Martin O’Neill has opened up international week by criticising Roy Keane’s decision to walk out on Ireland’s 2002 World Cup Finals squad.
The early days of June 2002 were dominated by updates from Saipan as Keane’s participation in the tournament was thrown into doubt.
After various complaints about the preparation criticising Mick McCarthy and the FAI Keane returned to the UK with the story still dominating headlines 11 years later.
Yesterday O’Neill was introduced to the media by the FAI but it’s the ‘dream-team’ combination of O’Neill and Keane that is under scrutiny rather than the playing squad or hopes for the Euopean Championships in France 2016.
O’Neill rarely gives direct answers but didn’t hang about when asked about his new assistant walking away from the 2002 World Cup Finals.
“If you’re going back to Saipan, way back in that time, I would have to say that my own view at that time, is that I would have disagreed with Roy,” the new Ireland manager said.
“I would have felt that, having qualified for the World Cup, it doesn’t come around too often – for some great players it has never come at all – and here was this opportunity.
“I thought that would have been, regardless of what Roy would have felt about it before, this was a chance to participate in a World Cup and for a great player, even more so, from that viewpoint. So I would have had a disagreement with that.”
Looking at what he can bring to the Irish side O’Neill added: “All you will get from me is ferocious enthusiasm and hopefully a little bit of know-how and we can hope that somewhere along the way we wouldn’t suffer the misfortune that befell the Irish side way back when France qualified. I will give absolutely everything I have, that is all I can promise.”
Really what has this got do with Celtic , we are a Scottish team in case you forgot not from the Republic of Ireland.
A lot of Celtic fans support the Republic for various reasons, there are 2 ex-Celts now in charge of the country.
Er, why not talk about it?
A former manager and former player involved, which is a regular feature of the site. I don’t disagree with you but this type of article is not unusual. I’d understand the gripe if it was Trappatoni talking about Kevin Kilbane or Klinnsman talking about Schweinsteiger, but its a football blog, and that’s football. We aren’t the only team in the world
It’s an interesting story. I hope they’re not going to fall out already. 🙂
Cough!
;o)
HH
OnThis BS repeated ad nauseam on this site is beyond boring!
To follow on from what frank has to say, now pay very close attention here rikki, MO’N was the Celtic mamager who was arguably the most successful manager the club had seen since big Jock, and the manager that lead the team to Seville, for which the Celtic support will always be grateful for.
Roy Keane was and is a life long Celtic supporter who was permitted by the club through a mutual agreement between ManU, Celtic and the player himself to realise a childhood dream to pull on the Hoops as a Celtic player.
As such anything either of these Celtic icons do is of interest to Celtic supporters.
I’ll take this a step further rikki, are you suggesting that if England, or any other country or club for that matter, were to employ a new manager neither Joe or Steven should be allowed to write an article on the news, or is it just Irish managers you have a problem with?
Not only have Celtic played practically every top team in Europe, but have had players playing for the club from teams across not only Europe but the World, which very much makes any stories connected to any team that’s considered ‘news worthy’ of interest to Celtic supporters, who of course are also football fans.
HH
A scottish team founded by an irish man for poor irish imigrants.
A team with huge support from ireland and with the the majority of supporters in scotland having irish ancestors.
A team wich has been littered with irish players throughout its history.
A team whose main sponcers are an irish company. A team who wears the green of ireland.
A team who plays in paradise were the irish flag flys proudly.
A team who wears the four leaf clover on their chest. A team deep rooted in irish tradition.
Do u want any more reasons rikki71 u DUMMY
Steady on fellas, we can make out point without being arsey aboot it.
What annoys me is people coming on the site for the first time and either stirring up sh!te, putting everyone in their place telling us all what It’s all about or getting all arsey about an article someones put time and effort into putting up for us to read. Know what I mean Raymy.
There is of course a simple solution.
If you don’t like it don’t fkn read it and if you don’t read it you have no right to comment on it.
HH
Indeed. Get the kettle on and have a cuppa tea, everythings always much better after that.
The fact that these two men are ex manager and player is enough Pipster the history of our club is neither here nor there.
There are vast numbers numbers of Celtic supporters world wide with no Irish connection whatsoever, just a love of our club and support, and the ethos of the club and everything they stand for. Open to all.
Don’t fall into the trap often set out for us Pipster.
Open to all.
Always have been.
Always will be.
HH
“The History Of Our Club Is Neither Here Nor There” From A CELTIC supporter ????
In the matter under debate, no.
HH
Maybe you find it difficult to digest everything that’s being discussed Gordon, but I think that would be more of a problem for you rather than myself.
HH
I didn’t say it our club wasn’t open to all. Was just stating a few facts to explain the irish connection to our dumb friend rikki and don’t really see why you should feel like you have to correct me unless all this irishness annoys you in some way
Sorry Pipster that was not my intention at all, but every now and again we have people trying to direct the debate in a certain direction be it our proud Irish roots, our Catholic founders or to drag the debate into the sectarian quagmire.
Sorry for any offense, believe me none was intended.
HH
This site employs strong anti-zombie software, keep the debate civil and we can discuss all aspects about Scotland’s most successful football club.
Hahaha. Well said everyone. Good luck and god bless Martin. I think all this angst and mind fuckery is still from our Wednesday night emotional hangover. I’ve complained in the past about to many zombie articles. But was always set right by the bhoys explaining the need to be informed of the enemy. So I won’t criticise. But it’s a grim day when celtics Irish roots need to be explained to a ” supporter”. HH.
It could have been worse Pw, I almost called MO’N a Celtic mammary.
Then the t!t would really have hit the fan!!
HH
Good luck to MO’N and Roy. I must admit I haven’t really kept tabs on the ROI since the halcion days of big jack Charlton but I’ll certainly keep a look out for how they are progressing now these two are in charge.
Hail hail