THE THINGS ROY SAID
Dec 5 2008 by Luke Edwards, The Journal
ROY Keane’s Press conferences have arguably been more entertaining than Sunderland’s football matches during his 28 months as manager. Luke Edwards takes a look at Keane’s unique view of the world.
On the state of the Premier League
“It’s sad. The big three or four will just get bigger and move further from the other teams. These clubs will continue to get into Europe and that will increase their resources, but that’s the vicious circle we’re in these days. That’s where the game has lost its soul.
“I don’t think the Premier League has the strength in depth that it had four or five years ago. It’s a tough league, but I still think it used to be more competitive. That’s sad for me, but I don’t see it changing.”
On Fifa vice-president Jack Warner during a row regarding Kenwyne Jones’ fitness
“The man is a clown. The word ‘clown’ just suits him. You’ve been to the circus, you’ve laughed at clowns. They’re not doing anything, but you laugh at them – so I’m laughing at him.”
On greedy players
“Maybe they’ve had it too easy, perhaps the clubs have been too quick in giving out good contracts. No one could begrudge the top players getting a few bob, but when you see average players getting a fortune and driving the big cars, people start to ask questions. I was at Nottingham Forest for three years and I wouldn’t have dreamed of asking Brian Clough for a pay rise. He would have knocked me out, he would have said ‘who do you think you are?’ Nowadays, a player has six games and their agent is on the phone.”
On wives and girlfriends
“If a player doesn’t want to come to Sunderland then all well and good. But if it is because his wife wants to go shopping in London, then it’s a sad state of affairs. It tells me the player is weak and his wife runs his life. The idea of women running the show concerns me and worries me, but the players we’re talking about are soft.”
On the Republic of Ireland’s selection policy
“What’s holding back Liam Miller is the fact he’s from Cork. People think I’m crazy but that will definitely go against him. They don’t know the FAI as well as I do. If he was from further up the country, I’m pretty sure he would be in the squad. It happened to me when I was 17, 18 years of age, being in Irish squads but not getting a game, while lads a year younger got on. The lads who got on in front of me were from Dublin and the manager that night was from Dublin. I know Steve Staunton isn’t from Dublin but a lot of the FAI are.”
On going to church
“My ways of switching off are going to the pictures, going to mass, walking the dogs or going for a bite to eat with the wife.
“Sunday morning generally I always go to Mass. When you win it’s to thank Him. If you’ve lost you say, ‘Give us a result,’ and put an extra 20 quid in the collection tray.”
On Sky Television pundits
“I wouldn’t listen to these people in the pub, and yet they’re on television constantly, ex-players, ex-referees getting interviewed giving out their opinions....They’re brain-washing people. People say it’s good for the game, it’s not good for the game, interviewing people about Arsene Wenger after everything that man’s done for English football... I wouldn’t trust these people to walk my dog.”
On his friends in football
“I don’t do friends.”
