QuoteSurprisingly good article from Cascarino.
Keane becoming a benchmark
By Tony Cascarino
YOU START TO wonder if Robbie Keane will ever hold down a first-team place at a top club. It’s a strange question because he’s a highly talented 25-year-old who is Ireland’s record goalscorer and has commanded £38 million in transfer fees in his career already. And I had a strange reaction when I watched him come on and score the winner for Tottenham Hotspur against Charlton Athletic on Saturday: Robbie, you can’t keep doing this.
Let me explain. Before one Ireland game, we held the usual team meeting. Niall Quinn was injured. I was thinking: “Bad for Quinny, but great for me. I’m certain to come back in.” Jack Charlton went through the team and I wasn’t in it. One or two of the players asked him: “Why not start Cas?” Jack was dead against the idea. “I don’t want to do that — he can win us games coming off the bench,” he said. I was put out, so I approached him and said: “I’m not being funny, but me for Quinny seems a perfect switch.” Jack’s response was flattering and insulting. “Every time I play you off the bench you’re brilliant. You change games and cause problems,” he said. “When I start you, you’re crap.”
After that I knew I had a big problem. The die was cast — I had become a 20-minute man, a supersub. I hated it. The lads would take the mickey because I would do my warm-up exercises in front of Jack during games to remind him that I was there, ready, willing and able. Weird, though: even if my mind never accepted substitute life, my body did. At Chelsea and Celtic, where I was in and out of the team, I became physically suited to life as a sub. I would be energetic and lively when I came on, but when I did start the odd game, I was soon knackered.
My fitness had dropped. I was like a boxer who could last only three rounds. It was a vicious circle. Playing for 20 minutes meant I played badly whenever I played 90, which meant I would soon be back to playing for 20 minutes again. I saw Robbie start for Ireland against France last month and he was lacking sharpness. I attribute that to an absence of full-match fitness. Even though you train all week, it makes a huge difference if you don’t play much come the weekend.
At the age of 31, I turned my career around. Fear and anger did it. Fear that I would drop down the divisions and fade away, anger that everyone saw me as a supersub, a bit-part player, when I wanted to be much more. So I devised my own training regime: working alone in a park, doing exercises to simulate playing for 90 minutes, recovering my focus and stamina.
I never won over Jack Charlton. He preferred to start Niall. We developed a standing joke just before matches: as Quinny was about to take the field, I’d say: “See you at twenty past four.” I came on for him so often that after the qualifiers for the 1994 World Cup finals, under our bonus scheme I was entitled to the same amount of money as the lads who’d played 90 minutes of every game. Much to their amusement or, possibly, bemusement.
More important than convincing Jack, I proved a point to myself. The final seven years of my career in France, I started week in, week out. Robbie has done so well off the bench, I wonder if Martin Jol would want to sell him. But before long — three months, maybe six, no more — Robbie will be at a crossroads. Satisfaction at being a 20-minute success story does not quell the burning frustration at being a spectator for the other 70 minutes.
But the energising rage I felt, the emotion he must feel, does not last indefinitely. Either it burns out and you accept your lot, or you do something to change it. In Robbie’s case, that may mean a move away from White Hart Lane. In mine, it was a summer of sweat in that park that transformed my career. There are few things of which I’m prouder.
Surprisingly good article from Cascarino.
Surely the topic should read "Cascarino article on Tony Cascarino"? Just like every other article from the Hunter S. Thompson of Irish soccer. I firmly believe that there is no subject that Cascarino could write about without relating the whole thing to himself.
SIGNATURESCOPE
Originally Posted by Jerry The Saint
Brilliant, nicely put Jerry!
Cork City: Making 'Dream Team' seem realistic since 2007.
Ha. Thats true.
Always take the time to read him in Hot Press anyway.
Although he's just constantly repeating the same crap on EA Sports Talk Radio.
City definetly have the best bands playing at half-time.
O'Bama - "Eerah yeah, I'd say we can alright!"
G.O'Mahoney Trapattoni'll sort ém out!!
So what. He still made some good points about the situation Robbie finds himself in now. He won't be doing himself any favours by staying at Spurs a moment longer than he has too.
"I'd rather play in front of a full house than an empty crowd" Johnny Giles
Cascarino isn't a bad writer and had a column (not sure if he still does) in the sports section of The Times on a Monday for a long time. As pointed out, however, nearly all the articles end up relating to his own experiences in the game. Interesting nonetheless
He writes a better game than he talks. Tony has a special place in my heart though. I only recall starting one chant that went round to all the other Irish supporters. That was in Anfield in the play-off game (Jack's last match in charge) against Holland and Cascarino was the first out on the pitch after the half time break. I went "Tony Cas-carinooooooooo" and the crowd took it up. Still have it on the video at home
Great goal against England as well at Lansdowne. Jack only started preferring him to Quinn after Niall's goal against Holland in Italia 90 - prior to that he was ahead of Quinn in the pecking order.
Prior to Ireland playing England in Stuttgart . . . tempers they began to rise, patience wearing thin. Jack wanted Cascarino but Jockser wanted Quinn.
