I will not tolerate 'idiot fans' - Keane

Sep 25 2008 by Luke Edwards, The Journal

ROY Keane has warned Sunderland’s supporters he will not tolerate the personal abuse directed at him during the drab Carling Cup win over Northampton Town – even though he understands how they feel.

Keane did not hold back in his own criticism of the players who struggled to dispatch the League One side following a penalty shoot-out victory, but he also took a swipe at some of the club’s supporters in the process. Having fallen two goals behind against Northampton, the crowd’s mood turned ugly and Keane, as well as the players, were targeted verbally from the stands.

Keane obviously heard some of the choice words used about him and the Irishman has retaliated as he labelled some Sunderland followers “idiots”.

“The abuse of one or two supporters, that is something I won’t tolerate,” said Keane, who has warned his under-performing fringe players their careers at the Stadium of Light may well be over.

“Some people were targeting me, yeah. I’m not going to go into it, but again, that’s something I’ve not come into the job to accept. I appreciate criticism, constructive criticism which I’m going to receive. Trust me, my biggest critic is myself.

“I thought they (the fans) were poor. Towards the end booing, half-time booing, when there was plenty time left in the game. I have no problem with fans expressing their opinions, that’s all well and good.

“But one or two fans towards the end, pretty much towards myself, with five minutes to go – the abuse, I know it is part of football, don’t get

me wrong, but that is something I won’t tolerate. I heard enough of people complaining. I won’t tolerate people abusing me.

“Listen in football, everyone has short memories. There was one, some idiot about three or four weeks ago, so you remember these things you know. You shouldn’t because we’ve got some bloody brilliant supporters, but we always remember the idiots.”

Keane has a point. While the performance against Northampton was sub-standard, the Black Cats have come a long way in the two years he has been in charge and upsetting him at a time when he has just opened talks about extending his contract is foolish.

Yet, at the same time, Keane admitted he too was incensed by the team’s display and has indicated that some have had their last chance at the club.

He said: “Again I got my team wrong definitely. I should have gone with one or two younger players, but I can do that in the next round.

“Certain players were given a chance and they throw it back in your face. That’s what happens. Overall, I had a bad feeling, a bad night.

International players came on and there were internationals on the bench. They had the chance and some of them did not take it. In a sense it is all part of my learning experience. I was looking over at the reserves and saw young Jordan (Henderson) and Jack (Colback).

“I saw them before the game and thought ‘maybe I could give these two a chance’. But you know, when I watch those, at least they’re running, they’re sprinting and tackling. They want to make a career at Sunderland.

“There are big question marks over lots of people at this moment in time. I’ll address it, don’t worry. I hope my team is a reflection on myself, but those players automatically thought they were going to win a game of football.”

And even the fact the Wearsiders are in the hat for the fourth round of the competition was not enough to placate Keane.

He added: “I think everyone just thought, players and supporters that we were just going to win the game without trying. We’re not bloody Real Madrid when we can produce one bit of magic. It should have backfired a bit more. How we’re in the next, round, I’ll never, never know.”

Meanwhile, Keane could be heading for another row with the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation over midfielder Dwight Yorke.

The 36-year-old has been called up by his country, along with club-mate Carlos Edwards, for a friendly and two World Cup qualifiers next month. Keane and FIFA vice-president Jack Warner, a special advisor to the T&TFF, locked horns earlier this month after Yorke was recalled from international duty following his country’s 1-1 draw with Guatemala, but before a 3-0 defeat by the United States.