???

[blobbyblob]

Im all for freedom of speech but...

I like Roy Keane. I always have. Roy Keane has a right to say what he likes about the FAI or their search for a manager but BUT Roy Keane, as one of the greatest Irish players ever, he has a responsibility to be mindful of what he chooses to say about our governing body, especially considering the amount of influence he has on our British style newspaper.

As someone who is actively involved in "grassroots", fairly regularly attends LOI football and religiously attend international games, I feel that comments from the likes of Roy Keane serve no purpose but to set the whole of Irish football back rather than trying to drive on our country. As someone who drove us on the pitch to better things, I would have preferred him to do the same off it. I would have no doubt that active players in Irelands set up also listen to Mr Keane and regard what he says with some kudos which is disappointing.

Given the calibre of appointment that we have been blessed with, I hope Mr Keane will be as quick to congratulate and support John Delaney and the FAI as he was to ridicule in the last few weeks.

We have a chance for the first time in years to be positive, put the past behind us, put our faith in the FAI and Trapattoni or we can continue to p**s and moan and continue to fall into the black hole.

And thats the choice for every Irish person - including Roy Keane.

[brine3]

Roy Keane's views are paid far too much attention to.

Well that's just it, the man is entitled to his opinion. People don't have to pay attention to it if they want. Giles, Brady, Dunphy, hell, even the likes of McAteer make comments about the Irish setup every now and then. Nobody takes any notice. But when Keane says anything loads of people come out of the woodwork calling him a langer and spitting vitriol. You don't have to listen to him if you don't want to.

John Delaney knew that anything to do with Roy Keane is a headline grabber, so decided to dig up some old story about Keane mentioning that the FAI cut corners, to deflect from the whole O'Brien thing. He could have equally attacked Andy Townsend, another former Ireland captain who has made similar comments in the past, but he decided to go after Roy Keane, because that would maximise his media deflection.

[shakermaker1982]

Delaney comes out fighting......we have appointed somebody decent and he's on the offensive now if we ended up with El Tel we wouldn't see his mug till May. Last time I looked Sunderland were 14th in the PL - he's hardly 'failing' at the top level is he? Did people expect him to challenge for a European place in his first season?

I hope Keane comes back with a counter now just to p**s off the suits. Maybe he shouldn't answer every question that is thrown at him but I'm sure he'll learn, he is still a novice after all (one and a half seasons as a manager). If he answered with 'no comment' every time he was asked a question we'd all be crying out for managers with Mourinho's witty humour.

[NeilMcD]

Delaney comes out fighting......we have appointed somebody decent and he's on the offensive now if we ended up with El Tel we wouldn't see his mug till May. Last time I looked Sunderland were 14th in the PL - he's hardly 'failing' at the top level is he? Did people expect him to challenge for a European place in his first season?

I hope Keane comes back with a counter now just to p**s off the suits. Maybe he shouldn't answer every question that is thrown at him but I'm sure he'll learn, he is still a novice after all (one and a half seasons as a manager). If he answered with 'no comment' every time he was asked a question we'd all be crying out for managers with Mourinho's witty humour.

Keane wears suits a lot of the time I think, does that make him a suit. At the end of the day if Delaney said the same things about Sunderland I would expect Keane to come out fighting with comments and you know for sure he would. So those that are slagging Delaney over this should remember that, he was just defending his organisation against lies and slander.

[jmurphyc]

Well that's just it, the man is entitled to his opinion. People don't have to pay attention to it if they want. Giles, Brady, Dunphy, hell, even the likes of McAteer make comments about the Irish setup every now and then. Nobody takes any notice. But when Keane says anything loads of people come out of the woodwork calling him a langer and spitting vitriol. You don't have to listen to him if you don't want to.

John Delaney knew that anything to do with Roy Keane is a headline grabber, so decided to dig up some old story about Keane mentioning that the FAI cut corners, to deflect from the whole O'Brien thing. He could have equally attacked Andy Townsend, another former Ireland captain who has made similar comments in the past, but he decided to go after Roy Keane, because that would maximise his media deflection.

The problem is that Roy Keane knows that what he says is going to attract attention. I understand that it's not easy to just say no comment when a microphone is shoved in your face and knowing that if you don't talk about irrelevant things then you're going to have to talk about your team's poor record (up until recently). I can understand where Keane is coming from in a way, but he's asked questions that he has no idea about sometimes. It's just a shame that the media will grab onto anything he says and it makes back page news.

People seem to be throwing this back in Delaney's face. Do people expect him to just sit there and take (sometimes) unnecessary criticism when he's finally got something right?

[BigmanCas]

That's what made you turn on him???