"Love many, trust few, always paddle your own canoe." Dillo
Always take the time to read him in Hot Press anyway.
Jayzuz, is that rag still going. Tell me the fellah with the perm and the smokey glasses isn't still dispensing "the Message" ???
It was in the year of '88 in the lovely month of JunePrior to Ireland playing England in Stuttgart . . . tempers they began to rise, patience wearing thin. Jack wanted Cascarino but Jockser wanted Quinn.
When the gadflies were swarming and dogs howling at the moon
With rosary beads and sandwiches for Stuttgart we began
Joxer packed his German phrasebook and jumpleads for the van.
Some of the lads had never been away from home before
'Twas the first time Whacker put his foot outside of Inchicore
Before we left for Europe we knew we'd need a plan
So we all agreed that Joxer was the man to drive the van.
In Germany the autobahn, 'twas like the Long Mile Road
There was every make of car and van all carrying the full load
Ford Transits and Hiaces and an old Bedford from Tralee
With the engine overheating from longhauling duty free.
There was fans from Ballygermot, Ballybough and Ballymun
On the journey of a lifetime, and the crack was ninety-one
Joxer met a German's daughter on the banks of the river Rhine
And he told her she'd be welcome in Ballyfermot any time.
As soon as we found Stuttgart we got the wagons in a ring
Sean Og got out the banjo and Peter played the mandolin
There was fans there from everywhere attracted by the sound
At the first Fleadh Ceoil in Europe, and Joxer passed the flagon round.
But the session it ended when we'd finished all the stout
The air mattresses inflated and the sleeping bags rolled out
As one by one we fell asleep Joxer had a dream
He dreamt himself and Jack Charlton sat down to pick the team.
Joxer dreamt they both agreed on Packie Bonner straightaway
And that Moran, Whelan and McGrath were certainly to play
But tempers they began to rise and patience wearing thin
Jack wanted Cascarino but Joxer wanted Quinn.
The dream turned into a nightmare, Joxer stuck the head on Jack
Who wanted to bring Johnny Giles and Eamon Dunphy back
The **** crew in the morning, it crew both loud and shrill
Joxer woke up in his sleeping bag many miles from Arbour Hill.
The next morning none of the experts gave us the slightest chance
They said the English team would lead us on a merry dance
With their Union Jacks all them English fans for victory they were set
Until Ray Houghton got the ball and he stuck it in the net.
What happened next is history, brought tears to many eyes
That day will be the highlight of many people's lives
Joxer climbed right over the top and the last time he was seen
Was arm in arm with Jack Charlton singing, Revenge for Skibereen.
Now Whacker's back in Inchicore, he's living with his mam
And Jack Charlton has been proclaimed an honorary Irishman
Do you remember that German's daughter on the banks of the river Rhine
Well, didn't she show up in Ballyfermot last week and ...
-----------------------------------------------------
Happy days - dare we hope to repeat them in 2006 ?
I get the impression every time I read a Cascarino article (invariably against my better judgement) that he's dictating down the phone to a staff writer who tarts it up, corrects the attrocious grammar (and sneaks a few uncorrected bits in for "warmth and authenticity") and generally tries to make sense of the garbled, nonsensical Sky Sports-esque reportáge he comes out with.Cascarino isn't a bad writer and had a column (not sure if he still does) in the sports section of The Times on a Monday for a long time. As pointed out, however, nearly all the articles end up relating to his own experiences in the game. Interesting nonetheless
He writes a better game than he talks. Tony has a special place in my heart though. I only recall starting one chant that went round to all the other Irish supporters. That was in Anfield in the play-off game (Jack's last match in charge) against Holland and Cascarino was the first out on the pitch after the half time break. I went "Tony Cas-carinooooooooo" and the crowd took it up. Still have it on the video at home
Great goal against England as well at Lansdowne. Jack only started preferring him to Quinn after Niall's goal against Holland in Italia 90 - prior to that he was ahead of Quinn in the pecking order.
I am so sick to fcuk of reading his "back when we was wiv the squad" irrelevant reflections on jack**** of any meaning.
" I wish to God that someone would be able to block out the voices in my head for five minutes, the voices that scream, over and over again: "Why do they come to me to die?"
Ok point here. The whole point of Cascarino's article was that he understands what it is like to be an impact sub and that it will do Robbie Keane's club career no favours. By relating it to his OWN situation meant Tony could talk with some authority about Robbie's. Alles klar?
Fair enough, but I think he's gone too far with these week's article on the National Ploughing Championships - something about how he had to "plough a lonely furrow" up front during his Millwall days whenever Teddy Sheringham was injured...
SIGNATURESCOPE
LOL
There is no such thing as a miracle cure, a free lunch or a humble opinion.
Cas was on the last word and wasnt backing Kerr thats for sure. He basically said that Kerr has made too many mistakes over the qualifying campagin and he substitutions were awful. He gave out about Kerr's over analytical approach to the game and his approach of telling to much information about the opposition. Instead of imposing our style of play on the game.
Maybe cas has some points but every manager Ireland had was far from perfect. The next two games will really define Kerr's regime but I still back him (even after the scum bag act he did to us)
Posting Permissions
Bookmarks