Keane turns fire on the WAGs

[Snookie]

He's quickly turning into my second favourite manager (whatever that means)...

 

From the Times:

 

Roy Keane has issued a withering attack on football’s obsession with celebrity and the WAG culture that breeds “soft, weak” players. In an echo of his infamous “prawn sandwich” diatribe against corporate supporters, the Sunderland manager turned on the growing number of players who are more concerned with cash, photo shoots and shops than sporting glory.

 

As Manchester United captain, Keane, one of the game’s genuine hard-men, was unabashed about criticising team-mates who “lost the hunger that got the Rolex, the cars and the mansion”, but since his move into management he has been appalled by the motives behind many transfers. “Priorities have changed for footballers and they are being dictated to by their wives and girlfriends,” he said.

 

His comments may chime with England supporters, whose team’s stuttering progress in the World Cup finals last summer was accompanied by the tabloid-friendly excesses of their partners. Sunderland fans may also approve. If there are occasions when their club lose out on transfer targets to London glamour, then, as Keane, 36, put it, “those are the type of people I don’t want at our club anyway”.

 

“I find it surprising that geography seems to play such a big part,” the Irishman said, “or that players let their wives decide. I think it’s weak. You see it with a couple of big players now. Clearly their wives and girlfriends are running their lives and that’s a bad sign. I realise it is part of the package and more so when there are children and schools involved, but ultimately you’re a footballer.

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“Retire at 35 or 36, you can live wherever you bloody well like – London, Monaco, wherever – and any half-decent footballer will be a multi-millionaire anyway. Why is there such a big attraction with London? It would be different if it was Chelsea, Arsenal or maybe Tottenham, but when they go to a smaller club just because it’s in London, then it’s clearly because of the shops.

 

“Their priorities are not the same as mine. We will do the best for our players’ families, but we’ve had a player this summer who didn’t even ring us back because his wife wanted to move to London. And shopping was mentioned. It might astonish many people, but it’s true.

 

“That’s not a football move, it’s a lifestyle move. To me that player is weak.

 

It happens at big clubs, too. I could name players whose wives and girlfriends are running their lives, doing photo shoots, that kind of stuff. They say they’re not comfortable doing it – well don’t. And these so-called stars are people we’re supposed to look up to. Well, they’re weak. They’re soft.”

 

While Keane mentioned no names, players known to have rejected Sunderland’s advances since their promotion include David Nugent, who joined Portsmouth from Preston North End, Leighton Baines, who left Wigan Athletic for Everton, Chris Baird, who exchanged Southampton for Fulham, and Mido, who is expected to complete a £6.8 million transfer from Tottenham to Middlesbrough today.

 

The North East has a plethora of designer shops and some of Britain’s most spectacular coastline, while Durham – Keane, Theresa, his wife, and their family live close by – boasts a centre of learning and architectural beauty. “People who get bored coming up here are bored for one reason – because they’re boring,” Keane said.

 

“A couple of years ago, I nearly went to Juventus. People spoke to me about Turin and said, ‘Ooh, Milan would be nicer’. But I replied that I wouldn’t be going there for the bloody shops. It should be a footballing decision. In the same way, you don’t need to live in London or Manchester to be happy, or be surrounded by expensive shops or fancy cars.

 

“What’s your priority? My wife and her shopping, or my football? Or money? If someone doesn’t want to come to Sunderland because their wife likes shopping in London, it’s a sad state of affairs.”

 

From: Here

[Cobs]

He's quickly turning into my second favourite manager (whatever that means)...

that you've forgot what a total c*nt of a man he was while at OT, or you're irish so you can't help but love dear old Roy?

[Des]

or you're irish so you can't help but love dear old Roy?

 

Do you love dear old Lamps because you're from the south of England?

[RP]

that you've forgot what a total c*nt of a man he was while at OT, or you're irish so you can't help but love dear old Roy?

 

Very succinctly put.

 

Roy Keane is a c*** of a man.

[Cobs]

Do you love dear old Lamps because you're from the south of England?

i don't love him - just rate him as a better footballer than many on here.

 

 

confusing, isn't it?

[Roscoe]

fair play to him. not afraid to upset anybody and recently enough a player to add extra weight to what he says. this kind of forthright talking is the breath of fresh air Mourhinos bitter and self aggrandising ramblings never were.

 

Hated him as a player (but would have loved him at Liverpool), but I think, certainly whilst he's at Sunderland, he will be hard to hate as a manager.