No - After Brian Kerr's tenure - I began to have my reservations. I liked S Staunton and was willing to give him a chance. I don't know if you remember but going into the game in Bratislava we were unbeaten in six, having won five of them. We had just beaten Denmark 4-0 and I was confident that we could do it. When the bus was leaving the hotel for the pitch in Bratislava we were there cheering the lads on, when Delaney came out and before getting into a Merc behind a supporter started shouting abuse at him. I told the guy to calm down. He did. I was of the opinion that the Staunton era was getting started. Fast forward to the game that night. Stan leaves A Reid on the bench because the pitch would have been too heavy for him? Leaves S Ireland on the pitch when it was obvious that he should not have been (albeit - he scored) The introduction of Darren Gibson, Jonathan Douglas and the last minute equaliser was when I realised that it was a false dawn and it was not really Stans fault as he should not have been given the job in the first place. My mind wandered back to before the game. If I could have turned back the clocks I would have joined in with my fellow supporter giving Delaney abuse. I will see him again no doubt and I might give him a piece of my mind.

[jmurphyc]

No - After Brian Kerr's tenure - I began to have my reservations. I liked S Staunton and was willing to give him a chance. I don't know if you remember but going into the game in Bratislava we were unbeaten in six, having won five of them.

Sorry, I don't remember that. I thought we were unbeaten in 8 (5 competitive) and had won 5 of them (4 competitive).

If you supported Staunton at the beginning and up until that point, then I really don't think you can then turn around and blame Delaney. It would be like me saying that Delaney has made the right choice with Trapattoni and then if we fail to qualify blame it all on Delaney for getting then wrong man.

[NeilMcD]

S

If you supported Staunton at the beginning and up until that point, then I really don't think you can then turn around and blame Delaney. It would be like me saying that Delaney has made the right choice with Trapattoni and then if we fail to qualify blame it all on Delaney for getting then wrong man.

See this is the crux of the issue here, you hear so many people do this sort of thing. Fair play Jmurphy for pointing it out. With Stan I felt from the start he was a disaster and that Delaney was wrong to appoint him. With Trap I think its a great appointment no matter what happens the 3 man panel have done a good job on this.

[BigmanCas]

I liked S Staunton because he was a great servant to Irish soccer
I was willing to give him a chance because he was our national team manager.
He was never my number one. Get real boys....

[BigmanCas]

See this is the crux of the issue here, you hear so many people do this sort of thing. Fair play Jmurphy for pointing it out. With Stan I felt from the start he was a disaster and that Delaney was wrong to appoint him. With Trap I think its a great appointment no matter what happens the 3 man panel have done a good job on this.

What if we don't qualify will it still be a great appointment?
You can only judge on results. Stan was in with a chance of qualifing before the game in Bratislava. Simple as that.......

[shakermaker1982]

Keane wears suits a lot of the time I think, does that make him a suit. At the end of the day if Delaney said the same things about Sunderland I would expect Keane to come out fighting with comments and you know for sure he would. So those that are slagging Delaney over this should remember that, he was just defending his organisation against lies and slander.

To be a proper 'suit' you have to wear it for at least 35 hours a week. Keane's only in it for the 90 minutes and the post match interviews.

Keane's Irish and I'd say he is a fan of the national side - he has an opinion on the process just like everybody on foot.ie, Dunphy, Giles, O'Leary etc etc.

[jmurphyc]

What if we don't qualify will it still be a great appointment?
You can only judge on results. Stan was in with a chance of qualifing before the game in Bratislava. Simple as that.......

If we don't qualify it will still have been a great appointment (at the time). You say you can only judge on results; you can only judge a manager on results. JD can only be judged on the appointment. It's not fair to judge him on results unless you're not behind the manager from the start.

[Manc Irish Wolf]

Totally agree with Delaney. As I much as I love Keane - Ireland are more important. His continual point-scoring is petty and damaging to the team. He should get on with his own affairs.

Slagging off the FAI is one thing, however when he completely dismissed the prospects of our U21 side publically - young aspiring reserve/championship players who need confidence instilled from an Irish role-model, rather than detrimental negativity - he was bang out of order and needs a taste of his own medicine. He continually talks up his own players such as Miller and Stokes (the latter being the least effective player on the pitch against England recently, when surrounded by lads with a supposed limited future) and seems (as maybe he always has been) interested in his own business, at the expense of Irelands.

[deadman]

Another nothing story.

I heard the interview and JDs remarks were quite casual and flippant -almost jovial if you can imagine the clown being jovial.

The RTE report, which doesn't tell you these "Harsh words" were spoken in an interview with the utterly clueless Marian Finucane deliberately spins it like he's issued a press statement or something.

how naive do you think delaney is??? ... he may come across as a bumbling fool ... but he knows as well as anyone how the game works ...

this was a calculated and well thought out move by the man ... emboldened by the events of last week. he knew exactly how this story would unfold ... no matter how casual he sounded