Given and Keane

**Fixer82** · 05/12/2009, 3:00 PM

What is the story here? Is there some sort of history or bad blood? Given mentioned in passing in today's Herald: 'maybe he has something against me'.
Always thought they got on but I remember Roy having a pop at him before for getting too many caps. He seems to be looking for excuses to have a go at Ireland's greatest ever keeper....

**EastTerracer** · 05/12/2009, 3:04 PM

Originally Posted by Fixer82

What is the story here? Is there some sort of history or bad blood? Given mentioned in passing in today's Herald: 'maybe he has something against me'.
Always thought they got on but I remember Roy having a pop at him before for getting too many caps. He seems to be looking for excuses to have a go at Ireland's greatest ever keeper....

AFAIK they have not talked since Saipan. They never shook hands with each other when Newcastle played Manchester after 2002. When RK returned to the squad under Kerr I suspect Given was one of the senior players that needed some persuading.

There were a few rumours over the years that Fergie might try to sign Shay but that the presence of RK made that unlikely.

**dan o d** · 05/12/2009, 3:05 PM

it goes back to saipan doesnt it? remember keano having a go at the goalies and packie bonner for being too tired to participate in a training match

**Fixer82** · 05/12/2009, 3:08 PM

yeah but surely it's not still festering on after a training ground row. I remember Tom Humphries writing something about Shay playing a gift grub tape of Roy on the team bus and Roy getting a kick out of it. Led me to believe they got on

**centre mid** · 05/12/2009, 3:10 PM

Keane is just a bitter cnut, Given is a superb goalkeeper.

**rambler14** · 05/12/2009, 3:13 PM

This all goes back to Saipan and the incident on the traning ground with the 5 a side games and also Keane came out a few years ago and criticised the FAI and Given for his constant playing in friendlies and not giving other keepers a chance.

**tetsujin1979** · 05/12/2009, 3:15 PM

Supposed to be because the keepers didn't play in the games at training in Saipan. They had separate training sessions to the outfield players, and had already warmed down when the game at the end of training for the outfield players had started.
Keane lost the rag about this at the time, someone texted into Off The Ball this week about it when they asked the same question.

**geysir** · 05/12/2009, 4:01 PM

That must be all a load of nonsense as Roy does not hold grudges against players who stand up to him. He is a forgive and forget type guy who moves on in life.

**tetsujin1979** · 05/12/2009, 5:45 PM

Originally Posted by geysir

That must be all a load of nonsense as Roy does not hold grudges against players who stand up to him. He is a forgive and forget type guy who moves on in life.

either you're taking the complete p!ss or you've never heard of Alf Inge Haaland

**tiktok** · 05/12/2009, 5:57 PM

Originally Posted by centre mid

Keane is just a bitter cnut, Given is a superb goalkeeper.

Comparing Keane's personality and Given's talent?
In the interest of fairness it's also true that Keane was a great footballer and anyway, Given is far from Mr.Nice.

**Stuttgart88** · 05/12/2009, 6:08 PM

Originally Posted by tetsujin1979

either you're taking the complete p!ss or you've never heard of Alf Inge Haaland

I think you missed the sarcasm Tets.

**bishbash** · 05/12/2009, 6:50 PM

Originally Posted by tiktok

Comparing Keane's personality and Given's talent?
In the interest of fairness it's also true that Keane was a great footballer and anyway, Given is far from Mr.Nice.

keane's ability will never be questioned as the greatest irish footballer. but to ay he has turned into a complete d*#k is an undertatement its gone to the stage that when he is being interviewed you turn the tv down. before people loved to hear what he has to say now all he does is say things to be controversial. i dont care if he and given punched the heads off each other all he is doing is embarrassing himself when he talks about given.

**Stuttgart88** · 05/12/2009, 7:22 PM

In fairness to Keane, hasn't he apologised or at least toned down his remarks since?

**irishultra** · 05/12/2009, 7:24 PM

Originally Posted by tiktok

Comparing Keane's personality and Given's talent?
In the interest of fairness it's also true that Keane was a great footballer and anyway, Given is far from Mr.Nice.

yeah he's a real jerk

NOT

when i was 8 and living in belgium i wrote him a letter saying how he was my idol(i played goalie), about 2 months later i arrived home from school to see my mom waving a package addressed to me. in it was a personal letter from shay and a pair of gloves signed by him.

**Stuttgart88** · 05/12/2009, 7:27 PM

Originally Posted by irishultra

yeah he's a real jerk

NOT

when i was 8 and living in belgium i wrote him a letter saying how he was my idol(i played goalie), about 2 months later i arrived home from school to see my mom waving a package addressed to me. in it was a personal letter from shay and a pair of gloves signed by him.

That's something else alright.

I know little about his private persona but by all accounts he was great with Irish students in Newcastle and his public persona is one of an intelligent, polite and measured individual.

**FrOsTy** · 05/12/2009, 7:35 PM

I'd tend to slightly agree with Keano.he

I'm no Roy Keane fan myself but he has a bit of a point.

I read an article in the paper the other day with Nicky Colgan and he was saying that Shay should step aside for the smaller friendlies and let the other lads have a chance becuase what happens if Shay get injured/suspended/retires we don't know what our backup is like and the back up won't be experienced.

**irishultra** · 05/12/2009, 7:41 PM

ah so shay given the irish soccer equivelent of Paul Levesque?

*any wrestling fans here

*

**tiktok** · 05/12/2009, 7:41 PM

Originally Posted by irishultra

yeah he's a real jerk

NOT

when i was 8 and living in belgium i wrote him a letter saying how he was my idol, about 2 months later i arrived home from school to see my mom waving a package addressed to me. in it was a personal letter from shay and a pair of gloves signed by him.

So what?
I know loads that have similar stories about Roy Keane.

Given is as driven and ruthless as they come. I've no particular problem with that, he's worked hard to get where he is, he's burned a few bridges on his way. But if this is going to turn into some good guy -v- bad guy nonsense comparing him to Keane, I'm not going to buy into 'butter wouldn't melt in his mouth' crap.

**jackaroo** · 05/12/2009, 7:48 PM

Can u give examples of Given burning peoples bridges before?

**Scram** · 05/12/2009, 7:55 PM

Originally Posted by Fixer82

What is the story here? Is there some sort of history or bad blood? Given mentioned in passing in today's Herald: 'maybe he has something against me'.
Always thought they got on but I remember Roy having a pop at him before for getting too many caps. He seems to be looking for excuses to have a go at Ireland's greatest ever keeper....

You are looking for "reason" from an immature attention seeking meglomaniac like Keane? He is unbelievably bitter and twisted and I feel for his family.

Shay Given is his exact opposite, a genteleman, an Irish and Newcastle legend and hopefully more to come. Keane left EVERY job he had on bitter terms with either someone or everyone, probably more to come there as well!