What Roy thinks

[beautifulrock]

Some detail of the press conf from the RTE website, intesting to hear his thoughts:

Roy Keane is delighted with the increased ambition that has instilled itself in the Ireland camp since his self-imposed two-year exile.

Keane's infamous bust-up with former Ireland manager Mick McCarthy is well documented, and played a considerable role in his decision to walk out on the squad shortly before the start of the 2002 World Cup.

But by that stage, Keane had also become increasingly disillusioned with what he saw as the clear lack of ambition beyond merely qualifying for the tournament behind the scenes.

One particular occasion during the qualifying campaign summed it all up for Keane, and it came after the 2-2 draw with Holland in Amsterdam. It was a match Ireland led 2-0 at one stage, only to be pegged back, yet come the final whistle a jubilant McCarthy hugged and kissed his players as if they had won, before later proclaiming it to be a brilliant point.

Those scenes weren't repeated at the Stade de France last Saturday and Keane is all the happier for it.

"We've done that before when we've got a half-decent result. But a lot has changed under Brian and his staff, even with the players' ambitions. I sense that in the camp. I felt before, that when we did qualify, that seemed to be the end of it, with people celebrating and relaxing too much. But the ambitions are a lot higher than they used to be - thank God."

Keane added: "After the game against France there was satisfaction, but we know there's a long way to go yet. We've been down this road many times before and that there are going to be ups and downs. We need to be ready for that, and if there are setbacks, then it's how you recover from them. On one hand it was a decent result, but let's not get carried away. There's a long way to go yet, but things have definitely changed here."

[Adrianovic]

I think Roy's changed as well, who would have thought he'd struggle to get himself fit for a home tie against the Faroe Islands?

Ade

[brine3]

Keane's infamous bust-up with former Ireland manager Mick McCarthy is well documented, and played a considerable role in his decision to walk out on the squad shortly before the start of the 2002 World Cup.

He didn't walk out. He was sent home. "I've sent him home," is precisely what Mick said.

Whatever your opinions on the subject, I wish the journalists would at least get the basic facts right. Inaccuracies and fabrications (from both sides) aren't going to get any of us anywhere.

[thejollyrodger]

I wish Sky Sports would get it right....

"........Ireland face Poland in a crucial WCQ tomorrow..."

"....a press conference with the irealnd captain Roy Keane"