ROY KEANE IS ADAMANT that Martin O’Neill is still the right man for the Ireland job.
The 1-1 draw with Scotland earlier this month has left the Boys in Green’s hopes of qualifying for next summer’s Euro 2016 finals in France hanging by a thread.
Having signed two-year deals back in November 2013, the futures of O’Neill and Keane will come under the spotlight if Ireland fail in their bid to make the first ever 24-team tournament.
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And Keane, speaking at the Olympia Theatre last night at an event in aid of Barretstown, weighed in behind his number one, insisting the Derryman will prove a success if he is given adequate time.
“I still think we are in there fighting,” Keane said. “Martin O’Neill is a bloody good man. I’ve been involved in the game 20-odd years and it is full of bluffers, who will tell you lies and talk crap after games.
“Martin is a good guy, a top, top manager and I love working with him. Before anyone says ‘you’ve got to win matches’, we’re not daft. We live in the real world, we’re winners and Martin has had success before. And he will bring success to Ireland but he has got to be given a chance.
Nobody has any patience and I can be as bad as anybody. With the Irish media at the moment, I can’t put my finger on it but there is that negativity with the group of players.
“I think we’ve lost one in the last eight or nine games. We’re nearly a decent team and we just need a bit of luck, one or two young players to come in, and Robbie (Keane) firing on all cylinders.
“It was the same when I was a player, when you turn up to play for Ireland you need you top players at it or we’re going to struggle. Will we qualify? Please God, we’ll do our best. That’s all we can do.”
Whatever the future holds, the former Sunderland and Ipswich Town boss remains eager to return to club management one day.
“I’m really enjoying my time with Ireland at the moment but things might change in the next few months, depending on results,” he added. “But I see myself getting back into club management in the next few years.
“I’ve been given a bad reputation because of Ipswich but I still think that wasn’t as bad as people make out. But I’m bound to say that I suppose.”
'Football is full of bluffers who will tell you lies and talk crap' - Keane
ROY KEANE IS ADAMANT that Martin O’Neill is still the right man for the Ireland job.
The 1-1 draw with Scotland earlier this month has left the Boys in Green’s hopes of qualifying for next summer’s Euro 2016 finals in France hanging by a thread.
Having signed two-year deals back in November 2013, the futures of O’Neill and Keane will come under the spotlight if Ireland fail in their bid to make the first ever 24-team tournament.
And Keane, speaking at the Olympia Theatre last night at an event in aid of Barretstown, weighed in behind his number one, insisting the Derryman will prove a success if he is given adequate time.
“I still think we are in there fighting,” Keane said. “Martin O’Neill is a bloody good man. I’ve been involved in the game 20-odd years and it is full of bluffers, who will tell you lies and talk crap after games.
“Martin is a good guy, a top, top manager and I love working with him. Before anyone says ‘you’ve got to win matches’, we’re not daft. We live in the real world, we’re winners and Martin has had success before. And he will bring success to Ireland but he has got to be given a chance.
“I think we’ve lost one in the last eight or nine games. We’re nearly a decent team and we just need a bit of luck, one or two young players to come in, and Robbie (Keane) firing on all cylinders.
“It was the same when I was a player, when you turn up to play for Ireland you need you top players at it or we’re going to struggle. Will we qualify? Please God, we’ll do our best. That’s all we can do.”
Whatever the future holds, the former Sunderland and Ipswich Town boss remains eager to return to club management one day.
“I’m really enjoying my time with Ireland at the moment but things might change in the next few months, depending on results,” he added. “But I see myself getting back into club management in the next few years.
“I’ve been given a bad reputation because of Ipswich but I still think that wasn’t as bad as people make out. But I’m bound to say that I suppose.”
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Euro 2016 Qualifiers gotta have faith Martin O'Neill Roy Keane teamireland