Definitely an interesting read. On paper Clegg definitely seems like he would have been a great addition to the back room team, but the timing would have been very odd.
If you’re McCarthy and have just guided a squad to the World Cup, are you bringing in a complete unknown person to your back room team just weeks before a major event like this? If you’ve got good squad morale/a good dynamic, I wouldn’t be doing any unnecessary tinkering with an unknown person that close to a World Cup.
So one surely would expect Keane also to have advised Brian Kerr to bring Clegg on board.
Folding my way into the big money!!!
Do we know when Keane approached Mick to include Clegg? If it was in early May, with all the plans already in place, then it's unreasonable
If it was in January, when the plans were being put together then it was probably worth a look
On the other hand, Mick had been in the job for six years at this stage, and knew and trusted his team.
McCarthy had to reject such an idea. How could he do otherwise? It was a ridiculous proposal given the circumstances. If Keane believed Clegg could make a big difference he surely would have proposed the same idea to Kerr. I doubt he ever did - Kerr would have done anything to get Keane back.
Keane's response would have been nuclear had such a late-late proposal been thrown at him at Sunderland, Ipswich, Villa or Ireland.
one of the criticisms of our Euro 2012 finals preparation was that the players were flogged to death in the few weeks before the tournament and we suffered as a result.
not sure what difference this lad would have made between the end on the EPL season and start of the WC. remember the wc started in late may in 2002.
surely his kind of fitness work is something you mainly do pre-season?
Yeah, I've read numerous footballers talking about training come May being mostly light ball work and tactical stuff, especially if they've a busy run-in. The running up mountains stuff is for pre-season. That said, there's probably a good deal a top fitness coach knows about the right trade-off. If you go too far the other way, or say have a few weeks without any matches at the end of a season, there's presumably a drop-off in performance. Hitting that sweet spot where you keep the players at peak performance for the tournament is maybe harder than you'd think. It may even require personalised training depending on the player.
You can't spell failure without FAI
I would say Keane is a controlling lunatic
Anything to interfere and gain levels of control. He attacked the man u ( no 2) Portuguese guy. Because he wasn't happy with the villa his family were. provided with for pre season in Portugal.
But I agree Keane is a difficult character and possibly a control freak. His United team mates all seem to have respected him and got on fine with him though. And looked up to him
https://variety.com/2024/film/global...ne-1236086199/
I daresay they'll try to stick to portraying what really happened, but I'd prefer if they went back to the old Hollywood ways and applied a bit of creative licence to historical events, for increased dramatic effect etc.
I'm thinking of the, er, "interpretation" where Keane tells Mick that he's nor even Irish and Mick turns round, beats the living **** out of him, then casually remarks: "Carsley, you're playing central midfield now" in a low, Clint Eastwood-style growl.
That was my point.
Meanwhile, fine actor as he is, I'm not sure Steve Coogan is the best man for to play Big Mick - at least unless he's prepared to have his nose broken for authenticity.
Personally, I'd have cast Liam Neeson instead, with the part of Keane played by Warwick Davis, being instructed to use a really bad Cork accent in a very girly, high-pitched tone.
Would also need to find a place for Gary Neville somehow, on the basis of his unerring ability to laugh uproariously like it's the funniest thing he has EVER heard at even the mildest of Keane's quips.
I for one can’t wait to see this cinematic portrayal of a much underreported and under-investigated event in modern Irish history.
The real casting decision I'm waiting on is Triggs. I heard they're trying to get Ryan Reynolds.
You can't spell failure without FAI
Interesting to see how they do it.
Clinton Morrison said he made the 'English cnut' remark, Quinn said he never said it.
McCarthy also said in interview with Dunphy that he did ask Roy to come back and Roy said 'no'
Folding my way into the big money!!!
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