[Des]

Hated him as a player (but would have loved him at Liverpool), but I think, certainly whilst he's at Sunderland, he will be hard to hate as a manager.

 

I find it remarkably easy, myself.

[Mike]

great stuff from keane there

[Cobs]

fair play to him. not afraid to upset anybody and recently enough a player to add extra weight to what he says. this kind of forthright talking is the breath of fresh air Mourhinos bitter and self aggrandising ramblings never were.

 

Hated him as a player (but would have loved him at Liverpool), but I think, certainly whilst he's at Sunderland, he will be hard to hate as a manager.

not afraid to upset anyone?

 

apart from any of the players he wont name?

 

Stevie G is clearly one he's alluding to, btw.

 

 

 

Find him very easy to hate meself.

[Bald Devil]

Keane only went to Sunderland because his dog likes the parks and the smells. Man up Roy.

[Bailo]

Stevie G is clearly one he's alluding to, btw.

Don't see that, it's not like Sunderland were in for him, or his form has dipped. In fact, if their form doesn't suffer for their girlfriends/wives involvement, what's the problem? Whoever thought a wife could have a say in uprooting a family?

[Cobs]

It happens at big clubs, too. I could name players whose wives and girlfriends are running their lives, doing photo shoots, that kind of stuff. They say they’re not comfortable doing it – well don’t. And these so-called stars are people we’re supposed to look up to. Well, they’re weak. They’re soft.”

 

 

Don't see that, it's not like Sunderland were in for him, or his form has dipped. In fact, if their form doesn't suffer for their girlfriends/wives involvement, what's the problem? Whoever thought a wife could have a say in uprooting a family?

 

 

well in, Duncey.

[Bailo]

well in, Duncey.

That could be quite a few other footballers. Rooney for one, Ashley Cole for another. Don't think it's clearly about Stevie G. And his form is hardly suffering for it anyway, so what's Keane's problem?

[smithdown]

Sunderland is full of bad meffs, though.

[RP]

That could be quite a few other footballers. Rooney for one, Ashley Cole for another. Don't think it's clearly about Stevie G. And his form is hardly suffering for it anyway, so what's Keane's problem?

 

 

Of course it's alluding to Gerrard.

[Roscoe]

not afraid to upset anyone?

 

apart from any of the players he wont name?

 

Stevie G is clearly one he's alluding to, btw.

Find him very easy to hate meself.

 

 

he doesn't really need to name anyone. most people know who he is referring to, you certainly seem to think you do. I think he 'll add some considerable amusement value to the league whilst articulating some things most managers would be afraid to.

[cymrococh]

He signed Kieron Richardson, the hypocritical c***onaut.

[Cobs]

he doesn't really need to name anyone. most people know who he is referring to,

 

tell that to Duncey.

[Cobs]

I think he 'll add some considerable amusement value to the league whilst articulating some things most managers would be afraid to.

 

how long til we play them ?

 

 

let's see what people think after he's had a moan about us

[Roscoe]

tell that to Duncey.

 

 

haha! (hence most).

[Stevie H]

he's a self-promoting gobsh*te. his prawn sandwich outburst was supremely hypocritical 'cos he was quite happy to pocket the sixty grand a week that the fans' attendance was paying him, and his move to celtic was clearly for footballing reasons wasn't it roy?

 

he's going to be good entertainment value this season but only in the same way colin wan*er was last season. leopard don't change his stripes.

[Roscoe]

how long til we play them ?

let's see what people think after he's had a moan about us

 

he's welcome to have his tuppence about us - I am not one of these precious supporters who get indignant at every percieved slight against us. if he says anything utterly outlandish and irrational then fair enough, but so far, like him or loathe him, most of his utterences have been reasonable enough.

[Bailo]

tell that to Duncey.

Edited August 15, 2007 by SuperDunce

[Cobs]

he's welcome to have his tuppence about us - I am not one of these precious supporters who get indignant at every percieved slight against us. if he says anything utterly outlandish and irrational then fair enough, but so far, like him or loathe him, most of his utterences have been reasonable enough.

nor me

 

i think he's a c*nt regardless

[Snookie]

that you've forgot what a total c*nt of a man he was while at OT, or you're irish so you can't help but love dear old Roy?

 

1. Nope - he could be an absolute prick as a player but that doesn't stop him being a great player or having the ability to recognise it

2. Can't stand the 'people's republic of Cork' nonsense that surrounded him

 

I admire him because:

- He is committed to a set of footballing values

- He is smart, intelligent and cares about the game

- He drove a club that was falling apart to promotion