THEY’RE TWO OF the best players we’ve ever produced, but there’s no loved lost between Liam Brady and Roy Keane, it seems.
At least, as far as Chippy’s concerned.
The former Arsenal and Juventus playmaker appeared as the main interview guest on last night’s Second Captains episode. It was a really interesting chat in which the Dubliner touched on his move to Arsenal, playing Gaelic football, a move to Turin and the end of his Ireland career.
And then this happened:
Asked, as normal with the marquee guest, for his input to the Good Wall, Brady was quick to relegate Keane from the top 10, introducing RTÉ colleague John Giles.
“I’ll stick him in at 10 and I’ll take the fella from Cork out,” he deadpanned.
Asked by host Eoin McDevitt if Martin O’Neill’s assistant boss wasn’t deserving of his place on the wall, Brady replied: “Well as a Manchester United player, probably yes but as an Irish player, no.”
And to add insult to injury for Leeside sports fans, Brady then dropped Ronan O’Gara down the pecking order in favour of his former Boys In Green team-mate Paul McGrath.
Baloucoune for me is one of the most underrated young talents in the country, if he played for Leinster there’d probably be a lot more hype about him but every time I’ve watched him he’s been exceptional ( apart from when he should have been red carded v munster). He’s physically very well able and has decent speed but probably the most impressive thing about him is his ability to do the little things right all of the time. You rarely see him make mistakes. Sorry to see him injured, it could have been a good 12 months for him with Ireland but he’ll be back, I’ve no doubt about that. Hope he mends quickly.
@Jim Demps: right, now that Jim has his jab at Leinster out of the way, why don’t we all just not respond to him lest ANOTHER 42 thread becomes a mudsling-fest (the very kind Jim SWEARS he hates)?
@omgraham: agreed, 3 articles, none about Leinster, Jim fits in a dig about Leinster on each, on form today! … Baloucoune was called into the 6 nations squad , Is that enough recognition for you Jim?
@Dennis Reynolds: it’s his own Dennis system:
D: Demonstrate value with knowledge of the game
E: Engage with every article written about rugby
N: Nurture the idea that he is unbiased by sometimes complimenting Leinster players (I have witnessed this phenomenon)
N: Neglect reasoning to take a pop at Leinster at every given opportunity, thus bringing out the worst of the 42
I: Inspire hope by announcing you’re leaving the hell hole you’ve created to discuss rugby like an adult in a WhatsApp group
S: Seperate from said group to make a dramatic comeback, as sour and transparent as ever
@Dennis Reynolds: A bit like the Leinster fans who continuously cut Munster on the Munster articles and mention how great Leinster are. I’ve not seen you criticise them or is that different?
Really disappointing for Robert. Hope he come back stronger. Lucky we have good depth out wide.
Similar to Paul O’Connell it seems, in how it happened. Hopefully nothing near as bad
@Gareth Ward: Hope it’s not. Because of his age chances are he might make a full recovery and hopefully he does
Shame for him and Ulster as he is a big time player who has already established himself as someone with that match winning X factor quality.
Ulster don’t have the strength in depth and can ill afford to be missing players of his ability.
At least he has age on his side and that hopefully will lead to a full and speedy recovery
The 42 should stop with the injuries stories today.
@Chris Mc: Pretty bad news day all round isnt it